Minister of Manpower Lee Boon Yang said work needed to be done before every citizen acquires the basics of commonsense needed to use the phones safely. Citing the assault of a lawyer by four Singapore soldiers after he asked one of them to stop using a mobile during a movie, Mr Lee said: "Discourtesy in this case has resulted in much pain and suffering."

Three of the attackers were sentenced last month to 15 months in jail and three strokes of the cane. The man who refused to hang up pleaded guilty and received 12 months in jail and three strokes.

"As the handphone becomes an increasingly indispensable item in our life, the need for better phone manners has become more urgent," Mr Lee said. He chided those who overlook setting their mobiles to the silent mode during a movie, play, concert or meeting despite announcements requesting people to turn their phones off.

Referring to the use of mobiles while driving, Mr Lee noted there are now stiff penalties for such offences.