Speech by Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of State for National Development and Chairman of the Remaking Singapore Committee for the S21 Playwriting Contest Prize-Presentation Ceremony (8 April 2003 at Prince George's Park Residences, NUS)


1. It's a pleasure for me to be here with you this morning.

2. Singapore 21 envisions a place where every Singaporean matters, where our families are strong and opportunities abound for all, where our people feel passionately that this is our country and contribute actively. In short, it is about becoming a place that all Singaporeans will instinctively call home.

3. Some might wonder what the relevance of this vision is, when war, economic difficulties and disease are now an inescapable part of our reality. Indeed, the events of today have added a measure of tension to our lives. But I would suggest that the tension makes a vision more, rather than less, necessary. New stresses can either wear down a society, or refine and strengthen its essence even more. After the war in Iraq is over and the SARS crisis has tailed off, will Singapore emerge a stronger or weaker society, a better or worse home? Will our social cohesion have matured? Will the trust between government and people be stronger? The answer to both questions can be "yes", if we continue to hold fast to the ideals of Singapore 21.

4. Prime Minister Goh launched the S21 vision in 1999. Since then, we have made significant strides towards achieving it. Our education system has improved its ability to customise to the needs of particular students. Singaporean families are receiving stronger support through new policies like the Baby Bonus, and more companies are adopting family-friendly practices. Our workers have better access to skills upgrading programmes to improve their employability. Volunteerism among Singaporeans has risen from 9% to almost 15% over the past two years - an increase of almost 60%. We also see more Singaporeans coming forward to share their points of view on issues that concern them. They are writing to the press, taking part in TV programmes and participating in public forums.

5. But we are not there yet. In a world as dynamic as ours, we need to be constantly on the look-out for how the weather is changing, and what adjustments we need to make as a result. Making Singapore the best possible home will be a continual effort, a journey rather than a destination.

6. It was in this spirit that the Remaking Singapore Committee was established last year. We wanted to put out a barometer - to get a sense of how our context had changed since 1999, how our citizens viewed the present and the future, and what changes needed to happen, beyond economic restructuring, to help Singapore survive and succeed in the face of future challenges. In particular, the Remaking Singapore Committee was tasked to gather views from the post-Independence generation of Singaporeans.

7. A major theme that has emerged from the consultations thus far is that Singaporeans want to be more intimately involved in the process of shaping the country. In the past, Singaporeans by and large have been content to leave the business of governing the country to the political leadership. But our citizenry is transforming. Singaporeans are becoming more educated, more exposed, and more connected. Their needs have gone beyond the provision of basic goods. They are able and willing to engage in policy discourse. They can also compare our situation with what they encounter in other countries. From expressing one's views in a letter, to forming groups to help meet society's needs, Singapore is evolving a citizenry that wants to participate meaningfully.

8. At the same time, the nature of governance is also transforming. Issues are becoming more complex and the pace of change is accelerating. As a result, governments around the world find that more than ever before, they have to hear from the specialists and stakeholders, to get a more complete understanding of the context before taking a decision. They are also finding that it makes sense to devolve some areas to more appropriate bodies such as civic groups and not-for-profit organisations.

9. The Remaking Singapore Committee understands and supports this desire for greater participation, more diverse expression and ease of association. We do so, not because of a "liberal" agenda, but because we believe it is essential to change mindsets of all Singaporean, and to alter the balance of civic relationships in our society for our future survival.

10. Singaporeans need to rediscover the spirit of self-reliance, and to be creative in the fullest sense of the word. We will need to build intellectual, social and cultural capital, in addition to financial capital. At the same time, we hope that Singaporeans will develop an enhanced sense of ownership and mutual responsibility to each other and to our nation. A person who participates is a person who cares, and what is a home if not a place for which people care enough to want to shape, to make a difference.

11. Stronger participation and freedom of expression will also add vibrancy to our cultural climate. And this will be important if we want to become what the Economic Review Committee envisions - a global city and a hub of talent, enterprise and innovation.

12. So whether you view it from the citizen, government or economic perspective, greater civic involvement can be a highly desirable end. Managed well, it can lead to better decisions and outcomes, and a more deeply rooted and committed citizenry. One of the key thrusts of the Remaking Singapore Committee's recommendations will therefore be to propose ways to open up avenues for expression and participation. The Committee's report will be released sometime in the middle of the year.

13. In the meantime, I am heartened that this playwriting contest was organised to provide students from the institutes of higher learning with an avenue to express their views and interpret the Singapore 21 vision for themselves. I understand the contest took place in the form of a 36-hour residential program and am particularly glad to note that there was no shortage of interest - 55 participants, breathing life into the Singapore 21 vision through 55 stories.

14. I am giving out only 8 prizes today. But I want to congratulate each one of you for taking part. You are all winners because you cared enough to participate, but more importantly because you have told a story that shows Singapore how the ideals of Singapore 21 can be lived out in an honest and true-to-life way.