Untitled Document

Speech by DPM Lee Hsien Loong at the Singapore 21 Forum Organised by Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San Community Development Council at the Grassroots' Club on 16 January 2000.

1. The Singapore 21 Vision is about the sort of society we want Singapore to be. We need to tackle problems and issues day by day, to progress and prosper. But beyond the individual tasks, we must from time to time ask ourselves more fundamental questions: what are the broad principles on which we want to build our society? How would we like Singapore to look one or two generations from now? These are the questions which Singapore 21 tried to answer.

2. Who is to answer these questions? The Government has taken the lead to initiate and organise the S21 debate. But the Government cannot just answer the questions by itself, because then the answers would just be the views of a few leaders, which may or may not be accepted by the public. Hence we involved a wide range of Singaporeans in the S21 discussions - 6,000 people at many levels, from the grassroots to Parliament.

3. The key ideas of Singapore 21 are not surprising - Every Singaporean Counts, Strong Families, Opportunities for All, a Singapore Heartbeat, and Active Citizens. But these are not just motherhood statements, nor are they easy to realise. They represent a definite approach to dilemmas that will be with us for a long time. We want to attract talent, yet we need to look after Singaporeans. We want to lead less stressful lives, yet must retain the drive to achieve and excel. We want to internationalise and regionalise our economy, yet make Singapore our home. We have to look after the needs of senior citizens, but also fulfil the aspirations of the young. And we want to practise consultation and consensus, and at the same time be capable of decisive and quick action.

4. How do we resolve these dilemmas? We cannot do it by choosing one option rather than the other, not even if we take a referendum to decide which options to choose. We have to continually balance the opposite considerations, so that we achieve as much of both as possible, and indeed use one to help fulfil the other. For example, the stronger our consensus and mutual understanding, the more decisively we can react in a crisis.

5. The ideals of Singapore 21 are not easy to realise. This is because we are not only seeking to influence people's ideas, but also trying to get them to do something themselves. This is what the ideal of Active Citizens means. We want people to know about national issues, and to take part in what is happening in Singapore. But it is not enough just to express unrestrained views over drinks, or even to write critical letters to the press. If you want to have a serious influence over policy, then you must put in the effort to understand the issues, debate them knowledgeably, and have useful contributions to make. If you are not satisfied with the way things are in your own communities, then you should come forward to organise community and grassroots groups and activities, spend many evenings and weekends doing voluntary work, and patiently change things for the better.

6. What is very encouraging is that there are many Singaporeans who are willing to put in the effort. The Government's efforts at public consultation over its policies have yielded valuable results. And many of you are members of grassroots organisations, who play a key role in the constituencies, serving your residents and bringing them closer together. Without you, Singapore would be a much weaker and less cohesive society.

7. For its part, the Government is changing the approach of the ministries and departments. We want to explain and justify policies and decisions more. We are trying to be more open in accepting and soliciting inputs from the public. We are getting officers to be more confident and less defensive, less afraid to acknowledge when a mistake has been made and needs to be put right. Within the civil service too, we seek to realise the ideals of Singapore 21, to engage the energies and commitment of every civil servant, whether he is a SAF officer, a teacher, or a senior policy maker.

8. The Government also welcomes and encourages Singaporeans to take part in the national debate. As our society matures and grows more stable, and the population becomes better educated and more discerning, the limits for debate - the "OB markers" - will widen. If you look back say over the last decade, both the amount and the quality of public discussion on policies have clearly gone up, and this improvement will continue. We are now able to discuss openly sensitive issues to do with race, language and religion, like the role of SAP schools, the issue of madrasahs, or ethnic differences in educational attainments. It does not mean that everyone has reached a common view on these matters, but to be able to talk about them calmly and rationally together is an enormous step forward.

9. Sometimes people question whether the Government is sincere in saying that we welcome public debate, because we do not always accept every suggestion, and from time to time we even reply to criticisms which we disagree with. But Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has explained the Government's approach. As long as we are only arguing over policies, the limits are very wide. There is no policy too sensitive to question, nothing which is taboo and must not be raised. The Government may defend the policy vigorously, especially if it is an important one and the Government thinks the criticism is not justified. But the matter will be decided entirely on its merits, and we hold nothing against anyone simply for holding a different opinion from the Government.

10. However, if it not just a debate over policies, but an attack on the Government or on its fitness to rule, then the Government's response has to go beyond the particular issue to address this broader question.

11. For example the opposition political parties often criticise the Government, but their aim is not to help the Government improve its policies; it is to prove to voters that the Government is not up to its job, and that they would do a better job themselves if elected. It is not wrong for them to take this approach: that is how democracy works. Neither is it wrong for the Government to respond politically, not only to rebut the opposition's arguments but to show up the motives behind their criticisms. The issue is dominance - who deserves to be on top, and in charge. If the Government fails to rise to the political challenge, and the opposition succeeds in persuading voters that they are more capable, then the Government does not deserve to be re-elected. And I believe every Singaporean understands that in politics this is fair game.

12. The question is what the Government should do if a political challenge comes from somewhere other than the opposition political parties, which it sometimes will. This is a matter of judgement - if the response is too harsh and defensive, the Government risks alienating people and losing support. On the other hand, to accept every criticism as constructive feedback would be naïve.

13. The Government will continue to set the tone for the public debate, encouraging participation and also participating actively itself. The Government cannot promise that its responses will always be meek and mild. But we do promise to take serious criticisms seriously, and to give them carefully considered responses.

14. Singapore 21 has set broad, long term goals for us. Actually getting there will take many steps and many years. It will be a learning and growing process, for the people, the government and the nation. Let us set out on the journey together, so that long after we have left behind the buzzwords and slogans of S21, its spirit and ideals will continue to make Singapore united, strong and successful.