Min Cheong
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan speaking at Singaporeans in Conversation 2010
In a bid to consult young Singaporeans on important domestic socio-political issues, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, spoke to some 200 students during the inaugural Singaporeans In Conversation 2010 dialogue session last Saturday. Held at the Civil Service College, the overarching theme of the event was “The Singaporean Dream versus The Singaporean Reality” and featured a candid exchange of opinions between the participants.
The discourse mainly revolved around the definition of success as well as creation of opportunities, which began with a discussion on education and the economy and rapidly metamorphosed into a debate on the political system.
Many of the points that were raised over the course of the event espoused a collective desire for a more progressive system and revealed an obvious conflict between structure and agency; indicating the emergence of an increasingly politically-sentient generation eager to challenge prejudice and perception to pursue their aspirations.
However, there were also deep concerns regarding the ability of the current system to support off-the-beaten-track ambitions in terms of related education prospects and the economic viability of holding niche-interest jobs. The participants shared their views on the pressure youths often experience to adopt pragmatism rather than idealism when making academic and career decisions due to unfavourable market forces coupled with a privation of societal acceptance. Still others expressed worry over the inordinate emphasis placed on grades, especially within the public sector, which was attributed to the dearth of diversity in the individuals selected to work in the civil service.
In response, Dr. Balakrishnan asserted that success could be more broadly defined now than before, with the government endorsing more career choices such as those in sports and the arts. He went on to admit that the civil service did need to catch up in the area of assessing talent beyond academic qualifications but that other avenues to contribute and make a difference to the nation were abundant and should be explored.
Dr. Balakrishnan also reassured attendees that the education system would continually be adjusted to ensure that individuals would be able to upgrade their skills with ease. Unfortunately, the Minister stopped short of answering queries pertaining to the economic sustainability of opting for less conventional degrees and forms of employment, only going as far as to say that the issue did not fall within the government’s rightful role to adjudicate.
On this very issue of state jurisdiction, the discussion shifted to the topic of politics, during which participants quizzed Dr. Balakrishnan on the PAP’s monopolisation of talent in lieu of preventing a credible opposition from forming. The line of questioning also included subjects such as the difficulties associated with engaging in the frank articulation of criticism and the soundness of the current system.
There was general apprehension over the current culture of stifling criticism and the ramifications of doing so, in that constructive alternatives would not surface and receive due assessment. In a country where criticism is frequently construed as dissent, and opposition, an activity which equates to partisanship, the fear was that framing alternative sentiment as anti-establishment could discourage honest conversations between government and citizenry.
Addressing the point of freedom of expression, Dr. Balakrishnan opined that working to safeguard matters of life and death as well as national interests could not be achieved by genteel discussions; rather, vis-a-vis exercising power to attain what was essential for society. He further argued that he was glad that young Singaporeans did not have to resort to extreme action to express their political views, but that imprisonment alone would not deter people with conviction enough to fight for their beliefs.
In addition, the Minister asseverated that the integrity of any political system should be measured by how effectively it addresses societal needs – in terms of its capacity to provide security, generate opportunities, purvey fairness/justice and offer membership. He carried on by stating that attracting and securing a talent pool was essential for the survival of Singapore in and said he would make no apologies for trying to ensure there would be at least one solid team capable of leading the nation.
Essentially, the issues discussed during Singaporeans In Conversation 2010 demonstrated a burgeoning proclivity within Singaporean youth towards political participation and encapsulated their hopeful agitation for socio-political advancement, with calls for systemic liberalisation and more inclusiveness across the board.
Through the dialogue session, it became blatantly apparent that the discrepancy in the attitudes of state (representatives) and citizenry was a result of a lack of meaningful interaction between both entities. What is required to alleviate this problem is honest and regular communication between the government and people, where policies are explained well and information can be easily accessed so that all affected will better be able to understand policies, the rationales behind their existence as well as the reactionary feedback.
Furthermore, with society clamouring to be included as participatory stakeholders in policy decision-making, there has emerged a real impetus to actively consult the public on how best to introduce and implement policies that best suit society’s needs in a transparent, responsible, accountable, sensible and compassionate manner.
Ultimately, every citizen requires security in the form of knowing that his or her rights (for example, to express opinions) will be upheld by the state and that opportunities to contribute to the political process will always be available so that fair and just representation in terms of ideals and issues can be attained, which in turn is likely to encourage ownership and a sense of belonging; all outcomes of a prudent political system we should strive to actualise.
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Read also: Channel News Asia’s report on “Singaporeans in Conversation 2010″ dialogue.
