S. Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 13 Jul 12;
NEW DELHI: Would Singapore's leaders allow some "mess" in a creative society?
That was a question posed to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Singapore Symposium held in New Delhi, India, on Thursday.
The Singapore Symposium, organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies and the Asepan India Centre, attracted leading thinkers, politicians and analysts from Singapore and India.
They shared their views and perspectives on international and local issues.
Mr Lee used two recent issues - wild boars and graffiti - to highlight the way Singapore authorities are striking the balance.
Mr Lee said: "I would become messy selectively. There are some areas where you must accept that you cannot do things in a linear or hierarchical way. I decide, you refine, he implements. You have to have an interaction, discussion. There will be objections, you have views but something has to be done.
"We have a peculiar problem which you consider quaint. We have an abundance of wild boars in our nature reserves - about 100 of them - and they are causing a problem. In the old days, we would have just said solve the problem and tomorrow they would be literally gone. But now it has been discussed.
"There are animal lovers who feel you shouldn't cull them, sterilise them, maybe you should keep them in the zoo and have an exhibit of wild boars. Others would say they are part of the natural system and if they exist, it is good. But there are also families who say the wild boar killed my dog, another family says the wild boar knocked over my child, better do something about it. Finally, we have to do something about it.
"But we have to go through this discussion and engagement, and explanation and in the end, it takes longer but it will be done. I am not sure whether we will get the very last wild boar but we will solve this problem.
"As with wild boars, so with many other problems, where we have to do something and engage the people - the physical messiness along the streets - graffiti, I would strongly discourage. We invite graffiti artists, by invitation to perform on designated walls with permission but if you decide to freelance extra, I better do an investigation on how it came about. We want to do this in a controlled way. If the Pandora box is open, then we can't put the demons back."
- CNA/de
PM okay with politics getting messier selectively
Straits Times 13 Jul 12;
NEW DELHI - Singapore is slowly letting its politics get a little messier, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in response to a question from a participant at a symposium organised by Singapore and Indian think tanks.
But he also made it clear that the Singapore Government meant to keep some measure of control over the process. He cited two examples: the culling of wild boar and street graffiti.
The question put to him was on whether Singapore would tolerate more mess so as to become vibrant and creative like India.
'I will become messy selectively,' he quipped, drawing laughter and applause.
In the case of wild boar, Mr Lee recalled that in the past, creatures that caused problems for people would be dealt with immediately. Now, the process takes longer because many people are given a chance to air their views, from animal lovers to families who fear for their children's safety.
The need to engage and explain to the people affected also extends to areas such as land acquisitions. While the authorities have legal powers to act, the affected parties have to understand the decision and that they are being fairly treated.
'There are some areas where you must accept that you cannot do things just in a linear or a hierarchical way - I decide, you refine, he implements. You have to have an interaction, a discussion, a flow of ideas, there will be objections and views and in the end something has to be done.'
He draws the line however at street graffiti, which he would strongly discourage. He did not mention any specific incident but much debate has been generated by the arrest of a woman who allegedly pasted stickers on traffic lights and stencil-painted roads with Singlish phrases.
Mr Lee said to laughter: 'I would invite graffiti artists to perform on designated walls, with permission, but if you decide to freelance extra, I better do an investigation and find out how it came about.
'We want to do this in a controlled way. Once you have let go, Pandora's box is opened, you cannot put all the demons back into place.'
GOH CHIN LIAN
