Tan Qiuyi Channel NewsAsia 10 Aug 13
SINGAPORE: The Our Singapore Conversation Committee said the outcome of the dialogue is in line with a survey of some 4,000 people that threw up similar findings.
The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) surveyed more than 4,000 people -- a sample representative of the Singapore population in terms of gender, race, and age.
It found that the top three issues of greatest concern to Singaporeans are housing, healthcare, and jobs. However, for those in the low income bracket, a caring government is their top concern.
Housing, healthcare and transport -- as priorities -- require infrastructural solutions that may compete with green and heritage spaces. But more than half of those surveyed said they prefer to preserve these spaces, more so than developing the country's infrastructure.
Another finding -- more than half of respondents, especially those who are married with children, prefer a more comfortable pace of life over career advancement. This suggests family may be a higher priority than career for these people.
Full results of the survey are expected in the coming weeks.
- CNA/ac
Efforts to get views of diverse groups
Latest exercise vastly different from previous sessions to engage the people
Rachel Chang Straits Times 11 Aug 13;
The Government was just one participant in the national conversation, said Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) committee members and chairman Heng Swee Keat, as they pointed to efforts to reach out to Singaporeans from all walks of life.
This made the process remarkably different from past engagement exercises, with marginalised voices being drawn out, and diverse groups coming together.
Of the 47,000 who attended OSC dialogues, 4,000 went to sessions organised by community associations and voluntary welfare organisations, and participants included taxi drivers, the families of prisoners and the disabled.
For theatre practitioner and committee member Kuo Jian Hong, 46, the inclusion of "people and voices in places that are not obvious" was important.
Another committee member, Singapore Management University law professor Mahdev Mohan, 34, said that the format of small group discussion, as opposed to a townhall style where people face a policymaker, put people at ease and allowed them to speak freely.
Ministers were only peripherally involved in the sessions.
If they were present, they roved from group to group and listened in on discussions.
Entrepreneur Stanley Chia, 26, said that "in townhalls, only a few vocal ones stand up and ask questions". "So it was radically different in that sense."
That the OSC became the place where scientists met artists, or the young and the old interacted, impressed Singapore Muslim Women's Association board member Noorul Fatha As'art, 35.
"We tend to be (in) silos in our respective communities," she said, adding that the OSC has taught "respectful disagreement".
Mr Heng, who is also Education Minister, said he hopes that the habit of deep and respectful conversation continues.
At a press conference last Tuesday to mark the end of the national conversation and the launch of its newsletter, Reflections, he also repeatedly urged Singaporeans to refrain from judging the exercise by how much impact it had on policymaking.
It did not want to imitate previous engagement exercises like 2003's Remaking Singapore, he said.
That concluded with a list of policy recommendations like the five-day work week.
This time, the committee has distilled five core aspirations from the extensive discussions, and these will guide policymaking in future (see graphic).
Mr Heng added that rather than discrete pieces of legislation, the OSC's policy imprint has been broad and intangible, shaping the real-time drift of policymaking.
For example, a pilot of five Ministry of Education kindergartens, designed for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, was announced in February after OSC sessions showed him "how children from low-income family have difficulties in catching up".
The Reflections newsletter has taken pains to illustrate this, with two timelines running parallel to each other.
One marks the milestones of the OSC process, which comprised more than 660 dialogues; the other lays out policy changes that have occurred through the year as a result, such as new Housing Board flats for singles, and the free off-peak MRT travel pilot.
"Policymaking is not something where you stop mid-stream and say, well, since we are going to have the conversation, nothing gets done and therefore let's finish the conversation, then let's debate what should be done," Mr Heng said. "It is an ongoing, iterative process."
Some 60,000 copies of Reflections will be distributed to the public.
The newsletter is also available online at www.oursgconversation.sg/reflections
Responses to reflections
Straits Times 11 Aug 13;
EARNING TO DISAGREE, RESPECTFULLY
"We've been very afraid to say as Singaporeans 'I do not agree with you, but however, let's look for something common that we can work on together'.
I think this OSC has managed to provide a platform... for us to begin this process of learning together as a country how to disagree respectfully and yet at the same time, gain through all these different ideas."
TOUCHED BY YOUNG PEOPLE'S PASSION
"One of the things that struck me is how we always think Singaporeans are really good at complaining and people that came to a lot of these conversations will start with complaining - which is great, get it off your chest. But it always goes to 'So, okay, you have an issue with this. What do you think we should do?' It's that pro-activeness. And I was very touched by some of the ideas and passion that were articulated by especially the young people that came to the conversation."
NOT THE TYPICAL POLICY PAPER
"Looking at the final report, the first thing that hits me is how different this is from a typical policy-oriented report and that's a good thing. It's a diversity of colour, texture, nuance and spirit.
I think that's what's been captured so far."
GROWING AS A SOCIETY
'We realised that policy changes are very difficult and it's not an easy process. And what OSC presented was a very organic way for us to engage citizens, and I am very encouraged by where our country is going. I believe that we are growing as a society and a lot of youths want to be involved.'
