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  Straits Times Forum 20 Jul 06
Active citizenry - the way forward for Singapore
 Letter from Jerry Siah Eng Kiat
Honorary Executive Director Spaces Community

Singapore has developed very rapidly from a Third World country to a First World economy within a short period of 41 years. Our population has become increasingly educated and mobile, and many of us have grown in affluence.

However, this endless pursuit of material possessions is not bringing happiness to many Singaporeans.

It is no surprise that Singaporeans are the least happy people in Asia. Despite our First World economy, our social grace is still stuck in the Third World domain.

With increasing competition for talents in our interconnected world, we lose capable Singaporeans when they uproot in pursuit of happiness in another more socially conscious First World country.

As we face the next lap, it is not economic pursuit but active citizenry that will be critical for Singaporeans to develop a sense of belonging and rootedness to this country, and in the process, restore our passion, our sense of happiness and social graciousness in keeping with our First World economy.

One area of being an active citizen is to be involved in a social, political or interest group, advancing social or political issues.

Take the recent National Youth Forum as an example. Works should not just end with a proposal, but youths need to take ownership and execute their proposals regardless of whether it is well received at the forum.

As long as it is something that they believe in and are passionate about it, they should implement it.

Volunteerism is another area of active citizenry. One can be a volunteer with any charity or organise a group of friends to start voluntary work. Instead of harbouring mistrust towards Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO) since the National Kidney Foundation saga, we can become volunteers and understand how a VWO operates.

At the very least,active citizenry involves us having a sense of ownership in our community:our neighbours, our public space and our environment.

During my stayin North America, it is normal to see people protecting public property in their neighbourhoods and helping one another, even to the extent of house-sitting for neighbours on vacation.

Active citizenry does not necessary mean laborious, time-consuming or highly intellectual activities. It involves doing what inspires us in many different fields of interest, and even in simply living as civic-minded citizens.

Many of us reason that we do not have the energy after working long hours to be involved as active citizens. Our weekends are meant for rest and family outings.

However, many of us do have something that we are passionate about. Yet, we procrastinate and hope that the day will come when we have earned enough or when we have retired before we actively involve ourselves. This day may not come.

Your profession, age, social or economic status does not matter.

We should make active citizenry a part of our lifestyle, involving our entire family in voluntary works or in an interest group.

In many of our community projects, we have volunteers from different age groups and even an entire family, from grandparents to grandchildren.

Active citizenry can also be brought into our workplaces. Take the example of how the ST Pocket Money Fund was started by a group of journalists who were concerned about the welfare of students from poorer families.

Active citizenry does not belong only to the elite. All of us can be active citizens at any time. Moving forward as a First World country, we should cease calling upon the Government for every solution, and complain at the slightest inconvenience.

The Government should allow citizens to be actively involved in our next stage of nation building.

We need to live our passion instead of an endless pursuit of material wealth which may not necessarily make us any happier.

Last year, over 100 volunteers, many with disabilities, staged 'A Nation In Concert' at the Esplanade. Even with no full-time staff, we managed to channel close to $200,000 to five charities and our show was so well received that we are answering the call to re-stage it this year.

Volunteers found fulfilment despite our differences and our busy schedules.

Singapore has developed rapidly as an economic powerhouse. However, it is time our people also become active citizens and be stakeholders of this nation.
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