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speaking up for nature in singapore
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on youths of singapore to speak up PM's call on youths | list of all articles speak up for nature: why bother? | what others have spoken | feedback channels Today, 17 Aug 04 S'poreans, speaking up is like buying 4-D If you don't, you definitely won't win. If you do, there is a chance of success and things could change by Siew Kum Hong In his swearing-in speech last week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong asked Singaporeans to "step forward to make a difference". At the same time, he promised more space and freedom for us to "express diverse views, pursue unconventional ideas or simply be different". Then, over the weekend, Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan announced a new initiative to get Singaporeans to speak up on how to build a better Singapore and also to encourage us to step up and take action to turn our suggestions into reality. I would bet that the first reaction of many, if not most, Singaporeans was to ask: "Why should I? What good would it do? Will anything change?" There is a whole mass of cynical Singaporeans out there, who think that all these calls and invitations for participation and speaking up are only bait to lure the naive into standing up and sticking their necks out, so that the Government can "mark" the trouble-makers. And a lot of them also believe that even if they speak up, everything has already been decided and nothing will change. For example, the Government has been conducting public consultations on proposed legislation, such as the Competition Bill and the amendments to the Copyright Act. I was disappointed when a fellow lawyer told me that he had contemplated sending in submissions in his own personal capacity, but then decided against it because he felt it would change nothing. The cynics would have agreed with him. They would have recalled the Singapore 21 and the Remaking Singapore projects, and they would have asked: "What happened to all those suggestions? What's different about this time?" I have always found that sort of thinking to be extremely disappointing. Of course, there is a risk that everything has been set in stone and speaking up is pointless. But at the same time, if you never speak up, then your views will never be heard and things may never change. I believe Singaporeans should look at the possibilities, at what might be and what we can do, instead of closing our minds and writing things off completely. It's like buying 4-D — if you don't buy, you definitely won't win. I buy 4-D now and then, but my absolute lack of luck (I have never, ever won anything!) hasn't stopped me from continuing to do so. Because you simply never know what might happen. Perhaps I am being idealistic, but isn't it better to try and fail, than to fail for not trying at all? At least the former has a chance of success — however remote it might be — but the latter has a certainty of failure. Don't forget, given enough time, dripping water can wear away the toughest rock. It may take a long time, but it does happen. And even if speaking up proves to be futile, there are still reasons to do so. Even if the point put forward is not taken on board, it would show the Government that alternative viewpoints do exist. If the existence of alternative views is not even recognised, then it may be assumed that all is well and everyone is in agreement. Keeping silent could then end up being taken as an endorsement of what one disagrees with. Still, the reality is that people are not convinced. The invitation to speak up might have been made, but the Government should take steps to show that it is not just going through the motions and paying lip service to the ideas of engagement and inclusionary, participatory politics. It can do more to show that it does seriously consider suggestions put forward in good faith. Start with a perennial bugbear of Singaporeans such as replies by civil servants to queries and questions in the media. Do more than just say "thank you for your feedback, we will look into it". Follow up on issues. Give people closure. Revisit projects such as Singapore 21 and Remaking Singapore and show how they have led to tangible changes in fundamental policy. Show Singaporeans how, even if it does take a while, our suggestions will be considered and implemented if they make sense. And credit us. Where a policy is implemented after a public suggestion, say so. These things require a good deal of effort. But given the prevalent cynicism and given that in the past seven years, we have already had two such major exercises in public consultation (Singapore 21 and Remaking Singapore), the results of which are still viewed with suspicion and doubt in some quarters, it may be essential if the latest efforts are to have any chance of success. . At the end of the day, people do want to pitch in. Singaporeans want to be counted. Let's do all we can, to make sure it happens. The writer is a lawyer. The above views are his own. |
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