With each Singaporean household receiving S$800 (US$600) in Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers – an increase from S$600 last year but without accompanying cash payments – Budget 2025 suggests a stronger government preference for this mode of social support. The SG60 vouchers, offering S$600 for Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 and S$800 for seniors aged […]

Some of us are old enough to remember when the internet was a space of boundless discovery, connection and knowledge-sharing. Today, it is just as often a place of polarisation, performative outrage and misinformation. What went wrong? And more importantly – how do we fix it? As technology theorist Marshall McLuhan observed: “We become what […]

For those who have or aspire to have three or more children, the new Large Families Scheme will be welcome news. In his Budget 2025 speech on Tuesday (Feb 18), Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong announced up to S$16,000 (US$11,900) in extra support for each third or subsequent child. Parents will see […]

The theme of Singapore Perspectives 2020, exactly five years ago today (January 20), was “Politics”. We landed on that theme because 2020 was bound to be an election year – like 2025 now. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat gave the opening address and Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing did the concluding […]

I wish to comment on statements issued by Allianz, Income and NTUC Enterprise on Dec 16 (Allianz calls off deal with Income Insurance after public scrutiny, Dec 16). First, Allianz announced that it was withdrawing its offer to acquire a majority stake in Income Insurance. It also stated that the decision to withdraw it underscored […]

Introduction In the final lecture of the 15th IPS-Nathan Lecture Series, Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University (SMU), began by reminding the audience of key themes from her previous two lectures: the historical evolution of universities in her first lecture and proposed transformative approaches to university education to support learning for a “100-year […]

The story of NTUC Income began more than 50 years ago and we do not believe it should end as a merger with German insurer Allianz. NTUC Income is a social enterprise and should continue to perform that role. This is an opportunity to draw upon Income’s enduring mission to tackle the evolving social challenges […]

In her second IPS-Nathan Lecture, Professor Lily Kong revisited the transformative role of universities, challenging the current beliefs and practices in  higher education. She highlighted four critical areas for re-evaluation: the prevailing emphasis on cognitive skills, universities’ response to rapid technological advancement, the importance of  interdisciplinary depth, and the need for  universities to position themselves […]

Once every four years, the world holds its breath when the American people go to the polls to elect their president, vice-president, senators, congressmen, governors and other officials. It does so because what happens in America will affect it in one way or another. The 2024 elections were full of drama and unexpected twists and […]

In her first lecture, Professor Lily Kong, President of Singapore Management University and IPS’ 15th S R Nathan Fellow, reflected on the role and challenges facing modern universities. Titled “Through the Looking Glass: Insights into the Origin and Evolution of Universities”, her lecture explored the historical development of universities and how their evolution illuminates contemporary […]

Three factors that will determine this are citizens’ faith in the legal process, the PAP credibility in upholding its standards of probity, and the continued efficacy of the national integrity system Singapore and its people are defined by . . . . . Former Transport Minister S. Iswaran was sentenced to a year’s jail on […]

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brought about a paradigm change in Russia’s relations with the United States and with Europe. Today, both the US and Europe view Russia as an aggressor and a threat to peace. Their policy is to isolate and confront Russia. The West finds it hard to understand why Asean […]