The 2011 general election was the trigger for significant soul-searching and policy rethinking by the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP). The party has tried hard to reconnect with the ground through the Our Singapore Conversation and numerous policy adjustments in “hot button” areas – health, transport, education, housing and social security. Yet, one could argue […]

Few historical figures in Singapore’s post-war history excite as much controversy as does Lim Chin Siong (1933-96). Emerging from a humble background, Lim quickly rose in the 1950s to become an exceptional trade union leader and organiser. He joined the People’s Action Party (PAP) as a founder member in 1954, and won a seat in […]

Of late, the “kampung spirit” has been summoned by policymakers and community leaders to remind citizens to be socially cohesive. Technology can be harnessed to create a “digital village”, where people collectively identify problems, create solutions and better their lives. Despite threats of technology displacing human connections, innovations such as crowd-sourcing, the sharing economy and […]

1) Singapore is slowly getting more democratic in some senses of the word, but – and it will probably surprise you to hear this – this is not necessarily a good thing. I think what I say here has bearing not just for Singapore, but also all the countries where you the Fellows and others […]

The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) announced on April 7, 2014, that it was proposing changes to the Copyright Act. If and when the amendments come to pass in Singapore, websites such as The Pirate Bay, which facilitate the illegal sharing of copyrighted files, may be blocked by Internet service providers (ISPs). At the moment, The Pirate Bay […]

The Prime Minister has announced a Cabinet reshuffle. What significance does it hold for government and also for the governing People’s Action Party (PAP) at the half-time of this Parliamentary term? This is the fourth announcement of change this term. The first was in May 2011 after the general election, which was radical in that […]

The elderly Singaporean is increasingly hard pressed when it comes to healthcare. Our Singapore healthcare financing model emphasizes, in addition to government subsidies, employment, 3Ms and family. The latter three may no longer be sturdy pillars. Singapore prides herself as a traditional society, where there is a strong sense of filial piety and the young […]

Budget 2014 can be lauded for achieving its social aims, but it has completely ignored a very important issue facing all Singaporeans and companies, not just SMEs. This is the high cost of living and doing business in Singapore. The government did the right thing by sticking to its productivity push as it is central […]

Most of us would not have heard of Qiaonan Primary, at least not until last Thursday. No thanks to the decline in the fertility rate, some of the less popular schools in Singapore’s mature estates have witnessed a drastic decline in student enrolment numbers over the years. In a few extreme cases, there were barely […]

In many ways, this year’s Budget is a continuation of the process to transform Singapore’s economy. The push is for quality growth, while building an inclusive society. Most Singaporeans had something to gain from this year’s Budget. Examples include enhanced subsidies for school-going children, greater CPF contributions for workers, and subsidies for low and middle-income […]

The recent controversy over the Indonesian navy’s decision to name a vessel after two marines that had bombed MacDonald House in Singapore on 10 March 1965 is revealing. It has reinforced philosopher George Santayana’s quip that those who cannot remember the past will be condemned to repeat it. The action by the two bombers, Osman […]

This reflective report is based on the parallel session titled “The Future of the ‘Many Helping Hands Approach’ to Sustainable Social Impact,” which was held at the IPS Conference on Civil Society 2013, 11 November, Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel. Speakers Ms Ang Bee Lian Director of Social Welfare Ministry of Social and Family Development Ms […]