The challenges to Singapore ?
To make it a truly open society, that allow the Citizens to be Politically Free to be involve in Politics.
This will be hard to achieve, as even the Politics within the Ruling Party is NOT a liberal process, in which there exist a tiered levels of membership - the General Party Members, the Cardres, and the Elite Members.
Here is a skeptical view of DPM LHL statement for a more Open Singapore, from a venerable Opposition Politician, praised by DPM LHL for being a true Singaporean:
From:
[email protected]Date: Thu Jan 8, 2004 4:36 am
Subject:
More Open Singapore?: Have we not heard all this before?http://www.thinkcentre.org/article.cfm?ArticleID=2278From: J.B. Jeyaretnam
7 January 2004
I see DPM Lee is saying he will continue to open up Singapore.
Have we not heard all this before Goh Chok Tong said it when he assumed office.
Our citizens however continue to be presented with the inscrutable face of government. Perhaps we are talking of different things. When our ministers speak of opening up they refer to bartop dancing and like. Not the government decision making process which remain closely shut out from the citizens on whose behalf the decisions are purportly made.
Recently Open Singapore Centre was refused a licence for an indoor meeting. When as Chairman I asked for the reasons I was told I could not have the reasons. It was against public interest to allow the meeting and it was against public interest to tell us why the meeting was against public interest.
So would DPM Lee for the sake of clarity tell us what opening up is he referring to. Is he perhaps intending to allow topless dancing.
Signed
J.B. Jeyaretnam
7 January 2004
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http://www.straitstimes.com/topstories/story/0,4386,228744,00.html?DPM Lee promises a more open Singapore
He will keep up process which Govt began in 1984
Straits Times
7 Jan 2004
By Sue-Ann Chia
THERE will be no turning back of the clock. The opening up of Singapore will continue and even pick up speed.
'I have no doubt that our society must open up further. The growing participation and diversity over the last two decades have been vital pluses for Singapore, enabling us to adapt to changing conditions and to the needs and expectations of a new generation. They are key to providing Singaporeans an emotional anchor.' - Mr Lee. -- ONG CHIN KAI
Such was the commitment from Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night as he sketched the future of politics and society here in a speech clearly intended to set out how he plans to conduct government-people relations as Prime Minister.
'I have no doubt that society will have to open up further,' he told guests at the Harvard Club's 35th anniversary dinner.
The main message from Mr Lee, who is likely to take over the leadership this year, appeared to be that there will be continuity towards greater openness and consultation. However, certain limits will remain.
He began by noting that Singapore was going through a transition not just because of a changing of the guard. Rather, the world had changed irrevocably with a younger generation born after dependence in majority, and strategies to grow the economy and root the people had to change.
Opening up will continue for two simple reasons: The Government has no monopoly of knowledge and ideas in a more complex world, and Singaporeans, with better education, have a stronger desire to be involved.
The Government will do its utmost to continue to build a civic society, he said. 'As we engage one another and wrestle with our problems, we will encounter different views, but far better for us to manage these honest differences than become an apathetic society with no views.
'People should debate issues with reason, passion and conviction, and not be passive bystanders in their own fate.'
And the Government? It 'will pull back from being all things to all citizens'.
But even as he painted a picture of a more open political culture, DPM Lee noted that those who want a faster opening up and bristle over the out-of-bound markers - a golfing term - ought to remember that 'most Singaporeans still do not play golf'.
For them, bread-and-butter issues are their primary concern. The Government has to keep faith with this less articulate majority.
If doubts remained over his commitment to engage the people and move towards openness, DPM Lee last night reminded his audience of his long and close involvement with the values of consultation that the Goh Chok Tong government has come to be associated with.
It dates as far back as 1984. That year, the People's Action Party suffered a big setback in the elections, losing two seats. An internal post-mortem report affirmed the substance of PAP policies but also urged the party to pay heed to people's emotions - not just logic - and emphasised feedback and consensus-building.
'I drafted that report as the secretary. I was then 33, fresh in politics, and that was how I saw it,' revealed Mr Lee.
He added that, over the past two decades, he had pushed the process of opening up 'both as a member of the team that fostered the liberalisation, and directly in many consultations, discussions and forums big and small'.
Looking ahead, he laid out five ways to engender civic participation.
First, there should be guidelines for public consultations, including a commitment that the Government will be transparent in its decision-making process wherever possible. But the public must also give ideas based on a good understanding of the issues.
Second, there should be rigorous and robust debate. The Government will not view all critics as adversaries. 'If it is a sincere contribution to improve government policies, but one which we do not agree with, then our response will be dispassionate and factual, pointing out where we think the criticism is mistaken but encouraging the critic to continue to stay engaged or even counter-argue.'
But criticism that scores political points and undermines the Government's standing 'is another matter altogether'. Continue to expect a strong rebuttal and those entering the arena, such as the opposition, should understand the rules of the game.
Third, civic participation should go beyond words to include action, including volunteer work.
Fourth, the media should adopt a national perspective on issues and while writers are free to argue for or against policies, 'crusading journalism' should be avoided.
Finally, there is the role of Government and here he reaffirmed a fundamental principle - that it must continue to lead the way even as it takes in more views. 'The Government cannot abdicate its
responsibility to lead from the front.'
He ended by noting that just as it was not possible to plan the
opening up of the last two decades, the future would be one of feeling the way forward, 'crossing the river stone by stone'.