Topic: Tradition, Heritage

Group Members: Wei Chong, Wai Yong, Louis

Class: 19S03O

Instructions:
1. Research and consolidate its KEY policies, laws, measures, statistics etc and BRIEF descriptions of these.
Consider these websites (ministries, Department of Statistics) and local newspapers
2. Give BRIEF reasons WHY these policies etc have been put in place (may evoke characteristics of
Singapore society) and their IMPACT (on various stakeholders, in short-term VS long-term etc)
3. Fill in the template. Limit yourself to 2 pages per person, Arial font 10, single-spaced

Example by Ms Galvez:

Key policy 2018 Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods

Brief description of Examines and reports on deliberate online falsehoods and recommends strategies to
policy deal with them

Possible reasons for its
implementation,
including
characteristics of
Singapore society
and/or select
institutions (eg
pragmatism,
meritocracy) or the
phenomenon at hand
Increasing internet users and proliferation of falsehoods bring concerns that
deliberate attempts at spreading misinformation can threaten national security
- Recent spate of falsified news and websites (eg The Real Singapore which
published an article claiming that a commotion between Thaipusam participants
and the police was sparked by complaints from a Filipino family; the States
Times Review which mocked former President S. R. Nathan by claiming near-
zero turnout for his funeral; All Singapore Stuff which reported eye-witness
account of a collapsed HDB roof at Punggol Waterway Terraces which fooled the
police and civil defence to investigate) and cybersecurity lapses (eg SingHealth
and MOH security hacks). Especially problematic when new media allows such
falsehoods to be created, circulated and commented upon at rapid speed and by
independent sources

Possible impact on - Disagreement on what constitutes falsehoods: Legal experts doubt an

Singapore society, unambiguous definition can be reached; civil rights activists concerned about
possibly on various infringement of human rights (eg freedom of speech), and censorship
stakeholders or groups,
in short-term VS
long-term etc
 Topic: Tradition, Heritage

Wei Chong

Key policy Nomination of hawker culture to UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity

Brief description of Nomination Bid submitted by National Heritage Board, National Environment
policy Agency and Federation of Merchants Association Singapore

Possible reasons for its As a country with a diverse background, with many different cultures and practices,
implementation, it is sometimes difficult to identify common Singaporean culture that binds us
including together as a nation.
characteristics of The nomination of a common hawker culture affirms the importance of hawkers
Singapore society in our society and celebrates the value of our distinct culture despite our short
and/or select history. If successful, the nomination will prove to Singaporeans that our distinct
institutions (eg and vibrant culture is recognised at an international level and raise awareness
pragmatism, about the importance of preserving such a culture. This strengthens our national
meritocracy) or the identity, which is something that the Singaporean government has been putting
phenomenon at hand core emphasis on in recent years with the introduction of the SG50 package along
with the 2019 Bicentennial Experience. A strong national identity is integral to
Singapore’s growth and prosperity due to our diverse backgrounds and
multicultural society because a common and shared identity will help increase
national unity and pride in the country. This is also important due to our nation’s
small size and hence there is a pressing need for conscripted soldiers who have a
strong sense of patriotism and duty to serve since they will form the bulk of our
defence forces.

The nomination also requires extensive support from both hawkers and large
public support to be successful so a website has been created by the Singapore
Heritage Board for locals to pledge their support. This increases the awareness
about local culture and encourages Singaporeans to find out more about local
culture and heritage places around their neighbourhood that they may not have
been previously aware of.

Possible impact on Can benefit Singaporean Economy by encouraging tourism, more tourists who
Singapore society, are interested and intrigued by Singapore’s unique culture come and visit so
possibly on various there is an increase in tourism revenue.
stakeholders or groups,
in short-term VS Spark greater interest in hawker culture among the younger generation, many
long-term etc hawkers suffer from the problem of having no one to take over the business due to
the younger generation deterred by the tough working conditions and low
remuneration. There has also been a gradual shift of Singaporean consumers away
from hawker centres due to our growing affluence and preference for more
comfortable air-conditioned dining locations.The increased interest could help
revive hawker culture by encouraging more young cooks to join the industry along
with encouraging more consumers to patronise the hawker centres and learn more
about the distinct dishes that Singapore has to offer.
 Topic: Tradition, Heritage

Wai Yong

Key policy Architectural Heritage Awards

Brief description of - Architectural Design Awards (AHA) recognises projects that

policy demonstrate exceptional restoration and innovative architectural work
on heritage buildings.
- In addition to contributing to Singapore’s collective sense of identity and
distinctive landscape, the projects are also recognised for serving
Singapore’s current and future needs when adapted for contemporary
uses.

Possible reasons for its As a country with a small plot of land and no natural resources for it to rely on,
implementation, the government adopts a strictly pragmatic approach when it deals with issues
including relating to the country’s development and continued prosperity by ensuring that
characteristics of the economic needs of the country are prioritised. As a result, some historical sites
Singapore society (Old National Library) and places with deep cultural value (Bukit Brown) are
and/or select demolished to make way for more productive facilities that produce tangible value
institutions (eg for the country in the form of housing and industrial activities.
pragmatism,
meritocracy) or the However, as we mature as an economy, the government has started to notice the
phenomenon at hand importance of preserving our heritage sites which are a manifestation of the
country’s culture and may reflect certain episodes of our history. This is of
paramount importance for a nation that is consistently trying to forge a common
national identity as it provides every citizen a common past for us to look back on
and celebrate what we have achieved together as a nation.

Furthermore, from an economic aspect, the country is heavily reliant on its

tourism sector to generate revenue and is a major source of funding. As such,
preserving the culture and traditions of the country by ensuring that old buildings
are preserved or giving incentives for architects to blend historical elements into
urban buildings has the function of attracting more tourists who desire to
experience the unique environment of Singapore.
This is especially so considering that Singapore has been under disparagement
for only developing tourist sites and facilities to attract tourists but do not contain
any inherent “soul” of the nation and there is fear that the construction of modern
infrastructure will overshadow our culture and heritage.

Possible impact on From above, there is a stronger sense of national belonging as a common historical
Singapore society, narrative is provided to the citizens through preservation of old buildings or the
possibly on various hybridisation of historical elements into new infrastructure. This allows Singapore
stakeholders or groups, to expedite economic growth in the nation without sacrificing our heritage and
in short-term VS culture which is integral to our multicultural society. The emphasis on heritage
long-term etc and culture in recent years also sends a signal to citizens its importance in our
development as a country and keeps us rooted as they entail life values that shape
our character and
 Topic: Tradition, Heritage

beliefs. Additionally, in times of crisis, heritage and culture can allow citizens to
stay strong together and prevent ourselves from being fragmented as a society.

Louis

Key policy Our SG Heritage Plan

Brief description of - These strategies and initiatives aim to raise awareness and pride in our
policy heritage, and in what makes us Singaporean.
- They will also help us in strengthening our identity, improving our
quality of life, and fostering our sense of belonging.

Possible reasons for its To preserve the rich and multicultural heritage which anchors our Singaporean
implementation, identity.
including
characteristics of While there is importance in preserving and conserving heritage sites, there is also
Singapore society the need to balance heritage preservation with future developments, particularly
and/or select given Singapore’s small land mass and constraints it faces with regards to limited
institutions (eg land size, and its high population density making the issue of land scarcity
pragmatism, especially important.
meritocracy) or the
phenomenon at hand Furthermore, with the fast-paced lifestyle and the transformation to modern life in
Singapore, intangible cultural heritage may be lost over time without proper
documentation. Hence, the project aims to conduct robust research and
documentation to ensure that such knowledge is retained and can be passed down
the generations and remain relevant.

In addition, with the increasingly globalised and interconnected world,

Singapore’s cultural heritage and traditional arts may be eroded as they are
influenced and/or replaced by foreign arts and literature. Thus the National Arts
Council (NAC) administers various programmes and initiatives to promote
traditional arts in Singapore, including traditional arts showcases and educational
programmes for schools. A major initiative of the NAC is the reopening of the
Stamford Arts Centre in 2018, which will have a strong focus on the traditional
arts.

Possible impact on It the short term, it can bring about an increased interest in local tradition, heritage
Singapore society, and culture which can be extremely vibrant and serve as a tourist attraction,
possibly on various attracting foreing tourists that travel to understand other cultures. For instance,
stakeholders or groups, many traditional trades and interesting stories still exist in our historic precincts
in short-term VS such as Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India and relevant authorities can
long-term etc work with the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and precinct partners such as the
Chinatown Business Association, One Kampong Gelam, and Little India
Shopkeepers and Heritage Association to promote these places as landmarks to
attract tourists.

In the longer term, it can establish a stronger national identity towards being a
Singaporean as we have many different kinds of heritage amongst our different
races but we have a shared heritage too, and the two are what binds us together.
Experiencing each other’s heritage is something
 Topic: Tradition, Heritage

that can bring us together even more, by understanding each other’s heritage, it can
promote interaction and better understanding between the diverse cultures here in
Singapore, further promoting racial harmony and eventually a greater sense of
national pride.
SPORTS
Key policy Brief description of policy Possible reasons for its Possible impact on Singapore
implementation, including characteristics society, possibly on various stakeholders
of Singapore society and/or select or groups, in short-term VS long-term etc
institutions (eg pragmatism, meritocracy) or
the phenomenon at hand

Vision 2030 Led by the Ministry of Culture, Community
and Youth (MCCY) and Sport Singapore,
Vision 2030 began with the question in 2012:
“How can Sport best serve Singapore in
the coming decades?” The group posed the
question to a total of 60,500 individuals. In
all, they received some 300 unique ideas,
which were then categorised into 20
recommendations to be implemented as the
pillars of Vision 2030.
Vision 2030 is an extremely broad
policy with multiple facets. These
various facets will be broken down as
other policies below.
Please refer below for the Possible
Reasons and Possible Impacts of the
specific policies.
Vision 2030 is an extremely broad
policy with multiple facets. These
various facets will be broken down as
other policies below.
Please refer below for the Possible
Reasons and Possible Impacts of
the specific policies.

Vision 2030 has four “strategic themes” as

follows:

1. Future Ready Through Sports

- “A life in sport can help people
prepare for a rapidly changing
world… [Sports] can offer a
parallel pathway to success as it
helps people develop the skill sets
and principles valued by society.”
 2. Sport Without Boundaries
- “... will provide everyone
[regardless of age, capabilities,
gender or social status,] with the
sports programming, physical space
and people-support they need to
pursue an active, healthy life
through sports.”

3. Sport as a National Language

- “Sport can unite us as friends,
colleagues, competitors and
communities while inspiring us as
Singaporeans.”

4. Organising for Success

- “... we need to collaborate and
coordinate the efforts of all
agencies, including private sector
organisations, to develop sport in
Singapore.”

SportCares SportCares “leverages positive sports
experiences to make a difference for the at-
risk and underserved (?) in our community.”
SportCares has a HEARTS Framework
which guides the way in which it organises
our sport programmes. The framework
aims to combine the Grit of Sports and the
Nurturance of Positive Relationships.
SportCares currently has two sections -
“For At-Risk Youths” and “Play-ability”.
The former involves core sport
programmes like football, athletics,
One reason for its implementation could be
Singapore’s constant strive to build an
inclusive society, especially for those
with both physical and mental disabilities.
This has been especially so ever since
Singapore came under the leadership of
President Halmiah Yacob, who has always
aimed to use her time in office to better the
lives of those with disabilities (for
example, she has already announced that
the Presidential Challenge 2020 will focus
on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)).
Furthermore, Singapore has always been a
very innovative society, in that
The first, most obvious groups affected
would be the PwDs. They are also most
likely to be the only group of people to
attain benefits in the short run. This is
because the activities that comprise
SportCares are specifically targeted
towards them, and if the programme
manages to expand its outreach and
achieve its goals, then the PwDs who are
part of the programme will likely benefit.
Furthermore, this programme could
potentially be advantageous to PwDs
outside the programme, as those
benefiting from the programme can
 basketball and swimming. It hopes to help
youths to get to know more about
themselves, pick-up the value of grit and
learn to label and manage their emotions
using the principles of sports.
The latter is a recreational sports programme
PwDs that allows PwDs to enjoy sports in a
fun and engaging social setting.
Anti-doping SG Surprisingly enough, Singapore does not
(Not part of Vision have its own anti-doping laws. Instead, it
2030) follows the World Anti-Doping Code
(WADA Code - hold up where did the last A
come from?). Details about the WADA code
can be found here: https://www.wada-
ama.org/en/what-we-d o/the-code
Singapore does, however, have a group
named Anti-Doping Singapore (or ADS,
which is dangerously close to the disease if
you ask me). The ADS was
it often finds ways to make use of one
sector of society to bring benefit to another
(for example, it makes use of the arts to
foster community bonding). As such, it is
only natural that it would utilise the
beneficial nature of sports to solve social
issues like the aiding of PwDs.
Singapore has always adopted a harsh
attitude and stance towards drugs
and its various affairs. In fact, Drug
Trafficking is among the few crimes in
Singapore that is punishable by the death
penalty (and other crimes include murder
and treason so that’s really saying
something). Thus, it is unsurprising that
Singapore would have such an authority to
ensure and maintain anti-doping in
Singapore.
Apart from this, Singapore’s name
act as an inspiration to them. In fact,
PwDs in the programme often receive a
good amount of recognition and media
coverage thanks to SportCares, with the
programme even holding the “inaugural
SportCares Awards” to celebrate its
participants (In 2019, Wheelchair rugby
coach Daniel Lee receives his Coaching
Inspiration Award from President
Halimah Yacob). Thanks to such
recognition, news of the empowerment of
PwDs will be more accessible, allowing
such PwDs to inspire others like them.
Finally, this programme could potentially
benefit the whole society, in that it could
increase Singaporean’s awareness of
PwDs, as well as their understanding of
their abilities and situations. This is
mostly thanks to the aforementioned
recognition and media coverage that this
programme provides.
The impact of such a policy is very
limited because it ultimately only affects
those who participates in the field of
sports. Still, it is undoubtedly an
important policy to establish and
maintain, and if the ADS is able to
successfully attain its mission,
sportsmen will be protected from
negative health and legal effects.
As mentioned previously, this policy
could also help to maintain Singapore’s
image as an honest
 established in 2010 by the then Ministry of
Community Development, Youth and
Sports as the national anti-doping authority
for Singapore.
Its main goals, in summary, are to plan and
implement an effective anti-doping
programme, advocate for a doping-free
sports scene, monitor sportsmen’s
compliance, pursue potential violations and
promote anti-doping research.
Its vision is “Every Singaporean Athlete is
a True Winner”, which sounds less like a
vision and more like some coded threat.
ActiveSG Sport Singapore has launched a
nation-wide programme called ActiveSG.
ActiveSG is an all-encompassing and
inclusive national movement for sport. It
recognises the value of sport in advancing
the national priorities of developing our
people and bonding our communities.
ActiveSG is a national movement to promote
sporting activities and it offers individuals,
families and communities ample
opportunities to experience and share the joy
of living better through sport. Sports
facilities are conveniently located all over
Singapore and are open to all.
ActiveSG also organises diverse, exciting
sports activities and lessons such as yoga,
martial arts and football etc. The sports
facilities are also conveniently located all
around Singapore to increase
and image in the global setting has
always been very precious and important,
especially given how reliant the country is
on the rest of the world. Thus, it would
make sense for the country to adopt the
same WADA code for its country’s
sportsmen, so as to ensure that even in the
sports scene, it continues to maintain a
healthy reputation among its stakeholders
and dependees.
One reason for the launch of ActiveSG is
due to the attempts by the government
towards making Singapore a sporting
nation and to draw attention away from
education and reduce emphasis on grades.
In recent years, Singapore has been
criticised for its over-emphasis on
education and high achievements in
examinations, causing high stress levels
and pressure to succeed. These high stress
levels has also resulted in the children’s
poor social skills, poor health and
unhappiness. Thus, the implementation of
ActiveSG aims to shift the focus from
education to a more holistic development
of youths beyond curriculum education. It
also strives to encourage youths and
children to take up sports to relieve stress.
nation among other countries. Believe it
or not, sports does play a role in the
building of a country's global reputation.
For example, Russia has been notorious
for doping in its sports, and it has already
been stripped of 43 Olympic medals. This
has cost the country its image. Singapore
cannot afford such a negative image, as it
relies on its trustworthy reputation to
boost various aspects of its society.
Thus, this policy could help Singapore to
maintain its economy, as well as its
healthy relationships with other countries.
The impact of such a movement is rather
extensive due to the wide reach of the
programmes and the fact that the target
audience is Singaporeans. On the
assumption that the aims of the
government are achieved, ActiveSG will
definitely benefit the lower income
families, the elderly and the youths.
Firstly, as previously mentioned, the
lower income families will be able to
enjoy the free facilities and subsidised
courses and have the opportunity to take
up sports of their interest without parents
having to worry about their finances and
their ability to provide extracurricular
lessons for their children.
Besides lower income families, the elderly
will also benefit through the cultivation of
a healthier lifestyle filled
 accessibility for all. All Singaporeans and
Singapore PRs can sign up for ActiveSG
membership registration for free and enjoy
many facilities provided.
Singapore Sport Singapore Sports Institute’s vision is to
Institute become a 21st century world class Sports
Institute and it was set up to support
Singapore’s rising athletic stars. Efforts
were made in many different areas such as:
1. Athlete Life to support athletes in their
education, career, and personal development
alongside their sporting goals.
2. Sports Medicine which focuses on the
diagnosis and treatment of injuries
associated with athletic training and
Secondly, Singapore is also experiencing
an ageing population. Through
providing such facilities and activities for
free, the government aims to encourage
more elderly to participate and exercise on
a more regular basis. This is because
regular exercise is key to ageing well and
ensuring a higher quality of life, both
physically and mentally.
Lastly, the Singapore government also
strives to build a more inclusive
society. Through the provision of such
free activities and services, this will ensure
that even the lower income families have
the opportunity to enjoy these benefits.
Like everyone else, they will also be able
to acquire new skills and pursue their
passion in any sport they wish without
feeling left out or at a disadvantage.
The introduction of Sports Medicine,
Sports Science Centre and scientific
research on sports could be attributed to the
highly competitive nature of Singapore.
Due to the competitive nature of the
Singapore government and Singaporeans
alike, there is a constant strive to excel and
a desire to be ahead in all aspects. As such,
Singapore aims to conduct extensive
research and development related to sports
gear, athletes performance and health
treatments in the hope of achieving
breakthroughs and establishing an edge
over other
with constant exercise. These activities
will not only improve the physical, but
also mental health of the elderly. They
will constantly activate and train their
motor skills and also keep their mind
active through their interactions with
others during the activities. Lastly, the
youths will also have much to gain as
they will have the opportunity to try out
new sporting activities and pursue their
passions. It will also provide them with a
good break from studying and decrease
stress levels, improving their quality of
life.
The impact and reach of the organisation
is rather limited as it is only targeted at
rising athlete stars in Singapore.
However, these athletes will greatly
benefit from the establishment of the
Singapore Sports Institute as the
organisation will ensure greater welfare
of the athletes through the provision of
better education and training
programmes.
Most importantly, the athletes will also
gain from any research breakthroughs,
especially if there is development in
injury treatments and more efficient
sports gear and training
 participation.
3. Sports Science Centre to help talented
athletes optimise their performance through
direct application of leading- edge science,
performance testing and monitoring, applied
research and education.
4. Science and Technology through
conducting research and development to
provide athletes with an edge over other
competitors in international games.
CoachSG CoachSG revolves around enhancing
coaching skills and empowering the
coaches of Singapore’s future sporting
talents.
Under CoachSG, coaching skills can be
improved through programmes involving the
studies of Sports and Behavioural Sciences.
There are also courses for character and
leadership development to learn how to
instill purpose, vision and the right sporting
values to Singapore’s athletes.
The National Registry of Coaches (NROC)
ensures the standard and professionalism of
sports coaching in Singapore as it serves to
ensure the minimal technical qualifications
of sports coaches. Coaches in the NROC are
duly
countries in the field of sports. The
pragmatic and profit-driven nature of
Singapore is also another explanation for
such investments in research as these
research findings are deemed profitable
and an asset especially in worldwide
competitions such as the World Cup,
Olympic Games etc. In addition, Singapore
sportsmen have not been able to achieve
many breakthroughs and set many world
records, thus the heavy investment in
sports research is pivotal in helping the
sportsman in Singapore and also attract
more to take on sports competitively.
After recent successes in international
sporting events such as the 2016 Rio
Olympics and Paralympics, the
government hopes to encourage aspiring
young athletes to represent the country in
various sporting events. Behind every
successful athlete is a skillful, motivational
and inspiring coach. Hence, in order to
increase youth engagement in sports, the
government has decided to create a
platform where any citizen can easily
source for a coach for the sport that they
are interested in. The ease and convenience
of finding a qualified coach, encourages
more people to pick up a sport he or she
might have a passion for.
programmes. Singaporean athletes will
thus be able to optimise their performance
during sports competitions and have an
edge over other athletes, increasing their
chance in setting new records. Other than
the athletes, the Singapore economy and
image in the sports industry will also be
boosted when their athletes have
improved performance and bring pride
and glory to the nation.
In the short run,
1. By continuously ensuring the
quality of coaches in Singapore
through various mandatory
courses that coaches under
CoachSG must attend, it prevents
those who are unqualified and
inexperienced from providing
low quality coaching and training
which can undermine
Singapore’s efforts in becoming a
sporting nation.
2. The website is accessible to
the public and is hence
non-exclusive, allowing citizens
from different backgrounds to
find a coach who is most suitable
for them, giving everyone an
opportunity to pick up a sport that
they are
 certified under the Singapore Coach
Excellence (SG-Coach) Programme
(formerly known as the National Coaching
Accreditation Programme or NCAP) in their
respective sports and must hold Standard
First Aid certification (including AED).
They are committed to abide by the Coach’s
Code of Ethics and meet the requirements for
Continuing Coach Education Programme.
These coaches’ profiles are made available
on an online public database called “Find A
Coach”
TeamNila TeamNila encourages sports volunteerism
which promotes the culture of giving and
creates opportunities for people of different
backgrounds to come together and give
back to society. For example, TeamNila
volunteers can conduct various physical
activities at sporting spaces and facilities in
our neighbourhoods such as floorball or
running. Volunteers can also help support
the physical and mental development
of children and the youth in their
various support roles, such as assistant
coaches with ActiveSG Academies and Club.
By assisting allied health trained experts,
volunteers help residents take ownership
of their
With Singapore’s growing workaholic
culture, the government wants to ensure
that our rapid economic growth is not at
the expense of our personal physical and
mental health → sedentary lifestyles due to
the advent of technology, competitive +
workaholic culture of Singapore where
people tend to isolate and overwork
themselves, thus taking a toll on both our
physical and mental health. Hence, it is the
government wants to encourage leading an
active lifestyle since young through
playing sports. By exposing Singaporeans
to different sports that they may be
interested in, exercising no longer seems
like a chore and can
interested in.
In the long run,
1. With more qualified coaching
available, it seems more viable to
pursue a career in sports and
represent the country on an
international scale. This can boost
Singapore’s reputation as a
growing sporting nation, instead
of being known for its academic
rigor and workaholic culture.
2. More Singapore representation in
the sporting arena also fosters a
greater sense of belonging and
pride when rooting for our
athletes, inspiring many other
citizens and bringing the nation
together.
In the short run,
1. This encourages individuals to
take ownership of their own
health as they make an effort to
lead a more active lifestyle.
2. Expands one’s social circle,
prevents isolation (especially
for the elderly where social
isolation is extremely
prevalent), improving one’s
emotional well-being
3. Provides those from lower
income brackets an opportunity
to participate in a myriad of
sporting activities → not
exclusive anyone can sign up to
be a volunteer or
health and wellness under the Active
Health initiative.
be incorporated into one’s lifestyle.
Furthermore, as Singapore’s population
ages, it is important that the elderly stay
active in their retiree years. Volunteers
under TeamNila thus organises suitable
sporting activities and events for all to
foster community bonding amongst
volunteers, participants and event
organisers, and at the same time allow
them to be empowered through sports.
participant
In the long run,
1. For individuals, it can add
years to your life and reduce
the risk of certain diseases
including cancer, diabetes,
cardiovascular disease,
osteoporosis and obesity
2. Stronger bonds can be forged
within communities as people
from different walks of life plan
and attend various sporting
events. → a more tight-knit
community results in less
tensions and disputes contributing
to a more cohesive society.
(especially important in a world
that is constantly plagued with
conflicts and chaos stemming
from differences in race, religion,
socio-economic status and gender
identities)
3. With more people taking more
responsibility in maintaining a
healthy lifestyle, there will be
less financial burden on the
government to subsidise and
fund the healthcare sectors.
Social Class/SES, Poverty

Policy Reason/Basis Impact

ComCare (by the Ministry of Social and Family Development)

ComCare for Children - The Government will invest even
- Childcare earlier in the educational journey,
Subsidies especially for those from
- Kindergarten disadvantaged families, "to lay a
Subsidies strong foundation for every child,
- Student Care and to strengthen social mobility,''
Subsidies said the paper.
- “Early childhood development
will increase in importance as a
social enabler, and we will
continue to explore ways to better
support children from
disadvantaged backgrounds,”
MSF said.
- Mr Leonard Lim, an IPS research
associate: "Education is the engine
that powers social mobility. The
moves to intervene early in
education are most significant to
me as they are an indication that
this Government is intent on
breaking any significant cycle of
inter-generational transmission of
poverty."
- Greater equality in terms of the
quality of education children
from all backgrounds can
receive -> equal opportunities,
equal chance of success +
realising their potential for
individuals -> greater chance of
success for the
community/nation
- Higher overall education
levels and more
highly-skilled Singaporeans in
the workforce later on -> good
for economic growth and
higher standards of living
within the country

ComCare for Families 3 areas the Government is working on: - Strong social safety nets for
- Home - Investing in every Singaporean, all Singaporeans, especially
Ownership especially the low-income and those in low-income groups
Plus vulnerable
Education - Providing assurance to deal - Ability of households with
(HOPE) with life's uncertainties low-income to own homes ->
Scheme - Improving social services. Improved standards of living of
these families, greater social
security

ComCare for Others - Additional support given to

(Unemployed, Needy, those who need it, and
Persons with cannot do without the
Disabilities) government’s provision
- Medical Fee
Exemption - Fulfilment of social contract:
Card: Free med Citizens’ basic needs are met
+
hospitalisation
 at
government
hospitals +
polyclinics
- Long Term
Assistance
(for those
unable to
work)
- Short-to-Medi
um Term
Assistance
- Urgent
Financial
Assistance

Others

Workfare Income Singapore is not a welfare state and - Relieve the financial burden
Supplement Scheme does not believe in providing free faced by low-income
- Supplements amenities. families/individuals
low-income
workers Instead, the country functions in a way that - Encourage low-wage workers
income and helps families plan their finances. Only if to work, by providing Central
retirement they are still unable to afford basic Provident Fund
savings amenities, the government would step in top-ups and cash
through cash and help subsidise their living expenses supplements
payments and
CPF - Help eligible workers to work
contributions. and build up their CPF savings
for their retirement, housing
and healthcare needs

“Uplift” - Uplifting At the secondary school level, 7.5 in 1,000
Pupils in Life and students are absent from school 60 days or
Inspiring Families more in a year without valid reasons.
Taskforce Many of these students with patchy
attendance come from disadvantaged
- Strengthens homes.
after-school
care and Singapore is a meritocratic society
support for wherein everyone, regardless of social
disadvantage d class has the potential to succeed.
students in Likewise, students from low-income
school-based households also have this potential and the
Student Care government wants to help them achieve that
Centres potential. To do so, we must ascertain the
gaps and identify what exactly is preventing
them from doing well.
Uplift addresses the need for better
coordination to tap community efforts and
resources more systematically
- Since the issues faced by
disadvantaged students are
multi-faceted, not all
interventions or assistance can
or should be
school-based.
- As such, Uplift considers the
needs of each youth to
facilitate community-based
outreach to families, and match
them to suitable community
programmes or assistance.
- This allows for more efficient
and targeted help for students
and their families -> improved
quality of life
Key policy (local) Brief description of policy
Singapore’s 2018 The master plan was developed
Five Year National through multi-agency efforts and is led
Cyber Security Plan by the Infocomm Media Development
Authority (IDA). It involves the
Cybersecurity Awareness and
Outreach programme, an effort to
promote adoption of cybersecurity
measures among individuals and in
workplaces. It does so through
broadcast media. For example,
cybercrime cases are featured every
now and then on Crimewatch, a
regular public education television
programme that re-enacts real life
crime scenes.
Possible reasons for its
implementation, including
characteristics of Singapore
society and/or select institutes
(eg pragmatism, meritocracy) or
the phenomenon at hand
As Singapore ventures into
developing herself into a Smart
Nation, advanced technologies have
been exceptionally prevalent and
utilised in this country. It is not an
uncommon sight over here for one
to utilise social media to aid them in
connecting with others, especially in
this age of globalisation. The fact
that Singaporeans are not aware of
how to protect themselves online
clearly shows in the increase in the
number of cybersecurity-related
crimes in recent years, where 6179
cybercrime cases were reported in
2018, a stark increase from 5351 in
2017. Educating Singaporeans on
methods to protect themselves from
falling prey to these crimes has thus
been deemed essential by law
authorities, hence the
implementation of this masterplan to
better mitigate the potential cyber
threats that arise from one’s
ignorant ways of using the internet.
Possible impact on Singaporean
society, possibly on the various
stakeholders or groups, in
short-term vs in long-term
This is especially necessary since
the cybersecurity landscape in
Singapore has been rapidly
evolving and new ways of cyber
attacks have been emerging. The
constant reviewing of this
masterplan will help ensure that it
is as relevant as possible to the
current cybersecurity situation. By
directly providing information to
Singaporeans on how to protect
themselves against cyber attacks,
especially through mediums that
are free and easily accessible such
as Mediacorp television channels,
their awareness of their
vulnerability to cyber attacks as
well as easy-to-follow steps on how
to use the internet responsibly will
be enhanced. Through enhancing
the security of cyber infrastructure
and equipping the general public
with methods to protect themselves
against cyber attacks, such a
programme aims to raise

Asia Pacific APCERT works to create a safe, clean and
Computer reliable global cyberspace through
Emergency collaboration between countries in the
Response Team Asia Pacific region, which was set up by
(APCERT) Singapore. This coalition was established
in 2002, where member countries
cooperate to maintain a network of
computer security experts in the region.
Member countries share information and
technology such as malicious codes and
information technology and at the same
time, jointly craft measures to deal with
large-scale cyber threats. Members may
also include their suggestions on how to
solve issues related to cybersecurity in
another country.
Given the rapid advancements in
technology, many Asia Pacific
economies have found themselves
largely dependent on the internet for
online banking, e-business and such,
and Singapore is not an exception.
Further, cyber incidents are increasingly
large-scale yet specific and definitely
more sophisticated. For instance, a
Cyber Security Agency of Singapore
(CSA) report showed a ten-fold rise in
phishing cases in 2017, and such attacks
could be carried out by other countries.
Since Singapore is highly dependent on
globalisation which facilitate cross-
border transactions, she is inevitably
more vulnerable to delocalised attacks
on her cyber environment as the low
barriers of entry to Singapore make it
convenient for hacking activities to seep
into the country. Therefore, it is
necessary for Singapore to put in as
much effort she can to mitigate cyber
attacks.
Moreover, Singapore is a pragmatic
Singapore’s level of preparedness in
tackling cyber attacks, further securing
Singapore’s cyber environment.
APCERT improves the pool of human
capital in Singapore’s Computer
Emergency Response Team as they are
more informed about the techniques
other countries may adopt to deter
cyber attacks of various forms.
Moreover, such a coalition allows for
the sharing of these information not
just to Singapore, but to the countries
around her. This thus strengthens not
only the cyber landscape of Singapore,
but that of the Asia Pacific region as a
whole. As member countries put in
joint efforts to improve their
cybersecurity, the ripple effect of such
protection in turn creates larger scale
resistance against cyber attacks.
APCERT also goes by the altruistic
purpose of building trust between
member countries. In the long term,
they would find that their country’s
security is interdependent and
maintaining such security is a
collaborative effort between

Cybersecurity A collaborative effort between public
Awareness Alliance and private corporations to increase
(comprising awareness of cybersecurity among the
representatives populace, through funding projects like
from CSA, IDA) roadshow exhibitions. An online portal
was also developed, in conjunction
with the National Crime Prevention
Council, to allow users to learn about
cybersecurity through games. This
policy aims to foster responsibility
safekeeping personal information
online.
nation which sees much importance APCERT’s members. Resultantly,
in establishing diplomatic relations diplomatic relations are formed
with as many countries all over the between member countries. This
world (“a friend to all, an enemy to helps to protect and allow
none” - MP Vivian Balakrishnan). individual member countries to
Such a coalition is hence essential advance their own interests. This in
as it is an outlet for member turn creates a safer cyber
countries to mutually help each landscape for all member countries
other solve one another’s issues. as they do not have to worry much
This inevitably fosters bonds and about the possibility of member
trust between member countries, countries turning their back against
which allows us to maintain peace in us and conducting a cyber attack
the midst of this terror-filled world. on us, because such an action will
only backfire against the country.
Singaporeans can hence rest
assured that their vulnerability to
cyber threats is lowered with the
help of APCERT.
Singapore is known as the Given time, the desired impacts of
technological hub of Southeast Asia. this effort, which include imbuing
Thus the flow of cyber information in necessary cybersecurity
and out of Singapore is rapid and knowledge onto the common
unstoppable. Moreover, the advent populace, will most likely be
of social media has fuelled an achieved. The accessible and
increased propensity of people to ground-up nature of this policy
upload personal information online. makes it more people-friendly, and
Unfortunately, the sinister catch is through hosting events in
that it is not just classified heartlands of the society,
government documents, but also the demographics who are less
private data of multitudes of Internet responsive to government
users, that are at the mercy of initiatives like the older generation
potential hackers. Thus, inhabiting a can reap the full benefits of the

SG Secure A government-sanctioned application
Application developed in response to the growing
threat of terrorism in Singapore.
Citizens are encouraged to install it in
their mobile phones to facilitate
smooth and rapid reporting of danger
during prior to potential attacks. This
makes it easier for armed forces to
pinpoint details of attack and clamp
down on it before more damage can
be done. The application is part of a
growing campaign to instill vigilance
and emergency response skills in
Singaporeans, so that they can
respond adequately should any perils
strike.
city pervaded by online media
makes it crucial for laypeople to be
adequately equipped with the
awareness and skills needed to
protect themselves and their
personal data from malicious third
parties.
Singapore is situated in close proximity
to many SEA countries. With the
increasing frequency of radicalisation in
some of these countries, like Malaysia
and Indonesia, the threat of radicalised
individuals crossing into our borders is
higher than ever. We ourselves are not
immune to radicalised countrymen, as
evidenced most recently by the two
Singaporean men who were detained by
the ISA for planning to join ISIS. The
plague of extremism is accompanied by
rising terror threats, and as more of
these brutalities are carried out by lone
wolves with no prior indications of an
attack, it is very difficult to rely on the
government alone to identify and
neutralise all potential dangers.
events. This is important since
elderly, being less
technologically-inclined than the
younger population, are especially
vulnerable to unscrupulous online
predators. The policy also has a
segment targeted specifically at
youths and students. This instills
the right mindset in them from an
early age, ensuring that they will
carry good cybersecurity habits
with them into their adulthood.
While there has thankfully been no
occasion yet where the SG Secure
application had to be put into full use,
the impacts of the application extend
far beyond its practical utilisation. The
overarching message of the SgSecure
campaign of “not if, but when” serves
as a constant reminder that our current
peace and security may dissolve at a
moment’s notice. As such,
Singaporeans are beginning to take the
importance of vigilance and
preparedness more seriously. Such a
mindset is key to safeguarding our
country’s stability, as every alert
individual can serve as an extra pair of
eyes to identify potential
threats. Since
radicalisation is a process that
 Thus, Singaporeans must also be
mobilised to aid in providing crucial
information to officials should attacks
really manifest.
goes mostly unnoticed by the outside
world, it is even more imperative for
friends and families of victims of
radicalisation to keep a close eye on
their loved ones, so that any exposure
to extremist content can be swiftly cut
off.

Exercise Heartbeat Exercise Heartbeat and the SGSecure (you (Please refer to SG Secure application, (The italicised part under SG
(emergency may choose to combine Exercise the rationales behind both programmes Secure could be used here as well)
preparedness Heartbeat and SG secure if you wish) at are the same)
exercise) Workplaces Programme serve to enhance
community preparedness to handle any
emergency situation effectively.
Exercise Heartbeat is a counter-terrorism
exercise ointly organised by the Singapore
Police Force (SPF) and Crowne Plaza
Changi Airport, supported by the
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF)
and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
The exercise can provide Singaporeans
first-hand scenarios of what would happen
during a terrorist attack preparing them in
case of such attacks.

Singapore Armed Under the Ministry of Defence, the
Forces; Singapore Armed Forces is a military
National Service component that comprises of 3 different
services: the Singapore Army, the
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)
and the Republic of Singapore
The policy of mandatory National
Service was made compulsory in 1967
after Singapore became an independent
state, and although it might not have
been a popular policy even till today,
it was
National Service is crucial in
Singapore especially because we are a
small country with a comparably small
population, and many other bigger
countries are able to breach our
boundaries and
 Navy (RSN). It has an active strength of
about 72 thousand individuals and
counting as they are able to mobilise
reservists during national emergencies and
wars.
↪ Under the Army, National Service is a
policy mandated by statutory law
that all male Singaporean citizens and
2nd-generation permanent residents must
serve for 2 years in active duty as a full-
time national serviceman under any of the
3 aforementioned services. Not complying
with conscription will result in a fine of
not more than $10,000, or imprisonment
not exceeding 3 years, or both.
Anti-fake news law: POFMA seeks to prevent the
pragmatic and forward-looking of the
Singapore government as it ensures that
our small nation state is able to utilise
and mobilise all our manpower to
protect the sovereignty of our country
through a highly trained and skilled
team of armed forces that is prepared
for combat.
A secondary reason as to why National
Service was implemented is to nurture
these national servicemens’ patriotism
and loyalty to the state to ensure that
they will be willing to fight for the
country should conflicts occur, through
evoking feelings of strong emotions and
attachment to their loved ones to
motivate them further during tiring
times e.g. well-known moment of
servicemen reading letters from their
parents and being touched.
Camaraderie and bonds are also tightly
knit through gruelling group activities
like long group hikes, which allows
them to find connections with like-
minded youths who are all experiencing
the same training e.g. well-known army
songs like Purple Lights build morale
for the section.
The primary reason for passing the
sovereignty with ease with their larger
troops, if we do not tighten our
security and ensure that all armed
forces are highly skilled and trained,
others can easily overtake our nation.
Hence, building a strong team of
armed forces can mitigate attacks
through the concept similar to that of
Mutually Assured Destruction during
the Cold War, where a country is so
well armed that no opposing nation
would dare to strike first as retaliation
would be equally, if not more,
devastating. This method of
preemptive deterrence is critical for
small, vulnerable nations like
Singapore to ensure their prolonged
survival.
Positive impact:
The Protection electronic communication of falsehoods anti-fake news bill, POFMA, was to While such a law potentially deters
Against Online (i.e. false statements of fact or misleading cease the spread of fake news in potential criminals to use online
Falsehoods and information), as well as to safeguard Singapore. Singapore has one of the platforms to stir public conflicts, it
Manipulation against the use of online platforms for the highest digital penetration rate. Our also promotes the exercise of self-
(POFMA) communication of such falsehoods. nation has an 82% Internet penetration censorship amongst the public. The
rate. This is much higher than the global law encourages online users to think
average rate of 50%. This provides before they post as their actions online
It also puts in place various measures much ease for online users to spread now come with a cost.
to counteract the effects of such fake news in the country. Online
communication and to prevent the falsehoods, if left unchecked, have the Negative impacts:
misuse of online accounts and bots potential to chip away at, destabilise Online users in the Singapore face
and ultimately the social cohesion restrictions on what they can post
(i.e. computer programmes that run
Singapore has painstakingly nurtured online. The anti-fake news law passed
automated tasks).
over the past few decades, particularly by Singapore's parliament could stunt
between different races and religions. innovation, a quality that the city-state
An example would be:Under section 3 As early as 2007, a picture of “halal wants to nurture under plans to expand
of the POFMA, statements pork” allegedly being sold in FairPrice its tech industry. The passage of the
communicated to one or more outlets island-wide went viral, forcing law comes at a time when Singapore, a
end-users in Singapore, through the the supermarket chain to lodge a police financial and transport hub, has been
internet and on social media platforms report and assure customers that this making efforts to position itself as a
such as Facebook and Twitter, as well was a falsehood. regional centre for digital innovation.
as MMS and SMS, would fall under Hence, the law could hamper this
the POFMA’s purview. Furthermore, Singapore’s proposed law effort.
is aimed at preventing the loss of trust
in the government and institutions that The law has potential to broaden the
has taken root in many Western government’s power. Under the law,
societies affecting the very foundations all ministers will have the power to
of democracy. When new media is issue “takedown orders” or ask for
weaponised to spread fake news this corrections from online portals if they
could potentially lead to a serious loss are found to have published deliberate
of falsehoods

Unmanned Aircraft All drone users have to meet stipulated
System Regulation regulations listed on the Civil Aviation
by the Civil Authority Singapore website, including
Aviation Authority owning permit passes when flying near
Singapore (5km) or over restricted areas like military
bases or aerodromes and not flying air
crafts weighing more than 7kg in total.
The maximum height that a drone can be
flown is also 200ft. Failure to meet such
laws will result in a fine up to
$20,000, or a jail term of up to 12 months,
or both.
trust in governments and important
public institutions such as medical and
legal professions. Ultimately, this may
even create a vicious cycle of populism
which was seen in many Western
countries. This threatens the
government's ability and power to solve
more mult-facted issues faced by the
country as now the government is
facing increasing number of obstacles to
implement their policies.
Drones that are flown at high altitudes
may disrupt crucial air traffic like
airplane routes or military training
which can potentially be dangerous for
both the pilots and passengers if
collisions were to occur. It also ensures
public and national safety as
individuals’ privacy can be protected
and are not breached from drones with
abilities to record footage, and on a
larger scale protect each country’s
private data and technology which may
be currently researched or tested to
prevent others from spreading highly
classified information to unwanted
people.
Hence, such laws ensure that there is
sufficient enforcement action
that are deemed against the public
interest. This is in conjunction with the
fact that Singapore's government has
always been criticised with benevolent
dictatorship. The law may then be a
tool for the government to garner more
control as they restrict voices online.
As Singapore is a small and densely
populated society with an equally busy
airspace, the advent of such
technology further enables users of
drones to intrude on others’ privacy
and activities albeit unknowingly or
even purposely. This set of laws acts
as a check and balance on drone users
to ensure that their freedom and
mobility to maneuver such machinery
that can even record materials is
restricted and capped by such
regulations, so that their autonomy is
limited.
against errant users to deter and
mitigate their actions of trespassing into
both personal and country-wide
boundaries.
Key policy Brief description of
policy
PAP Women’s Areas of focus include:
Wing -Work life balance
practices and
family-friendly support
structures
-Women’s thought
leadership group- policy
formulation and refinement
-Promotion of marriage
and parenthood
-uplifiting underprivileged
women
-active ageing
-raising representation of
women- workforce, top
positions, politics
Possible reasons for its
implementation, including
characteristics of Singapore
society and/ or select
institutions (eg
pragmatism,meritocracy) or the
phenomenon at hand
SG Cabinet remains
male-dominated (with only two
female Cabinet ministers in a 21-
strong Cabinet)->
Thus implementation
1. Ensures that women's needs, voices
and perspectives are heard and
reflected on a political level (Better
leverages on women's unique talents
for more inclusive and superior
outcomes for the community->
otherwise lacks women’s perspective
in politics and policies may be
potentially less attuned to the needs of
women)
2. Establishes the necessary support
systems and maximise opportunities
for women to realize their fullest
potential (Might otherwise be
overlooked or neglected due to lack of
representation women in politics as a
result of lack of understanding)
Possible impact on
Singapore society,
possibly on various
stakeholders or groups, in
short-term VS long-term
etc
Short term:
May not necessarily lead to
much change in society
because policies take time to
materialise and be accepted by
society. But the fact that more
is being done gives women
hope of a brighter future.
Long term:
Greater representation of
women in parliament will
catalyse the establishment of
gender parity in Singapore.
The common
struggles/discrimination in the
workplace will be more
effectively translated into
legislative action as women
are now empowered to fight
for their own rights.
Women in parliament also tend
to push for family and
children’s rights, setting off a
chain reaction in achieving
rights for the marginalised in
Singapore.
Women having been
empowered to contribute to the
development of Singapore,
eventually plays a key role in
nation building, economically,
socially & politically
AWARE Provides a feminist
perspective in the national
dialogue. It has effectively
advocated against laws,
public policies and
mindsets that discriminate
against women. AWARE
has contributed towards the
strengthening of laws
dealing with domestic
violence.
Convention on the Signed by Singapore in
Elimination of All 1995. It is an international
Forms of treaty adopted in 1979 by
Discrimination the UN. Defines what
Against Women constitutes discrimination
(CEDAW) against women and sets up
an agenda for national
action to end such
discrimination. Countries
who sign on have to work
towards 1. Gender equality
in legal systems
2. Eliminate
- SG as an air-conditioned
nation-> PAP may become
overly paternalistic/ High
confidence in PAP leads to
assured re-election of
PAP-> PAP may start to
become complacent ->
AWARE does not align itself
with any particular political
party thus acts as an effective
check and balance to ensure
greater transparency and
accountability in policy
making
- Climate of fear in civic
engagement, little constructive
state citizen dialogue to
checkmate state
-> AWARE promotes greater
civic participation in society
- Limited freedom of speech
in SG -> AWARE, as a
leading advocacy group with
recognition by the public and
the government can help to
promote freedom of speech,
expression and assembly
Singapore is an Asian country →
asian values → pervasive gender
norms and roles. Societal attitudes
pressurize women to conform -
women as the homemaker, and
men as income earners.
Singapore statistics:
Gender pay gap 11.8% (2017) Over
the last three years, women earned
about 12.8 per cent less than men in
Singapore, taking home about 87
Singapore cents for every S$1 earned
by men in terms of median pay.
LR: can more effectively
allow the struggles of women
to be heard by our male-
dominated government. Even
if there is an
underrepresentation of women
in parliament, the male
ministers can still take the
necessary action once more
females speak out.
Allows for state-citizen
connection, and acts as a
checkmate to the government.
Increase size of labour force
→ increase yf → etc
→ ultimately economic
growth.
Equal opportunities in the
workforce and in school
allows society to harness the
true potential of the women
here. Betterment of societal
welfare. Idea of pragmatism
and utilising all available
economic units.
SR: take time to materialise.
 discrimination 3.
Establish tribunals to This is according to a Glassdoor report
protect women from - Progress on the Gender Pay Gap:
discrimination 2019, published on Wednesday. The
multi-country study by the job and
recruiting platform analysed 5,096
salaries reported by Singaporean
employers on Glassdoor's site from
2016 to 2018, and found the average
annual base pay for men to be
S$71,631.
May be met with initial
resistance because of our
traditional asian values. It is
hard to overcome stereotypes
so deeply etched in society.
LR: Greater political
representation means closing
the gender pay gap and
crushing deep-rooted gender
norms.

In comparison, women earned an

average base pay of S$61,653 per
year, working out to an overall
difference of S$9,978.

As Singapore inevitably advances

towards an aging population,
economically active women is slowly
becoming an imperative.
Especially since we have scarce
resources and limited labour size.

Only 16% female representation in

the cabinet → need for women’s
representation in order for political
decisions to materialize to provide
equal opportunities and rights for
girls and women.

Glass ceiling for Women are under-represented at

women at work - senior management levels, with
fewer women than only 8.3% of SGX-listed companies
men are in having women on their boards in
leadership 2013 and 15.2% as of December
positions 2018

Council for Board It has 20 members - nine Stats: Internationally, Singapore still Stats: in the past four years,
Diversity men and 11 women. trails other countries in terms of women's membership on
Measures include female board representation according corporate boards for top 100
engaging stakeholders on to figures from the DAC, coming primary-listed companies on
the appointment of behind countries including France SGX has doubled.
women onto boards, (42.5 per cent female representation),
undertaking activities to Norway (42.1 per cent), Malaysia SR: Can increase the
raise public awareness (19.2 per cent) and employment of female
 of the importance of board
diversity, working to
develop a pipeline of
board-ready women and
working with the
Government on policies
that impact women on
boards.
Women’s Charter The Women's Charter is an
Act of the Singaporean
Parliament passed in 1961.
It brings together the
regulation of the
relationship between
husband and wife and the
relationship between
parents and their children,
termination of marriages
and division of
matrimonial assets.
Furthermore, it provides
protection against family
violence and penalty for
offences against women
and girls.
India (15.7 per cent) - though some of
these countries have quotas for female
representation on boards.
Aims to promote a "sustainable
increase" in the number of women on
boards of listed companies, statutory
boards and non-profit organisations
by a number of measures.
Introduces fresh perspectives and
enhances corporate governance ->
Singapore, being a global financial
and business hub, is natural ground for
having a big pool of highly capable
board-ready women (also quoted from
Mdm Halimah)
The Act was designed to improve and
protect the rights of females in
Singapore by guaranteeing greater
legal equality for women in legally
sanctioned relationships in a country
that is strict when it comes to
following the law.
The regime prior to the Women’s
Charter was highly patriarchal and had
been extremely unfair to women. Men
could legally take several wives.
Women did not have the right to keep
their maiden names and it was not
clear if they could even own property.
leaders across various
industries, ensure that
deserving candidates are not
deprived of opportunities
simply because of their gender
even though the females may
be just as capable or even more
so than the males
LR: Enables corporations to be
progressive, successful and
sustainable as the business
landscape rapidly evolves
since increasing gender
diversity on boards equips
boardrooms and corporates
with more diverse strengths,
skill and talent (Eg. Emotional
intelligence), bringing
diversity in views and ideas to
the table and adding value to
policies and practices by
providing women’s
perspective
Women:
It has provided women with
some fundamental rights that
women today take for granted
but which were not available
before the Charter. However it
can also be argued that in
giving women special
privileges, there is a risk of
discriminating against the very
people it is trying to protect, by
undermining the ability of
women and discouraging the
obliteration of social
perceptions of female
inferiority.
Nonetheless, changes have
been made to reflect how less
women are dependent on men
for financial income
 now by extending the
maintenance law such that
women are not the only ones
who can seek maintenance but
incapacitated men who are
genuinely in need.

Men:
Women’s Charter has been
criticised for becoming a tool
for discriminating against the
man rather than safeguard for
disadvantaged women. Men
could not seek maintenance
until in 2016, where
amendments were made to the
law such that men can apply
for maintenance however
unlike women, they can only
do so if they are incapacitated.
Critics argue that this
perpetuates gender inequality
and maintenance should be
based on need not gender.
However, opponents counter
that their call for gender
neutrality comes in a society
where the man is still expected
to be the main breadwinner in
many households.The growing
group of house husbands is
still a small minority. The
10,200 Singaporean men who
cited family responsibilities as
the main reason for not
working in 2014 must be
compared to the 190,900
women who in the same year
cited the same reason for not
being in the labour force

Singapore Council National Coordinating Strength in numbers, more effective Advocates: empowers
of Women’s body of women’s flow of information, advocates by providing
Organisations organisations in Singapore
(SCWO) working towards ideals of
‘Equal Space, Equal
Voice and Equal Worth’
for women in Singapore
that is represented on
various government and
inter-ministry
committees, as well as
regional and
international bodies
Sexual Assault In 2015, 162 rapes were
Care Centre reported to the police in
(SACC) Singapore. While low
numbers of sexual crimes
may seem like the
situation here is not
severe, in reality, that can
mask the fact that many
survivors simply do not
report their assault.
Women’s rights to ASEAN regional human
the ASEAN rights institution
Commission on the established in 2010.
Promotion and
multiple perspectives-> Commands
greater authority and enables higher
efficiency in taking action against a
society that remains male-dominated
on various levels from politically in
the cabinet of ministers to
economically in the workforce in the
board of directors to more successfully
push for changes in society that ensure
greater rights for women.
The SACC is Singapore's only
specialised centre for sexual assault
survivors and it found that
approximately seven in 10 clients
who reached out for help in 2016 did
not make police reports.
There was a recent court case where a
man was acquitted of sexually
assaulting a 15-year-old girl. The
court, in acquitting the accused, found
that the victim was not "prompt in her
complaints" and "there were no
reasons for her not to confide in
members of her family".
them with a platform to voice
their opinions and inspire
others to take action Females:
know that they have support
in the form of an organisation
that protect and advocates for
their rights
Government: may change
policies as a result of
campaigning or lobbying by
the advocates and the petitions
supported by the organisations
Such assumptions ignore the
reality of what survivors
struggle with and the
psychological impact of
trauma. When we question the
validity of what survivors can
recall or invalidate their
experience because of when
they chose to speak up, we
risk discouraging and
disempowering them further.
The problem of
under-reporting is not one that
can be solved with a few
changes to court procedures.
At the crux of it, we need to
tackle our social attitudes and
understanding of sexual
assault and how survivors are
affected. Our words and
actions can create a culture
where survivors receive the
compassion and protection
they deserve.
Protection of the ACWC’s primary purpose
Rights of Women is to promote and protect
and Children the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of
women and children in
ASEAN. ACWC is tasked
with upholding rights
contained in the
Convention on the
Elimination of Violence
Against Women
(CEDAW) and the
Convention on the Rights
of the Child (CRC), which
all ten ASEAN Member
States have ratified.

SAF Volunteer Uniformed volunteer More roles for women to take up-> SR: can increase manpower in
Corps auxiliary of the Singapore capitalise on women’s skillsets-> the army so that we have more
Armed Forces established highlights value of women in national troops that can be mobilised in
in October 2014 to defence in their own ways where times of need; more manpower
encourage Singaporean there is a perception that women are that can be activated during
women, first generation not required to serve NS in Singapore large-scale events such as the
Permanent Residents and as being biologically weaker National Day Parade
new immigrant/naturalised- undermines their ability to contribute LR: strengthen our army and
citi zens to do their part to the strength of our military defence force, improve the
and contribute towards (Especially relevant as technology is safety and security in
Singapore's defence revolutionising warfare in a way Singapore, people living in
where it no longer depends on sheer Singapore feel safer and that
combat power) their home is
well-guarded and protected;
other countries may be less
inclined to take aggressive
actions against us because of
our strong defence force and
well-trained army that is ready
for activation anytime

Singapore The Singapore To empower both men and women in Short Term: There campaigns
Committee for UN Committee for UN Singapore to support the global and initiatives may not be
Women Women is a non-profit initiatives such as “HeforShe”, to end effective in the short run and
organisation that is self- violence against women, both locally hence its benefits may not be
funded. It aims to and internationally, and to raise seen immediately. Women
empower women and general awareness of such who
 achieve gender equality. It
supports the general
mission of UN Women by
raising awareness and
funding for Ending
Violence Against Women,
Economic Empowerment,
and Governance and
Leadership Programmes in
Singapore and the region.
Centre for CFF is an organisation
Fathering (CFF) that aims to equip fathers
Singapore with the necessary skills
to care for their child and
be more involved in their
child’s growth and
development. It aims to
empower fathers to be
better role model for their
children and to be more
present and active
issues. In Singapore only one in ten
women report incidences of sexual
and physical abuse and hence, this
organisation aims to empower women
who are currently exposed to such
violence to speak up and protect
themselves from abuse.
The organisation also strives towards
bridging the gender pay gap in
Singapore to promote gender equality.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of
Manpower in Singapore found that the
pay gap here sits at 11.8 percent in
2018. Hence, the organisation is
fighting for gender equal pay in
Singapore through the equal pay
campaigns.
- In the past, women were
viewed to be the primary
caregivers for their children
and were expected to be
in-charge of raising their
children while the men went
out to work to provide a
source of income for the
family. → more women
were stay-at-home mothers.
- Currently, due to the high
cost of living in Singapore,
are being subjected to such
violence may not speak up
immediately due to the fear of
being subjected to more abuse
in the future.
Long Term: In the long run,
the benefits of this committee
will be reaped as more
individuals are likely to come
forward to report cases of
abuse as they may feel more
safe and confident in reporting
such acts.
As for the equal pay
campaign, it may be beneficial
in bridging the gap slightly in
the long run as more
individuals become aware of
the gender pay gap. Moreover,
in this
day-and-age, more women are
educated as compared to the
past, and hence they are more
bold in speaking up and
fighting for their rights to
equal pay.
However, the unequal gender
pay may still exist as the
traditional mindset that men
are superior to women is
difficult to change in a
conservative country like
Singapore.
- CFF be beneficial in
helping fathers take
over the role of
caregivers for their
children.
- As both parents are
able to care for their
child, they can both
enter the workforce
to increase their
income and can both
share the
in their child’s more women are required to
development. enter the workforce to
provide and additional
source of income for the
families.
- Ageing population in
Singapore → workforce is
shrinking and hence, the
country requires additional
manpower in the workforce
to provide greater output for
the economy. → more
women are required to work
→ it is crucial for fathers to
be aware of how to care for
their children to relieve to
additional stress on
mothers, enabling them to
be more productive at work
to improve the economy.
responsibilities of
caring for their
children→ improving
the economy as the
problems arising
from a shrinking
workforce can be
reduced.
- Benefit the children
as both parents are
heavily involved in
all stages of their
lives to provide them
with the support and
guidance → can
improve their
academic
achievements and
enable them to
succeed and enter
promising career
paths in the future.
Singapore’s education system is reputed for producing children who top the world rankings in standardised
tests. Singapore topped global education rankings in the last Pisa’s tests organised by Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2016.

Cause 1: Need for effective education system

● Small country without natural resources → government need to invest heavily in human resources for
economic growth
● Compulsory 10-year education policy → criminal offence for parents who fail to enrol children in school→ ensures
all Singaporeans have basic education to have the fundamental skills and knowledge to gain employment and
navigate through society

Cause 2: Educational policies

● Heavy subsidies for education: free Pri Sch, Sec Sch is $5/month, non-independent JC is $6/month → cost is not a
barrier, education is considered universal in SG
● Educational policies are sensitive to global climate and demands:
○ English is a compulsory subject → valuable as english is the language of commerce and connection in the
world
○ Mother tongue language to connect people to their roots, embed a sense of identity in today’s increasingly
globalised world characterised by a dilution of cultures and identities → not lose sense of themselves
● 1990s - 2000s Movement “Teach Less Learn More” encourage greater flexibility and innovation: curriculum was
reduced by 20%, more ‘Suggest’ possible outcomes at O level science paper
● IP for more advanced curriculum
● PW at A level to design solutions to real world issues
● Specialised curriculums of arts,sports and science schools
● Moral education: to shape students into people with the right set of values → invaluable to possess virtues of
honesty, responsibility and appreciation in today’s increasingly materialistic world where young people have been
criticized for their growing self-obsession and narcissism and may become blinded by the glamourous and tangibles,
motivated to commit unscrupulous deeds harmful to society
● Math: Developed the Singapore model method of Mathematics was developed → which is the model drawing/‘bar
drawing’ method so students can learn to visualise problems without resorting to algebra → besides, math word
problems encourage application to real-world problems → today, this method of teaching maths is considered to be so
effective that some British and American schools in their home countries have adopted this method

Cause 3: Culture
● Asians all over the world place great emphasis on education → stellar results of Asian immigrants in America and
England are common place and performance of Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Indian students at international Maths
competitions → reflect the cultural mindset towards education
● Singaporeans whose ancestors come from China, India and Malaysia generally have the same driven mindset about
education. As the society becomes more affluent and globalised, more and more parents see education as an important
facet of their children’s lives.

Cause 4: Supporting tuition industry

● Billion dollar industry
● While detractors argue that their existence is the result of ‘kiasu-ism’, few would deny that it contribute to many
students’ excellent results.
● 60% of high school and 80% of primary school students receive private tuition
● (PSLE) is considered a high-stakes exam that determines not just what high school a child will enter, but whether a
child is streamed into a school that will fast track him or her to university.
 ● Many middle-class parents believe the “race” starts early. Parents are increasingly expected to have their preschool aged
child reading and writing and with basic math skills before they even enter school—and this is frequently achieved
through private preschools and “enrichment” tuition.

Benefits 1: Economic growth

● Spurred by highly skilled workforce: High levels of education in Singapore (26% of population enrolled in publicly
funded university) has led to a labour force that is able to contribute to highly specialised sectors such as the
pharmaceutical industry
Other students are taught technical skills, in polytechnics and ITE, that translate directly to the workforce, allowing them
to be productive contributors to the economy.

Benefit 2: Increased social mobility

● Despite the increase in income inequality that education can cause, education in SG has led to greater social mobility
than in most other countries.
● nine in 10 students from the bottom 20 per cent of households by income made it to post-secondary education
in 2018, up from five in 10 students in 2003.
● going by the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) test, 5-year-olds here from disadvantaged
backgrounds have performed consistently better, in areas such as maths and science, than those of similar
backgrounds in other developed countries

Flaw 1: Rote learning

● Heavy emphasis on STEM (Sci, tech, engineering, math) subjects → borne out of historical urgency to produce
workers to drive economy → though winning strategy that led to remarkable growth rates (4 Asian Tigers), produced
books-smart students with little creativity and independent thought
● Exam oriented; too much emphasis on academics, rote learning and passive memorization deeply entrenched in the
system → unable to apply their knowledge into situations → not adaptable, flexible and critical
● However, exam smartness will only go so far → more challenging to predict the future economy and determine the
jobs of tomorrow → education system should be imparting adaptive skills for individuals to thrive in a fast-
changing world and the digital age → important for individuals to be able to apply that knowledge to real-world
challenges with their inference, analytical and problem-solving skills
● Economy also needs fresh ideas that can only be fueled by innovation and creativity → needs entrepreneurs who can
find unique ways to fill gaps with new initiatives.

Flaw 2: Breeds stress

● consensus among locals that the Singapore education system, with its competitive nature and its deep emphasis on
grades and tests, is far too stressful → high anxiety plagues a high proportion of students in Singapore (anxiety levels
in SG, at 86% for those who said they were worried about poor grades in school were significantly higher than the
OECD average, 66%) → when schools take an emotional toll on students, that is a problem. It is also a problem when
students are pressurised so intensely that they define their worth according to their academic results
● 27 suicides among 10- to 19-year-olds in Singapore in 2015
● In May 2016, an 11-year-old boy jumped to his death, fearful of sharing his exam results with his parent as it was the
first exam he failed

Flaw 3: Worsens inequality

● Education system is underpinned by the concept of meritocracy in which talent and ability pave the way to success
→ hinges on fairness but paradoxically, it can breed systemic unfairness.
 ● Even if all students have equal opportunities to enter the race, unequal starting line → Knowing fully well that success
hinges on ability, affluent families invest greatly in their child’s early education through means like enrolling them in
enrichment classes.
○ Surveys show that only 20% of those in the lowest two income brackets have a child in tuition while 60% of
high school and 80% of primary school students receive private tuition
○ 40% of GEP from families income spend more than 10k with enrichment classes
● The wide income disparity in Singapore, when left to its own mechanisms, will easily translate to
lower-income children underperforming when compared to their higher-income classmates with greater resources →
hinders intergenerational mobility (i.e. the ability for different generations within the same family to change their social
status).
● The paradox is compounded with streaming, which in theory gives students room to grow at the pace that matches
their learning abilities → but in practice may form a caste system that widens the divide between students based on
their academic standing.
● Education itself may also contribute to inequality → in a skills-based economy where university education is
rewarded with monetary remuneration, the education gap reinforces the income gap between individuals. In this way,
education keeps the wheel of inequality in motion.

Measures taken
● Government has realised this and implemented greater moves to shift away from an over-emphasis on academic results,
and provide students with more flexibility and space to develop their strengths and interests throughout their education:
○ Changing of PSLE scoring system from T score to Achievement Level banding to eliminate
benchmarking against peers → reflect a student’s level of achievement, rather than how he has
performed relative to his peers
○ Removal of mid-year examinations for Sec 1 students and all weighted assessments for Pri 1 and 2 students
○ Spending on the pre-school sector, bursaries and educational programmes for lower income families will be
doubled by 2022 to narrow the inequality gap at an early stage before it worsens.
○ Applied learning programmes: focus on solving real-world problems beyond the classroom through ideation,
innovation and creativity → move towards developing skills that will be relevant for the future.
○ Government champions lifelong learning: SkillsFuture provides an array of workforce development
programs for people from various backgrounds → made accessible through direct subsidies with
SkillsFuture Credit.

Pessimism:
● However, such moves may not be effective due to long-lasting and potentially stifling cultural effects of
yesterday’s system
● Can still ‘game’ an exam by studying keywords, model answers
● Stressful education system cannot be resolved easily → many students face immense pressure from their parents
because the society, as a whole, have the mindset that excelling in examinations is the best way to get ahead in life →
situation can only change if parents believe that the education system will present their child with many opportunities to
prove themselves in future → only then will exams cease to be a life-defining hurdle.

Whose education system should SG emulate?

 ● South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong are three other Asian countries that fare well in global rankings → however are
similar to SG in its huge emphasis on educational achievement, the presence of high-stakes standardised testing,
and the normalcy of competition → should turn to the west
● Finland has a unique education system that is successful despite going against the traditional ideas of school
○ No private schools → students can get the same quality education
○ Rankings are minimised → minimal standardised tests and little homework.
○ Teaching is a highly respected profession → all teachers are required to have a master’s degree
○ Hence, boasts high performance on global scores and other indicators → world’s most literate nation.
● Nordic region school systems, in Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden
○ not many national tests → puts less stress on the system
○ Creativity, collaboration, and communication – important 21st-century skills – have been rooted deep into the
national curriculum since decades ago.
○ The education system, including universities, are free, in line with the Nordic welfare state model.
○ While these countries perform average on PISA rankings, graduates have proven their talent in areas like
music, game design and technology innovation.

Conclusion
● SG education system compared to other countries is world-class.
● Despite its flaws, it is already a system that many nations hope to emulate.
● To address the flaws present in the system, Singapore education reforms are coming to place in small steps.
● As long as the government keeps up its efforts to develop essential skills needed for the future, create equitable
conditions for all students, reduce unhealthy competition, and broaden the pathways to success, future generations
can be postulated to be on a good road.
Migration, Multiculturalism
Names of group members: Amanda, Hafsa, Priya, Shuning
Key policy Brief description of policy
Group Representation - a type of electoral
Constituencies (GRCs) division/constituency in which teams
of candidates competed to be elected
as the Members of Parliament (MPs)
- within each GRC, at least 1
individual should be of Malay,
Indian, or another minority race
- the size and racial composition of a
GRC is defined by the president
prior to each election
Class: 19S03O
Possible reasons for its implementation,
including characteristics of Singapore society
and/or select institutions (eg pragmatism,
meritocracy) or the phenomenon at hand
- first pitched in 1982 and implemented in 1988, the
GRC system was implemented to ensure minority
representation in Parliament
- underlying currents of racial tensions in the years
following Singapore’s independence
- the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, then Prime Minister, had
noted that young voters were less aware of the
importance of having a racially balanced Parliament
→ if this voting trend were to continue, minority
groups would become underrepresented in parliament,
leaving them vulnerable to disregard by policy-
makers
- protects minority groups’ interests by reducing the
odds of political parties implementing racially-biased
policies; ensures Singapore’s Parliament would
always be multiracial in composition and
representation
Possible impact on Singapore society, possibly on
various stakeholders or groups, in short-term VS
long-term etc
POSITIVES
- as GRCs grew in size and numbers, from 14 in 1988 to 30
in 2017, the number of minority MPs has also steadily risen
- PM Lee Hsien Loong had cited the GRC system as an
“important stabiliser” in Singapore’s political
landscape, allowing minority MPs to enter the parliament
regardless of the election outcomes NEGATIVES
- some, like civil society group Maruah, have argued that
the requirements for GRCs creates a barrier for smaller
political parties (i.e. opposition parties) that want to contest
in elections as it is more difficult for them to field a quality
team
- some also believe that the GRC system perpetuated the
expectation of ethnic voting (definition: variation in
electoral choices across ethnic groups)
- with the advent of 5 or 6 membered GRCs, some have
noted that the proportion of minority members has fallen
→ BUT since 2009, PM Lee has signalled the intent to
reduce the average size of GRCs and increase the number of
single number constituencies
- through groups helmed by senior politicians, GRCs have
become a means for the PAP to introduce first-time
candidates to Parliament → questioning of the fairness
behind elections and whether this puts opposition parties at
a further disadvantage
- some have also argued that the GRC system means that
electors have unequal voting rights, which deepens the gap
between MPs and voters, and further
entrenches racialism in the Singapore political system
Ethnic-based Self-help - 4 Self-Help groups, each
Groups (SHG) addressing the needs of 1 prominent
racial group in Singapore: the
Chinese Development Assistance
Council (CDAC), Mendaki, the
Singapore Indian Development
Association (SIDA) and the Eurasian
Association
- employees are required to
contribute a portion of their monthly
salary to the self-help groups for
their respective ethnic groups
- the amount donated is dependent
on each individual’s pay
COLLABORATIONS:
1)Collaborative Tuition
Programme
- allows students to enrol in the
tuition centre closest to them,
regardless of which ethnic self-help
group runs it
- now has 83 centres islandwide, and
has helped more than 97000 students
2)Big Heart Student Care Centres
- after-school care in primary
schools offered to needy students
3)Self-Help Group Centres
- Vibrance @ Yishun, a Self-Help
Group Centre (SHG centre), is a
collaboration between the 4 Self-
Help groups
- provides a common space for
different races to bond and integrate
- organises programmes to serve low
income households,
irregardless of ethnic differences,
First Self-Help group: Mendaki
- the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew had found that a larger
percentage of Malay students were consistently
weaker in mathematics and sciences, and hence he
collaborated with Malay community leaders in 1980
in order to “tackle the problem of Malay
underachievement” → Mendaki was then established
in 1982
- Mendaki’s progress in the following years then
spurred the establishment of the Singapore Indian
Development Association in 1991 and the Chinese
Development Council in 1992
- WHY:
a. most likely due to Singapore’s desire for
economic progress in the years following
independence, and hence the need for every Singapore
to be economically productive → development from
young through education
b. may also be due to the need to prevent the
formation of racial enclaves arising from varying
social classes → Singapore’s racial harmony had been
fragile, and hence it was necessary to prevent the
racial divide from widening due to income disparities,
poor education etc.
c. the establishment of ethnic self-help groups
allows for programmes to be more
culturally-nuanced and targeted
COLLABORATIONS
- to promote interracial collaborations; the recognition
that in a time of prosperity and growing
multiracialism, there is a need to look beyond the
ethnic communties and address certain needs as a
nation → as Singapore develops, issues are becoming
increasingly complex and cross-cultural; many issues
are now common to all races e.g. struggles of low
incomes, concerns with educational outcomes
POSITIVES
- promotes a sense of ethnic identity; a sense of duty one
has towards those in the same ethnic community
- each SHG provides customised assistance, and this helps
to better cater to the needs of the community (e.g.
underrepresentation of minority races in tertiary education
institutes → Medanki offers a Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy
of up to 100% for Malay students with a household per-
capita income of under $1000)
- ensures socio-cultural advancement of each ethnic
community through sharing of cultures or collaborations →
the key driver of racial harmony at the grassroots level
NEGATIVES
- the division and differentiation of aid by race may
undermine the principle of equity and meritocracy
- some minority groups may be excluded in the process
and hence not receive such extensive assistance, which may
be disproportionate to their actual need
- racial differences may wound up being further
entrenched through SHGs due to the innate divisive nature
of racial classification → SHGs have to carry out their
ethnic responsibilities without seeming exclusive
LONG RUN
- Singapore’s demographics have become increasingly
cosmopolitan and the distinctions between races have been
blurring → the erosion of a fixed racial identity can be
attributed to factors like: immigration, inter-ethnic
marriages etc.
BUT SHGs seem to recognise Singapore’s changing needs,
and have adapted through inter-ethnic collaborations
(shifting focus from needs to ethnic groups to needs of the
nation)
- question of the relevance of ethnic SHGs in times to come
→ parallel to the debate on the “CMIO” concept
 through offering a variety of
programmes from tuition to coding
courses for children, and workshops
for parents
- Activity Fee Subsidy (of up to
90%) to eligible students of low
income families to attend educational
programmes
organised at the centre
Singapore Citizenship - Mandatory programme for new
Journey (SCJ) citizens to help them integrate into
Singapore
- Aims: enrich new citizens’
understanding of the key milestones
in Singapore’s history and
development, deepen their
appreciation of Singaporean norms
and values, provide opportunities for
meaningful interaction with their
local community
- Consists of both online modules,
experiential learning programmes
and community sharing sessions
(meeting with grassroot leaders and
residents from their own
constituency)
Sedition Act - Sedition Act: Criminalizes actions
Section 298 of the Penal which promote feelings of ill-will or
Code hostility between
- Implemented since 2011
- Disputes between immigrants and Singaporean as a
result of cultural differences: A family of new Chinese
immigrants complained about the smell of curry
cooked by their Indian neighbour. The compromise
made after mediation was for the Indian family to
cook curry when the Chinese family were not at
home, a solution that was voluntarily accepted by the
Indian family in the interest of racial harmony. →
Some Singaporeans unofficially designated 21 August
2011 as “Cook and Share a Pot of Curry” to celebrate
and share the Singaporean way of life with
immigrants through curries.
- Need for greater understanding between
immigrants and Singaporeans and acceptance of
cultural differences for a more cohesive society
→ particularly important as Singapore faces falling
fertility rates (1.14 in 2018), an aging population +
increasing number of transnational families which
points to the growing reliance on immigrants for the
economy to remain competitive + need to remain
open to immigrants
- Fragile social fabric of Singapore that had been
threatened by incidents such as 1964 racial riots,
Maria Hertogh riots → points to the sensitivity of
racial and religious issues in Singapore
- Measure may not be very effective: According to a 2018
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey of about 4000
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, 67% said that
immigrants are not doing enough to integrate into society
POSITIVES
- Expose new citizens to brief Singapore history and culture
→ starting point for new citizens to reflect on their soon-to-
be identity as a Singaporean and what it means to be
Singaporean
NEGATIVES
- The completion of the SCJ does not guarantee one’s
readiness to adopt the Singaporean way of life →
superficial gauge as the Singaporean way of life
encompasses many other intangible aspects that SCJ may
not prepare new citizens for
→ need for more measures and platforms for closer
integration
LONG RUN
- Both Singaporeans and immigrants have to overcome
inertia and pre-existing stereotypes for closer interaction →
more effective and organic way of integration → personal
interactions and communication can better help new
citizens assimilate into the local culture
POSITIVES
- Prevents racial discourse that will undermine racial
harmony and stability in Singapore by instilling fear in
 different races or classes of the
population
- Section 298 of the Penal Code:
“Whoever, with deliberate intention
of wounding the religious or racial
feelings of any person, utters any
word or makes any sound in the
hearing of that person, or makes any
gesture in the sight of that person, or
places any object in the sight of that
person, or causes any matter however
represented to be seen or heard by
that person, shall be punished with
imprisonment for a term which may
extend to 3 years, or with fine, or
with both.”
Ensuring minority - Termed as the “five-term hiatus”
representation in elected model, this model states that if a
presidency particular racial community has
not produced a President for the
most recent five terms, the next
election will be reserved
- In recent years, more are utilising the online
platform to upload material that threaten Singapore’s
multiculturalism (New media accelerates the reach of
such information):
→ (Sedition Act) Real Singapore Website: Yang
Kaiheng and Ai Takagi published seditious articles
which had the tendency to promote feelings of ill-will
and hostility between different classes of the
population of Singapore
→ (Sedition Act) Amos Yee published inappropriate
material and made derogatory remarks to Christians
and Muslims. He deliberately elected to do harm by
using offensive and insulting words and profane
gestures to hurt the feelings of Christians and
Muslims. These actions have the tendency to generate
social unrest and undermine the religious harmony in
our society
→ (Investigations ongoing) Popular youtuber
Preetipls and her brother created a controversial rap
video in response to the ad on e-payment featuring
Dennis Chew in “brownface”. Law and Home Affairs
Minister K. Shanmugam that the video "crosses the
line" as it involves the use of vulgarities and aims to
make minorities angry with Chinese Singaporeans.
→ (Penal Code) In January 2019, the police charged a
Chinese man in court under the Penal Code for
deliberate intent to wound the racial feelings of the
Malay population. The man had scrawled racist
messages about Malays on walls in void decks and
sheltered walkways.
WHEN
- The Singaporean presidential election of 2017
was the fifth Singaporean presidential election
after President Tony Tan's term ended on 31
August. Following amendments to the
Constitution of Singapore, the election was the
first to be reserved for a particular racial group
under a hiatus-triggered model.
Singaporeans and deterring them from engaging in such
actions that are punishable by law.
- Ensures that there is no escalation of tensions that may
result in undesirable consequences such as violence
NEGATIVES
- No clear definition as to which acts are deemed to be able
to promote ill feelings between races and which may not
necessarily be
- May limit and infringe on citizens’ freedom of speech and
expression
LONG RUN
- Runs the risk of causing race and religion to be too
sensitive a topic for discussion → Singaporeans are unable
to work out differences and this may cause more divisive
fault lines in future
- Runs the risk of these laws backfiring should they be
weaponised by political opportunists. According to
Professor Cherian George,“Groups manufacture indignation
and then demand that the state uphold its insult laws by
punishing the individuals and groups accused of causing
offence,” He cited the vilification and prosecution of former
Jakarta governor “Ahok” Basuki Purnama for blasphemy.
→ However, given the stable political climate in Singapore
that is free from corruption, it is unlikely that such political
manipulation will occur.
POSITIVES
- The model acts as a step towards multiculturalism.
- It also goes hand-in-hand with Singapore's other ideal,
meritocracy, as the proposed higher eligibility criteria
would apply to all elections.
- The model is consistent with constitutional ideals
cherished in Singapore. For example, it facilitates
representative democracy as the Office remains
for candidates from that WHY
group. - The provision of a minority safeguard in the
office of the Elected President must help, and not
impede, Singapore's progress towards its long-
term goal of greater multiracialism, Deputy Prime
Minister Teo Chee Hean said in Parliament on
November
7. The President's office must continue having
direct elections, and the need for multiracialism
must be balanced with the country's meritocratic
ideals, he said.
- In this regard, the Government found the five-
term hiatus model, which the Constitutional
Commission recommended, to be an ideal model
as it balances the above factors.
- This model is ideal as it "involves minimal
intervention and will come into play only if open
elections fail to periodically return presidents
from different races".
- A period of five terms also strikes a good
balance. If the hiatus is too long, the system may
not meaningfully ensure that the president's office
is accessible to the various communities. Yet if it
is too short, the system may come close to
designating successive elections for different
races - which would be inappropriate given the
system of direct elections.
- Quoting then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the
rotation is meant to remind Singaporeans that the
country is a multiracial one. The elected President
has to continue to be a symbol of a multiracial
community.
multicultural over time. This is observed on two levels:
firstly, since the President represents the nation itself in
the global arena, the occasional minority President
would show that Singapore consists not only of
Chinese people, but also Indians, Malays and other
racial minorities. Secondly, it allows wider
participation in the elected presidency since all
communities would have one of their own taking the
Office at least once every five terms.
NEGATIVES
- The application of the higher eligibility criteria to all
elections would further shrink an already small pool of
Malay candidates, a concern raised by the Institute of
Policy Studies deputy director Gillian Koh. Her worry
was compounded by her observation that of those
Malays who are qualified, most would prefer not to put
themselves up for election, noting a lack of Malay
candidates who have put themselves up since the
elected presidency scheme was introduced in 1991.
- Moreover, while meritocracy appears to be upheld, it
is also severely compromised – because the highest
office of the land is no longer for the nation’s most
deserving candidate but merely a good enough
candidate from the community it is being reserved for.
- This model erodes democracy. Reserving elections for
one community substantially reduces voters’ choice.
Additionally, the Community Committee, which
issues community certificates, is appointed by the
Prime Minister on the nomination of the PCMR. This
may result in a parallel controversy as in the
uncontested 2005 Presidential Elections, where only
one candidate was awarded the Certificate of Eligibility
and thus became a ‘walk-in’ President. This
consequently sparked furore as to the Committee’s
decision and casting doubt as to whether the election
was genuinely democratic.
 - A potential area for abuse arises where candidates of
mixed heritage are concerned: the Committee may
choose to identify him as part of a particular
community to bar or allow him to participate in a
reserved election, or, in the case of an open election,
affect the cycle for future elections.
- Further, the basis on which the Community Committee
is to make their decision is unclear. The Committee is
to be guided by “the merits of the case”; but what are
these merits? For instance, would the proficiency of
the candidate in his mother tongue be relevant? More
information would be helpful in promoting
transparency and dialling down the disquiet
surrounding this “hiatus-triggered” model.

LONG RUN

- More educational campaigns are needed to encourage

individuals of various races to take the initiative to run
in the presidential elections in order to prevent the
possibility of shrinking minority pools.
- More information regarding the considerations of the
Committee in the selection process of eligible
candidates is required, in order to ensure transparency
and hence, increased trust.

Ethnic Integration Policy - Established ethnic quotas for WHEN NEGATIVES

(EIP) HDB neighbourhoods and
blocks - Implemented on 1 March 1989 - The EIP leads to BTO units perpetually left
- The permissible proportion of vacant in land-scarce Singapore. According to a
flats in each neighbourhood for WHAT TRIGGERED THE IMPLEMENTATION study by the Association of Muslim Professionals
Malays is 22 percent while the (AMP), there is a difference in median income
- Then Minister for National Development S. between the three major races of Singapore. The effect
permissible proportion of flats in
Dhanabalan first highlighted the emergence of of this is visible in HDB’s build-to-order (BTO) flat
each block is 25 percent. For
ethnic enclaves in HDB estates in his speech to selection processes, where there are unfilled Chinese
Chinese, the permissible
community leaders at a New Year’s gathering quota leftover flats in cheaper, non-mature estates
proportions are
held at the People’s Association auditorium on such as Woodlands and unfilled Malay quota leftover
84 percent and 87 percent
6 January 1989. flats
respectively, and for Indians
 and other minority groups, the
figures are 10 percent and 13
percent respectively.
- The quotas are continuously
revised. Ethnic quotas based on
the ethnic proportions is updated
on the first of every month.
- The EIP limits are set at block/
neighbourhood levels based on
the ethnic make-up of
Singapore.
WHY
- To preserve Singapore’s multi-cultural identity
- HDB flats and as a result, the emergence of
- Due to the diversity of races in Singapore, racial
To illustrate his point, he drew on the examples
of neighbourhoods in Bedok and Tampines
housing estates where Malay households made
up more than 30 percent of the estate population,
and Hougang where more than 90 percent of the
households are Chinese. In a bid to address the
growing issue of communal clustering,
Dhanabalan announced that the government
would adopt policies to maintain the ethnic
balance as a means to foster social and racial
cohesion.
and promote racial integration and harmony. It
ensures that there is a balanced mix of the various
ethnic communities in HDB towns.
closely knit neighbourhoods is a unique
characteristic of Singapore. Hence, the threat of
the demographics of a neighbourhood (made up
of HDB flats) being skewed to one racial group
presents the risk of racial clustering and the
possibility of racial discrimination.
cohesion is especially important in order to
maintain our fragile social fabric.
in more expensive, mature estates such as Bedok. In
the long-concluded flat selection exercise for the
Dakota Breeze and Pine Vista BTO flats in the mature
estate of Geylang (launched in May 2017 sales
exercise), there is currently a total of 48 4-room units
not taken up. These leftover units area only available
for Malay applicants, of which there have been no
takers. No Chinese can buy these vacant units under
the EIP. (The reverse happened for 4-room units in
Woodlands in the same exercise.) Given the above,
critics may argue that given Singapore’s land
scarcity, it is perhaps a bit foolish to rather leave
these units vacant than to use it to house citizens with
urgent housing needs.
- Price differences in the same property.
According to a 2012 study, Chinese-constrained HDB
resale units (i.e. only Chinese buyers eligible) were 5
to 8% more expensive than Malay or Indian-
constrained units, which were 3 to 4% cheaper than
the average resale price. This could mean that flats
owned by Chinese were more likely to sell at a price
over HDB valuation, whereas flats owned by Malay or
Indians were more likely to sell at below HDB
valuation.Besides the rather unfair situation of two —
almost identical — flats being sold for a huge
difference in price simply because of the ethnicity of
the person to whom the flat could be sold, this fact
also highlights the possibility that the ethnic quota
could be making racial income inequality worse.
- EIP makes it harder to sell HDB flats. One of
the major gripes with the racial quota is that it often
results in sellers, who are ready and willing to sell
their units, having to turn away willing buyers, simply
because the buyer is of the ethnicity whereby the
quota has been maxed out.In today’s soft HDB resale
market, these restrictions are doubly punishing. It
has resulted
 in many sellers being unable to sell their flats, even
when they’ve had offers, just because of ethnicity. In
the 2003 Parliamentary Debates, it was argued that
this was ‘posing a serious financial problem to some
families’.

- EIP is not keeping up with our increasingly diverse

heritage. In Singapore, children of mixed-race
marriages are entitled to register a double-barrelled
race – a daughter of Malay and Chinese parents, for
example, can therefore register as a Malay-Chinese or
Chinese-Malay. Under the current EIP policy, only the
first race component of the double-barrell may be
used. Therefore, if our hypothetical daughter above
had registered as a Chinese-Malay, she would be
restricted by the quota restrictions imposed on Chinese
occupants, regardless of the fact that she technically
is also half Malay. With the numbers of mixed-race
marriages on the rise – about one in five (or 21.5
percent) of all marriages in 2015 were mixed-race
couples – the EIP policy simply misses the mark in its
consideration of such mixed-race children.

- The EIP works on the assumption that by

living in close quarters, residents of different
ethnicities will be forced to mingle and
interact with each other, thereby
strengthening the racial harmony and unity in
Singapore. However, this begs the question: does
living together equal, or necessarily lead to,
integration and understanding? Singaporeans, by and
large, tend not to mix around or even acknowledge
their neighbours, which means the core function of the
EIP doesn’t really work here. For a real-life example
of this, we can look back as recently as 2012, to the
case of Amy Cheong, who took to social media to
complain about her Malay neighbours who were
holding a wedding at the void deck, and went on to
disparage the Malay society as a whole. Certainly, in
this case
 at least, proximity did not breed understanding. It’s
therefore been argued that what needs to be
championed instead were “common spaces” or
“bridging social capital” between communities. This
means having events, and encouraging community
participation between people of different races, rather
than maintaining a strict focus on housing quotas. This
would arguably be harder work, but perhaps a better
solution.

LONG RUN

- Undeniably, EIP has indeed contributed to the

improvement of racial cohesion in Singapore.
However, since there are disadvantages to this policy
arising over time, there is a need for the policy to be
continuously fine-tuned. This is especially so as the
cons of the policy seem to be dynamic and hence,
foresight is required on the Singapore government's
part to continually reconsider this policy.

Bilingual Policy - Singapore’s official WHY POSITIVES

languages: Malay as
symbolic national
language; Chinese as the
language representing the
island’s majority ethnic
Chinese, Tamil as
acknowledgement of the
Indian community and
English as the working
language
- English is the medium of all
content-area education
- Students must also study
their mother tongue
- Like many countries around the world,
Singapore could have discarded the colonial
language after Independence and instead
adopt the other 3 official languages to reflect
diversity. However, there were pragmatic
forces behind the decision to adopt the
Bilingual Policy. It was a way to ensure
Singapore’s survival in the long run as well
as acknowledge the cultural diversity in
Singapore to build a national identity of a
fledgling nation.
WHEN
- Announced in November 1965
- Came into effect in 1966
- English serves as a neutral language, promoting
inter-ethnic communication and racial harmony.
English is positioned as not having any ethnic
affiliations in Singapore and as such, avoids
certain ethnic groups from feeling alienated. A
common knowledge of English would also bond
the different ethnic groups by enabling them to
communicate with one another. This neutrality
underscores the state’s commitment towards
multiculturalism, where it maintains equal status of
all ethnic groups.
- Mother tongue languages have educational and
cultural value, nurturing morally upright
Singaporeans with a sense of belonging. Knowing
one’s mother tongue is necessary because it
provides understanding for one’s history and
heritage, thereby strengthening
HOW
- 2 main ideologies adopted by the
government:
● Internationalism: It entails the
adoption of a non-indigenous
language as an official language.
NEGATIVES
The Singapore government
adopted a non-indigenous
language, English, to exist
alongside the indigenous
languages of Singapore.
● Linguistic Pluralism: It entails a
recognition and support of the co-
existence of multiple languages
within society. Some believe it to
be in contrast with the language
ideology of linguistic assimilation,
where every member of the speech
community, regardless of his first
language, must learn the dominant
language of the society where he
lives in. The Singapore
government attempts to shun away
from linguistic assimilation, as it
believes it must acknowledge the
need to embrace the co-existence
of the four official languages in
the context of a multi-racial
Singapore
- Government discouraged dialects
● While the Chinese community of
Singapore historically spoke
several varieties of Chinese, most
of them mutually
one’s sense of cultural belonging.They also aid
the preservation of local cultures, which has
renewed importance in today’s wave of
globalisation.
- Singapore faces a loss of linguistic diversity, with
the recent decline of mother tongue languages.
English has become the language most spoken in
households. This coupled with the erosion of
dialects has led to a loss of linguistic variance.
Furthermore, the erosion of Singlish may reflect a
loss in cultural identity as it prevents Singapore
from developing its own distinct globalised
language which could contribute to shared
common identity. This was evident in local show
Phua Chu Kang starring Gurmit Singh being a big
hit in the 1990s but lost its popularity when the
government intervened to reduce the influence of
Singlish in the show. This is because through the
show, Singaporeans of all ethnicities felt a
connection and bond towards the unique Singapore
identity which constituted Singlish as a
conversational language. Building a common
identity ad Singaporeans is valuable to Singapore
as it is relatively young nation with migrant
forefathers with different backgrounds belonging
to different nations and gelling them together as
one Singapore is a crucial part of being a nation.
- The Bilingual Policy might have fueled the
increasing class divide where people who speak in
Singlish may be considered to belong to a lower
socioeconomic group. What was originally meant
to bring people of diverse backgrounds together
now emerges as a
 unintelligible, such as divisive class structure and if not properly
Cantonese, Teochew, and handled, can reflect class tensions.
Hokkien, the government has
promoted Standard Mandarin,
both as a means of unifying
Chinese Singaporeans under a
common language, and to
facilitate communication with
Chinese people from outside
Singapore.
● This has led to the erosion of
cultural identity to some extent.
- Government discouraged the use of
Singlish
● While the Singaporean
government promotes
Standard Singapore English as a
lingua franca, it heavily
discourages the usage of Singlish,
a Chinese- and Malay-influenced,
English-based creole
language, widely spoken by
Singaporeans, but virtually
unintelligible to foreign speakers
of English. Governments
including those of Lee Hsien
Loong, Lee Kuan Yew, and Goh
Chok Tong have campaigned
against the usage of Singlish,
declaring it an obstacle to
communication with the rest
of the
English-speaking world, and a

substandard, "broken English",

that ought not be part of
Singapore's identity.
- Basically, a strict adherence to the Bilingual
Policy, with no exceptions made for other
subsets of the official languages.
Migration Statistics

Description Statistics

Migrants as proportion of Singapore’s population
- By 2017, 29% of Singapore’s population were non-residents. According to a
Gallup World Poll over the period of 2013-2016, Singapore remained one of the
top destinations amongst potential migrants, with approximately 10 million
potential migrants naming it as their desired future residence.
- In Singapore, foreigners make up a large percentage of the non-PMET
(professionals, managers, executives and technicians) workers working primarily
in the construction, domestic labour, services, manufacturing and marine
industries because Singaporeans are generally reluctant to take up low-skill jobs
that pay low wages.

Pull Factors - Some of the factors attracting migrants to Singapore are the low crime rates, the
good education, healthcare and transport system as well as the relative ease of
obtaining permanent residency status.

Tensions - A protest took place in February 2013 and another one on Labour Day in
Singapore to protest a government White Paper which projected a population of
6.9 million for Singapore, of which only 3.8 million will be citizens.
- The majority of the migrants depend on renting in the HDB subletting market,
creating demand pressure in the segment. The lack of sufficient supply in the
market to meet the demand will push rental prices up and also cause some PRs to
turn to HDB resale flats since they are eligible to buy them. This can also lead to
upward pressure on HDB flat prices, creating more resentment against these
immigrants amongst the locals.
- In an effort to placate the rising anti-foreigner sentiments in Singapore, the
government is now cutting back on immigration into Singapore. More favourable
housing and education policies are also introduced for citizens. This shift from pro-
immigration policies may be due to PAP having the lowest votes (60.1%) since
Independence in the 2011 General Elections. PAP is under pressure to placate
voters without disrupting the entry of talent and labour that helped forge Singapore’
economy.
- In 2014, after news of a plan by The Pilipino Independence Day Council 2014 to
stage the Philippine Independence Day celebration at the Ngee Ann City Civic
Plaza on Orchard Road, some local netizens reacted angrily, opposing the planned
use of Orchard Road for the event as well as a
proposed Marina Bay skyline logo. The event was eventually cancelled by the
organisers as they were unable to secure alternative venues.
Youth and Elderly
Key policy Brief description of policy Possible reasons for its implementation, including Possible impact on Singapore society, possibly on
characteristics of Singapore society and/or select various stakeholders or groups, in short-term VS
institutions or the phenomenon at hand long-term etc

Elderly

AGEING ● Singapore has an ageing population - Singapore today has around 500,000 people aged 65 and above. This is expected to almost double to around
POPULATION: 900,000 by 2030.
Background ● Based on projections from the United Nations (UN), 47% of Singapore’s total population will be aged 65 years or older in 2050
discussion

Historically, Singapore’s “minimalist approach to social welfare”, particularly ageing policies, reflected its view of an Asian culture of filial piety and the
emphasis on familial support as the primary line of elder care. Since the 1980s, the issue of a rapidly ageing population had been
identified as a part of Singapore’s demographic challenge requiring study in its national agenda. The multi-agency approach saw the formation of several
iterations of inter-ministerial committees to monitor ageing trends, propose policies, and coordinate efforts among various
governmental agencies.

The Committee on the Problems of the Aged (assembled in 1982 under MOH) valued the integration of elderly in families and society instead of the
“extreme measure” of institutionalization. It recognized that the rapidly ageing population would require a national policy aimed at keeping every senior
physically and mentally fit to continue leading a normal, useful and active life.

These findings were reflected in the Report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Ageing Population (IMC) in 1999. The essential thrusts featured in the
committee’s vision focused on issues of housing and land-use, accessibility, healthcare, eldercare, financial security, employability, lifestyles, and elderly
well-being. The IMC established a holistic vision of “Successful Ageing” and the approach of “Many Helping Hands” which called for collective efforts at four
levels – the individual, family, community, and state – to prepare Singapore for the challenges of an ageing population.

The IMC report also introduced the principle of “ageing-in-place” to develop strategies such as elder-friendly homes and environments, variety of housing
options, integrated community planning, and increased provision of healthcare and social services for elders by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs).

2000s and later – Developing a Masterplan for a “City for all ages”
● 2001, the Ministry of Community Development and Sports (MCDS) published the “Eldercare Masterplan (AY2001-2005) Report”. This Masterplan
highlighted a key strategy to conceive, plan and build community-based facilities for elders as part of a “national infrastructure”
○ The “Many Helping Hands” approach extended beyond the state to include community, families, and senior citizens themselves, to develop
suitable physical infrastructure, community service systems and programs for elderly and caregivers, funding policies, and public
education.
○ The dissemination of community-based facilities are located at purpose-built Community Clubs (CCs) run by the People’s Association (PA),
neighbourhood community service centres and Resident’s Committee centres (RC). Other than the CC, secondary service facilities are
located at void decks, serving specific zones of the housing estate.
● The Committee on Ageing Issues (CAI) was set up in December 2004 as an inter-agency forum, which continued to build upon the proposals of
earlier committees. In its 2006 Report on the Ageing Population, proposed 4 key policy recommendations
○ 1. Housing for Seniors: Elder-friendly housing
○ 2. Accessibility for seniors: Barrier-free society
○ 3. Caring for seniors: Holistic and integrated affordable healthcare and eldercare system
○ 4. Opportunities for seniors: active lifestyles and well-being
 ● Following the CAI’s 2006 report, a high-level Ministerial Committee on Ageing (MCA) was established under the purview of MOH in 2007 to
coordinate various national efforts across multi-agencies and sectors.
● Meanwhile, MOH and MCA launched the “City For All Ages” (CFAA) project in 2011.
○ The 2015 $3 billion national “Action Plan for Successful Ageing” was announced as an outcome of the CFAA project
○ This plan covered about 60 initiatives over 12 areas (health and wellness, learning, volunteerism, employment, housing, transport, public
spaces, respect and social inclusion, retirement adequacy, healthcare and aged care, protection for vulnerable seniors and research)
○ Two of its three main thrusts focused on co-location of services, such as eldercare and childcare facilities in new HDB developments to
maximise opportunities for intergenerational interactions (“kampong for all ages”) and transforming the city via transport and
‘Active-Ageing Hubs’ into an ‘enabling place’ for seniors to live and commute independently in their own homes or communities (“city for
all ages”)
○ By the start of the new millennium, many aspects of ageing policies had started to incorporate a holistic socio-urban dimension. Thus, the
formulation of ageing policy and urban development in Singapore were intrinsically linked in the mission of creating a successful ageing
framework for the city

Singapore aimed to create an age-friendly city through the overall concept of ageing-in-place. This framework was highly relevant to its urban environment
due to the prevalence of its ubiquitous public housing landscape (i.e. HDB flats), and the fact that over 80% of Singapore’s resident population live in these
flats.

HOUSING POLICIES Age-friendly housing was one of the primary areas

Types of housing
options:
1. 1-room rental Caters to those in lower-income brackets or
units require short-term lease options.
2. Studio Apartments Customised for independent and elderly
(launched in 1998) living. Equipped with elderly-friendly and
other safety features such as: lever taps,
non-slip tiles, leveled flooring between
rooms, support rails in bathrooms,
emergency pull cords within house linked to
Alert Alarm System (AAS), grab bars fitted
through house, etc.
Additional details:
Elder-friendly features and provision of senior-centric
services and health facilities within the SA blocks
benefited the seniors. These flats were also one of
the methods recommended by the HDB for those
above 55 years to monetise their existing larger flats
and downgrade to a smaller flat on a Lease Buyback
Scheme (LBS) to receive a stream of income in their
retirement years
that the CAI recommended as the key
ingredient for successful ageing. The CAI envisioned
that as the older person aged, they could continue
to live with a community in familiar surroundings
and preferably among loved ones,while having
opportunities to interact with other residents of
different age groups. This would provide emotional
and mental support to seniors and prevent the
problem of isolation and loneliness. To this end, the
HDB provided a variety of public housing options
and financing schemes to meet different living
arrangements and financial needs of the older
population.

3. 2-room Flexi and Scheme helps elderly residents who wish to HOWEVER
Senior Priority age-in-place in a familiar environment or live There have been some negative outcomes resulting
Scheme (SPS) near their older parents or married child, in a from the nature of these
2-room Flexi flat. apartments. A 2008 study found that these
age-segregated SA communities in standalone
4. Tri-generational Caters to the needs of multi-generation blocks, saw a “corresponding negative effect of the
flats families who wish to stay under one roof psychological and social environments [in which]
the monotonic social group […] breeds morbidity,
5. Married Child Caters to encourage married children and a sense of rejection and despair”.
Priority Scheme parents to reside together, or within the same At the same time, the goal of ageing-in-place was
(MCPS) challenged due to the lack of availability of
 estate, or within neighbouring estate to foster
care of aged parents.
6. Multi-Generation
Priority Scheme Caters to encourage families to stay close to
(MGPS) each other in specific integrated flat types
(tri-generation flats)
Main Upgrading Programme (MUP), Housing
Housing upgrading Improvement Programme (HIP), Lift
Schemes Upgrading Program (LUP),
Project Lift Improvement and Facilities
Enhancement for Elderly Project (Project
LIFE), and
Essential, Optional and Enhancement for
Active Seniors (EASE)
As a new residential option catering to
Dementia Village in individuals with varying stages of dementia,
Sembawang this pilot complements the home-based care
and dementia day care services available
today
First co-located project by Singapore’s
Retirement village: Housing Development Board (HDB) to
Kampung Admiralty combine housing for the elderly with
childcare center, senior centers, a hawker
centre and a medical centre. It features more
than for the elderly and a 900-seat
hawker100 studio apartments centre and
was designed to “foster greater community
bonding and reignite the kampung (village)
spirit of yesteryear
Accessibility A “Green Man Plus” scheme was also
schemes implemented to allow elders and disabled
pedestrians extended road-crossing time,
while new “Car-Free or Car-Less Zones”
initiatives promoted safety and walkability to
benefit the elderly
SAs within the existing neighbourhood of those who
chose this option. Relocation of seniors to
unfamiliar neighbourhoods led to disconnection
from their familiar urban and social environments,
thus exacerbating the sense of isolation and
loneliness
Additional Info: These aimed to improve the overall living
Part of HIP: People can get subsidies of up to 95 per environment of housing estates at the precinct
cent to install non-slip flooring and grab bars in their level, block level, and unit level.
toilets, as well as ramps to make it easier for a
wheelchair user to get around.
Senior Minister of State for Health Edwin Tong also
announced that MOH will roll out a Caregiver
Support Action Plan over the next two years to
enhance financial support, flexible work
arrangements and respite care options for caregivers.
According to recent Singapore Police Force statistics
(2010, 2011, 2012), senior pedestrians
comprised about half of fatalities in road accidents,
and the majority of deaths resulted from jaywalking.
A variety of reasons for this issue could include
environmental design causes:
difficulty for elders with mobility issues to walk to
distant designated crossings, lack of
adequate road crossings connecting popular
destinations, desire to avoid unpleasant walking
experiences(hot weather, unsheltered paths), the
lack of sufficient or appropriate audio-tactile
crossing cues, as well as motorists’ negligence.
Healthcare and In 2017, the MOH announced that it would
eldercare implement a major restructuring of its
healthcare sector from its current six clusters
of regional health systems to three integrated
clusters by 2018. These structural
improvements would include a geographical
reorganisation of its existing clusters, to offer
a fuller range of services, encompassing acute
hospital care, primary care and community
care, including a medical school within each
cluster
Additional details:
A recent addition to the eldercare landscape of
Singapore was the introduction of new mega,
multi-storey nursing home facilities within public
housing estates to tackle the rising
numbers of elderly, rise of dual income and decline of
extended families, and increase in age-related
degenerative disorders due to increased longevity.
Some examples included the Lion’s Home for the
Elders in Bishan, Ren Ci Nursing Home in Bukit
Batok, and St Andrew’s Nursing Home in Buangkok

These cover topics such as how to manage people

Caregivers’ Training Grant who have dementia or had strokes, or even how to
A $200 subsidy you can use every year for carry out tube feeding or basic nursing
courses that will help you care for your loved
ones. You can also use the grant to sign up a
foreign domestic helper for the courses

Active lifestyle A $10 million “GO! (Golden Opportunities!)
Fund” was set up to seed various programmes
and activities for seniors and by seniors. This
included the activation of the PA in outreach
efforts through a 2008 “Wellness
Programme” in 12 pilot sites within selected
CCs in various housing estates, and
subsequently over 87
constituencies island-wide by 2015. These
included mobile health screening for chronic
diseases and health talks organised for
seniors (co-organised with the Health
Promotion Board) which capitalised on the
island-wide location of CCs
Additional details
Within public housing estates, two features were
implemented. First, more elder-friendly
sports facilities (fitness stations, rehabilitation
equipment) were installed alongside public
playgrounds to encourage intergenerational
interactions in community.
Second, the void decks of housing blocks were
increasingly converted into spaces for Senior Citizens’
Corners (SCCs) and Residents’ Committee centres
(RCs) where members could gather for events.
Encouraging strong family ties and seniors to
remain healthy and engaged in their communities
through the provision of programmes and services,
was another recommendation that the CAI
promoted as the first line of support for the elderly.
This would help reduce isolation of the elderly
person within the home and community, as one’s
social network naturally dwindles with age and loss
of family members and friends
These interagency and public sector initiatives
within the urban fabric of Singapore’s public
housing heartlands helped to raise awareness of
the importance of active ageing and elderly
well-being
Social support/ These schemes provide aid to the elderly to This demographic shift will put immense pressure
financial assistance support them through their retirement years, on Singaporean society as a shrinking workforce
schemes for the especially for those who live alone and lack struggles to support an ageing population.
elderly the ability to support themselves.
To provide such schemes, the government will need
revenue - which comes in the form of taxes, and
hence increase the tax burden on Singaporeans.

Seniors’ Mobility and Helps to offset costs for seniors who need
Enabling Fund equipment to help them stay independent,
such as walking sticks, electric wheelchairs, or
even spectacles and hearing aids.
This fund can also be used for people who require
specialised transport to government-funded
eldercare, dialysis or day hospice services.
Those who are frail enough to qualify for a nursing
home, but instead are receiving government-funded
home or community care services, can also get
subsidies to pay for medical supplies such as adult
diapers or wound dressings.

Eldershield A disability insurance scheme managed by

three private insurers - Aviva, Great Eastern,
and NTUC Income - that provides cash
payouts if you become disabled.

You can get a maximum of $400 a month for

up to six years. This scheme is under review
by the Government.

Foreign Domestic A $120 monthly cash payment for those who

Worker Grant need to hire a helper to care for someone
with disabilities.

Foreign Domestic A cheaper monthly levy if you hire a foreign

Worker Levy domestic worker to care for an elderly
Concession person, someone with disabilities or a child or
grandchild.

The regular monthly levy is $265, but the

concessionary rate is $60
 ComCare Long Term Seniors can receive up to $1,180 in cash
Assistance assistance for those who are permanently
unable to work due to old age, illnesses or
unfavourable family circumstances.
Silver Support The government gives payouts of $300 – $750
Scheme every three months for the bottom 20% of
seniors who had low incomes through life and
little or no family support.
Total Government cash assistance for a single
elderly person on the ComCare Long Term
Assistance Scheme and the Silver Support
Scheme can be up to $600 a month.
Pioneer Generation Singaporeans born on or before 31 December
Package (PGP) 1949 can receive benefits including special
subsidies for MediShield Life premiums,
annual Medisave top-ups ($800 a year for
life), additional 50% off subsidised services
and medication at polyclinics and Specialist
Outpatient Clinics (SOC) in public hospitals.
PG Disability A $100 monthly cash payment for seniors
Assistance Scheme who are disabled and part of the Pioneer
Generation.
Medisave for seniors Seniors born on or before 31 December 1959
who do not enjoy Pioneer Generation
benefits can receive annual Medisave top-ups
of $100 – $200 till 2018!
Medishield Life Premium subsidy: up to 50%
for lower and middle-income families
1
Means-testing: A method to calculate the subsidies one will receive
Many of the elderly in Singapore have to resort to
working despite their old age to support themselves,
especially for those from lower-income backgrounds
who do not have much in their savings for
retirement.
● In Singapore today, one in four seniors are
still working. The employment rate for those
aged 65 and older jumped from 13.8% in
2006 to 26.8% in 2018
● The number of women aged 60 and above
who work as cleaners rose by 70% to 34,100
in 2014, from 19,800 in 2009
Cost of living in Singapore is relatively high. A study
by the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan
Yew School of Public Policy found that a Singaporean
senior citizen aged 65 and above and living alone
needs about S$1,379 a month to meet basic
standards of living. This may be difficult for many
elderly who are unemployed, live alone, or have
limited savings to achieve.
Singapore also has a relatively high level of income
inequality, and the lack of effective social support
schemes to help the lower-income may worsen it.
Hence, these support schemes are necessary to help
reduce inequality and preventing these elderly from
being left behind.
These policies also have their own limitations:
1. These schemes may offer limited coverage
as people who want to access public
assistance schemes have to go through
means-testing1. As such, ComCare
assistance reach less than 1% of the elderly
population.
2. To be eligible for these schemes, there are
criteria to be met - for those who narrowly
miss the criteria, they may not get the
same assistance.
3. For example, monthly payouts ($730 -
$760) from one’s Central Provident Fund
(CPF) are given if an individual has enough
to meet the Basic Retirement Sum when
he or she turns 55 years old. However, only
55% of CPF members who turned 55 in
2013 hit the Basic Retirement Sum. This
means that half of retirees will receive less
than S$730 a month.
Employment These schemes help elderly in Singapore to Singapore may see its old-age dependency ratio By providing for the basic needs of elderly in our
schemes remain gainfully employed in the labour increase from their current levels from 20% to over society, we can in turn empower elderly to continue
force. 60% by the middle of the century. Researchers from contributing to the Singaporean society. If human
(Elderly getting the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) estimated there capital investments in education continue, about
retrenched once will be 91 elderly citizens for every 100 working-age 85% of seniors will have tertiary education
hitting 62 in SG, Singaporeans by 2080 — up 10-fold from 1980. qualifications, representing a “substantial increase”
Elderly getting an in human capital potential, which can help to uplift
end-life career productivity and well-being, they noted.
switch)
BUT the effects of this educational dividend could
be limited by obsolescence or ageist attitudes in the
workplace

Special Employment Employers who voluntarily re-employ workers
Credit (SEC) aged 65 and above will receive an additional
offset of up to 3% of an employee’s monthly
wages.
- More tax revenue
To encourage the retention of elderly workers, whom
employers generally believe to be less cost-efficient
given that their old age translates to greater health
problems, resulting in more paid sick-days.
By defraying part of their salary, the government
hopes to ensure the retention of these skilled,
possibly valuable workers who might be a merit to
the labour force.
Also, the other benefits include:
- Lower national health care costs, since
working longer has been linked to better
health (A 2016 study of about 3,000 people,
published in the Journal of Epidemiology and
Community Health, suggested that working
even one more year beyond retirement age
was associated with a 9% to 11% lower risk
of dying during the 18-year study period,
regardless of health.)
- Less Suicide
● These schemes have high cost involved,
translating to opportunity costs not only to
other sectors of society, but also an
increased tax burden on citizens.
● Employers are prohibited from using
age-related reasons to let off elderly
workers; however, other reasons such as
trimming costs for the company are still
permissible.
● Working longer may not be good for
health. (A number of studies have found
health benefits to retiring. For example, a
2010 study of 14,000 people, published in
The BMJ, found that retiring was linked to
a substantial reduction in mental and
physical fatigue and depressive
symptoms.)

WorkPro Scheme Funding support to encourage the
development of pro-elderly working
environments in businesses, and also to fund
the creation of easier yet smarter jobs for the
elderly in the company.
Age Management: Up to $20,000 per
company
Job Redesign: Up to $300,000 per company,
and multiple applications are allowed
To create a friendly, yet safe business environment
for the elderly to work in, encouraging the elderly to
delay their retirement age as long as possible so as to
boost the workforce in the face of the low birth rate.
Simultaneously, collect more taxes, and also defray
healthcare costs.
Policies to tackle There is a growing community network
Elderly loneliness striving to ensure they find some measure of
well-being and companionship in their final
years.
It’s an extensive web made up of welfare
groups, charities, hospitals, and operators
(like NTUC Health) of Senior Cluster Networks
initiated by the Ministry of Social and Family
Development.
Read more at
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/c
nainsider/lonely-and-waiting-to-die-singapor
e-s-elderly-poor-find-hope-in-8844768
Elderly volunteerism:
RSVP Singapore, an organisation that
promotes volunteering among the elderly,
said that it has seen a 15 per cent increase in
the number of new senior volunteers since
2015.
According to the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing More senior citizens could be volunteering because
Study in 2012 by the National University of they realise it is a fruitful way of spending their
Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, one in retirement.
five elderly persons in Singapore aged 75 and above
show signs of depression.
In Singapore, elderly suicides have been creeping up,
from 95 cases in 2010 to 126 cases in 2014. Said Ms
Ahmala of her elderly clients:
Depression in the elderly are often related to other
health issues, such as senile dementia and limited
mobility. Living in isolation, loneliness and anxiety
about finances and no longer having the ability to
work also trigger depressive mood swings.
Good read:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/cnainsider
/lonely-and-waiting-to-die-singapore-s-elderly-poor-fi
nd-hope-in-8844768

Elderly Volunteerism: In a National Volunteer

and Philanthropy Centre survey for 2016,
published in May this year, the number of
people aged 55 to 64 who volunteer has
increased from 18 per cent in 2014 to 20 per
cent in 2016.

For those 65 and older, volunteerism has

gone up from 9 per cent to 19 per cent over
the same period.

CONCLUSION In conclusion, the challenge of an ageing demographic for Singapore, and the world at large, is more than a social and population policy issue. As cities grow
denser, more crowded, and increasingly inter-connected, the urban environment becomes a critical element in thinking about how to house, heal, and
engage the ageing populace. The needs and demands of a healthier, better educated, richer, and older population point towards the importance of more
collaboration between multi-agencies and the private sector to innovate on programmes, services, and typologies of housing and healthcare.
Youth
Youth Empowerment These policies aim to empower youth and
schemes provide them with the skills and knowledge
for their futures(careers etc). As the youth will
become the main driving force of the
economy and society.
Main policies in place:
1. Compulsory Education Act- All Singapore
citizens must complete at least primary level
education by age 15.
Parents that do not enroll their children for
school will be punished by law
2. National Youth Fund- A fund set up by the
Singapore National Youth Council(affiliated
with government)that helps to fund Youth
initiatives.
Seeks to give financial support to initiatives
that help to better society. Fund comes from
a $100 Million pool set aside for this purpose.
3. Scholarships and awards- Countless
Scholarship awards and prizes awarded to
students that excel in their respective fields,
not just in education but also in holistic
development.
Notable examples:
Edusave Scholarships for Independent
Schools- Awarded to top one third of all
students enrolling in Independent Schools
based on their PSLE score. (cognitive
recognition)
This scholarship grants up to $2,400 a year
Scholarship is tenure, this scholarship will
apply as long as the student stays in the
programme they are in(IP/GCE O level) and
demonstrates good conduct.
UPLIFT Scholarship- The UPLIFT Scholarship
recognises the achievements of students in
Independent Schools who have performed
To provide the funding, support and recognition for
youths that excel in their field, and to provide equal
opportunities for youth, to allow everyone a chance
to realise their potential, even if they do not have the
financial capabilities to do so.
Meritocratic system that does not focus only on
academics→ As long as exemplary in any field, can
be rewarded for it. Important because it nurtures
holistic education, teaching youths not only skills and
knowledge but also developing character and
producing good citizens.
The Singapore government recognises how important
education is in changing lives and the impact of
education has on the economy, society and even the
political spheres. Singapore being such a small
country lacking in natural resources, we have to stay
competitive in our labour and human capital.
- Singapore government has spent an
increasingly high amount on the education
system, with $12.8 Billion spent last year.
Education also has a big role to play in raising the
standard of living, such as reducing poverty, reducing
crime and the development of leadership, character
and spirituality.
- GDP has increased from 80B in 1960 to 364B
in 2018.(In USD), a record high. Per capita
GDP has thus risen, and people’s standard of
living has increased.
To provide funding for youth empowerment such as
increasing expenditure on education, possibly have
to increase tax revenue, which increases the burden
on the working population in Singapore. If not, a
trade off has to be made that sacrifices money
spent on other sectors like healthcare or defense
onto education.
Policy limitations:
1) Investment in youth and human capital is
always risky because there is no guarantee
that it will pay off in the long run. Talent
may leak out to other countries, which
could signify losses on resources that could
have been put into other sectors that yield
better results.
2) Policies like the Compulsory Education Act
are having little impact in the modern
context because a primary education is
insufficient for an individual to survive in
an increasingly competitive society. The
compulsory education act was passed in
2000 and the world has changed a lot since
then, with many skills becoming obsolete
quickly. A higher level of education may be
needed to guarantee everyone can do well
in their respective careers.
3) However, to be eligible for many such
schemes, there are strict criteria. For
example, for the Financial Assistant
scheme, the student is only eligible is there
is a gross monthly household income of
$2700 and below, or a per capita monthly
income of $690 or below. This does not
benefit some people who are just above
that mark, and are not eligible. It is
estimated that the average Singapore
spends $1300 per month on necessities
alone. If a family is just slightly above that
cut off point, they still face a lot of financial
pressure to make ends meet while
supporting the child’s education.
well academically or in specific talent areas
and are from lower-income families. Cash
grant of $800 per annum.
EAGLES Award- Recognises 10% of students
that demonstrated exemplary behavior in
leadership, service or other fields. (Character
recognition)
NAC Arts Scholarship- Awarded to
outstanding youths that contribute to the arts
scene in Singapore. An award from the
National Arts Council. (Arts and aesthetics
recognition)
4) Scholarships, especially if it’s issued by the
government, is highly binding and to some
extent limiting the youth’s freedom to
pursue their passions and what they want
to accomplish with their lives because the
scholarships are granted only on the
condition that the youth meets certain
standards set by the scholarship. To some
extent, it defeats its own purpose because
was meant to help empower youth but
instead limits them.

4. Financial Assistance Scheme- granted to

students in government schools with a gross
monthly household income of $2700 and
below. Under this scheme, students will
receive:

● A full waiver for school fees.

● A waiver of $6.50 per month for
standard miscellaneous fees.
● Free textbooks and school attire.
● One of the following transport
subsidies:
○ 50% off school bus fares per
year if the student takes the
school bus.
○ $120 transport credit per
year if the student takes
public transport.
● A $2 per meal subsidy of school
meals, applicable to 7 meals per
school week.
Policies to help National Committee on Youth Guidance and Additional Information
Youth-At-Risk Rehabilitation (NYGR): Chaired by MOS Has representation from agencies with a stake in
(“Those who have Masagos Zulkifli reducing youth delinquency:
been subjected to a – Education, community and social services, health,
combination of Central Youth Guidance Office (CYGO): police, prisons, Central Narcotics Branch, National
interrelated Executive arm of NYGR Youth Council, Attorney-General, the Courts.
biological, – Representatives also from the academia, ethnic
psychological, and self-help groups
social factors that EARLY STAGES
result in a greater Learning Support Programme (LSP):
likelihood for the The LSP is an early intervention programme
development of for children with weak reading skills in
delinquency, English.
substance abuse, or
other related Intensive Case Management (ICM) for youths
anti-social and with mental health illness
self-destructive
behaviours”) School Family Education (SFE):
SFE is a holistic family learning programme
which aims to equip parents with effective
parenting skills, enhance the family life of
school staff, and inculcate students with
positive values and attitudes towards the
family. Since it started in 2002, SFE has
reached out to more than 2 million people.
Almost all parents who have experienced the
SFE programme affirm its effectiveness and
would recommend it to other parents.

Youth Guidance Programme: Support

through phone calls, visits to
homes/workplaces, face-to-face meetings,
FaceBook etc
BeaconWorks Programme
3-month long programme that works on
improving strained parent-child relationships
Honorary Volunteer Special Constabulary
(school scheme)
As part of the Inter-Ministry Committee on
Youth Crime (IMYC) programmes to address
juvenile delinquency, the Honorary Volunteer
Special Constabulary (Hon VSC) School
Scheme was launched in partnership between
Children Beyond Parental Control (BPC):
Children beyond parental control are those below 16
years of age and who display behavioural problems in
school or at home. They are not offenders, but their
behaviour may be serious enough that parents might
apply to the Court for assistance in managing them.
When a parent / caregiver lays a complaint at the
Juvenile Court that their child is beyond their control
under Section 50 of the Children and Young Persons
Act (CYPA), the Court will direct MSF to prepare a
social report.
 Ministry of Education (MOE) and Singapore The Court can make an order for the child to be
Police Force in phases beginning in 1997. It placed in safe custody in either a Boys’ or Girls’ Home
was started to train school teachers (usually for up to five weeks.
the discipline masters or operation managers)
as police officers. By 2007, 267 volunteer cops
from 144 secondary schools in Singapore have
been appointed Hon VSCs under this scheme.
These teachers don the rank of Inspector or
above. VSCs look into cases within the school
context, such as bullying.

Youth crime prevention roadshows

Prison Visit Education Programme for

Schools

Project Green Leaf (PGL)

A youth engagement program, was initiated
by Ang Mo Kio Police Division in 2010. It
involves engaging youths to broaden their
awareness so as to get them to stay away
from crime. The selected youths went
through a series of educational programs
which included visits to Changi Prison, talks by
various government agencies such as the
Central Narcotic Bureau and Singapore
Customs as well as confidence and
team-building initiatives.

MOE-Youth Apprenticeship Programme

CDC career centres

Youth Employment