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SPEECH BY DR VIVIAN BALAKRISHNAN, MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS, AND SECOND MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT THE PR ACADEMY’S 4TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE “COLLECTIVE WISDOM: THE POWER OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION”, GRAND COPTHORNE WATERFRONT HOTEL, THURSDAY, 30 JUNE 2005, 9.40 AM

Ms Sulosana Karthigasu, Managing Director, PR Academy

Distinguished guests, Colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like to share with you this morning my observations on the value that public consultation holds for Singapore today and where it is headed in future.

Why consult?

There are at least three primary reasons driving the Government’s commitment to take public feedback and consultation seriously. Firstly, no government today has a monopoly on knowledge and ideas. Feedback allows policy-makers to take into account diverse views for a smoother and more effective implementation of policies and programmes. Indeed, governments the world over recognise that they will draw up better policies and programmes when they tap on wider sources of information, seek fresh perspectives and gather potential solutions from those outside government − the specialists, stakeholders, and the proverbial man-in-the street. Even if consultation provides no new ideas, public involvement can stir deeper thinking and more mature and objective debate. This will enable the public to better appreciate policy dilemmas. In doing so, it helps to bring about a better understanding and appreciation of these policies.

The second reason driving public consultation is the need for transparency and accountability. Governments are still ultimately responsible for making decisions. However, citizens expect the government to explain the rationale for its policies and programmes. Consultation provides opportunities for a two way dialogue between government and citizens. Consultation leaves participants with a stronger sense of belonging and ownership to the country. It also helps to strengthen public trust in the government.

The third reason is the fact that issues are becoming more complex and potentially more divisive. There are often no obvious, easy answers that will please everybody. Tradeoffs will have to be made, and some segments of society will benefit, whilst others appear to lose. Riding roughshod over affected stakeholders will only alienate them, and create more difficulties during implementation. The objective of consultation in such circumstances is not to force consensus, but to demonstrate that all views and interests have been considered before a final decision was made.

Recent changes in public consultation

Even the most cynical observer would agree that public consultation in Singapore has been evolving positively over the past few years.

Let me highlight three aspects, based on my personal experience with recent exercises.

During the Remaking Singapore exercise, we proposed 74 recommendations covering a diverse spectrum of issues. 62 were accepted and implemented by the government. Some required constitutional amendments to equalize rights of citizenship by descent for children of Singaporean mothers; and others changed long standing policies. However, several politically sensitive proposals were floated. There was no consensus on these proposals. The easy option was to exclude these from the final report. But to do so would have been remiss. Many people had spent valuable time and effort participating sincerely in the exercise. So we took the unusual step of including them as an Annex and called it “Proposals without Consensus”. I believe this was the first time we highlighted and celebrated our agreement to disagree.

In March last year, we announced that we were considering the establishment of integrated resorts with casino gaming facilities. This kicked off 13 months of intense and sometimes emotional debate. One unique feature of this exercise was the fact that we began consultation way before cabinet made any decision. In fact, this was so unique that many people found it difficult to believe that we had not already decided before consulting.

In the end, it turned out to be one of the most open debates that we ever had on any issue, and the cabinet decision co-evolved together with the public discussion. It was a divisive contentious issue, and the final decision could not possibly have pleased everyone. Nevertheless, it shows that we will begin consultation early and openly whenever we have to deal with major controversial policies that potentially divide the population.

Last year, my Ministry initiated a youth consultation exercise. We invited young Singaporeans to share their aspirations for themselves and for Singapore , and to help shape the Government’s new agenda for youth. In 6 weeks, more than 2,000 young people from all walks of life took part. Students, young working adults, disabled and young overseas Singaporeans discussed, debated and shared their ideas. 120 young participants volunteered to follow up on the ideas raised during the consultation exercise. They formed workgroups. They proposed a further 91 recommendations and championed issues that had emerged as key concerns during the consultations.

Again, what was striking was how meaningful and fruitful the process has been for everyone involved − the youth, the Government and the public. The value lied not just in the good ideas generated but also in the understanding and bonds of friendship and trust that was forged among them.

More importantly, the workgroup process helped to move public consultation one step beyond feedback, towards collaborative action. This was evident in how our young people assumed leadership over the process and over some of the ideas that are now being implemented. One example is SHINE, a new festival celebrating our young talents, organised by young people for young people. The idea for SHINE was mooted by one of the workgroups during the youth consultation exercise. In less than a year, an idea from a group of young people has become reality. Forty formal and informal youth groups are organising more than 60 events for the SHINE festival, and they hope to reach out to some 150,000 young Singaporeans. My Ministry will provide more of such opportunities for youths and Singaporeans of other age groups to take ownership of initiatives that can have a meaningful impact on their peers and our community.

Conclusion

Public consultation has changed irrevocably in the light of the new challenges facing a new generation of Singaporeans. We will consult early and widely. We will celebrate the diversity of opinions. We will move beyond mere feedback, to providing avenues for meaningful collaborative action by citizens in pursuit of our ideals and dreams.

On this note, i t is now my honour to declare PR Academy’s 4 th Annual Conference open. I wish everyone a fruitful day ahead. Thank you.