Debated in Parliament on 9 Jan 2017.
Mr Azmoon Ahmad asked the Prime Minister (a) what is the current status of the Singapore Conversation exercise since its initiation; (b) what are the key highlighted issues that have been addressed; and (c) whether there are any key issues that are still pending action.
Close to 50,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life participated in over 600 dialogue sessions as part of Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) in 2012. It was a rich dialogue among Singaporeans, and not just between the Government and Singaporeans, aimed at defining our shared future together.
This national engagement helped crystallise the core aspirations of Singaporeans. First, opportunities to lead fulfilling lives, to realise one's potential. Second, coming together to build a better Singapore. Third, assurance that our basic needs can be met, that we do not have to face life's uncertainties alone. Fourth, closer community ties, a cohesive society and a warmer kampung spirit. Finally, trust between the Government and people, and trust among Singaporeans.
These aspirations have served to shape our policy directions. For example, in the past few years we made significant moves to keep housing affordable, introduced the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life, reviewed our Primary School Leaving Examination system and introduced Skills Future.
Another important outcome from OSC has been in how we see the importance of on-going public engagements. OSC helped us learn more about how we can better communicate and engage with Singaporeans, and also the importance of creating space for the community to take ownership in shaping our shared future.
Building on the momentum of OSC as well as the many ground-up efforts to celebrate SG50, we launched the SGfuture engagement series in November last year as a platform to encourage more Singaporeans to go a step further by taking action to realise their aspirations and ideas for the future.
We launched Our Singapore Fund in August to partner and support more Singaporeans who wish to embark on ground-up initiatives that will bring people together as a community and help build the Singaporean identity. We are also launching Singapore Cares as a national movement to rally Singaporeans to strengthen the kampung spirit and help others in need.
The way we work as a Government is changing. We will continue to find different ways to understand citizen needs and to partner them. SGfuture is a step in our ongoing journey to make it possible for every Singaporean to co-create our future together as we journey towards SG100.
PAPERCUTS