Debated in Parliament on 7 Jul 2014.
Mr Laurence Lien asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth how the Government helps to facilitate dialogue among citizens when their views and interests are widely divergent so that common ground may be attained.
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Singapore is a diverse society. The Government has always sought to bring all parties to the table so they can hear and understand the views of different segments of our society and seek common ground.
Where views differ sharply between different groups, the Government's priority is to ensure that these differences do not result in deep divisions in our society. So, we encourage groups to exercise restraint and moderation in expressing their views, and also to respect those who may hold different perspectives. As the elected Government, we must bear the interest of society as a whole in mind.
Through REACH and other public consultation platforms, the Government regularly seeks views and feedback from a wide spectrum of Singaporeans. This provides a platform for Singaporeans to understand that there are often multiple perspectives and helps us to shape informed and inclusive Government policies.
Over the years, we have intensified our efforts to engage with more stakeholders through different platforms. For example, nearly 50,000 Singaporeans participated in last year's Our Singapore Conversation (OSC). It was an opportunity for Singaporeans holding different views to dialogue frankly with one another. Through the process, many came to realise that different views had to be respected and reconciled, in order for us to find a way forward together.
Mutual respect in dialogue between fellow citizens is something that the Government will continue to encourage. To promote this, our platforms will not only be opportunities for citizens to dialogue with the Government, but to also dialogue openly with one another in the spirit of mutual respect. This is how we can seek common ground even as we acknowledge our differences.
PAPERCUTS