Maintaining Singapore's Values as Growth Continues

Mr Nicholas Fang asked the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) what are the key values and principles that should be maintained in Singapore as the country continues to set its objectives for the future; and (b) how can Singaporeans achieve the balance between these values and the drive for continued growth and progress.

Mdm Speaker, a society's values must resonate with its people. Over the years, we have periodically undertaken nationwide exercises to engage Singaporeans about the values and principles we should uphold as we chart our nation's future. For example, the White Paper on our Shared Values (1991), Singapore 21 (1999) and Remaking Singapore (2002) involved extensive consultations.

Our Singapore Conversation also seeks to engage Singaporeans about the shared values, ideals and aspirations that we hold dear. What has surfaced from the dialogues so far is that Singaporeans continue to care deeply about their families. They want a just and fair society that balances economic growth with a good quality of life. They also value graciousness, kindness and help for the

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less fortunate.

Racial and religious harmony remain crucial to maintaining social cohesion in multi-racial, multi-religious Singapore. Meritocracy is another fundamental principle underpinning our society. It helps ensure that we build a society where everyone is given opportunities to progress, regardless of race, language or religion. These are principles and values that Singaporeans cherish, and which we must protect as our society moves forward.

These values are not at odds with the drive for economic growth and progress. However, if we pursue economic growth without concern for social justice, social well-being and cohesion, we will ultimately undermine many of the values we hold dear.

So, as a society, we have to strike a balance between head and heart, between our material and intangible goals. Each of us can also do our part as Singaporeans. There must be a collective will to live out our shared values through our actions. I am encouraged to see more and more Singaporeans doing so. There are many people, young and old, who champion and volunteer for good causes, and who contribute their time and energies to help their fellow citizens, and to shape the character and life of our society.

My Ministry will do its part to help strengthen social and cultural capital in Singapore. We will work with Singaporeans to inspire the Singapore spirit, whether through the arts, heritage or sports, and nurture stronger communities. We also want to foster a spirit of giving and volunteerism, so that, together, we can build a society founded on the values we cherish as a nation.

I would like to thank the Acting Minister for the response. I appreciate the fact that he had pointed out that certain values, while not in direct contradiction with economic growth and development, do pose challenges to the issues and directions we still try to champion. One of them is meritocracy, and is something that is mentioned quite often in this House. I believe that at the last National Day Rally, there was reference to extreme meritocracy and its potential dangers and pitfalls. How are we going to ensure that while we keep the positive elements of these values, going forward, we are able to differentiate between the negative elements of that, take out the positives, and then, through the work of your Ministry, to keep encouraging that and growing at the same time?

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I believe one aspect of that is in relation to policy. There are already reviews being done, for example, on education and on other areas where we look at how we can find a right balance. But in terms of promoting values, the efforts will continue, as I have described, both in school and outside of school. In school, we are talking about values in action; getting students to understand that there are other things that are important besides just excelling in the things that they are good at. They should also look at caring for others. They should realise that their success is not based on their own individual efforts alone, but comes together with other people supporting them. And therefore, it is important for them to give back to society. And so, we talked about values in action in schools. Helping our students to go out and do things for the community, to serve others. We are doing that beyond schools, as well: through the Kindness Movement, NVPC, providing many more platforms for Singaporeans to live out their values. I think that is the important part – besides just talking about that – providing opportunities for Singaporeans to actually practise and live out their values.