Governance

Anticipating Change and Staying Relevant

Anticipating Chang and Staying Relevant is an important guiding principle for contributing to sustain Singapore’s future success.

The government needs to take risks and make decisions that are forward-looking in anticipation of future challenges.

For future water needs, the government has taken steps to ensure that Singapore is self-sufficient in water supply.

This has been done through producing ‘NEWater’ and desalinated water.

Another example would be how, through the decision to build two integrated Resorts, the government has taken bold steps to help Singapore capture the growing tourist market in the face of rising competition.

At the individual level, students can stretch their potentials by coming up with creative and innovative ideas. Workers too could play their part by upgrading their knowledge and skills to stay employable and contribute to the nation

Thus by anticipating change and staying relevant, Singapore can look forward to the challenges of the future with confidences.

Leadership is Key.

Leadership is key is a very important guiding principle of governance that

care is taken to select leaders that have outstanding personal qualities such as honesty, moral courage, integrity, and in addition,talent.

Potential leaders are specially selected and groomed.

Singapore needs good leadership not only in government but also in every segment of the society.

For example, the arts scene in Singapore made progress more vibrant arts scene.

Thus, leadership is most important if Singapore would like to continue to prosper and face up to the challenges that might come its way.

Good leaders will inspire the people and thus be able to carry the people with them when decisions (even tough and less popular ones) are made for the good of the country, thereby sustaining Singapore’s future success.

Reward for Work and Work for Reward.

‘Reward for Work and Work for Reward’ is an important guiding principle of government. Underlying this principle is the belief in meritocracy.

Meritocracy means a system that rewards hard work and talent.

Meritocracy helps to give everybody in society an equal opportunity to achieve their best and be rewarded for their performance, regardless of race, religion and socio-economic background.

for example hardworking students who excel in their studies and co-curricular activities receive rewards in the form of Edusave Scholarship and Merit Bursaries.

All Singaporeans also received a share of the surplus from Singapore’s growth through the Progress Package.

Thus, this principle encourages people to continue to work hard to help Singapore.

A Stake for Everyone, Opportunities for All

‘A Stake for Everyone, Opportunities for All’ is another important guiding principle of governance.

This means allowing people more opportunities to get involved in the decision-making process.

Such participating would lead to people feeling a deeper sense of belonging to the country.

For example, the government consulted the public on the issue of having casinos as part of the IRs.

Thus, by allowing the people more opportunities to participate in important decision-making,

a stronger bond is built between the people and the country.

This will help to keep the people actively involved with the government and supportive of the decisions made by the government, thereby sustaining Singapore’s future success.

credit to Lemond