Does the way the Government engages and consults the public need to change?

The Maju Forest-Gillman Barracks controversy has prompted Singaporeans to actively voice their opinions, demanding greater transparency from the government. This situation echoes past debates such as the Dear You bilingual policy, the SimplyGo launch, and the aborted NTUC Income-Allianz transaction. As civic engagement appears to be evolving, it raises the question of whether the government's approach to public consultation should be reevaluated.

In this episode of The Usual Place, we delve into the topic with Assistant Professor of Sociology George Wong and Jonathan Ng, an experienced independent consultant with a background in policy advocacy and regulation.

George Wong notes that Singaporeans are eager to see the inner workings of policymaking, emphasizing the need for trust in their voices being heard. Jonathan Ng concurs that the government must demonstrate how public input shapes decisions. However, the discourse also highlights potential drawbacks. Should policies ideally cater to every stakeholder, or is there merit in presenting trade-offs without appearing defensive?

The conversation also touches upon the role of social media in fueling active citizenship and the impact of political labels on engagement. The discussion concludes with insights on whether a new iteration of the Our Singapore Conversation is necessary.