Joanne Lee explores the social cohesion issue before this year's Rally speech.
DID YOU say the pledge? Did you say the pledge?
It was something everyone was asking each other last weekend after the National Day Parade.
On 8:22pm last Sunday, thousands of Singaporeans stood at attention to recite the national pledge, clenched fists on heart, renewing the civil bond with their fellow countrymen by declaring themselves "one united people, regardless of race, language or religion".
The island-wide pledge coordinated on National Day saw people stop along Orchard Road to participate in the recital in the middle of shopping excursions, stand in coffee shops in the heartlands or simply in front of their television sets at home. Somehow the one-minute act seemed to capture the imagination of the nation when synchronised to be done together.
It was an exercise that put into action an issue raised by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Message the day before: Social cohesion.
He had sought to inspire confidence in his televised message, recalling Singapore's journey since self-government in 1959.
He said: "Each time we were challenged, we responded as one, everyone pulling together and working for the common good. Each success cemented social cohesion."
Tracing the racial riots of Singapore's early years, right up to the recent H1N1 flu outbreak and the ongoing economic crisis, he'd identified unity as a key factor that has pulled the country through tough times.
"We must work hard to strengthen it, and to bridge potential divides within our society, be it between Singaporeans and new arrivals, between rich and poor, or most fundamental of all, between the different races and religions."
On Thursday, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew made a speech warning Singaporeans of the dangers of closing the country's door to foreign talent. He stressed the importance of accepting and embracing them - once again, that same message of social cohesion.
This message, together with the organised pledge-taking across the Republic, comes at a time when the fabric of society has been tested in the past year - a year of furious debate brought on by the escape and recapture of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari and the Aware saga of several months ago.
Both episodes had religious undertones that hinted at what PM Lee called those "potential divides" in Singapore society today.
Given the prominence the message has been given of late, it is almost certain that PM Lee will expand on its importance in his National Day Rally speech tomorrow - just how candidly remains to be seen. No doubt, he will touch on other topics such as economic recovery and Singapore's transformation, as he did in his National Day Message. But it's the sensitive subject of remaining a "one united people, regardless of race, language or religion" that will make the National Day Rally interesting to watch this year.
What will he say to build (or rebuild) social cohesion in Singapore?
Tune in to The Straits Times' live blogging tomorrow evening and leave your comments as PM Lee delivers his speech. Follow us "@stcom" if you prefer to get the updates on Twitter.
Tags:
national day rally,
politics,
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...and only if our government had allowed critical thinking to be the hallmark of Singapore's mainstream media, maybe they wouldn't have this problem now.
But alas, credibility is defined by our government as one's ability to self-regulate.
And therefore, mainstream is credible, and new media is NOT.
Joanne, what do you have to say about Mnister Liu's remark with regards to the New Media?
He says that is it neither objective nor balanced nor credible.
I for one think he is correct, but he need not be adversarial or defensive towards it.
The internet, afterall, represents the plurarity of sources of information - both news and opinion, and the New Media is largely the latter, hence, of course it will be one-sided and may fail to be completely objective.
But rather than dismiss it, our government must admit that the New Media in Singapore is THE reflection of what we can never see (or what we are not allowed to see) in TV or newspapers....and all of these things need to have an outlet. There is obviously a gap in Singapore's mainstream media, and something will fill that void.
Some say it is the lack of critical thinking.
Maybe that is it, and Singapore has only one source of it - the New Media.
...And this all goes back to the fact that New Media is nothing but mere unblemished opinion....but the Minister (acting) of Information wants it to be dealth with.
Another sad day in Singapore.
By the way, it is interesting that NOT a single reader disagreed with me when I suggested that the Straits Times owes us a pledge. I wonder IF the ST will take any notice of what readers have said or not said in this case. Me thinks they will just ignore it.
I have been away for a bit myself, but I noticed the Online Ed is rather quiet.
Like vanished. No new blogs.
Hmmmm...perhaps she is on another junket.
The socio-political establishments and institutions in Singapore adhere to "racial majoritism", and has effectively extended it in housing, education, and jobs.
What were once Malay or Indian enclaves eventually become Chinese enclaves over-time preventing minorities from forming their own political blocs.
Foreigners in Singapore, many of which are from democratic countries that don't instutitionalize social controls based on race are not blind to this fact.
They know that once they become a citizen, they will become part of Singapore's minority....and that means, in many ways they will remain subject to "preferrential treatment".
It's not rocket science...this is what deters many PRs from considering citizenship.
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