SS issue 1 (copy)

What does citizenship mean to me?

How to gain citizenship?

• By descent

• By Marriage

• By Naturalisation

• By Country of Birth

Rights of a citizen

• freedom of speech and religion.

• rights to vote - not in the Constitution, but is detailed in the Parliamentary Elections Act, chapter 218

• Rights are included in the Constitution

• ensures these rights are respected by the law and by everyone in the country

• protects the well-being of the citizens.

Responsibilities of a citizen

• In Singapore, all citizens have responsibilities such as:

  • obeying the laws of the country and not discriminating against people of other races or religions.

  • serving National Service and maintaining racial and religious harmony

  • e.g. during the covid-19 circuit breaker in 2020, residents were required to stay at home and to limit social gatherings to help stop the spread of the virus

• Different countries emphasise different responsibilities.

  • For example in USA citizens are expected to do jury duty when called upon while in Canada, all citizens are expected to be environmentally conscious.

A sense of identity

A sense of identity comes from a shared belief of connectedness to one another and belonging to the country.

• A sense of identity is created when citizen share a common way of life and feel strongly about similar things as other Singaporeans.

• In Singapore, we experience common practices such as singing the National Anthem, reciting the National Pledge and taking part in events such as National Day celebrations.

• Having a common identity is very important because it will lead to all citizens caring for their fellow citizens, even if they are not of the same race or have different religious beliefs.

• It makes citizens feel belonged to the country and feel uniquely different from other countries.

shared values

Shared values refer to values that are embraced and seen as important by a group of people. Strengthens social cohesion.

for example:

• Being thrifty as emphasised in a family

• Values of respect and resilience as affirmed in a school.

• In Singapore, Singaporeans uphold the value of multiculturalism, they take pride and identify this value as an essential part of the Singaporean identity.

• In a survey in 2020, 60% of Singaporeans ranked a multiracial and multireligious society as most important to the Singaporean identity

Civic participation

• Civic participation in public affairs as individuals

• Civic participation in public affairs as groups

  • formal

  • informal

Civic participation in public affairs as individuals

refers to citizens actively taking part in public affairs. They can identify what the community needs and take action to help others, contributing to the well-being of society.

for example:

• Temporary Academic Assistance

  • In 2020, Mr Andy Teo initiated this project to connect students with volunteer tutors. Mr Teo saw this need when schools moved to full home based learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. He enlisted help of tutors through social media to teach for free. In just a week, 250 volunteered to serve.

Civic participation in public affairs as informal groups

• usually exist for a short period of time to address a specific objective in a community and may not be registered with the Government

• Mr Nigel Teo and his friends started a mobile application called Goodhood. sg to promote neighbourliness in Singapore. Through the app, individuals in Singapore are able to connect meaningfully with their neighbours by asking for or offering help.

Civic participation in public affairs as formal groups

• Formal community groups have clear objectives and are officially registered with the government.

• They cater to specific needs and interests of society and generally devote their efforts over a sustained period of time.

• citizens can work together to make a positive impact on the community. Therefore, citizenship involves actively contributing to society through organised community groups.

• For example:

  • Zero Waste SG. This NGO leads the drive towards zero waste in Singapore through education and advocacy. It engages the public, companies, schools and government agencies to discuss the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). In relation to food waste, plastic disposables, household recycling and organisational waste.

  • SG Enable. This SSA is dedicated to enabling persons with disabilities and promoting an inclusive society. Through workshops organised by SG Enable, participants learnt how to interact with consumers with disabilities and improve accessibility of products and services for them

NGOs

Non

Governmental

Organisations

SSA

Social

Service

Agencies

Functions of the government

• Legislature

  • makes and passes laws

• Executive

  • implements and enforces laws

• Judiciary

  • interprets and applies laws

Legislature

Comprises of the President & Parliament (Speaker of Parliament), Prime Minister, elected members of Parliament (MP), Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) and a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMPs)).

• Creates laws that maintain order, protect people's rights, and promote the well-being of the community.

• helps ensure people live safely and fairly together.

• For example:

  • In April 2020, amid the growing threat of COVID-19 in the country, the Singapore government urgently passed the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act that made the wearing of masks compulsory by law.

  • The Act was passed to prevent, protect against and control the transmission of the virus in Singapore.

How does a bill become a law?

Bill: Proposed law that an MP proposes to be approved

• Extensive debates occur in Parliament to decide if the bill can be passed as a law

• Presidential Council for Minority Rights. (PCMR) will then decide whether or not to approve the bill, by ensuring that no laws passed by the government discriminates against any minority racial or religious groups.

• Once PCMR gives approval, the proposed bills are sent to the President. Upon the President’s approval, the bill becomes a law.

Executive

Comprises the Cabinet, led by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister- in- charge of for the 16 Ministries in Singapore

• The function of the Executive contributes to the good of society by implementing and enforcing laws passed by the Legislature.

• Several government agencies were issued a letter of appointment by the Ministry of Health and involved in enforcing the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act. The agencies include the following:

  • Land Transport Authority (LTA)

  • National Environment Agency (NEA)

  • National Parks Board (NParks)

  • The Singapore Police Force (SPF)

• Officers from these agencies can issue offenders a Notice of Offence, which includes the fine amount and details of the offence. First-time offenders are fined $300 while repeat offenders are fined $1000.

• Thousands of Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) were also deployed. Their main tasks were to abide by the regulations and ensure that masks were worn correctly.

• the Executive helps maintain order, safety, and the well- being of society.

Judiciary

Comprises the Supreme Court, the State courts and the Family Justice Courts Chief Justice = Head of Judiciary

• Laws sometimes need to be interpreted and applied to specific situations. This allows laws to be applied appropriately when dealing with actual cases.

• For example:

  • In 2020, a woman was caught on video arguing with passer-by who had told her to wear a mask and abide by the law. On 7 May 2021, she was sentenced to two weeks’ jail and fined $2000.

• the Judiciary contributes to a safe, fair, and orderly society.

Roles of the Government

• Maintains law and order

• Ensures economic well-being of Citizens

• Promotes and protects a country’s national interests

How does the government maintaining law and order help society?

• Preserves safety and security by ensuring that citizens lives and properties are protected from harmful acts.

• Ensures justice by making sure people are fairly treated with the presence of the Judiciary

• For example:

  • the Singapore Police Force (SPF) aims to prevent, deter and detect crime, and its work is wide-ranging.

  • The police engaging students to fight scams. Consistent and rigorous police enforcements builds awareness that disobeying the law will not be tolerated. This awareness helps to deter potential crimes.

  • In 2014, an assistant director from the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was convicted for misusing money entrusted to his care. He was jailed 10 years.

• allows the citizens to trust the government and the laws more as they feel that they are being protected. Thus, they will also feel safe and secured living in Singapore.

How does ensuring the economic and social well being of citizens help society?

• ensuring that citizens have access to basic needs such as water, food, and shelter are met helps improve satisfaction and quality of life.

• education, healthcare, housing and transportation can be subsidised so citizens have easy access to these services.

• for example:

  • Polyclinics located throughout Singapore are one-stop healthcare centres that provide subsidised primary car. Services include outpatient medical treatment and diagnostic tests.

  • There are more than one million HDB flats which are homes to 80% of the country’s population.

  • The Central Provident Fund (CPF) is a comprehensive savings plan that provides a foundation for the retirement of most Singaporeans. It can also be used to buy a home and pay for healthcare.

  • Medisave account can help pay for healthcare and insurance.

• By creating such conditions in areas like education and employment, the government helps individuals to pursue their goals and enjoy a satisfactory quality of life.

The government promotes and protects a country’s national interest

• Through diplomacy

  • E.g Singapore actively forges bilateral relationships. Singapore maintains strong bilateral relations with Malaysia i.e. water security, which serves Singapore’s national interests.

  • Under the 1962 Water Agreement, Singapore draws 250 million gallons of raw water per day from the Johore River. In return, Singapore provides Malaysia with a daily supply of treated water up to 2% of the volume supplied to Singapore.

  • Singapore’s membership in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian nations). Through ASEAN, Singapore has been able to establish partnerships with countries within and beyond ASEAN.

• through deterrence

  • The Ministry of Defence develops the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to respond to military threats.

  • The SAF has tapped on advances in technology and artificial intelligence to build its capabilities. E.g. the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) is the Singapore Army’s first fully digitalised platform. It requires less manpower to operate. It also has touch screen controls and an automatic system that enables the crew to detect and engage targets quickly and effectively.

• Ensures a safe, secure, and stable nation where potential threats are deterred from harming the country's people, sovereignty, and interests.

How do we decide what is good for society?

Society is made up of different groups.

Different groups may have:

• different needs and interests

• different priorities

• unequal sharing of costs

Differing needs and interests

The government manages differing needs and interests by balancing competing priorities and making fair decisions that promote the common good, resulting in a more cohesive, inclusive, and harmonious society.

e.g.:

• Varying transport needs between car owners and MRT users.

• Car owners would want the government to improve roads. MRT and bus users would want the government to focus on ensuring less crowded trains during peak periods.

Different priorities

Policies and decisions are made that balance competing priorities to promote the well-being of society as a whole.

for example:

• Parents of school-going children would want the government to invest more on education, while senior citizens would want the government to invest more on healthcare.

Unequal sharing of costs

• While a decision may benefit society in general, it can have a negative impact on certain groups of people.

• The government manages the unequalsharing of costs by ensuring that the burdens and benefits of policies are distributed as fairly as possible.

• It may provide assistance, subsidies, or compensation to affected groups, engage citizens in decision-making, and implement measures that balance the needs of different stakeholders while working towards the common good.

• for example:

  • Expressways and MRT lines need to be built to improve infrastructure.

  • However, people living near the construction sites would need to bear with the inconveniences, such as noise and dust. Such people would have to bear the costs. Others reap benefits from the improvements without experiencing such inconveniences.

  • This creates a ‘Not in my Backyard’(NIMBY) syndrome: People generally welcome improvements, but they do not want the inconveniences associated with such improvements.

  • It is difficult to deal with NIMBY syndrome in Singapore, due to limited land.

  • E.g., Expressways and MRT lines would inevitably be built near residential estates. Or elder care facilities such as in Toh Yi estate.

What is a trade off?

• Involves exchange in which individuals have to decide between two or more things that cannot be obtained at the same time.

• Government makes these decisions based on:

  • The needs and interests of the country

  • availability of resources

  • long-term benefit for the country

Examples of the Government managing trade-offs

• When the government saw the need to build the Thomson-East Coast line in 2014, the plan to develop the parcels of land into commercial and residential buildings had to be abandoned.

• When fully operational in 2024, the MRT line is projected to serve about 500,000 commuters daily in its initial years, rising to 1 million daily in the long term.

Principles shaping governance

• having good leadership

• anticipating change and staying relevant

• A stake for everyone, opportunities for all

• Practicing meritocracy

Having good leadership

• Potential leaders are specially selected and groomed.

• They have to have good character such as honesty, incorruptibility and integrity so that they would introduce policies in the best interests of the country and not for their own personal benefit.

• example:

  • Mr Goh Keng Swee - Minister for Finance who helped to transform Singapore into a prosperous nation.

  • As the only economist in First Singapore Cabinet, he helped to attract multinational Corporations to invest in Singapore in order to create much needed jobs for a young nation. He also set up the Economic Development Board with the objective of attracting foreign investments.

  • Therefore, such stable and capable leaders will make decisions for the good of the country rather than for personal interest.

• ensures more foreign investment, leading to the economic success of the country.

• capable leaders can win the confidence and respect of the people, gaining support for the government in their policies, leading to further economic success.

Anticipating change and staying relevant

• Changes in society can occur in many aspects. Leaders adopt a forward-looking approach to ensure the long-term survival of Singapore. Therefore, the government must recognize constraints and look for solutions.

• They also have to manage tensions that may arise when citizens’ needs are affected in the short term due to the decisions based on long-term considerations.

• For example:

  • the government decided to build the Integrated Resort (IR) at Marina Bay and Sentosa in April 2005. The government saw potential economic benefits, such as job opportunities and higher tourist spending.

  • However, there are social costs to having casinos in Singapore, such as people developing a gambling addiction, and the stress it brings to the individual and families. To deal with the social cost, the government established the National Council of Problem Gambling to educate the public on the dangers of gambling and provide counselling services for compulsive gamblers and their family members.

A stake for everyone, opportunities for all

• When citizens have a say in decision-making processes, they will develop a greater sense of belonging.

• They will feel they have a stake in Singapore’s future and be more willing to be involved in working towards the good of society.

• This means allowing Singaporean to share their views about policies and decision making.

• For example:

  • Engagement with citizens through the Singapore Together movement.

  • Launched in June 2019, Singaporeans are encouraged to partner the government and one another to shape and act on their shared future in areas they care about.

  • This can be through partnership opportunities or government support for citizen-led initiatives.

  • the Emerging Stronger Conversation (ESC) series was part of the larger Singapore Together movement. The ESC sessions ran from June to Sep 2020. They involved over 16,900 Singaporeans from different backgrounds, languages and experiences who expressed their hopes for how Singapore can emerge stronger from the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • In 2004, the government consulted the people on the issue of having a casino as part of an Integrated Resort. Singaporeans were able to voice their opinions on the matters.

  • The government listened to people’s feedback on social problems that can arise and it reviewed and implemented social safeguards like the implementing of $100 levy for Singaporeans who enter the casino

Practicing meritocracy

• People are rewarded according to the effort they put in rather than factors such as their race, religion or socio-economic background.

• Encourages people to work harder, enabling Singapore to retain talented and capable people to contribute to the development of the country, ensuring Singapore’s success.

  • Edusave Award for Achievement, Good Leadership and Service (EAGLES)

  • For up to 10% of students from each school who have demonstrated leadership qualities, service to community and schools, excellence in non-academic activities and good conduct.

  • This is an example of award offered to students in government and specialised schools.

• However, some groups who have the ability to get a headstart may benefit more from meritocracy.

  • e.g. some parents have the financial ability to send their children for tuition, giving them a better chance to do better in school, which might lead to better futures.

How can we work together for the good of society?

• actions taken by individuals, communities and government to:

  • address the needs of society

  • Influence decision-making in public affairs

  • Strengthen citizens’ sense of belonging

Actions taken by citizens to address the needs of society

• Citizens and government can work together to improve the well-being of different groups by identifying and responding to issues and challenges they face

• contributing time and skills in meeting their needs improves the standard of living of communities.

• For example:

  • Mdm Malligesvari identitied areas of need in the community through RSVP Singapore

  • She volunteers as an instructor for Age Well Everyday (AWE) programme. Teaches seniors healthy living habits, exercise, brain- stimulating activities.

  • Helps elderly maintain health, reduces risk of illness, improves quality of life

actions taken by communities to address the needs of society

• community groups are able to create longer term and well-structured programmes according to the needs identified.

• it complements individual efforts in improving the society’s standard of living.

• e.g. RSVP Singapore (Social Service Agency):

  • MyBuddy Programme: Volunteers give moral and physical support to elderly discharged from hospitals.

  • Cyberguide Programme: Volunteers teach seniors IT skills (smartphones, cashless payments).

  • MyBuddy: Reduces loneliness, builds support networks.

  • Cyberguide: Improves seniors’ confidence with technology, greater inclusion in society → happier lives.

actions taken by the government to address the needs of society

• the government can create frameworks and toolkits that ensure sustainability.

  • e.g. National Council of Social Service (NCSS) – develops resources for (Social Service Agencies) SSAs (e.g. Volunteer Management Toolkit 2.0) to guide them in managing volunteers effectively

  • More effective volunteer management → more volunteers → more consistent support for elderly (companionship, training, care).

• This shows how the government sets up structures, policies and national programmes in a targeted manner, creating opportunities for the community to show care to those around them.

• By supporting SSAs, the government ensures that elderly receive ongoing, structured help beyond one-off efforts, improving the standard of living of the society as a whole.

actions taken by individuals to influence decision-making in public affairs

• Citizens can provide feedback and suggestions to the government to influence public policy

• for example:

  • 76 citizen jurors (Singaporeans and Permanent Residents) from different backgrounds formed part of the 2016 Citizens’ Jury in Singapore as part of the nation-wide effort War on Diabetes.

  • Citizens’ suggestion to install more water coolers in public areas to encourage water drinking was adopted by the government

  • Citizens can share their views on public policies with the government through engagement platforms such as REACH (Reaching Everyone for Active Citizenry).

• Citizens can also work together with the government to craft public policy based on analysis of information, rigorous debate and consensus.

Actions taken by the government to influence decision-making in public affairs

• Governments can encourage citizens to influence decision-making in public affairs

• e.g. REACH

  • National feedback unit under MCI. Uses social media (Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook) and dialogue sessions to collect citizens’ views on policies.

Actions taken by individuals (citizens) to strengthen Citizens’ sense of belonging

• Citizens strengthen their own sense of belonging through their own initiatives based on what they are concerned and passionate about

• for example:

  • Volunteers in Between Two Homes project interviewed residents of Dakota Crescent, documented stories, and assisted in relocation (e.g. Cassia Resettlement Team with house visits, potluck parties).

  • Built attachment to local history, cared for residents during/after relocation, strengthened sense of community.

Actions taken by the government to strengthen Citizens’ sense of belonging

• The government can provide:

  • every citizen with a stake in the country’s affair; and

  • structures and funding to strengthen citizens’ sense of belonging

• For example:

  • In preserving the heritage of Dakota Crescent, the government engaged citizens, such as residents as well as community and heritage interest groups.

  • Government considered and decided to retain and repurpose some of the buildings and the Dove playground in Dakota Crescent due to common feedback that the central courtyard, where the Dove Playground was located, holds special meaning for the residents as it was where they used to gather.