Singapore needs to remain open: DPM Teo
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SINGAPORE: Singapore needs to remain open and to welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said.
Speaking at the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) dialogue on Saturday morning, he said these three driving forces can have a double-edged impact on Singapore's social cohesion.
The CEP is a national crisis response network of community, business and youth leaders coordinated by the Home Affairs Ministry.
Into its seventh year, the annual CEP dialogue saw the participation of some 600 community leaders and several ministers including Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lim Swee Say.
On globalisation, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are now living overseas, and Singapore is also becoming more cosmopolitan with people from many different countries calling it home.
With many different races and religions living close together in a small, dense city like Singapore, he said differences between the various groups can develop easily into fissures and weaken the country's unity.
Hence, Mr Teo said Singapore needs to pay extra attention to facilitating the new immigrants who are ready to sink roots here, so that they integrate into society more quickly.
He also urged Singaporeans to do their part to make newcomers feel welcome, and to help them imbibe the values that have made Singapore strong as a society.
On technology, Mr Teo highlighted how the Internet and social media can help bring people together, but it can also disrupt social order and harmony when used maliciously.
He said while social media can mobilise active citizens for positive change, the Internet and the anonymity it affords can also embolden people and encourage extreme views.
"Anonymity on the Internet emboldens people, encouraging them to take on more extreme views than they might otherwise," Mr Teo said.
"The Internet also amplifies the extreme views, even though they might be in the minority, and virtual mobs form to cheer or jeer, which only help to accentuate the differences, polarise and inflame emotions further."
Mr Teo said international terrorism and violent extremism continue to be threats to the world, including Singapore, which remains a target for terrorists.
But the threat of extremism can also help to rally people together in the fight against terror.
He added that strong community partnerships can help Singapore reduce the opportunities for extremism to take hold of groups or individuals, and to deal with and withstand the divisive effects that violent extremism can wreak on a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
In view of these driving forces that can have a profound impact on Singapore's national solidarity and social cohesion, Mr Teo said the country's community engagement efforts are even more important today, and in the future.
- CNA/wm -
".....the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual." - Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1641). Father of Modern Science. Sentenced and imprisoned for an indefinite term by church authority for confirming that the Sun, not Earth, is at the centre of the universe.
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Originally posted by QX179R:
SINGAPORE: Singapore needs to remain open and to welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said.
Speaking at the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) dialogue on Saturday morning, he said these three driving forces can have a double-edged impact on Singapore's social cohesion.
The CEP is a national crisis response network of community, business and youth leaders coordinated by the Home Affairs Ministry.
Into its seventh year, the annual CEP dialogue saw the participation of some 600 community leaders and several ministers including Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lim Swee Say.
On globalisation, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are now living overseas, and Singapore is also becoming more cosmopolitan with people from many different countries calling it home.
With many different races and religions living close together in a small, dense city like Singapore, he said differences between the various groups can develop easily into fissures and weaken the country's unity.
Hence, Mr Teo said Singapore needs to pay extra attention to facilitating the new immigrants who are ready to sink roots here, so that they integrate into society more quickly.
He also urged Singaporeans to do their part to make newcomers feel welcome, and to help them imbibe the values that have made Singapore strong as a society.
On technology, Mr Teo highlighted how the Internet and social media can help bring people together, but it can also disrupt social order and harmony when used maliciously.
He said while social media can mobilise active citizens for positive change, the Internet and the anonymity it affords can also embolden people and encourage extreme views.
"Anonymity on the Internet emboldens people, encouraging them to take on more extreme views than they might otherwise," Mr Teo said.
"The Internet also amplifies the extreme views, even though they might be in the minority, and virtual mobs form to cheer or jeer, which only help to accentuate the differences, polarise and inflame emotions further."
Mr Teo said international terrorism and violent extremism continue to be threats to the world, including Singapore, which remains a target for terrorists.
But the threat of extremism can also help to rally people together in the fight against terror.
He added that strong community partnerships can help Singapore reduce the opportunities for extremism to take hold of groups or individuals, and to deal with and withstand the divisive effects that violent extremism can wreak on a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
In view of these driving forces that can have a profound impact on Singapore's national solidarity and social cohesion, Mr Teo said the country's community engagement efforts are even more important today, and in the future.
- CNA/wm
Nobody is saying that we must errect the Berlin Wall or the Bamboo Curtain surely the DPM must understand. Singaporeans are not that stupid as to think we can live in isolation. BUT then surely we must also be circumspect as to how we remain open, how we accept so call "talents" and how we manage expectations of citizens. BUT being a small nation with little natural resources and land space, if we let all and sundry rape and plunder us socially economically and otherwise, then it is not globalisation, diversity and liberalisation. It's being damn bloody stupid! And it ain't going to improve the TFR either! -
Bloody one by one taking turns to sing the same tune.
Whole bunch of useless arrogant toads.
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wonder why the gahmen is tryin to get the FTs feeling at home while the locals are gettin out of place?
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Talk more crap, lose more seats!
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Originally posted by lce:
wonder why the gahmen is tryin to get the FTs feeling at home while the locals are gettin out of place?
Psychology game. They have it to get the locally born out and foreigners for replacement to carry out their agenda to stay in power.
An acquaintance said she has Indian foreign boss look down on Singaporeans.
Sigh@
Never in my dream to see my countrymen treated this way by own govt and foreigners. Damn!
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Originally posted by QX179R:
SINGAPORE: Singapore needs to remain open and to welcome diversity, even as it grapples with the challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said.
Speaking at the Community Engagement Programme (CEP) dialogue on Saturday morning, he said these three driving forces can have a double-edged impact on Singapore's social cohesion.
The CEP is a national crisis response network of community, business and youth leaders coordinated by the Home Affairs Ministry.
Into its seventh year, the annual CEP dialogue saw the participation of some 600 community leaders and several ministers including Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and Mr Lim Swee Say.
On globalisation, Mr Teo said more Singaporeans are now living overseas, and Singapore is also becoming more cosmopolitan with people from many different countries calling it home.
With many different races and religions living close together in a small, dense city like Singapore, he said differences between the various groups can develop easily into fissures and weaken the country's unity.
> He also urged Singaporeans to do their part to make newcomers feel welcome, and to help them imbibe the values that have made Singapore strong as a society.
On technology, Mr Teo highlighted how the Internet and social media can help bring people together, but it can also disrupt social order and harmony when used maliciously.
He said while social media can mobilise active citizens for positive change, the Internet and the anonymity it affords can also embolden people and encourage extreme views.
"Anonymity on the Internet emboldens people, encouraging them to take on more extreme views than they might otherwise," Mr Teo said.
"The Internet also amplifies the extreme views, even though they might be in the minority, and virtual mobs form to cheer or jeer, which only help to accentuate the differences, polarise and inflame emotions further."
Mr Teo said international terrorism and violent extremism continue to be threats to the world, including Singapore, which remains a target for terrorists.
But the threat of extremism can also help to rally people together in the fight against terror.
He added that strong community partnerships can help Singapore reduce the opportunities for extremism to take hold of groups or individuals, and to deal with and withstand the divisive effects that violent extremism can wreak on a multi-racial and multi-religious society.
In view of these driving forces that can have a profound impact on Singapore's national solidarity and social cohesion, Mr Teo said the country's community engagement efforts are even more important today, and in the future.
- CNA/wm
"Hence, Mr Teo said Singapore needs to pay extra attention to facilitating the new immigrants who are ready to sink roots here, so that they integrate into society more quickly." How long did their ancestors take to sink in roots here ? Most families take at least two to three generations at least. So like instant trees we expect them overnight loyal Pinoys, Burmese and Prcians become loyal citizens? Overnight loyalty ? Surely not possible right? It is also an issue of new migrants making the positve attempt at adapting and assimilating to Singapore and Singaporeans and not the other way around! We were here first hor! -
PAP should be replaced.
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Originally posted by ivan1973:
PAP should be replaced.
Of course. Sickaporeans who vote them in every election are standing in the way for them to be replaced. hope these sickos will lose their jobs to foreigners to let them taste their own medicine.
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Every now and then you see reports of some PRs getting themeselves into serious trouble. E.g just a few days ago the New paper reported about this Chinese PRcian who was made Director by the boss of some failing company and now faces a mountain of debts. She was over 40 years of age and was initially the marketing manager of the company . She was reportedly having to borrow some 11,000 dollars from her fiance from Malta to get a lawyer's help, and was also currently supporting two teenage children from a previous marriage etc- now how on earth did such a complex character get a Permanent residency in Singapore,in the first place????
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What about being open in having some diversification of opposition party in the house ?
It is strange that one who dun practise openness asking other to be open.
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Originally posted by Medicated Oil:
What about being open in having some diversification of opposition party in the house ?
It is strange that one who dun practise openness asking other to be open.
Why not he have pot luck with the new citizens at his own house?
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It's good sor Singapore to remain open.
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Note: His "open" was refering to every one except him and his gang.
Open to job being replaced, scholarship being taken, hawker places being invaded, service quality dropped, more overcrowding and last of all, get used to be called dog and slave.
It never applied to him and his gang as their bonus depend on how many they let in.
It was never about the people as they are fussy, complacent and lazy.
"Foreign GOOD, Local BAD"
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We need more FTs so that GDP can continue to grow.
Otherwise, no other solutions already.
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Hard truth.
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Ya la, we also need to be open to get foreigners to be our govt, cheaper,better and faster.
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Originally posted by winsomeea:
Ya la, we also need to be open to get foreigners to be our govt, cheaper,better and faster.
write to Bill Clinton to see if he wants to work in Spore...or Magdelene Albright -
like legs open big big?
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Originally posted by Bikeforceful:
write to Bill Clinton to see if he wants to work in Spore...or Magdelene AlbrightYes , man, I have Bill Clinton on my mind. Let's all write in to him. Before that Sickaporeans have to stop giving mandate to the greedy pigs.
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are they as open about their lowering their salaries to what a small dot on world map is compared to other much bigger countries that suffer more catastrophes, gulf wars, iran, iraq....etc..
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Originally posted by Fcukpap:
are they as open about their lowering their salaries to what a small dot on world map is compared to other much bigger countries that suffer more catastrophes, gulf wars, iran, iraq….etc..
Many are coming to the conclusion that they have to be deprived of their 2/3s majority in the next GE . Still others are so fed up with these unbated need to grow their GDP thro new migrants policy, they are prepared to see them wipe out and to take a chance with a new slate of people altogether. -
E.g just a few days ago the New paper reported about this Chinese PRcian who was made Director by the boss of some failing company and now faces a mountain of debts. She was over 40 years of age and was initially the marketing manager of the company . She was reportedly having to borrow some 11,000 dollars from her fiance from Malta to get a lawyer’s help, and was also currently supporting two teenage children from a previous marriage etc- now how on earth did such a complex character get a Permanent residency in Singapore,in the first place????
Well you guys have never really heard of Singaporean swindling a PRCian ?
She could be well being implicated .
Just like how Temasek invited Goodyear to stand in .