Governance In Singapore

Governance in Singapore

Role of the peopleFunctions of the government

Four guiding principlesCase Study – Traffic Management policy

Case Study – Population policy


• Role of the People in Singapore

Feedback Unit

Letters,dialogues

Feedback Unit

Relevant ministry Change

of policy


• Functions of the Government


•Makes the laws of the country

•President, MPs

•Executes the laws thro’ ministries and civil service

•President, PM, cabinet ministers

•Ensures laws are justly carried out

•Judges, law courts

Governance in Singapore • Leadership is key

– Honest, capable leaders– Moral integrity– Make sound decisions– Good character

• Anticipate change and stay relevant– Self-sufficiency in water supply (NEWater, desalinated water)– IR (Integrated Resorts) to boost tourism– Upgrade knowledge and skills

• Reward for work and work for reward– Meritocracy through Edusave Scholarship, Merit Bursary Schem

es– Progress Package 2006

• A stake for everyone, opportunities for all – Consultative government– Decisions are made for the needs of the nation


Traffic Policy in Singapore

• ALS (Area Licensing Scheme)

• ERP (Electronic Road Pricing)

• Park-and-Ride Scheme

• Vehicle Quota Scheme


Area licensing Scheme (ALS) – in the 1970sas a result of high traffic volume in citycentre• Motorists pay to use the roads in the CBD• Gantries, Restricted Zones set up• Improve bus service• Increase cost of parking• Park-and-ride facilities

Before – 32500 vehiclesAfter – 7700 vehicles


Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) – 1998 to replace the ALS

• more effective and efficient• Up-to-date technology


Park-and-Ride Scheme• Motorists to park

vehicles outside city area

• Encourage the use public transport

• Still in implementation today

Not successful!

•Waste of parking space

•Expensive to park outside city area

•Waste of resources for shuttle bus service


Vehicle Quota System• Control of car

population by LTA (Land Transport Authority)

• COE (Certificate of Entitlement) system

Governance in Singapore• 1950 – 1960• Post-war baby boom

(1.02mil – 1.64mil)


Singapore Family Planning and Population Board, 1966

• 3 five-year plans– Need for smaller families– ‘stop at two’ policy– 2.1 children per woman

• Encourage use of contraceptives• Legalize abortion• No paid maternity leave for more than 3 children• No income tax relief• Increased in delivery charges for each additional child• No priority in allocation of government flats


• Problems of slow population growth– Declining birth rate (1.82 children per woman) in the 1

980s due to • Success of policies• Increase standard of living• Women delaying marriage

– Weaker defence force• Not enough men to defend Singapore

– Ageing population• More resources will be used to support the aged

– Unattractive to MNCs • Smaller consumer market


How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?

• The Graduate Mother’s Scheme

• Three or More if You Can Afford It

• Pro-family Measures



• The Graduate Mother’s Scheme, 1984– Graduates encouraged to

get married– Graduates encouraged to

have more children** Scheme withdrawn in

1985 **


• How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?– Three or More If You Can Afford It, 1987

• Use of Medisave for delivery charges of 1st three children

• Publicity campaigns on the joys of parenthood• Limited success – fertility rate of 1.24 (2004), 3510

0 births


• How did the government promote population growth after the 1980s?– New marriage and parenthood packages,

2004 (based on feedback)• Equalized medical benefits• Grandparent caregiver relief• 5 day work week for Civil Service• Extended maternity leave



• Attracting Foreign Talent to take up PRship– Relaxed immigration policy, 1989– Attractive housing, education packages for chi

ldren of FTs


Preparing for an ageing population

• What happened?– Post war baby boom– Declining birth rates– Longer life span


Preparing for an ageing population

• Impact of an ageing population– Reduce in competitiveness– Demand for more healthcare and social svcs– Smaller security force– Strain on working people


Preparing for an ageing population - meeting the challenges

• Challenge : 19% of Singaporeans = aged (>65 yrs old)

Make them useful/ assets to the society• Give them opportunities to add value to the

public and private organizations, boost family life



‘Many Helping Hands’ Approach• Sharing responsibility to take care of senior cit

izens• Government rely less on increasing taxes• Government can save resources to meet the

nation’s other needs



Individual responsibility• Age gracefully through early planning• Healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising

regularly• Financial planning by attending talks



Family Support• Provides emotional, social and financial

support• Positive attitude towards elderly• Celebrating Grandparents’ Day



Community Help• Voluntary welfare organizations (Home

Nursing Foundation for Elders)• Use of housewives to help the needs of the

senior citizens• Free health checks• Recreational activities



Government Support• Tribunal for the maintenance of parents• Tax relief• CPF• Public housing scheme

Governance In Singapore

Education

electronic

graduate mothers

area licensing

ride scheme

city area

civil service

ageing population

senior citizens