Chapter 3- How Can We Work For The Good Of Society?

Question 1

What are the roles of gov.? [4]

Answer 1

1. MAINTAIN INTERNAL ORDER AND EXTERNAL SECURITY
   A) Internal Order.
   Example: Little India Riots. Riots broke out after a road incident. Various agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) were involved. Singapore Police Force (SPF) activated to arrest rioters and maintain crowd control. Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) put out fires and sent injured to hosp.

B) External Security.
Example:
a) Military Protection. At annual National Day Parade, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) display Spores various military tech. to Spore citizens and foreign countries. Also build stronger militaty ties with other countries through joint military exercises such as the Exercise Cope Tiger in Thailand.
b) Diplomacy. It is the work of maintaining good rs with other countries. When spore and malaysia had differing opinions on who Pedra Branca belonged to, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) worked to resolve the issue amicably through a third party, the International Court of Justice.

2. ENSURING JUSTICE
   - Preventing Family Violence.
   - Example: The Family Justice Courts provide guidelines to what is defined as domestic abuse, who can apply for a Personal Protection Order (PPO), how to apply and actions that can be taken by courts. With a PPO, courts can take action to prevent/ restrict a person frm gg. near victim.
3. PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES FOR THE PUBLIC
   - Examples:
   a) Healthcare. Ensuring affordable healthcare through subsidies as well as 3Ms. Medisave and Medishield ensures citizens have savings and insurance to cover for healthcare expenses, while Medifund provides coverage for needy.
   b) Public Transport. Gov. trying to develop ppl centred public transport system through construction of integrated trsptn. hubs, sheltered linkways, and more buses and trains.
4. SAFEGUARDING INTERESTS OF CITIZENS
   - Examples:
   a) Employment Rights. Introduced WorkRight initiative to help both employers and employees understand their rights and responsibilities. Achieved thru TV advertisements and posters.
   b) Preparation for retirement. Central Provident Fund (CPF) ensures citizens hv enuf savings to finance housing and hc needs, as well as hv a source of income for retirement. Enhanced into CPFLife which provides lifelong monthly payouts for the retiree and ensures that they dont outlive their CPFsavings.

Question 2

What are the outcomes of citizen participation?

Answer 2

1. CONTRIBUTING TO NEEDS OF SOCIETY
   A) -Individuals.They contribute by volunteering their efforts, money and time to social causes that they are concerned about.
   -Example: Ms Elisa Ng initiated a green movement at 2013 called “A litter at a time” to encourage citizens to pick up at least one piece of litter every day.
   B) -Formal Grps. They have clear objectives and are formally registered by gov.
   -Example: Nature Society is dedi. to appreciation n conservation of natural heritage in spore n surr. region.
   C)-Informal Grps. Have specific short term objectives related to issues that arise suddenly.
   -Example: Facebook acc. called “SG Haze Rescue” which consisted of volunteers who helped distribute extra masks to people during 2013 haze crisis.
2. INFLUENCING GOV. DECISIONS
   A)Individuals. Can partake in Our Singapore Conv. (OSC), a national lvl conversation started in 2012 whr citz share aspirations and concerns for spore w gov. OSC also conducted via social media platforms such as Facebook.
   B)Organized Grps. Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) influenced gov. decision by submitting reports to gov. to improve working conditions for foreign domestic workers. They recommended that the workers be entitled to one rest day a week, which was approved by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)
3. ENHANCING SENSE OF BELONGING
   A)Reach for Everyone for Active Citizenry @ Home (REACH) seeks to gather citz feedback n promote active citzry thru citz participation n engagement. One channel they do so is the REACH online portal, which is accessible via FB.
   B)*SCAPE. A place in Orchard Road for youths to hang out. In planning the place, the gov. took over 2.2k pieces of feedback frm youths for a space that could create, explore and showcase their creative talents. This exercise demonstrated the active role that youths can play in changing landscape of orchard rd.