Suchergebnisse

In this commentary, the author opined that even as political competition in Singapore sharpens, a deeper understanding and broader consensus must develop on critical issues. He believes that remaking Singapore to be a fairer, more just, and compassionate society in a post-Covid world is a key responsibility for Parliament.

The year 2020 was a trying one, with the full ramifications of the crisis indeterminate for the country's politics, economy and society. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described the COVID-19 global pandemic as the "crisis of a generation" for Singapore and Singaporeans. The imperative to keep Singaporeans safe and to mitigate the severe economic downturn preoccupied the government for much of the year in review. It saw the government roll out within a span of a hundred days four budgets worth S$93 billion specifically as fiscal countermeasures to the pandemic. Singaporeans also went to the polls in July 2020. Despite the economic crisis unleashed by the pandemic, they voted for more political diversity and competition. Although the ruling People's Action Party won a clear mandate, it also lost a second multi-member constituency and three office-holders in the process. To compound matters, the uncertainty as to who will become the fourth premier resurfaced again in 2020 turning the well-planned leadership renewal and succession on its head. Foreign relations remained on an even keel even as the pressing priorities globally were on domestic concerns. Singapore sought to keep supply lines open and ensure food security as the world became drenched with fear, panic and trepidation. The pandemic underlined the city-state's continuing vulnerabilities. With the public health situation under control by the end of the third quarter of 2020, the focus shifted towards "emerging stronger" in the post-pandemic world. The pandemic may well be the catalyst for wide-ranging changes to Singapore's political economy, society and politics.

As a port city, Singapore was a translation hub during the colonial era. Today, the significance and centrality of translation is to enable Singapore's polyglot society to understand better the myriad of cultures that thrive in the city-state. A competent environment of translation can help to allay any concerns of linguistic authoritarianism of English (the dominant language) and Mandarin (the mother tongue of the largest racial community). Singapore's experience demonstrates that translation is also of historical, social, economic and political importance. This chapter argues that Singapore's translation regime has a nation-building role: the need for the state to communicate effectively with the different linguistic communities and among the communities themselves. The abiding concern is often about the competency and quality of translation. The challenge for Singapore is to embrace translation holistically, going beyond the functionality of merely translating texts from one language (often English) to another. Translation is critical to the formation of a truly Singaporean multilingual identity, one that is at ease with itself despite the diversity and which sustains her multiracialism.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally on Sunday signalled a putative shift in the government's policy towards tackling workplace discrimination and supporting lower-wage workers. While the tripartite approach remains the bedrock in industrial relations, the government is prepared to adopt a more muscular approach through regulation by legislation. Businesses must recognise the concerns of workers amid the unpredictable arc of the global pandemic. It cannot be business as usual.

Strong people-to-people ties can help temper political histrionics, moderate negative impact on political ties. The tantalising prospect of being able to leave Singapore and arrive in Kuala Lumpur in just 90 minutes remains a pipe dream after the High Speed Rail (HSR) agreement was terminated last Friday, along with what could have been an important confidence booster to bilateral ties between Singapore and Malaysia.

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan, who was team manager of Singapore's 2004 Athens Olympics national swim team, discussed the critical question of Singapore's sporting icon Joseph Schooling's National Service (NS) deferment after his subpar performance at the Tokyo Olympics. Joseph has been on long-term NS deferment since 2014. Assoc Prof Tan noted that what is at stake is the integrity of long-term deferment, and the precedent-setting decision calculus which would come under intense scrutiny.

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan discussed how strict criteria for long-term national service (NS) deferment are necessary and fair to preserve universality and equity for all national servicemen, and must be applied without fear or favour. He explained the principles undergirding NS and gave examples of athletes achieving sporting excellence alongside fulfilling NS duties.

The authorities previously assured citizens that the TT data "will only be used for contact tracing", but subsequently indicated that the data may be used for criminal investigations. TT is the vital tool in our fight against the pandemic as it helps with contact tracing. It is in the government's interest to ensure optimal usage of TT. Some are now feeling that the government has "betrayed" their trust, so public confidence in using TraceTogether must be restored.

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan discussed the implications of what a delayed political succession might mean for Singapore. He also explained how the search for Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's successor presents a new test for Singapore's leaders, and highlighted the key focus for leadership renewal amid the pandemic.

Eugene K B Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Yong Pung How School of Law, Singapore Management University, considers Singapore's response to the threat of terrorism following 9/11. This essay is based on an article published in the journal, Law and Policy (2009).

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan opined that even as political competition in Singapore sharpens, a deeper understanding and broader consensus must develop on critical issues. He believes that remaking Singapore to be a fairer, more just, and compassionate society in a post-Covid world is a key responsibility for Parliament.

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan opined that "a total of 13 ministries having new ministers in two Cabinet reshuffles within a span of nine months is significant" and "these significant moves underscore not only the urgency of leadership renewal and succession, but also the need for certainty and confidence as Singapore transitions to the 4G leadership which will coincide with the post-Covid era". He highlighted the need for a strong, cohesive leadership to emerge from the Cabinet reshuffle amid these exceptional times, as he believes that "a leadership that can galvanise the people will enable Singapore to emerge stronger".

The physical transformation of a colonial backwater city, Singapore, in one generation has been described as a feat of urban planning, renewal, and development. Less studied is the political will of the government to create a thriving city fit for purpose. Even less studied is the role of law that provides the powerful levers for the rapid and deep-seated changes to the urban landscape in Singapore. In this regard, the mindset shift that accompanied the massive urban transformation has facilitated a national psyche that embraces the material dimension of progress, for which urban renewal is not just a mere indicator but also a mantra for the fledgling nation-state desirous of change as a mark of progress. This essay examines the multi-faceted role of law in undergirding urban planning, policy, and development in Singapore. Rather than just providing a focus on specific laws that enables the government to shape the processes of urban re-development, the essay argues that these laws have to be understood within the context of "urban redevelopment pragmatism" in which pragmatism is as much a planning ideology as it is a driver of urban change and renewal. Furthermore, this planning pragmatism, very much mission-oriented towards national goals, has become a potent source of political and performance legitimacy for the ruling People's Action Party. The legal regime that provided the wherewithal for urban renewal, economic activity, water quality management, and spatial integration of a polyglot society is now being reconfigured for the urgent aspiration of becoming a global city and a smart nation. The essay also considers the limitations to this planning and redevelopment pragmatism, and how the rapid urban change has somewhat enervated the urban heritage and contributed to a weakening of the collective memory of change amid continuity.

In a commentary, SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan discussed what a delay in Singapore's political succession arising from the COVID-19 crisis might portend and explained the impact of such a move.

In more ways than one, the five-year term of Singapore's 14th Parliament has been and will be defined even before it begins. How this institution of the people's representatives leads the nation amid the raging Covid-19 global pandemic and positions Singapore for the post-Covid world matters immensely.