Newsletter

1. on
Si
DiscuS Volume 1, Issue 1
February 2009
Inside this issue:
GOOD GOVERNANCE IN
ERP is here to 1
SINGAPORE DiscuSSion Thread:
stay
• Vehicle Quota
How does “anticipating
1
System and staying
change
ERP is here to stay to ease traffic congestion relevant” contributes
to Singapore’s pro-
in the city area Ageing and develop-
gress popula- 2
tion
ment?
The Land Transport Author- ease and traffic flow
ity announced that the ERP will be smooth. The
Growing old 2
(Electronic Road Pricing) is Prime Minister also
• How do the population
gracefully
here to stay. If not, more explained to the peo- policies implememted
gantries will be set up along ple the need to in- in Singapore demon-
roads to curb the problem crease the charges on Population govern- 3
strate the
of traffic congestions. the ERP. He said that growth incen-
ment’s versatile style
These stretch of roads are the increase in ERP tives
of governance?
usually in the city area and charges will ease the
Principles of 3
on the expressways such as burden of Singapor-
Good Govern-
the CTE and the AYE. The eans and enable more • How do you think an
ance
Prime Minister explained in Singaporeans to own individual can play a
the National Day Rally cars in the long term. part in preparing Sin-
2008, that with more ERP The ERP was imple- gapore for an ageing
population?
gantries, traffic will mented in 1998 with
smoothen as it will discour- the aim to replace the
age motorists from using labour intensive ALS
• Is our government
these stretch of roads. (Area Licensing
doing enough to boost
Motorists will now think Scheme). Although the
population growth in
twice before using these ALS was effective in
Singapore?
roads as they will need to controlling traffic technology, it ensured that
pay. They will then find al- flow in the city area, there Singapore’s transport sys-
ternative routes. In this was room for improvement. tem stay relevant with the
Discuss these issues on
way, traffic congestions will With the use of advance times.
discuss.wikispaces.com
Vehicle Quota System—Has it been successful?
The Vehicle Quota System been a very successful to bid for the COEs and
(VQS) was put in place in scheme. The number of only successful bidders
the 1990s to counter the vehicles on the road is will be entitled to own the
problem of rising numbers controlled by the number car for 10 years. After
of car ownership in Singa- of COEs (Certificate of which, the car owner will
pore. The Land Transport Entitlement) given out by need to renew the COE by
Authority (LTA) was wor- LTA each month. In this bidding for it again. You
ried about the growing num- way, the number of vehi- can view the live bidding
ber of cars on the road and cles on the road will be on
decided to take up measures pre-determined by the www.onemotoring.com.sg.
to control the car population LTA. Car buyers will now
in Singapore. The VQS has need to

2. Government puts in place measures to cope a dwindling
population
The government of Singapore is plead- hanging several incentive carrots for workforce. The government is also
ing with her citizens—married couples wedded couples to expand their family. improving child care facilities and pro-
to tie the knot earlier and to start a The Prime Minister extended mater- viding more subsidies to pre-school
family sooner. Singapore’s nity leave from 12 education. These pro-family measures
Family Planning Board has weeks to 16 weeks in are implemented with the hope that
come up with new initiatives the year 2008. This couples will feel more confident finan-
to encourage wedded couples was announced during cially to support a bigger family.
to start their family earlier. the National Day Rally.
The government is encourag- He hopes that with an
To know more about the different pro-
ing families to have three or extended maternity
family measures implemented, you can
more children if they can leave, women would be
log on to www.mcys.gov,sg.
afford it. With Singapore’s able to spend more
birthrate of just 1.24 chil- “Three or more if you can time with their new
dren per woman, Singapore is afford it” born and hence be able
in danger of facing an ageing to cope better when
economy. The government is they return to the
Ageing Gracefully in Singapore
The government has proposed several ing medishield and Medisave. This will . Applicants who have insufficient sav-
initiatives to help Singaporeans cope help Singaporeans prepare for their ings in the Medisave and does not have
with old age. The compulsory savings in old age. Government is also urging all any insurance scheme may apply to use
the Medisave fund is one which will Singaporeans to go for free health the Medifund to cover their hospitali-
help Singaporeans cope with old age. checks provided by some community zation bills.
This will ensure that Singaporeans will organizations such as the NKF and
have an amount of money set aside for the Singapore Cancer society. These
their old age in future. Besides the services ensure that every individual
CPF funds, government also made sure Singaporean’s health is well taken
that Singaporeans are well covered care of. Besides the compulsory sav-
with insurance schemes. Medishield is ings and insurance scheme, the gov-
an insurance scheme provided by insur- ernment is also setting aside a portion
ance companies to ensure that our of money to be used by the needy for
health care needs are well taken care their medical bills. This is parked
of. Hefty medical bills can be paid us- under the Medifund.
Singapore in great danger—Ageing
population
With more than 40% of Singaporeans longer be as attractive as our fend the nation. The bur-
aged above 65 years old is certainly a neighbouring countries. Inves- den to support the econ-
sight Singapore is now preparing for. tors may now turn to other omy will now fall heavily on
With birth rate falling to 1.24 children nations with younger work- the working population.
per woman, our government highlighted force and a more vibrant mar- With every two working
the dangers of facing an ageing popula- ket when they set up their adult to support four old
tion. Using Japan as an example its factories and headquarters. people, it is going to cause
government is coming up with policies This will leave Singapore un- a huge strain on their
and strategies to counter this problem. competitive. Singapore may also end up finances. More over, Singapore will
In Singapore, our government is warn- with a smaller defence force and as need to set aside a larger budget to
ing Singaporeans of the dangers of an the number of births have fallen; finance the needs of the aged.
ageing population. Singapore may no there will not be enough boys to de-
Page 2
Volume 1, Issue 1

3. To be like Singapore …. Leadership is key
make good decisions that are for the but continued to explain and communi-
The “little red dot” is significant
benefit of the nation. He also men- cate with Singaporeans the necessity
enough to attract the attention of
tioned that such leaders do not come of the IRs and the benefits it will have
other major cities around the world.
by easily and hence training and groom- on Singapore. He also mentioned that
Singapore is benchmarked for its ex-
ing of leaders is impor- for Singapore to succeed and stay
cellence in her governance.
tant. An example he competitive, she must be able to stay
The Prime Minister re-
cited was the decision to relevant and be able to anticipate
iterated the importance
build the Integrated changes.
of good leaders in Singa-
Resorts in Singapore by
pore. He mentioned that At the recent opening of the Marina
the year 2010. Despite
only with good leaders can Barrage, he talked about the impor-
several negative feed-
Singapore stay connected tance of being self sufficient. Singa-
back from Singaporeans,
and competitive in the pore realized that the water agree-
the leaders did not give
globalized economy. These ments with Malaysia will end in 2011
in to popular demands
leaders must be honest to and 2061, she has already made plans
Are Singapore’s leaders
to provide alternative sources of
ready to make the
difference?
….. Reward for work, work for reward
water supply for Singapore. With the every Singaporean has an opportunity
NEWater plants and the Marina Bar- to achieve their best despite their
rage as Singapore’s next reservoir, the background. In this way, Singaporeans
government communicated with the will work hard to achieve and put in
people to re-assure them that we are their very best
managing our resources and limitations for Singapore.
well. In order to drive home the mes- And in return, “Reward for work
sage of the importance of staying rele- the government
and work for
vant and anticipating changes, the Min- will pay for the
reward” will give
istry of Education also made changes best brains and
equal opportunities
to the education curriculum to encour- retain talents
for all to
plauded by the rest of the world.
age creative thinking to stretch every so that they
contribute to the
students’ potential so that they will be can continue to
Singapore practices the system of
growth of
able to contribute to Singapore. Singa- contribute to
meritocracy through “Reward for work
pore’s education system is also ap- the growth of Singapore”
and work for reward” to ensure that
Singapore.
…. feedback, but constructive ones
please
Singaporeans are encouraged to have a gaporeans feel more belong to the concerns heard.
say in the decision making process to country, opinions are considered in the
mould Singapore. The Speakers’ Corner building of the Integrated Resorts.
at the Kreta Ayer Community Centre is Due to the concerns from various reli-
one such venue where your views and gious groups, the government took
“A stake for everyone,
opinions on Singapore’s policies can their feedback seriously and imposed
opportunities for all will keep
aired to the public. The decision to stringent safeguards framework to
Singaporeans rooted”
ease the rules for public speaking in deal with social problems related to
Singapore comes after much delibera- gambling. Such feedback is crucial to
tion as our government wants to en- the government as it allows every Sin-
courage Singaporeans to have a say in gaporean to play a part as a citizen and
decision making process. To make Sin- give them opportunities to have their
Page 3
Volume 1, Issue 1

4. DiscuSSion
Secondary
Social Studies
If you have any interesting articles,
Singapore videos or even pic-
tures that you think can contribute to
the learning of this
topic in Social Studies, you may wish
to post it up on
Website: http://www.discuss.wikispaces.com.
www.discusswikispaces.com
You may also wish to post a thread to
discuss any topics
related to what we are studying on the
Prepared by wikispaces.
Caroline Lee
However, please be a responsible web
user.
Post only relevant and non-offensive
materials.
Coming up in the next issue….
In the next issue, we will dis- We will also have an insight
cuss about how our government of the British healthcare
overcome the challenges of system. We will look into the
providing healthcare to the pros and cons of the British
people in the early 1960s. We welfare state and its health-
will also look into how an indi- care programme.
vidual can help lighten the bur-
den of healthcare cost for the
How wise is it for Singapore
government. We will see how
to adopt the British Health-
some community organizations
care policies?
contribute to Singapore’s
healthcare programme so as to
cater to the needs of the peo- What are the consequences
ple. of British providing a wel-
fare state to her people? Health care in Singapore and Britain
Does this mean that the gov-
ernment is going to sit by and We will look into all these in
let healthcare cost balloon and the next issue.
be borne by the individuals and
the community?