Daily Lessons from Life 09 September 2012 - S'pore conversation: key challenge is managing expectations

"S'pore conversation: key challenge is managing expectations - CNA 09 September 2012

Vladivostok, Russia: The key challenge for the national conversation on Singapore's future will be that of managing expectations, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The conversation, he added, is also different from the government's previous attempts at engaging Singaporeans.

"The last one was Remaking Singapore, which was 10 years ago. I think our situation has changed, our society has changed (since then)," said PM Lee.

In the "Our Singapore Conversation", "we look at our problems afresh in a new situation, with a new generation, with a new perspective," he added. "So, each time we come back (to engage Singaporeans), some problems are revisited, some issues which we didn't alter before, now we decide that we may come to the conclusion that we have to make changes. So I think we have to take it in that perspective," said PM Lee.

"You cannot say, I've had a discussion before, there is nothing new to discuss. I think that is not the way the world is."

Spearheading the national conversation is a 26-member committee, comprising a mix of Cabinet ministers, academics and ordinary Singaporeans like students and a taxi driver. PM Lee said that in choosing the committee, the government tried to be inclusive.

PM Lee was speaking to Singapore reporters in Vladivostok, Russia where he attended the APEC leaders' meeting."

In this report, the PM correctly mentioned that the KEY challenge is managing expectations. Well, the GOVERNMENT has to be clear about WHAT it expects the citizens to contribute in the 1st place!

Lessons for me are:

1. Minister Heng has been tasked to spearhead this SGConversation. He has said: the key and urgent issue is to find out: what type of Singapore Singaporeans want in 10-20 years time? Once this is established, the HOW to get from NOW to there will be discussed and action plan put in place and follow up and follow through diligently and report to the PEOPLE of Singapore along the way. This SHOULD be the sequence of events. So, the managing expectations part HAD or should already be done!!;

2. to be 'inclusive' the Opposition Party members SURELY have to be INCLUDED in this SGConversation Committee. They were NOT. This is a glaring disconnect really. WHY not? Because they are expected to contribute to the SGConversation but not be part of the committee?;

3. this report DID NOT mention the PM's comments on 'it is not to cull sacred cows' reported elsewhere (AsiaOne.com) and I am glad. Maybe AsiaOne.com report was incomplete as the SGConversation is to find out WHAT type of Singapore Singaporeans want in 10-20 years and 'sacred cows' or not WILL HAVE to be slain IF it/they become obstacle(s) to achieving the type of Singapore Singaporeans want in 10-20 years time!! That is HOW the sequence of events should be. Yes?

May the SGConversation be a true success instead of proving the doubters right that it is just a National Wayang Show that waste precious time and resources of the little Red Dot and produce negative sentiment for the government!