Trust in public institutions like the police is not a given and needs to be nurtured. Will the blogosphere choose cynicism, or seek common ground to protect public institutions?
By Kishore Mahbubani, Published The Straits Times, 13 Apr 2013
AS SINGAPORE undergoes its mighty, irresistible metamorphosis over this coming decade, it is vital for it to ensure that it does not lose some painfully acquired blessings in the process.
In my previous column For The Straits Times, I had asked readers to share their views on my thoughts about Singapore's metamorphosis. I had said the soul of Singapore is being redefined, and that Singaporean society can either emerge as a happy butterfly, flitting around in a garden city, or as a lonely frog, croaking away unhappily in a little well.
I am grateful for the over 50 readers who responded and for their comments. They have helped shape my thinking for this column, and provided food for thought for future ones.
One of the biggest blessings Singapore has is that it is one of the safest cities in the world.
The level of safety we enjoy is a true miracle. Switzerland enjoys the same level of public safety. But it is surrounded by Europe. When you cross the border out of Switzerland, you continue to experience the same level of safety. But when you cross out of the border of Singapore, you may not. In short, we have to work extremely hard to preserve this cocoon of extraordinary public safety.
Some of it is clearly due to the very successful Singapore Police Force (SPF) we have. But the SPF is only one unit within an ecosystem of excellent public institutions delivering this high level of safety. The social trust that Singaporeans and Singapore residents have in this ecosystem is one key reason why our city is safe.
Worrying cynicism
Worrying cynicism
THIS is why I am extremely worried about the cynicism that the Singaporean blogosphere is developing towards these public institutions. Over time this cynicism could act like an acid that erodes the valuable social trust accumulated. Yes, let me concede that some of the online criticisms are justified. For example, the escape of Mas Salamat Kastari was a major failure.
Against this backdrop, I watched carefully the reaction of the blogosphere to the Shane Todd affair. Dr Todd, 31, an American researcher, was found hanged in his apartment here last June after he quit the Institute of Microelectronics (IME) which is part of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.
We will have to await the outcome of the coroner's inquiry to find out what really happened.
This is why I was appalled that US Senator Max Baucus jumped the gun and tried to pressure Singapore by forcing Singapore to give the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) oversight of the case before the Coroner's Court had completed its inquiry.
This goes against all international laws and norms. The United States would never allow a foreign police force to oversee an FBI investigation. Nor would it allow any foreign intervention into its judicial inquiry process.
What makes this even more absurd is that any objective investigation will show that the SPF is at least as competent, if not more competent, than the FBI.
Why do I say this? Having lived in the US for over 10 years, I have observed that while Singapore has moved from Third World to First World in its public institutions, many of America's public institutions are going in the opposite direction.
The best minds in America do not go into lifetime public service careers. The best minds in Singapore do. This is why the trust and confidence in Singapore's public institutions remain high overall.
Kudos to blogosphere
I WAS therefore heartened to see that the Singapore blogosphere did not unthinkingly support the American position. Some of the more popular blogs were pretty hostile to the idea of the FBI interfering in a domestic investigation. This has given me some hope that we can try and find some middle ground between the mainstream media and the blogosphere.
In this middle ground, we should reach clear agreement that some of Singapore's painfully developed public institutions should be protected and strengthened, like the SPF.
If we don't develop this middle ground and if a significant percentage of Singaporeans begin to demonstrate a lack of trust in our public institutions, trouble may begin brewing around the corner. This lack of trust can suddenly manifest itself in different ways.
Let me suggest one hypothetical scenario.
We have had quite a few MRT breakdowns in recent years. Thousands of people were inconvenienced. Fortunately, each incident passed peacefully. The peaceful outcomes reflected the high level of trust that Singaporeans have in their public institutions. They saw each incident as an aberration - not indicating the emergence of a new pattern of decline. But this perception could well change if MRT disruptions persist.
Clearly, the public standing of train operator SMRT has been declining. When I served as Singapore's Ambassador to the United Nations from 1984 to 1989, my American counterpart was the legendary Ambassador Vernon Walters. His hobby was to visit and investigate every MRT system in the world. He proudly told me that having done so, he could confidently say the Singapore MRT system was the best in the world.
I asked why. He said it was the only MRT system in the world that had been built ahead of schedule, below cost and functioned smoothly.
Clearly this is no longer the case. The big question is: what went wrong? Was it a mistake to emphasise the short-term private sector profits rather than the long-term public good that the SMRT is supposed to provide?
All this brings me to the hypothetical scenario. If we have another major MRT breakdown, combined with declining trust in public institutions, we may have the perfect combination for a riot or two. We have been free from riots for almost 40 years. The reasons were simple: rising living standards and rising trust in public institutions. But if this trust becomes a declining commodity and if a major public service performs badly, it would be unwise to expect the same level of social harmony.
In short, it would be a mistake to take our high level of public safety for granted. It is the result of a very complex ecosystem of public institutions that still enjoys a high level of trust among Singaporeans.
However, if the blogosphere and the mainstream media cannot agree on a core consensus of preserving and supporting key public institutions, we could end up with a messier Singapore, becoming an unhappy frog rather than a happy butterfly.
The writer is Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
* Be critical, but don’t take what we have for granted: Readers
In his second column published on April 13, Professor Kishore Mahbubani wrote that one of the biggest blessings for Singapore is that it is one of the world’s safest cities. He expressed concern about the cynicism that the blogosphere is developing towards Singapore’s public institutions. More than 20 Straits Times readers wrote in. We run some responses here.
The Straits Times, 11 May 2013
‘Constructively dissatisfied’
WHILE I generally agree with the idea that we need to support our public institutions, one must be careful in recognising that not all public institutions perform to the expectations of the public. Therein lies the rub. Accountability to the public must remain one of the key performance indicators.
There is nothing wrong with being dissatisfied with a particular public institution as long as that dissatisfaction is constructive. To borrow a phrase that is a core value of the company I work in – we must be “constructively dissatisfied”. Only by being so can we hope to always challenge ourselves – and in this case the public institutions that serve us – to continually better themselves.
– Matthew Ong
Independent checks needed
PUBLIC servants have to live a life open to scrutiny, and if they have wrong priorities or agendas, the system should detect it, report it, and the people demand corrections.
The lack of healthy, useful criticism is the reason why our SMRT can go so wrong. If the unruly blogosphere is not a good solution, then what does the Government intend to do to ensure independent and critical checks?
– Ong Eng Chuan
Treasure what we have
HAVING lived both in and outside Singapore for the last 20 years, I agree that we Singaporeans should take pride in and treasure the high standard of public safety we have. I find it disturbing that many Singaporeans take all this for granted. The Government has made mistakes but let’s face it: Who does not?
From Hong Kong to Thailand to Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan and even the United States, from my observations while living in these places, I do feel that we are very fortunate to have dedicated leaders and public servants.
Sure, some decisions may be unpopular, but the question to askis: Is it the majority and/or those in need who benefit?
– Peter Tan Kim Hock
Aspersions must be probed
SINGAPORE Police Force investigating officers were accused of police brutality and coercion in the interrogations of SMRT bus drivers from China who instigated others to go on strike.
The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was accused of intimidation and humiliation by NUS law professor Tey Tsun Hang.
Though both institutions were vindicated eventually, the seeds of doubt have been sown irrevocably. Any aspersions cast on the integrity of our public institutions, whether online or offline, must be thoroughly investigated and its processes and findings made transparent.
– Christine Lim
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