From TODAY, May 23, 2008:
Alicia Wong
alicia@mediacorp.com.sg
THERE is Reach, then there is Rap. But where is the all-important Response?
It was a civil servant who put that sharp question to a minister at a new media conference yesterday, wanting to know what is the result of the public response to government policies that go to the feedback agency.
Implicit in the question from Ms Kathryn Ng, director of market development at SingHealth, to Minster for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan was this: Does it all end in a big, dark hole?
She followed up by highlighting two things:
If the public is told what happens to their feedback, it will go a great way in building better trust between the ruler and ruled.
And with the proliferation of new communication technologies and techniques, what better tool than the new media to show that the citizens’ views are being listened to and acted upon?
Conceding the point, Dr Balakrishnan said: “The glass is not full, but it is filling up.”
He said: “We are trying to share information … decentralise decision making.” It is easy to say “no” but to get to “yes” requires imagination and ingenuity.
Responding to another comment that young people want the Government to listen to them and not convey messages with rap videos, Dr Balakrishnan said “the key is authenticity” and people will see through a “contrived performance”.
While he personally will not do a rap video or karaoke because it is “not me”, he said, it was up to the organisation to decide if the action was authentic.
“Leadership can’t be hostage to every idea expressed or every view or every solution offered. But at the end of the day, leadership still needs to convince people that … an honest credible decision (across suggestions) was made,” Dr Balakrishnan said.
It is natural for young people, on their way to establishing their individuality, to be skeptical, but at least it shows they care, he said.
When it comes to using the Internet – which presents a myriad of fragmented views – to engage people, both the Minister and dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Kishore Mahbubani believe that that is the route to be taken.
Prof Mahbubani, who spoke on the declining trust in institutions the world over, said Governments have to revert to the “time-tested ways” of integrity, ingenuity and imagination to reach citizens.
“Never lie, always be credible and listen to honestly-held views of responsible people, especially when they are different from yours,” said Dr Balakrishnan making the point that that was his credo on online communication.
Be it traditional or new media, certain “key considerations” remain, added the Minister.
Both forms of media offer great economic and social opportunity, but the government will not tolerate threats that may compromise security or public order.
The Government also wants to nurture a “cohesive population,” with Singaporeans taking co-ownership and participating in the challenges and solutions to Singapore‘s future.
Netizens Today spoke to offered their views on how the Government could engage with citizens online.
Saying that the Government is “trying extremely hard,” Mr Leong Sze Hian, regular contributor to local blog site The Online Citizen (TOC), suggested inviting criticisms on Government or Government-linked websites.
Co-editor of the TOC, Mr Choo Zheng Xi, urged the Government to join the debate in not just the mainstream media but also in the new media. He pushed his point by saying: “Don’t just speak to the converted.”
By taking a more all-embracing approach, he said, the Government will be able to reach a far wider audience.
Senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies Tan Tarn How suggested the Government be more proactive in pushing out information through Really Simple Syndication or email.
The government also needs to talk to bloggers, he said, perhaps invite the more credible ones to press conferences: “There is some frustration because they are ignored.”
Award-winning film director from Malaysia, Ms Yasmin Ahmad and a speaker at yesterday’s 7th annual conference organised by the PR Academy, had this to say. If she had to market Singapore to skeptics overseas, she would first handle Singaporeans’ perception of their own country.
“Firstly, once you feel good about yourself, chances are the world will see you in the same way. Secondly, you won’t care (what they think.)”
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“Never lie, always be credible and listen to honestly-held views of responsible people, especially when they are different from yours,” said Dr Balakrishnan making the point that that was his credo on online communication.
oei vivian, rem to tell that to your boss as well hor, tell on newspaper no use one because he no time to read petty newspapers.
The above quote was a ten minute phone interview with Alicia, the most important parts I will share here:
” The government needs to begin debating and engaging even hostile online platforms that may be unfriendly to it. Setting up government friendly sites is preaching to the converted, and lacks credibility. My advise: don’t. The online statistics show this clearly: it is losing the battle of ideas on the internet.
Another way of showing their sincerity in engagement is the repeal of a regulatory framework with a default hostile position towards political discussion.”
I am quite satisfied that the article in Today captures enough of the essence of the interview conducted in the context of the story run.
RH:
1. “Leadership can’t be hostage to every idea expressed or every view or every solution offered.” — Vivian
2. Ideas are always unimportant — to people who never have any. Ideas are always daft — except yours.
3. Are there really that many ideas, solutions and views out there? That they are just a cacophony of [differing/conflicting/disparate] medley that VIPs cannot extract/single out for consideration? My impression is that when I read a good idea, I immediately recognise it because it shouts “Eureka!” to a long-suffering problem we face. Of course, the LIEgime has other [self] interests than solving [our] problems. OUR problems are not necessarily THEIR problems.
4. Good points, Zheng Xi. Glad TODAY interviewed and more importantly, CORRECTLY quoted you. Kudos.
I hope the gahmen don’t accept feedback because it will definitely be their own downfall.
Good work ZhengXi! People like you should be replacing VIVIAN the fool.
FG
plainly put…the “feedback” is just a chute.
Beware the midnight knock on your door! :D
““Never lie, always be credible and listen to honestly-held views of responsible people, especially when they are different from yours,” said Dr Balakrishnan making the point that that was his credo on online communication.”
Isn’t the answer there in the statement ?
Does that means that he listen but he don’t have to act. What exactly is this Balakrishnan talking about ? How does lying and credible going to do with public’s feedback ? Is he telling us that there is lying and credibility issue in the government ?
Engaging and ACtion are two different thing. The government is so interested in engagement to show that they are one mind but the action or lack of action always prove otherwise. To me, it is just one wayang show. They are willing to listen as long as they don’t have to bear cost and pass cost to citizen, but not willing to engage and act if they are deprive of profitability. Didn’t we observe these from the ground with our eyes wide open ?