Singapore Government Research Articles

A HISTORICAL AND POLITICAL REVIEW OF SINGAPORE'S POLICY TOWARDS THE MALAYS AND THE MUSLIMS

When examining the condition of minorities around the world, we must pay attention to several factors such as their history, geopolitics, level of community development, patterns of integration, and the ideological style of the state in its policies. This journal article examines how Singapore's political policies towards the Malays and Muslims as minority groups. The research method used is the historical research method where data collection is done using literature review techniques. This research data analysis uses a political history approach to analyse Singapore's political policies in empowering religious communities in a secular state. The results show that Singapore has a vigilant and pragmatic attitude in making state policies in relation to Malay and Islam. This is due to its diverse demographics, its geopolitics flanked by Malaysia and Indonesia, and its past history of inter-ethnic conflict. In its development, the Singapore government has chosen the path of accommodation in making policies related to Muslims and Malays. Islam is realised as a benchmark for Singapore's domestic and foreign policies.

Urban Planning from the Economic Perspective Taking Singapore as an Example

The government of Singapore is a key player in the evolution of urban planning on a national scale. Singapore is small in size and resource-poor, but the government's urban planning, clear responsibilities, high quality and efficiency, focus on the people, and the achievement of an excellent living environment serve as a model for China's urban planning as it undergoes rapid urbanization. This paper examines the origins of Singapore's status as a garden city, how the city-state strikes a balance between competing needs, the theories and methods it employs to plan and manage urban change and growth, and the policies and measures it employs to make the most efficient use of its land resources.

Comparative Analysis of Waqf Institutions Governance in India and Singapore

Waqf refers to a specific form of philanthropic charitable act that is practiced by allocating a non-perishable tangible asset. It involves designating categories of beneficiaries who are entitled to receive its benefits or income. This research investigates the governing structures of Waqf institutions in India and Singapore, with the objective of comprehending the intricate factors that influence their operational functionality. This research aims to explore the differences and similarities in the governance structures of waqf in both countries, considering its significance in their socio-religious landscapes. The main objectives of this comparative analysis are to examine the governance models of Waqf institutions in India and Singapore, identify regulatory mechanisms, and evaluate their impact on the administration and utilization of Waqf assets. Additionally, the study aims to illuminate the socio-economic implications of the differences in governance and assess the effectiveness of each model in preserving the intended socio-religious goals of Waqf endowments. This paper is grounded on research conducted using available written materials, and it embraces the qualitative research framework to analyze the literature at hand. By assessing and comparing the governance of Waqf institutions in India and Singapore, significant disparities are uncovered. India's approach is characterized by decentralization and the existence of various regulatory bodies, Singapore adopts a more centralized approach. The study sheds light on how different governance structures impact the effectiveness, transparency, and sustainable management of Waqf assets. Financial sustainability, community involvement, and adherence to socio-religious purpose emerge as pivotal factors that differentiate the two models.

Three Questions About the Early British Port of Singapore, c.1819–1830

ABSTRACT This article examines the evolution of trade policies in early British Singapore from its founding in 1819 to about 1830. By focusing on this timeframe, it aims to shed light on the important shifts that occurred during this formative period. The article addresses three issues that are key to understanding the trajectory of early British Singapore. First, it explores the reasons behind the dissolution of the original power- and revenue-sharing arrangements between the British, the Temenggong, and Sultan Hussain by 1824. By investigating the reasons behind this termination, the article seeks to uncover the power struggles that (re-) shaped early governance in Singapore. Second, the article examines the roles played by traditional Malay commercial conventions and practices. As a result, a more multi-faceted understanding emerges of Singapore's commercial and cultural origins. Finally, the article investigates the driving forces behind the establishment of British Singapore as a free port supported by free trade. By exploring the motivation, timing and debates about policy, the article provides insights into the economic and political factors that propelled Singapore’s rise as a trading hub. The conclusions in this article offer a thought-provoking reassessment and reframing of Singapore’s early development as a port and British settlement.

Personal Information Protection in Government Data Openness Using Decision Tree Model

To address the issues of personal privacy and information security in the current digital age, this study first collects and analyzes relevant government data openness policies and personal information protection laws and regulations to understand the current policy and legal environment. Secondly, a complexity pruning decision tree model is constructed, which can identify and evaluate potential personal information protection risks in government data openness. Using the Singapore government open dataset, this decision tree model is applied for empirical analysis, and its accuracy and effectiveness are evaluated. The research results demonstrate that the complexity pruning decision tree model performs well in terms of accuracy, recall rate, F1 score, and the area under the ROC Curve (AUC). The model achieves an accuracy of 0.85 on the training and 0.8 on the test sets, indicating its high performance in personal information protection in government data openness.

Restoration of positive self-image: Ideological circles in the mediatization of government-migrant worker relations during Covid 19

This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covid-19 transmissions in MW dormitories in 2020 had cast a spotlight on this vulnerable population, amidst inter/national criticisms of the national government for oversight. From a critical discourse studies perspective, we examine how the national newspaper attempted to restore a positive self-image of the Singapore government, through the discursive mobilization of ‘ideological circles’. These ideological circles involve, variously, positive and negative discursive presentational strategies of the Singapore government, its MWs, selected regional governments, and their MWs. The study unpacks the ideological mechanisms at work in the restoration of the government’s reputation as well as examines the implications for MWs in Singapore as perpetual ‘others’.

Business Cycle in Singapore during the Period from 1981 to 2021

Undoubtedly, the concept of the business cycle has become a crucial topic of research, given that the business cycle reflects a nation's economic development and that assessing the business cycle lays the groundwork for a nation to introduce a diverse array of economic policies. This research study aims to evaluate Singapore's business cycles from 1971 to 2021, a span of 41 years. The yearly real GDP and several of its components (private consumption, gross fixed capital formation, and government consumption spending), and CPI were filtered utilizing the Hodrick-Prescott method. Taking the cyclical components of real GDP as the reference cycle and other economic indicators as specific cycles, the author assessed and measured the fluctuations and co-movements between them with the application of standard deviation and correlation coefficient. Last, a few policy suggestions are proposed. There are five main conclusions in this article: (1) Singapore's real GDP is highly susceptible to changes in the international environment; (2) Private consumption, investment, and CPI have a positive and significant correlation with GDP, and investment is of greater relevance to economic growth in the short run; (3) Government expenditure and GDP are negatively correlated; (4) Private investment appears to be a possible cause of business cycle shocks due to the most dramatic fluctuation; and (5) The government of Singapore should encourage private investment so as to boost economic prosperity in the short term, and then promote private consumption to achieve national prosperity in the long run.

Towards a sustainable built environment industry in Singapore: Drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart facilities management

In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), rapid development in innovative technologies facilitates the adoption of smart facilities management (FM) in the built environment industry to improve sustainability and digitalization. The Singapore government has realized the enormous potential of smart FM in developing a sustainable city and has implemented several initiatives to promote its adoption. However, the adoption of smart FM in the built environment industry is still in its early stage. Therefore, this study aims to (1) investigate drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart FM; and (2) explore whether there are significant differences in the perceived importance of the drivers, barriers, and strategies by designations and years of experience. To achieve these objectives, a comprehensive literature review was first conducted to identify 6 drivers, 13 barriers, and 10 strategies. A survey questionnaire was designed and then validated by pilot interviews to collect data from practitioners in the built environment industry. Post-survey interviews were also carried out to validate the analysis results from the questionnaire survey. The study identified that increased energy savings, improved sustainability, and reduced downtime are the three most important drivers. Poor data management, high initial cost, and high cybersecurity risks are the three most important barriers. Development of technology selection mechanisms, improvement of smart FM system, and increased amount of funding are the three most effective strategies to address the challenges. Designations and years of experience have been proved to affect the perceptions of the importance of drivers, barriers, and strategies. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the drivers, barriers, and strategies in the adoption of smart FM, offering a starting point for organizations to consider its adoption. This study also enriches the knowledge of smart FM in the built environment industry with the expectations of facilitating the digital transformation and sustainable development of the built environment industry.

Comparison of awareness, attitudes and knowledge on human papilloma virus vaccination in Singapore: 2019 versus 2013.

This study aimed to assess the changes in the awareness, attitudes and knowledge regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among the local population. The secondary aims were to identify barriers and to evaluate the effectiveness of national HPV vaccination campaigns over a six-year period in Singapore. We conducted and compared two cross-sectional surveys in 2013 and 2019 among female participants attending a general gynaecology clinic. A total of 597 participants completed the survey in 2013 and 2019. The participants were comparable in their race, marital status, educational level, occupation and monthly household income. Knowledge scores for cervical cancer and HPV infection showed significant improvement from 2013 to 2019. There was no significant difference in knowledge scores for HPV vaccination, which resulted in similar uptake of the HPV vaccine. Age, educational level and knowledge of HPV vaccine were significant predictors of acceptance of the HPV vaccine. The top two reasons for declining the HPV vaccine were the lack of knowledge and cost, as noted in the 2019 survey. The Singapore government's efforts to improve cervical cancer awareness through national campaigns and policy changes have led to an improvement in knowledge of HPV infection. However, this has not translated into improvements in the vaccine acceptance rates. The decision for vaccine uptake is complex, and there are multiple factors to be addressed to ensure cost-effective implementation of the strategies. Our study highlights the need for effective dissemination of vaccine information, additional subsidies and consideration of a mandatory school-based vaccination programme.

The Foreign Talents Issue in Singapore

This paper will analyze the foreign talent issue in Singapore from various perspectives. In the beginning, the paper will show the current Policy statements of Singapore government about the foreign talent issue. And demonstrate the advantage or potential problems of these statements. Next, base on the ethical issue to show the competition between native and foreigners, Benefits and challenges of foreign talent in Singapore A. Economic benefits and contributions B. Concerns about job displacement, wage stagnation, and social cohesion C. The debate over the impact of foreign talent on Singaporean society includes blue-and white-collar foreign employees. The paper will use consequentialisms and deontology to prove it. At last, some feasible solutions will be showed. Future outlook and challenges A. Sustainability and long-term implications of Singapore's foreign talent policy B. Balancing economic growth with social cohesion and local talent development C. The role of government, businesses, and citizens in shaping the future of Singapore's foreign talent landscape.

Exploring the Unique Morphological and Syntactic Features of Singlish (Singapore English)

Singapore is home to a number of significant ethnic groups, including Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, whose contributions have shaped the distinctive characteristics of Singlish in comparison to standard English. This study aims to examine the morphological and syntactic characteristics of Singlish, an English-based creole spoken in Singapore, emphasizing its impact on interethnic communication. Using comparative analysis, Singlish's morphological and syntactic characteristics were compared to those of standard English and the languages of the three largest ethnic groups in Singapore (Chinese, Malay, and Tamil). Examining grammatical patterns, word order, sentence structure, and the use of particular linguistic features would be required. The findings demonstrate that Singlish utilizes distinctive syntactic patterns that frequently incorporate Malay, Chinese, and Tamil grammatical formulas. Singlish, in contrast to standard English, lacks subject and object pronouns and frequently employs "sentence-ending particles" such as what, leh, lor, hah, and meh, in addition to lah. In addition, the copula be is frequently omitted before adjectives, nouns, and locatives in Singlish. In addition, the presence of word repetition and word drop in Singlish can be traced back to the Chinese dialect Hokkien. The Singaporean government has attempted to discourage the use of Singlish; however, this has sparked controversy due to the significance of the language in interethnic communication and its reflection of interethnic identity. As a result, Singlish is a fascinating subject for linguistic and sociological study, with significant implications for language education and policy.

A ‘good’ neoliberal citizen: A policy analysis of conceptions of young Singaporean citizens

Globalisation has driven the pursuit of more active citizenship forms. Many governments see educational policies as critical to preparing young citizens with the necessary skills, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours to thrive in a changing global context. However, what active citizenship education is and means varies across countries. Little is known about how active citizenship is conceptualised in educational policies in Singapore and the kinds of citizens these policies and programmes aim to nurture. This article draws on an analysis of 20 Singapore policy texts, such as political speeches, press releases, and curriculum documents, to examine the kind of Singaporean citizens the Singapore government seeks to nurture. We argue that globalisation provides a critical context for local conceptualisations of citizenship, but the active Singapore citizen is not an individualistic nor a universal neoliberal citizen subject. In line with Asian conceptions of citizenship, which posit that ‘good’ people make good citizens, active citizenship in Singapore has a prevailing focus on ‘good’ character and an active citizen who prioritises the well-being of the collective, yet caught in a paradoxical pursuit of a neoliberal citizen.

The Silicon Valley – Singapore connection: The role of institutional gateways in establishing knowledge pipelines

The literature on clusters emphasizes the necessity to integrate external knowledge to maintain their viability. This task, however, is aggravated by institutional differences between clusters. The central question for accessing diverse knowledge then is how to mitigate institutional differences between clusters. We propose that “institutional gateways” between clusters circumvent institutional barriers. Institutional gateways provide a configuration that consists of institutions from both clusters. This hybrid institutional configuration helps to mitigate institutional and cognitive distances and provides an entry point for firms from one cluster into the other. As an example, we explore the ‘Block71SF’ open creative lab in San Francisco. Block71SF was set up by the Singapore government to facilitate the movement of firms between the Singapore and Silicon Valley software clusters.

Research on Integrated Resorts (IR) and the Tourism Strategy Choice of Singapore

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to trace the process by which Singapore considered and reached social consensus on the development of integrated resorts (IR), including casinos. Additionally, this study aims to derive policy implications as a systemic basis for future IR development in Japan. Design/Methodology/Approach – A meta-analysis was conducted to analyze the context and content of policy decisions in detail, focusing on the theoretical discussion of the characteristics of Singaporean IR, and the political and social decision-making process surrounding the introduction of the IR business. Findings – The Singaporean government demonstrated an inclusive policy decision-making process that convinced various stakeholders, especially civil society and the religious community, on the introduction of casinos. In addition, to minimize the social side effects of introducing casinos, the government actively provided safety measures, and pursued a strategy to lead investors to invest a large amount of money in Singapore’s tourism infrastructure along with license renewal negotiations. Research Implications – By analyzing the policy compliance process of citizens and the effective use of policy framing regarding politically and socially controversial IR business, this study helps to understand the policy decision-making process concerning IR. Furthermore, through the successful case of Singapore, this study can provide a framework that can be applied systematically for future IR business development in Japan.

Between two Acts: competing narratives, activism and governance in Singapore’s digital sphere

Civil society in Singapore has existed in the interstices of society with frequent instances of conflict with the government. The ruling People’s Action Party government has had a long history of quashing its political opponents, and this same approach has influenced how the government deals with social-political dissent, ranging from human rights groups being gazetted and their funding source curtailed, to opposition politicians and free speech advocates sued for libel and contempt of court. This paper examines how the Singapore government has made two significant moves towards online media that appears at once restrictive and accommodating towards dissent. The first is the increase in legal and regulatory burdens on the media, while the second is a perceptibly generous invitation for media freedom advocates to discuss and debate about such legal frameworks. We contend that this dualism, far from signalling inclusive governance with a firm hand, only affirms the Singapore government’s authoritarian tendencies towards media freedom advocates. This paper juxtaposes the evolution of narratives of dissent between the 2013 Amendment to the Broadcasting Act to the 2019 public debate on the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA). We explore the dynamics of resistance and posit that, even with the enlarged space for free speech in Singapore, the practice in public discourse points to further curtailment of such free speech.

Treaties for "offshoring" hospital treatment of Asian patients from Christmas Island, 1963-1985: a racist chapter in the history of Australian medical care.

Treaties for "offshoring" hospital treatment of Asian patients from Christmas Island, 1963-1985: a racist chapter in the history of Australian medical care.

For Regenerative Urban Ecologies: Strategies and Synergy of Integrated Community Hubs

Within the past decade, the Singapore government has completed four integrated community hubs around the island. These nodal developments leverage their urban context and programmatic offerings in a bid to generate a sustainable hub ecology for the city. A manifestation of the whole-of-government, and now whole-of-society approach, these large-scale communal architecture play a significant role in rejuvenating the heartlands, advocating citizen engagement and advancing civil society. The vision behind this emergent typology is in the creation of synergistic and generative environments. This paper seeks to investigate the potential of this shared urban model of integrated communal architecture as testbed for better-than-sustainable concepts, to advance policy agendas and support wider collaboration to establish and achieve district-based targets in regenerative outcomes. Using Our Tampines Hub and Bukit Canberra as case studies, the paper looks at the complexities of synergistic operations, and analyses specific design strategies and the participatory approach to support an urban-social-natural regeneration framework. It examines not only economic value in land and space optimization, but new synergies produced for circular mind-shift, closed-loop environmental outcomes and social impetus.

The Effort of State and Non-State Actors in Ensuring Access to Primary and Secondary Education for Indonesian Citizens in Singapore

Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) policy in the Singapore local schools admission that places international students as the last priority after Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents, coupled with the expensive school fees for international students are the main problems in accessing primary and secondary education faced by Indonesian citizens in Singapore. Efforts from various parties are needed to ensure the fulfillment of access to primary and secondary education for Indonesian Citizens in Singapore. This research explores state and non-state actors' efforts to ensure access to primary and secondary education for Indonesian citizens in Singapore. Data collection was obtained through interviews and a literature review. This research shows that multi-track diplomacy is established between state actors consisting of the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore and Indonesian State-Owned Enterprises as representative of track 1, and non-state actors consist of professionals (track 2), entrepreneurs (track 3), and college students (track 5). The multi-track diplomacy is reflected in the establishment of Sekolah Indonesia (Singapura) Ltd. and Pusat Kegiatan Belajar Masyarakat (PKBM) KBRI Singapura. The multi-track diplomacy is established because of shared values of humanitarianism. The collaboration of multi-track diplomacy and the spirit of humanitarianism has received positive responses from Singapore Government agencies and educational institutions, which aim to improve the quality of education at Sekolah Indonesia (Singapura) Ltd. and PKBM KBRI Singapura.

Inequality and prosperity challenges in Bangladesh: experiences from Singapore

PurposeInequality is increasing in Asia and the Pacific. This paper examines how inequality is affecting governments, communities and people in the Asia-Pacific region, given the 2030 Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals and the agenda's commitment to “leave no one behind.” Income inequality is just one element of larger economic and social inequalities in both developed and developing countries. Over the past decade, Bangladesh's economy has experienced one of the fastest growth rates in the world, supported by a narrowing demographic gap. The study focuses largely on the challenges of inequality and wealth distribution and uses the Singaporean experience to reduce inequality.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on the review of secondary literature and an insightful analysis of the review.FindingsThe Singapore Government has adopted four special budgets coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to help businesses cope with the economic difficulties caused by the epidemic, protect lives and create an economically and socially resilient Singapore. To sustain this increase in real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the Singapore Government continues to pursue growth-oriented policies. Importing technology and skilled labor, investing heavily in research and development, importing technology and developing export markets are some examples of these growth-oriented policies. The Singapore Government is committed to improving human capital through retraining and lifelong learning, which can be seen in all these growth-oriented policies. Bangladesh can learn more about reducing inequality and put these policies into practice.Originality/valueThis study has frankly revealed the inequality issues in Bangladesh. This study has spotted the scarcities of development and the accurate picture of achievement from the perspective of inequality and prosperity dissemination.

A Case Study of ABC Water System Innovation in Singapore

Singapore is located in Southeast Asia. Although highly urbanised, the land area is small and lacks water resources. Its water resources account for only 1.43% of total land (Ho, 2021). Due to special geographical and climatic characteristics, the scarcity of water resources urgently requires rational planning and utilisation of land resources to cope with increasing urban development and water demand. For this reason, water resources management is considered an important part of environmental and ecological conservation by the Singaporean government.