PANEL Conversations
The conference also featured panel discussions, including one with National University of Singapore ( NUS) associate professor of sociology Daniel Goh, Permanent Secretary for information and development at the Ministry of Digital Development and Information Chng Kai Fong, and Lepak Conversations founder Yulianna Frederika.
They discussed how society can improve relationships among groups with varied value techniques and perspectives on problems.
Assoc Prof Goh said that Singapore’s approach to pluralism may evolve beyond the CMIO model.
He also cited the example of the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices ( TAFEP ) guidelines, which has shifted away from talking about “multiculturalism in the workplace”, and instead focuses on “diversity in the workplace”.
Singapore needs to “go beyond the politics of picture and recognition”, said Assoc Prof Goh, who is also associate dean for academic training and vice dean of specific programs at NUS College.
There is also a have to reinvent who counts as Singapore people. Assoc Prof Goh said that just being born and bred here is no more representative of the people these times.
“Citizenship has a lot to do with feelings. We need to begin thinking about citizenship as made up of a swarm of thoughts, and how then do we think about and how to talk about these feelings? ”
Another panellists highlighted issues such as virtual sound chambers, with Mr Chng highlighting the growing problems with misinformation and controversial content on social media.
He noted Meta’s new decision to back off from content restraint. Meta owns Facebook and Instagram.
“We are going to later see various platforms espouse distinct values, and the systems themselves would reinforce individuals who then subscribe to those principles, ” said Mr Chng, adding that Singapore, as an open society, will be exposed to such effects too.
In overseeing the government’s information and communications finger, Mr Chng said his goal is to “reach out to as many people as possible ” as part of vigilant work in the information landscape.
“ What we need to do is to be able to update and have this shared social consensus on what we stand for, what our values are, ” said Mr Chng.
Additional panel discussions included one on “Community and the State”, with Dr Aaron Maniam, director of online conversion training at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, Hong Kong Baptist University communications doctor Cherian George, and Dr Joanne Yoong, chairman of think tank Research for Impact.
A discussion on “Community and the Market ” involved Stewardship Asia Centre chairman Arnoud De Meyer, Nanyang Technological University associate professor of sociology Teo You Yenn, and Ms Catherine Loh, CEO of Community Foundation of Singapore.