SINGAPORE: A new initiative for youths to develop policy recommendations with the government will be launched later this year, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said on Friday (Apr 21).
Called the Youth Panels, they will be led by young people with support from the National Youth Council and other government agencies.
“They will work on a topic or policy which resonates with the youths of today,” Mr Tong said.
“We will share our policy considerations and trade-offs, exchange data points, and most importantly, think with them on these questions.
“Against this backdrop, we will create space for our young people to take the lead in the deliberations and formulate suggestions.”
Mr Tong, who is also Second Minister for Law, was speaking on the fifth day of a parliamentary debate on President Halimah Yacob’s address, which sets the agenda for the rest of this government’s term.
The minister said that youths are an important part of charting the way forward for Singapore.
Youths also wish to be involved in nation building and hope for “more details” on how their feedback and suggestions on policies are being considered by the government.
Through the new initiative, the minister said authorities hope to engage youths in “meaningful and constructive discourse”.
Policy recommendations developed by the upcoming panels will be presented to the government, which will take them seriously, he said.
“We will make a conscious effort to close the loop with them, whatever the outcomes might be. Those which merit further discussion – we will consider for them to be presented here in parliament,” Mr Tong added.
The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) can “consider sponsoring a White or Green Paper” so that the proposals can be debated in the House.
This will also allow those involved in the recommendations to see the impact of their work.
Authorities will consult youths on the formation of these panels over the coming months, as well as the key policy issues that they hope can be discussed.
“We are formulating this carefully, and more details on these Youth Panels will be provided when ready,” said Mr Tong.