Singaporeans have been described as 'politically apathetic'. This is an area where the government had sought to address by encouraging citizen participation. Referring to a speech given by (then-Deputy) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Harvard Club in 2004, Thio said that Singaporeans could infer new areas where political speech should be permissible; or rather, where the 'OB (Out-of-Bounds) markers' lie.
In the speech, it was outlined that where issues of public morality and decency are concerned, the government would be guided by the community's consensus, and that political debates must be "robust" and “based on issues and not on assertions and emotions”. These are principles that Thio welcomes, as an academic. But, as a former politician, she professes that such ideals are but ideals.
See full Article.
See Part 1.
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