Singaporeans want 'compassionate meritocracy'

SINGAPORE: Despite divergent views expressed in the Our Singapore Conversation survey done by the Institute of Policy Studies, there was broad consensus that Singaporeans want a more compassionate society that is less stressful, with more family time.

One of the survey researchers called it a "compassionate meritocracy".

The door-to-door survey of 4,000 Singaporeans found that most respondents want a less competitive, more holistic education system, and one that is more inclusive, where students learn with others of different abilities and backgrounds.

And despite some high-profile cases of resistance from residents, the survey showed that an overwhelming majority supported the siting of eldercare facilities in their neighbourhoods for greater convenience.

Respondents also indicated strong preference for the preservation of green spaces and heritage spaces over infrastructure development.



In terms of values, those relating to a sense of community, nationhood and security resonated the most. Filial piety and safety and security for families were regarded the most important across all ages.

There was similarly strong support for values such as honesty, politeness and graciousness, while risk-taking and enterprise took a backseat.

Singaporeans generally placed less emphasis on accumulating wealth and more on a comfortable pace of life. Fewer than a quarter across all age groups would compromise pace of life for greater career advancement.

"Singaporeans were looking for the right balance that would allow them to have more time for their families, as well as stay competitive," stated IPS, which did the survey from December to January in conjunction with the OSC Secretariat to validate issues raised in the OSC sessions.

Preference questions were put to respondents to reflect dilemmas Singapore faces, and to get a sense of which way Singaporeans would lean given two competing choices.

IPS Senior Research Fellow Leong Chan-Hoong, one of the survey researchers, said: "Singaporeans desire a more balanced and sustainable approach in managing economic growth and other aspects of our standard of living, be that the use of green space, conservation of heritage buildings or creating a conducive and inclusive education system."

The consistent top priorities for respondents across almost all income groups are the bread-and-butter issues of job security, healthcare and housing. Nonetheless, the researchers said that Singaporeans' greater ranking of some values over others should not be seen as zero-sum or mutually exclusive.

"It doesn't mean if you emphasise filial piety ... you don't really care about wealth," said IPS Faculty Associate Tan Ern Ser. "Valuing family time can be understood as aspirational, which the reality of work life cannot always accommodate or provide."

Added Dr Leong: "The focus on bread-and-butter issues, and the wish to enhance the standard of living, is ultimately for the sake of loved ones."

Members of Parliament (MPs) and academics TODAY spoke to said they were not surprised by the respondents’ ranking of values. "Typically Asians, our upbringing is that this family support and affinity to community, a group sense, is the way we operate," MP Ang Hin Kee said.

National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan and MP Zainal Sapari both cited Maslow's hierarchy of needs to explain respondents' preference for a more comfortable pace of life.

"When ours was a growing economy, and survival was a key concern, there was a lot of emphasis on being hardworking, accumulating wealth, fighting for a better life," said Mr Zainal.

While these values may not be any less important now, he felt the survey indicates "we want to move towards being a more inclusive, matured and gracious society".

Assoc Prof Straughan said the ranking was also "a reflection of the stressors that have built up over time", given the Government's focus on economic health: "We're reaching the point where the stressors are felt by a lot more people.

"There are certain aspects of Singapore society which have grown disproportionately in certain dimensions and other dimensions may have been neglected - very broadly speaking, the quality of life aspects."

On Singaporeans' hopes for the education system, Assoc Prof Tan said the findings "suggest a disapproval of elitism", while Dr Leong felt they indicate the need to "broaden our definition of success".