Dialogue with Minister Mah Bow Tan : Sustainable Development

Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan
(7 pm, URA Auditorium)
Enhancing our Physical Environment

This second forum on 6 November 2008, chaired by Minister Mah, had the following panelists:

• Mr Tai Lee Siang, President, Singapore Institute of Architects and Director, DP Architects
• A/Prof Lee Siew Eang, Director, Centre for Total Building Performance, School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore
• Dr Shawn Lum, President, Nature Society

This forum discussed how we can bring about a more resource efficient built environment and a higher quality living environment. Specific issues for discussion include improving energy efficiency in our built environment, the use of renewable energy, and how we can further enhance greenery and biodiversity within our living environment.

The whole function room was occupied by the public and professional groups who responded enthusiastically to the call for views and ideas. Some were too passionate when giving their views. One man was asked to leave the room.

Minister Mah has a sharp mind and spoke convincingly. Though several of those who asked questions were rude, long-winded and gave weird suggestions, the Minister took it in his stride. I'm beginning to like his style. :)

Present were several foreigners who are residents in Singapore and they spoke out on the environment they are living in. One lady felt disgusted that this forum was all about Singapore and not about the countries around us. Hey! I agree with Minister Mah, we have to start from our own backyard!

It was not an entirely solemn forum... there were moments when the audience were tickled by suggestions.

Working overtime should not be encouraged. It is not energy efficient as air-con and lights are left on for just a few employees. All employees should knock off at 6pm. :)

A teacher did research on the web and reveals that 80% of agricultural products grown in the world are fed to farm animals. So we should all be vegetarians. :)

Singaporeans should take a more active role at Feedback sessions too. Singapore is our country and we should not leave it to the Government to find solutions to our problems.

Slipshod police investigation

Prior to the complaint, I went to look for the foreman Nelson who was in charge of the workers and the construction company Link 2000 Construction Pte Ltd to find out about the foreign worker but they were not co-operative.

I wanted to know where was the worker then. Was he an illegal immigrant? My maid had been seeing him for more than a year. Why did he run? And he left the maid to face the consequences. What a 'great' man!

I gave the contact number of the foreman and construction company to the police. See, a simple task which officer Bala could do but he didn't. He was patronizing me when he told me he would look into the matter.

Policeman Bala finally got back to me after more than 2 weeks. He came with a colleague one night and tried to repair damages.

He called the foreman after receiving my fax. The foreman told him the worker had been transferred to another construction site. I asked officer Bala if he had checked that out. He didn't. He just took Nelson's word for it. He didn't even have the worker's name.

I was worried the foreign worker would come back to create trouble. Officer Bala said I could always call the police. Yeah, great! We would have been dead if he came with an axe.

This is the consequence the residents would have if they complain about foreign workers. The workers know who complain against them, the residents would only have themselves to blame if they get hurt. Those who are fearful would keep quiet while those who speak up would be labelled as 'racist', 'snobs', 'intolerant'.

I tolerated the foreign workers living around me for years. They bring their bad habits with them everywhere they go. They have the numbers. There are good ones and bad. As long as they don't bother my maid, I'm fine.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan is worried about this national debate on social tolerance and class, "Some of the debate has been framed as between one group against another. It will polarise the ground if we carry on and cause harm to social cohesion."

All this time, citizens have been tolerating and putting up with the inconvenience of having foreign workers live among us. It is futile to complain. Now that more citizens are speaking up, the Government realises that striking a balance between both Singaporeans and foreigners is not as rosy as they wanted it to be.

Power to the Singapore people! Speak up for your rights.