SINGAPORE : Despite its many technological and scientific
accomplishments, Singapore still suffers from a major image
problem, said Mr Peter Schwartz, cofounder and chairman of the
Global Business Network.
"People in the industrialized world dont know very much about
Singapore other than the trivial and the silly stuff like the
banning of chewing gum and your homosexual laws," said Mr Schwartz,
61, a key adviser to businesses and governments around the
world.
And yet, this detracted from the profound achievements of Singapore
over the last 40 years, he said. Singaporeans were, he observed,
more tolerant of gays than what the law allows and the reputation
of the country would be hugely enhanced if there was, for example,
more room for dissent.
Mr Schwartz was in town on Wednesday as part of the Singapore
International Foundations (SIF) Distinguished Visitors Programme
(DVP), which hosts prominent leaders from the business, political
and civil society sectors to better understand the Singapore story
and build their network of local contacts.
On the same day, he met a group of 18 Singaporeans business
leaders as well as those in the arts and creative field at the
Grand Hyatt Hotel.
Their subject of discussion: How Singapore can augment itself in
fields such as arts and culture, the sciences, philanthropy and
humanitarianism.
Mr Schwartz, an aeronautical engineer and futurist who has worked
on Hollywood thrillers like 1998s Deep Impact and 1992s Sneakers,
said: "I believe Singapore has a great deal to give: Not only is it
rich but it has also a lot to offer and can afford the spirit of
generosity."
"I think the participants (at the round table) were actually fairly
happy with Singapore ... but they were concerned about the future:
Singapore is a relatively mature society, so where do you go from
here?" he added.
Yet even as its people are seen to be generous, its government and
institutions are seen as the complete opposite.
"During the meeting, I met a young CEO of a company, a Singaporean
who went to graduate school in the United States on full
scholarship from California," Mr Shwartz said. "The state didnt
tell him to work for it for five years after he had taken their
money."
"Now, what did we gain from that? Well, this young man says he
loves the state of California. Thats soft power, money extremely
well spent by the state of California."
Soft power describes the ability of a political body to indirectly
influence behaviour or interests through cultural or ideological
means.
Mr Schwartz believes Singapore could use its strengths to make its
mark on the issue of climate change.
Because of its scientific and technological prowess, and its
excellent track record in dealing with pollution issues, Singapore
is a prime candidate to lead a worldwide environmental protection
agency.
Mr Schwartz will meet officials from various organisations,
including the Institute of Policy Studies, Genome Institute of
Singapore and A*Star, during his threeday stay. TODAY/ym
