REACH sees significant increase in views received from
people
SINGAPORE: Foreign integration, the AWARE saga and the
controversy about not nominating the national table tennis coach
for an award were just some issues which topped the list of
subjects Singaporeans sent in as feedback to REACH.
Singaporeans had a different view of events, which
generated much feedback.
One woman in the street, Nurdiyana Irnajaya, said: "The hot topic
this year was Ris Low and the controversy and criticism that
surrounded her."
Another Singaporean, Shawn Ho said: "The feeling I get from PM and
MM is that we still want to encourage a lot of international
students from a diversity of backgrounds to come to Singapore to
study."
Kenny Tan said: "I disagree with the way the AWARE saga was played
out. It's not what they do, but how they do that matters."
But it was the AWARE saga which topped the list of topics
Singaporeans responded to on the REACH website. That subject
received 1,904 inputs from Singaporeans.
Dr Amy Khor, chairman, REACH and MP for Hong Kah GRC, said the
AWARE saga had captured the attention of many contributors and
feedback on this issue centred on the leadership tussle between the
old and new executive committees (Exco) of AWARE, the religious
beliefs of the new team and the perceived liberal ways of the old
guard, particularly in their purported endorsement of homosexuality
as manifested in the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE)
programme.
Many were disappointed to learn that homosexuality was said to be
"perfectly normal" in the CSE's instructor's guide and that AWARE
had been engaged to administer the programme in some schools.
Next on the hot list was Budget 2009, with 1,847 inputs.
Integrating foreigners with Singaporeans attracted 498 views.
On not nominating former table tennis coach Liu Guodong as Coach of
the Year, REACH received 415 inputs. Many contributors were
outraged at the public attacks on Liu's professionalism and
integrity.
They also expressed indignation at revelations that the Singapore
Table Tennis Association (STTA) had wanted Liu to co-sign a letter,
drafted in English even though he did not understand English,
stating that he understood the STTA's decision not to nominate
him.
Two other issues which topped feedback on REACH were the H1N1
pandemic, which had 285 inputs, and the Employment of Older
Workers, with 117 inputs.
Overall, REACH saw a 319 per cent increase in the number of
visitors to its website from January to November this year,
compared to the same period last year.
Dr Khor said: "We have got more than two million page views on our
discussion threads and various sites on reach website itself and
more than 60 per cent of the feedback is ground initiated - that
means it is not pushed by us but initiated from the ground."
Among the immediate plans for 2010 is enhancing the REACH website
with more interactive platforms and videos.
Dr Khor said: "Over the last couple of years, ever since we
revamped the feedback unit to REACH, we have been active on closing
the loop, ensuring that and allaying the criticism that it is a
blackhole.
"So we have 'your feedback-our response' on our website itself. It
actually lists out the feedback that we have received and the
government's response - be it in terms of actual replies from the
ministry or in terms of policy announcements in response to their
feedback.
"So a very good example is this foreigner issue. We have had very
good feedback on this issue and we have sent it to the relevant
ministries and over the last couple of months, many government
leaders have come out and talked about the concerns, about the
foreigner issue, and what they are going to do to allay their
concerns as well as explaining to the public in general why we need
to continue with the policy to attract new immigrants."
Besides upgrading its website, REACH will also be bringing its
roving exhibition to the central business district. It wants to
widen its outreach to professionals so that this group too knows
more about the programmes of REACH and how they can give their
feedback.
The aspirations of the younger generation have also not been
forgotten.
- CNA/vm