More can still be done to increase citizen involvement
in policy making: Lawrence Wong
Posted: 08 March 2013 2123 hrs
SINGAPORE: There were more than 30 public
consultation efforts across the different ministries last
year.
REACH received an average of 5,500 feedback inputs a month from
Singaporeans - a six-fold increase since it was first launched in
2006.
But Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information
Lawrence Wong said that more can still be done to increase citizen
involvement in the policy making process.
One key strategy is to enhance REACH where it will take on a larger
role to spearhead engagement efforts across the whole of
government.
REACH is also making greater use of social media platforms to make
it more convenient for Singaporeans to provide feedback.
Mr Wong stressed that the key to effective consultation is mutual
respect. "We must also recognise that consultation is also a
two-way street. Just as the government needs to be open to
different views, so too must the participants of public
consultation.
"Individuals and civic groups are entitled to expect every serious
proposal to be considered, but they must also accept that not all
suggestions can be accepted by the government, especially when
there are different and often competing viewpoints among
Singaporeans."
Mr Wong also noted that the government is behind the curve in
social media.
But he said that government agencies have been stepping up their
online presence through mobile applications and digital
platforms.
- CNA/ck
