OK lah, let them say what they want if it can please the 1 Old Fart!
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Netizens back Govt's plans to boost economy
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->MOST netizens support the Government's plans to strengthen the economy as outlined by the President last month, but they continue to be concerned about bread-and-butter issues such as the high cost of living here.
Such worries dominated the Government feedback arm Reach's online forum, which received more than 250 responses to the President's Address in two weeks.
Other hot topics included the presence of foreigners here and changes to the political system.
President S R Nathan made a speech on May 18 to open the second session of the 11th Parliament, which had gone into a month-long recess after its April sitting for the Government to take stock of the economic downturn.
In his address, Mr Nathan mapped out the Government's priorities for its remaining legislative term. He also made a call for fresh ideas to grow the economy.
Since then, netizens have expressed confidence that the country will emerge stronger from the recession, said Reach in a statement yesterday.
They also 'agreed that a responsible government and the constant refinement of policies would enable Singapore to keep pace with the changing global landscape'.
But among the over 250 online responses, 50 per cent of the posts focused on the recession's impact on citizens.
They believe 'Singaporeans were feeling stressed over the high cost of living, stagnant pay, job insecurity and a high-pressure education system', said Reach.
Others called on the Government to look after low-income Singaporeans who require the most help at this time.
Some also cited 'Singapore's open-door policy to foreigners' as the reason for the rising jobless rate among locals and what they saw as more social problems here.
Despite such views, most also say Singaporeans need to appreciate the contributions of foreigners. But foreigners too must make the effort to integrate into Singapore's society, they added.
Eighty-two per cent felt this way, in a separate online poll of 73 respondents conducted by Reach.
Similarly, 82 per cent polled also agreed that Singapore can continue to deliver a high-quality government.
Thus, most netizens welcomed the political changes that were announced, in particular the increase in the number of single-member constituencies and Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) who are opposition candidates who fail to get elected but are allowed to enter Parliament.
While the proposed changes would mean more diverse voices in the House, netizens also said 'it need not translate to more voting powers for the opposition', said Reach.
This is because while NCMPs are free to join in debates, vote on laws and even propose legislation, they cannot vote on money-supply Bills, constitutional amendments or no-confidence motions.
Summing up the online responses, Reach chairman Amy Khor said the 'general stamp of public approval is a nod that the Government is going in the right direction'.
She noted that it was pertinent for ministries to know what the public was concerned about, so that they could refine and communicate the relevant policies better. She added: 'The encouraging responses are also an indication that Singaporeans are coming forward to voice their concerns on a platform where they know their views will be heard and carefully considered.'
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Netizens back Govt's plans to boost economy
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Sue-Ann Chia, Senior Political Correspondent
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->MOST netizens support the Government's plans to strengthen the economy as outlined by the President last month, but they continue to be concerned about bread-and-butter issues such as the high cost of living here.
Such worries dominated the Government feedback arm Reach's online forum, which received more than 250 responses to the President's Address in two weeks.
Other hot topics included the presence of foreigners here and changes to the political system.
President S R Nathan made a speech on May 18 to open the second session of the 11th Parliament, which had gone into a month-long recess after its April sitting for the Government to take stock of the economic downturn.
In his address, Mr Nathan mapped out the Government's priorities for its remaining legislative term. He also made a call for fresh ideas to grow the economy.
Since then, netizens have expressed confidence that the country will emerge stronger from the recession, said Reach in a statement yesterday.
They also 'agreed that a responsible government and the constant refinement of policies would enable Singapore to keep pace with the changing global landscape'.
But among the over 250 online responses, 50 per cent of the posts focused on the recession's impact on citizens.
They believe 'Singaporeans were feeling stressed over the high cost of living, stagnant pay, job insecurity and a high-pressure education system', said Reach.
Others called on the Government to look after low-income Singaporeans who require the most help at this time.
Some also cited 'Singapore's open-door policy to foreigners' as the reason for the rising jobless rate among locals and what they saw as more social problems here.
Despite such views, most also say Singaporeans need to appreciate the contributions of foreigners. But foreigners too must make the effort to integrate into Singapore's society, they added.
Eighty-two per cent felt this way, in a separate online poll of 73 respondents conducted by Reach.
Similarly, 82 per cent polled also agreed that Singapore can continue to deliver a high-quality government.
Thus, most netizens welcomed the political changes that were announced, in particular the increase in the number of single-member constituencies and Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs) who are opposition candidates who fail to get elected but are allowed to enter Parliament.
While the proposed changes would mean more diverse voices in the House, netizens also said 'it need not translate to more voting powers for the opposition', said Reach.
This is because while NCMPs are free to join in debates, vote on laws and even propose legislation, they cannot vote on money-supply Bills, constitutional amendments or no-confidence motions.
Summing up the online responses, Reach chairman Amy Khor said the 'general stamp of public approval is a nod that the Government is going in the right direction'.
She noted that it was pertinent for ministries to know what the public was concerned about, so that they could refine and communicate the relevant policies better. She added: 'The encouraging responses are also an indication that Singaporeans are coming forward to voice their concerns on a platform where they know their views will be heard and carefully considered.'
