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<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=789><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=789><TBODY><TR><TD class=newstitle width=500>Singapore News</TD><TD vAlign=bottom width=329 align=right><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=282 align=center><TBODY><TR><TD width=25>
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By Imelda Saad | Posted: 16 April 2010 1351 hrs
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</TD></TR><TR><TD height=60 vAlign=top> </TD><TD class=update height=80 vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#f6f6f6 width=138>Photos </TD><TD bgColor=#f6f6f6 width=47>1 of 1</TD><TD bgColor=#f6f6f6 width=18><INPUT id=btnPrev disabled onclick=Prev(); value="<< Previous" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" width=18 height=15 type=image></TD><TD bgColor=#f6f6f6 width=19><INPUT id=bntPlay onclick=Play() value="Play - Stop" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" width=19 height=15 type=image></TD><TD bgColor=#f6f6f6 width=18><INPUT id=btnNext disabled onclick=Next(); value=" Next >> " src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" width=18 height=15 type=image></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Mr Goh Chok Tong (file picture)</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SINGAPORE : Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said that trust lends more legitimacy to a government than its legal authority.
He made the point at the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership held in Singapore on Friday.
The theme for this year's forum is Harmonious Society and the Development of leadership. And one key aspect of this, said SM Goh, is trust.
Mr Goh pointed out that rebuilding trust with the people is especially important in the post-crisis landscape. Otherwise it will be difficult for governments to persuade the people to accept tough and painful solutions.
"This is not a science that can be found in textbooks or instruction manuals. Neither can it be discussed without considering a country's social, political and historical context. Trust is built up through the leaders' interaction with the people, how they deal with challenges and crisis and how they meet the people's aspirations," he said.
Mr Goh outlined core principles that Singapore has adopted to ensure a strong social compact.
These include the government delivering on its promises, doing what is right for the country and not what is politically expedient, and to remain incorruptible.
Mr Goh cited how Members of Parliament (MPs) paid for their own informal dinner after the hectic budget debate in parliament.
"When the people see that their leaders are not only incorrupt, but also effective in protecting them from corrupt officials, their trust in the government is reinforced," said SM Goh.
And with a new generation of Singaporeans who not only want to be heard but also participate in process of decision making, Mr Goh noted that leaders will also have to adapt.
"Instead of regarding this development as a vexatious demand for government to be more open, transparent and accountable, it should be regarded as a positive sign of citizens wanting to join in to build a better society," said SM Goh.
He added many governments around the world also face a trust deficit, and the response in some countries has been to develop institutional checks on government.
"These may have their place in certain contexts. Some take an adversarial approach because their starting premise is that governments are fundamentally not to be trusted. In the United States, many Americans believe that the less power the government has, the better it is for private citizens," said Mr Goh.
But in Singapore, the Senior Minister said "our starting premise is that given our unique characteristics and vulnerabilities as a little nation, a strong, competent and morally upright government is essential to Singapore's survival. This does not mean that government has to be everywhere, but that government has a critical and leading role to play in nation building".
For China, building trust with its people hinges on the rule of law, which the country said it wants to strengthen.
China said it is moving towards increasing transparency in the way it selects government officials.
Minister Li Yuanchao, Central Committee Organisation Department, Communist Party of China said: "Only with a sound legal system can the conduct of government be regulated and trust among people be strengthened."
The Singapore-China Forum was mooted two years ago by SM Goh with the aim of discussing leadership issues.
This year's session is attended by about 80 officials from both Singapore and China.
The two-day forum will be marked by a series of dialogues and exchanges where both sides are hoping to learn from one another's experience. - CNA/fa/ls
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By Imelda Saad | Posted: 16 April 2010 1351 hrs
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD width=20 align=right> </TD><TD width=240 align=right>
Mr Goh Chok Tong (file picture)</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SINGAPORE : Singapore Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has said that trust lends more legitimacy to a government than its legal authority.
He made the point at the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership held in Singapore on Friday.
The theme for this year's forum is Harmonious Society and the Development of leadership. And one key aspect of this, said SM Goh, is trust.
Mr Goh pointed out that rebuilding trust with the people is especially important in the post-crisis landscape. Otherwise it will be difficult for governments to persuade the people to accept tough and painful solutions.
"This is not a science that can be found in textbooks or instruction manuals. Neither can it be discussed without considering a country's social, political and historical context. Trust is built up through the leaders' interaction with the people, how they deal with challenges and crisis and how they meet the people's aspirations," he said.
Mr Goh outlined core principles that Singapore has adopted to ensure a strong social compact.
These include the government delivering on its promises, doing what is right for the country and not what is politically expedient, and to remain incorruptible.
Mr Goh cited how Members of Parliament (MPs) paid for their own informal dinner after the hectic budget debate in parliament.
"When the people see that their leaders are not only incorrupt, but also effective in protecting them from corrupt officials, their trust in the government is reinforced," said SM Goh.
And with a new generation of Singaporeans who not only want to be heard but also participate in process of decision making, Mr Goh noted that leaders will also have to adapt.
"Instead of regarding this development as a vexatious demand for government to be more open, transparent and accountable, it should be regarded as a positive sign of citizens wanting to join in to build a better society," said SM Goh.
He added many governments around the world also face a trust deficit, and the response in some countries has been to develop institutional checks on government.
"These may have their place in certain contexts. Some take an adversarial approach because their starting premise is that governments are fundamentally not to be trusted. In the United States, many Americans believe that the less power the government has, the better it is for private citizens," said Mr Goh.
But in Singapore, the Senior Minister said "our starting premise is that given our unique characteristics and vulnerabilities as a little nation, a strong, competent and morally upright government is essential to Singapore's survival. This does not mean that government has to be everywhere, but that government has a critical and leading role to play in nation building".
For China, building trust with its people hinges on the rule of law, which the country said it wants to strengthen.
China said it is moving towards increasing transparency in the way it selects government officials.
Minister Li Yuanchao, Central Committee Organisation Department, Communist Party of China said: "Only with a sound legal system can the conduct of government be regulated and trust among people be strengthened."
The Singapore-China Forum was mooted two years ago by SM Goh with the aim of discussing leadership issues.
This year's session is attended by about 80 officials from both Singapore and China.
The two-day forum will be marked by a series of dialogues and exchanges where both sides are hoping to learn from one another's experience. - CNA/fa/ls
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