Rebuilding the Youth Movement in Singapore
Rebuilding the Youth Movement in Singapore
There is currently no visible collected youth movement in Singapore. It is hence important that youths start the momentum by revisiting our political history; identifying problem areas and strategising to overcome these restrictions.
Many have argued that there is a dim hope of creating a sustainable youth movement in Singapore as young Singaporeans are: a) fearful of repercussions when they engage in politicsb) apathetic to politics as they have greater immediate concerns that are mainly material c) of the mindset that PAP is "effective and efficient" in running the country
Such assumptions however cannot be valid. The protest against the Iraqi War and an attendance of mainly young Singaporeans at the anti-death penalty movement forum speaks volumes. A Singapore newspaper, TODAY, published an article on the results of a government-sponsored feedback group of 59 working youth on its political system. In the straw poll, more than three quarters of the respondents described the "opening up" of Singapore's political space as "below expectations," while 70 per cent of them wanted a two- or multi-party system, and felt the opposition parties have not been given "a fair chance to establish themselves".
There is clearly a sense of disaffection among youths despite the long-term effects of depoliticization and the current harsh climate against voicing political dissent.
While there are merits to having a single youth organization dedicating itself to political liberalization, such efforts have seen little results. When the government "attacked" groups such as Think Centre, Roundtable or Dr. Chee Soon Juan openly, youths automatically shied away from these individuals or organizations.
It is my belief henceforth that we need to adopt a slightly non-conventional approach to building a youth movement in Singapore that may have a greater chance of survival.
Civil groups, NGOs and Political Parties need to identify potential youths and youth leaders and "invest" in training these members.
Getting youths to join and stay within these organizations is not an easy task, but their priorities should include setting up youth wings with opportunities for full time employment. This is crucial as financial stability can offset peer and familial pressure to stay away from politics.
These youth organizations or branches need to be independent from their mother parties and have their own committees for organizing their own activities.
The image of Politics, often perceived as elitist, pseudo-intellectual and mostly dominated by an "older gentlemen's club" needs to be remade. Political youth organizations need to maintain their original political goals while at the same time make politics fashionable, hip and a career reality.
To create a sustainable youth movement, Opposition and civil society has to be united; and be aware that we cannot play by the changing rules set by the PAP.
As such, members of NGO should be encouraged to join political parties and contest in elections as it is the only legitimate mean to challenge the government.
Political parties and NGOs should work on certain issues together such as the death penalty movement. They have to endorse and speak up for each other when PAP attacks an individual member.
It is only when youths see a more united Opposition and civil society (instead of the more fractured current situation), would they be more willing to voice out
In most regional meetings such as the ones above, you will find that Singaporean youths are often under-represented. Most often they are unaware of such meetings and collaborative opportunities, or there is not an alternative/independent youth organisation through which to connect Singapore to these events and activities.
Singaporean youth participation at present is only limited participation in some Japanese-sponsored exchange programs or at government-to-government contacts, facilitated through the Singapore International Foundation, the National Youth Council and youth representation from the People’s Association. There is also some contact through the youth arms of the Rotary and Lion Clubs. However, most contacts of this nature are not political but educational and cultural.
The absence of youth in regional and Singapore politics is of historical nature, stemming from the participation in the Hock Lee bus riots, where the Chinese middle schools were very active, as were the highly-political Nanyang University students. There were also the very politically aware students of the University of Malaya. Students took political sides with political parties and issues. Political awareness was so great that it resulted in the government issuing suitability certificates in order to screen and prevent political types from studying at the University. Further, the University statutes were linked to enactments in Parliament in order to hinder chances for University and student union constitutions to be amended and to structurally divide students at the Universities. Even the physical landscape of tertiary institutions were designed in a manner as to prevent quick large scale mobilisations. Thus, crippled domestically, they were also crippled regionally.
As a result, youth in politics in present-day Singapore is limited. The most developed of participation can be mainly found in the Young PAP. Again, this can be divided into two broad categories: At one level, some youths join the Young PAP because they share the party’s policies and aspire for a career within it. On the other level, it is made up of youth who have no other outlet for political expression, who join the Young PAP for purposes of exploration, and when they find that it is not in sync with their own political philosophy, they leave. In opposition parties, the youth wings are hardly developed. In fact, there are very few youth that it does not make opposition parties a significant conduit for youth political expression.
At the National University of Singapore (NUS), there is the Political Association and the Democratic Socialist Club. There is also a current affairs club at NTU, although the polytechnics do not have any explicitly political clubs. Most of these youth organisations at the universities are all currently dormant as much of the sting has been taken out of them during the 1988 alleged Marxist conspiracy, where some students were found to be politically active on and off campus. It followed a spate of more careful attention and scrutiny over students’ political explorations. At the junior college level, again, there is no form of political education, only perhaps in discussions within the context of the General Paper, and now recently some talks on national education, which is primarily the passing of information on Singapore’s history, rather than a critical political education. Other conduits such as the SIF, NYC and PA Youth do not have explicit political programmes but are active on the educational and cultural fronts. On the average political awareness, actions and education is very much on the low side for most young people. This explains while youth are not active politically in regional and international meetings, as the culture at the domestic level is weak.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)
The government recently launched a “Youth Consultation Exercise” for post 1965ers in an attempt to win the hearts and the minds of Young Singaporeans.
As a youth wing (The Young Democrats) of the Singapore Democratic Party, they believe in the ideals and aims of our mother party. They promote human rights and democracy in authoritarian Singapore. Believing that Young Democrats can only do this with a base of dedicated and passionate youths who are committed to the ideals and willing to work to make it happen. They convince youths to join them by saying the Young Democrats are the true liberal and progressive reformers of Singapore.
The SDP is the only opposition party in Singapore with a youth wing. This shows the Singapore Democrats’ commitment towards the ideas and aspirations of youths in Singapore. Being consistent in its message towards Singaporeans, that is, needing to build a democratic Singapore—an endeavour that is enshrined in our pledge, national anthem, and one that is embedded in our national flag and Merlion symbol.
The Young Democrat hold regular activities and meetings. These events, together with participation in regional and international level workshops and seminars, promoting understanding of human rights and democracy and also equiping members with the tools and expertise to become experienced politicians and activists. They do not practise self-censorship,
one is allowed to bring up any ideas or suggestions in Young Democrats as they are open to ideas and do not discriminate. Instead they encourage youths, of any educational level, race, religion, sexual persuasion to join and they appreciate any views on national policies, however controversial. The Young Democrats is run by youths and for youths. dedicated to addressing political issues from a youth’s point of view.
There is currently no visible collected youth movement in Singapore. It is hence important that youths start the momentum by revisiting our political history; identifying problem areas and strategising to overcome these restrictions.
Many have argued that there is a dim hope of creating a sustainable youth movement in Singapore as young Singaporeans are: a) fearful of repercussions when they engage in politicsb) apathetic to politics as they have greater immediate concerns that are mainly material c) of the mindset that PAP is "effective and efficient" in running the country
Such assumptions however cannot be valid. The protest against the Iraqi War and an attendance of mainly young Singaporeans at the anti-death penalty movement forum speaks volumes. A Singapore newspaper, TODAY, published an article on the results of a government-sponsored feedback group of 59 working youth on its political system. In the straw poll, more than three quarters of the respondents described the "opening up" of Singapore's political space as "below expectations," while 70 per cent of them wanted a two- or multi-party system, and felt the opposition parties have not been given "a fair chance to establish themselves".
There is clearly a sense of disaffection among youths despite the long-term effects of depoliticization and the current harsh climate against voicing political dissent.
While there are merits to having a single youth organization dedicating itself to political liberalization, such efforts have seen little results. When the government "attacked" groups such as Think Centre, Roundtable or Dr. Chee Soon Juan openly, youths automatically shied away from these individuals or organizations.
It is my belief henceforth that we need to adopt a slightly non-conventional approach to building a youth movement in Singapore that may have a greater chance of survival.
Civil groups, NGOs and Political Parties need to identify potential youths and youth leaders and "invest" in training these members.
Getting youths to join and stay within these organizations is not an easy task, but their priorities should include setting up youth wings with opportunities for full time employment. This is crucial as financial stability can offset peer and familial pressure to stay away from politics.
These youth organizations or branches need to be independent from their mother parties and have their own committees for organizing their own activities.
The image of Politics, often perceived as elitist, pseudo-intellectual and mostly dominated by an "older gentlemen's club" needs to be remade. Political youth organizations need to maintain their original political goals while at the same time make politics fashionable, hip and a career reality.
To create a sustainable youth movement, Opposition and civil society has to be united; and be aware that we cannot play by the changing rules set by the PAP.
As such, members of NGO should be encouraged to join political parties and contest in elections as it is the only legitimate mean to challenge the government.
Political parties and NGOs should work on certain issues together such as the death penalty movement. They have to endorse and speak up for each other when PAP attacks an individual member.
It is only when youths see a more united Opposition and civil society (instead of the more fractured current situation), would they be more willing to voice out
In most regional meetings such as the ones above, you will find that Singaporean youths are often under-represented. Most often they are unaware of such meetings and collaborative opportunities, or there is not an alternative/independent youth organisation through which to connect Singapore to these events and activities.
Singaporean youth participation at present is only limited participation in some Japanese-sponsored exchange programs or at government-to-government contacts, facilitated through the Singapore International Foundation, the National Youth Council and youth representation from the People’s Association. There is also some contact through the youth arms of the Rotary and Lion Clubs. However, most contacts of this nature are not political but educational and cultural.
The absence of youth in regional and Singapore politics is of historical nature, stemming from the participation in the Hock Lee bus riots, where the Chinese middle schools were very active, as were the highly-political Nanyang University students. There were also the very politically aware students of the University of Malaya. Students took political sides with political parties and issues. Political awareness was so great that it resulted in the government issuing suitability certificates in order to screen and prevent political types from studying at the University. Further, the University statutes were linked to enactments in Parliament in order to hinder chances for University and student union constitutions to be amended and to structurally divide students at the Universities. Even the physical landscape of tertiary institutions were designed in a manner as to prevent quick large scale mobilisations. Thus, crippled domestically, they were also crippled regionally.
As a result, youth in politics in present-day Singapore is limited. The most developed of participation can be mainly found in the Young PAP. Again, this can be divided into two broad categories: At one level, some youths join the Young PAP because they share the party’s policies and aspire for a career within it. On the other level, it is made up of youth who have no other outlet for political expression, who join the Young PAP for purposes of exploration, and when they find that it is not in sync with their own political philosophy, they leave. In opposition parties, the youth wings are hardly developed. In fact, there are very few youth that it does not make opposition parties a significant conduit for youth political expression.
At the National University of Singapore (NUS), there is the Political Association and the Democratic Socialist Club. There is also a current affairs club at NTU, although the polytechnics do not have any explicitly political clubs. Most of these youth organisations at the universities are all currently dormant as much of the sting has been taken out of them during the 1988 alleged Marxist conspiracy, where some students were found to be politically active on and off campus. It followed a spate of more careful attention and scrutiny over students’ political explorations. At the junior college level, again, there is no form of political education, only perhaps in discussions within the context of the General Paper, and now recently some talks on national education, which is primarily the passing of information on Singapore’s history, rather than a critical political education. Other conduits such as the SIF, NYC and PA Youth do not have explicit political programmes but are active on the educational and cultural fronts. On the average political awareness, actions and education is very much on the low side for most young people. This explains while youth are not active politically in regional and international meetings, as the culture at the domestic level is weak.
Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)
The government recently launched a “Youth Consultation Exercise” for post 1965ers in an attempt to win the hearts and the minds of Young Singaporeans.
As a youth wing (The Young Democrats) of the Singapore Democratic Party, they believe in the ideals and aims of our mother party. They promote human rights and democracy in authoritarian Singapore. Believing that Young Democrats can only do this with a base of dedicated and passionate youths who are committed to the ideals and willing to work to make it happen. They convince youths to join them by saying the Young Democrats are the true liberal and progressive reformers of Singapore.
The SDP is the only opposition party in Singapore with a youth wing. This shows the Singapore Democrats’ commitment towards the ideas and aspirations of youths in Singapore. Being consistent in its message towards Singaporeans, that is, needing to build a democratic Singapore—an endeavour that is enshrined in our pledge, national anthem, and one that is embedded in our national flag and Merlion symbol.
The Young Democrat hold regular activities and meetings. These events, together with participation in regional and international level workshops and seminars, promoting understanding of human rights and democracy and also equiping members with the tools and expertise to become experienced politicians and activists. They do not practise self-censorship,
one is allowed to bring up any ideas or suggestions in Young Democrats as they are open to ideas and do not discriminate. Instead they encourage youths, of any educational level, race, religion, sexual persuasion to join and they appreciate any views on national policies, however controversial. The Young Democrats is run by youths and for youths. dedicated to addressing political issues from a youth’s point of view.
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