Dialogue with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim

On the 14th August 2008, our student leaders from the Student Councillors, Scholars Development Committee and Green Community had a dialogue with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR). The purpose of the dialogue session was to serve as a platform to sensitise our students to the thinking and principles behind governmental policies and actions and indeed our students caught the vision of the future for our country. It was a fruitful session and Dr Yaacob took time to explain and provided insight on several issues.

The issues discussed included:

1) Re-inventing Singapore Singapore has successfully adopted best practices from the private sector and elsewhere in the past but these are not enough to ensure good governance as we move forward. Singapore must develop her own brand of governance in order to manage the unpredictable and complex future. We need to have new ideas and new solutions for our nation.

Click link for Governance at the Leading Edge: Black Swans, Wild Cards, and Wicked Problems by Mr. Peter Ho

2) The role that Singapore plays in the global warming. Singaporeans need to recognize that global warming is a result of human activities. Singapore has ratified the Kyoto Protocol International Agreement to meet emissions reduction targets of all greenhouse gases by 2012 relative to 1990. Singapore’s aim is to be an energy efficient country to reduce unnecessary usage.

3) Foreign talents in Singapore Though Singaporeans feel the pressure from foreign workers and new immigrants and there are fears that they may take away jobs from Singaporeans, Singapore need these talents. Foreign talent and new immigrants can help Singaporeans to improve the quality of life. They spur us to towards excellence.

4) Integrated Resorts and Formula One Race,

5) Waste management in Singapore and

6) Bring Your Own Bag Campaign

Through the session, our student leaders were empowered to form opinions based on a firm grasp of reality. The session was a great opportunity for our student leaders to exchange views with our inspiring speaker.

Thank you Minister Dr. Yaacob.