Extracts 2 and 3 highlight the roles of the Singapore government in bringing about positive outcomes for our society.
Do you think the maintenance of law and order is more important than the protection of national interests in bringing about positive outcomes for Singapore?
Explain your answer.
The government’s role in maintaining law and order is important in bringing about positive outcomes for society. The Singaporean government preserves safety and security by ensuring that citizens’ lives and properties are protected from harmful acts. [Description]
For example, the Singapore Police Force aims to prevent, deter and detect crime. The police may conduct anti-scam talks in school to educate students about crime prevention so that they do not become victims of such crimes. Another example is how the Courts have been fighting crimes to uphold justice. In 2013, a former Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) director was convicted for misusing money entrusted in his care and was jailed for 10 years. [Example]
This shows how serious the government is about its anti-corruption stance. Even high-ranking public officers are not immune to investigation or prosecution. It sends out a clear message that no one is above the law in Singapore. People would think twice about committing a crime, as they would be dealt with swiftly. This brings about positive outcomes for society as people’s lives and properties would not be lost to criminal activities. [Explanation]
The Singaporean government plays an instrumental role in protecting our national interests. Singapore deters potential aggressors by ensuring that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has advanced weaponry that can respond to military threats. [Description]
For example, the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) was developed and manufactured locally. It is the Army’s first fully digitized platform. It requires less manpower to operate. It also has touchscreen controls and an automatic system that enables the crew to detect and engage targets quickly and effectively. [Example]
By having a strong SAF protecting the country’s sovereignty and independence, any potential enemies would have to think twice about attacking Singapore. We have the capability to repel them by inflicting huge damage on their invading forces. That way, the people of Singapore would be able to enjoy many more years of peace and tranquillity. Foreign investors would also be confident that their investments would be protected. This would attract more investments to flow into Singapore, thus bringing about positive outcomes for Singapore. [Explanation]
By having strong domestic enforcement agencies to maintain law and order, Singapore is able to build a country where its people feel safe and secure thus maintaining social stability. [Make a stand]
The protection of national interests is also important. Singapore has to be protected from external threats from potential enemies
When we fail to defend Singapore externally, the internal stability can be destroyed by an external attack, and the country can still fall. Thus, to ensure that Singapore can continue to prosper and survive, the maintenance of law and order and the protection of national interests in bringing about positive outcomes must go hand in hand. [Explain your stand]