Singapore’s art groups decline to be propaganda mouthpiece for National Integration Council
September 20th, 2009 | 
Author: From our Correspondent
The key players in the Singapore art scene have declined an overture by the government to become their propaganda mouthpiece to help promote integration between locals and foreigners, a call made by the National Integration Council on Friday.
The Council, led by Minister for Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan had earlier recommended the government allocate an eye-popping $10 million dollars to organize events for immigrants to make them feel welcome in Singapore.
The government is becoming increasingly worried at the rising social tensions on the ground due to relentless influx of foreigners in recent years.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a dialogue with NTU students lately that the government’s immigration policy will remain though it will “tweak” it to slow the intake of foreigners.
When interviewed by the state-controlled media, many key leaders in Singapore’s art scene expressed their doubts and scepticism of being involved in helping foreigners “integrate” into Singapore society.
Tay Tong, managing director of TheatreWorks, said:
“It’s really more about that, rather than say, ‘Oh, let’s do a play and please, integrate!’. I don’t think that’s going to work. I’m kind of curious what it means by integration. I think when we’re dealing with cultural differences, it should primarily be more about the celebration of differences, rather than trying to be homogeneous.”
NMP Audrey Wong, who is also the co-director of Substation was more direct:
“The thing is, we don’t want to do propaganda art. In fact, the public cannot be duped. They are suspicious of anything that smacks of propaganda. So there needs to be an understanding of how art works and how art functions in society, in order for the initiative to be successful.”
Shaun Teo, president of Migrant Voices, added:
“We are not talking about issues in a hypothetical or ideal situation. The characters act out certain situations that will happen at home, so the solutions that they’ll find from forum theatre are the solutions that they are most probably able to apply at home.”
The lukewarm response from the arts community in Singapore must have disappointed the government who is sparing more efforts to ensure that their new citizens are well integrated into society without incurring the wrath of the locals.
It is strange that the NIC would recommend “outsourcing” this noble task of promoting integration to outsiders when the government already has the most ideal candidate within its ranks to spearhead its latest pro-foreigner initiative – Acting Minister for Information, Communication and Arts Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew.
Posted in Editorial
yea. say NO to pap and foreign trash.
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Kudos to those art leaders who do not give in to the government because it is really inhumane of the government to solely entice the foreigners as digit to top up their GDP (Vivian has already said it is about economics (tax) in the first place without thinking about the social impact it has on society . . Who does it really benefit ? It always the echelon”). It is always about do it first, and fix it later, as long as it benefit the government financially. In the end, it always screwing everybody except the gahmen and government.
Any attempt to work with gov on propaganda will only backfire and destroy the credibility and trust of the public on the years of art development. To those leader, don’t be stupid and entice by gov’s carrot to integrate the foreigner, else you will be history and disgrace in Singapore’s art scene.
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“…when the government already has the most ideal candidate within its ranks to spearhead its latest pro-foreigner initiative – Acting Minister for Information, Communication and Arts Rear-Admiral Lui Tuck Yew.”
what does this Rear-Admiral know about the arts!
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Hmmm…
Maybe these people should reconsider – got free money – why not take it? This sector need funds right?
Take a leaf from Mediacorp.
Singaporeans pay license fee -> MDA -> Mediacorp -> Propaganda.
Hmmm…money really can’t buy people working in the arts sector ha!
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First PAP created the problem…now they want, or should I say, expect others to solve the problems for them.
Being a MIW has it privileges…they can shit anyway and everyway they want, but let others clean up their left over stinky and smelling shit…never never leave home without it!
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Here we go again. The throw-money-at-the-problem solution that the PAP is extremely fond of. Integration? By PAP’s definition it means we should welcome the foreigners who arrive to steal our jobs and livelihoods – ably assisted by the government. Because of the foreigners, HDB prices are artificially inflated. Does the government care when its own pockets are overflowing? The poor are unable to even help themselves to any of the overflowing wealth. No other country would treat its own citizens as trash and throw the red carpet out for foreigners. I have nothing against the import of foreigners for very specialised work. But when the average citizen lives with the very real fear of losing his job, well … enough is enough.
As for integration, the onus is on the foreigners to find ways to deal with their new surroundings and understand local culture. Not everything is about race or religion. Sometimes it’s just about the humble rice bowl.
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I salute NMP Audrey Wong! She has a mind of her own and that includes her committee.What she is saying in a very courteous manner, we are not a propaganda machine.
Well, there are others who are bols lickers who will rush to do it! I am glad that our society is matured and there are more and more people who dares to say NO!
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Big Sugardaddy thinks everything can be resolve by throwing money as though that will resolve all problems. That is their mindset and why the problem is there in the first place. Throw 10 – 20 million dollars, problem disappears, amass more wealth, more problems surfaces, throw more millions. I wish it can be that simple. It all started by throwing millions to get the leaders we have today. Maybe we should start by throwing the leaders? How did we get to be so materialistic?
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Money don’t buy souls. They buy greed. Keep your money and we keep our art for art lovers.
Any spare guest rooms in their bungalows, there is demand for these by eager foreigners. Integration starts from there, don’t they?
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Can Vivian show us how integration works by having a large foreign workers’ dormitory built next to his bungalow???
Lead by example….not by talking cock!!
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jayaratnam will be the first to disagree at throwing money at integration problems
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Problem in the future for those who DISAGREE. Performance license will be VERY VERY difficult to get, anything they need, rejected and offcial show will not invite them.
These aside, kudos to all of them for standing up for their beliefs.
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I had stayed in a few countries over the past 15 years. In every country, I had to adapt to the local cultures and try to understand the local habits to blend in and be accepted by them.
Now back in my own country and I am told to accept the foreigners! What the fish!
Why does the world highest paid government always expect the citizens to clean up the shit it created.
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The art scene in Singapore is already fluatuated with foreign arts. Visit art galleries, you can hardly find any local artist. Don’t need to spend $10 million singaporean’s money to promote integration. It is already here.
Singapore government has build up a nation of educated generation who knows how to think and could analyse and decide how to build a society. Unlike 20 years ago, whatever PAP said, we agree. Enough is enough.
Art cannot be run like the parliament. Don’t become a laughing stock for the art scene in the eyes of other nations. Singapore is losing it’s own culture & identity, don’t think qualified to talk about art.
Why are the government worried about rising social tensions? Just deal with the one who caused it.
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ChaoCheeseBuy, you are correct to complain.
I stand corrected but Sinkapore must be the ONLY COUNTRY in the world that CHANGES to suit the New Citizens instead of the New Citizens changing to suit the country.
And while New Citizens is worth MILLIONS just to make them feel at home, Shitizens are worth a peanut 600 bucks.
Bravo Sinkaporeans, you voted for monkeys and is now being served peanuts!
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True to form, the govt is resorting to its infamous/favourite
MO – wayang. It’s latest wayang to date was of course the
anti-gambling wayang to mollify widespread criticism of its
decision to allow casino gambling a la ‘integrated resort’ style.
Note the common key words here: INTEGRATED Resort, National INTEGRATION Council, wayang, the same minister involved, Vivian
Balakrishnan!
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//George on Mon, 21st Sep 2009 6:24 pm
Note the common key words here: INTEGRATED Resort, National INTEGRATION Council, wayang, the same minister involved, Vivian
Balakrishnan!//
Remember when Vivian Bala was a strong anti-guy in his younger days? See what has happened to him? From an anti-guy he has morphed to become an integrated-guy! Is it any wonder that he is
shouting for everything to be integrated?
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When in Rome—do as …….
Integrate by doing your NS—dont be a freebie -newbie.
Nothing else will work.
Want to live together—be prepared to die together.
Dont take advantage of locals—VOLUNTEER for NS today.
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//When in Rome—do as …….//
Yeah, with millions to ease the pain
of integration!
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PAP is doing all this for a selfish motive.
New citizens represent the political support base for
the party.
Just asked my China-born neighbour who she supportedck in an
election, its PAP when she heck knows what does it stands
for!
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