This chapter discusses the challenges in deciding what policies are good for society. It notes that there are often differing needs, interests and priorities among members of society. Additionally, not all members will benefit equally from policy decisions and trade-offs often must be made. This is illustrated through case studies on land use in Singapore where building roads or housing requires sacrificing other needs like conservation. A case study on preserving a heritage cemetery versus building a road shows this trade-off, as does residents opposing foreign worker dorms or public housing for the elderly due to perceived negative impacts on their communities. Determining what is good for society as a whole can be complex with many trade-offs to consider.

1. EXPLORING
CITIZENSHIP &
GOVERNANCE
2.1 Challenges in Deciding What is Good for
Society

2. Being a part
of Singapore
Society
Chapter 1: What
does it mean to
be a Citizen of
my Country?
Chapter 2: How
do we decide
what is good for
society?
Chapter 3: How
can we work for
the good of
society?
Issue 1
Exploring Citizenship and Governance

3. How do we
decide what
is good for
society?
Part 1:
Challenges in
deciding what is
good for society
Part 2: Decision-
making in a
Representative
Democracy
Part 3: Ideas
shaping
Governance
Chapter 2
How do we decide what is good for
society?

4. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

5. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

6. Case
study

7. The Principal has given every class the sum of
S$100a month for
3 monthsto spend on furniture and upgrades to your classroom.

8. 1. What would you spend the money on?
Write out a list with prices
2. Which would you buy or upgrade first?
Number your list according to priority.
3. Would every item on your list benefit everyone
equally?

9. everyone
ARGUES
AND on
how to use the money

10. Why?

11. everyone has
different
needs and interests.

12. Some will want
Physical comfort Better facilities/
equipment
More study aids/
materials
Things related to
their interests
More
entertainment

13. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

14. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

15. Even if you
agree
on what to buy,

16. for everyone to agree on
which to buy first.

17. What is
priority
?

18. Priority
is to decide
which item is
important

19. Some will want
Physical comfort Better facilities/
equipment
More study aids/
materials
Things related to
their interests
More
entertainment

20. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

21. Chapter 2: How do
we decide what is
good for society?
Differing Needs and
Interests
Differing Priorities
Unequal Sharing of
Costs

22. for everyone to agree on
which to buy first.

23. Because
not all
will benefit equally
from the purchases

24. Some will
benefit
More
Some will
benefit
less

25. It is
inevitable

26. It is
impossible
to ensure equal benefit
to all.

27. What is a
trade-off
?

28. A trade-off
is a situation where
1.Two or more goals cannot be achieved at the same time.
2.Only one can, so the other goal/s must be discarded.

29. a
trade-off
A
Case study
of land use
in singapore

30. km2
Singapore has a limited land area.

31. Jobs Housing Transport
Recreation
Water catchment
Nature and
environment
conservation etc.
This land must satisfy many needs

32. The
trade-off
When land is used for one purpose, like transport,
then it can no longer be used for other purposes.

33. case study
1

34. A new road was proposed to ease traffic congestion on Lornie Road
This road would cut through one of Singapore’s oldest cemeteries
Bukit Brown Cemetery

35. consequences
Over 5 000 graves of Singapore
pioneers, some dating back to
1833, would be destroyed.
The habitat of over 30
endangered species of animals
would be reduced.

37. The Case for
Preserving Bukit
Brown Cemetery
The Government’s
Response
1. Singapore’s precious
history and heritage
2. Singapore’s shrinking
natural environment
3. Singapore’s shrinking
animal species
4. Alternative plans or
locations not properly
considered
1. Ease traffic congestion
on Lornie Road
2. Ease traffic congestion
on the nearby PIE
3. Reduce travel time
4. New highway will serve
future housing projects
near the Bukit Brown
area

38. The
trade-off
Do you think that the government made the
right decision regarding Bukit Brown Cemetery?

39. What happens if
you have to
trade-off
your own needs and
priorities?

40. Will you be
Willing to
sacrifice
your benefits for the
greater good?

41. If you are
Unwilling,
You suffer from the
NIMBY SYMDROME.

42. NIMBY
not in my backyard
AKA
KIASU

43. case study
2

44. 1400 residents of a private housing estate, signed a petition against
a foreign worker dormitory being built in their estate in 2008.
Serangoon Gardens

45. This petition was submitted to
the then Minister of National
Development, Mr
Khaw Boon Wan

46. The dormitory would occupy an unused old secondary
school building, which is less than 10 metres away from
the estate.

47. The Case for the residents The Government’s Response
1. Littering
2. Loitering
3. Drunken/ Rowdy behaviour
4. Foreign worker/ Domestic maid
couples
5. Higher crime rate
6. Lower property value
7. “create security and social
problems and spoil the ambience
of the estate”
1. School building is wasted if unused
2. Can house from 600 to 1000
workers
3. Many construction/renovation
works are near to their estate
4. Not the first estate to have foreign
worker dormitories
5. $2 million road to be built to
bypass the estate
6. Strict rules and security promised

48. The
trade-off
What would you think if you were one of the
residents of Serangoon Gardens?

50. case study
3

51. 230 residents of a HDB housing estate, signed a petition against a plot of land
being used to build a HDB block of studio apartments specially meant for the
elderly in 2012.
Toh yi estate

52. This petition was submitted to
their MP, Ms Sim Ann.

53. The new block would occupy land used since 2011 as a
basketball court, jogging track, community garden and
exercise area for residents

57. The Case for the residents The Government’s Response
1. Loss of facilities
2. Waste of $120 000 upgrade
3. Lower property value
4. Poor location for the elderly
5. Hill top location
6. Far from facilities/amenities
7. “like death houses”
8. “loss of ‘breathing space’ which
helped foster a ‘kampong spirit’ in
the estate”
1. Facilities to be replaced as part of
new block
2. Special housing for elderly badly
needed
3. Studies show it is best site
4. Sheltered pathways with rest
stops to be built
5. Upgrading was a ‘mistake’ as land
was ‘leased for interim recreational
use’ but had been long ‘reserved for
residential use’

58. The
End
of Chapter 2
Part 1