Critical Issues in Asset Building in Singapore's Development

Singapore's progress as an independent nation and the uplifting of its people's livelihood have been made possible by stable social and political conditions. A more important factor in driving these positive changes lies with people-centric leadership. One can contrast the case of Singapore with societies led by self-serving leaders whose lack of honesty and integrity brings about immense social and economic hardships to various communities. When people suffer under undesirable circumstances, they often migrate to seek better future for themselves and their families.

This book reveals how Singapore's governance grounded on the principle of asset building facilitates the country's growth and development. Policies being discussed in this volume include multi-culturalism, accessible housing, social mobility for low-income families, water resource management, and national conscription.

Highly relevant for students, policy makers and the general public interested in socio-political and economic development issues, this unique piece of work not only gives readers a documentary account of what has been undertaken to empower and assist citizens in the last 50 years or so, but also prompts them to reflect on Singapore's future trajectory.

Readership: Students, policy makers and the general public interested in socio-political and economic development issues, in particular to the Singapore context.

S Vasoo is an Associate Professorial Fellow in the Department of Social Work, National University of Singapore. He obtained his Doctorate and Master of Social Work from the University of Hong Kong and holds a Diploma in Social Studies with distinction from the University of Singapore. He was awarded the Jean Robertson Book prize in his social work Master course.

He authored a number of monographs on social issues and has published various such articles both internationally and locally. He was awarded the Honorary Life Member of the Singapore Association of Social Workers for his outstanding contributions to social work in Singapore. He was the Member Parliament from 1984 to 2001 and he also served as Chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for Community Development. He now volunteers as advisor to various committees of community organizations including the Singapore Central Community Development Council. He was appointed Justice of Peace, Singapore in 2005. He was awarded Distinguished Alumni Ward (2007) of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Hong Kong.

Bilveer Singh is a Singapore citizen, an associate professor at the Department of Political Science, National University of Singapore. He is concurrently an Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University and the President, Political Science Association, Singapore. He received his MA and PhD in International Relations from the Australian National University. He has been lecturing on issues relating to Singapore's politics and foreign policy for more than 35 years. He researches and publishes on Comparative Politics and International Relations and some of his works include: Understanding Singapore Politics, Singapore: World Scientific, 2017; Quest for Political Power: Communist Subversion and Militancy in Singapore, Singapore: Marshall Cavendish, 2015; Politics and Governance in Singapore: An Introduction, Second Edition, Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education Asia, 2012; Politics and Governance in Singapore: An Introduction, Singapore: McGraw-Hill Education, 2007.