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Lim Siong Guan

Publisher: World Scientific Publishing Co. Ptd. Ltd.

Lim Siong Guan, Singapore's former Head of Civil Service (1999–2005) was the Institute of Policy Studies' 4th S R Nathan Fellow for the Study of Singapore. This book contains edited versions of the three IPS-Nathan Lectures he gave between September and November 2017, and highlights of his dialogue with the audience.

Lim addresses the question, "Can Singapore Fall?", by examining the state of Singapore today and proposing what Singapore and Singaporeans must do in order to prevent economic and social decline. Taking inspiration from Sir John Glubb's essay, The Fate of Empires and Search for Survival, Lim urges Singaporeans to counter decline by observing the "three legs of honour": Trust, Diversity, and Excellence. These include becoming a gracious society and building up a culture of innovation, excellence and outwardness.

Lim also reminds us that cultural change takes a generational effort to effect; for change to happen, Singaporeans must thus act with urgency and act now for the well-being of future generations.

The IPS-Nathan Lectures series was launched in 2014 as part of the S R Nathan Fellowship for the Study of Singapore. The S R Nathan Fellow delivers a series of lectures during their term to advance public understanding and discussion of issues of critical national interest.

Content:
Foreword:
About the Moderators

Lecture I:
The Accidental Nation
Question-and-Answer Session
Moderator: Tan Tai Yong

Lecture II:
The Fourth Generation
Question-and-Answer Session
Moderator: Kuik Shiao-yin

Lecture III:
The Way of Hope
Question-and-Answer Session
Moderator: Gillian Koh

111 pages

ISBN 978-981-3238-07-7
ISBN 978-981-3238-62-6 (pbk)

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Ignatius Low

Publisher: Institute of Policy Studies and Straits Times Press

Singapore is one of the premier financial centres in the world. It is one of the biggest markets for the trading of foreign exchange and financial derivatives, and home to hundreds of global financial institutions, from banks and insurers to oil traders and hedge fund managers. This book traces the development of Singapore’s financial sector from its early supporting role in a thriving British colonial trading outpost to its rapid expansion after the nation’s Independence in 1965. It is the story of how policymakers here managed to maintain a reputation for regulation and supervision of a high standard, and yet take risks to innovate boldly and seize global opportunities when they arose.

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Asad Latif

Publisher: Institute of Policy Studies and Straits Times Press

Singapore is simultaneously praised for its extraordinary safety and criticised for its draconian laws. This primer seeks to explain Singapore's achievements in creating a law-abiding society by making public peace and well-being as well as security of life, limb and property a centrepiece of the good life. To that end, tough laws exist against crimes such as murder, narcotics, corruption, commercial crime and cybercrime. This book also examines the role played by the prison system, internal security laws and border security in the state's overall approach to preserving a peaceful and secure nation.

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Wilson Wong

Publisher: Institute of Policy Studies and Straits Times Press

The term “flora and fauna” refers to the plants and animals found in a particular region. Singapore’s primeval vegetation has changed vastly over the past 200 years due to a range of human activities. Yet, Singapore is rich in plant and animal life – as found in the various terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. This book introduces some of the interesting and notable native plants and animals, in addition to highlighting the physical characteristics of each ecosystem and revealing the challenges that plants and animals need to overcome in order to survive. Readers will also get to know what Singapore has done to conserve its unique and precious natural heritage.

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