IPS Update Issue September 2019

IPS organised two events that brought together distinguished speakers to comment on pertinent issues close to home. 

Dr Muhammed Abdul Khalid, Economic Adviser to Prime Minister of Malaysia Dr Mahathir Mohamad, discussed the Pakatan Harapan government’s approach on fiscal policy, inequality and affirmative action, and its efforts to curb corruption and enhance the ease of doing business in Malaysia at a breakfast dialogue organised for the IPS Corporate Associates. 

The IPS Corporate Associates Breakfast Dialogue on Recent Developments in Hong Kong and Their Implications featured speakers Prof. Wang Gungwu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, and Mr Manu Bhaskaran, IPS Adjunct Senior Research Fellow. Mr Bhaskaran discussed the latest developments, potential scenarios for Hong Kong, and their implications for Singapore. Prof. Wang offered a historical perspective on Hong Kong's evolving identity and relationship with China. 

Find out more about the Corporate Associates programme here.

Commentary — “A practical approach to Industry 4.0”
(The Business Times)
By Faizal Bin Yahya and Shazly Zain
• 4-min read

IPS researchers Faizal Bin Yahya and Shazly Zain write about key ideas from a recent seminar on Human Capital Development in Industry 4.0 — technology as opportunities for job redesign, the rise of the gig economy, and the need for architectural HR to recruit and retain the right human capital.

“But if the balances in our CPF accounts are our money, shouldn’t we be allowed to use it as we see fit? What is more important than saving or extending the life of one’s spouse or providing for the education and future of one’s child?”

Read this commentary by IPS researcher Christopher Gee for his views on who our CPF monies really belong to.

• 4-min read

While much has been done to raise fertility rates in Singapore, IPS researchers Mathew Mathews and Teo Kay Key argue that more can be done to address the issue of low fertility rates – state intervention in promoting a family-friendly work culture, alongside the concurrent efforts of businesses and individuals.

This survey seeks to understand public opinion towards built heritage in Singapore, how Singaporeans perceive the meaning, purpose and value of built heritage, and how these perceptions influence the sense of national identity.

Watch our video about the key findings of the survey, and check out NUS Libraries visualisation of the findings here. 

Amidst the great public policy challenges of our time, a new trajectory of improved governance and sustained economic progress is necessary. This requires forward thinking and multidisciplinary analysis of issues such as globalisation and de-globalisation, data and connectivity, public health and well-being, and urbanisation of the global environment. Join us as we shape and transform Governance for the Future.

The Festival will feature a diverse range of speakers, including several IPS researchers. Find out how to register for the Festival of Ideas here.