SINGAPORE – Young people in Singapore will soon have a greater say in shaping policies here, particularly on issues that matter to them.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Edwin Tong said on Wednesday that his ministry is looking to set up two to three youth panels in 2023, to co-develop policy recommendations with the Government.

Each panel will comprise 20 to 30 young people, who will work on a topic or issue that resonates with the youth of today. Young people can suggest such topics, and MCCY will announce in the next two or three months the policy issues that these panels will look at.

Addressing an audience of over 90 young people at the National Youth Dialogue, Mr Tong said: “As part of Forward SG, we want to provide more opportunities for youth to be involved in this policy co-creation. So that you can have a direct stake and have a direct say, in shaping the future of our nation.

“And in doing so, I would like all of you to also be able to appreciate the complexities and the trade-offs of our policies.”

He first announced the panels for young people aged 15 to 35 in April, during the debate on the President’s Address.

The panels are aimed at helping young people better understand policymaking, provide them with opportunities to engage diverse stakeholders on policy issues, and support them in submitting their recommendations to the Government, possibly leading to a response in Parliament, where appropriate.

Several youth participants at the dialogue, which was held at the National Gallery, said they were treated as naive, or not taken seriously, when they presented their ideas at previous government dialogues. They wanted a safe space to share their ideas.

One of the panellists, sustainability consultant Woo Qiyun, said: “How many people write to their MPs? How many people write to ministers to participate in some of these (dialogues)? And I’ve some friends who say... I care about this issue, but I don’t know enough.”

She stressed that young people should have their ideas taken seriously, and be able to feel that their suggestions are valued. 

Another panellist, Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Carol Soon, said it is crucial to create a space where people will not be “cancelled” or ostracised for sharing ideas that are not in the mainstream.

Sinda Youth Club chairman Yuvan Mohan, who attended the dialogue, said: “It’s important to bring together not just like-minded people but also people who disagree, to learn how to disagree.”

Both the Government and the young can benefit from sharing their perspectives through the panels, said Mr Tong. Young people will feel more invested in the process, while the government agencies will be able to share with them the challenges they see, including on budget, manpower and sustainability, as well as how different groups of people and future generations will be affected by a policy.

“No policy will simply affect one stakeholder group to the exclusion of others, which is why it is important for policymakers to understand the interests of diverse stakeholders,” he said.

He noted that cost of living, and jobs and the economy remain high on the list of concerns for young people. Other top-line issues include inclusivity, the role of technology, and environmental sustainability.

Mr Tong said the youth panels will not be able to address every issue of concern for young people, but will address those which they decide will play an important role in the future of Singapore.

Participants at the session flagged some of these issues. One of them, Ms Attiya Ashraf Ali, spoke about empowering minority women from lower-income backgrounds.

The 28-year-old vice-president of Mendaki Club pioneered a Women’s Chapter within the organisation, to help Malay/Muslim women build social capital through networks of professionals.

“Networks are very important for both personal and professional development,” she said.

“I myself received support from some of these networks, and then came back to play my part in continuing this cycle.”

Sinda Youth Club’s Mr Mohan noted the pressures and challenges faced by young people.

“Young people tend to fall into narratives such as the rat race, getting too preoccupied with salary and discounting how they feel about a job,” he said.

“They also tend to make comparisons as people want to share only the good news on social media, making them feel they’re losing out.”

Instead of comparing themselves to their peers online, he encouraged young people to discuss a cause they care about with like-minded friends.

Young people can indicate their interest in joining the panels at https://www.nyc.gov.sg/youthpanels

Correction note: The designation of Institute of Policy Studies senior research fellow Carol Soon was wrongly stated in an earlier version of the story. This has been corrected. We are sorry for the error. This article has also been edited for clarity.