Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong first announced the idea of a national conversation during his last National Day message, and it started with this blurb: "Welcome to the National Conversation, where we invite all Singaporeans to share about our dreams, views, and thoughts on what we want for our country. Diverse views are welcomed, regardless of race, language, religion or political affiliation." Somewhere along the line, it has morphed into "Our Singapore Conversation" (OSC).
After one year-long of national conversation involving some 47,000 Singaporeans or less than 1% of the population, the man in charge wants to dispel a few myths about the mass engagement exercise, without providing any clue for the name change, and who the "our" refers to.
The first myth to be debunked is that OSC dialogues were a "major meet-the-people session", with the Government collating a wish list and then giving people what they want, explained Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. The disappointment is understandable. Full story
