Bold and controversial: Writers share their vision of ideal S'pore

New book questions norms and tackles issues such as ageism and violence against women

- Chin Soo Fang

A new book that challenges conventions and questions norms as its writers share their vision of the ideal Singapore has been launched.

Titled Why Not? Thinking About Singapore’s Tomorrow, the 36-chapter, 572-page book has contributions from 45 writers. The 37 female and eight male contributors, aged 15 to 87, include academics, artists, journalists, educators, caregivers, activists, lawyers and doctors.

“We are just a couple of ‘kaypoh’ (nosy) Singaporeans who feel we must speak up, and we must encourage others to speak up,” said former journalist Margaret Thomas, 73, one of the two editors of the book. The other editor is former orthopaedic and hand surgeon Kanwaljit Soin, 82.

“It’s important that the people of a country have a say about where their country is headed and how it’s getting there. Policies need inputs from citizens. Policymaking should not be left entirely to the policymakers.”

Quoting Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s six-minute video message on June 22, Ms Thomas said she hoped PM Wong would read the book.

In that video, PM Wong had said: “My team and I want to build a society that allows space for U-turns, side-steps, slowdowns, pauses, experimentations, and outliers... Together, we can each write our splendid versions of the Singapore story.”