Government and citizens should have new social compact

New Nominated MP Laurence Lien has called for the setting up of a Social Review Committee that will help create a new social compact, saying this is necessary because Singapore is in a 'social recession' now.

In his maiden speech in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Lien said that this exercise - akin to the Economic Review Committee convened to chart new directions for Singapore in the wake of the 2001 recession - could be co-led by the Government and civil society groups, and could evolve into a permanent platform or movement.

This committee must articulate 'a shared vision and values that most Singaporeans would subscribe to, and a broad architecture of how we want our society to be organised, with clarity on the roles and functions of the state versus community', said Mr Lien.

He called for a 'fundamental rethink' of social policies, particularly social safety nets.