No need to tweak voting system in Singapore

Inclusiveness is the key to any successful society and good governance requires a balanced treatment of all citizens.

Giving more voting rights to the youth to counter the demands of predominant aged voters, for instance, will open up the Pandora's box of other minority groups clamouring for similar treatment ("A more equal voting system needed in greying Singapore"; Aug 10, and "Let one-man-one-vote system remain" by Dr George Wong Seow Choon; Aug 12).

Pitting one sector of voters against another is a win-lose solution to societal problems and serves only to deepen the antagonism and divisiveness of society.

The concept of giving more voting rights to the young in an ageing society originates from developed economies where individualism and dysfunctional families are prevalent.

In Singapore, the traditional cultural values of filial piety are still strong; looking after aged parents is one of the inexorable duties of offspring.

Support rendered by the Government to the aged will relieve much of the financial burden of the young and should be welcomed and not loathed.

The main cause for concern in many economies on the issue of an ageing population is the availability of financial resources to support elderly citizens.

The national debt incurred becomes a burden to current and future generations, hence, their demand for more voting rights to voice their resentment.

Fortunately for Singapore, the judicious economic policies of the Government in the past 50 years have accumulated considerable reserves to meet the needs of every citizen, old or young.

To sustain our economic performance for the next 50 years, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed the Government's resolve to meet the challenges of globalisation and disruptive technology ("Unity key to the future, says PM Lee"; Aug 9).

The successful transition to the new economy will spare Singapore the need to tweak the voting system in future.

Robert Tang Hin Ching

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