SINGAPORE — As the Government increasingly taps online platforms to engage citizens and disseminate information, Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday called on the public to find out more about an issue and understand it first before reacting — the same mantra adopted by policymakers in gathering feedback.

Speaking at the third Singapore-China Social Governance Forum at Shangri-La Hotel, Mr Tan noted that “conversations happen online whether or not we are there”. To engage effectively and reach out to more people, the Government has to go to “where the chatter is and to also create our own online conversations”, he added. “We hope that as people respond to our efforts, they can also adopt a corresponding approach as they join in discussions on specific issues or policy matters, which is first to know or to be aware, then to understand or appreciate, before reacting,” Mr Tan said.

The forum was attended by about 100 senior officials from Singapore and China. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Mr Meng Jianzhu, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, delivered keynote addresses. Several Singapore leaders including Mr Tan and Senior Minister of State (Home Affairs and National Development) Desmond Lee, and their China counterparts spoke about the various aspects of social governance, such as urbanisation, technology and the legal system.

Mr Tan also touched on the “spread of mistruths” on the Internet. “With the myriad alternative content and websites out there, we are very conscious of the stiff competition our online avenues face for the attention of the people,” he said. “We are also conscious that, unfortunately, there will also be misleading information on Government efforts. When this happens, we will need to leverage our online channels to clear the shroud and swiftly dispel confusion.”

In his speech, Mr Teo said that while social media can transmit important national messages quickly to a wide audience and facilitate greater discourse, there is the danger of creating echo chambers where people “only read and hear from those who share the same views, reinforcing their own biases and shutting out other views”.

On managing diversity, Mr Teo noted that Singapore’s laws provide the framework for “governing how citizens relate in a peaceful and harmonious way to each other in a diverse society”.

He added: “Rather than using the law as the main avenue, over the years, we have established formal institutions and policies, as well as informal structures to facilitate social discourse, interaction and understanding. These help us foster social cohesion and harmony, and to manage issues or differences through discussion, compromise and consensus.”