PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN THE SINGAPORE PLAN MAKING PROCESS

Abstract

Public participation in the making of the Master Plan 2003 could be considered a success given that the authority had indeed accepted some proposals of the public and make many few minor revisions to the Master Plan. Public participation had a positive impact on the Singapore planning process as evident from the advantages acknowledged by the members of the Subject Groups. The benefits of public participation significantly outweigh the disadvantages. The existing planning framework set within the Urban Redevelopment Authority was rather incompatible with the ideals of public participation. Many of the methods employed by URA only measured up to the level of tokenism. A disturbing revelation is the glaring absence of participation by the disadvantaged and handicapped group because no specific measure was undertaken to reach out to them as well as the negative mindset of the general public towards public participation. Everyone play a part in the built environment and it is a responsibility of all too to actively and enthusiastically enhance the environment around us and it had been found in this study that through our education process, we could change the mindset of the general public towards a more participatory group of people. We strive to improve the spirit of public participation but we do not want the open ended dead lock situations in Western countries over many issues. Governance and planning is for the people and not for an elite few.