October 2, 2012

Daniel Goh, Assistant Professor from the Sociology Department at the National University of Singapore, has voiced insights regarding Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s appeal on Singaporeans to be big-hearted towards one another and to foreigners. The Prime Minister set the moral tone of the national conversation by taping into notions of social cohesion, social capital and solidarity. Dr. Goh puts forth his observation that moral panic has emerged amongst Singaporeans. Whilst this is a common phenomenon in societies, social panic serves as a reality check to ensure that societal norms and values are still intact. Sentiments of the angered Singaporeans are encapsulated in the acronym “Nimby” (Not in my backyard). The Prime Minister warns against the slippery slope of becoming a small-minded people on a small island. Dr. Goh explains that Singaporeans have not become ungracious, nor are foreigners tearing up Singapore’s social fabric. The petty Nimby quarrels have always been a part of Singaporean society and occasionally forgetting about minor acts of ethical conduct is not something that should be blown out of proportion. Dr. Goh regards the perpetuation of social panic to pre-empt anti-foreigner moral panic that poses threats due to economic instability. He concludes that stories of ethical misbehaviour are mere fables circulating around social media that resonate with old storytellers’ missions to moralise audiences. Nonetheless, they serve the purpose of taking a collective action to manage the backyard that we all share.