This was posted on Mr Tay Kheng Soon’s Facebook Page on 1st Sep 2026:
FUTURE OF SINGAPORE’S GOVERNANCE SYSTEM:
1. Singapore’s success has created its own debt trap. Strong state weak people… This has to change.
2. Possible futures depend on a new economy in which foreign investment and talent is balanced by local talent and local enterprise. Viable choice for a fast life or a slower one has to be made available.
3. A period of confusion and chaos will result from international conflicts and technological transformation impacting on local and regional politics and economics. This has to be anticipated and planned for.
4. Loss of jobs and rising costs will devastate the existing order. A new order has to be invented.
5. Change within a strategic compromise with the existing political order is necessary. This was Deng Xiaoping’s strategy that transformed China. We now learn from him as he had learned from us.
6. Culturally, responsible individualism has to be linked to actualised enterprise unlike the American model of indulgent individualism.
7. All existing campuses be rezoned as enterprise education zones to allow a mix of academia with enterprise labs with angel and venture capital nearby. Land price to remain nominal as zoned.
8. Arising from this, a bold and creative leadership in all fields will arise from the talent density in close proximity so that learning, living, research and practical implementation happen close together in a mutually stimulating designed ecosystem.
9. Next, politically turn all existing Community Development Councils into elected local governments led by a new leadership style born from the new culture created in the enterprise zones.
10. Each of the five District governments will administer education, housing, urban planning, create jobs, do policing and generate public media.
11. They compete, attract and accommodate local and foreign investments as to who is better in creating a better living, learning and earning environment for citizens and foreign investors. Competition increases innovation among the five districts…
12. New housing and urban planning will adapt and transform the existing environment to address the impacts of AI and the finance sector by creating localised humanised occupations in the wake of AI and robotics job displacement.
13. Slower living for the majority has to be planned for, to co-exist with the fast living minority in the AI and Finance sectors.
14. The abundance produced by AI and Automation, eventually fuelled by Fusion energy will reduce the cost of everything. Humanised jobs and occupations will make life fulfilling.
15. Slower life in an Urban Village setting will foster family life and community culture will bloom. The joy of having children and grand children within a child-friendly village culture is why TFR is low in all materially developed countries. This can, and must change from negative to 2, so population remains stable.
16. A central government consisting of representatives elected from the five districts will form a National Government to decide on State Security, International Relations, Energy, Water and Waste Management.
17. There should be a three tier governance system.
17.1 Tier 1: An elected 10 year term council of eminent persons at the top to plan long term, governs Singapore’s Sovereign Wealth Fund and provides feedback to the second tier government.
17.2 Tier 2: An elected 5 year term Government that deals with National Issues.
17.3 Tier 3: Consists of the Five District Governments who deal with local issues.
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