Public feedback shows good neighbourliness key to better community dispute management

Government studying ideas for implementation as part of public education efforts to promote good neighbourliness

1. Close to 100 responses were received during the six-week long public consultation exercise on the proposed Community Dispute Management Framework.

2. The public consultation was conducted from 9 March to 21 April 2014. Members of the public were consulted on the four key themes:

   1. Encourage good neighbourliness and considerate behaviour 

   2. Role of the Government in improving the management of community disputes 

   3. Access to effective mediation in the community 

   4. Adjudication to resolve difficult disputes only where mediation has failed 

3. There was a strong consensus about the need to cultivate good neighbourliness, bring back the ‘kampong spirit’, and to step up public education efforts. Some ideas the public proposed for promoting good neighbourliness included:

   1. Having mobile hawker centres and mobile shopping opportunities close to where people live for  residents to mingle with one another;

   2. Involving neighbourhood committees to help residents move into their new homes so as to initiate good relations and conversations on neighbourhood norms;

   3. Publicising positive examples of neighbourliness by having neighbourhood-based initiatives to collect and share stories through notice boards in the neighbourhood; and

   4. Having a “Happy Neighbour’s Day” for neighbours to unite to do kind deeds and host community events.

4. Respondents were largely supportive of informal mediation by grassroots leaders and formal mediation by the Community Mediation Centre to help resolve disputes. However, a few said that formal mediation was not always effective, especially since parties could decline to show up or expressed concern that mandatory mediation may be abused by vindictive neighbours. There was strong support for adjudication by a tribunal as a last resort, when all other efforts had failed. A number of respondents also called for government agencies to enforce rules against repeated anti-social behaviour by neighbours.

Government's response to feedback

5. Noting the feedback received, the Government will focus on strengthening public education efforts to promote good neighbourliness and improve frontline responses for community disputes.

6. We will also consult with our partners in the community how to take on board the many suggestions on promoting good neighbourliness.

7. In addition, capabilities of grassroots leaders to informally mediate disputes will be improved through specialised training. The Community Mediation Centre will also increase its capacity and ability to help disputing residents reach amicable outcomes.

8. Taking into account the feedback received, the Government will further study the proposed mechanism for the adjudication of difficult cases as part of the Community Dispute Management Framework and work with frontline agencies to strengthen enforcement efforts against repeated anti-social behaviours.

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
12 June 2014