The Government must “continually earn” public trust to “avoid the dysfunction that has bedevilled so many other countries”, said President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in his opening address of the 15th Parliament on Friday (Sept 5).In a speech that sets out the Government’s priorities for the next five years, he said that Singapore has defied the trend of eroding public trust in governments and other institutions seen “almost everywhere across the world".This is due to the country cultivating a different ethos of governance and politics, he said, which values “stewardship over expediency” and “enduring responsibility over transient gain”.“We have been able to do so because we have built trust, both between government and the people, and amongst citizens themselves.”“This trust has allowed us to make hard choices when needed, and to plan for the future beyond current election cycles.”But he warned that such trust must be continually earned through “continuous dialogue, listening, accountability and a shared sense of purpose”. Read more