Parliament - Teo Ser Luck - Social Stigma - business failure - HIV - ex-convict

[limweech]

Parliament debate continues with focus on social safety net
By S Ramesh and Hetty Musfirah, 18 October 2011
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1160139/1/.html

On the business front, the Minister-in-Charge of entrepreneurship Teo Ser Luck called for more than just infrastructure and funding support to be given to business owners.

He said it was important to improve the administration of funding, grants and loans to SMEs and young companies. This could be done by constantly reviewing feedback, and working closely with the private sector.

Mr Teo said above that, a change in societal attitudes is also needed.

"The social stigma of a business failure in Singapore can sometimes be as bad as that of a HIV carrier's or an ex-convict. So, more can and should be done to change these societal attitudes and reversing the risk-adverse culture. But it's going to take time. This attitudinal change should also start with some of our government agencies," said Mr Teo, who is also the Minister of State for Trade & Industry, and MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

[limweech]

HIV and stigma in singapore, Dr Tan Chong Kee, 12 Sep 2006
http://www.fridae.asia/newsfeatures/2006/09/12/1701.hiv-and-stigma-in-singapore

There is still widespread fear and unease among Singaporeans towards People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). HIV/AIDS is still perceived as a fatal disease even though medical advances have made it more akin to a chronic disease. There is so far no distinction in public education message between the seriousness of the virus on the one hand and compassion for PLWHA on the other. Thus, fear of the virus has become conflated with fear of PLWHA. Added to this is the common moral judgment that HIV+ adults got the virus through their own fault. The combined stigma of disease, death and moral defectiveness is a very potent and loaded sign that marks PLWHAs as complete social outcasts. Because this particular combination of stigma is so debilitating, so far, there has only been one exceptional individual (Paddy Chew) who admitted to being HIV+, and after his death, no one else has been willing to do so.