despite such criticisms, some social activist groups remain optimistic that speakers' corner represents a step towards political liberalization and the promise of a wider political space. although dr. kenneth paul tan, assistant dean of the lee kuan yew school of public policy, has noted that initial cynicism was inevitable as speakers' corner was a top-down initiative, he recognizes that civil society activists have since actively occupied and made use of speakers' corner to generate public interest in various social and political issues. this view is shared by professor bilveer singh, a political science analyst at the national university of singapore, who has pointed to large turnouts at events organized at speakers' corner as evidence that singaporeans are "not fearful and not politically apathetic."