national day message 2008 - 8
August, 2008 by PM Lee hsien loong - CNA
My fellow Singaporeans, we celebrate National Day this year in a
somewhat guarded mood. The last twelve months have been a period of
economic uncertainty worldwide.
Considering the external challenges, Singapore’s economic results
are good. For the first half of the year, growth was 4.5%.
For the whole year, we expect growth to be between 4 and 5%. We
added 144,000 jobs in the first half, and unemployment remains low,
at 2.3%.
The US economy is still facing serious problems. The housing crisis
is adding further stress to its financial system.
US consumers are spending less, and that’s affecting the whole
global economy. The difficulties will probably drag on well into
next year before getting better.
Singapore’s economy has so far been partly buffered, because we’ve
been carried along by the vibrancy of the Asian region. But Asian
economies are starting to feel the impact of America’s problems,
and so are we.
We must therefore prepare ourselves for a bumpy year ahead.
In Southeast Asia, ASEAN has become less prominent on the radar
screens of investors, who are more focussed on opportunities in
China and India. Several ASEAN countries are pre-occupied with
domestic economic and political problems.
However, all ASEAN countries know that we must work together
resolutely as a group. Singapore will do our part.
But we must also maintain our reputation in a turbulent region as
an economy that is competitive, a society that is cohesive, and a
government that is honest and competent.
Against this backdrop we have the problem of inflation, which I am
sure is at the top of your minds. We are paying more for the food
we eat, the electricity we use, and the fuel for our cars, taxis
and buses, and many other things too.
We can’t prevent these prices from
going up, when prices are rising worldwide, and we import
all our energy and food. But we are lightening the burden on
Singaporeans, through the Growth Dividends, U-Save, Workfare,
Medifund and ComCare.
These measures are aimed especially at the poor, the elderly, and
the sick, but middle-income Singaporeans are getting something too,
to help tide over this period.
Some government policies do raise the cost of living, like the GST
and ERP increases. But they are essential; otherwise we wouldn’t do
them: the GST allows us to finance Workfare and other schemes to
help lower-income Singaporeans over the long term, and the ERP
keeps our roads free flowing.
Also, please remember that the Government has given GST rebates and
road tax reductions, which more than offset the cost increases for
most citizens, especially the poor.
I know that Singaporeans wish that prices did not have to rise, or
that these policies were not necessary. Unfortunately, this isn’t
possible.
But we are doing the next best thing: to put in place effective
relief measures, and provide the poor and the needy with the help
they need.
We must look beyond immediate problems like the cost of living, to
understand what is happening in the world around us, discover new
opportunities and tackle our longer-term challenges. Then we’ll
strengthen ourselves and be more ready to deal with future
crises.
In particular, we need to develop our economy, reproduce our
population and keep evolving our system to stay abreast of the
changing world.
To achieve our aspirations, we must develop and grow. Unless we can
create wealth, we will not have the resources to do anything
else.
Because we’ve pushed hard over the last few years when conditions
were favourable, we can now look forward to many major projects:
the Formula One Grand Prix, the integrated resorts, and huge
manufacturing investments like the world’s largest solar cell
plant.
These projects will create many good jobs, and keep our momentum up
despite the uncertainties ahead.
To upgrade our economy, we must invest in our people, especially
through education. We are improving our polytechnics and ITEs,
where most of our students go.
We are also expanding university places. The Government has
approved plans for a new publicly-funded university.
Its campus will be in Changi, with good bus and train access from
around the island. It will admit its first intake in 2011.
This new university will open up more opportunities for
Singaporeans to develop themselves and to advance.
To secure our long-term future, we also need enough babies to
replace ourselves. Year by year, fewer Singaporeans are getting
married, and those who do are having fewer children.
We’ve implemented one measure after another over the years, but we
have not succeeded in reversing the trend.
We have to take this very seriously. Marriage and parenthood are
personal decisions.
But we can create an environment where Singaporeans see them as a
natural and important part of life, and where young couples get
support in starting families. We have looked at this
comprehensively and will take further steps to address the
practical problems which couples face.
I hope more Singaporeans will find fulfilment in bringing up
children and setting up a happy family. Let’s make Singapore a good
home where citizens lead full, meaningful lives, and experience the
joys of bringing up a new generation.
This new generation will grow up in a digital world. The Internet
is transforming societies and economies everywhere.
It will change the way we work, learn and live our lives. We must
adapt ourselves to it, and use it to educate and engage our
cyber-citizens.
We will evolve our policies and rules, our economy and society, to
take full advantage. We will continue to open up our system
progressively.
This is the right way to go. But we must also be careful to avoid
the dangers that lurk in cyberspace, and learn to protect ourselves
from them.
All these are long-term issues. Not many countries tackle such
issues well. Sometimes, the politics forces the government to focus
on fire-fighting, and ignore what happens after the next
election.
In other countries, “money politics” corrupts the whole system.
Singapore is unique in having a clean and stable, responsible and
responsive government.
We’ve avoided the political turbulence that has engulfed several
countries around us. We’ve not had strident protests from minority
communities who feel unfairly treated. Nor have we had unruly
demonstrations for all kinds of reasons real or imagined.
Instead, we choose leaders on merit, build trust between leaders
and the people, and work together for the good of all Singaporeans.
And this is how Singapore has outperformed other countries.
As we open up, we must preserve these strengths. Please understand
that all freedoms come with responsibilities to uphold social
stability and security.
Then Singapore will stay attractive to investors, our economy will
keep growing, and we can continue achieving the best for our
nation.
Despite the uncertainties in our region, and in the world economy,
Singapore is in a strong position. In good times and bad, we’ve
stayed united, looked over the horizon, and moved carefully but
resolutely forward.
On this anniversary of our independence, let us take pride in our
achievements, tackle the challenges together and continue to build
an even better and more vibrant Singapore.
I wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Day.
==================
As expected. Talking cock, nothing new.
Painting picture, nothing new.
We can’t prevent these prices from
going up, ==> Can't prevent, this is
bullshit, you can always stop transport fares increase during this
high inflation time.
Ah Loong never stops wearing pink. He wore pink
tie. Guess what he is going to wear on National DAy
Rally?