Remaking S'pore, helping people cope with changes are immediate
priorities: PM - By S Ramesh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 21
September 2007 2341 hrs
Remaking S'pore, helping people cope with changes are immediate
priorities: PM
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says he has two main
worries - the future of Singapore and getting good leaders to keep
the country going.
Mr Lee was sharing his thoughts with university students at the NUS
Kent Ridge Ministerial Forum on Friday.
He also outlined his government's immediate priorities for the
country. Mr Lee said that his two priorities over the next five to
ten years are to remake Singapore and help the people cope with the
changes.
These include transforming the economy, creating a more vibrant and
open society and staying abreast of changes in the world.
Mr Lee said: "The changes which are happening overall are positive
for the country and for the vast majority of Singaporeans. But some
citizens are going to be adversely affected. And others will have
difficulty coping, at least in (the) short term.
"We have to help the people, who have difficulty keeping up, to
keep up. Because it's only by getting all Singaporeans to support
the changes, which are necessary, that we move forward."
The Prime Minister explained that for society to level up, good
education is essential.
Home ownership - with the help of the HDB - and upgrading are also
important, so as to give Singaporeans a stake in the nation's
success.
Through these measures, Mr Lee said, the government hopes to
address the tackling of the income gap and to help Singaporeans to
be successful as long as they make the effort.
Ten to 20 years down the road, population and talent are two major
concerns for Singapore. Singaporeans are getting older and living
longer, so this calls for the CPF system to be reviewed.
And there are not enough babies being born, hence the need to
attract more immigrants.
Mr Lee also stressed that a key to success in a knowledge economy
is to attract talent from all over the world.
"The new arrivals will adapt to Singapore, but at the same time the
new arrivals will liven Singapore's society and will cause society
to change gradually and change for the better - to become more
diverse and more vibrant," he said.
"And that's one very important way for us to stay vigorous, young,
outward-looking and forward-looking, and to do well in a globalised
world," he added.
In the long term - perhaps after 20 years - the challenges which
have to be tackled are the sense of nationhood and identity,
together with the quality of the national leadership, said Mr
Lee.
He added that it is critical to get Singaporeans to feel that this
is their country and that Singapore belongs to all of them. With
globalisation, this will not be easy. Also, within Singapore, there
is no unique race, language or culture.
Singapore also needs a strong team of leaders who are capable and
competent, and in touch with Singaporeans.
Mr Lee said: "There is no magic formula for producing leaders. But
what we're looking for are people with a sense of responsibility
beyond their career and beyond their own family, who have the
passion to do something for society, and who can go into a system
which can bring out the best in our people and test the potential
leaders, and who belong to a country where there's an ethos of
integrity and public service."
So Mr Lee urged his audience of university students to take
ownership of the country, make it work and lead it to even greater
heights.
At a question-and-answer session, Mr Lee said that he is not too
concerned about the exact form of the longevity insurance scheme.
What's more important is changing the CPF system so that it can
meet the demands of an ageing population. - CNA/ir
________
Mr Lee said: "There is no magic formula
for producing leaders. But what we're looking for are people with a
sense of responsibility beyond their career and beyond their own
family, who have the passion to do something for society, and who
can go into a system which can bring out the best in our people and
test the potential leaders, and who belong to a country where
there's an ethos of integrity and public service."
--> Unfortunately, talk is the only thing he has been doing. He
and the rest of PAP are not what he stated above.
