PM to youth: S'pore's not centre of world
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/singapore/story/0,4386,242956,00.html?
Apathy of the young worries PM Goh, who wants them to understand
that external events can affect their lives
By Eugene Low
THE bochap attitude among Singapore's youth is the greatest
challenge they face, said Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.
Lamenting their 'general apathy', he told Shin Min Daily in an
interview published yesterday: 'They think Singapore is the centre
of the world, and the world revolves around it.
'They are not aware that there are big challenges happening
outside, great developments in the region and that these would have
an impact on their lives.'
Understanding and preparing for these developments are of paramount
importance, he said.
But the young are likely to shrug off his view, Mr Goh
acknowledged. Getting a good job, having a high income and buying a
nice property are far more important to them.
'So, it is back to the so-called 5Cs,' he said, referring to the
standard joke about Singaporeans' obsession with owning a car,
cash, credit card, condominium and country club membership.
While he was quick to stress that such aspirations are not wrong,
they have saddled the Government with its greatest challenge: how
to bridge the gap in perception and help the young achieve their
ambitions.
It's crucial for building trust. And when 'they trust you, they
trust your judgment, they follow your advice,' he said.
To pave the way, he said, the Government must explain - and the
young must understand - the big-picture challenges confronting
Singapore.
As well, the policies needed to overcome them and the type of
skills the young need to acquire.
For the youth who want to be rich, he had this advice: You must be
able to create wealth.
'That means you must have ideas which people want to buy. So you
have got to be innovative.'
Creating wealth is also necessary if the Government is to have the
means to help poor Singaporeans, he said.
And at the heart of wealth creation is a competitive economy,
without which it would not be possible to attract investments and,
in turn, create jobs, said Mr Goh.
In giving help, the Government will also be more targeted in
meeting the specific needs of different groups of
Singaporeans.
He singled out the move towards means testing in health to make his
point on the need to be even more focused to ensure the poor get
the most from the limited funds.
'If you allow everybody to enjoy huge subsidies, then those at the
bottom would have very little,' he said.
