SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called
on Singaporeans to strengthen their "heartware" as the country
charts a consensus for the future.
He said what's most important is to strengthen the
spirit and values that make citizens proud to be
Singaporeans.
Mr Lee was speaking at the annual National Day
Dinner for residents in his Ang Mo Kio constituency on
Saturday.
Elaborating on his earlier National Day Message, Mr Lee again
stressed that everyone has a part to play in building a better home
in Singapore.
Improving hardware like new HDB flats and more train lines is just
one aspect.
Strengthening our heartware - traits such as mutual respect, care
and compassion, meritocracy and integrity - is most important, said
Mr Lee.
Mr Lee said: "They are intangible factors; you cannot measure them,
you cannot report that this year we improved - 10% more polite or
20% more generous or 15% more caring.
"But they are important for making Singapore better and we have to
improve year by year to develop these attributes, not through laws
or fines but by nurturing these values in everyone so that they are
reflected in our lives, in our actions, in our concerns, in what we
expect from one another and become part of what it means when we
say 'I am a Singaporean'."
And building a better home goes beyond just economic growth.
Mr Lee said the aim is not only about being a wealthy and modern
society. Just as important is nurturing a society that is
caring.
At the municipal level, Mr Lee said the government has worked to
make a better home for Singaporeans.
In Ang Mo Kio, the next round of estate upgrading will involve the
Neighbourhood Renewal Programme where shared facilities will be
upgraded.
Mr Lee said residents will be consulted on what sort of upgrading
works they want.
For the full text and video of Prime Minister Lee's National Day
Message, log on to www.channelnewsasia.com/nd2012
- CNA/ir
