SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said
Singapore will be able to strike a proper balance between economic
growth and foreign talent - with public support.
He urged Singaporeans to play their part in helping
to achieve such a balance.
Dr Ng said it will always be difficult to do so, and
added that Singapore should not pretend that it is going to be
easy.
He said: "The balance depends very much on what Singaporeans are
willing to support. Because if you tighten too much, your jobs are
at risk. And not only your jobs, because you become less
competitive. But not only that, for example in essential services,
we need people to build our homes, man our hospitals, so on and so
forth. Your quality of life will be affected.
"On the other hand, we are reaching the limits of some of our land,
our ability, our transport, our housing, so we have to adjust to
that. And I don't think that it's only the government that will
have to decide this. Singaporeans must also support the
balance."
Dr Ng made these points on the sidelines of a community event in
Bishan in response to questions from reporters on the government's
advance estimates - showing that the economy contracted 1.1 per
cent in the second quarter of this year.
Dr Ng, who joined some 2,000 residents at the sports festival, also
urged Singaporeans and new citizens to integrate with the rest of
the community. He is confident that the process will be faster if
Singaporeans remain open and new citizens take the
initiative.
"Integration is a two-way street. It takes two hands to clap. And
so we have to be open, for those of us who have been here longer.
And I think for new citizens, they also have to step forward. So if
one side remains open, the other side takes the initiative, both
sides meet together, I think that will make it much faster," said
Dr Ng.
-CNA/ac