SINGAPORE: The Singapore government will take
further steps in the next five years to build an inclusive society,
said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance and Manpower
Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Writing in the ruling People's Action Party's (PAP)
publication Petir, Mr Tharman, who is also PAP's Second Assistant
Secretary-General, said an inclusive Singapore is about the many
initiatives that are all aimed at giving everyone a real chance to
move up through their efforts.
It also enables Singaporeans to share in the
nation's progress.
For small and medium enterprises, Mr Tharman explained that the
government will be providing special help so that they can upgrade
and remain a vibrant part of the economy for years to come.
In addition, Singapore must keep social mobility up by finding ways
to help those who start off with a disadvantage to catch up and do
well.
For this, the government is starting with children so that problems
do not build up.
Mr Tharman stressed that when Singaporeans add up all that the
government is doing -- from healthcare and housing subsidies to
Workfare and the new GST vouchers -- the government is providing
substantially more resources to uplift and support lower- and
middle-income Singaporeans.
But he cautioned that an inclusive society is not just about the
government redistributing resources to help the poor.
It will also depend on whether Singaporeans can keep and strengthen
the things that they value most.
- CNA/wk
