SINGAPORE: Compared to other developed countries, Singapore has been fortunate and is overall in a much better situation when dealing with the challenges of an uncertain global outlook, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Dec 4).
In a speech at the 34th People’s Action Party (PAP) Conference held at Singapore Expo, Mr Lee said while other countries struggle with high unemployment, Singapore boasts a low rate of 3 percent and continues to create “more jobs than there are Singaporeans to fill them”. He also noted that Singapore is creating better jobs.
“In other countries, average households have seen incomes stagnate for many years,” he added in his address to 2,500 party members. “In Singapore, household incomes have been increasing steadily, even for average and poorer families.
“Other governments are cutting social safety nets because budgets are tight … We are strengthening our safety nets.”
BETTERING SINGAPOREAN LIVES
Mr Lee said while Singaporeans and the PAP Government “can take credit” for these, the party has to strive even harder to improve lives – by equipping Singaporeans with skills and boosting social safety nets.
Hence the focus on education, he said. Noting how Singapore’s primary school and secondary students rank top internationally in both maths and science, he stated: “We have educated our people well; our schools and teachers are doing a very good job. But more importantly, it means our people have the relevant skills and knowledge to be globally competitive.”
“That is why when our students graduate, they will find jobs, even if it takes longer to find one in today’s weaker economy,” said Mr Lee. “Unlike students in Europe, or even in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea, where youth unemployment is high.”
He also pointed to the availability of schemes such as SkillsFuture to help workers upgrade and reskill – all part of Singapore’s bid to keep workers relevant and continue creating new jobs.
Mr Lee then hailed initiatives such as the Pioneer Generation Package for making healthcare affordable and accessible, and the likes of Silver Support in providing more support for old age. “We are building more hospitals, polyclinics, and social service centres to serve Singaporeans. And as our population ages, we will do more,” he promised.
Singapore as a home also continues to be built up physically with better public transport, a new airport, a mega-port, HDB towns, and so on, said Mr Lee.
“In Singapore, when you get married, we help you to own a home and start a family,” he highlighted. “Not so in any other major city in the world. In Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, London, or New York, housing is a big issue, especially for young people.”
STRONG PAP FOR STRONG SINGAPORE
Mr Lee said viewing Singapore as home is also about feeling a sense of nationhood and unity – and to achieve that, the PAP must stay a strong national party.
“It works both ways,” he explained. “If our society is united, the PAP can represent a broad range of Singaporeans in one political party. And if the PAP government pursues policies that bring all Singaporeans closer together, then our society can remain united.”
But it will not be easy to do this as Singapore becomes more diverse, he acknowledged.
“People have different interests, adopt different causes, take different views on social issues,” Mr Lee explained. “We have nature groups, arts groups, conservatives and liberals on LGBT issues, groups focussed on people with disabilities.”
“Such diversities can be strengths, but only if we do not let them divide us.”
To stay strong, fight effectively and win the next General Election (GE) in 2021, he called on the PAP to reach out to all segments of society; to serve the people and to provide strong leadership.
“We must not only have a capable PAP team for today, but a deep bench, as we build a team for the future,” said Mr Lee on the last point. “I’m glad we have strengthened the next leadership team in the last two GEs.”
“The younger leaders have been active… They will progressively take over from me and my older colleagues,” he added.
In this period of great uncertainty, he concluded, the PAP has to “work harder to earn our living, to keep Singaporeans united, and to take Singapore forward”.
“We are here today because Singaporeans gave us their trust. Never take that trust for granted; never be complacent or arrogant; never forget your duty or ideals.”
