In his National Day message televised on Sunday, Mr Lee said: 'Our goal is for all Singaporeans to enjoy the fruits of growth.' -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA
AS SINGAPORE celebrates its 45th birthday with fireworks and scorching economic growth, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong pledged that the government will continue to improve the Singapore system such that all Singaporeans will have more opportunities.
In his National Day message televised on Sunday, Mr Lee said: 'Our goal is for all Singaporeans to enjoy the fruits of growth.'
For the student, there is the promise of more improvements to the education system. For instance, more teachers are being recruited to deliver a 'more holistic and rounded education', said Mr Lee.
For the worker, there is the Continuing Education and Training (CET) effort to upgrade his skills - $5.5 billion is being invested, two campuses are being built and there are other schemes to boost his productivity.
At the same time, Mr Lee also acknowledged the 'valid concerns' of the man in the street - over foreign workers and immigrants. But he reiterated that the government will control the inflow, 'to ensure that it is not too fast and not too large'.
In his address, which was delivered from the The Pinnacle@Duxton, the iconic HDB's 50-storey residential building project in Tanjong Pagar, Mr Lee disclosed that Singapore?s economy grew 17.9 per cent in the first half of 2010 from a year earlier.
'Our workers can look forward to better wages, more overtime and higher bonuses this year,' he said.
But he cautioned that growth is likely to moderate in the second half, and Singaporeans cannot expect this year's sterling performance to be repeated year after year, even as the Government continues to continue to grow the economy with sustained effort.
'Let us not get carried away. Risks remain in the world economy, especially in Europe and the US,' said PM Lee. 'The global financial system is not fully mended. Singapore is small and open. If the world economy turns bad, we will be buffeted. We need to stay vigilant and watch the developments worldwide.
'We must invest in our people, upgrade our infrastructure and improve our productivity. Then we can take full advantage of opportunities in a booming Asia and prosper'.
PM Lee's speech.
1. My fellow Singaporeans,
2. Our economy has rebounded strongly from last year’s recession. GDP
grew 17.9% Y-on-Y in the first half of this year. Many jobs have been
created, and unemployment is low. Our workers can look forward to better
wages, more overtime and higher bonuses this year.
3. Growth is likely to moderate in the second half. Still, MTI forecasts
growth for the year to be between 13 and 15%. This exceptional
performance is the fruit of Singaporeans’ united response during the crisis.
This enabled us to take full advantage of improved global conditions.
4. But let us not get carried away. Risks remain in the world economy,
especially in Europe and the US. The global financial system is not fully
mended. Singapore is small and open. If the world economy turns bad, we
will be buffeted. We need to stay vigilant and watch the developments
worldwide.
5. We cannot expect to repeat this year’s sterling performance year after
year, but we can continue to grow our economy with sustained effort. We
must invest in our people, upgrade our infrastructure and improve our
productivity. Then we can take full advantage of opportunities in a booming
Asia and prosper.
6. Our goal is for all Singaporeans to enjoy the fruits of growth. When
Singapore prospers, you will benefit from many government programmes:
better designed HDB estates, higher quality schools and hospitals, more
MRT lines and new places for recreation. But each one of us has to make
the effort. Every student must be keen to learn and go as far as you can.
Every worker must master the knowhow and skills to be productive and
competitive. Every manager must train and motivate his staff to maximise
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their contribution and potential. Only then can Singaporeans do the better
jobs that our economy will create, and enjoy higher incomes, brighter
opportunities, and more fulfilling lives.
7. The Government will support Singaporeans in this, by developing a
first class education system for our young, and a comprehensive
Continuing Education and Training (CET) programme to upgrade our
workers.
8. Our education system has been successful. A large majority of our
students are progressing beyond school to post-secondary and tertiary
institutions. Graduates from ITE, polytechnics and universities readily
secure good jobs.
9. Our education system caters to all students, and not just the most
outstanding ones. Our schools go beyond book learning to teach students
how to solve problems, and imbue them with sound moral values. We
create multiple pathways for students of different abilities and interests to
progress. We help every neighborhood school to be a good school, with
its own strengths and specialties. We identify and develop each student’s
talents, and give him every opportunity to excel.
10. We will continue to improve our education system. We are recruiting
and training more teachers, to enable us to deliver a more holistic and
rounded education. We will help every school to offer something extra and
different, and thus give students more good choices. We will create new
peaks of excellence in ITEs, polytechnics and universities, to stretch our
students. I ask parents and students to work with us, to give our youth the
best start in life.
11. Beyond schools, we must build up Continuing Education and Training.
The Government is investing $5.5 billion over 5 years to do this. We are
building two CET campuses in the East and West of Singapore, and
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introducing many schemes and incentives to help companies and workers
improve their productivity. I am glad employers and unions strongly
support CET, because their support is crucial.
12. We will develop and invest in our people, but we also need to
reinforce the Singapore team with talent and numbers from abroad. This is
critical to us. Other countries are not only much larger than us, but have far
deeper pools of talent than we have. We must make up for the shortage of
Singaporean workers in our economy and the shortfall of babies in our
population. Without an inflow, over time our economy and society will lose
vibrancy, our citizens will enjoy fewer opportunities, and our shining red dot
will grow dimmer.
13. I understand Singaporeans’ concerns about taking in so many foreign
workers and immigrants. Some of us wonder: Will it change the ethos of
our society? Will it mean more competition for us at work, or for our
children in schools? Will the new arrivals strike roots here? Can they adjust
to us, and we to them?
14. These are valid concerns which we must address. We will control the
inflow, to ensure that it is not too fast, and not too large. We will only bring
in people who can contribute to Singapore, and work harder to integrate
them into our society. And we will make clear that citizens come first. After
all, we are doing this for the sake of Singaporeans.
15. We cannot do without a proportion of foreign workers, or a continuing
flow of PRs and new citizens. Let us welcome them with an open heart,
help them to fit in and encourage those who will become citizens to strike
roots here. If we do this well, by the next generation, their children will be
native Singaporeans. Remember, we ourselves are descendants of
immigrants too. With new arrivals living and working harmoniously with
those born here, we will keep Singapore dynamic, cosmopolitan, and
successful.
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16. That is the face that Singapore must show the world during the Youth
Olympic Games. Our cityscape will certainly wow the visitors. They will see
the signature skyline at Marina Bay and our new downtown; the high
quality public housing like The Pinnacle, where I am now; and the beautiful
urban spaces and natural greenery all over the island.
17. More importantly, we must impress with the spirit of our people. At
this first YOG, let us show the world what Singapore can do. Our athletes
have been training hard. Our volunteers, 20,000 strong, stand ready to
welcome our guests. Thousands of participants and guests will be arriving
soon. I hope all Singaporeans will work together to put up a good show,
and make the games memorable for all our visitors.
18. On our 45th National Day, let us celebrate our achievements as one
united people. We can be proud of what we have attained, but we must
keep learning from others, improve in every area and strive hard to achieve
our future goals. Tomorrow’s Singapore must be better than today’s.
19. I wish all Singaporeans a Happy National Day.
