Speech by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the opening of the Anchorvale Community Centre, 9 March 2008 (in point form)
(The new Anchorvale CC) is something special that all of us in AMK GRC can be proud of
- First CC in Singapore to be co-located with a sports and recreation centre
- More facilities for residents, e.g. four swimming pools, indoor sports hall, football field, shops and riverfront cafe etc.
- Can expect even more as we develop Punggol 21+
i. Water activities along Sungei Punggol
ii. Floating island on the river, with bridge connectors linking the CC and the Fruit Park on the opposite bank
CCs are an important part of our social fabric
- However, must upgrade their facilities and activities steadily, to serve a new generation of Singaporeans who expect higher standards and have many options (e.g. SAFRA clubhouses, NTUC clubs, private gyms, country clubs, etc.)
- Existing CCs have regularly upgraded themselves – CCMCs have worked hard to raise funds for upgrading, and organise courses and events
- But as we build new CCs in new estates, we should go beyond this, and try out alternative approaches, e.g.
i. Can Anchorvale model be replicated, perhaps not for every CC, but for some CCs which can serve a whole new town?
ii. Can CCs be more accessible, e.g. locate them at key commercial or transportation hubs, or get a few CCs together to plan joint facilities and programmes?
iii. Can CCs reach out to residents more effectively, e.g. by having activities outside the CC’s premises, even at malls where Singaporeans go for shopping and entertainment?
- PA is studying these ideas
- Encourage grassroots organisations to respond to this
i. GROs should seek to promote social bonds more effectively
ii. Form your own social or interest groups, make the best use of new facilities
iii. Make CCs an even more vibrant focal point for residents
Through the CCs and grassroots work, we strengthen our community networks and build a cohesive multi-racial society
- Can see this in the response of Singaporeans to the escape of Mas Selamat
- Escape is undoubtedly a setback, and should never have happened
- Committee of Inquiry has been set up
i. We will find out what went wrong, and put things right
ii. Security forces will learn from this mistake and grow from it
- Together, I am confident we can overcome this setback
i. Good that Singaporeans of all races came forward to help distribute posters, alert residents, and maintain watch
ii. Let us close ranks to deal with this incident, and bounce back stronger than before
This strong spirit of solidarity is crucial in nation building
- We emphasise self-reliance and the free market
- But we do not leave Singaporeans to fend for themselves
- The Government helps Singaporeans build up skills and own their homes, so that they can be self-reliant
- We also do our best to invest in Singapore and make it more competitive, so that the free market can create prosperity for all of us
Like the Budget
- Many long-term initiatives to bring Singapore forward
- Also short-term hongbaos to help Singaporeans cope with higher cost of living, e.g. Growth Dividends, Personal Income Tax rebate
In the public discussion of Budget, a lot of focus on the hongbaos
- What more to give? Whom else to give to?
- Much less focus on the longer-term investments in our future: How can we make Singapore grow? How can we prepare Singaporeans for the challenges ahead?
- Underlying assumption – we are now rich, and can afford to spend more
This is a very dangerous mindset
- Why are we able to give hongbaos in this budget?
i. Not by demanding handouts for ourselves
ii. But by working hard, living within our means, and saving for the future
iii. Therefore built today’s Singapore, and accumulated the resources to afford the hongbaos, and to invest in our future
- We must keep this virtuous cycle going
i. Keep on working hard, keep on saving and investing in our future
ii. Then we will continue to generate the growth and the resources to keep Singapore strong, and to afford more hongbaos in future
- If we now change our mindset, the growth will stop, Singapore will go down, and we will all be in serious trouble
As our economy grows, and we generate more resources, we will strengthen our social safety nets
- We are doing a lot – ComCare, Workfare Income Supplement, and initiatives in this year’s Budget
- But we must maintain our basic philosophy
i. Rely on our own efforts to earn our living
ii. Care for one another and succeed as a team
iii. Work together to grow the economic pie, so that everyone gets a larger slice, instead of merely redistributing a smaller pie
This is our social model, based on self-reliance and mutual support
- It has worked well for us and given all Singaporeans a substantial stake in the nation’s success
- We should improve on it and make it even better
- Build a vibrant economy and a caring, resilient society for ourselves and our children |
