We’re experiencing an unprecedented economic storm.
The economy plunged in the 1st quarter and rebounded in the 2nd quarter. It is now stabilizing.
Early this year, Resilience Package in Budget. Now seeing results.
Results so far:
- No huge retrenchments
- Small rise in job losses
More people asking their MPs for help.
However till now for most Singaporeans, life goes on normally and holding steady jobs
Our people happily celebrated National Day. Travel fairs are busy too. Long queues at recent travel fair
Travel Agency boss said:
Many people haven’t gone for holidays this year. They can’t stand it anymore!
Property market also seeing queues again.
Government will continue to watch economic trends in the next few months
- Global economy stabilizing
- Some Singapore firms starting to hire staff
For 3rd quarter, it is not likely to have massive retrenchments. Beyond that, the situation is not clear and we need to be mentally prepared.
For the long term, we should be optimistic. No sunny days yet but we can see some hope and some green shoots.
During the slump, Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been harder hit as SMEs may not have enough funds or people, but many SMEs showed spunk to strive for survival in adversity.
SMEs working hard to innovate, change business models and look for new opportunities.
Government fully supports our SMEs e.g. to open new markets.
Many opportunities in Asia if we understand market and build connections.
For example, the local furniture industry has acquired new vitality.
Furniture industry:
- Not sunset industry
- Totally transformed
- Now sunrise industry
Furniture industry is now making top end furniture and trendy new designs. Singapore Furniture Association has also been very active.
Furniture Association promoted sales in Singapore and overseas and doubled its efforts during economy slump.
Furniture companies opened many new markets e.g. East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
In April this year, they participated in Milan furniture fair. Supported by Spring. This is the largest and most famous.
SM Goh was visiting Italy and went to the fair specially to support local SMEs.
Furniture companies:
- Factories overseas
- Use Singapore brand
In international markets, Singapore is not just country name and also quality icon.
Our furniture companies treasure Singapore brand. I hope the same goes for other industries too,
The Singapore brand is our special advantage for our businesses
Singapore brand:
Helps us win in the market. Our businesses are working hard to transform & seek new opportunities
Individual Singaporeans must also take the initiative and upgrade ourselves.
Singaporean workers:
Use SPUR
- Train & upgrade
- Many courses
Jobless workers:
Use e2i & CDCs
- employment training
- find new jobs
On wall mural @ e2i:
“The mountain doesn’t move - the road winds around it. If road can’t turn, man can still turn; If man can’t turn, his heart can turn.”
So if you face a mountain in life, go to e2i to find a way.
To find a way out, it is best for our people to have skills. Hence our calls for training.
For the next 2 years, global economy may grow more slowly. We must continue to forge ahead.
Global economy will eventually recover. By then we will be ready to take flight again.
We’ve been busy invigorating our economy, but we must not neglect longer term issues. Let me first discuss:
- Healthcare system
- Healthcare cost
We’ve taken many steps to moderate healthcare costs.
Many Singaporeans can afford their healthcare expenses, but Singaporeans are still worried.
Many need to look after elderly or ill parents and the burden is heavy.
Those getting older may worry about their own health & healthcare costs.
Government is also concerned about these issues.
Government is already working to upgrade healthcare service to meet ageing needs.
Older folks may have more health problems, more serious illnesses and longer recovery periods.
We need to build more large hospitals. Examples:
- Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun
- Jurong General Hospital
During recovery period, elderly patients need appropriate step-down care. Many elderly patients need not stay in large hospitals during recovery phase.
Community hospitals can provide suitable care at lower cost.
Ideally, community hospitals and large public hospitals can link up in partnership.
Government hospitals help community hospitals raise the quality of medical care.
Community hospitals help government hospitals share patient load.
Save beds for serious cases.
Also, community hospitals provide good links to society and community outreach.
Good example:
- RenCi Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).
- RenCi Hospital is a community hospital next to TTSH.
To understand the role of community hospitals, I recently visited RenCi Hospital.
RenCi has new management team & new approach.
TTSH guides medical care for RenCi patients.
TTSH patients can transfer to RenCi for step-down care when they’re stable.
RenCi patients can transfer to TTSH for acute treatment if they worsen.
RenCi is supported by many warm-hearted volunteers.
RenCi volunteers help patients recover faster by providing many leisure activities.
The Ministry of Health is studying how to expand this partnership model to other public hospitals.
When elderly patients return home, families need to support them.
I know looking after elderly or chronic ill is a heavy burden, but we must not shirk our responsibility.
As Asians, we deeply value filial piety. The government and society cannot replace family love and warmth for elderly patients.
Recently, I met some managers from nursing homes. They told me that some old folks have been abandoned by their families.
Adult children send these elderly parents to the nursing homes and disappeared.
When finally contacted by nursing home, these children just didn’t care. These children said they won’t care even if the homes turf out their parents.
Government will study how best to use Maintenance of Parents Act to deal with such cases.
Apart from building more community hospitals, the Government is also looking for other ways to lighten homecare burden for families.
The Government is doing its part. Individuals too must do their part.
I want to emphasise that healthy lifestyle is a personal responsibility. Healthy lifestyle is the ultimately best way to reduce illness and healthcare cost.
Healthy lifestyle:
Watch diet. Don’t smoke
More exercise for healthy body
- taiji
- qigong
- brisk walk, etc
Join social activities for healthy mind
- exercise together
- more pleasure
- more friends
We must also closely monitor rising obesity trend in Singapore.
In America, 2 out of 3 adults are overweight or obese and the proportion is rising.
In China:
Fear of “3 highs”
- high blood pressure
- high blood sugar
- high cholesterol
Before China reform, China seldom saw such “3 high” problems. “Problems of wealth”
Recently read an article about rising obesity in China cities. Weight loss business is booming in China. Many special offers e.g. fees according to weight lost.
One offer in Shanghai:
Lose : Pay :
5 katis 300 Yuan
10 katis 500 Yuan
20 katis 800 Yuan
In Singapore:
Healthy lifestyle workout every year “Free weight reduction”.
I participate every year and a few hundred people working out together. Workout participants have maintained or reduced their weight, but nationwide obesity numbers still gradually rising!
We must work harder to prevent obesity and the “3 highs”. If not, we may have more illnesses. This will increase burden for society and ourselves.
Apart from healthcare, racial & religious harmony has deep & long term effects.
We can be proud of our racial & religious harmony.
Our races mingle well together. Singaporeans of different races and religions are good friends and neighbours.
Our various religious organisations also often co-operate to provide social services.
Our racial and religious harmony is the fruit of hard work over 40 years.
Our racial and religious harmony is also linked to the structure of Singapore society.
In Singapore, our largest groups are Taoists and Buddhists. Their attitude of tolerance and mutual accommodation sets the basic tone for Singapore.
For example, processions from some Taoist temples often call on Hindu temples. Conversely, Hindu processions also often call on Taoist temples.
I understand other religions have different doctrines and may not all interact in the same way.
More important, it is the spirit and sincerity of interaction among religions.
In this half century, we have enjoyed peace and tolerance among our religious groups. But we must not become complacent.
Singaporeans are becoming more religious.
We have also a dense population with many contact points. Inevitable friction points.
One MP told me about an incident last year. In this MP’s constituency, an old Chinese lady passed away.
Her family wanted a funeral at nearby void deck and set up their altar before getting town council approval.
But that void deck was already booked for Malay wedding.
Malay wedding had town council approval. Invitations already sent.
Understandably Malay family was very upset.
Town council tried to persuade Chinese family to relocate wake but Chinese family refused to co-operate. Chinese family felt that dismantling altar would bring bad luck even though coffin not there yet.
Clearly, the Chinese family had a weaker case.
Fortunately, MP and community leaders came in to help resolve the matter.
Malay family graciously relocated to another void deck.
Town council were appreciative by waiving the rental and putting up posters to redirect wedding guests.
Weddings & funerals are sensitive and important life events. Entanglement of happy and sad occasions can lead to uncontrollable emotions.
Incident was resolved because Malay family was willing to give and take.
This re-affirms maturity of Singaporeans and shows understanding for the greater good. In other countries, such incidents can cause violence or racial clashes.
We must treasure our racial & religious harmony. Don’t take it for granted.
The example I gave is not the only one, nor will it be the last. We must deal with such incidents firmly and tactfully. We must be accommodating and considerate towards others.
Government’s attitude on racial and religious harmony is very important. Government must maintain sensitive and neutral but firm position.
Another example is Land Acquisition. Government acquires private land for roads, MRT, schools and public housing. Government sometimes also acquires religious sites.
All religions have been affected:
- Buddhist temples
- Hindu temples
- Christian churches, etc
Government compensates for land acquisitions. But some affected groups may not want to move.
If religious groups affected, many followers may be unhappy and petition the government. The Government will consider their views seriously. If the Government cannot accommodate petitions, it will explain to affected groups.
Government’s decisions must be unbiased and cannot weaken public trust.
Up till now, public land acquisition has understanding & support from owners. The Government publicly thanks affected owners for their support and understanding.
These examples show sensitivity of religious issues. To maintain long term peace, we should observe some basic principles.
Basic principles include:
- Mutual tolerance & accommodation
- Separation of politics & religion
- Neutral & secular Government
- Expansion of our common space
I hope all groups will support & observe these principles. These principles affect stability & survival of our society & nation.
If all of us pull together, Singapore can be a model multi-religious nation.
Religious harmony and religious freedom will be key foundation for our society
In conclusion, this year is 50th anniversary of our self government.
In the half century, we have gone through many storms and many tests.
We were fortunate that Singaporeans united as one to overcome these challenges and built our Singapore of today.
I am confident we can again pass new tests & overcome challenges and build an even better and more prosperous Singapore for all. |
