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Highlights
of PM Lee Hsien Loong's speech
TRIBUTE
:: PM Lee pays tribute to former PM Goh for his leadership,
for building a strong team of new leaders, launching new policies
to take Singapore forward, and bringing Singaporeans closer
together in his sincere, direct way.
VISION
::
Future of Opportunity and Promise
::
Prospering economy creating good jobs for all, and opportunities
for Singaporeans to venture & create new businesses
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Honest, capable government, with leaders whom Singaporeans
support & trust
::
Open society welcoming diverse views, yet cohesive & with
a sense of national purpose
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Community where every citizen counts, each one can develop
his potential to the fullest, and everyone participates in
building our shared home
APPROACH
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Fresh & bold approach needed
::
Keep our strengths, discard out-moded & obsolete policies,
develop new strategies
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Never be satisfied with status quo, relook at policies even
if they are still working well
::
Encourage participation and debate by exempting indoor talks
from licencing requirements, allowing perforrmances and exhibitions
at the Speaker's Corner also free of permits and licence
::
Key is mindset change. Singaporeans should see opportunities
rather than challenges in new situations, be less conventional
and be prepared to venture out
::
Government will rethink problems, make changes where necessary,
support entrepreneurs, encourage participation & debate
::
As a society, we should be forward-looking, and be prepared
to accept diversity of views
PRIORITIES
External
Relations (Full text >>>)
::
Be friends with all countries, especially our immediate neighbours
& major powers
::
Pursue win-win cooperation with all countries which are willing
to cooperate with us, but at the same time protect Singapore's
interests
::
From time to time, issues will arise, and when interests diverge,
the government must put Singapore's interests first
Building
the Economy
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Economy doing well because of restructuring, so we must continue
to restructure to continue growing
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Because of globalisation, ferocious competition everywhere,
less job security & more need to adapt as market changes
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To create jobs, allowing wages & bonuses to go up provided
we make labour market more flexible through wage reform and
raising productivity
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Must press on with upgrading and restructuring, and looking
after those affected through retraining & job redesign
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Best solution for higher cost of living is to raise income
through growth. For low income households, government has
financial assistance and job training programmes
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Medical costs a major worry for many Singaporeans. Need to
improve MediShield to be more effective. Health Minister Khaw
Boon Wan working on this
Older Singaporeans
::
Government has not forgotten older Singaporeans, especially
those in the 45 to 60 age group
::
Government will address main concerns of older Singaporeans
- namely job security, medical costs, financial security and
elder friendly living environment
::
Government will give senior citizens something extra when
there are surpluses to distribute, especially to their Medisave
account
New Generation
::
For the future, must focus on post-independence generation
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New generation, grown up in different circumstances and much
more exposed to outside world, has different points of reference,
expectations & values
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These Singaporeans distinguish themselves internationally,
and willing to try different paths in Sports & Arts
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Must groom our young, give them wings, but also emotional
roots. Must empower the young, involve them in community service,
national affairs, education & the arts
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Political self-renewal critical - younger Singaporeans should
come forward to serve and not wait to be asked
Education
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Education most important gift to our young, to prepare them
for their future, not just to earn a living but learning to
be a fuller person
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Move to more flexible and diverse system - integrated programmes,
Sports School, and in future an Arts School and Maths &
Science School
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Give schools more resources and more teachers - 1,000 more
teachers in primary schools, 1,400 more in secondary schools
& 550 more in JCs by 2010
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Let each school decide how best to make use of teachers
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Teach less, so that children can learn more
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Teach young their mother tongues, focus on spoken communications
& reading, less on writing. To include Bicultural Studies
programme
Babies
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Declining birth rate a national problem
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Having babies - matter of values & priorities, not just
financial incentives
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Government will make it easier for families to marry and have
children, but decision up to families
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Must change mindsets and attitudes of singles, couples and
employers. Singles should have realistic expectations; couples
to share responsibility more equally, government to equalise
benefits for men & women; and employer to be family friendly
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Maternity leave will be extended from 8 to 12 weeks, and to
4th child. Government will reimburse companies
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Infant Care subsidy, like existing childcare subsidy but larger
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Childcare leave - 2 extra days per year for each working parent
with children below 7 years of age, not just for illness but
for any other purpose
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Lower maid levy for families with children below 12 years
of age
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Tax breaks and baby bonuses extended to 1st and 4th child
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Civil service to have 5-day work week, public counters to
stay open on Saturdays
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Trade & Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang to announce details
on Wednesday
Bright Future
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Opportunities abound in the region. Singapore is in the middle
of the most dynamic region of the world
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Economy thriving and competitive - new investments will create
new jobs
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Many races live in harmony, Singapore has clean & meritocratic
system, with opportunities for all
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We must be confident of the future - while we fix our weaknesses,
we should not doubt our ability to stay ahead
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We may be small, but we have high hopes & big dreams.
We will keep on trying & not give up. With this spirit,
the future is ours to make!
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