Timely for PM Lee to raise Singapore's fertility rate issue
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 August 2008 0321 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Boosting Singapore's fertility rate and better community integration - Singaporeans felt those two issues resonated most with them after listening to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong deliver his National Day Rally speech in Malay and Mandarin on Sunday evening.

Kenny Nai, Youth Mentor, said: "I thought he won't present this topic at all. We thought that he would be just focussing very much on the oil, the oil price."

To encourage singles to get married, Mr Lee even suggested "Parental Matchmaking Sessions", where parents find suitable partners for their children.

Violet Lim, Founder of Lunch Actually, said: "We find that it has been a bit difficult because sometimes, if the singles... are not consensual, if they're not the one who would like to take this step, they might feel very pushed towards it and we have had some disasters."

Cindy Khoo, a civil servant, said: "I think it's quite clear the government cares quite a bit about it and he cited all these examples from China, as well as parental matchmaking sessions. It was quite refreshing - at least, the government is thinking of different approaches to this."

Many say it is natural and timely for the Prime Minister to talk about ways to boost Singapore's fertility rate. But they say singles must also do their part and see the need for marriage and procreation.

Many at the rally also cited Mr Lee's point on upgrading the respective communities, while maintaining social cohesiveness.

Watine Yusof, Operations Officer, said: "That's very good, so we can exchange more ideas and we know different cultures and races as well, and I think we also can learn from each other to improve ourselves."

Tan Kok Heng, a civil servant, said: "Malay community (is) doing more for their people as well as to look at a more progressive society and I thought that was good. I think all of us, not just the Malay community but including the Chinese community, also need to look more towards a more integrated society."

The Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech in English will be broadcast on Monday at 8pm. - CNA/de