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SINGAPORE: In 10 years’ time, Singaporeans may not remember today’s inflation rate. What will, however, continue to occupy the minds of the Government and citizens: How Singapore can have more babies.
Making this point in his Mandarin National Day Rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the problem of a low total fertility rate (TFR) is especially acute for the Chinese community, which at 1.14 is lower than the national TFR of 1.29 and the replacement level of 2.1.
“In other words, out of the husband and wife, only one of the two will be replaced,” he said. “So, the population will be halved. In another generation, out of four old people, only one baby. After a few generations, no more to reduce.”
Some East Asian societies have lower birthrates than Singapore, and there are powerful changes sweeping through these Confucian societies. “In the old days, the men were the masters of the households, and they even take three or four wives. That was widely accepted and something that must be done. Otherwise, you may have some problems.
“Singapore was also the same, even up to the ’50s and ’60s. It was not legal, but it happened. But that era has gone. The modern-day women expects equality,” said Mr Lee.
While the modern woman has moved on — some of them “too fast” — some Singapore men have not changed their mindsets quickly enough, he said.
The Prime Minister recounted the tale of a single man looking for a wife. The man reportedly told a marriage bureau that he wanted a woman who was independent and doing well in her career. What else do you need, asked the marriage bureau? His response: “She must also be absolutely submissive and obedient!” said Mr Lee, to laughter from the audience. “The problem is where to find such women.”
Citing another anecdote of three young Beijing women, he recounted how they told an interviewer they would choose their job over a boyfriend or fiance.
Male or female, young people need to take “a realistic view” towards marriage and find the right balance with their career, said Mr Lee. Otherwise, they might miss out on chances at love and happiness, and the best window to have children.
Some Singaporeans, he noted, are marrying later — not because they want to wait, but because it is difficult for them to find the right partner. “Perhaps their social circles were too narrow. They were too busy in work. Or, perhaps, they were not good at chasing the opposite sex.”
While today’s young people may not warm to the idea of arranged marriages, perhaps the solution lies in getting “a modern-day matchmaker”.
In Beijing, for example, Mr Lee said thousands of parents secretly go to “Parental Matchmaking Sessions” to find suitable partners for their children, where they exchange photos and educational qualifications on their children, and take down phone numbers.
“We do not have Parental Matchmaking Sessions in Singapore. I think our People’s Association should consider organising similar sessions,” he said. A suggestion that drew applause from the audience.
Mr Lee urged parents to encourage their children in a sensitive manner, and asked the younger folk to take this matter seriously.
“Of course, these are personal problems, and you must work hard at it. The Government will only work at the side, but we will try to facilitate,” he said.
Mr Lee will touch further on the issues of marriage and parenthood in the English version of his speech, to be telecast on Monday night. - TODAY/ra
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