Singaporeans appreciate PM Lee's comprehensive speech
By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 18 August 2008 2222 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Longer maternity, childcare leave and better baby bonuses are some of the announcements that got Singaporeans sitting up at the National Day Rally on Sunday night.

They said the pro-family measures showed the government's strong commitment to encourage couples to have more children.

Gurcharanjit Singh, a lawyer, said: "It's a change in mindset, and I think if the message is something that's very well understood and very comprehensive, it'll start people thinking and having more kids."

"There are also some women, who have made the decision to stay at home, just like my wife, who's my home anchor. And I would have loved to see some things (done) for them," said Donald Aw, a civil servant.

Norhayati, a personal assistant, said: "He's encouraging people to get married and he's giving out more bonuses and everything, so I guess it'll probably wake some of the singles up."

MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, Indranee Rajah, said: "For the first time, you get a sense that these measures are taken on board as a result of direct input from the women who know what the challenges are and what some of the proposed solutions would be."

But it was not just baby talk that caught Singaporeans' interest. The prime minister's use of technology throughout his speech also impressed many.

"We need to ensure that the young are with us. So it's not just about technology. Technology is a medium, but we need to use whatever medium we have to let the people understand the issues," said Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed.

Hong Chun Mun, a national serviceman, said: "It reflects he's very technologically savvy and he's in tune with what the young are feeling."

Many Singaporeans felt that Mr Lee gave a very comprehensive speech and they were glad he did not shy away from hotly debated issues like the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP).

Some also added that the speech gave them a sense of hope for the future.


- CNA/so