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SINGAPORE: Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was being very brave in tackling sensitive and unpopular issues during the National Day Rally.
"In my view, the PM was being very brave in tackling the issues raised during the National Day Rally. These issues of ageing, the deferment of the draw-down age of CPF from 62 to 65, are very sensitive and unpopular issues," said Mr Goh.
He pointed out that ageing problems and widening income gap are serious issues that will hit Singapore in ten to 20 years, and for the prime minister to bring them up, "it's going to cost him votes".
"Very few prime ministers in the world would address issues that are way beyond (their) political (lives) because it doesn't benefit (them) in any way. But this is not the way Singapore operates. It is not the way which Lee Kuan Yew operated, not the way which I operated, and very happily it is not the way which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong operates.
"We take a long view of Singapore. We know they are growing problems which must be addressed today. If you don't do them now, you wait until you can see the problem in the future... it is too late to resolve."
Mr Goh was speaking to grassroots leaders from Marine Parade GRC in a dialogue session on issues raised during the National Day Rally.
During the closed-door event, the senior minister, who is also an MP for Marine Parade GRC, asked for feedback on issues they do not agree with.
The proposed changes to CPF rules and the need to legislate the retirement age prompted the most heated discussions.
One suggestion raised was to allow those who already have adequate insurance coverage to be able to opt out of the annuity scheme.
Creating enough university places for Singaporeans was also a hot topic.
"It's better for our children to study here rather than going overseas, the cost (of going overseas) is very high. And I have a daughter that migrated to Australia and I wouldn't want my second and third to follow suit," said Samsiah Rahman, vice-chair of Kaki Bukit Community Centre’s women’s executive committee.
Mr Goh said he will relate their concerns to the prime minister. - CNA/ac
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