Turn focus back to national issues, urges Shanmugam
Mr Shanmugam with a passer-by during a walkabout at Yishun Bus Interchange yesterday. The PAP candidate for Nee Soon GRC said the debate should be on forward-looking policymaking. Photo: Robin Choo
SINGAPORE — As the election enters its final stretch, Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K Shanmugam called for the focus to be turned back onto national issues, instead of engaging in non-constructive debate, as the Opposition has been doing.
The debate, he said, should instead revolve around forward-looking policymaking. Speaking to reporters at a walkabout at Yishun Bus Interchange yesterday afternoon, he said: “We have to look at what Singaporeans will be thinking about in the next five to 10 years … the question is, how do we tackle the challenges ahead and grab the opportunities.”
Citing the ageing population as Singapore’s biggest challenge, Mr Shanmugam said that the burden on the population will increase, as the number of working adults required to support every person above 65 years old will fall to two in 2030 from five currently.
“What will that do to the economy when your workforce shrinks so fast? What will it do to your healthcare system? These are serious issues, and we have been thinking about that,” he said, citing examples of how the government had introduced measures such as the Pioneer Generation Package to safeguard the needs of the elderly.
Intense competition by neighbouring countries like China or Vietnam would also pose a growing threat, Mr Shanmugam added.
“Economy, jobs, Singapore’s future ... These are the issues (to worry about). We’ve got to strap on our seat belts and prepare ahead of time, by taking quick steps necessary,” he said.
“If you’re only thinking about being voted into (Parliament), you won’t be thinking about these things.”
In response to the WP’s claims that the PAP had implemented policies in 2011 that curry favour with voters, Mr Shanmugam rebutted: “Rather than engaging in debating with the Opposition on these issues, I say look at the facts.
“These policies were not just implemented in 2011. These are carefully-thought-out policies — we have done all this without any input or help from the Opposition, because we believe in helping Singaporeans … Ask yourself what contributions any of the (Opposition) have made on these policies.”
Yesterday morning, Mr Shanmugam posted a Facebook status expressing disappointment against “vile personal attacks” from Mr Lim Ee Ping, a speaker at the WP rally on Friday who had called him a “barking dog”, and who had also condemned founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew for being a “liar”. Mr Shanmugam declined to comment on his Facebook post at the walkabout.
