Debate on President’s Address: Henry Kwek on rallying youths to support an inclusive Singapore
Singaporeans are willing to make the trade-offs in terms of the higher cost of living and taxation, but do not assume that its youths will automatically sign off to pay for this fair and just society, said MP Henry Kwek. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday (Apr 20), he pointed out that many citizens in other countries question the social compact and debt that they have inherited. He said many of Singapore’s youths he had spoken to are more pessimistic about the world, even with society now having more resources to care for and nurture them, compared with his generation. Many of them worry about bread-and-butter issues and meeting their aspirations in the face of reality, he said. Mr Kwek said building a fair and inclusive Singapore is a “crowning achievement” for Singapore’s leaders. They must now ensure that Singapore’s refreshed social compact is firmly rooted in the minds of youths, by sharing with them the country’s future plans, persuading them that Singapore has the resources to achieve them despite the troubled times and convincing them there is a world of possibilities for them and for Singapore, he said. Mr Kwek said as circumstances change, Singapore needs to finetune its policies for two groups of youths. The first is those from very modest backgrounds. He said more can be done to support their aspirations. He urged the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to consider helping them with their cash flow by allowing them to pay only half of the downpayment and increasing the loan quantum. There should also be more career mentoring and peer support networks. The second group is youths from the middle class who are more successful. HDB can consider raising the income ceiling for Build-to-Order flats over time, and locking the income criterion to within three years of the successful booking of the flat. The Government should also consider additional measures to moderate condominium prices, particularly in non-city core areas, by non-Singaporeans, he said.
Singaporeans are willing to make the trade-offs in terms of the higher cost of living and taxation, but do not assume that its youths will automatically sign off to pay for this fair and just society, said MP Henry Kwek. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday (Apr 20), he pointed out that many citizens in other countries question the social compact and debt that they have inherited. He said many of Singapore’s youths he had spoken to are more pessimistic about the world, even with society now having more resources to care for and nurture them, compared with his generation. Many of them worry about bread-and-butter issues and meeting their aspirations in the face of reality, he said. Mr Kwek said building a fair and inclusive Singapore is a “crowning achievement” for Singapore’s leaders. They must now ensure that Singapore’s refreshed social compact is firmly rooted in the minds of youths, by sharing with them the country’s future plans, persuading them that Singapore has the resources to achieve them despite the troubled times and convincing them there is a world of possibilities for them and for Singapore, he said. Mr Kwek said as circumstances change, Singapore needs to finetune its policies for two groups of youths. The first is those from very modest backgrounds. He said more can be done to support their aspirations. He urged the Housing and Development Board (HDB) to consider helping them with their cash flow by allowing them to pay only half of the downpayment and increasing the loan quantum. There should also be more career mentoring and peer support networks. The second group is youths from the middle class who are more successful. HDB can consider raising the income ceiling for Build-to-Order flats over time, and locking the income criterion to within three years of the successful booking of the flat. The Government should also consider additional measures to moderate condominium prices, particularly in non-city core areas, by non-Singaporeans, he said.
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