Debate on President’s Address: Masagos Zulkifli on more help for families who help themselves

The Government is looking at how to do more to help families who actively try to improve their own circumstances, such as by ensuring they have stable jobs and their children attend preschool. The aim is to reinforce and support their sense of self-reliance and personal agency, said Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli. In Parliament on Tuesday (Apr 18), Mr Masagos pledged more support for families overall, and measures to ensure that low-income families get the help they need quickly and easily, such as through ComLink. He said the Government is looking to work with more partners across society to uplift communities. It wants businesses to “lead the charge”, and will guide them in better measuring and expanding their social impact. The minister also called on academia to conduct original research and build up a “robust body of knowledge” in social science that applies specifically to the Singapore context. Mr Masagos said the Government has kept social mobility alive in Singapore across generations, and will continue to do so by making significant investments in public education, affordable housing and quality healthcare.