Lawrence Wong wraps up debate on Singapore’s COVID-19 response
The work will not end with the debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. He said the Government takes the feedback and suggestions seriously and will study them carefully. It will consider additional inputs, put its plans into action and adjust them along the way. Mr Wong said this is an ongoing multi-year effort and commitment to learn and to improve. Wrapping up the debate on the White Paper in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 21), he addressed the points raised along three broad themes - preparing for the next pandemic, ensuring effectiveness of spending, and upholding solidarity and trust. Mr Wong said he is glad that Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh supports the motion, but noted that it is to the extent of expressing gratitude to all in Singapore who contributed to the COVID-19 fight and affirming the Government’s efforts to learn from the lessons of the last three years. Mr Wong said this suggested that it is a qualified support. He pointed out that Mr Singh did highlight the need to set aside politics, close ranks and uphold unity of purpose in a crisis. He urged Mr Singh and the Workers’ Party to give their full support so that “we can truly demonstrate unity of purpose” in dealing with and learning from the pandemic. Mr Wong said the White Paper will not be the final word on Singapore’s COVID-19 response. He said there is much work to be done across all domains. The Government cannot do all of this work alone and will need to work more closely with the people and private sectors to strengthen Singapore’s “crisis management muscles”, he said. “And when you look at what we have achieved overall in this crisis in the last three years, I am convinced that on the whole, it is money well spent,” he said. Mr Wong stressed the need to approach the lessons from the COVID-19 experience with the right attitude and mindset. Lessons learnt should never be hardcoded into doctrine, or blindly applied from one crisis to another because while there may be similarities, there will also be differences, he said. “The key is to have the flexibility and wisdom to adapt and devise solutions that are fit for purpose and fit for the situation at hand,” he said. Mr Wong pointed out that Singapore has a wider range of policy options and measures to tackle the next pandemic. With its enhanced capabilities in detection, surveillance and identification of threats, it will be in a much better position to deal with the next pandemic, if and when it comes, he said. Mr Wong said there is no guaranteed formula to navigate challenges, but if Singapore and Singaporeans take all that they have been through these past three years to heart, they will be able to overcome any challenges and “prevail as one united people”.
The work will not end with the debate on the White Paper on Singapore’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong. He said the Government takes the feedback and suggestions seriously and will study them carefully. It will consider additional inputs, put its plans into action and adjust them along the way. Mr Wong said this is an ongoing multi-year effort and commitment to learn and to improve. Wrapping up the debate on the White Paper in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 21), he addressed the points raised along three broad themes - preparing for the next pandemic, ensuring effectiveness of spending, and upholding solidarity and trust. Mr Wong said he is glad that Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh supports the motion, but noted that it is to the extent of expressing gratitude to all in Singapore who contributed to the COVID-19 fight and affirming the Government’s efforts to learn from the lessons of the last three years. Mr Wong said this suggested that it is a qualified support. He pointed out that Mr Singh did highlight the need to set aside politics, close ranks and uphold unity of purpose in a crisis. He urged Mr Singh and the Workers’ Party to give their full support so that “we can truly demonstrate unity of purpose” in dealing with and learning from the pandemic. Mr Wong said the White Paper will not be the final word on Singapore’s COVID-19 response. He said there is much work to be done across all domains. The Government cannot do all of this work alone and will need to work more closely with the people and private sectors to strengthen Singapore’s “crisis management muscles”, he said. “And when you look at what we have achieved overall in this crisis in the last three years, I am convinced that on the whole, it is money well spent,” he said. Mr Wong stressed the need to approach the lessons from the COVID-19 experience with the right attitude and mindset. Lessons learnt should never be hardcoded into doctrine, or blindly applied from one crisis to another because while there may be similarities, there will also be differences, he said. “The key is to have the flexibility and wisdom to adapt and devise solutions that are fit for purpose and fit for the situation at hand,” he said. Mr Wong pointed out that Singapore has a wider range of policy options and measures to tackle the next pandemic. With its enhanced capabilities in detection, surveillance and identification of threats, it will be in a much better position to deal with the next pandemic, if and when it comes, he said. Mr Wong said there is no guaranteed formula to navigate challenges, but if Singapore and Singaporeans take all that they have been through these past three years to heart, they will be able to overcome any challenges and “prevail as one united people”.
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