SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the government is adjusting the
balance between its key goals to achieve Singapore's future objectives.
Mr Lee, who likened these goals
to yin and yang elements that complement each other, said it is important to
strike a balance between them.
Mr Lee, who is also
secretary-general of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), said this at the
party's 32nd conference on Sunday morning.
Stressing that the PAP must set a
clear direction, he highlighted three key goals.
First, it wants to achieve a
vibrant economy by creating good jobs for everyone, as well as a harmonious
society where people can enjoy a balanced and fulfilling life.
Second, it wants a meritocratic
system where people succeed based on their effort and contributions, along with
special effort to help those who start off with less to do well in school and
upgrade at work.
Third, it wants to build a
Singapore where citizens belong and feel as one, as well as an open,
cosmopolitan city that welcomes foreigners with the skills and talents to help
the country succeed.
Mr Lee said the balance between
these goals -- just like yin and yang elements -- will change will over time.
The government, he said, is in
the process of adjusting them.
He said it is useful to
re-examine the goals as Singapore advances as a nation.
Society must continue to be based on meritocracy
Mr Lee said meritocracy is a
fundamental principle of the PAP, and that it is the reason why the party
fought for a Malaysian Malaysia and left Malaysia in 1965.
He noted that there has been
vigorous debate on meritocracy, with the most recent discussions revolving
around the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and school rankings.
Mr Lee said: "I think it's
right that we examine what we mean by meritocracy but I worry when I read
(about) some people say(ing) that meritocracy is wrong, and we shouldn't have
meritocracy.
"Because I ask myself, if we
are not going on merit, if we are not going to invest in people who are capable,
if we are not going to put capable people into important jobs, judging by how
able they are doing their job, then how are you going to do it? What are you
going to look at?
"You have a choice -- you
can look at wealth... connections... you want that? Some countries do that, but
I don't think that's a Singapore you want.
"Or you can go by race --
(If) that person is the right race, he gets extra marks in the exam, he gets
extra advantage for school, for jobs. Do we want that? Is that the Singapore we
have fought to build?
"I think when you think
about it carefully, you will come to a conclusion that it's right that
meritocracy is one of our fundamental values in Singapore and in the PAP."
Pressing home the point, Mr Lee
spoke of how the country's system of meritocracy has allowed people with
different talents and the disadvantaged, to move up.
"I believe we must still
base our society on merit, but with wide definitions of merit and
success," added Mr Lee.
Mr Lee stressed that as the
ruling party, it must also lead Singapore; and that after all the discussions,
the party must be clear about what it stands for.
Mr Lee said for Singapore to
achieve its goals, the country needs good leadership -- and it is the PAP's
duty to offer this to Singapore.
PAP to give WP a "tough fight"
Mr Lee also touched on the PAP's
plans in opposition-held Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
He said the party is regrouping
in the GRC and will give The Workers' Party's (WP) Members of Parliament a
"tough fight".
He added that the PAP will
support its team in Aljunied.
A branch chairman of a division
in Aljunied GRC also shared views on the PAP's plans in Aljunied GRC at the
conference.
Mr Victor Lye, who heads the
Bedok Reservoir-Punggol branch of the PAP, believes it is not impossible to win
back the GRC, even though it will be an uphill task.
He believes what is needed is a
five-per cent swing in votes.
He said he is focusing on
building a team of activists - different from the grassroots network.
It will be more targeted in its
approach and reach out to the PAP's core supporters, as well as swing voters
and new voters.
Mr Lye said he understands the
odds against the PAP and stressed the need for party activists to win the
hearts of the people.
Ultimately, he said, the outcome
will also be shaped by national perceptions of the PAP and the opposition.
Mr Lye said while the PAP has
made adjustments, the test lies in how connected the people feel towards the
party.
The WP team of MPs in Aljunied
GRC comprises Mr Low Thia Khiang, Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Muhd Faisal Abdul Manap, Mr
Chen Show Mao and Mr Pritam Singh.
It beat the PAP team of Mr George
Yeo, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Ms Cynthia Phua and Mr Ong Ye
Kung in the 2011 general election.
Singapore's economic growth forecast
In his speech, PM Lee also talked
about how the nation needs to balance when it comes to economic growth.
Singapore's growth will moderate
over the years and is projected at about 1.5 per cent this year, but Mr Lee
said to expect the numbers to be lower.
Mr Lee said: "MTI (Ministry
of Trade and Industry)'s projection is that growth is around 1.5 per cent. I
asked MTI what about means, they tell me means can be higher, can be lower.
"We put in about because we
are not confident we can hit 1.5 -- it may well be lower, which I would say,
it's wise for us to expect it to be lower than 1.5."
And Mr Lee said he does not
believe less growth is better, alluding to calls by some quarters for Singapore
to move away from material aspirations.
Mr Lee said: "Who will be
affected first? The lower pay workers. Because they are already in a tough spot
and it's going to be very difficult for them to move up.
"Young people will be
affected because they are looking for opportunities, they are looking for
adventure, they are looking for challenge.
"(If there's) no growth,
nothing happening and they will be off -- off to Australia, off to America, off
to China, India, where the big cities are, where the bright lights are, where
the opportunities are.
"And then, we will become an
old folk's home in Singapore and we will not achieve our hopes, and we will not
achieve our hopes for our children. So I think people who say don't worry about
growth, we have our spectacles in the wrong direction, I think they don't
appreciate this point.
"We have to calibrate, but
we must find the right balance."
The third goal is to strengthen
the country's national identity, while managing the inflow of immigrants.
"We cannot close ourselves
entirely or freeze Singapore as it is today, or we would become a museum; not a
living, vibrant city," said Mr Lee.
- CNA/xq/lp
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