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Source:
www.gov.sg |
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong¡¯s National Day Message 2006 |
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My fellow Singaporeans, |
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After the past few years upgrading and
restructuring our economy, Singapore is in a much stronger position than
before. Our strategies are working, and our economy is growing and
creating jobs. |
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For the first half of this year, growth was
9.4 percent. For the full year, MTI has raised our growth forecast to
between 6.5 and 7.5 percent. |
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The strong economy has generated 81,500 jobs
in the first half ¨C the highest number in a decade. |
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More than half of these jobs have been taken
up by residents. Our efforts to re-design jobs and re-skill workers are
also helping more older and lower-skilled Singaporeans to upgrade
themselves and earn more. |
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Global Outlook and Risks |
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The global economic outlook remains
positive. The US economy is slowing down. However, this moderation
is balanced by stronger growth in Japan, and gradual improvements
in several European countries, especially Germany. |
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In Asia, the strong momentum of China
and India continues to fuel the dynamism and optimism of the
entire region. Southeast Asia is benefiting from this, although
several countries face political problems which could affect
confidence and growth. |
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While the overall outlook is
favourable, we must continue to track and anticipate developments
around us, especially potential threats to our growth and
security. |
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The Middle East is in upheaval. Iran¡¯s
nuclear programme is raising grave international concerns. Iraq is
almost in a state of civil war. The fighting between Israel and
the Hezbollah and Hamas continues. |
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Singapore hopes that the senseless
cycle of violence in the Middle East will be stopped. But if the
crisis worsens and disrupts world oil supplies, energy prices will
shoot up even higher, and trigger a global recession. |
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The WTO Doha Round negotiations have
stalled. If the trade talks fail, protectionism will grow. As an
open economy which depends on free flow of trade and investments,
Singapore will be very vulnerable, but our free trade agreements
will protect us and safeguard our access to important markets. |
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Bird flu is a real concern. It is a
serious problem in Indonesia. Should the virus mutate to spread
from human to human across the world, tens of millions may die. We
have contingency plans to deal with such a pandemic, but no plan
can cover every eventuality. |
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Extremist terrorism remains a threat.
Terrorist networks have been disrupted in Malaysia and Indonesia,
but some dangerous terrorists are still on the loose and
Singapore is one of their targets. |
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Adapting to Change |
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To deal with these and other
challenges, we need able and dedicated leaders in every sector. We
need a good and effective government to lead the country. And we
need Singaporeans to work together to take our nation forward. |
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As a small country, we must accept the
world as it is, not as we would like it to be. We must watch
closely the changes around us, and respond promptly when
opportunities or threats emerge. |
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We stand out from our competitors
precisely because we react faster and more effectively to new
situations. |
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We must also work with our neighbours
to deepen our cooperation in ASEAN, and make Southeast Asia a
vibrant region which investors cannot ignore. So while we focus on
issues within Singapore, we must never take our eyes off what is
happening around us, or be slow to react to them. |
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I know that this strategy demands a
lot from Singaporeans. It means exploring new and risky
approaches, instead of clinging to familiar arrangements. It needs
trust and confidence between the people and the Government. |
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It also requires us to help those less
able to cope with the rapid changes. For example, when oil prices
rise, electricity costs more to produce, and buses, taxis and
trains cost more to run. |
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We cannot keep electricity tariffs and
public transportation fares fixed. But we can and will directly
help those in need. This is what the Government has been doing
through programmes like U-Save and the recent Progress Package. |
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A More Open and Diverse Society |
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One important strategy to cope with
changes is to make our people more resilient, better able to
tackle issues on their own instead of looking to the Government to
solve every problem. |
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We are building a more open society,
and encouraging freer debate. The media are airing more diverse
issues and perspectives. |
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The public is more engaged in helping
the Government to work out policies and solve problems. Civic
groups are organising themselves, running special schools,
protecting the tone of neighbourhoods, or promoting informed
debate. |
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The internet is a tremendous tool
which is changing the world. We should make full use of it to link
up with the world, engage one another, and be a productive economy
and vibrant society. |
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But the internet creates new problems
too. Not everything on the internet is reliable; it is not easy to
tell apart fact from fiction in cyberspace; and instant
communications can cause people to over-react hastily and
unthinkingly to events. |
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Therefore we must learn how to live
with this new medium, and adapt to it. This is a challenge to many
societies, not just Singapore. |
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Going forward, we will continue to
open up in a considered and progressive way. Singaporeans should
express themselves freely but responsibly. |
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We need to help solve problems and
build our nation, not chip away at the pillars of our society. |
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We will not always agree with one
another, but we must stay cohesive and united in our common vision
for Singapore. |
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The people¡¯s votes in May settled the
team to lead Singapore, and the direction that Singapore should
take, over the next five years. |
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We should now focus on overcoming the
problems ahead. At the end of the term, the Government will put
its record before the people, for voters to judge whether their
lives have improved. This way, by focussing on the future, we will
stay on top of our challenges and ahead of the competition. |
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Strengthening our Core |
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Amidst all the changes, some things
remain the same ¨C we are still a small country in an uncertain
world, other countries are larger and better endowed than we are,
and we will still have to work harder and smarter than them.
Therefore as we encourage diversity, we must also strengthen our
core and stay together as one people. |
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This will be all the more important
for the younger generation. They are growing up connected to the
internet and the world, and this new landscape is a natural part
of their lives. |
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Young Singaporeans enjoy a first-class
education. They have many opportunities to pursue their passions
and fortunes both in Singapore and abroad. |
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We must do more to engage our young,
and strengthen their roots in Singapore. |
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We must imbue in them the conviction
that Singapore is a special and unique place that belongs to them,
and that Singapore¡¯s future depends on them. |
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They must develop an instinctive
obligation to give back to society and enable many more
Singaporeans to enjoy the opportunities they do. |
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Many years ago, when Singapore was
just a fishing village, our forefathers came here in search of a
better life. |
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In 1965, after a period of communist
and communal strife, independence was thrust upon us. Suddenly we
were on our own. |
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But we worked hard and built modern
Singapore from scratch. Let us uphold this spirit of self
reliance, this openness to change, and this determination to
succeed, as we build a brighter future for all. |
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I wish all Singaporeans a Happy
National Day. |
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Source:
www.mica.gov.sg Press Release
8 Aug 2006 |
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-
Prime Minister's National Day Message 2005 |
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FrontPage Edition: Wed 9 August 2006
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