|
 |
|
Source:
www.gov.sg |
|
PRIME MINISTER'S CHINESE NEW
YEAR MESSAGE 2007 |
|
|
The Year of the Dog was good for Singapore.
Our economy grew strongly, creating a record number of 173,000 new jobs.
Workers enjoyed higher wage increases and larger bonuses. |
|
Over the past few weekends, Chinatown has
been packed with shoppers and people soaking up the festive spirit.
Singaporeans can feel the strong economic growth, and are more willing
to spend than in previous years. |
|
I am confident that the Year of the
Pig will be just as propitious. The global outlook is positive. |
|
The major economies ¨C US, Japan and
Europe ¨C are doing well. Growth momentum in China and India
remains strong. Singapore enjoys strong ties with these two major
economies, as well as the Gulf states, Russia, and emerging
markets in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. |
|
These will complement our ties with
our ASEAN partners, and put us in a strong position to take full
advantage of the many opportunities all around us. |
|
In the Chinese zodiac, the Pig
represents abundance and prosperity. Let us work together to
deliver another year of bountiful harvest. |
|
Chinese New Year is a time of reunion
and bonding for the family. In China, tens of millions of guest
workers live and work in Beijing and the coastal provinces all
year. |
|
But before the New Year, they all make
the trip back to their home towns and villages, in a massive
annual migration, to be with their families for the reunion
dinner. |
|
Singaporeans want to spend more time
with their families too. A recent survey found that half of the
Singaporeans who made New Year resolutions for 2007 listed this as
one of their goals. Let us all renew our commitments to our
families, not just during this festive period, but throughout the
year. |
|
Beyond our immediate families, we
should keep up with relatives in our extended families too ¨C
aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins. |
|
For centuries, these family networks
have provided people in China and other Asian societies with
mutual care and support through wars, famines, and family crises. |
|
They remain useful and relevant today,
even though more people now live in nuclear families, with just
parents and children, and perhaps grandparents, in one household. |
|
This has been my own experience. When
I was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1992, my whole extended family
came forward to help. |
|
My parents provided emotional support
and advice. One aunt sent me steamed birds¡¯ nest regularly.
Another took my young children for outings. It was what Asian
families have been doing through the ages. I am sure many
Singaporeans have similar stories to tell. |
|
This year, Chinese New Year stretches
over a four-day long weekend. Flights are all full, because many
families are going away for short holidays. |
|
They will miss the traditional reunion
dinner on New Year¡¯s Eve, and the chance to visit relatives and
friends over the New Year. I hope that after they get back, they
will make the effort to meet up with them, some time during the
New Year season. |
|
To build strong, resilient families,
we need to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Otherwise, the
demands of work will eat into our family time, and weaken our
family bonds. |
|
Singaporeans who achieve good
work-life balance tend to have better relationships with their
family and friends, and are likely to have more children.
Work-life balance is also associated with better job performance,
lower attrition, and improved morale and job satisfaction. |
|
Many organisations, including the
civil service, recognise the importance of work-life balance in
attracting and retaining talent. I encourage all employers to
adopt work-life friendly practices. It is a win-win approach for
both the organisation and the individual. |
|
In many Western countries, generous
state welfare benefits for the unemployed and elderly have
weakened the family unit. |
|
When somebody loses his job, he falls
back on state unemployment insurance. When he grows old, he relies
on state pensions and medical care. As a result, family members
often feel little responsibility to care for one another. |
|
Singapore must avoid these pitfalls.
The Government is doing more to help the needy. We are instituting
Workfare to help lower-income workers. |
|
The GST Offset Package includes a
generous Senior Citizens¡¯ Bonus. But let us never undermine the
traditional responsibilities of the family, especially in looking
after the elderly. |
|
Nowadays, more elderly Singaporeans
are living by themselves, sometimes an old couple together,
sometimes just one person alone after the spouse has passed away. |
|
Their children have moved out to set
up their own homes. But sometimes it is the old folks who want to
move out. |
|
At Meet-the-People sessions, old
residents often come to ask for a rental flat. They are living
with adult children, but want to move out because they cannot get
along with their children, or their sons- or daughters-in-law. I
have seen many such cases myself. I find them very sad. As their
MP, I try to help them, but it would really be much better if the
family stayed together. |
|
We are strengthening our community
networks to reach out to these elderly couples, particularly the
poorer ones. |
|
But young families must also stay in
touch with ageing parents and visit them regularly, or better
still stay with them and help to take care of them. No institution
or old folks¡¯ home can replace the love and warmth of family
members, nor can the Government. |
|
The family is the natural grouping
where all of us find love, support and fulfilment. When we face
difficulties, this is the nest we return to for comfort and
succour. |
|
The family is the basic building block
of our society. We must keep it strong and healthy, so that we
will have a stable and happy nation. Government policies will
therefore continue to foster stronger family ties. |
|
On this festive occasion, let us
strengthen our kinship ties and our loyalty and commitment to our
families. Let us keep our traditions alive, as we gather together
for reunion dinners, pay respect to our elders, and celebrate with
relatives and friends. |
|
I wish all Singaporeans a happy and
prosperous Chinese New Year. |
|
Source:
www.gov.sg News Release 16 Feb 2007 |
|
 |
|
Important
Notice |
|
Our FrontPage
Editions are a historical record of our Web site and reflect
the changing of the times, and also of our Web site through
time. We do not and will not update the links and stories on
these FrontPages even if they have become obsolete. |
|
FrontPage Edition: Sat 17 February 2007
All rights reserved
