SINGAPORE 21

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That this House endorses the Vision for Singapore in the 21st century as set out in the report of the Singapore 21 Committee "Singapore 21: Together, We Make The Difference" contained in Paper Misc 2 of 1999, as the basis for strengthening the heartware of Singapore and meeting the aspirations of Singaporeans.

Mr Speaker, Sir, before proceeding further, I would like to acknowledge ten Members of this House who were members of the Singapore 21 Committee, and thank them for their contributions. They are Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Mr Ahmad Magad, Mr Chan Soo Sen, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Mr David Lim, Mr Seng Han Thong, Dr Lee Tsao Yuan, Mr Inderjit Singh, Mr Lim Swee Say and Mr Simon Tay.

I would also like to thank various other Members of this House who have helped the Committee in its work by organising and participating in forums, and sending in their views to the Committee.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Prime Minister launched the Singapore 21 Committee in August 1997. Its task: to strengthen the heartware of Singapore and to develop a consensus on the kind of society which Singaporeans want for the future. The Singapore 21 Committee has completed its work and released its report on 24th April 1999. Copies of the report have been circulated to Members of this House. The Need For A New Vision

We are standing at the threshold of a new millennium, one which will be characterised by change and uncertainty. Beyond the formidable task of competing in the global knowledge economy, there will be challenges on many other fronts. The pervasiveness of the Internet and the growing mobility of people will bring a global elite closer together, but threaten to increase the gap separating them from those within their own societies who are less able to cope with these changes. This could lead to social tension. And those who think that conflict is a thing of the past, need only look at Kosovo today to be reminded of the possible dangers. Singapore will not be spared from these challenges.

In such a world, political stability, social cohesion, and the values and commitment of our people will be of paramount importance. Together, they make up the "heartware" which will determine if we can meet the challenges ahead - whether we can muster our people to defend the country, whether we can mobilise our businessmen and workers to meet economic challenges, whether we can encourage our people to take care of one another. Heartware will determine our national resilience in a changing world. It will determine the tone of our communities and the quality of every Singaporean's life.

How do we build the heartware? Singapore is changing. By the year 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 60 and above. Their commitment and hard work built modern Singapore. Their collective needs and concerns in their golden years will have a significant impact on the Singapore of the future. The young will be better educated, more informed and well travelled. They will be more independent and inquiring. They will also want a bigger role in shaping the things that affect their lives. To build the heartware, we will have to develop a new vision for Singapore, based on the aspirations of Singaporeans, and the society that they want for the future. A vision, which will take into account, our material, intellectual, emotional, and social needs. The Making of Singapore 21

Over the past one and a half years, the Singapore 21 Committee, and its five subject committees, consulted some 6,000 Singaporeans through seminars, focus group discussions, surveys, e-mail and other exchanges. These Singaporeans come from all walks of life. They include teachers, students, businessmen, professionals, workers, volunteers in welfare organisations, community leaders and many others. The discussions revolved around the challenges that Singaporeans will face and the dreams that they have as individuals, families, communities and as a nation. To facilitate discussion and emphasise that tough choices may have to be made, the challenges were structured as five apparent dilemmas. And these were:

(i) A Less Stressful Life vs Retaining the Drive;

(ii) The Needs of Senior Citizens vs Aspirations of the Young;

(iii) Attracting Talent vs Looking After Singaporeans;

(iv) Internationalisation/Regionalisation vs Singapore as Home; and

(v) Consultation and Consensus vs Decisiveness and Quick Action.

From the discussions, and the many internal deliberations, the Singapore 21 Committee has identified five key ideas, which together form the Singapore 21 vision. These five ideas represent what Singaporeans collectively desire for the future of Singapore. Let me go through each of the ideas briefly.

Five Key Ideas

First, Every Singaporean Matters. The Singapore of the future must be one where people matter not only in the collective sense, but also at the individual level. Every Singaporean is important. Every Singaporean has a contribution to make.

At the individual level, Singaporeans must set their own goals and strive to be the best that they can be. They should also embrace the spirit of lifelong learning. At the community and societal level, the definition of success should be widened beyond academic and material achievements. Anyone trying his best and contributing to the nation, whether in traditionally recognised fields such as business, medicine and law, or other areas like sports, entertainment and the arts should be applauded and encouraged.

The second idea is Strong Families as Our Foundation and Our Future. The family has been the cornerstone of our society. Strong families have enabled our children to grow up in a nurturing environment and ensured that the elderly are well looked after and enjoy dignity and respect. It is through the family that values are passed on from one generation to the next. It is within the warm embrace of strong families that the needs and aspirations of both the young and the old are fulfilled.

The Singapore 21 survey has shown that Singapore families are generally sound. However, they are also under increasing stress. Families are getting smaller. The number of working adults per elderly person is shrinking. In most cases, both parents have demanding jobs and have little time for their children. What should we do?

The correct response lies not in transferring the family's role to another institution, but in strengthening the family unit itself. At the individual level, Singaporeans must take time to nurture their own families. At the community and national levels, support must be provided for families. If priorities have to be re-assessed and some sacrifices made, they should be done. As we prepare to meet the challenges ahead, the family unit will be an integral part of the solution. It is, and must remain, the fundamental building block of our society.

The third component of the Singapore 21 vision is Opportunities for All. The vision is for Singapore to be a place of opportunity for all, both Singaporeans and foreigners; a cosmopolitan city where people come together and spark new ideas and opportunities; at the same time, a country committed to helping its citizens realise their fullest potential; and a spirited society, where those who have tried but did not succeed are encouraged to try again.

In a recent Straits Times survey, most Singaporeans agree that having foreign talent is good for Singapore and Singaporeans as foreign talent will generate new opportunities and add to our economy's competitiveness. Singaporeans are prepared to accept the need for foreign talent at the rational level. The next step is for us to similarly accept foreign talent at the emotional level. At the personal and community levels, Singaporeans should not feel threatened by foreign talent but should welcome those who come to Singapore to contribute to our development. Most of us have recent immigrant roots ourselves. And those who come to Singapore, who share our dreams and are committed to our vision, we should embrace them as citizens.

The fourth idea is The Singapore Heartbeat. In an increasingly borderless world, it is imperative that Singaporeans have a strong sense of belonging to Singapore and share a common vision. Singaporeans must feel passionately that Singapore is where we belong, where our roots are and where our future lies. Wherever we may be around the world, our hearts must beat in tune with our fellow Singaporeans, with whom we share a mutual responsibility.

Finally, the idea of Active Citizens who Make the Difference. The Singapore 21 survey found that Singaporeans want to be involved and consulted on issues that affect their lives. This is an encouraging sign. In an increasingly complex world, no one, including the Government, has all the answers. Greater involvement of the people will lead to better solutions. It will also result in greater ownership of the final decision and outcome.

But beyond giving their views on public policies and issues, Singaporeans must be more involved in creating the kind of society we want for ourselves and our children. Participation need not be at the national level on weighty national issues. Participation can make a big difference, perhaps make the biggest difference, at the grassroots level to themselves and to their fellow Singaporeans. Where possible, Singaporeans should be active citizens who take ownership of problems within their neighbourhood, community and society. By offering feedback and ideas, Singaporeans have a greater sense of participation and ownership, by becoming actively involved in putting their ideas to work, they share in the responsibility for the outcome. Active citizens will form a people sector that will complement the public sector and the private sector in a dynamic partnership.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, Sir, what I have just described are the five key ideas that make up the Singapore 21 vision. Singapore 21 is not the Government's concept on what Singaporeans should do in the next century. It is what Singaporeans collectively desire for the future. The five key ideas are not "good to haves" but essential ingredients in building the heartware of our nation. They cannot be achieved overnight, nor will they be easy to achieve. But we must strive towards them because the Singapore 21 vision will be crucial to Singapore's continued survival and success in the new millennium.

In developing and articulating the Singapore 21 vision, the Singapore 21 Committee has drawn upon the combined wisdom, experience and aspirations of many Singaporeans. The Committee would like to thank all of them for their participation. The endorsement of the Singapore 21 Vision by this House will enable us to move into the next and more difficult phase of implementation. This will require the unified response of all Singaporeans - the public sector, the private sector and the people sector.

Mr Speaker, Sir, instead of continuing to make a long exposition on what Singapore 21 is, I think it is more important to give Members the opportunity to come forward and say for themselves what they feel Singapore should be in the 21st century. I look forward to support from Members of this House for this vision. And I look forward to hearing your ideas on how we can realise this vision.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.