PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS (Debate on the Address)

Debate resumed.

Mr Goh Chok Tong: Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. As I said, we had won elections again and again. Also, in the last General Election, in the contested seats, the voters gave us 75 per cent of the vote. Why? Because they knew that Singapore faced several severe challenges - the economic recession, the terrorist threat and a less than benign regional environment. And the voters believed in our leadership.

So we must not disappoint them. We must lead. Look for new solutions to old problems. Anticipate future problems and head them off. Explain issues in simple, clear terms to the people and mobilise them behind the Government.

Running a Government is like conducting an orchestra. Every PAP MP is a member of this orchestra. Each MP has his own musical instrument. And there are many different musical instruments, eg, the piano, violin, cello, oboe, bass, drum, flute and so on, each providing a different sound.

But they must produce beautiful music together. If we perform well, at the end of each electoral term, the voters will ask for an encore. If not, the orchestra will not be invited back to perform.

Does this mean that the MPs must make similar speeches since we are members of the same Party? No. Each speech is like a different instrument, with its different sound and effect. But, taken together, all the speeches you have made and you will make, must sound like a grand orchestral performance.

If you do not understand this, and you sing Jail House Rock with your electric guitar when others are playing Beethoven, you are out of order. The Whip must be used on you. This does not mean that you cannot gyrate to the music of Elvis Presley, but do it at an appropriate occasion, like at the end of Budget Debate party.

This orchestra analogy has relevance also to Singapore Inc, or to the whole of Singapore. In this case, the entire nation is the orchestra. The Government is the conductor, and the people are the musicians.

As musicians, Singaporeans can play any instrument they like, which means they should feel free to speak up and offer their views and suggestions, even if they are contrary to Government policy. But do remember, whatever you do or say, at the end of the day, we must perform well enough as a team to deliver economic growth, social harmony, quality of life, and security for ourselves and our children.

There will be many challenges for which there is no final solution where we can declare, "case closed". There are many problems which will remain with us for many years to come. And new challenges and problems will arise. We will simply have to persevere, constantly try creative and new approaches, and manage problems to the best of our ability.

I am confident that we can get on top of these difficult challenges. We have recruited good people into the Government. Ng Eng Hen, Khaw Boon Wan and the new crop of MPs give me hope, that there are more able and committed Singaporeans out there who are willing to leave the comfort of the public gallery and the operating theatre, to serve the nation. We just have to find them and give them the reasons to step forward, whether it is to advance the Singapore Cause or to achieve their Singapore Dream.

This - persuading Singaporeans that they should step forward to serve the nation - is itself a major challenge. As Khaw Boon Wan put it, the dream of younger Singaporeans nowadays is the Global Dream. They are well-educated, well-read and well-travelled. They are mobile. They can fit as well into New York, as they can in Singapore. They will be pulled by where the opportunities beckon. What can we do to keep their hearts here so that, even if they leave to pursue their Global Dream, they will return one day to Singapore?

If we can achieve these two goals - secure a constant flow of good people into the Government and anchor Singaporeans firmly to Singapore - then, Singapore will endure and prosper. [Applause.]

Mr Speaker: Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, do you want to wrap up the debate? 5.05 pm

Mrs Lim Hwee Hua (Marine Parade): Mr Speaker, Sir, wrapping up after the Prime Minister has spoken is a challenging task but one which I will endeavour to do my best.

Sir, I would like to begin by thanking all 61 hon. Members who have risen in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. Over the past five days, we have heard statements of harsh realities, treated to excellent displays of wit and humour, and even a little poetry. There is, however, strong evidence of a common will and spirit in all that Members have said. I am also happy to note that all new Members have participated and clearly demonstrated their ability to add significantly to the depth and breadth of parliamentary debate. The House can therefore be expected to witness similarly lively debates for future sittings.

Sir, this whole debate has to do with change in response to all the challenges: what has brought about the numerous changes to our economic conditions, our social ties, values and the political landscape, how do we cope with change at the country and individual level, how we can exploit change using our strengths, and so on.

It is now my humble duty to highlight the common threads that run through this debate, in the context of change, along the following themes: competition, human capital, adaptation, narrower divides, globalisation of terrorism, and engagement.

Competition

Sir, many Members have eloquently dwelt on the onslaught of competition. Increasing competition, especially from technological advances, will lead to shorter product life-cycles and, therefore, innovation and creativity are all-important. Competition is ruthless and does not discriminate. Therefore, survival means that we need to constantly offer a point of differentiation. It is no longer enough to be simply more effective and efficient.

Sir, there is also an acute awareness of the need and a sense of urgency for Singapore to remain competitive. Many Members have urged the Government to review the cost of doing business in Singapore. Competition also comes in the juggernaut of China, how with its ample resources and massive domestic market, it is already competing for FDIs aggressively.

Human Capital

Sir, nothing strikes a more common chord than the recognition that people are our most precious resource. And many Members have made calls to the Government to do all it can to maximise the potential of all, including women, by ensuring that opportunities for education and multiple role playing are available. Sustaining a competitive edge is all about having a relevant and nimble workforce, one that can bounce back in adversity. There is no doubt that the current spate of retrenchments will come increasingly from restructuring than a pure downturn in demand.

Sir, we recognise that retrenchment can occasionally be opportunistic, in the name of creating shareholder value, that it afflicts all across-the-board and is not limited to lower-skilled workers. There is, therefore, also no doubt that some jobs will never return, and Singaporeans who used to hold these jobs will simply have to be reskilled for other employment. Otherwise, structural unemployment, especially of the older workers, will be hard at the personal, family and community levels.

Sir, we can build on our strengths. We have a highly skilled workforce, well-regarded for quality work and diligence, and a very strong Singapore brand. We also have solid tripartite relations which we should leverage on, to help ease transition in career switches and, more importantly, to continue to present a difference to foreign investors.

Adaptation

Change is also all about adaptation, in a pro-active and not reactive manner. Many Members have called for a mindset change in the way we maintain our relevance as employees whilst recognising that insecurity will be hard to shake off - in the way we view success and failure in society, even in schools; in the way the civil service can be flexible and effectively facilitate growth in the private sector. As employees, we now have to accept that contract work could be a dominant feature, and the norm will be that we go through several jobs in our lifetime or be economic gypsies, as one Member has put it. Loyalties and predictable wage growth would be replaced by rewards according to the degree of innovation, creativity and risk-assumption.

Sir, as a people, we have to be psychologically prepared for strategic changes that we would have to make: changes in the tax structure, the composition of wages, as well as the CPF scheme. We would also have to rethink and review how we use our CPF as we address the aging population and rising singlehood trends.

Narrower Divides

Next, Sir, on narrower divides. As a people, we should strive towards narrower divides, ie, help bridge the wealth and digital divides that would otherwise characterise our modern world. And this, we should achieve through closer community bonding and mutual responsibility. We would have to be watchful of external stresses on our racial and religious harmony and move towards greater integration and understanding. We would also have to continue to build on the principle of meritocracy and equality of treatment and opportunity.

Globalisation of Terrorism

Sir, let me now move on to the globalisation of terrorism, which the Prime Minister has already dwelt on at length. Globalisation has made the world seem smaller. Technology transfer can be had in the twinkling of an eye. But terrorism has also globalised along the way. The "911" attacks and similar events in the region have demonstrated how the economic consequences can be so widespread. Experiencing terrorism right at our doorsteps and in the region underscores the importance of national defence and a need for vigilance. We must guard against the negative effects of extremist tendencies.

Engagement

Sir, last but not least, change is all about engagement. Many Members have implored the Government to engage Singaporeans with greater intensity at all levels and regardless of gender, race, age, religion or physical ability. No single group of Singaporeans should feel alienated.

Sir, I believe it is worth belabouring the need to engage especially the young, to increase their sense of belonging to Singapore, to enable them to contribute their all to the future of Singapore, including, hopefully, procreating enough. This should rank high on the Government's agenda. Engagement must be genuine; feedback and participation must be seen to play a constructive role so as to address any lingering scepticism. Engagement is, therefore, vital to strengthening the sense of ownership of, and belonging to, Singapore. In turn, it will strengthen our sense of ownership and belonging to one another.

As a nation, our sovereignty is absolute, and one shared by all Singaporeans. It shall also be the basis for which we relate to our neighbours.

Let me now just make some concluding remarks. We have the certainty of change and uncertainty from change. Change will not wait to happen. If unexpected, change will be very uncomfortable. But change can be anticipated to a certain extent. And we have just heard from the Government, by the Prime Minister himself, that the Government will provide strong leadership and assurance that it will do just that: anticipate change, do long-term strategic planning to anticipate the shifts and leverage on our strengths, see how we can prepare our people to meet the new challenges, explain the need for change, and invest in the necessary physical and social infrastructure, so as to enable every Singaporean to contribute in his own way. Our individual response is, therefore, critical as well.

So, Sir, the ultimate challenge will be the uniting of both the Government and people in purpose and in undertaking the necessary changes.

It leaves me now to thank all Members once again for their support, and I would like to invite all Members to join me in thanking the President for his Address. [Applause.]

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:-

"We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.".