PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

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PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS:

The President (Mr S R Nathan): Honourable Members, we open the Second Session of this 10th Parliament with a heavy heart. Only two weeks ago, many parts of our region were devastated by tsunamis which brought death and destruction to entire communities. Some Singaporean lives were lost; others are still missing. Last Sunday, we held a Memorial Service for all the victims of this

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great calamity. In solidarity with other affected countries, we will do our part in the international efforts at rehabilitation and reconstruction.

At the Opening of the First Session of this 10th Parliament on 25th March 2002, I spoke of the need to re-make Singapore. I said that before the next elections in 2007, the core members of the new political leadership had to establish themselves and take Singapore another step forward.

On 12th August last year, a new Prime Minister and his Cabinet were sworn in. This team will build on the achievements of their predecessor, and develop new programmes to meet the challenges ahead.

SINGAPORE’S ASSETS: Through the hard work of Singaporeans, the application of sound government policies, and the dedication of capable leaders at all levels, Singapore has enjoyed four decades of stability and progress. We have built a modern economy, a prosperous and equitable society, and a cohesive multi-racial, multi-religious nation.

Today, we have sound and tested systems and institutions in all three branches of government and many sectors of society. We have a growing pool of talent, local and foreign, and a well-trained, disciplined workforce that is ready to adapt to changes. We are a cohesive community committed to preserving social harmony and building our home here. We are open to people from around the world who can contribute to our development and growth.

Internationally, we have deep and wide networks with the global community and economy. We may be small, but our economic and international space is big.

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Most importantly, our people have been tested in crises like SARS and the threat of terrorism. We have come through stronger and more united, with a new generation of able and committed leaders who care for the well-being of Singapore and who have the will to serve the nation.

We are therefore far better off today than we were at independence in 1965. We have every reason to go forward with confidence, despite the significant challenges ahead.

THE WAY FORWARD: A key ingredient of our success has been our faith in Singapore. Here we can pursue our dreams. Here everyone can hope for a better life. Our way forward is to continue making Singapore a land of opportunity for our people, so that this will long be the place where talent, energy and vitality congregate.

In the next phase of our journey, I see the following as the key priorities of the Government.

Securing our Place in the World

First, we must secure Singapore’s place in the world, and nurture our relations with other countries. To thrive Singapore depends on the world around us. Geographically we may be an island, but in every other respect we are closely linked to the rest of the world. We need to live at peace with our neighbours, work with them for our common good, and play our part in the comity of nations. Our outlook should be cosmopolitan and international, welcoming trade, talent, ideas and enterprises from all over the world.

Our closest ties are with our ASEAN neighbours. If they prosper, we too will gain. If they run into trouble, we will

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surely share their problems. In a fast changing world ASEAN countries have to put aside differences to cooperate with one another. Only then can we successfully tackle regional problems together. Only then can ASEAN hold its own against other regions in the global economic competition. Hence the Government places great importance on good relations with our ASEAN partners.

At the same time, we will cultivate our ties with China and India. Their transformation will continue to fuel growth in the whole of Asia. We will also cultivate ties with the developed countries on which we depend for investments and markets.

In an increasingly interdependent world, Singapore will fulfil its responsibilities as a global citizen. We will work with the United Nations, international organisations and their member countries on issues which concern us all, such as the environment, counter-terrorism, avian influenza, and free trade. We will share our experiences dealing with these issues. We will participate actively in international efforts, for example, in disaster relief, within the limits of our resources and capabilities.

In the aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunamis, Singapore has contributed helicopters, ships, supplies, DART (Disaster Assistance and Rescue Teams) and medical and forensic teams to the relief efforts. Individual citizens have contributed open-heartedly, together donating more than $30 million so far. In this calamity, our citizens have responded with a generous spirit.

Security as the Bedrock

Second, we must build a safe and secure environment, to provide a firm foundation for achieving all our other aspirations. Without peace and security,

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our economy and society will not sustain continued orderly development.

Transnational terrorism is the most immediate threat to our national security. Rooted in a fanatical ideology that employs extreme methods of terror, transnational terrorism is a long-term threat that requires a sustained and coordinated response. To deal with the threat, we must strengthen our Total Defence. All agencies of the government must be alert and work closely together, so as to leave no gaps in our defences. The people too must play their part, to cooperate with the government and strengthen our social cohesion. We must never allow the terrorists to exploit fault lines in our society, and thus divide and destroy us.

At the same time, a strong SAF remains a priority. The SAF provides us with a credible deterrence and effective defence. The SAF is effective, because of our collective determination to fight to protect ourselves, our families and our homes when we are endangered. The dedication and sacrifices of generations of national servicemen demonstrate that despite many years of peace, this resolve remains unshaken. The SAF will maintain a high level of operational readiness as it modernises and transforms into the 3rd Generation SAF. In a quiet and non-provocative way, it will continue contributing to Singapore’s security as well aspeace in Southeast Asia.

Building the Economy

Third, we must strengthen our economy. A thriving economy will provide us the resources to tackle all other challenges.

Despite the tsunamis, the overall outlook for Asia, and for our economy, is positive. Provided we continue to revise and update our economic strategies, we

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can ride on Asia’s rapid growth, move up the value chain, and keep on creating new opportunities for ourselves.

We will maintain a pro-business strategy, so that the private sector, both large and small firms, can prosper, and generate wealth and jobs. By supporting entrepreneurship and fostering innovation, we will encourage more people to dream of new ideas, pursue them with passion, and open up new opportunities for our economy. At the same time, by keeping regulation light, taxes low and the government trim, we will stimulate individual initiative and spur new businesses.

In manufacturing, we will strengthen our existing industries in electronics, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals and engineering. We will exploit promising technologies like biotechnology, new materials, photonics and nanotechnology to enhance our industry clusters or develop new growth areas. We will also foster the growth of new, vibrant services, like financial services, professional services, environment engineering, creative industries, education and tourism. The government will support these activities by investing in science and technology, research and development, and skilled manpower and talent.

Investing In People

Fourth, we will invest in our people through better education for our young, timely and relevant training for our workforce, and job restructuring for our older workers. In education, we are already making extensive changes to offer different paths to success through a wider spectrum of learning. Our aim is to develop the potential of every student, be it in sports, the arts, music, humanities, science and technology or the professions. We will expand opportunities for students and teachers, to imbue them

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with a zest for life-long learning and the nurturing of the human spirit.

We will train our workers to be world class in their productivity, skill-levels, and competence; not just individually, but as a Singapore team. We will improve their skills as well as their creativity and resourcefulness. Ours must always be a work force that is proud of its capabilities and excels in its work. We will ensure that businesses can get the skilled manpower and talent that they need, in order to grow and create more jobs for our people.

The Government will work with the unions and employers, to help workers who are affected by restructuring to acquire new skills so as to remain employable. We will also focus on the problems faced by older workers. We must enable more Singaporeans to continue working into their 60s, and take advantage of new avenues of employment. Then they can stay active longer, retire later and provide better for their old age.

Augmenting Our Population and Talent

Fifth, we will encourage Singaporeans to balance economic pursuits with fulfilment in personal goals and family life. Singapore should be a great place for families, for citizens as well as permanent residents and others who live and work here. We will persevere in our efforts to shift social attitudes towards marriage and parenthood. Singaporeans should not only want to develop their careers successfully, but also to form and bring up families, create caring homes and develop deep social bonds.

By drawing in talent from all over the world, we will not only augment our population and build a more vibrant society, but also develop the economic strengths and competitive advantages so

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necessary for success. This means keeping our doors open to foreigners with diverse skills, talents and aptitudes, and welcoming them warmly into our midst. We will encourage those who embrace our values and way of life to sink roots here as permanent residents and citizens.

Engaging Our Youth

Sixth, we need to engage and inspire a new generation of Singaporeans to build on what we have achieved, and to commit themselves to our enterprise. Our future lies in the hands of the post-independence generation. They will be our future leaders in government, business, social work, arts, sports and other fields. Our young must have the passion and commitment to act on their convictions and ideals. They have to benefit from the experiences of their elders, make the most of the plentiful opportunities, and keep our society fresh, vibrant, and forward looking.

We will open more avenues for our young to be involved in national and community issues, and promote more activities that strengthen their sense of ownership and belonging. The government will help our youth translate ideas into constructive action. We will provide seed funding and support to help them get started, form new groups and link up with more established groups. This will create more opportunities for them to develop leadership and life skills.

We will also continue to offer overseas opportunities for young Singaporeans to become active and caring global citizens. In the aftermath of the tsunami disaster, young Singaporeans- through the Youth Expedition Project and other programmes- are playing a role in the rebuilding efforts of the affected countries.

There will however be some young Singaporeans who need help to realise

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their potential. We will develop preventive and reintegration programmes for out-of-school youth, ex-youth offenders and other young people who need our assistance.

A Place for Everyone

Finally, we must ensure that all Singaporeans benefit from our success as a nation. Whilst we compete against one another to motivate each person to do his best, we must also work alongside one another to build this nation together. Therefore, no group should miss out on the fruits of our progress. Everyone who strives and contributes should get what he merits. We will equip all those who are willing to improve themselves with skills to make them useful and employable. We must help to uplift children from lower income families and others less well endowed, so that they can succeed in school and in their careers, and so break the cycle of poverty.

Affordable healthcare is a major concern of Singaporeans. Our 3M framework of Medisave, MediShield and Medifund is sound. It has provided Singaporeans with high quality medical care. We will improve this scheme to strengthen MediShield and the role of catastrophic medical insurance. This will lighten the financial burden on the minority of families who incur large hospital bills, and ease the worry of many others.

How Singapore treats and takes care of disabled persons reflects the kind of society we want to be. Our "many helping hands" approach has built up a broad range of support services for the disabled. We will continue to address their needs, and progressively enhance support for disabled children, to equip them for life and integrate them into society.

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Older Singaporeans helped to build today’s Singapore. Their contributions are still vital to our economy, and their experiences and values remain crucial to our society. We will value and honour them. We will support the social, mental, and physical needs of the growing numbers of older Singaporeans. Society and their families must engage them, care for them, and help them feel valued even after they retire. Together, we will make Singapore a great place for family life, and for living in harmony in our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious community.

CONCLUSION: We will achieve all this and more, if all of us join hands to work for what we believe in. The people are entitled to demand the best from their leaders. They also aspire to play a part, and expect to do so. Everyone who makes Singapore home will have opportunities to make a difference. Every contribution is valued and important. There will be unforeseen challenges, but so long as we stay united we will overcome them.

Our forefathers came to Singapore because they saw opportunity here. Singapore represented hope, and promised a better life for themselves and their children. For the next generation, Singapore should continue to be a land of opportunity- opportunity for all Singaporeans to be the best that they can be, to lead fulfilling lives, and to contribute as citizens to a better Singapore. Let us build such a nation together.

Adjourned according at Six

Minutes to Nine o'clock pm.