Untitled Document

Opening Statement By RADM Teo Chee Hean, Minister For Education And Second Minister For Defence At Parliament On 4 May 1999.

The Singapore Tribe

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, the Prime Minister launched the Singapore 21 Committee in August October 1997. Its task was 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 24 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 doorstep 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 about a borderless world and pose a threat to the integrity of nations. Rapid technological advancements will increase the income gap between the IT literate and those who are unable to keep up. This could lead to social tension. And those who think that military conflicts are relics of the past just need to take a look at Kosovo today to be reminded of the possible dangers. Singapore will not be spared from these potential 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 also determine the tone of our communities and the quality of every Singaporean's life.

How do we build heartware? Singapore is changing. By the year 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 60 and above. Collectively, they will have greater concerns. The young will be better educated, more informed and well travelled. They will be more independent and inquiring. They will also want a bigger say in things that affect their life. To build 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 S21 Committee, and its five subject committees, consulted some 6,000 Singaporeans through seminars, focus group discussions, surveys, email and other exchanges. These Singaporeans come from all walks of life. They include teachers, students, businessmen, professionals, volunteers in welfare organisations, community leaders and 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. They were:

(i) Less Stressful Life vs Retaining the Drive;
(ii) 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 S21 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.

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 our aged parents are well looked after. It is the means to pass on values from one generation to the next. It is within the context of strong families that the needs and aspirations of both the young and 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 level, support must be provided for families. If priorities have to be re-assessed and certain 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 missed 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. This shows that Singaporeans have accepted 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. As for those who share our dreams and 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 a belief in the national vision. Singaporeans must feel passionately that Singapore is where we identify with, 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. According to the Singapore 21 survey, Singaporeans want to be involved and consulted on issues that affect their lives. We see this as an encouraging sign. In an increasingly complex world, no single party, 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. Where possible, Singaporeans should be active citizens who take ownership of problems within their community and society at large without waiting for the Government to take the lead. Active citizens will form a people sector that will complement the public sector and the private sectors in a virtuous partnership. The complex challenges of the 21st century will demand more from all of us. We must find creative new ways of working together.

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. But we must persevere 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 desires of many Singaporeans. The Committee would like to thank all of them for their participation. The endorsement of the Singapore 21 Vision by the 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, I beg to move.