PM Lee - Singapore Management University [PDF]

Publication: Agence France-Presse Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages 30 June 2015 08:54 PM Agence France-Presse AFPR Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015 All reproduction and presentation rights reserved.

Singapore's population is ageing faster than nearly any other society in the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday, warning this could have a serious impact on the economy and defence. Lee, 63, said he was worried that the city-state's population was expanding at its slowest pace in a decade despite the government's incentives to encourage citizens to produce more babies. "Who is going to pay the taxes to spend on whom?" he asked in a speech at a forum organised by the Singapore Management University. "Our defence, who is going to man the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces), who will defend us? We can't be 'Dad's Army'." Lee in his speech flagged the demographic shift as one of the country's major challenges in years to come. Other affluent Asian societies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong face similar ageing problems. Singapore's population expanded at a mere 1.3 percent last year, the lowest in ten years, and the trend is likely to continue, Lee said. "It is something to worry about because what does rapid ageing means for a nation? We are growing older faster than nearly any other society in the world." He said the number of citizens aged 65 and above had risen to 440,000 currently from 220,000 in 2000 and this was expected to further increase to 900,000 by 2030. By 2030 two working adults will be supporting one senior citizen, up from five working adults supporting one senior citizen currently, Lee added. The government for years has been encouraging couples to have more than two children, offering financial and other incentives. But the campaign has met with little success, prompting the government to increasingly rely on foreign labour. Singapore's total fertility rate fell to 1.19 babies per woman in 2013 from 1.29 in 2012, well below the 2.1 babies needed to naturally replenish the native-born population.

Publication: Agence France-Presse Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

High living costs, including for education, and lifestyle choices have been cited as among the reasons. As of end-June 2014 Singapore's population totalled 5.47 million, of whom nearly 40 percent are foreigners. Strident complaints from citizens about immigration has led the government to curb foreign hiring and the granting of permanent residency status.

Publication: AsiaOne Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee

Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee Charissa Yong Wednesday, Jul 1, 2015

Photo: ST

Singapore will face three key challenges in the next 50 years, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday. They are: maintaining economic growth to improve lives in the short-term, raising its total fertility rate in the medium-term, and forging a common identity among Singaporeans in the long-run. Mr Lee held up these weighty challenges which concern Singapore's survival at a lecture organised by the Singapore Management University. The Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture was held at the Suntec Convention Centre. In the next 10 years on the economic front, Singapore needs to improve its productivity and maintain its growth. It is the only way Singaporeans can continue finding good jobs and having opportunities, he said.

Source: AsiaOne © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: AsiaOne Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee

The country's growth has been high, with its real gross domestic product soaring 40 times since Independence in 1965. But this growth is slowing. Its GDP is forecast to grow by 2 to 4 per cent a year going forward, and productivity must grow by 2 per cent, he said. Looking at the next 25 years, Singapore must tackle its demographic challenge of an ageing population and declining birth rates. Ultimately, the best and only solution is for Singaporeans to marry and have more children, said Mr Lee. But the biggest of these three challenges is to maintain a sense of pride in being Singaporean something that cannot be manufactured by the Government, he said. "For the next 50 years, we will need good policies. But just like the past 50 years, for these policies to succeed, we need a strong sense of identity and nationhood. We need to be proud to be a Singaporean," he said. Otherwise, Singapore runs the danger of dissolving into disunity or becoming so cosmopolitan and comfortable with living abroad that "we lose the sense that only Singapore is truly home...then the centre cannot hold", he added. Mr Lee said the Government is tackling these challenges through a raft of policies, but all these plans depend on good leadership.

This article was first published on June 30, 2015.

Source: AsiaOne © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: Berita Harian, p 11 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee: Maintaining Singapore's unique identity is the biggest challenge Semasa berucap di Ceramah Ho Rih Hwa di Suntec City semalam, Perdana Menteri Lee Hsien Loong membentangkan cabaran yang bakal dihadapi Singapura pada masa depi::m. Tiga cabaran utama ialah ekonomi, penduduk dan identiti. Singapura. Berikut sedutan ucapan beliau.

PM Lee:

Kekalkan identiti unik S.,pura cabaran paling besar

Pertumbuhan ekonomi berkurangan dekad demi dekad (%)

Kadar pertumbuhan penduduk keseluruhan setiap tahun

SEKILAS

Trend Penduduk 2014

11> Singapura menyaksikan 24,000 perkahwinan, jumlah tertinggi sepanjang 10 tahun lalu. 11> 33,200 bayi dilahirkan. Jumlah kelahiran pada tahun lalu dengan jumlah pada 2012 adalah paling tinggi dalam tempoh 10 tahun lalu.

Pertumbuhan masa depan bergantung pada produktiviti

11.5

11> Pertumbuhan tenaga ke�a asing telah merosot. 11> Jumlah warga berusia 65 tahun dan ke alas akan berganda mulai sekarang dengan 2030, akibatnya jumlah warga yang beke�a akan merosot lebih separuh.

Pertumbuhan Setahun (o/o) • Pertumbuhan Produktiviti • Pertumbuhan Tenaga Kerja

11.5

5.5o/o

11> Kadar pertumbuhan penduduk

adalah terendah tahun lalu sepanjang sedekad. ·

Trend Ekonomi

II>Kadar pertumbuhan hasil kasar dalam - negeri (GDP) semakin perlahan.

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013'

11> Anggaran pertumbuhan ekonomi akan datang sekitar 2 - 4 peratus.

2014

TREND SINGAPURA: Antara carta yang dipamerkan Encik Lee semasa memberi ucapan untuk menekankan trend yang boleh menjejas pembangunan Singapura di masa depan.- Grafik MOHD SAMAD AFANDIE APAKAH cabaran yang kita

gitu besar - ekonomi Singapura

hadapi hari ini? la bergantung kepada tempoh masa. Sekiranya anda mengambil masa 10 tahun, cabarannya ialah ekonomi. Kita telah mencapai tahap yang

wasa akan menyokong seorang war­ ga emas. Sekiranya anda melihat pir­

dan nada keseluruhan masyarakat

menerima kesannya menernsi per­

amid penduduk kita, penduduk Sin­

Singapura tidak lagi muda dan ber­

tumbuhan yang lebih perlahan. Na­

gapura semakin tua, dengan keba­

pandangan jauh, tetapi lebih pesimis­

mun kita perlu memperlahankan

nyakannya dalam lingkungan umur

tik, lebih berorientaslkan status qu·o

pengaliran pekerja asing dengan

S0-60 tahun.

atau memegang kepada masa lalu.

cara yang teratur dan seirnbang, tan­

akan melebihi 2 peratus.

yang balk. Namun kerana pendu­

Jika · kita dapat terns memper­

duk

tingkatkan diri, dalam masa 10 tahun, kita akan berada dalam liga yang berbeza. Kita boleh membuat pelaburan

Singapura

menyokong

Generasi selepas Perang Dunia

dasar-dasar b a i k ini, kita dapat

Kedua kini mula bersara dan kita

melaksanakan dan menghasilkan

tidak mempunyai terlalu ramai tena­

keputusan yang balk untuk Singapu­

ga muda yang memasuki alam pe­

ra.

bagi rakyat, mampu membiayai ja­

kerjaan. Kita telah memperketatkan dasar tenaga kerja asing, dan seperti

·

kata Lim Swee Say barn-baru ini, ki­

10 TAHUN: EKONOMI KITA

ki kehidupan dan pelbagai program lain. Sekiranya kita gaga!, ekonomi

ta tidak akan membuat pusingan U

Dalam tempoh 10 tahun, caba­

mengenai isu ini. Ini bermakna kita

ran utama ialah ekonomi kita.

Singapura lemah dan kita keterbela­ kang, seperti apa yang kini dialami

Singapura

beberapa negara - Taiwan, Korea,

dalam

perlu memastikan

kedudukan

Untuk merealisaslkan pertumbu­

gapura telah berkembang sejak SO

poh 2S tahun, isu penduduk akan

dan perkahwinan dan dasar-dasar keibubapaan dapat berakar dan mempunyai kesm langsting.

· Perbezaan antara jumlah kadar

(TFR) 1.2

dan TFR seba­

nyak 1.S ialah 9,000 bayi setiap tahun, atau lebih 200,000 bayi lagi

·

da. Kita telah menikmati pertumbu­ han tinggi sejak SO tahun hilu. Per­

r u n . la bukan s e s u a t u y a n g mengejutkan kerana ekonomi Sin­ gapura semakin matang. Namun ki­ ga kerja - separuh menernsi bilan­ gan penduduk, dan separuh lagi me­

pat memastlkan penduduk Singapu­

nernsi tenaga kerja asing.

ra kekal lebih muda dan bertenaga.

Namun kita tidak boleh terns mengambil bilangan pekerja asing

terns merndum pada paras 1.2, tu­

pada kadar yang tinggi, hanya un­

gasnya adalah lebih sukar, walau­

tuk mengekalkim pertumbuhan.

pun dengan dasar-dasar imigresen.

Saya memahami kebirnbangan

semakin

pembanjll-an pekerja asing- dan ke­

menjadi

sannya kepada perumahan, peng­

masyarakat yang semakin tua, dan

angkutan awam atau persaingan pe­

ia akan membawa masalah yang be-

kerjaan.

yang juga

sar sedang bayi yang dilahirkan sele­ pas Perang Dunia Kedua bertambah

Dalam dekad yang lalu, pertum­ buhan daya penghasilan telah menu-

ta berupaya mengembangkan tena­

Namun sekiranya TFR Singapura

Kita alami anjakan demografi be­

Singapura kini semakin maju.

tahun. Sekiranya kita bernpaya mening­

2S TAHUN: PENDUDUK KITA

tumbuhan kekal tinggi, tetapi ia kini semakin perlahan kerana ekonomi

yang dilahirkan dalam tempoh 24

katkan TFR kita kepada 1.S, kita da­

bangun mendapati sukar, selepas Krisis Kewangan Sejagat. Kita juga tidak mencapai 2 peratus sejak be­ berapa tahun lalu.

nar telah meningkat 40 kali ganda ·dalam tempoli SO tahun. GDP per kapita telah meningkat 13 kali gan­

akan mengalami kerancakan dan kelembapan. pa!�m. j�ngka P!ln­ yang panjang bagi trend kelahiran

kanlah mudah. Banyak negara mem­

Sejak kemerdekaan, GDP sebe­

menjadi isu penting kerana ekonomi

jang, 2S tahun ialah jangka masa

han daya penghasilan 2 peratus bu­

tahun lalu.

Sekiranya kita mengambil tem­

pertumbuhan

daya penghasilan 2 peratus setahun.

balk hari ini kerana ekonomi Sin­

malah Jepun.

dan

tahu pertumbuhan pekerjaan tidak

bukan. sahaja kerana dasar-dasar

pan rakyat.

kedai

Dari sekarang hingga 2020, kita

lah berjaya sejak SO tahun yang lalu

kita dapat terns membaiki kehidu­

tutup

gan pekerjaan.

Asas-asas utama mengapa kita te­

mengembangkan ekonomi supaya

akan

n a . (SME)

menyebabkan pekerja kita kehilan­

identiti.

Namun kita perlu mencari jalan

Masyarakat

dan juga Syarikat Kecil dan Sederha­

yang akan dihadapi Singapura ialah

ngapura adalah setinggi Jepun.

niengecil

pa menyebabkan syarikat-syarikat

mengambil masa SO tahun, cabaran

Negeri (GDP). GDP per kapita Si­

kesuburan

kan aliran masuk pekerja asing, dan

Akhir sekali, sekiranya anda

tinggi dari segi Hasil Kasar Dalam

ringan keselamatan sosial, membai-

Oleh itu, kita telah memperlahan­

akan merosot dan menjadi lembap,

_

tua. Pertumbuhan penduduk Sin­ gapura

kini

semakin perlahan.

Tahun ini pertumbuhan penduduk mernpakan paling perlahan dalam ' tempoh 10 tahun. Tahun lalu penduduk di sini tum­ buh hanya 1.3 peratus.

Apakah kesan penuaan ini bagi Dari segi cukai: Siapakah yang akan membayar cukai, untuk dibe­ lanjakan untuk siapa? Dari segi ekonomi: Bagaimana dapat kita kekalkan Singapura men­ jadi makmur dan terns berseman­ gat? Dari segi pertahanan: Siapakah yang akan berkhidmat dalam An­ gkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF), dan mempertahankan Singapura? Xita tela:h pun melihat kesan-ke­ san penduduk hari ini yang semakin tua. Lebih banyak keluarga "sand­ wic" - yang sering mempunyai dua hanya

seorang

dewasa

menyokong kanak-kanak dan ibu bapa yang tua.

SO TAHUN: IDENTITI KITA Akhir sekali, dalam jangka masa

SO tahun, cabarannya adalah identi­ ti kita. Bagairnana kita mengukuh­

kan identiti dan ciri-ciri negara dan masyarakat kita? Bagairnana kita mengukuhkan apa yang menjadikan kita uniksebagai rakyat Singapura, apa yang membantu setiap warga ki­ ta dan Singapura secara keseluruh­ anya menjadi lebih balk.

SO tahun yang lalu, ketika kita mencapai kemerdekaan, kita tiada tempat lain untuk hidup. Enclk Lee Kuan Yew sering berkata: "Dunia tidak menjanjlkan kita kehidupan". Namun oleh kerana cabarannya be­

Bilangan warganegara yahg bern­

sar dan kita tidak mempunyai pili­

mur 6S tahun ke atas juga men­

ban, kita rasakan ada tujuan bersa­ ' ma untuk membina negara ihi.

ingkat dengan pantas. la tumbuh daripada 220,000 pada tahun 2000 kepada

440,000 hari ini dan 900,000 menjelang 2030. Hari ini, setiap Iima orang de­ wasa menyokong seorang warga emas. Menjelang 2030, dua orang de-

gapura satu kejayaan dan cahaya yang bersinar di dunia? Sedang kita maju, kita menghada­

negara?

atau

garaan ini, dan mengukuhkan identi­ ti dan tujuan yang sama, supaya rakyat kita mahu menjadikan Sin­

Ramai yang terdorong, termasuk mereka yang dilahirkan di negara

pi dua bahaya. Kita boleh larnt dalarn arns globalisasi tanpa ada identiti Singapura tersendiri, yang berbeza daripada rakyat bukan Sin­ gapura. Atau kita boleh mengikut jurang kumpulan yang berbeza dengan identiti eksklusif masing-masing, sekali gus hilang rasa sebangsa. Masyarakat kita

boleh larnt

dalarn arns globalisasi. Bahayanya ialah kita boleh menjadi masyarakat yang tidak bersatu padu membiar­ kan garis pemisah memecahbelah­ kan kita. Begitu juga dengan kuasa besar, kerana

kita

masih

sebuah

masyarakat berbilang kaum dan per­ jalanan masih jauh lagi sebelum kita kebal daripada pengarnh perkau­ man atau kepentingan komersial. Bagi

memastikan

Singapura

kekal istirnewa, memastikan keingi­ nan menjadi warga Singapura se­ suatu yang boleh dibanggakan, se­ suatu yang ingin kita perjuangkan; merasakan tugas dan tanggung­ jawab bukan sahaja kepada warga negara masa kini bahkan generasi masa depan, merasakan semangat bersatu padu dan bukan puak yang bertelagah - itulah cabaran masa depan kita yang paling besar. Namun kesemua rancangan ini bergantung

kepada

kepimpinan

yang balk. Pemirnpin yang mempun­ yai rasa tanggungjawab, komited sepenuhnya kepada Singapura dan rakyat Singapura. Pemirnpin yang bernpaya memenangi sokongan rakyat dan menggembleng rakyat. Pemirnpin yang berupaya bergand­ ing bahu dengan rakyat demi men­ jadikan SO tahun yang mendatang sama cemerlang dengan SO tahun

lain, tetapi sedia menjadikan negara ini kediaman dan perjuangan mere­

yang lalu.

ka.

erasi masa depan bukan hanya ke­ hidupan yang baik bahkan masa depan yang lebih bercahaya.

Bagi

SO ta hU:n mendatang,

bagairnana kita kekalkan rasa kene-

Agar kita dapat memberikan gen­

Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

11> Mulai sekarang hingga 2020 pertumbuhan peke�aan tidak akan melebihi 2 peratus. 11> Singapura harus capai pertumbuhan daya penghasilan 2 peratus setiap tahun. ldentiti Singapura 11> Singapura hadapi dua cabaran:

Hilang identrti Singapura yang unik

11> Masyarakat menghadapi risiko berpecah belah mengikut garis pemisah , kaum dan agama, isu LGBT, jurang sosial (miskin dan kaya) dan pimgaruh kuasa luar seperti ideologi ganas. � 11> Singapura perlukan pemimpin bertanggungjawab, boleh gembleng sokongan rakyat.

Publication: Berita Harian, p 1 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: 10, 25, 50 years ahead

10�25�50 tahnn akan

datang

PM gariskan cabaran Singapura PERDANA Menteri, Encik Lee Hsien Loong, semalam membentang­ kan tiga cabaran yang bakal diha­ dapi Singapura pada jangka terdekat dan panjang. Selain isu ekonomi, negara ini berdepan dengan isu penduduk, se­

duk akan menjadi paling rendah da­ lam sedekad. Tahun lalu, bilangan penduduk tumbuh hanya 1.3 pera­ tus. "Akhimya, huraian terbaik, bah­ kan satu-satunya huraian, ialah bagi

warga Singapura berumah tangga · dan melahirkan anak," ujar Encik Lee. Perangkaan talmn la­ lu memberangsangkan, terdapat 24,000 perkah­ winan dan 33,200 bayi warga Singapura dilahir­ kan - kededua perang­ kaan tertinggi dalam sedekad sebelumnya. Pada jangka panjang pula, Singapura perlu (LGBT). mengekalkan semangat Encik Lee menggaris­ watan dan memperku­ kan cabaran itu me­ kuh jati dirinya, meski­ ngikut tempoh 10 ta­ pun warganya akan hun, 25 tahun dan 50 menjadi lebih selesa ENCK LEE HSIEN tahun semasa berucap tinggal dan bekerja di LOONG di Ceramah Ho Rih luar negara. "Tetapi jika kita men­ Hwa anjuran Universiti jadi terlalu selesa di luar negara hing­ Pengurusan Singapura (SMU) di Sun­ ga kita tidak lagi anggap Singapura tee City semalam. dang kadar pertumbuhan penduduk bakal mencapai tahap paling rendah dalam sedekad tahun ini. Di samping itu, Singa­ pura menghadapi isu memelihara jati dirinya di tengah-tengah arus global, selain garis pemi­ sah seperti pengganasan dan isu lesbian, gay, bi­ seksual dan transgender ·

Beliau berkata setelah menikmati pertumbuhan tinggi selama ini, Sin­

sebagai tanah air sebenar-benamya, dan sebahagian besar bakat kita ke

ran terns mengembangkan ekonomi­

luar negara bagi mencari cabaran atau rezeki, teras kita tidak akan

nya dalam tempoh 10 tahun bagi

berkekalan," ujar Encik Lee.

meningkatkan kehidupan rakyat­

Satu lagi bahaya ialah garis pemi­ sah, seperti bangsa dan agama, isu LGBT, jurang miskin-kaya, dan fak­

gapura kini berdepan dengan caba­

nya. Encik Lee menekankan Singapu­ ra tidak boleh terns mengambil pe­

tor luar seperti pengganasan.

kerja asing untuk mengekalkan per­

Encik Lee menekankan bahawa Singapura perlu kepimpinan bertang­

tumbuhan, tetapi ia hams terns me­ ningkatkan daya penghasilan. "la sukar, tetapi Singapura tiada pilihan lain," kata beliau. Berkenaan isu penduduk, Encik Lee berkata Singapura kini mengha­

gungjawab, komited pada negara ini, serta boleh mertggembleng soko­ ngan rakyat untuk menjadikan 50 tahun akan datang sebaik apa yang dicapai sepanjang 50 tahun lalu.

dapi perubahan demografik besar se­ dang kadar pertumbuhan penduduk menjadi perlahan. Tahun ini, pertumbuhan pendu-

Source: Berita Harian © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Business Times, p 1 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee makes fresh plug on raising productivity

PM Lee makes fresh plug on raising productivity It'll be a hard slog, given the poor progress made so far, but Singapore has no other option, he says By Lee u-wen [email protected] @LeeuwenBT Singapore IF Singapore is to achieve the higher end of its economic growth forecast of 2 to 4 per cent per year, the coun­ try needs to work hard and boost its productivity by 2 per cent. This will not be an easy task, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday, given the number of devel­ oped countries that have stagnated in their efforts to become more produc­ tive, especially since the global finan­ cial crisis. Singapore has not achieved a 2 per cent growth in productivity for the last few years, and the country's ongo­ ing productivity journey is a "hard slog" that requires a transformation of society, the economy and business­ es, he said. Addressing 3,500 people at a lec­ ture organised by the Singapore Man­ agement University (SMU), he said: "You have to do things in different ways. You need new companies to come in (and) take over from older ones. There (will be) turnover and churn and uncertainty, and only then can there be progress. So we have to keep at it." The government has set a target of 2 to 3 per cent annual productivity growth through 2020, but recent num­ bers have come in much lower than that; productivity was flat last year af­ ter a two-year decline. In delivering the SMU's Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture at the Sun­ tee Convention Centre, Mr Lee ex­ plained why the country needed to improve its productivity in the com­ ing decade: The government has already done the math. The growth of the work­ force is not expected to exceed 2 per cent a year; baby boomers are retiring and fewer younger people are joining the workforce, even as Singapore stays the course on the tightening of the supply of foreign manpower.

Mr Lee says improving productivity and maintaining economic growth are the only way for Singaporeans to continue finding good jobs and creating opportunities, as Singapore has only its human capital to speak of. PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN(THE STRAITS TIMES for Singaporeans to continue finding

"Some people think that half of ex­

society, Mr Lee said Singapore was ex­

avoid the twin dangers - that of the

good jobs and creating opportunities.

isting jobs may be taken over by com­

periencing a "major demographic

Singapore identity dissolving amid

shift" as baby boomers grow older.

Productivity can prove to be both

puters in one way or another over the

an opportunity and a challenge for

next 20 years ... It's a serious mes­

By the year 2030, he said, Singa­ pore would have some 900,000 peo­

companies, he said, as he offered two

sage, and we have to stay ahead of the

scenarios drawn from port operator

curve and prepare our workers and

PSA, which uses robots to run its

businesses well for the future econo­

cranes more efficiently.

my," he said.

In one scenario, PSA's business

This was why the government re­

can grow because of its improved pro­

cently launched SkillsFuture to help

ductivity, which enables its manage­

Singaporeans be more resilient and

ment to raise the salaries of port work­

adaptable, he added. This national

ers; in the other, the business doesn't

movement will transform society by

He told his audience of diplomats,

expand and large numbers of crane

recognising people for their skills and

government and business leaders, ac­

operators become redundant as a re­

contributions, and not so much for

ademics and students that the pro­

sult.

their qualifications.

ductivity target may be difficult, but Singapore had no other option. Larger countries can rely on their

The same story of technology dis­

Even as the prime minister identi­

placing jobs also applies to white-col­

fied the economy as the main chal­

lar workers, said Mr Lee. He cited the

lenge for Singapore in the next dec­

globalisation, and that of fault lines breaking up the people into distinct groups, each with its own identity.

ple aged 65 or older- more than four

Whether the country is successful

times the number just 15 years ago.

on all these fronts would depend on a

Singapore will grow older "faster than

strong leadership team at the helm,

nearly every other society" in the

said Mr Lee. This means having lead­

world, he warned.

ers with a sense of responsibility and

And with this comes implications: 'Taxes: who is going to pay the taxes

who are completely committed to Sin­ gaporeans and Singapore.

and to spend on whom? The econo­

"We need leaders who can win the

my: how do we stay prosperous and

support of Singaporeans and rally the

vibrant and forward-looking? Our de­

country together, leaders who can

fence: who is going to man the SAF

work with us to make the next 50

(Singapore Armed Forces) and defend

years as glorious as the last 50 years,

us? We cannot be dad's army," he

and then not only will our next genera­

said. Singapore's biggest challenge in

tion enjoy a good life, they will be able to look forward to a brighter fu­

hinterland and natural resources to

finance industry as an example of a

ade, he mapped out two longer-term

the coming 50 years, however, is to

ture for themselves and their chil­

survive, but Singapore has only its hu­

sector where computer programs and

issues the country has to deal with -

ensure the country remains a "spe­

dren," he said.

man capital to speak of. Improving

apps are taking over the role of loan

population matters and the essence

cial" one that every citizen would be

productivity and maintaining eco­

officers in assessing loans and credit

of the Singapore identity.

proud of and want to uphold.

nomic growth are thus the only way

worthiness.

On the problem of a rapidly ageing

As Singapore progresses, it must

Source: The Business Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Business Times, p 2 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: S'pore unlikely to go Scandinavian way to up fertility rate

S'pore unlikely to go Scandinavian way to up fertility rate By Lee u-wen

"It's a balance, it's a different kind

[email protected]

of society and we are not like that.

@LeeuwenBT

These are choices that we have to

Singapore WHEN it comes to rolling out gener­ ous goodies to try and boost the fertil­ ity rate here, Singapore is unlikely to go the way of the Scandinavian coun­ tries that have spent heavily over the years and succeeded in having more babies. During a dialogue session organ­ ised by the Singapore Management University (SMU) on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was asked

ty will be an ageing society, and that

rate is 2.1.

government's marriage and parent­

will cause profound problems - our

When Mr Ho asked if Singapore

hood policies to take root and have an

economy will be stagnant or declin­

impact.

ing, and the whole tone of society will

could one day have similar measures

lively dialogue with a 3,500-strong au­

to what the Scandinavians have to

He explained how the difference

dience shortly after delivering the

raise the TFR, the prime minister re­

between TFRs of 1.2 and 1.5 is equiva­

SMU Ho Rih Hwa Lecture at the Suntec

plied, to much laughter, that it was

lent to 9,000 more babies a year, or

Convention Centre.

possible only if the country was will-

more than 200,000 over a 25-year pe-

At this point, SMU chairman Ho dinavians had managed to achieve a higher total fertility rate (TFR) be­ cause of the strong government mea­ sures and the industrial support for long parental leave.

lem of young couples not wanting to

the Scandinavians have "thrown the

sacrifice their career progression in

kitchen sink" at the problem, be it pa­

order to start a family.

rental leave of six or 12 months or

three-quarters of a career. They work

This has resulted in the TFR in

hard but they don't work 12 or 18

Scandinavian countries coming in at

hours a day. They finish work at 3pm

around 1.6 or 1.7, which is higher

or 4pm, they fetch their kids from childcare, go home and spend time with them," he said.

but pessimistic, oriented to the status quo or even looking towards a glori­ ous past, and that's a sad place to be in," he added. more to help Singaporeans marry,

"... The government cannot solve this (population) problem just by policies. It requires all of us to change our norms and culture, for us to be a more family-friendly country." Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

have babies and take care of their fam­ ilies. This will be done not just through baby bonuses, but by help­ ing young couples with housing, help­ ing parents with care-giving, promot­ ing flexible work arrangements, and providing affordable and high-quality childcare. "But these are just policies and the government cannot solve this prob­

even longer, baby bonuses, and giv­ ing every baby a place in childcare.

be not be young and forward looking,

On its part, the government will do

Kwon Ping commented that the Scan­

The prime minister remarked that

kids, and they are content to have

for the country's birth trends and the

make for ourselves," he said during a

for his views on the perennial prob­

'The Scandinavians have a lot of

child-bearing years. The replacement

lem just by policies. It requires all of

ing to accept a higher goods and ser­

riod. "It can make all the difference to

vices tax of 20 per cent to fund the pol­

a population. If we can get our TFR up

for us to be a more family-friendly

icies.

to 1.5, then we can keep our popula­

us to change our norms and culture,

Mr Lee had earlier reiterated the

tion younger and vibrant. But if our

country. That takes time. We have to start now, and hopefully within 25

than the 1.25 in Singapore. TFR refers

problem of Singapore's low TFR dur­

TFR continues to be at 1.2, that will be

years' time, we will be able to benefit

to the average number of children

ing his lecture, when he said that the

much harder, even with immigra­

from some of the results," said Mr

born to a woman who completes her

next 25 years would be long enough

tion," said Mr Lee. "A shrinking socie-

Lee.

Source: The Business Times ©Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: Channel 8 Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Marriage and fertility rates last year hit 10-year-high, Singapore to roll out more measures to improve rates

去年结婚生育率创十年来最高 我国将推更多提高措施 30/06/2015 23:28 我国鼓励结婚和生育的配套初见成效。去年，结婚和生育率都是过去十年来最高的。李显龙总理也 说，除了婴儿花红，接下来，政府也会推出更多措施来协助国人。 李显龙总理在新加坡管理大学的讲座上致词时说，就算是生育率提高了，但由于我国放慢了引进海 外人才的步伐，我国去年的人口增长，是十年来最慢的。同时，加上人口老龄化，在婴儿潮时期诞 生的人，现在已经 50、60 岁，因此，我国就业人口今年已经见顶。 接下来，随着更多人退休，加上生育率不足，工作人士对退休人士的比例将逐年减少，比例会从目 前的 4.9，滑落到 2030 年的 2.1。总理说为了继续提高本地的生育率，接下来，政府还会推出更多 措施。 总理李显龙表示，“我们也会协助年轻人解决住房问题，通过推广灵活工作时间安排，协助家长照顾 孩子。同时，我们也会提供可负担和高素质的保健和托儿服务，并减少我们教育系统给与孩子的压 力。” 总理说，单靠政策是不够的。所有国人都必须改变心态，让我国成为一个更亲家庭的国家。虽然需 要时间，但总理指出，如果我们国从现在就着手进行，25 年后有望看到人口增长的成果。 - CH8/ZY

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Productivity growth, population and identity will be challenges over next 50 years: PM Lee

Productivity growth, population and identity will be challenges over next 50 years: PM Lee In a Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture, Prime Minister Lee says based on current trends, Singapore could have an inverted population pyramid by 2050 and that this would have implications for taxes, the economy and defence. POSTED: 30 Jun 2015 18:58

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking at the Singapore Management University Ho Rih Hwa Lecture on June 30, 2015 (Photo: MCI).

SINGAPORE: To achieve 2 per cent productivity growth a year may be difficult, but Singapore has "no other option" said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "Bigger countries if you don't perform so well, you have a hinterland, you have resources in the ground to survive. We don't have anything but ourselves," he said, stressing that improving productivity and maintaining growth is the on way Singaporeans can continue finding good jobs and having opportunities. Mr Lee on Tuesday (Jun 30) outlined the country's challenges in a speech which was part of the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series organised by the Singapore Management University. He said Singapore's challenges depends on the time frame. In a 10-year horizon, it is the economy, in a 25-year perspective, it is population issues, and viewed over 50 years, the main challenge would be identity. "DEMOGRAPHY IS DESTINY"

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Productivity growth, population and identity will be challenges over next 50 years: PM Lee

The Prime Minister spent much of his speech touching on Singapore's ageing population, given that this year, the country's population growth will be the slowest in a decade. The number of citizens aged 65 and above is increasing rapidly - and will nearly double from 440,000 today to 900,000 in 15 years' time. "While the economy will go up and down, in the long run, demography is destiny," said Mr Lee.

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Productivity growth, population and identity will be challenges over next 50 years: PM Lee

Citing latest statistics, Mr Lee said today, every five working adults support one senior citizen. In 2030, it will be two adults supporting one senior citizen. Based on current trends, by 2050, even with immigration, the population pyramid will be inverted.

Mr Lee said the rapidly ageing society will raise questions on taxes to support social services and healthcare, how to keep the economy prosperous and vibrant and who to defend the country.

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Productivity growth, population and identity will be challenges over next 50 years: PM Lee

If Singapore can get its Total Fertility Rate up from the current 1.2 to 1.5, then it could keep its population younger, he said. "A shrinking society will be an ageing society, and an ageing society will cause profound problems. Our economy will be stagnant or declining; the whole tone of the society instead of being young and forward-looking, will be pessimistic, oriented to the status quo or even looking towards the glorious past and I think that's a sad place to be in," said Mr Lee. The best and only solution, is for Singaporeans to marry and have more children, he stated. Mr Lee said the Government will do more to help Singaporeans marry, have babies, and take care of their families, and not just through baby bonuses. This will come in the form of help for young couples with housing, support for parents with care-giving and in promotion of flexible work arrangements. The Government will also work on providing affordable and quality child-care and reducing stress in the education system. "These are just policies and the Government cannot solve this problem just by policies, because it requires all of us to change norms and culture for us to become a more family-friendly country and that takes time," Mr Lee said. MAINTAINING A SENSE OF HOME As Singapore celebrates 50 years of independence this year, Prime Minister Lee stressed that maintaining a sense of nationhood and strengthening the Singaporean identity will be equally important over the next half a century. He noted that Singapore can "dissolve with globalisation". "If we become so comfortable abroad that we lose the sense that only Singapore is truly home ... and if a large part of our talent go overseas either to seek challenges or to seek fortunes, then I think we will be depleted, our centre cannot hold. We will just melt away with globalisation," Mr Lee said. He also highlighted fault lines that could divide society, such as those along race and religion, along LGBT issues, the gap between the rich and poor, or external forces such as jihadist terrorism. That said, various incidents have helped Singaporeans come together, Mr Lee said. These include the passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in March, the recent Sabah earthquake which claimed the lives of Tanjong Katong Primary School students and teachers on a Mount Kinabalu excursion, and the SEA Games on home ground. "To keep Singapore special, to maintain that sense that 'I'm a Singaporean, I'm proud of it and I want to uphold it', to feel a duty and responsibility not only to your fellow citizens today but to the next generation, to feel one united people and not warring clans, I think in the very long term, that is our most fundamental challenge," Mr Lee said. About 3,500 people attended Mr Lee's lecture, including students, and members of the business community. Mr Lee is the seventh distinguished speaker in the lecture series. Others who have spoken include former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.- CNA/ly

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue

TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong explains Singapore’s interests in parts of the TPP, where the US had pushed for nations to limit support for state-owned enterprises. By Regina Marie Lee, TODAY POSTED: 01 Jul 2015 08:55

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (right) and Mr Ho Kwon Ping (left) taking questions from the floor. (Photo: Singapore Management University)

SINGAPORE: Questions on developments around the world dominated a dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had with students on Tuesday (Jun 30), even though his speech was largely centred on the country’s domestic challenges in the years ahead. Over an hour, seven of the 12 questions raised by members of the 3,500-strong audience at the Ho Rih Hwa lecture organised by the Singapore Management University (SMU) were on external issues. These ranged from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement (TPP) to territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Friday to legalise same-sex marriage in the country. An SMU final-year economics student asked Mr Lee whether a political or judicial solution would better address a “thorny issue” such as same-sex marriage. Responding, the Prime Minister said the legislative would have to act very cautiously in Singapore because of strong views in society. “You can pass the law, but will it be accepted? Will it be respected? Will people feel that it is legitimate?” he asked. “This is the way the American system works. They have created the

Publication: Channel NewsAsia Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue

Supreme Court and it is nine persons, and the nine persons decide important issues. In this case, it was five to four, so actually one person decided the issue.” It is important to have a good sense of the values and attitudes of the population rather than “try to impose your own on them”, Mr Lee stressed, reiterating that this is an issue to be decided “collectively, rather than (by) the Government”. “I think we let views evolve with time,” he said. “If you want to stay one nation, cohesive for 50 years, these are the kinds of issues you must manage without fracturing our society.” Touching on the productivity drive in Singapore, a Secondary 4 student from River Valley High School raised the possibility of Singapore facing the same problem as the US, where increased productivity does not translate to higher wages. However, Mr Lee said the reasons for this were unclear and could range from declining union power to profiteering bosses or the rapid growth of the finance industry in America. While a similar situation may happen in Singapore, Mr Lee pointed out that wages here had consistently risen, even faster than productivity in the past decade. “I would say (if) productivity (goes) up, wages may not. (If) productivity doesn’t go up, wages will not,” he added. The Prime Minister also explained Singapore’s interests in parts of the TPP, where the US had pushed for nations to limit support for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). While he acknowledged that Singapore has to give fair treatment to its SOEs, “we also want our companies to get fair treatment when they go to other countries and to get fair competition compared to SOEs in those countries”, he said. Mr Lee added that SOEs in Singapore are managed by “proper boards”, without special perks or duties. “Everybody knows Singapore’s GLCs (government-linked corporations) are different from SOEs elsewhere,” he said. Domestic issues raised during the dialogue included the challenges in balancing career and family aspirations, and the problem of competitiveness in Singapore. Mr Lee noted that perspectives on how to prioritise children and one’s career would shift — those looking ahead in the longer term might prioritise family over work. “It’s very difficult to ask a 20year-old to imagine what a 70-year-old would like to feel (at the end of the day),” he said. On competitiveness, Mr Lee said some are more anxious “than they need to be” and that there would be many opportunities in life. To be competitive globally, Singaporeans need to be able to reorientate their directions and adapt, he added. Read the original TODAY report here. -TODAY/ek

Publication: Inquirer Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages Agence France-Presse 07:44 AM July 1st, 2015

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: We can’t be “Dad’s Army” AFP PHOTO

SINGAPORE–Singapore’s population is aging faster than nearly any other society in the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday, warning this could have a serious impact on the economy and defense. Lee, 63, said he was worried that the city-state’s population was expanding at its slowest pace in a decade despite the government’s incentives to encourage citizens to produce more babies. “Who is going to pay the taxes to spend on whom?” he asked in a speech at a forum organized by the Singapore Management University. “Our defense, who is going to man the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces), who will defend us? We can’t be ‘Dad’s Army.’” Lee in his speech flagged the demographic shift as one of the country’s major challenges in years to come. Other affluent Asian societies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong face similar aging problems. Singapore’s population expanded at a mere 1.3 percent last year, the lowest in 10 years, and the trend is likely to continue, Lee said.

Publication: Inquirer Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

“It is something to worry about because what does rapid ageing means for a nation? We are growing older faster than nearly any other society in the world.” He said the number of citizens aged 65 and above had risen to 440,000 currently from 220,000 in 2000 and this was expected to further increase to 900,000 by 2030. By 2030 two working adults will be supporting one senior citizen, up from five working adults supporting one senior citizen currently, Lee added. The government for years has been encouraging couples to have more than two children, offering financial and other incentives. But the campaign has met with little success, prompting the government to increasingly rely on foreign labor. Singapore’s total fertility rate fell to 1.19 babies per woman in 2013 from 1.29 in 2012, well below the 2.1 babies needed to naturally replenish the native-born population. High living costs, including for education, and lifestyle choices have been cited as among the reasons. As of end-June 2014 Singapore’s population totaled 5.47 million, of whom nearly 40 percent are foreigners. Strident complaints from citizens about immigration have led the government to curb foreign hiring and the granting of permanent residency status.

Publication: Lianhe Wanbao， p 7 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee talks about Singapore's challenges in the next 50 years， strengthening national identity is most important

李总理谈我国未来50军

仁叶| 林心惠

报道

[email protected]

排队向李光耀致 敬、 为登山遇难的小学 生哀悼、 为东运会国手 欢 呼 与 唱国歌-…..李总 理认为， 国人在悲↑动和 欢庆中凝聚， 展现新加 坡精神， 打造国家认同 感是未来50年的最根本 挑战。 昨晚， 李总理在新 加坡管理 大学第七届 "何日华亚洲领袖公开 讲座" 上指出， 我国未 来10年和25年的挑战， 是保持经济竞争力、 应 对低生 育率和老龄化人 口问题工 不过， 他告诉在场 3500名出席者J我国的 根本挑战， 是如何加强 国家认同感， 这也是未 来50年最棘手的问题。 他说， 国际化让教 育水平高的国人游走于 各 国 ， 但 如果在 国外

"太舒服" ， 有可能失 去对新加坡的认同感， "我们就会被耗尽， 我 们的核心也会撑不住 了" 。 他说， 国人今年在 多个集体经验中， 展现 新加坡精神。 包括在国 丧期间， 不畏曰H西雨淋 向建国总理李光耀致 敬、 为登山遇难的小学 生哀悼、 在东运会期间 为国手欢呼， 虽然国歌 音乐中断仍坚持唱完， 国手也展现 高尚体育精 神z "这样的程祷， 政 府无法制造= 这些都是 自豪与团结的自然表 现， 也只铿由耕细坡人 共同创造、 拥有并珍 信c " 尽管如此， 宗教、 种族、 同性恋课题 、 贫 我们霆立身份认同?也许 富悬殊以及恐怖主义， 我们对美食的共同爱好对 都可能导致社会内部分 这方面有 帮助， 但那毕 竟不是最关键的因素。认 化。 李总理说: "是什 同感必须发自内心更深 么让新加坡人团结， 让 处。 "

鼓励生育擂施奏效

去军捕鱼婴 HE;相ôl��5i0]I��� 10革来最多

李总理针对美国同性婚姻合法的 裁 决首次发言， 指出美国联邦最高法 院九名法官五票 对囚票，.等于一个人 可 对课题做出裁定， 但这是美国的制 度， 不是新加坡的制度。 他说， 新加坡国会掌握国家行政 权力， 针对社会课题， 政府将谨慎行 动， 针对罔性恋、 双性恋、 跨性别者 (简称LGBT)课题的立场必须是 "人 民集体决定"。 他重申， 我国是保守社会， 针对 LGBT等不同群体都持有强烈立场的敏 感课题， 政府必须谨慎 处理， 再观察 人们的观点是否随时间改变。 他说 "我认为我们应该要掌握 好民情和大家的感受， 准确反映新加 坡人的价值观和 立场， 而不是强加自

己的观点。 " 他说， 我国社会目前存在各种断 层线， 只要不同群体将各自利益视为 "绝对权利" ， 社会随时可能分崩离 析。 除了同性 恋课题形成的新断层 线， 伊斯兰国 组织等极端宗教组织宣 导的恐怖主义等外部势力， 也可能导 致社会 出现裂痕。 一名商人在问答环节中， 对泰国 兴建克拉运河的传闻表示担忧。 对 此， 李总理说， 泰国和中国政府均巳 澄清， 双方并没有参与其中， 泰国政 府内也有宫员认为， 克拉运河会 将泰 国南部一分为二， 不利于泰国政府。 李总理认为， 只要我国保持高效 优势， 就能包住饭碗。

鼓励国人生育措施 奏效， 去年3万3200个 婴儿诞生， 与2 012 年 一样是过去10年来最多 的。 值得注意的是， 去 茸并非龙年， 但诞生的 婴儿人数却跟2012年龙 年一样。 去年的生育率 是1.25 ( 1名妇女平均生 1.25个孩子)， 比前年 的1.19高出一点。 虽然去年新生婴儿 有增加， 但李总理也指 出， 2014年人口增长只 有1.3%， 是过去10年来 最缓慢的。

他强调， 社会迅速 老龄化， 可能对税务、 国防和经济等方面造成 影响。 李总理说， 政府将 继续在各方面帮助国人 结婚生子， 这 包括住屋 援助、 提供高质量托儿 服务， 以及减少教育系 统的压力。 "可是， 我们不能 只依赖政府制定更多 政策来解决问题， 要新 加坡成为更亲家庭的国 家， 需要大家改变规范 和文化， 这些改变则需 要时间。 "

Publication: Lianhe Zaobao， p 8 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM: Increasing productivity is the only way to improve lives of Singaporeans

""

d画AEE.

p . τ主z晶R言主Z 矗ι.τ三�.....

易石�t=I掠E局三二，J.J

总理说:过去丁。每里， 特剧是面对全球金融危机的时 候， 如果不是劳动力取得擅长，本地和外国公司都将倒 闭或转移到剧的地方去营业，以致许多人失业。

当前各种断层线 都可能造成社会分裂 本地就业增长将逐渐放缓， 新 加坡经济未来的增长务必由生产力 推动， 而只有提高生产力才能确保 新加坡人有好的工作， 从而保障生 活水平。 李显龙总理昨晚在第七届 "何 日华亚洲领袖公开讲座"上， 重申 提高生产力的重要性。 他 说， 实际国 内 生 产 总 值 (GDP)在过去50年里提高了40 倍， 人均 国内生产总值则提高了约 13倍。可是， 随着新加坡经济越来 越发达， 经济增长的步伐相对放 缓。1964年窒1974年， 我国年均经 济增长是11.5%; 1974年至1984年 是8.3%， 从2004年至2014年则已 下滑到5.8%"， 李总理说 "过去 10年里， 特 别是面对全球金融危机的时候， 如 果不是劳动力取得增长， 本地和外 国公司都将倒闭或转移到别的地方 去营业， 以致许多人失业。……我 们不能够持续大量引进客工， 以维 持增长。" 为此， 李总理强调我国必须提 高生产力。他以港务集团为例， 指 出提高生产力既是挑战， 也是契 机。 他说， 港务集团的集装箱码 头过去依赖工人来操作起重机，

但现在却使用全自动的起重机， 让一个操作人员能够同时兼顾五 部起重机的 运 作， 只在出现异样 的情况才需要操作员的介入。这 么一来， 每个操作员的生 产 力提 高了。 "港务集团是不是必须这么做 并不断求取进步?它其实没有选 择， 因为只有当它比其他竞争者更 有效率， 船务公司才会把它们的集 装箱和业务转到新加坡来。要不是 这样， 港务集团将没有生意做， 许 多工人将失业。" 李总理说， 港务集团如果不自 我提升， 它在柔佛州、 香港、 蛇口 或上海的竞争者却这么做， 港务集 团就会失去竞争力。 "如果港务集团的业务蒸蒸日 上， 起重机操作员可 处理 更多货 物， 他们的工资也可改善。否则， 五个起重机操作员中将有四人会成 为冗员。" 李总理强调， 科技取代人力的 现象不限于蓝领工人， 白领员工面 对同 样的挑战， 必须时刻提升技 能， 以胜任新的工作岗位。他举 例， 在金融业里， 在评估贷款者是 否可靠方面， 电脑程序和软件目前 已能够取代负责借贷人员所扮演的 角色， 这个行业必须掌握大数据，

李显龙总理昨晚在第七届 "何日华亚洲领袖公开讲座" 上与学生交流， 对话会由新加坡管理大学董事会主席何光平(左)主持。 (陈福洲摄) 以了解借贷者的生活方式， 从而评 估他们是否可靠等等。 一些报告预测， 目前市场上 的工作有半数在20年内将被电脑取 代， 总理说， 因此我们必须保持领

先优势， 协助工人和企业对迎接未 来经济做好准备， 这也就是为什么 政府要推出 "未来技能"计划， 协 助新加坡人保持韧性应付未来的挑 战。

Source: Lianhe Zaobao @ Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

新加坡社会目前存在各种断层 线， 李显龙总理指出， 只要不同 群体将各自的利益视为 "绝对权 利"， 社会随时可能面临分 裂与破 碎的威胁。 美国联邦最高法院上周五以五 票对四票， 裁定同性婚姻在全国合 法， 引起全世界舆论高度关注。李 总理昨天在讲座上以同性恋、 双性 恋、 跨性别者(简称LGBT)课题 作为社会新断层线的例子， 并在学 生提问时首次针对美全国同性婚姻 合法的裁定发表看法。 李总理指出， 本地支持同性恋 恋爱自由与持反对立场者之间存在 很大的鸿沟， 尽管政府有意倾昕各 个群体的意见， 但除非双方愿意退 让与妥协， 要促成两个群体间的对 话不容易。他也重申， 新加坡是个 保守的社会， 针对LGBT等不同 群 体都持有强烈立场的敏感课题， 政 府必须谨慎处理， 再观察人们的观 点是否随时间改变。 他说 "我认为我们应该要掌 握好民情和大家的感受， 准确反映 新加坡人的价值观和立场， 而不是 强加自己的观点。" 一名新大四年级女学生在对话 会上询问总理， 是否认同美国联邦

最高法院九名法官以判决形式代表 全国人立场的制度?对此， 李总理 指出， 这是美国立法制度的运作方 式， 不论是堕胎、 种族歧视或毒品 等各大课题， 即使有部分人民持不 同立场， 最后权力都交最高法院; 此次同性婚姻合法的裁决五票对四 票， 也等于仅一个人就可以对课题 做出裁定， 但这是美国的制度， 不 是新加坡的制度。 李总理指出， 新加坡方面， 国 会掌握 国家行政权力。针对社会课 题， 政府将谨慎行动， 针对类似 LGBT课题的立场必须 是 "人民集 体决定"。 除了同性恋课题形成的新断层 线， 以及种族与宗教这个长期存在 的断层线， 李总理指出， 像伊斯兰 国组织等极端宗教组织宣导的恐怖 主义等外部势力， 也可能是导致社 会出现裂痕的严重威胁。 另外， 国人在外 国工作也免不 了会受到商业利益或种族文化的外 部影响， 进而把这股影响力带回到 新加坡社会。李总理警惕道 "即 使没有伊斯兰国组织， 大国势力也 可能对我们的社会造成影响。虽然 我们都是新加坡人， 但我们仍然是 一个多元种族的社会。"

Publication: Lianhe Zaobao， p 1 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee describes Singapore's major challenges in the mid- to long-term

E[m��l呢理商军望3

园主弓血泪'事回西

E.j$äIDæ.l理�f囚�

与真他国家相比，我们眼前的任务亘真挑战性，但除了提高生

社会人口缩小表示社会正在老龄化，这将带来严重问题:经济

接下来50军，我的仍需要萄良好的政策。但像过去50军­

严力，我国B'Bd无选嚣。幅员较大的国家可依赖宫的的腹地，

埋族为会趋缓或停滞不前，整个社会不但缺乏霸气，无法向前

样，要成功实施这些政策，珑的要建立强烈认同感和国家意

宫的可依赖地底的资源来生存。珑的则仲么都没育，只萄我们

迈避，也会变得悲观，变得故步自封，甚至是只懂得缅怀昔日

识。必须要为自己身为新加坡人而自禀，并努力确保新加坡继

自ao

何情薇

.辉煌。

黄伟曼

报道

hosb@sph，com.sg [email protected]

我国要制定未来50年的长远发展， 短 期要确保经济增长;中期面对人口萎缩和 老龄化问题;长期则必须保持新加坡的独 特性和加强国家认同感。 李显龙总理昨晚在第七届 "何日华亚 洲|领袖公开讲座" 上， 以 "新加坡的过 去、 现在和未来" 为题， 阐述了我国在未 来10年、 25年和50年里所面对的短期、 中 期和长期挑战。

两股趋势可能稀释国家认同感 他向与会的3500名大专学府和初级学 院的师生、 外国使节以及国会议员等说， 身份认同的稀释， 将是未来50年里我国所 面对的最棘手问题。他提醒， 新加坡50年

续保持宫的独特性。

来辛苦建立起的国家认同感， 可能在两股 外在和内部趋势下面对被稀释的威胁。 新加坡越来越开放与国际化， 国人充 分掌握在 国外 生活 的能力 后， 可处处为

对李总理来说， 不管是发生危机还是 遇到振奋人心的事， 共同的经历可以让国 人紧紧凝聚， 也是让大家为新加坡感到骄 傲的要素。

家， 但他们 也可能因此失去对国家的认 同， 使得我们的社会核心在全球化浪潮冲 刷下瓦解。另一方面， 社会也可能因内部 日益增加的断层线而逐渐分化。 他因此希望年轻人仔细思考 "是什 么让新加坡人团结， 让我们建立身份认 同?也许我们对美食的共同爱好对这 方面 有帮助， 但那毕竟不是最关键的因素。认 同感必须 发自内心更深处。" 在建国总理李光耀逝世后， 新加坡人 集体哀悼， 在悲锄中展现团结;在发生有 本地小学生登山遇难的事故时， 许多人感 受到 一股共同的悲痛;我国运动员在最近 东运会展现体育精神时， 大家也一同赞颂 并 为此感到自豪。

他说 "这 样的精神， 政府无法制 造。这些都是自 豪 与 团结的自然表现， 也只能由新加坡人共同创造、 拥有并珍 惜。

人口老龄化问题影响广泛深远 放眼未来25年， 李总理指出， 人口问 题将是关键， 它的影响广泛而深远， 包括 对经济、 社会和安保等等。李总理说， 如 果整体生育率(Total Fertility Rate， 简称 TFR)停留在目前的1.2， 不能达到1.5的 目标， 这不仅意味着每年少了9000个新生 儿， 也就是25年里少20万个婴儿， 我国社 会也难以展现活力。 他也以一系列的问题， 说明社会迅速

Source: Lianhe Zaobao @ Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

老龄化的后果 "税务方面， 谁将缴税， 税收将花在什么人身上?经济方面， 我们 要如何持续繁荣、 保持活力并具前瞻性? 国防方面， 谁会管理新加坡武装部队并保 护我们? " 李总理指出， 今年的人口增长率预计 是10年来最缓慢的。他重申， 政府透过让 年轻夫妇享有房屋津贴、 提供让人负担得 起的优质托儿服务和减轻教育制度的压力 等， 来鼓励并协助更多新加坡人组织家庭 和生儿育女。 "可是， 我们不能只依赖政府制定更 多政策来解决问题， 要新加坡成为更亲家 庭的国家， 需要大家改变规范和文化， 这 些改变则需要时间。" 至于我国未来1 0年所面对的最大挑 战， 则是如何持续推动经济增长。 副总理兼财政部长尚达曼不久前指 出， 从今年至2020年， 政府预计 国内生产

总值(GDP)的增长区间， 每年将介于2% 至4%。 随着婴儿潮一代淡出职场和新增劳动 力缩小， 本地的就业增长在接近2020年时 将大幅放缓， 预计不会超过2%。 李总理昨晚说 "我们已经收紧引进 外籍员工的政策， 这意味着要取得4%的 经济增长， 每年就需要取得2%的生产力 增长， 而这并不容易。" 但是除了提高生产力， 我国己别无选 择， 他说 "幅员较大的国家可依赖它们 的腹地， 它们可依赖地底的资源来生存。 我们什么都没有， 只有我们自己。 " 李总理说， 政府已透过各种途径应对 短、 中、 长期的挑战， 但要落实各项计划 取决于优秀的领导、 有担当和可赢得新加 坡人支持的领袖， 动员全国一起确保接下 来的50年同样辉煌。

Publication: The Straits Times, p A4 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee paints stark reality of challenges in 3 critical areas PM Lee Hsien Loong, speaking at the annual Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture last night, said that for policies to succeed, Singaporeans must have a strong sense of identity and nationhood, a sense that being Singaporean is something to be proud of. ST PHOTO ALPHONSUS CH ERN

PM paints stark reality of challenges in 3 critical areas or values, a point he addressed

S'poreans must pull together to tackle issues

worked because the population has supported these policies, which

later in a dialogue with the audi­

ofeconomy, population and identity, he says

could therefore be implemented," he said to an audience of 3,500,

ence. He acknowledged that the chal­

Charissa Yong

For more than an hour last night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong laid out the stark reality of the chal­ lenges Singapore faces in three criti­ cal areas: the economy, population and identity. Warning that these challenges concern Singapore's survival, he said the country will face "pro­ found problems" if Singaporeans do not pull together to meet them. In a wide-ranging speech, he de­

mostly students, at the Suntec con­

lenges are difficult and some of

pore Management University.

vention centre.

these policies are not easy. Raising

To maintain growth, it is encour­ aging productivity growth and roll­

For policies to succeed, Singapo­ reans must also have a strong sense

"hard slog" requiring a transforma­

ing out the SkillsFuture scheme, which helps individuals master skills needed at the workplace. And to boost population growth

of identity and nationhood, a sense that being Singaporean is some­ thing to be proud of, he said.

tion of society, he said. But Singa­ pore has no other option. The economy would otherwise

"It's a spirit which is not manufac­ tured by the Government... it's a

stagnate and this would lead to so­

spirit which is embraced, created and owned by Singaporeans. "To keep Singapore special... to

ployment and a lack of hope for the future. And if the population continued to shrink and age, "the whole tone of the society, instead of being young and forward-looking, would

and cope with a rapidly ageing soci­ ety, the Government is managing immigration, promoting active age­ ing and encouraging marriage and parenthood. "But the Government cannot solve these problems just by policies, because it requires all

feel a duty and a responsibility not only to your fellow citizens today but also to the next generation, to feel as one united people and not

productivity, for instance, is a

cial problems such as youth unem­

be pessimistic, oriented to the sta­ tus quo or even looking towards a

scribed how Singapore needs to

of us to change our norms, our cul­ ture, to become a more family­

warring clans - I think in the very

maintain economic growth to im­

friendly country," PM Lee said.

long term, that is our most funda­

prove lives in the short term, raise its total fertility rate in the medium

All Singaporeans, not just the Government, have a role to play in

mental challenge," he said. Without this glue holding the

term and forge a common identity in the long run.

tackling the challenges as this will decide whether the country will

country together, Singaporeans may become too comfortably cos­

sible leaders who can win the sup­

The Government, for its part, is tackling these challenges through a

thrive and survive, he said. "The fundamental reason we

country together and work to "give our next generation not only good

raft of policies, PM Lee said at the annual Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in

have succeeded over the last 50

mopolitan and no longer consider Singapore their home. PM Lee said Singaporeans may

years is not just that we've had good policies... the policies have

also run the risk of being divided along the fault lines of race, religion

Asia lecture organised by the Singa-

glorious past", he said. Concluding, PM Lee said Singa­ pore needs committed and respon­ port of Singaporeans, rally the

lives, but also a brighter future".

[email protected]

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Straits Times, p A4 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Staying nimble amid competition is vital

Staying nimble amid competition is vital markets, they developed links

Wong Siew Ying

with Africa, with Latin America, and I think they have a lot of suc­ The need to remain nimble in the

cess opening the markets, getting

competitive global landscape was

the businesses there, getting a

a vital quality Prime Minister Lee

new source of growth."

Hsien Loong highlighted yester­

Australia was another example

day during a dialogue he had with

Mr Lee gave. It had to find new cus­

tertiary students.

tomers for its dairy products and

There will always be uncertain­

mineral exports when some of its

ties, he told a student worried

trading partners in Europe were

about

hit by the global financial crisis.

the

upheavals

should

cash-strapped Greece leave the eu­

"They found the Chinese, devel­

ro zone. "But there will also be op­

oped the emerging markets, they

portunities in the midst of a cri­

promoted new customers. They

sis," Mr Lee said at the ques­

found a living. Singapore has to be

tion-and-answer session after his

like that too, " he said.

address at the Ho Rih Hwa Leader­

Mr Lee encouraged the students

ship in Asia Lecture at Singapore

to work together amid rising com­

Management University.

petition and be ready to learn new

Citing Turkey, which he visited

skills. However, he urged them

last year, he said the Turks had

"not to have a ready set of skills so

worked hard to try to enter the Eu­

that you can plug in and straighta­

ropean Union. When it did not go

way you can work, but to be able to

as planned, they were nimble

have that spryness in an uncertain

enough to change direction. He

situation to judge where you are".

noted that as the EU plunged into a crisis, the Turks" focused on new

[email protected]

Source: The Straits Times© Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Straits Times, Breaking News Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee

Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (right) at the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series, hosted by Singapore Management University chairman Ho Kwon Ping (left).ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN Charissa Yong

SINGAPORE - Singapore will face three key challenges in the next 50 years, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday. They are: maintaining economic growth to improve lives in the short-term, raising its total fertility rate in the medium-term, and forging a common identity among Singaporeans in the long-run. Mr Lee held up these weighty challenges which concern Singapore's survival at a lecture organised by the Singapore Management University. The Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture was held at the Suntec Convention Centre.

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Straits Times, Breaking News Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Economy, population and identity are key challenges for S'pore in next 50 years: PM Lee

In the next 10 years on the economic front, Singapore needs to improve its productivity and maintain its growth. It is the only way Singaporeans can continue finding good jobs and having opportunities, he said. The country's growth has been high, with its real gross domestic product soaring 40 times since Independence in 1965. But this growth is slowing. Its GDP is forecast to grow by 2 to 4 per cent a year going forward, and productivity must grow by 2 per cent, he said. Looking at the next 25 years, Singapore must tackle its demographic challenge of an ageing population and declining birth rates. Ultimately, the best and only solution is for Singaporeans to marry and have more children, said Mr Lee. But the biggest of these three challenges is to maintain a sense of pride in being Singaporean something that cannot be manufactured by the Government, he said. "For the next 50 years, we will need good policies. But just like the past 50 years, for these policies to succeed, we need a strong sense of identity and nationhood. We need to be proud to be a Singaporean," he said. Otherwise, Singapore runs the danger of dissolving into disunity or becoming so cosmopolitan and comfortable with living abroad that "we lose the sense that only Singapore is truly home...then the centre cannot hold", he added. Mr Lee said the Government is tackling these challenges through a raft of policies, but all these plans depend on good leadership.

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: The Economic Times Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Singapore PM warns of aging population's impact on economy and defence

Singapore PM warns of aging population's impact on economy and defence

Lee in his speech flagged the demographic shift as one of the country's major challenges in years to come. By AFP | 30 Jun, 2015, 09.06PM IST

SINGAPORE: Singapore's population is ageing faster than nearly any other society in the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday, warning this could have a serious impact on the economy and defence. Lee, 63, said he was worried that the city-state's population was expanding at its slowest pace in a decade despite the government's incentives to encourage citizens to produce more babies. "Who is going to pay the taxes to spend on whom?" he asked in a speech at a forum organised by the Singapore Management University. "Our defence, who is going to man the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces), who will defend us? We can't be 'Dad's Army'." Lee in his speech flagged the demographic shift as one of the country's major challenges in years to come. Other affluent Asian societies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong face similar ageing problems. Singapore's population expanded at a mere 1. 3 per cent last year, the lowest in ten years, and the trend is likely to continue, Lee said. "It is something to worry about because what does rapid ageing means for a nation? We are growing older faster than nearly any other society in the world." He said the number of citizens aged 65 and above had risen to 440,000 currently from 220,000 in 2000 and this was expected to further increase to 900,000 by 2030. By 2030 two working adults will be supporting one senior citizen, up from five working adults supporting one senior citizen currently, Lee added. The government for years has been encouraging couples to have more than two children, offering

Publication: The Economic Times Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Singapore PM warns of aging population's impact on economy and defence

financial and other incentives. But the campaign has met with little success, prompting the government to increasingly rely on foreign labour. Singapore's total fertility rate fell to 1.19 babies per woman in 2013 from 1.29 in 2012, well below the 2.1 babies needed to naturally replenish the native-born population. High living costs, including for education, and lifestyle choices have been cited as among the reasons. As of end-June 2014 Singapore's population totalled 5.47 million, of whom nearly 40 per cent are foreigners. Strident complaints from citizens about immigration has led the government to curb oreign hiring and the granting of permanent residency status.

Publication: The Jakarta Post Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages Agence France-Presse, Singapore | World | Tue, June 30 2015, 8:34 PM

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. (AFP)

Singapore's population is ageing faster than nearly any other society in the world, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday, warning this could have a serious impact on the economy and defense. Lee, 63, said he was worried that the city-state's population was expanding at its slowest pace in a decade despite the government's incentives to encourage citizens to produce more babies. "Who is going to pay the taxes to spend on whom?" he asked in a speech at a forum organized by the Singapore Management University. "Our defense, who is going to man the SAF [Singapore Armed Forces], who will defend us? We can't be 'Dad's Army'." Lee in his speech flagged the demographic shift as one of the country's major challenges in years to come. Other affluent Asian societies such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong face similar ageing problems. Singapore's population expanded at a mere 1.3 percent last year, the lowest in ten years, and the trend is likely to continue, Lee said. "It is something to worry about because what does rapid ageing means for a nation? We are growing older faster than nearly any other society in the world."

Publication: The Jakarta Post Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Who will defend us? Singapore PM asks as society rapidly ages

He said the number of citizens aged 65 and above had risen to 440,000 currently from 220,000 in 2000 and this was expected to further increase to 900,000 by 2030. By 2030 two working adults will be supporting one senior citizen, up from five working adults supporting one senior citizen currently, Lee added. The government for years has been encouraging couples to have more than two children, offering financial and other incentives. But the campaign has met with little success, prompting the government to increasingly rely on foreign labor. Singapore's total fertility rate fell to 1.19 babies per woman in 2013 from 1.29 in 2012, well below the 2.1 babies needed to naturally replenish the native-born population. High living costs, including for education, and lifestyle choices have been cited as among the reasons. As of end-June 2014 Singapore's population totaled 5.47 million, of whom nearly 40 percent are foreigners. Strident complaints from citizens about immigration has led the government to curb foreign hiring and the granting of permanent residency status. (iik)(++++)

Publication: The New Paper, p 4 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM Lee spells out S'pore's challenges

PM Lee spells out S'pore's challenges Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

But this growth is slowing. Its GDP is forecast

·has highlighted three challenges

to grow by 2 to 4 per cent a year, and productiv­

Singapore will face in the next 50

ity must grow by 2 per cent, he said.

years.

Looking at the next 25 years, Singapore must

The challenges are maintaining econom­

tackle its demographic challenge of an ageing

ic growth to improve . lives in the short

popula_tion and declining birth rates.

term, raising total fertility rate in the me­

Ultimately, the best and only solution is for

dium term, and forging a common identity

Singaporeans to marry and have more chil­

among Singaporeans in the long run.

dren, Mr Lee said.

These would concern Singapore's surviv­

But the biggest of these three challenges is to

al, Mr Lee said at the Ho Rih Hwa Leader­

maintain a sense of pride in being Singaporean

ship in Asia le.cture, organised by the Sin­

- something that cannot be manufactured by

gapore Management University. It was held

the Government, he said.

at the Suntec Convention Centre yesterday. ·

In the next 10 ¥ears, Singapore needs to

improve its productivity and maintain its

"For the next 50 years, we will need good policies. But just like the past 50 yeats, for these policies to succeed, we need a strong

economic growth. It is the only way Singa­

sense of identity and nationhood. We need to

poreans can continue finding good jobs and

be proud to be a Singaporean," he said.

having opportunities, he said.

Otherwise, Singapore runs the danger of dis­

Singapore's grqwth has been high, with

solving into disunity with people so comforta­

its real gross domestic product soaring 40

ble with living abroad that "we lose the sense

times since Independence in 1965.

that only Singapore is truly home..."

Source: The New Paper© Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

Publication: TODAY, p 1-2 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Singapore's 'key future challenges': Economy, population, identity

GOOD LEADERSHIP, POLICIES 'PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE'

S'pore's 'key future challenges': Economy, population, identity S'poreans must do their part to avoid dangers of 'dissolving into globalisation: warns PMLee KELLY NG

[email protected]

ans must also do their part, he added.

The most immediate challenge fac­

Speaking at the seventh instal­

ing the Republic, in the next decade,

ment of the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership

will be raising productivity in order to

SINGAPORE- Singapore will face criti­

in Asia Public Lecture Series held at

grow an already-advanced economy,

cal challenges in the next 50 years in

the Suntec Convention Centre yester­

said Mr Lee. Over a longer time frame

keeping the economy strong, raising

day evening, Mr Lee sketched out how

of25 years, population challenges will

total fertility rate and strengthening

each of these challenges will unfold

come to the fore because of low birth

national identity, said Prime Minister

over several time horizons.

rates, while the most profound and f undamental challenge in the next 50

Lee Hsien Loong yesterday. To overcome these, good leader­ ship and policies - many of have al­ ready been put in place, said Mr Lee­ will play an important role, but for the longer-term challenges brought about by a rapidly ageing population and globalisation, the Government alone cannot resolve them and Singapore-

INSIDE PM SETSOUT CHALL ENGES S'PORE COULD FACE IN NEXT 50 YEARS• 2

years will be in streng thening the na­ tional identity. "To kee p Singapore special; t o maintain a sense o f 'I a m a Singapore­

SINGAPORE FE ELING IMPACT OF RAPIDLY AGEINGPOPUL ATION•4

an. I am proud of it and I want to uphold

TPP PACT AMONG GLOBAL ISSU E S RAISED A T SM U DIALOGUE• 6

is our biggest challenge," said Mr Lee.

it'

...

I think in the very long term, that e CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Publication: TODAY, p 1-2 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Singapore's 'key future challenges': Economy, population, identity

Spore's 'key future challenges�· Economy, population, identity

is embraced, shaped and owned by Singaporeans, people who stand up

la mic State can also create schisms in

Primary 6 students. "Life will teach

for these values in their daily lives and

Addressing about 3,500 partici­

the Republic's multi-ethnic and multi­

us lessons. Difficult times will come,

actions, and make Singapore a dis­

pants, including diplomats, students, teachers and public officers, Mr Lee

religious society, he said. "How do we reinforce what makes

and through that, we will learn what

tinct nation that we can all be proud

it means to be a Singaporean," he said.

of and want to belong to."

warned that Singapore runs the dan­

us unique as Singaporeans ... How do

ger of "dissolving into globalisation",

we maintain this sense of nationhood

with no sense of a distinct identity as

and strengthen this identity and com­

the country becomes more cosmo­

mon purpose, so that our people will

politan and Singaporeans become in­

want to makeSingapore a success and

creasingly well-travelled.

a shining light in the world?" he asked.

eCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Citing that about 200,000 Singa­

To bind society together, Mr Lee

poreans currently reside abroad for

said Singaporeans must have a shared

work and studies, he said: " It is good

sense of what the country stands for

that our people are comfortable liv­

and what they want to achieve togeth­

ing over the world, but if we become

er- things that the Government can­

so comfortable abroad that we lose

not create. It is forged when citizens

the sense that only Singapore is truly

live together, overcome crises togeth­

home ... We will just melt away, be dis­

er, help one another in times of need

solved by globalisation."

and celebrate successes, he added.

The other danger is thatSingapore­

He cited instances this year in which

ans could fracture into different groups,

such a spirit was shown, including the

each with its own exclusive identities,

outpouring of grief over the death of

said Mr Lee, who cited traditional fault

founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan

lines such as race and religion, as well

Yew in March, as well as the earth­

as newer ones such as LGBT issues.

quake in Sabah that claimed the lives

External influences such as the Is-

of nine Singaporeans, including seven

How do we reinforce what makes us unique as Singaporeans ... How do we maintain this sense of nationhood and strengthen this identity and common purpose, so that our people will want to make Singapore a success and a shining light in the world? Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

In happier times, such as during

Outlining a raft of plans the Gov­

the recent SEA Games, the national

ernment has made to confront these

pride on display was not only because

challenges, Mr Lee reiterated that

of Team Singapore's record-breaking

they must be founded on good leader­

medal haul, he said. "We felt proud

ship- "leaders with a sense of respon­

to be Singaporean ... (because o f )

sibility, wholly committed to Singapo­

the way our people conducted them­

reans and Singapore, leaders who can

selves. W hen the music stopped sud­

win your support and rally the country

denly when it shouldn't, Singaporeans

together, leaders who can work with us

continued to sing Majulah Singapura

and make the next 50 years as glorious

with gusto and pride," Mr Lee said,

as the last 50 years", he said.

drawing applause from the audience.

Mr Lee also paid tribute to pioneer

The Prime Minister also lauded

leaders such as Mr Ho Rih Hwa, after

marathoner Ashley Liew, who forewent

whom the lecture series was named.

his lead during the Games event to wait

The former businessman has served

for competitors who had mistakenly

the country as Ambassador to Thai­

taken the wrong path, for his embodi­

land, Belgium, the European Econom­

ment of "class and sportsmanship".

ic Community and the United Nations

"Such a spirit cannot be manu­

in Geneva, but has refused to accept

factured by the Government. These

any remuneration. "He saw this as na­

are spontaneous shows of pride and

tional service, a duty he was so hon­

solidarity," he said. "(It's a) spirit that

oured to discharge," said Mr Lee.

Publication: TODAY, p 2 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: PM sets out challenges Singapore could face in next 50 years

PM sets out challenges Singapore could face in next 50 years In his Ho Rih Hwa Lecture Series speech yesterday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong set out the challenges he expected Singapore to face over the next 50 years at various points, namely growing the economy, an ageing population and strengthening the national identity.

flt}l

ECONOMY:Transfonning Ulewayweleamand work

A qj1 nation

POPULATION:KeepingUle youngand vibrant

\...,)

IDENTITY:Sharedsenseof whatSingaporestandsfor

"We have reached a high level in terms of GDP. Our

"While the economy will go up and down, in the

"E ven more fundamental than demographics is the

per capita GDP is as high as Japan's. But we have

long run, demographics is destiny. Twenty-five

question of identity ... As we progress, there are two threats to this idea of a Singaporean identity:

to find a way to continue growing, so that we can

years is long enough for our birth trends and our

improve people's lives ... If we can continue upgrad­

marriage and parenthood policies to take root and

One, we could just dissolve, melt into a globalised

ing, in 10 years, we can be in a different league. We

have an impact ... The difference between a Total

world and lose that special sense of being distinc­ tively Singaporean, different from non-Singa­

can make investments in our people, afford the

Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.2 and 1.5, which is where

social safety nets, improve our lives. If we cannot,

we would like to be, is 9,000 babies per year, or

poreans. The other risk is that we could divide

we will stagnate and lose ground, like what some

over 200,000 more babies born over 25 years. And

internally, along fault lines, fracture into different

countries are going through now - Taiwan, Korea,

it will make all the difference to the population if

groups, and each group with its own exclusive iden­

even Japan. After a decade, we will face not just

we can get our TFR up to 1.5.

tity, and lose any sense of becoming one people.

economic problems, but social problems- unem­

"Of course, I'd like (it) to go higher, but let's get

"... (Our identity) has to come from a shared

ployment, young people unable to find jobs, rest­

to 1.5 first because then, we can keep our popula­

lessness instead of hope.

tion younger and vibrant. But if our TFR continues

want to achieve together, and that comes from our

to be at 1.2, that will be much harder, even with im­

shared experiences, our bonding through these

"That is why we have launched SkillsFuture as

sense of what is it Singapore stands for, what we

a national movement. It will play a critical role to

migration. A shrinking society will also be an age­

shared experiences, becoming one people, becom­

help Singaporeans become resilient and adapta­

ing society, and that will cause profound problems.

ing comrades, more than friends. It

ble. It will make sure ... that our people will always

Our economy will be stagnant or declining, and

depends on how we grow and live

have opportunities to develop to their fullest, with

the whole tone of our society will not be young and

together ... how we overcome

training available at every stage of their lives. Be­

forward-looking, but pessimistic, oriented to the

crises, whether it's SARS,

cause as yourjobs change, your skill sets need to

status quo or even the past.

MERS or the global financial

change. And you cannot depend on what you've

"Ultimately, the best and, indeed, the only fun­

crisis, how we help one another

learnt ... in the past as you grow older. You have to

damental solution is for Singaporeans to marry

in times of need (and) how we

learn new skills and you have to be able to do new

and have more children. And on that count, we

celebrate successes to-

jobs. And then when the world changes, we are

have laboured mightily. And I'm happy to say that

gether, in SG50 and as

prepared and we are able to change with it.

if you look at last year's numbers, there's a little

we did during the

bit of good news, although it is still early signs. We

SEA Games."

"So this is a transformation of society (and) in the way we learn and ... work, the way we value

have (put in place) many measures over the last

individuals for what you do ... And we must work

20 years. W hat we have done, I think, has helped

at this because that is the way to make progress in

... But these are just policies and the Government

productivity. That's the way to grow the economy.

cannot solve this problem just by policies. Because

And that's the way, really, most fundamentally, so

it requires all of us to change our norms, our cul­

every worker can feel proud of themselves and our

ture, for us to become a more family-friendly coun­

society is one where everybody has a valued place."

try. And that takes time."

Publication: TODAY, p 6 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue PM TOUCHES ON DOMESTIC CHALLENGES LIKE PRODUCTIVITY

will not," he added.

TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue

Singapore's interests in parts of the

The Prime Minister also explained TPP, where the US had pushed for na­ tions to limit support for state-owned enterprises (SOEs). While he acknowledged that Singa­ pore has to give fair treatment to its SOEs, "we also want our companies to get fair treatment when they go to other countries and to get fair com­ petition compared to SOEs in those countries", he said. Mr Lee added that SOEs in Singa­ REGINA MARIE LEE [email protected]

ter address a "thorny issue" such as

pore are managed by "proper boards",

same-sex marriage.

without special perks or duties. "Eve­

Responding, the Prime Minister SINGAPORE- Questions on develop­

said the legislative would have to act

ments around the world dominated

very cautiously in Singapore because

a dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien

of strong views in society.

Loong had with students yesterday,

"You can pass the law, but will it be

even though his speech was largely

accepted? Will it be respected? Will

centred on the country's domestic

people feel that it is legitimate?" he

challenges in the years ahead.

asked. "This is the way the American

Over an h o u r, seven of the 12

system works. They have created the

questions raised by members of the

Supreme Court and it is nine persons,

3,500-strong audience at the Ho Rih

and the nine persons decide important

Hwa lecture organised by the Singa­

issues. In this case, it was five to four, so

pore Management University (SMU )

actually one person decided the issue."

were on external issues. These ranged

It is important to have a good sense

from the Trans-Pacific Partnership

of the values and attitudes of the popu­

trade agreement (TPP) to territorial

lation rather than "try to impose your

disputes in the South China Sea and

own on them", Mr Lee stressed, reit­

the United States Supreme Court's

erating that this is an issue to be de­

ruling on Friday to legalise same-sex

cided "collectively, rather than (by) the

marriage in the country.

Government".

An SMU f inal-year economics

"I think we let views evolve with

student asked Mr Lee whether a po­

time," he said. "If you want to stay one

litical or judicial solution would bet-

nation, cohesive for 50 years, these are

rybody knows Singapore's GLCs (gov­ ernment-linked corporations) are dif­

••

I think we let views evolve with time. If you want to stay one nation, cohesive for 50 years, these are the kinds of issues you must manage without fracturing our society. PM Lee Hsienloong WITH SMU CHAIRMAN HO KWON PING AT THE DIALOGUE YESTERDAY

the kinds of issues you must manage without fracturing our society." Touching on the productivity drive

ferent from SOEs elsewhere," he said. Domestic issues raised during the dialogue included the challenges in

in Singapore, a Secondary 4 student

balancing career and family aspira­

from River Valley High School raised

tions, and the problem of competitive­

the possibility of Singapore facing

ness in Singapore.

the same problem as the U S, where

Mr Lee noted that perspectives on

increased productivity does not trans­

how to prioritise children and one's

late to higher wages.

career would shift - those looking

However, Mr Lee said the reasons

ahead in the longer term might pri­

for this were unclear and could range

oritise family over work. "It's very dif­

from declining union power to profi­

ficult to ask a 20-year-old to imagine

teering bosses or the rapid growth of

what a 70-year-old would like to feel

the finance industry in America.

(at the end of the day)," he said.

While a similar situation may hap­

On competitiveness, Mr Lee said

pen in Singapore, Mr Lee pointed out

some a re more anxious "than they

that wages here had consistently ris­

need to be" and that there would be

en, even faster than productivity in

many opportunities in life. To be com­

the past decade. "I would say (if) pro­ ductivity (goes) up, wages may not.

petitive globally, Singaporeans need to be able to reorientate their direc­

(If) productivity doesn't go up, wages

tions and adapt, he added.

Publication: Xinhua Date: 30 June 2015 Headline: Singapore sees economic growth, population, identity key challenges in next 50 years

Singapore sees economic growth, population, identity key challenges in next 50 years BaoXueLin 267 words 30 June 2015 11:51 PM Xinhua News Agency XNEWS English Copyright 2015. Xinhua News Agency. All rights reserved.

SINGAPORE, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Economic growth, population and identity will be the three key challenges in the next 50 years, said Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday. Lee outlined these challenges which concern Singapore's survival in the future at Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture organized by Singapore Management University. Singapore needs to improve productivity and maintain economic growth in the next 10 years, the prime minister said, adding to achieve 2 percent productivity growth a year may be difficult but this is the only way that Singaporeans can continue finding good jobs and having opportunities. In a 25-year horizon, PM Lee pointed out Singapore must solve the issues of aging population and declining birth rates. The number of citizens aged 65 and above in Singapore is increasing rapidly. The figure may reach 900,000 in 2030 from 440,000 today. Ageing society will cause problems on social services and healthcare, economic prosperity as well as defense of the country. PM Lee said the population could keep younger if the country can increase its total fertility rate from 1.2 to 1.5. However, the biggest of the three challenges is to forge a common identity among Singaporeans, said PM Lee. The prime minister said Singapore needs a strong sense of identity and nationhood in the next 50 years just as the country needed good policies in the past five decades. The government is tackling with these challenges, but all these plans depend on good leadership.