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.
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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.
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.
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
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 hadapi hari ini?
la bergantung kepada tempoh masa. Sekiranya anda mengambil masa 10 tahun, cabarannya ialah ekonomi.
Kita telah mencapai tahap yang tinggi dari segi Hasil Kasar Dalam Negeri (GDP). GDP per kapita Singapura adalah setinggi Jepun.
Namun kita perlu mencari jalan mengembangkan ekonomi supaya kita dapat terns membaiki kehidupan rakyat.
Jika · kita dapat terns mempertingkatkan diri, dalam masa 10 tahun, kita akan berada dalam liga yang berbeza.
Kita boleh membuat pelaburan bagi rakyat, mampu membiayai jaringan keselamatan sosial, membai- ·
ki kehidupan dan pelbagai program lain. Sekiranya kita gaga!, ekonomi Singapura lemah dan kita keterbelakang, seperti apa yang kini dialami beberapa negara - Taiwan, Korea, malah Jepun.
Sekiranya kita mengambil tempoh 2S tahun, isu penduduk akan menjadi isu penting kerana ekonomi akan mengalami kerancakan dan kelembapan. pa!�m. j�ngka P!lnjang, 2S tahun ialah jangka masa · yang panjang bagi trend kelahiran dan perkahwinan dan dasar-dasar keibubapaan dapat berakar dan mempunyai kesm langsting.
Perbezaan antara jumlah ·kadar
kesuburan (TFR) 1.2 dan TFR sebanyak 1.S ialah 9,000 bayi setiap tahun, atau lebih 200,000 bayi lagi yang dilahirkan dalam tempoh 24 tahun.
Sekiranya kita bernpaya meningkatkan TFR kita kepada 1.S, kita dapat memastlkan penduduk Singapura kekal lebih muda dan bertenaga. Namun sekiranya TFR Singapura terns merndum pada paras 1.2, tugasnya adalah lebih sukar, walaupun dengan dasar-dasar imigresen.
Masyarakat yang semakin niengecil akan juga menjadi masyarakat yang semakin tua, dan ia akan membawa masalah yang be-
gitu besar - ekonomi Singapura akan merosot dan menjadi lembap, dan nada keseluruhan masyarakat Singapura tidak lagi muda dan berpandangan jauh, tetapi lebih pesimistik, lebih berorientaslkan status qu·o a tau memegang kepada masa lalu.
Akhir sekali, sekiranya anda mengambil masa SO tahun, cabaran yang akan dihadapi Singapura ialah identiti.
Asas-asas utama mengapa kita telah berjaya sejak SO tahun yang lalu bukan. sahaja kerana dasar-dasar yang balk. Namun kerana penduduk Singapura menyokong dasar-dasar baik ini, kita dapat melaksanakan dan menghasilkan keputusan yang balk untuk Singapura.
10 TAHUN: EKONOMI KITA Dalam tempoh 10 tahun, caba
ran utama ialah ekonomi kita. Singapura dalam kedudukan
balk hari ini kerana ekonomi Singapura telah berkembang sejak SO tahun lalu.
Sejak kemerdekaan, GDP sebenar telah meningkat 40 kali ganda
·dalam tempoli SO tahun. GDP per kapita telah meningkat 13 kali ganda. Kita telah menikmati pertumbuhan tinggi sejak SO tahun hilu. Pertumbuhan kekal tinggi, tetapi ia kini
semakin perlahan kerana ekonomi Singapura kini semakin maju.
Dalam dekad yang lalu, pertumbuhan daya penghasilan telah menu- _ run. la bukan sesuatu yang mengejutkan kerana ekonomi Singapura semakin matang. Namun kita berupaya mengembangkan tenaga kerja - separuh menernsi bilangan penduduk, dan separuh lagi menernsi tenaga kerja asing.
Namun kita tidak boleh terns mengambil bilangan pekerja asing pada kadar yang tinggi, hanya untuk mengekalkim pertumbuhan.
Saya memahami kebirnbangan pembanjll-an pekerja asing- dan kesannya kepada perumahan, pengangkutan awam atau persaingan pekerjaan.
Oleh itu, kita telah memperlahankan aliran masuk pekerja asing, dan menerima kesannya menernsi pertumbuhan yang lebih perlahan. Namun kita perlu memperlahankan pengaliran pekerja asing dengan cara yang teratur dan seirnbang, tanpa menyebabkan syarikat-syarikat dan juga Syarikat Kecil dan Sederhan a . (SME) t u t u p k e d a i dan menyebabkan pekerja kita kehilangan pekerjaan.
Dari sekarang hingga 2020, kita tahu pertumbuhan pekerjaan tidak akan melebihi 2 peratus.
Generasi selepas Perang Dunia Kedua kini mula bersara dan kita tidak mempunyai terlalu ramai tenaga muda yang memasuki alam pekerjaan. Kita telah memperketatkan dasar tenaga kerja asing, dan seperti kata Lim Swee Say barn-baru ini, kita tidak akan membuat pusingan U mengenai isu ini. Ini bermakna kita perlu memastikan pertumbuhan daya penghasilan 2 peratus setahun.
Untuk merealisaslkan pertumbuhan daya penghasilan 2 peratus bukanlah mudah. Banyak negara membangun mendapati sukar, selepas Krisis Kewangan Sejagat. Kita juga tidak mencapai 2 peratus sejak beberapa tahun lalu.
2S TAHUN: PENDUDUK KITA Kita alami anjakan demografi be
sar sedang bayi yang dilahirkan selepas Perang Dunia Kedua bertambah tua. Pertumbuhan penduduk Singapura kini semakin perlahan. Tahun ini pertumbuhan penduduk mernpakan paling perlahan dalam tempoh 10 tahun.
'
Tahun lalu penduduk di sini tumbuh hanya 1.3 peratus.
Bilangan warganegara yahg bernmur 6S tahun ke atas juga meningkat 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 dewasa menyokong seorang warga emas.
Menjelang 2030, dua orang de-
wasa akan menyokong seorang warga emas. Sekiranya anda melihat piramid penduduk kita, penduduk Singapura semakin tua, dengan kebanyakannya dalam lingkungan umur S0-60 tahun.
Apakah kesan penuaan ini bagi negara?
Dari segi cukai: Siapakah yang akan membayar cukai, untuk dibelanjakan untuk siapa?
Dari segi ekonomi: Bagaimana dapat kita kekalkan Singapura menjadi makmur dan terns bersemangat?
Dari segi pertahanan: Siapakah yang akan berkhidmat dalam Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura (SAF), dan mempertahankan Singapura?
Xita tela:h pun melihat kesan-kesan penduduk hari ini yang semakin tua.
Lebih banyak keluarga "sandwic" - yang sering mempunyai dua atau hanya seorang dewasa menyokong kanak-kanak dan ibu bapa yang tua.
SO TAHUN: IDENTITI KITA Akhir sekali, dalam jangka masa
SO tahun, cabarannya adalah identiti kita. Bagairnana kita mengukuhkan identiti dan ciri-ciri negara dan masyarakat kita? Bagairnana kita mengukuhkan apa yang menjadikan kita uniksebagai rakyat Singapura, apa yang membantu setiap warga kita dan Singapura secara keseluruhanya 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 besar dan kita tidak mempunyai piliban, kita rasakan ada tujuan bersama 'untuk membina negara ihi.
Ramai yang terdorong, termasuk mereka yang dilahirkan di negara lain, tetapi sedia menjadikan negara ini kediaman dan perjuangan mereka.
Bagi SO tahU:n mendatang, bagairnana kita kekalkan rasa kene-
garaan ini, dan mengukuhkan identiti dan tujuan yang sama, supaya rakyat kita mahu menjadikan Singapura satu kejayaan dan cahaya yang bersinar di dunia?
Sedang kita maju, kita menghadapi dua bahaya. Kita boleh larnt dalarn arns globalisasi tanpa ada identiti Singapura tersendiri, yang berbeza daripada rakyat bukan Singapura.
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 membiarkan garis pemisah memecahbelahkan kita.
Begitu juga dengan kuasa besar, k e r a n a kita m a s i h s e b u a h masyarakat berbilang kaum dan perjalanan masih jauh lagi sebelum kita kebal daripada pengarnh perkauman atau kepentingan komersial.
Bagi memastikan Singapura kekal istirnewa, memastikan keinginan menjadi warga Singapura sesuatu yang boleh dibanggakan, sesuatu yang ingin kita perjuangkan; merasakan tugas dan tanggungjawab 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 mempunyai rasa tanggungjawab, komited sepenuhnya kepada Singapura dan rakyat Singapura. Pemirnpin yang bernpaya memenangi sokongan rakyat dan menggembleng rakyat. Pemirnpin yang berupaya berganding bahu dengan rakyat demi menjadikan SO tahun yang mendatang sama cemerlang dengan SO tahun yang lalu.
Agar kita dapat memberikan generasi masa depan bukan hanya kehidupan yang baik bahkan masa depan yang lebih bercahaya.
Trend Penduduk 2014 11> Singapura menyaksikan 24,000 perkahwinan, jumlah tertinggi sepanjang 1 0 tahun lalu.
11> 33,200 bayi dilahirkan. Jumlah kelahiran pada tahun lalu dengan jumlah pada 2012 adalah paling tinggi dalam tempoh 10 tahun lalu.
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.
11> Kadar pertumbuhan penduduk adalah terendah tahun lalu sepanjang sedekad.
· Trend Ekonomi II>Kadar pertumbuhan hasil kasar dalam
- negeri (GDP) semakin perlahan.
11> Anggaran pertumbuhan ekonomi akan datang sekitar 2 - 4 peratus.
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 membentangkan tiga cabaran yang bakal dihadapi Singapura pada jangka terdekat dan panjang.
Selain isu ekonomi, negara ini berdepan dengan isu penduduk, sedang kadar pertumbuhan penduduk bakal mencapai tahap paling rendah dalam sedekad tahun ini.
Di samping itu, Singapura · menghadapi isu memelihara jati dirinya di tengah-tengah arus global, selain garis pemisah seperti pengganasan dan isu lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender (LGBT).
duk akan menjadi paling rendah dalam sedekad. Tahun lalu, bilangan penduduk tumbuh hanya 1.3 peratus.
"Akhimya, huraian terbaik, bahkan satu-satunya huraian, ialah bagi warga Singapura berumah tangga dan melahirkan anak,
·" ujar Encik
Lee. Perangkaan talmn la
lu memberangsangkan, terdapat 24,000 perkahwinan dan 33,200 bayi warga Singapura dilahirkan - kededua perangkaan tertinggi dalam sedekad sebelumnya.
Encik Lee menggariskan cabaran itu mengikut tempoh 10 tahun, 25 tahun dan 50 tahun semasa berucap di Ceramah Ho Rih
ENCK LEE HSIEN LOONG
Pada jangka panjang pula, Singapura perlu mengekalkan semangat watan dan memperkukuh jati dirinya, meskipun warganya akan menjadi lebih selesa tinggal dan bekerja di
Hwa anjuran Universiti Pengurusan Singapura (SMU) di Suntee City semalam.
Beliau berkata setelah menikmati pertumbuhan tinggi selama ini, Singapura kini berdepan dengan cabaran terns mengembangkan ekonominya dalam tempoh 10 tahun bagi meningkatkan kehidupan rakyatnya.
Encik Lee menekankan Singapura tidak boleh terns mengambil pekerja asing untuk mengekalkan pertumbuhan, tetapi ia hams terns meningkatkan daya penghasilan.
"la sukar, tetapi Singapura tiada pilihan lain," kata beliau.
Berkenaan isu penduduk, Encik Lee berkata Singapura kini menghadapi perubahan demografik besar sedang kadar pertumbuhan penduduk menjadi perlahan.
Tahun ini, pertumbuhan pendu-
luar negara. "Tetapi jika kita men
jadi terlalu selesa di luar negara hingga kita tidak lagi anggap Singapura sebagai tanah air sebenar-benamya, dan sebahagian besar bakat kita ke luar negara bagi mencari cabaran atau rezeki, teras kita tidak akan berkekalan," ujar Encik Lee.
Satu lagi bahaya ialah garis pemisah, seperti bangsa dan agama, isu LGBT, jurang miskin-kaya, dan faktor luar seperti pengganasan.
Encik Lee menekankan bahawa Singapura perlu kepimpinan bertanggungjawab, komited pada negara ini, serta boleh mertggembleng sokongan rakyat untuk menjadikan 50 tahun akan datang sebaik apa yang dicapai sepanjang 50 tahun lalu.
end of its economic growth forecast of 2 to 4 per cent per year, the country 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 developed countries that have stagnated in their efforts to become more productive, especially since the global financial crisis.
Singapore has not achieved a 2 per cent growth in productivity for the last few years, and the country's ongoing productivity journey is a "hard slog" that requires a transformation of society, the economy and businesses, he said.
Addressing 3,500 people at a lecture organised by the Singapore Management 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 numbers have come in much lower than that; productivity was flat last year after a two-year decline.
In delivering the SMU's Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture at the Suntee Convention Centre, Mr Lee explained why the country needed to improve its productivity in the coming decade:
The government has already done the math. The growth of the workforce 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.
He told his audience of diplomats, government and business leaders, academics and students that the productivity target may be difficult, but Singapore had no other option.
Larger countries can rely on their hinterland and natural resources to survive, but Singapore has only its human capital to speak of. Improving productivity and maintaining economic growth are thus the only way
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 good jobs and creating opportunities.
Productivity can prove to be both an opportunity and a challenge for
companies, he said, as he offered two scenarios drawn from port operator PSA, which uses robots to run its
cranes more efficiently. In one scenario, PSA's business
can grow because of its improved productivity, which enables its management to raise the salaries of port work
ers; in the other, the business doesn't
expand and large numbers of crane
operators become redundant as a result.
The same story of technology displacing jobs also applies to white-collar workers, said Mr Lee. He cited the
finance industry as an example of a sector where computer programs and apps are taking over the role of loan officers in assessing loans and credit worthiness.
"Some people think that half of existing jobs may be taken over by com
puters in one way or another over the next 20 years ... It's a serious mes
sage, and we have to stay ahead of the curve and prepare our workers and businesses well for the future econo
my," he said. This was why the government re
cently launched SkillsFuture to help Singaporeans be more resilient and adaptable, he added. This national
movement will transform society by
recognising people for their skills and
contributions, and not so much for their qualifications.
Even as the prime minister identified the economy as the main challenge for Singapore in the next dec
ade, he mapped out two longer-term issues the country has to deal with -
population matters and the essence of the Singapore identity.
On the problem of a rapidly ageing
society, Mr Lee said Singapore was experiencing a "major demographic shift" as baby boomers grow older.
By the year 2030, he said, Singapore would have some 900,000 people aged 65 or older- more than four times the number just 15 years ago. Singapore will grow older "faster than nearly every other society" in the world, he warned.
And with this comes implications: 'Taxes: who is going to pay the taxes and to spend on whom? The economy: how do we stay prosperous and vibrant and forward-looking? Our defence: who is going to man the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) and defend us? We cannot be dad's army," he said.
Singapore's biggest challenge in the coming 50 years, however, is to ensure the country remains a "special" one that every citizen would be proud of and want to uphold.
As Singapore progresses, it must
avoid the twin dangers - that of the Singapore identity dissolving amid globalisation, and that of fault lines breaking up the people into distinct groups, each with its own identity.
Whether the country is successful on all these fronts would depend on a strong leadership team at the helm, said Mr Lee. This means having leaders with a sense of responsibility and who are completely committed to Singaporeans and Singapore.
"We need leaders who can win the support of Singaporeans and rally the country together, leaders who can work with us to make the next 50 years as glorious as the last 50 years, and then not only will our next generation enjoy a good life, they will be able to look forward to a brighter future for themselves and their children," he said.
" ... 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
ing to accept a higher goods and services tax of 20 per cent to fund the policies.
Mr Lee had earlier reiterated the
problem of Singapore's low TFR during his lecture, when he said that the next 2 5 years would be long enough
riod. "It can make all the difference to a population. If we can get our TFR up to 1.5, then we can keep our population younger and vibrant. But if our TFR continues to be at 1.2, that will be much harder, even with immigration," said Mr Lee. "A shrinking socie-
ty will be an ageing society, and that will cause profound problems - our economy will be stagnant or declining, and the whole tone of society will be not be young and forward looking, but pessimistic, oriented to the status quo or even looking towards a glorious past, and that's a sad place to be in," he added.
On its part, the government will do more to help Singaporeans marry, have babies and take care of their families. This will be done not just through baby bonuses, but by helping young couples with housing, helping parents with care-giving, promoting flexible work arrangements, and providing affordable and high-quality child care.
"But these are just policies and the government cannot solve this problem just by policies. It requires all of us to change our norms and culture, for us to be a more family-friendly country. That takes time. We have to start now, and hopefully within 2 5 years' time, we will be able to benefit from some of the results," said Mr Lee.
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
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 20-year-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
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
S'poreans must pull together to tackle issues of economy, population and identity, he says
Charissa Yong
For more than an hour last night, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong laid out the stark reality of the challenges Singapore faces in three critical areas: the economy, population and identity.
Warning that these challenges concern Singapore's survival, he said the country will face "profound problems" if Singaporeans do not pull together to meet them.
In a wide-ranging speech, he described how Singapore needs to maintain economic growth to improve lives in the short term, raise its total fertility rate in the medium term and forge a common identity in the long run.
The Government, for its part, is tackling these challenges through a raft of policies, PM Lee said at the annual Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia lecture organised by the Sing a-
pore Management University. To maintain growth, it is encour
aging productivity growth and rolling out the SkillsFuture scheme, which helps individuals master skills needed at the workplace.
And to boost population growth and cope with a rapidly ageing society, the Government is managing immigration, promoting active ageing and encouraging marriage and parenthood. "But the Government cannot solve these problems just by policies, because it requires all of us to change our norms, our culture, to become a more familyfriendly country," PM Lee said.
All Singaporeans, not just the Government, have a role to play in tackling the challenges as this will decide whether the country will thrive and survive, he said.
"The fundamental reason we have succeeded over the last 50 years is not just that we've had good policies ... the policies have
worked because the population has supported these policies, which could therefore be implemented," he said to an audience of 3,500, mostly students, at the Suntec convention centre.
For policies to succeed, Singaporeans must also have a strong sense of identity and nationhood, a sense that being Singaporean is something to be proud of, he said.
"It's a spirit which is not manufactured by the Government ... it's a spirit which is embraced, created and owned by Singaporeans.
"To keep Singapore special... to 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 warring clans - I think in the very long term, that is our most fundamental challenge," he said.
Without this glue holding the country together, Singaporeans may become too comfortably cosmopolitan and no longer consider Singapore their home.
PM Lee said Singaporeans may also run the risk of being divided along the fault lines of race, religion
or values, a point he addressed later in a dialogue with the audience.
He acknowledged that the challenges are difficult and some of these policies are not easy. Raising productivity, for instance, is a "hard slog" requiring a transformation of society, he said. But Singapore has no other option.
The economy would otherwise stagnate and this would lead to social problems such as youth unemployment 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 be pessimistic, oriented to the status quo or even looking towards a glorious past", he said.
Concluding, PM Lee said Singapore needs committed and responsible leaders who can win the support of Singaporeans, rally the country together and work to "give our next generation not only good lives, but also a brighter future".
Publication: The Straits Times, p A4 Date: 1 July 2015 Headline: Staying nimble amid competition is vital
Staying nimble amid competition is vital Wong Siew Ying
The need to remain nimble in the competitive global landscape was a vital quality Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted yesterday during a dialogue he had with tertiary students.
There will always be uncertainties, he told a student worried about the upheavals should cash-strapped Greece leave the euro zone. "But there will also be opportunities in the midst of a crisis," Mr Lee said at the question-and-answer session after his address at the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Lecture at Singapore Management University.
Citing Turkey, which he visited last year, he said the Turks had worked hard to try to enter the European Union. When it did not go as planned, they were nimble enough to change direction. He noted that as the EU plunged into a crisis, the Turks" focused on new
markets, they developed links with Africa, with Latin America, and I think they have a lot of success opening the markets, getting the businesses there, getting a new source of growth."
Australia was another example Mr Lee gave. It had to find new customers for its dairy products and mineral exports when some of its trading partners in Europe were hit by the global financial crisis.
"They found the Chinese, developed the emerging markets, they promoted new customers. They found a living. Singapore has to be like that too, " he said.
Mr Lee encouraged the students to work together amid rising competition and be ready to learn new skills. However, he urged them
"not to have a ready set of skills so that you can plug in and straightaway you can work, but to be able to have that spryness in an uncertain situation to judge where you are".
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.
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.
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
·has highlighted three challenges
Singapore will face in the next 50
years.
The challenges are maintaining economic growth to improve . lives in the short term, raising total fertility rate in the medium term, and forging a common identity among Singaporeans in the long run.
These would concern Singapore's survival, Mr Lee said at the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia le.cture, organised by the Singapore Management University. It was held at the Suntec Convention Centre yesterday.
· In the next 10 ¥ears, Singapore needs to improve its productivity and maintain its economic growth. It is the only way Singaporeans can continue finding good jobs and having opportunities, he said.
Singapore's grqwth 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, 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 popula_tion and declining birth rates.
Ultimately, the best and only solution is for Singaporeans to marry and have more children, Mr Lee said.
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 yeats, 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 with people so comfortable with living abroad that "we lose the sense that only Singapore is truly home ... "
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 PM Lee
SINGAPORE- Singapore will face critical challenges in the next 50 years in keeping the economy strong, raising total fertility rate and strengthening national identity, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday.
To overcome these, good leadership and policies - many of have already been put in place, said Mr Leewill 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-
ans must also do their part, he added. Speaking at the seventh instal
ment of the Ho Rih Hwa Leadership in Asia Public Lecture Series held at the Suntec Convention Centre yesterday evening, Mr Lee sketched out how each of these challenges will unfold over several time horizons.
INSIDE PM SETSOUT CHALL ENGES S'PORE COULD FACE IN NEXT 50 YEARS• 2
SINGAPORE FEELING IMPACT OF RAPIDLY AGEINGPOPUL ATION•4
TPP PACT AMONG GLOBAL ISSUES RAISED AT SM UDIALOGUE• 6
The most immediate challenge facing the Republic, in the next decade, will be raising productivity in order to grow an already-advanced economy, said Mr Lee. Over a longer time frame of25 years, population challenges will come to the fore because of low birth rates, while the most profound and fundamental challenge in the next 50 years will be in strengthening the national identity.
"To keep Singapore special; to maintain a sense of 'I am a Singaporean. I am proud of it and I want to uphold it' ... I think in the very long term, that is our biggest challenge," said Mr Lee.
Addressing about 3,500 participants, including diplomats, students, teachers and public officers, Mr Lee warned that Singapore runs the danger of "dissolving into globalisation", with no sense of a distinct identity as the country becomes more cosmopolitan and Singaporeans become increasingly well-travelled.
Citing that about 200,000 Singaporeans currently reside abroad for work and studies, he said: " It is good that our people are comfortable living over the world, but if we become so comfortable abroad that we lose the sense that only Singapore is truly home ... We will just melt away, be dissolved by globalisation."
The other danger is that Singaporeans could fracture into different groups, each with its own exclusive identities, said Mr Lee, who cited traditional fault lines such as race and religion, as well as newer ones such as LGBT issues.
External influences such as the Is-
la mic State can also create schisms in the Republic's multi-ethnic and multireligious society, he said.
"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?" he asked.
To bind society together, Mr Lee said Singaporeans must have a shared sense of what the country stands for and what they want to achieve together- things that the Government cannot create. It is forged when citizens live together, overcome crises together, help one another in times of need and celebrate successes, he added.
He cited instances this year in which such a spirit was shown, including the outpouring of grief over the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in March, as well as the earthquake in Sabah that claimed the lives 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
Primary 6 students. "Life will teach us lessons. Difficult times will come, and through that, we will learn what it means to be a Singaporean," he said.
In happier times, such as during the recent SEA Games, the national pride on display was not only because of Team Singapore's record-breaking medal haul, he said. "We felt proud to be Singaporean ... (because of) the way our people conducted themselves. When the music stopped suddenly when it shouldn't, Singaporeans continued to sing Majulah Singapura with gusto and pride," Mr Lee said, drawing applause from the audience.
The Prime Minister also lauded marathoner Ashley Liew, who forewent his lead during the Games event to wait for competitors who had mistakenly taken the wrong path, for his embodiment of "class and sportsmanship".
"Such a spirit cannot be manufactured by the Government. These are spontaneous shows of pride and solidarity," he said. "(It's a) spirit that
is embraced, shaped and owned by Singaporeans, people who stand up for these values in their daily lives and actions, and make Singapore a distinct nation that we can all be proud of and want to belong to."
Outlining a raft of plans the Government has made to confront these challenges, Mr Lee reiterated that they must be founded on good leadership- "leaders with a sense of responsibility, wholly committed to Singaporeans and Singapore, leaders who can win your support and rally the country together, leaders who can work with us and make the next 50 years as glorious as the last 50 years", he said.
Mr Lee also paid tribute to pioneer leaders such as Mr Ho Rih Hwa, after whom the lecture series was named. The former businessman has served the country as Ambassador to Thailand, Belgium, the European Economic Community and the United Nations in Geneva, but has refused to accept any remuneration. "He saw this as national service, a duty he was so honoured 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.
- ECONOMY:Transfonning flt}l Ulewayweleamand work
"We have reached a high level in terms of GDP. Our per capita GDP is as high as Japan's. But we have to find a way to continue growing, so that we can improve people's lives ... If we can continue upgrading, in 10 years, we can be in a different league. We can make investments in our people, afford the social safety nets, improve our lives. If we cannot, we will stagnate and lose ground, like what some countries are going through now - Taiwan, Korea, even Japan. After a decade, we will face not just economic problems, but social problems- unemployment, young people unable to find jobs, restlessness instead of hope.
"That is why we have launched SkillsFuture as a national movement. It will play a critical role to help Singaporeans become resilient and adaptable. It will make sure ... that our people will always have opportunities to develop to their fullest, with training available at every stage of their lives. Because as your jobs change, your skill sets need to change. And you cannot depend on what you've learnt ... in the past as you grow older. You have to learn new skills and you have to be able to do new jobs. And then when the world changes, we are prepared and we are able to change with it.
"So this is a transformation of society (and) in the way we learn and ... work, the way we value individuals for what you do ... And we must work at this because that is the way to make progress in productivity. That's the way to grow the economy. And that's the way, really, most fundamentally, so every worker can feel proud of themselves and our society is one where everybody has a valued place."
A POPULATION:KeepingUle qj1 nation young and vibrant
"While the economy will go up and down, in the long run, demographics is destiny. Twenty-five years is long enough for our birth trends and our marriage and parenthood policies to take root and have an impact ... The difference between a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.2 and 1.5, which is where we would like to be, is 9,000 babies per year, or over 200,000 more babies born over 25 years. And it will make all the difference to the population if we can get our TFR up to 1.5.
"Of course, I'd like (it) to go higher, but let's get to 1.5 first because then, we can keep our population younger and vibrant. But if our TFR continues to be at 1.2, that will be much harder, even with immigration. A shrinking society will also be an ageing society, and that will cause profound problems. Our economy will be stagnant or declining, and the whole tone of our society will not be young and forward-looking, but pessimistic, oriented to the status quo or even the past.
"Ultimately, the best and, indeed, the only fundamental solution is for Singaporeans to marry and have more children. And on that count, we have laboured mightily. And I'm happy to say that if you look at last year's numbers, there's a little bit of good news, although it is still early signs. We have (put in place) many measures over the last 20 years. W hat we have done, I think, has helped ... But these are just policies and the Government cannot solve this problem just by policies. Because it requires all of us to change our norms, our culture, for us to become a more family-friendly country. And that takes time."
"Even more fundamental than demographics is the question of identity ... As we progress, there are two threats to this idea of a Singaporean identity: One, we could just dissolve, melt into a globalised world and lose that special sense of being distinctively Singaporean, different from non-Singaporeans. The other risk is that we could divide internally, along fault lines, fracture into different groups, and each group with its own exclusive identity, and lose any sense of becoming one people.
" ... (Our identity) has to come from a shared sense of what is it Singapore stands for, what we want to achieve together, and that comes from our shared experiences, our bonding through these shared experiences, becoming one people, becoming comrades, more than friends. It depends on how we grow and live together ... how we overcome crises, whether it's SARS, MERS or the global financial crisis, how we help one another in times of need (and) how we celebrate successes to-gether, in SG50 and as we did during the SEA Games."
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
TPP pact among global issues raised at SMU dialogue REGINA MARIE LEE [email protected]
SINGAPORE- Questions on developments around the world dominated a dialogue Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had with students yesterday, 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 f inal-year economics student asked Mr Lee whether a political or judicial solution would bet-
ter 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 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
•• 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 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 20-year-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.
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.