Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong gave a lengthy speech in Parliament yesterday (19 April) at the Debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President 2023, addressing a number of topics.
Among the topics that he spoke about, included the upcoming economic and strategic challenges that Singapore will face, as well as relationships with other neighbouring countries, and the support for the 4G leadership.
Snippets from PM Lee’s speech
The current global situation, both strategic and economic, is graver than we have experienced for a very long time. Singapore has survived difficult periods before: The Cold War between the US and Soviet Union, and closer to home, the proxy fights in Vietnam and Cambodia; the Asian Financial Crisis, then the Global Financial Crisis; public health crises like SARS, and most recently COVID-19.
But what we have now is unprecedented: a hot war in Europe; deepening hostility between two superpowers which are closely interlinked with each other; and protectionism undermining the foundations of the multilateral trading system.
These three simultaneous crises will set in train a whole series of changes and shocks that will severely disrupt the world, our region, and surely Singapore.
In such a troubled environment, what can we do?
Stay united
First and foremost, we must remain one united people.
We have come through repeated challenges over the last six decades, because we worked together, took adversity in our stride, and kept faith with one another. We painstakingly created a harmonious multi-racial and multi-religious society.
We avoided the schisms and factions that have troubled other societies. In recent years, we have tackled sensitive issues that could easily have caused deep rifts among our people.
Two years ago, we allowed Muslim nurses to wear the tudung with their uniforms. Last year, we repealed Section 377A of the Penal Code while safeguarding the institution of marriage. We handled these issues firmly and fairly, in a way that maintained mutual trust and understanding between different communities, and kept ourselves together.
You may think: “Nothing happened, so what was the fuss about? We should just have done it – and a long time ago”. But look at what has happened elsewhere – opposing groups getting worked up, mobilising their followers, pitting citizens against each other and dividing society.
This could easily have happened here too, and it can still happen to us. Many foreigners, especially our critics in the West, don’t understand this about us. In Singapore, when faced with a divisive issue, our approach has always been to find a middle way, bridge the differences, strike compromises and heal divisions. Not grand posturing; not playing cultural or identity politics; not dividing and polarising people.
Our instinct always is to keep Singaporeans together. We have to keep on thinking and acting like this. Please do not take our harmony for granted. It is a very precious thing, and very fragile. We must continuously work on it, and build up our social cohesion and national strength.
A new troubled world
Tensions between China and the US will expose our population to emotional pulls, commercial pressures, and influence campaigns, from one side or the other, to take their point of view and support their cause.
The fracturing of the global trading system will mean slower, more uncertain growth, and greater disruption to industries and jobs, businesses and workers.
We must not allow these pressures to divide Singaporeans along fault lines in our society, whether old or new, like: the “haves” versus the “have nots”; the “liberals” versus the “conservatives”; the “locals” versus the “foreigners”; “new” versus “old” citizens; and above all, differences between races and religions.
In this new troubled world, it is all the more important for us to close ranks. Divided, we stand no chance. We must do our best to see eye-to-eye on the fundamentals, and try to appreciate each other’s perspectives, even if we cannot always agree.
We must not shy away from hard choices, but deal squarely with difficult issues based on facts and sound analysis. We must nurture the deep and precious trust that we have – between the Government and the people, and also among Singaporeans; and work hand-in-hand towards a shared vision of our future.
Support 4G team and next leadership
To ensure good leadership for the long term is an unending and demanding challenge for successive generations. But what I and my older colleagues can do, and will make sure of, is to prepare a strong and capable next team to take over from us.
Then the new leaders can take Singapore further forward, and the country has the chance to produce and support new generations of leaders to come after them, who will be up to the job. This, we have done.
The 4G team is in place. During the pandemic, Singaporeans experienced first-hand the importance of strong political leadership. Our population rose to the occasion; the public service performed magnificently; but our response, and the results, would have been very different without political leaders who could set the direction, make the tough calls, and rally the people together.
The MTF ministers were in the hot seat, but the whole 4G team played a key role. It was a formative experience for the 4G ministers. Handling the crisis, they got the measure of each other, and gained confidence in each other’s judgment and abilities.
The 4G ministers are increasingly responsible for the safety and well-being of the country. They have a strong agenda to fulfil, domestically and internationally; but they cannot do it on their own. They need the support of every Singaporean, including Members of this House, to see it through.
Last year, the 4G ministers chose DPM Wong to be their leader. I ask you to give Lawrence and the 4G ministers your fullest support. I ask you to give them your fullest support for now as members of my team, but in due course when they take over the reins, as the next leadership for Singapore.
Help me make this leadership succession, this leadership renewal a success for Singapore, and for you. Show your support for a government that works hard and works well for you. Elect leaders whom you can trust to take us forward. Give yourselves the best chance to keep our system working well for Singaporeans for many years to come.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office