'In this new troubled world, it is all the more important for us to close ranks. Divided, we stand no chance,' says PM Lee in a parliamentary speech.
SINGAPORE: Unity and a go-getting spirit is needed in the face of a grave external situation, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Wednesday .at the opening of the second session of parliament last week.to fulfil a “strong agenda” domestically and abroad in an increasingly troubled world.The last time parliament opened in 2020, we were in the heat of battle against COVID-19.
The DCA covers SAF training, including in traditional areas in the South China Sea. It is particularly important for our Air Force and Navy. By putting these longstanding issues to rest, Indonesia and Singapore can move forward with greater confidence and trust; and focus our energies on collaboration. We are working on promising new areas, like the digital economy, sustainability, and renewable energy. We are making headway. We signed several MOUs on them when President Jokowi visited Singapore last month.
Our two countries have much to gain by working together. Both in new areas, like the green and digital economies, and also on ongoing projects like the Rapid Transit System Link between Singapore and Johor Bahru. We are building the RTS Link marine viaduct across the Straits of Johor, starting from both sides and meeting in the middle. Construction is progressing steadily. The next big milestone is when we complete the drop-in span to join up both sides of the marine viaduct.
The US and NATO countries are supplying Ukraine with more and more sophisticated military equipment like longer-range artillery, the Patriot air defence system, and main battle tanks. If the Ukrainians, using these Western-supplied weapons, make a breakthrough on the battlefield, we cannot predict how Russia may react.
Which brings me to the second big issue: US-China relations. When I visited China last month, this was on everyone’s minds. Likewise, in all my recent meetings with US visitors. Between the US and China, there is deep mutual suspicion and fundamental mistrust. But the most dangerous flashpoint of all is Taiwan. Singapore is good friends with China and we are also old friends of Taiwan. Singapore rigorously upholds our “One China” policy and continues to support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. China considers Taiwan as the most important issue, and the “One China” principle to be the reddest of its red lines.
The third big issue is that the global multilateral trading system is under siege. This has very serious implications, especially for small, open economies. We are once again heading towards a world where protectionism is the default and trade rules are secondary, like what happened in the period between the First and Second World Wars. The economic cost to the world will be very high.
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”.
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.
All this is absolutely essential, and the government will fully back this agenda with policies, programmes and resources. It is an ambitious agenda that will not be easy to realise even in good times. In these turbulent times, it is all the more important that we get it done, and get it right, so that we can stay united as one people, one Singapore.But just being united will not be enough.
Only in Singapore, we don’t have an “escape hatch”, the hinterland, that many other countries have. This mindset of grit and self-reliance was crucial. Because Singaporeans heeded Raja’s words and set our hearts and souls to nation-building, we survived the withdrawal of the British forces, we overcame many more subsequent crises, and we created today’s Singapore.
And in my daily work, interacting with ministers and their staff, I come across young officers who are passionate about their work, feel a sense of mission serving the nation, and are keen to improve the lives of Singaporeans through their ideas and efforts. Even with wars, tensions, and protectionism in the world, countries still need to trade, there will still be opportunities, and therefore we can still make a living.
It will be challenging – we will feel tensions; we will experience disruptions. We will have to manage the problems, and deal with the trade-offs thoughtfully and sensibly. But we have some things going for us. It is because of the strong international reputation that Singapore has built up over the years. People know that the Singapore system works and COVID-19 has made our track record stand out even more. People know our people are of high quality; our workers are hardworking, skilled and reliable; our professionals are competent, honest and trustworthy.
So I ask all Singaporeans, through you, Mr Speaker, to uphold our country’s reputation, especially when you are overseas. Make full use of the Singapore brand, but remember: Never sully it. Build on it, enhance it for future generations. A high international reputation makes all the difference to Singapore.I have spoken about the importance of unity, a go-getting mindset, and a good reputation. But the quality of a country’s government and leaders matters too.
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.
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