Lawrence Wong is Minister of State for Defence & Education
I was here in this House 5 years ago – but seated in the Gallery, as a civil servant, watching from the sidelines rather than participating in the debate.
I still remember the-then President warning that the global environment would change “rapidly and often unpredictably”. I don’t know what Mr Nathan had in mind when he said those words. But I don’t think he or anyone in this House could have anticipated what happened in the ensuing years. Globally, we lived through the biggest bank bail-out in history and the deepest recession since the Great Depression. Singapore too suffered its worst recession since independence.
Understandably, this roller-coaster ride caused anxieties for many Singaporeans. I’ve talked to many residents, first during the General Election, and then over the last few months, in my house visits and Meet the People Sessions. One experience with a 60-year-old resident stood out. I first met him shortly after I was elected as a Member of Parliament. My helpers warned me that this was going to be a difficult case. I looked at his case file – it was very thick. He had been coming to the MPS since 2009 when he lost his job as a driver. Since then, he had been looking for a job, but without any success. He was angry and lost his temper easily. But the anger stemmed from a deep sense of despair, hurt and hopelessness. I continued to see him several times over the past few months and provided him with temporary assistance through ComCare and NTUC vouchers. I also encouraged him to apply for a taxi licence, because he had driven a taxi many years ago.
Recently, he came to see me again. This time, he looked like a completely transformed person with a new lease of life – well-dressed, clean-shaven, and his hair properly combed for the first time. He then took out a freshly-minted taxi licence from his pocket and showed it to me. The pride and joy was visible on his face. I was delighted for him.
But this resident is still not out of the woods. He has just started driving, and needs to earn enough money to pay off his outstanding debts. So he still has lingering anxieties and concerns about the future. And there are probably many others like him – people who have gone through the roller-coaster ride of the last 5 years. They do not feel that their lives have improved, and they worry about the unexpected twists and turns that may lie ahead. They see prices and bills going up, and worry about their future and their children’s future.
Global Pressures
I fully empathize with these sentiments. Our hearts go out to all those who need help. The Government is taking steps to strengthen our social safety nets, to look after the lower-income, the disabled, and the elderly. We are working with the many helping hands in the community, to make sure no one falls through the cracks. We have and will continue to do all we can to address the stresses and strains that people feel on the ground.
Some members of this House have suggested that the problems we face today are the result of the Government’s focus on growth. I think the suggestion is completely disingenuous. To begin with, the Government has never pursued GDP as an end in itself. Rather, growth has been pursued with a firm commitment to fairness, and as the foundation for broader benefits for all: the provision of equal opportunity, greater social mobility, and a quality of life that improves with each generation.
The criticisms against growth are not uniquely heard in this House. They are also heard in other developed countries, as growth becomes tainted by the excesses of capitalism and financial markets. But they have arisen more fundamentally due to the pressures in the workplace brought about by globalization and the IT revolution. In the past, the competition came from low-wage, low-skilledworkers. Now, there is also competition from low-wage, high-skilled workers. Reading X-rays or filing tax returns can be done by lower-paid radiologists or accountants – they do the work in India, and send the results back the next day via fibre-optic cable. When Applied Materials, a US-based solar panel company decided to build the world’s largest commercial solar R&D centre, it chose Xi-an China as the location. Applied Materials had openings for 260 scientist/technologist jobs. It received 26,000 Chinese applications (100x more). And 30 percent of the people hired had Masters or PhDs!
In this highly connected and inter-dependent world, there is a wider polarization of jobs and employment opportunities. Those who do well are the ones who can think critically, who can tackle complex non-routine tasks, and who can come up with creative, innovative ideas. All others are vulnerable to outsourcing or automation. This is contributing to rising income gaps around the world. And this is at least partly why there is widespread social malaise and discontent, manifesting itself in protests and street demonstrations in some countries.
These are the realities of what is happening around us. Singapore is not immune from these global pressures. But we are in a much stronger position than other countries. This is in large part because of the measures taken by the Government. And we have to look at these measures in the context of the economic cycles in the last decade. The first half of the decade was a rough patch – we had two recessions, and overall very slow growth. The impact of this was felt on our people, ordinary Singaporeans. The common refrain then was for jobs. Median income in the first half was flat, in real terms. At the 20th percentile, it dropped by 11%.
At the start of the second half, the external environment improved and the opportunities came. We took full advantage of these opportunities. This meant bringing in more foreign workers, to bring in more investments, and ultimately, to create more jobs for Singaporeans. In doing so, it’s true that we ran into some infrastructure bottlenecks in transport, hospitals and housing. While we had a sharp recession, the economy bounced back sharply, and our infrastructure was not able to catch up. We could have decided not to take this path. But opportunities come in cycles, and if we had not seized the opportunities then, our people would have been worse off today. Because we did, Singaporeans benefited. Our employment rate is amongst the highest in the world. In the second half of the decade, our median income rose in real terms by 11% (compared to flat growth in the first half). At the 20th percentile, incomes rose sharply by 13% (compared to 11% decline in the first half). Overall GDP growth during the decade was 5.6% – certainly not an outcome you would expect from a “grow at all cost” strategy – and this brought jobs and higher incomes for Singaporeans.
Mr Speaker Sir, I have taken some time to go through the details of what happened over the last decade, because listening to the points made earlier, I don’t think a full picture was given by the members. Mr Chen Show Mao and Mr Gerald Giam earlier spoke about the value of diversity, and how we should have constructive debates in this House and not attempt to score political points. I agree fully with them. To have meaningful debate, we need to look at the data and the facts, appreciate the hard trade-offs that we face, and seek to understand the basis for the policy decisions we make. And if he does that, I hope Mr Giam will be persuaded that what happened in the last 10 years was not the PAP’s “biggest policy failure" (as he put it), but the PAP’s success in steering Singapore through economic storms and do good for the people.
Indeed if you look at what happened over the last decade, very few other countries have emerged from this period of global turmoil with such positive results. But we made it happen, because of the Government working for the people, because of our policies to promote sustainable and inclusive growth – growth that benefits every citizen, strengthens social solidarity, and increases living standards not just for today, but for future generations as well.
This is the way to build a fair, just, and inclusive Singapore, and indeed to stay true to our founding ideals, and achieve “happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation”. We want to be a nation where every citizen has a place, where every contribution is valued, where all can live in dignity and harmony. We also want to be part of a gracious, caring and compassionate society. The strength of any society is measured by how well it treats its weakest members, and as Singapore progresses, we must ensure that our vulnerable members are not left behind.
Confidence for the Future
These are high and aspirational goals. But I am confident we can achieve them because of our people and our spirit. While we should never rest on our laurels, how we have overcome past challenges as a nation provides inspiration and strength for how we shall face the future together.
Singapore has many strengths, but our biggest strength is our people. This is why one of the best investments the Government can make is in education – to give every child the best possible start in life, to give equal opportunities for all to make the most of their lives, to give those who do not succeed at first a second – and even third and fourth – chance to make good.
Many MPs have spoken on education. This is an area where everyone has a view, often shaped by their own personal experiences, and the experiences of their children. I have visited many schools over the past few months. I readily acknowledge that we do not have a perfect education system – we do not have all the answers and there will always be things we can do to improve. I have listened to the many suggestions from Members and I am sure there will be more to come in the next few days, and MOE will study them carefully. We are determined to raise the quality of all our pre-school centres, to make every school a good school, and provide opportunities for all.
Looking at how our education system has evolved over the years, I believe any objective observer would agree that there has been a vast improvement. The rigour of our educational system is robust and the standard that we have attained is first rate. We have high peaks and high averages. Much is owed to our school leaders and teachers, for they are capable, motivated and passionate.
Our whole philosophy towards education has evolved. Our teachers are not just focussing on content and knowledge. They are getting our young to think independently, to explore with confidence, and to pursue their passions. They are imbuing them with character and values, so that our children grow up into stout-hearted, upright adults.
Our schools are doing many things to spark the interest and passion of our children for learning. Ping Yi Secondary School encourages their kids to experiment with new products during their design and technology classes, in order to develop their thinking and problem-solving skills. One parent of an N-level student had this to say about the curriculum: “My son loves what he is doing. Tasting success has given him a new found confidence. Now, he is so much more motivated and self-directed and I don't have to nag him about his work. It has been quite a transformation and I am very pleased."
This is what education should be about, and this is what we are seeking to achieve in every class, level, and school. We all know that education is more than filling a pail with knowledge; it is to light a fire in our young people. With the right education, both at home and at school, our children will not only be equipped with skills, but will also be fired up to do great things. For this to happen, we all need to change our mindsets, to embrace a broader definition of success and the many pathways to achieve this.
Beyond schools, we will create more progression avenues for post-secondary education. We are continuing with the expansion of the university sector to meet the rising aspirations of young Singaporeans, especially polytechnic upgraders seeking a degree. Next year, the new Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will take in its first batch of students. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will also have new programmes with overseas universities. So we can expect an increase of around 1,000 university places for Singaporeans in 2012. Thereafter, there will be an increase of another 1,000 more university places over the next few years. Beyond that, the Committee on University Education Pathways, which I chair, is gathering feedback and studying ways to have more university places for Singaporeans.
I know there is a great desire amongst young people to get a university education. But there are many good students who prefer a hands-on, practice-based environment. These students recognise that a degree is not the only route to achieving one’s dreams. One example is Mr Darran Nathan who graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic in 2000. He commercialised the IT technology he developed during his studies and started a company with venture funding from several sources, including the co-founder of Skype. Darran has been so engrossed in his work, that he has deferred his degree studies for the past ten years. We will increase our investments in the polytechnics and new ITE Colleges to provide more opportunities for people like Darran.
The more we invest in good education for our people, the better we enable them to excel in the workplace and to maximise their potential. Across all industries, employers are looking for people who are inquisitive, prepared to learn, adaptable, creative and innovative.
Even in the military, job requirements are changing. In the past, the emphasis was on discipline and regimentation. Today, soldiers at every level have to be trained and empowered to respond to unpredictable situations on the ground.
As many of you are aware, our soldiers have been in Afghanistan to support the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction effort. Last year, the SAF deployed a Weapon Locating Radar detachment to provide early warning for the coalition forces against enemy rocket fire. A team of young engineers accompanied the detachment to ensure that the radar was in good working condition. When they were asked to extend the deployment of the radar from 9 to 15 months, they sought advice from the experts. The radar manufacturers and other armies said this was mission impossible – the radar could not function that long under the extreme weather conditions in Afghanistan.
But our engineers made it possible. They improvised and came up with their own technical solutions. This was done not in civilian comfort, but on the battlefield of Afghanistan. Our boys kept the radar going for the entire 15 month stretch, enabling the crew to detect all incoming enemy rockets, and save lives.
Such ground-up innovations are happening everywhere – not just in the SAF, but also among business and non-profit groups. We see people taking pride in their jobs, striving to excel, and then seeking to out-do themselves by continuously looking for ways to add further value. That’s the spirit that has made Singapore what it is today: a small country that has achieved great things.
The demands of the future will be great and different from the past. But if we put our hearts and minds together to find imaginative solutions, if we all pull together and stick together, then we will overcome every new challenge.
Shaping our Future Together
Mr Speaker Sir, the imperative for teamwork in building our future is great. The Government will do its part to facilitate and lead in terms of the broad directions, but it has no monopoly of knowledge or ideas. To understand and tackle our challenges fully and vigorously, we need to draw on the expertise and resources of all our people. This means that the Government should pull back from being all things to all citizens, and give Singaporeans the opportunity and space to organize themselves, and develop their own solutions.
Active citizenry is a key ingredient of any functioning democracy. Each of us must be a participant in building the Singapore we want. We must keep abreast of new developments, and educate ourselves on the major issues of the day. The internet and social media gives us unprecedented access to information. But the internet can also be an echo chamber that amplifies inflammatory opinions, half-truths and untruths.
We must therefore be responsible in both putting forward views, as well as accepting them. We must also actively seek out viewpoints that challenge our own assumptions and beliefs, so that we can begin to understand where the people who disagree with us are coming from. This will allow us to debate issues honestly and robustly, without become polarized as a nation. It will ultimately enable us to build a stronger consensus on what is best for Singapore.
Besides engaging in policy, there are many others ways of shaping the character and life of our society. Talking to young Singaporeans over these past few months, I have been encouraged by their commitment and passion to serve in different causes. I’ve seen young people serving in grassroots organizations. I’ve seen our youths setting up social enterprises to give back to the community, like Mr Shawn Low, who founded a nationwide online peer support network called Audible Hearts for youths in distress. I’ve met students caring for the aged, the sick, the handicapped and the less fortunate.
I hope even more Singaporeans – young and old – will step forward to serve and make things better in our community. Service makes our lives richer – I know it has made mine more fulfilling and meaningful. Through service, we not only discover more about ourselves, but also about the meaning of community and the meaning of citizenship.
Mr Speaker Sir, I have spoken about the anxieties and concerns of Singaporeans. But I hope I have also given sufficient reasons for us to be confident and optimistic about our future. Sometimes we hear talk about a gap between the government and the people. But the government is elected by the people, for the people. We are all in this together, even if we may sometimes disagree. We must bridge our differences and reach across divides. And as we connect the dots of our shared existence, we can all look forward to the promise of a stronger, more cohesive nation.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/lawrence-wong/maiden-speech-in-parliament-18-october-2011/261288770579140
Lawrence Wong rebuts criticisms on growth focus
CNA, 18 Oct 2011
SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong has rebutted arguments by some MPs in Parliament that the problems being faced by Singapore are the result of the government's focus on growth.
He said the government has never pursued GDP as an end in itself. Rather, growth has been pursued with a firm commitment to fairness and as the foundation for broader benefits for all.
"The criticisms against growth are not uniquely heard in this House. They are also heard in other developed countries, as growth becomes tainted by the excesses of capitalism. But they have arisen more fundamentally due to the pressures in the workplace brought about by globalisation and the IT revolution," said Mr Wong, who is also MP for West Coast GRC.
"In the past, the competition came from low-wage, low-skilled workers. Now, there is also competition from low-wage, high-skilled workers. Reading X-rays or filing tax returns can be done by lower-paid radiologists or accountants - they do the work in India, and send the results back the next day via fibre-optic cable," he added.
Mr Wong explained that very few other countries have emerged from the last five years of the global turmoil with such positive results as seen in Singapore.
Singapore made it happen, because of policies to promote sustainable and inclusive growth - growth that benefits every citizen, strengthens social solidarity and increases living standards not just for today but for future generations as well, he said.
Turning to education, Mr Wong said: "Next year, the new Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will take in its first batch of students. The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will also have new programmes with overseas universities.
"So we can expect an increase of around 1,000 university places for Singaporeans in 2012. Thereafter, there will be an increase of another 1,000 more university places over the next few years."
Concluding his speech, he said that while the government will do its part to facilitate and lead in terms of the broad directions, it will also need the support of Singaporeans.
Mr Wong said: "To understand and tackle our challenges fully and vigorously, we need to draw on the expertise and resources of all our people. This means that the government should pull back from being all things to all citizens, and give Singaporeans the opportunity and space to organise themselves and develop their own solutions."
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