At the wrap-up session of the Labour Movement’s ‘Our Singapore Conversation’ series, Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin pointed out that at a national level, Singapore has a finite budget to meet the basic needs of Singaporeans such as education and healthcare, and therefore, has to be able to earn, spend and save.
He was speaking to a 100-strong group on 27 November 2012 at The Food Loft by NTUC Foodfare located in the Marina Financial District.
“We need to be able to generate income; it is not the most aspirational thing. Some people desire a lot of money; [for] some it is functional, but we make our choices. But you need to meet those basic needs.”
He explained the Government basically has to decide how to balance its budget and whether to spend more, save less or spend less, save more, which is challenging given that Singapore does not have any natural resources to depend on.
Heartened that many participants had spoken up on the important things in life such as having good values, Mr Tan said that everyone in society – not just the Government or someone else – must do their part to build a better future for Singapore in 2030.
Also sharing his thoughts on the wrap-up session was NTUC Secretary-General Lim Swee Say, who was encouraged by the participants’ views.
“I feel good about the future Singapore that you have visualised. Because if the future Singapore is like what you have visualised tonight, then I think by the time I turn 78-years-old I will still be a happy Singaporean, a proud Singaporean,” he said.
However, he stressed that “the Singapore of the future, the one that you have visualised, can happen only if everybody works together to make it happen.”
SG Lim noted that it is easier to refine than to create.
Having created the vision, the Labour Movement should continue the conversation efforts to refine it further. He emphasised that the vision should be one we all embrace and that everyone must play a part to realise it.
