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Source: www.gov.sg |
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PRIME MINISTER'S CHINESE NEW YEAR MESSAGE 2008 |
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Singapore enjoyed a fruitful and productive
Year of the Pig. The economy recorded its fourth consecutive year of
robust growth. A record 237,000 jobs were created. Unemployment is at
its lowest in a decade. All workers have something to cheer about, as
they enjoyed higher bonuses and wage increments. |
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The Year of the Rat begins under more
uncertain and challenging circumstances. Turbulence in financial markets
worldwide has shaken consumer and investor confidence. The US economy is
slowing down, and possibly sliding into recession. Worldwide energy and
food prices have soared, raising prices in Singapore too. |
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We should gird ourselves for further
uncertainties ahead. But we can also be confident, for Singapore is in a
strong position to weather any storm. I know many Singaporeans worry
about rising food prices and the cost of living. |
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As a small, open economy, which imports
almost everything we need, we cannot escape these global trends. Nor can
we fix the prices of cooking oil, flour, or other essential foodstuffs
as this would create artificial shortages, queues and a black market.
But we can and will directly help those in need. |
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The Workfare Income Supplement Scheme made
its first payment last month, paying $150 million to 290,000 low-income
workers. With good growth, we have the resources to help ease the burden
on Singaporeans, especially for the poor and elderly. |
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In the Chinese zodiac, the Rat
symbolises wit, imagination and resourcefulness. Let us harness
our creativity and ingenuity to tackle the challenges that lie
ahead. Then despite the difficulties that come our way we can all
look forward to another good year for Singapore and for ourselves. |
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Chinese New Year is a celebration of the
family, a time of reunion and bonding. However busy we are, however
faraway we may be from home, we should try to keep these traditions
alive. If you are working abroad and cannot make it back for the New
Year, at least call your parents and families back home, or better
still, chat over the internet using a webcam. These customs maintain
and renew our bonds of family and kinship. |
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Nowadays, more Singaporeans prefer to
leave their parental homes to set up their own households after
marriage. Nuclear families have long been the norm in the West,
but they are increasingly the trend in East Asia too. |
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Even in China, many young people now
work and live in distant cities. But when Chinese New Year comes
around, they make a special effort to travel to their home towns
to be with their families, as we saw this year when severe
snowstorms disrupted this huge movement of people, and caused
great hardship to tens of millions determined to make it home for
the reunion dinner. |
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While social norms are shifting, we
must continue to preserve the filial ties and bonds that hold our
family units together. Families are a great strength for
continuity in bringing up the next generation, and transmitting
social values. Grandparents, in particular, play an important role
in our families. They are a big help to those who have children. |
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One study of Canada and Finland in the
18th-19th centuries confirmed this scientifically. It found that
women whose mothers were still living not only bore more children,
but their children were more likely to survive till adulthood.
This was especially so if the grandmother was still young (below
60), and was living close by (less than 20 kilometres away). |
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The world has changed many times over
since then. But even in the 21st century, young parents
everywhere still benefit from the experience, advice and help of
their mothers and mothers-in-law. I have certainly benefited from
this, and I am sure many Singaporeans have experienced the same. |
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This is why Government policies seek
to preserve the family structure and foster family ties. For
example, when applying for new HDB flats, couples who live with or
near their parents have priority over regular applicants. |
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Likewise, those buying re-sale flats
enjoy a higher housing grant if they are staying with parents or
the flat is near their parents’ home. HDB has also introduced a
family season ticket so that families who visit one another
regularly can enjoy a discount on their parking fees. Then, even
if they do not all stay under one roof, young couples can still
keep in close touch with their parents, while they, in turn, can
give valuable parenting advice, and help to look after the little
ones. |
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More broadly, we want Singapore to be
a great place to bring up families and children. It has been three
years since we introduced major policies to encourage families to
have more children. |
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We have managed to reverse the decline
in births, but only barely. Last year we only had 37,000 resident
births, just 2,000 more than in 2004. Ultimately, this is not just
a matter of financial incentives, but of social attitudes and
mindsets, as well as practical arrangements like childcare
facilities, flexible work options, and leave for parents to look
after their children. |
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It will take time for mindsets to
change, but we are studying the practical arrangements carefully,
to see how we can create an even friendlier environment for having
and raising children. |
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Chinese New Year is a good time to
celebrate our traditions, and remind ourselves that our family
remains relevant in today’s modern society. In this Year of the
Rat, let us renew our kinship ties and strengthen our family
bonds. |
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I wish all Singaporeans a happy and
prosperous Chinese New Year. |
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Source: www.gov.sg
News Release 6 Feb 2008 |
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FrontPage Edition: Wed 6 February 2008
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