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Source:
www.gov.sg |
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PRIME MINISTER'S CHINESE NEW
YEAR MESSAGE 2006 |
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The Year of the Rooster ended on a high
note. After a slow start, the economy grew strongly in the second half
of 2005. Businesses across the board have done well. |
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Wages increased and many workers received larger
bonuses. Most importantly, we created many new jobs and brought our unemployment
rate down significantly. |
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The Year of the Dog looks promising. |
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The global outlook is positive: the US,
China, India and Japan are all doing well. The investments we have
brought in will generate more new jobs. |
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I expect our economy to continue
prospering. The general feel in the market is that things are
looking up. Hotels and restaurants were fully booked in the festive
season. Retail sales have picked up as Singaporeans are in a more
confident mood, and spending more than last year. |
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However, we know that some older
Singaporeans and lower income families still find the going tough.
We will ensure that they too have something to cheer about in the
New Year. |
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As we usher in the Lunar New Year, we
celebrate and renew our family ties, and remember the legacy and
values of our forefathers. |
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New Year traditions like the reunion
dinner and visits to our elders strengthen our ties to those closest
and dearest to us. |
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Nowadays, more Singaporeans travel and
work overseas, away from home and often from family. Despite email,
SMS and internet chat, nothing can replace the warmth and intimacy
of face to face human contact. |
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I am happy that many Singaporeans who
are overseas make an effort to return home for the reunion dinners.
Let us keep these traditions alive to strengthen our families and
preserve the extended-family network. |
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Families are the cornerstone of our
society. They surround us with love and acceptance, and gird us with
enduring support and strength. They give us a sense of purpose and
fulfilment in life. |
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No amount of wealth or material success
can substitute for a happy family. We must therefore nurture the
ties of kinship every day, and not just during festive occasions.
This requires a special effort to maintain a healthy balance in our
lives, managing the demands of work without compromising time and
attention for the family. |
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We must also look after the elderly in
our families. Most young couples today set up their own homes
instead of living with their parents. |
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Fortunately, many live nearby in the
same neighbourhood or estate, and visit their parents regularly.
Grandparents are a great help in looking after grandchildren. |
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At the same time, the old folks
appreciate the companionship and attention of their children, now
grown up but always still their children, whom they care for and
worry about. We all have a responsibility to look after our aged
parents, and return the love and care that they showered on us as
children. |
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Our society will have to make many
adjustments as our population grows older. We need to put in place
policies and programmes to enable Singaporeans to live more
meaningful and fulfilling lives in their golden years. |
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We must review issues such as
elder-friendly housing, barrier-free access to buildings and public
transport, and affordable medical care during old age. These issues
will become increasingly important to the growing numbers of senior
citizens. The Committee on Ageing Issues (CAI) has been studying
them and will publish its report soon. |
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In addition, the Tripartite Committee on
Employability of Older Workers has just put out its recommendations
to make it easier for older workers to stay employed. The Government
supports these recommendations, and will work with its tripartite
partners to help older workers upgrade their skills, find jobs, and
contribute in productive ways to our society. |
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In this time of celebration, we should
also remember the needy and less fortunate in our midst. |
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Last year, the Government launched
ComCare to provide a safety net for the minority of Singaporeans who
face hardships. We also set up the Ministerial Committee on Low Wage
Workers, which has recommended a comprehensive package of measures
to help the lower income. The Government will respond to these
recommendations in the coming Budget. |
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Finally, we are all members of the
ˇ°Singapore familyˇ±. We must continue to strengthen the ties between
the different races. Singaporeans grow up together in Singapore,
studying and playing together in our schools. |
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We do National Service, work and live
side by side. Year by year, we have strengthened our inter-racial
understanding and harmony. But it would be a grievous mistake to
take this for granted, especially when we, like many other
countries, face the threat of terrorists who seek to destabilise our
society. |
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An attack can tear apart our social
fabric. In fact, we must step up our efforts in multiracial
integration, and not just keep things as they are. This is why we
are developing a comprehensive Community Engagement Programme to
strengthen community networks at all levels, and keep our society
cohesive and united. |
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As the majority community in Singapore,
the Chinese play an important role in promoting and protecting
harmonious community relations. |
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The Chinese community should reach out
to the other ethnic communities, bring everyone closer together, and
make the minority communities feel comfortable and at ease. Chinese
Singaporeans have to make sure that the minorities never feel
overwhelmed by the majority. |
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This New Year, I encourage Chinese
Singaporeans to make an extra effort to involve their non-Chinese
friends and neighbours in the festive celebrations. Let us work
together as one happy Singapore family, to keep our nation safe and
secure. |
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I wish all Singaporeans a happy and
prosperous Chinese New Year. |
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Source:
www.gov.sg Media Release 28 Jan 2006 |
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