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Singapore will come out of Covid-19 better and stronger
Singapore’s 14th Parliament opened on Aug 24, 2020 with 93 elected Members of Parliament, including 31 newly elected ones. A record 28 women entered Parliament and for the first time, it has a Leader of the Opposition. Here are the highlights from President Halimah Yacob’s address at the opening of Parliament, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s speech during the debate on her speech.
When Jewel at Changi Airport opened, it was meant to showcase how the airport was built up over decades to become the best in the world, and home to the best airline in the world, Singapore Airlines.
But with Covid-19 grounding global travel, Changi Airport is now “deathly silent” and Jewel had also “gone dark” during the Circuit Breaker period, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his the 14th Parliament after GE2020 on July 10.
“Forty years of building up our airport and airline. Covid-19 came, and all of that suddenly came to a halt.”
But Mr Lee urged Singaporeans to fight Covid with "hope in our hearts".
“Singapore was born from crisis. We have survived many life and death crises before… But each time, we did survive and actually came back stronger. Each time, the dire circumstances became the occasion and platform for ambition and daring. Each time, we transcended ourselves and built again.”
Noting how Parliament opened sooner than usual after a general election due to the “urgent business” of handling Covid-19, Mr Lee said: “This searing experience will help a whole new generation of Singaporeans appreciate and treasure what we have.
“Do not doubt. Do not fear. Jewel will shine again. Changi will thrive again. SIA will be a great way to fly once more."
Key concerns: social safety nets and foreign worker policy
Singaporeans, he pointed out, are worried about two key issues – stronger social safety nets and foreign worker policy.
In the early days of nationhood, Singapore did not need extensive social safety nets because there was high GDP and income growth, with ample jobs. But with the economy maturing and in is now a “higher premium on specialised skills and education” and this makes it harder for someone who is retrenched to find another job quickly.
The Government now spends three times as much on social programmes every year as it did 15 years ago, with new schemes such as Comcare introduced in 2005, Workfare in 2007 and Silver Support in 2016.
The efforts to help low-wage workers have paid off, with real wages of the bottom 20 per cent growing consistently faster than wages in the mid-range, said Mr Lee.
“We need to do more and we are ready to do more... We must keep an open mind as we build and improve on the systems we have, and consider solutions that can work in our context.”
However, Mr Lee said help schemes must be financially sustainable. " As a matter of principle, our social safety nets should be paid for out of current revenues. We should not draw down on what we have inherited, nor should we mortgage the future of our children.”
The Government is reviewing the foreign worker and work pass policies due to the rise in anti-foreigner sentiment. While the number of Employment Pass Mr Lee. and S-Pass holders have been coming down this year, Mr Lee also noted: “There is no comfrot in knowing that the total numbers are not too many if personally, we feel that we have been discriminated against at the workplace.”
However, he cautioned against giving the wrong impression that Singapore is closing up to foreigners.
“We have always been a people open to the world, welcoming others who can add value to our society, and bring the best out of us. We will adjust our policies to safeguard Singaporean jobs, but let us show confidence that Singaporeans can hold our own in the world."
New generation of leaders do things in their own ways
Mr Lee said the new generation of PAP leaders will have to "do things in their own different ways."
He also expects the tone of the debate to shift with a stronger opposition presence in Parliament. “PAP Ministers and MPs will have to raise their game, be prepared for sharper questioning, and defend the Government’s policies and decisions,” said Mr Lee.
Urging the opposition MPs to step up, he added: “Go beyond asking questions and criticising the Government’s proposals, which is part of their responsibility, to go on to put up serious proposals and ideas of their own to be examined and debated.”
He cautioned against turning every issue into a partisan one, where both sides cannot find a middle ground to agree on. “Politics become toxic and bitter, the country is divided, and goes into a downward spiral. If this happens to Singapore, we will not just cease being an exceptional nation. It will be the end of us. We must not go down this path.”
The opening of the 14th Parliament took place earlier than usual to discuss pressing issues related to the Covid-19 crisis.
-- Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang GRC) in her maiden speech in Parliament.
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-- Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) on his vision of a stronger and more cohesive society.
Forging a new Singapore together
Everything was about the ”new” in President Halimah Yacob’s address at the opening session of Singapore’s 14th Parliament on Aug 24.
As a new slate of 93 Members of Parliament and two Non-Constituency MPs began their first parliamentary session, President Halimah pointed out that new leaders are emerging to lead the country.
At the same time, new generations of Singaporeans are coming of age, with new aspirations and expectations, including a desire for more diverse voices to be heard, and stronger checks and balances on leaders.
“The new generation of leaders and Singaporeans will have to form bonds and connections afresh, forge their own compact, find their own ways of working together and strike their own balances,” she said.
“They have to foster a more open spirit in our society, even as we strengthen the common cause holding us together as Singaporeans.”
She noted that the country is at an inflection point and will face major changes in the coming years. How Singapore responds to crises such as the Covid-19 pandemic and its worst recession since independence will define it for many years to come.
Securing Singapore’s future in a changed world
President Halimah called on Singaporeans to work in close partnership as one people, uniting behind the Government.
The President spelt out several priorities for the next phase of nation-building.
The first was to secure jobs for Singaporeans, especially among the lower-wage, older and mid-career workers. While the Government is supporting businesses with cash flow and credit so that they stay afloat, the National Jobs Council is working to create new jobs and upgrade Singaporeans’ skills.
To keep creating jobs, the economy must be strong and competitive, she said, noting that the economy will undergo significant structural changes to find new ways of making a living.
Second, Singapore must build a fair and just society so that the benefits of progress are shared by all.
Emphasising social mobility, President Halimah said Singapore must continue to invest heavily in education and training, right from childhood.
“We are developing many pathways so that young Singaporeans can achieve their fullest potential regardless of their starting point,” she said.
Third, the strengthening of the Singapore identity. While Singaporeans largely are accepting of different cultures and different views, social media has “amplified contending voices and views”.
This is especially when foreigners are competing for Singaporeans’ jobs. “This has become a major source of anxiety... they not only touch on matters of livelihood, but also on our sense of identity and belonging. They will be addressed,” she said.
President Halimah urged Singaporeans and the Government to work closely as Singapore Together for the greater good of the country to save lives, protect livelihoods and secure a bright future.
– President Halimah Yacob.
Another $8 billion of Covid-19 support measures
After four earlier Budgets which saw the Government dedicate close to $100 billion between February and May 2020 to help Singaporeans cope with the fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat pledged another $8 billion in support measures. Here are the three key strategic thrusts of the additional help which was announced on Aug 17, 2020.
Continue to support jobs and create new ones
• Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) extended for another seven months till March 2021. More than $16 billion have been disbursed, benefitting two million local workers in more than 150,000 firms.
• $1 billion Jobs Growth Incentive to support companies which are still growing to hire more locals, especially mature workers. The Government will co-pay up to 50 per cent of the salary of workers above 40 and older.
• Covid-19 Support Grant extended until December 2020 to help income loss.
Support for hard hit sectors
• Companies in hardest hit sectors such as aviation, aerospace and tourism will receive 50 per cent wage support under JSS till March 2021. Other sectors such as the arts and entertainment, food services, will have 30 per cent wage support until March 2021.
• Sectors such as biomedical supermarkets which are managing well, will receive 10 per cent wage support until December 2020.
• $187 million to support aviation sector up to March 2021 to provide cost relief for airlines, ground handlers, cargo agents and airport tenants.
• $320 million in SingapoRediscovers Vouchers to boost tourism sector.
Seize growth opportunities post-Covid-19
• $150 million to enhance the Startup SG Founder programme to spur innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Emerging Strong Taskforce is prototyping new ideas in areas such as smart commerce and supply chain digitalisation.
Mr Heng said the Government does not plan to draw on past reserves for these support measures, beyond what was approved earlier.
– DPM Heng Swee Keat.
