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PM Lee Hsien Loong says he expects the total population in Singapore in 2030 will be "significantly below" the 6.9 million figure projected in the White Paper on Population last week.
In a 90-minute passionate appeal that sought to reassure Singaporeans on the fifth and final day of a heated parliamentary debate, PM Lee said, "So what will the total population in Singapore be?"
"In my view in 2030, I think 6 million will not be enough to meet Singaporeans' needs as our population ages because of this problem of the baby boomers and bulge of ageing people," he said in a live televised address in Malay, Mandarin and finally English.
"But I believe the total population in 2030 should be significantly below 6.9 million and beyond 2030, in the very long-term, it should not increase beyond that," he said.
PM Lee added that to project the population beyond 2020 was "uncertain" and that the 6.9 million figure that has drawn widespread criticism "had been taken out of context."
He said the paper, more than being about numbers and the economy was to "secure the future of this generation and future generations of Singaporeans".
Recognising that many were concerned that the population in 2030 would only consist of 55% of core Singaporeans, he said, "We will track and control so we will not be overwhelmed by the sheer flood of foreigners".
In conclusion, PM Lee said Singapore would have to face tough choices and trade-offs in the years ahead but said "We are all in this together, we have to go beyond the rhetoric and if we make the right choices our future is bright."
Finally he reassured Singaporeans and said "You are at the heart of all of our policies. We are the reason why my key men and I entered politics… and we want Singapore to do well so Singaporeans can do well" before concluding that he supported the amended motion.
The paper, which was published last week, sparked heated debate among Singaporeans both online and offline over the government’s projection that the city-state's population by 2030 could hit nearly 7 million.
It also said the country would have to continue to accept more immigrants, albeit at a slower pace than before, to sustain the country’s economic growth and offset the country’s low total fertility rate and ageing population.
In a 90-minute passionate appeal that sought to reassure Singaporeans on the fifth and final day of a heated parliamentary debate, PM Lee said, "So what will the total population in Singapore be?"
"In my view in 2030, I think 6 million will not be enough to meet Singaporeans' needs as our population ages because of this problem of the baby boomers and bulge of ageing people," he said in a live televised address in Malay, Mandarin and finally English.
"But I believe the total population in 2030 should be significantly below 6.9 million and beyond 2030, in the very long-term, it should not increase beyond that," he said.
PM Lee added that to project the population beyond 2020 was "uncertain" and that the 6.9 million figure that has drawn widespread criticism "had been taken out of context."
He said the paper, more than being about numbers and the economy was to "secure the future of this generation and future generations of Singaporeans".
Recognising that many were concerned that the population in 2030 would only consist of 55% of core Singaporeans, he said, "We will track and control so we will not be overwhelmed by the sheer flood of foreigners".
In conclusion, PM Lee said Singapore would have to face tough choices and trade-offs in the years ahead but said "We are all in this together, we have to go beyond the rhetoric and if we make the right choices our future is bright."
Finally he reassured Singaporeans and said "You are at the heart of all of our policies. We are the reason why my key men and I entered politics… and we want Singapore to do well so Singaporeans can do well" before concluding that he supported the amended motion.
The paper, which was published last week, sparked heated debate among Singaporeans both online and offline over the government’s projection that the city-state's population by 2030 could hit nearly 7 million.
It also said the country would have to continue to accept more immigrants, albeit at a slower pace than before, to sustain the country’s economic growth and offset the country’s low total fertility rate and ageing population.
