<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Families 'must draw closer in a crisis'
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->In previous years, hairstylist Susan Soh, 28, and her cousins would have their reunion dinners separately on Chinese New Year Eve.
With the gloomy economy this year, all eight of them and their spouses will gather tonight at their grandparents' home in Toa Payoh instead. 'In these bad times, we're all trying to save money,' she said. 'And it'll also help pull all of us even closer together.'
Her deviation from practice underscores a point Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made in his Chinese New Year message yesterday - that in troubled times especially, family offers comfort, hope and practical help.
'The family is our most important life-raft in times of crisis,' �he said. 'In these hard times, families must draw closer together, including our extended families.'
Family togetherness is a theme he has expounded on annually in this festive period when Chinese families traditionally gather for their reunion dinners. This year, he observed that the economic downturn has helped realign Singaporeans' priorities.
'Amid uncertainty and turbulence, priorities have shifted from personal wants and ambitions to home, relationships and family,' he said, referring to a recent survey by OCBC Bank, which found that the top three Singaporean dreams this year were starting a family, settling down and buying a home.�
In contrast, last year's top three were seeing the world, self-improvement and making money.
'Indeed, the family unit is the bedrock in all communities, whatever their race or religion. The world may have changed drastically, and Singaporeans may be better educated and more affluent. But the family will always be core to our human instincts and our social fabric.'
He also urged Singaporeans to consider having more children, never mind the recession. 'Even in hard times, we should not neglect the need to bring up a new generation,' he said.
He noted that every time there was a recession, birth rates went down. 'But I hope this time we can buck the trend and keep the birth rate steady.'
He reminded Singaporeans the Government had implemented many measures to encourage marriage and parenthood. 'There is also a lag time in procreation, so with luck your babies will arrive in time to enjoy the upswing.�What really matters is the prospects in Asia and in Singapore over the next decades, which I believe are still bright despite the current gloom.'
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->In previous years, hairstylist Susan Soh, 28, and her cousins would have their reunion dinners separately on Chinese New Year Eve.
With the gloomy economy this year, all eight of them and their spouses will gather tonight at their grandparents' home in Toa Payoh instead. 'In these bad times, we're all trying to save money,' she said. 'And it'll also help pull all of us even closer together.'
Her deviation from practice underscores a point Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made in his Chinese New Year message yesterday - that in troubled times especially, family offers comfort, hope and practical help.
'The family is our most important life-raft in times of crisis,' �he said. 'In these hard times, families must draw closer together, including our extended families.'
Family togetherness is a theme he has expounded on annually in this festive period when Chinese families traditionally gather for their reunion dinners. This year, he observed that the economic downturn has helped realign Singaporeans' priorities.
'Amid uncertainty and turbulence, priorities have shifted from personal wants and ambitions to home, relationships and family,' he said, referring to a recent survey by OCBC Bank, which found that the top three Singaporean dreams this year were starting a family, settling down and buying a home.�
In contrast, last year's top three were seeing the world, self-improvement and making money.
'Indeed, the family unit is the bedrock in all communities, whatever their race or religion. The world may have changed drastically, and Singaporeans may be better educated and more affluent. But the family will always be core to our human instincts and our social fabric.'
He also urged Singaporeans to consider having more children, never mind the recession. 'Even in hard times, we should not neglect the need to bring up a new generation,' he said.
He noted that every time there was a recession, birth rates went down. 'But I hope this time we can buck the trend and keep the birth rate steady.'
He reminded Singaporeans the Government had implemented many measures to encourage marriage and parenthood. 'There is also a lag time in procreation, so with luck your babies will arrive in time to enjoy the upswing.�What really matters is the prospects in Asia and in Singapore over the next decades, which I believe are still bright despite the current gloom.'
