Govt will ensure vulnerable groups are cared for during downturn
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 November 2008 1956 hrs
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right width=20> </TD><TD align=right width=240>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top height=60> </TD><TD class=update vAlign=top height=60><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=138 bgColor=#f6f6f6>Photos </TD><TD width=47 bgColor=#f6f6f6>1 of 1</TD><TD width=18 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=btnPrev disabled onclick=Prev(); type=image height=15 width=18 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" value="<< Previous"></TD><TD width=19 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=bntPlay onclick=Play() type=image height=15 width=19 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" value="Play - Stop"></TD><TD width=18 bgColor=#f6f6f6><INPUT id=btnNext disabled onclick=Next(); type=image height=15 width=18 src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" value=" Next >> "></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Related Videos </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc>
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Govt will ensure vulnerable groups are cared for during downturn</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left background=images/dotline_240.gif>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
SINGAPORE: The government's most pressing concern moving into 2009 is to maintain progress amid the uncertain economic conditions and to ensure that vulnerable groups are taken care of.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made this point on Saturday during a dialogue session with youths aged 18 to 35.
The current downturn gripping the world's financial markets left even Prime Minister Lee a little unsettled. He said he never expected the economy to turn so drastically, so quickly.
=> Cum on, even the man in the street has been anticipating the collapse long ago! Only overpaid goondus living in their ivory towers can still talk cock about golden age!
Hence, going into an uncertain 2009, Mr Lee said the immediate concern is to keep the economy humming and ensure vulnerable groups are taken care of.
He gave the assurance that the government is looking at ways to help workers keep their jobs, equip the workforce with skills, help businesses keep costs down and also help households cope with rising energy bills.
=> How? Like this ->
Why should energy bills be rising when those of the rest of the world are FALLING?
But Mr Lee also reminded the youths that although the current crisis is a serious challenge, it will not last for the next 30 to 40 years.
So young Singaporeans need to plan for the future.
In the medium term, Mr Lee said the challenge is in growing the population and ensuring talent remains in Singapore.
=> How> By making Sporns serve NS and to be saddled with heavy housing and educational debt, while jobs and free scholarships are reserved for FTrash? And giving away pink ICs like toilet papers, so that they can outprice Sporns for pigeonholes without serving NS?
In the long term, he said, the top priority for the government is in leadership renewal.
=> That is hike ministerial pay and passing the throne to his son?
Mr Lee also pointed out that good governance does not necessarily mean a two-party system.
He said if anyone is unhappy with a certain policy, he suggested working with the government rather than starting from scratch with the opposition.
=> Which has since been proven to be a myth. Sporns are better off emigrating if they cannot fight the leegalized corruption here.
"To form one football team in Singapore to get halfway up World Cup finals is already very tough. You want to form two world-class teams, I think it is very difficult and in politics, you must get into the finals," he said.
On what differentiates the current generation of leaders from that of the Old Guard such as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee gave this quip.
"If MM (Minister Mentor) had his druthers when it comes to the COEs and ERP and so on, he would say, 'forget about the ERP, just squeeze on the COEs; don't let them buy cars; no cars, they can't complain. Have the unhappiness once, done with it'.
"I say, 'they all want cars, let them own the cars and we will put the gantry up; beep, beep, beep, they get angry, never mind. But at least they get the car'."
=> The alternative is having a truly world class and affordable public transport system, right? Not a bloodsucking Peasants' Transport System run by a Msian FTrash, who does not even wanna use it herself and whose stake is in Msia!
Saturday's dialogue is part of the National Youth Forum held every two years.
It is a platform for youths to study policy formulation and debate on national issues.
For the young participants, it is not only a chance to get up close and personal with the prime minister but also to raise issues close to their hearts.
Undergraduate Hozefa Aziz said: "It's important to get the youths involved in issues right now, so they can develop their ideas."
The forum was organised by the National Youth Council.
- CNA/ir
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 01 November 2008 1956 hrs
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=260 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right width=20> </TD><TD align=right width=240>
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD class=update> </TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD><TABLE style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #cccccc" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=240 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Related Videos </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc>
SINGAPORE: The government's most pressing concern moving into 2009 is to maintain progress amid the uncertain economic conditions and to ensure that vulnerable groups are taken care of.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made this point on Saturday during a dialogue session with youths aged 18 to 35.
The current downturn gripping the world's financial markets left even Prime Minister Lee a little unsettled. He said he never expected the economy to turn so drastically, so quickly.
=> Cum on, even the man in the street has been anticipating the collapse long ago! Only overpaid goondus living in their ivory towers can still talk cock about golden age!
Hence, going into an uncertain 2009, Mr Lee said the immediate concern is to keep the economy humming and ensure vulnerable groups are taken care of.
He gave the assurance that the government is looking at ways to help workers keep their jobs, equip the workforce with skills, help businesses keep costs down and also help households cope with rising energy bills.
=> How? Like this ->
Why should energy bills be rising when those of the rest of the world are FALLING?
But Mr Lee also reminded the youths that although the current crisis is a serious challenge, it will not last for the next 30 to 40 years.
So young Singaporeans need to plan for the future.
In the medium term, Mr Lee said the challenge is in growing the population and ensuring talent remains in Singapore.
=> How> By making Sporns serve NS and to be saddled with heavy housing and educational debt, while jobs and free scholarships are reserved for FTrash? And giving away pink ICs like toilet papers, so that they can outprice Sporns for pigeonholes without serving NS?
In the long term, he said, the top priority for the government is in leadership renewal.
=> That is hike ministerial pay and passing the throne to his son?
Mr Lee also pointed out that good governance does not necessarily mean a two-party system.
He said if anyone is unhappy with a certain policy, he suggested working with the government rather than starting from scratch with the opposition.
=> Which has since been proven to be a myth. Sporns are better off emigrating if they cannot fight the leegalized corruption here.
"To form one football team in Singapore to get halfway up World Cup finals is already very tough. You want to form two world-class teams, I think it is very difficult and in politics, you must get into the finals," he said.
On what differentiates the current generation of leaders from that of the Old Guard such as Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee gave this quip.
"If MM (Minister Mentor) had his druthers when it comes to the COEs and ERP and so on, he would say, 'forget about the ERP, just squeeze on the COEs; don't let them buy cars; no cars, they can't complain. Have the unhappiness once, done with it'.
"I say, 'they all want cars, let them own the cars and we will put the gantry up; beep, beep, beep, they get angry, never mind. But at least they get the car'."
=> The alternative is having a truly world class and affordable public transport system, right? Not a bloodsucking Peasants' Transport System run by a Msian FTrash, who does not even wanna use it herself and whose stake is in Msia!
Saturday's dialogue is part of the National Youth Forum held every two years.
It is a platform for youths to study policy formulation and debate on national issues.
For the young participants, it is not only a chance to get up close and personal with the prime minister but also to raise issues close to their hearts.
Undergraduate Hozefa Aziz said: "It's important to get the youths involved in issues right now, so they can develop their ideas."
The forum was organised by the National Youth Council.
- CNA/ir
