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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Everyone can play a part in easing woes of crisis
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WITH reference to last Thursday's article, 'Job losses to exceed 99,000', the figures released by DBS Bank will further dampen confidence in the economy and cause sleepless nights for many.
It is heartening that, for months now, the Government and many ministers have been working hard to cushion the impact of the crisis and turn the economy around - even when the unemployment rate is still below 3 per cent.
While we tighten our belts, we must not forget to help the less fortunate in society. Remember, the poor will be hit harder than upper- and middle-income families. Although the Government has vowed to help every needy family, the job of taking care of the poor should fall on the shoulders of the people. We should leave the Government to focus on turning the economy around.
There is a part for everyone to play in this downturn. Students can form study groups to help each other in their studies, if they can no longer afford tuition; workers can do more charity and community work; housewives can return to the workforce to contribute to the family income. And everyone must upgrade himself.
The important question is how and not when will we come through this economic crisis. All of us will emerge better and stronger if we go through bad times and help one another.
We must always remember that our greatest strengths are stability, social harmony and the resilience of our workforce, which together have attracted much foreign investment. In a shaky global environment, talented and wealthy individuals will look for a safer and stronger community to invest in, creating more jobs in Singapore.
Life is about the journey we take, not what destination we reach. Our fathers saw higher unemployment in the past. Singaporeans must stand up to any adversity that blows their way. The world will not collapse, it is a natural cycle for the economy to go up and down, and like the rising sun every day, the economy will pick up. Once the global economy has fully digested its ills, the only way will be up. Syu Ying Kwok
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Everyone can play a part in easing woes of crisis
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- show image if available --></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->WITH reference to last Thursday's article, 'Job losses to exceed 99,000', the figures released by DBS Bank will further dampen confidence in the economy and cause sleepless nights for many.
It is heartening that, for months now, the Government and many ministers have been working hard to cushion the impact of the crisis and turn the economy around - even when the unemployment rate is still below 3 per cent.
While we tighten our belts, we must not forget to help the less fortunate in society. Remember, the poor will be hit harder than upper- and middle-income families. Although the Government has vowed to help every needy family, the job of taking care of the poor should fall on the shoulders of the people. We should leave the Government to focus on turning the economy around.
There is a part for everyone to play in this downturn. Students can form study groups to help each other in their studies, if they can no longer afford tuition; workers can do more charity and community work; housewives can return to the workforce to contribute to the family income. And everyone must upgrade himself.
The important question is how and not when will we come through this economic crisis. All of us will emerge better and stronger if we go through bad times and help one another.
We must always remember that our greatest strengths are stability, social harmony and the resilience of our workforce, which together have attracted much foreign investment. In a shaky global environment, talented and wealthy individuals will look for a safer and stronger community to invest in, creating more jobs in Singapore.
Life is about the journey we take, not what destination we reach. Our fathers saw higher unemployment in the past. Singaporeans must stand up to any adversity that blows their way. The world will not collapse, it is a natural cycle for the economy to go up and down, and like the rising sun every day, the economy will pick up. Once the global economy has fully digested its ills, the only way will be up. Syu Ying Kwok
