SINGAPORE: Singapore is now at an inflexion point of its development as a society, where there is a need for some changes to avoid a "mid-life crisis".
Making the point at the Marine Parade GRC National Day Dinner, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said a new social compact between the people and the government will have to be forged.
He added there is a need to write a new and inspiring chapter of the Singapore Story, which could also mean refreshing or reworking some policies and programmes.
A day after Our Singapore Conversation Chairman Heng Swee Keat gave the nation an overview of issues which concerned the people most during the discussions, Mr Goh has also weighed in to talk about averting a "mid-life crisis" for the country.
"I dare say that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Cabinet are having a tougher time governing Singapore than Mr Lee Kuan Yew and I had. And it is not going to get easier," said Mr Goh.
That's because today's external environment is more complex and uncertain.
But domestic challenges are even greater, among them, rising costs of living, slower economic growth, an ageing population and a better educated younger generation with higher expectations of life.
So Mr Goh's question to Singaporeans: How should the government and people respond to these challenges?
"Some policies and programmes that had served us well in the past need updating, or maybe even an overhaul, to ensure that they continue to serve their intended purposes. A new social compact between the people and the government will also have to be forged. Otherwise, I fear that Singapore will begin to go downhill. The government has already begun reviewing and improving policies on issues that cause the most anxiety to Singaporeans," said Mr Goh.
The first is jobs, and that's most crucial for Singaporeans.
Mr Goh said the government is trying to ensure that growth is inclusive, and that the workplace is progressive so that Singaporeans have access to good jobs.
He explained: "To help low-wage workers, the government has widened the coverage of Workfare this year. As we restructure our economy to be less reliant on foreign workers and to ensure sustainable growth, the government has promised to find ways to help affected workers, including PMETs, as well as the SMEs."
The government has also pledged to make HDB flats affordable, and Mr Goh said he considers this as a very big commitment as it will go a long way to help young Singaporeans plan for the future and start a family.
The next area which the government is addressing is affordable healthcare, and Mr Goh is glad that the Health Ministry is conducting a comprehensive review of healthcare financing.
Mr Goh said: "The government is trying to lessen our anxiety over medical costs as we grow old. Medical costs are indeed a burden, not just for the old but for their children as well.
"Many Singaporeans dread the prospect of being stricken by serious, chronic illnesses, even if they lead healthy lifestyles. While the future old will have more Medisave and insurance to help pay for their medical needs, the current old - the pioneer generation that built the country - are less able to cope."
He notes that all these subjects are reflected in the themes that arose from the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) process. And he said he has been told Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will provide an update and lay out plans for these and other areas next week, during his National Day Rally.
Mr Goh urged Singaporeans to listen to Prime Minister Lee's speech as it is going to be an important National Day Rally speech charting the plans for the coming years.
Mr Goh added that citizens are entitled, and indeed, encouraged to give their views and suggest improvements where the government can do better.
"But we must not pile unrealistic demands on the government. It is not in the country's long-term interests if the government does not have the time and political space to plan and think strategically and long-term for Singapore," said Mr Goh.
He said: "Singapore had managed to do well in the first few decades of our independence primarily because of our ability to think ahead, and put in place long-term policies that benefited the country, even when it meant some short-term pain.
"We must not lose this edge, especially at a time when the world around us is changing rapidly. We will all be worse off if the government of the day is chased from pillar to post, forced to apply band-aid solutions to complex problems or to flip-flop policies to stave off populist pressures."
Mr Goh's call to Singaporeans: Support the government in areas that will ensure the country's long-term success, even if it involves certain sacrifices sometimes.
ESM Goh Chok Tong's speech at Marine Parade National Day Dinner
