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Be good-hearted and hard-headed in tackling issues: PM Lee

SINGAPORE — While being good-hearted, Singapore cannot shy away from being hard-headed, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Oct 3).

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TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — While being good-hearted, Singapore cannot shy away from being hard-headed, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Oct 3).

This is because the Republic needs growth and prosperity in order to be good-hearted, he said.

Without resources, good intentions mean nothing, said Mr Lee, and growing the economy is the only way people can have a good life.

“A rich society is not necessarily a happy society, but impoverished societies are seldom happy,” he said. “We must not go pell-mell for growth regardless of social, human or environmental costs, nor are we doing so. But I worry when people say we can afford to take it easy on growth because we’re ok, and talk airily about more important things in life.”

Mr Lee spoke at length on the population policy as an example where both “head and heart” are needed.

Heart, because population is about identity and nationhood, among others, and head, because of hard facts such as the Republic’s ageing population and the need for foreign PMEs.

“We have to be both good-hearted and hard-headed,” said Mr Lee. “Understand the anxieties of citizens and do our best to address them. But let us be honest and clear about what we need to do, for the good of Singapore and to secure our future.”

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