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S’pore needs to fight odds to survive: Chun Sing

SINGAPORE — With the Republic in a celebratory mood, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing yesterday delivered a sobering message: It should not be taken for granted that Singapore will be around for the next five decades or more and the country will need to continue fighting against the odds to ensure its survival.

Minister Chan Chun Sing. Today File Photo

Minister Chan Chun Sing. Today File Photo

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SINGAPORE — With the Republic in a celebratory mood, Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing yesterday delivered a sobering message: It should not be taken for granted that Singapore will be around for the next five decades or more and the country will need to continue fighting against the odds to ensure its survival.

Ahead of Singapore’s 49th birthday tomorrow and its golden jubilee anniversary next year, Mr Chan said: “I have never taken for granted that Singapore will always be around. While I look forward to celebrating SG50, I always challenge myself (on whether) ... we will be around to celebrate SG100.” He noted that in South-east Asia, not many countries of Singapore’s size have been able to last 100 years. “Let’s work hard … to defy the odds of history so that our children and our grandchildren will have the chance to celebrate SG100.”

In a speech at the Economic Society of Singapore’s annual dinner, Mr Chan outlined the myriad of external and domestic challenges facing the Republic. He also recounted his despair when he heard the responses from international business leaders when he asked them — during a recent meeting — to name the country they thought would be the most successful by 2030.

Many chose China and the United States, while some picked Indonesia and India. The top three reasons for their choices were demography, resource endowment and size of markets, he said.

“When I heard this, my heart sank, because if resource endowment and market size determine destiny, then I’m sure not many people will give Singapore a fighting chance … We have our work cut out for us to even try to interest people to give us a chance to do business with us.”

On external challenges, Mr Chan cited ties between the US and China, which will have a significant impact on the world, including Singapore and the region. The Republic will also have to develop a “constructive and complementary relationship” with fast-growing neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia.

To stand out among regional and global cities, Singapore’s advantage lies in innovation and value-add, said Mr Chan, who stressed that Singapore has to compete against cities, not countries.

“The challenge for us is to ensure we compete on the quality of ideas, not the quantity of input and, God help us, not on price,” he said. “We need to identify the part of a value chain where we have competitive advantages, be it production, services or sales.”

At home, Singapore will have to continue managing the integration of immigrants, among other challenges. This will depend on whether it can forge a national identity as “a forward-looking and inclusive concept based on values, ideals and vision”, Mr Chan said.

Noting how technological advancements may displace certain jobs, he added that issues such as income inequality and social mobility must also be addressed.

“What we can and must do is to allow our people to have the best opportunities to realise their talents … This is why we must continue to push hard for continuous meritocracy,” he said. “Our challenge is to keep the definition of meritocracy broad and not just on academic achievements.”

He said that as more individuals succeed, they must realise their responsibility to give back to society, in order for Singapore to avoid “a fractured social system where the winner takes all without due regard for the role society has played in his success”.

To overcome the challenges, Singapore will need people who are rooted to the country even as they seek their fortunes elsewhere, he said.

It must also continue to turn constraints into opportunities, he said, citing Singapore’s success in water management.

The Republic should leverage on its brand in terms of standards, law and trust. This would enable Singapore to use its competitive advantage to stand out amid global competition, he said.

“We can only achieve all these and more if we have the right social compact and values — leadership, innovation, openness, meritocracy , cohesion and resilience,” he added.

During the question-and-answer session, Nanyang Technological University economics professor Ng Yew Kwang asked whether Singapore can afford the economic disadvantages that result from reducing foreign manpower.

In response, Mr Chan said: “The fundamental thing is not the number. It’s what kind of opportunities we want to create for our young ... It’s not a given whether we can or cannot manage a six-million population — much depends on us. But (the inflow) must be at a pace that society can accept.”

Mr Chan was also asked to comment on former Urban Redevelopment Authority chief planner Liu Thai Ker’s recent remarks that Singapore should plan for a population of 10 million.

Noting that Mr Liu was speaking from the perspective of urban planning, he reiterated that much depends on the population size that Singaporeans can live with.

He added: “I don’t think anyone can say that this is the number and we’ll grow towards it. Very much also depends on how people find us as a place to work and do business. We can plan for five million or six million, but people won’t come unless we can value-add and create synergies. Otherwise, it’s just a number.”

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