S’poreans should ‘have a sense of contribution’

SINGAPORE — Those who have succeeded need to give back to society, including creating opportunities for others, said Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing during a dialogue session with students in Woodlands yesterday.

Noting that whether one succeeds depends not only on one’s hard work, but also on the opportunities one gets, Mr Chan also urged Singaporeans against having a transactional attitude towards the nation, saying they should instead look towards having a “sense of contribution”. He cited a chat he had with students during which a young Singaporean said he wanted to become a Swiss national “because the trains do not break down there”.

“I was so sad ... if everybody says that because the trains break down here I go somewhere else, then there will be no Singapore. I told him ... ‘If you are not happy, say I want to be an engineer when I grow up, I will fix (it) and make sure the trains do not break down and have a better Singapore’,” said Mr Chan. “Otherwise, it will all be transactional. When the chips are down, people will flee.”

He also revealed that when he attended the University of Cambridge on a Public Service Commission scholarship, the university had offered to buy him out and give him its own scholarship instead, just so he could be a fellow there.

He said that although it was an enticing offer, he turned it down “because I’m a Singaporean, this is a place where I want to create a better place for my fellow men and my family”.

During the dialogue yesterday, held as part of a ministerial community visit to Woodlands, Mr Chan posed the question of what Singapore is going to become in 50 years to the participants — there were about 130 of them — as he sought to impress upon them the importance of giving back when they succeed, so that opportunities are created for others to follow their paths.

He also urged the students to take charge of their own destiny, saying they have more resources than Singapore’s earlier generations to forge success for themselves. It is also important that Singaporeans stay abreast of global developments because these will have an impact on Singapore, he added.

Mr Chan proposed four ways for people to make sense of events around them: Be aware, analyse, apply the lessons and have alternatives.

Speaking with reporters after the dialogue, Mr Chan said he is optimistic about Singapore’s future: “If the earlier generation was very concerned with survival, I think this generation, you find that many Singaporeans have moved beyond the issues of survival and are speaking of contributions to society.” He also noted that younger Singaporeans are more adventurous and daring in trying new and untested things.

Earlier in the day, Mr Chan went on a walk with 1,300 Woodlands residents and visited some coffee shops in the town.

He was accompanied by Members of Parliament for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency Ellen Lee and Ong Teng Koon, as well as grassroots leaders. Lawyer Amrin Amin, 35 and engineering firm Hai Leck Holdings deputy chief executive, Ms Cheng Li Hui, 38, who have been touted as possible People’s Action Party candidates at the next general election, were also present.