Planning, mindfulness needed for S’pore to become a ‘big tree’

If there was one phrase to sum up the National Day Rally, it was the Chinese saying, “10 years to grow a tree, 100 years to nurture a person”.

I would like to think of Singapore as an aspiring big tree, 100 years in the making and halfway there (“A clarion call to keep S’pore special”; Aug 24).

The Prime Minister spent the first portion of his speech highlighting our past achievements and acknowledging the pioneers, who laid a good foundation and grew the roots of the tree we aspire to be.

Sturdy roots are important because without them, nothing we achieve in future will be sustainable. Singapore, as a relatively young tree, faces no fewer challenges than when we were struggling to sprout against all odds 50 years ago.

A big storm or fire could destroy this growing tree. Bigger trees in the surroundings could obstruct its growth, blocking sunlight or fighting over precious nutrients in the soil. However, these big trees are also important to its survival.

Their intertwining roots can help to stabilise the ground together during heavy storms; their huge trunks and canopies help to shield against harsh winds and rains.

Without them, a growing tree will not survive.

While we continue to grow in more comfortable conditions than before, we must not be complacent about the threats abroad. Maintaining good friendships is as important as having a strong military.

We must be both cautious and intelligent, as a costly mistake may destroy our tree faster than we can shout “haze”.

The future is promising, but not ideal. A low birth rate has been a problem for years. Without new leaves to replace the old, our growth will be impeded. Hence, upgrades were rolled out to encourage more procreation.

The sluggish economy and competition from abroad have prompted the Government to encourage growth in the creative industry, as seen from the new plans for the Singapore Institute of Technology and Punggol.

There are also policy changes related to housing, education and seniors. These realignments are important, like an arborist maintaining our trees, ensuring that they grow healthily.

We are not yet a big tree, which can survive on its own and support a mini ecosystem itself. To ensure we reach that stage, planning for the future while being mindful of surrounding dangers is a must.

Everyone knows this, and we were reminded again during the PM’s speech. It may be tough, but the sweets given out along the way make the journey easier.