SINGAPORE — As the Republic reaches an inflexion point of its development as a society, a “new social compact” between Singaporeans and the Government is needed, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday. “Otherwise, I fear that Singapore will begin to go downhill,” he said.

Speaking at the National Day dinner at his Marine Parade constituency, Mr Goh noted that politics is more pluralistic today, with people wanting more freedom to choose their lifestyles, have a say on policies and “influence decisions in their favour”.

But while citizens are entitled and encouraged to give their views and suggest improvements, they “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,” he cautioned.

“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.”

He reiterated that 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 benefitted 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,” he said.

Since the 2011 General Election, several politicians and commentators have brought up the need for the Government to either strengthen or establish a new social compact, as new generations of Singaporeans grow up with little or no recollection of the country’s path to economic success.

Mr Goh added: “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. This is because today’s external environment is more complex, competitive and uncertain than in the past.”

A “new and inspiring chapter of the Singapore Story” needs to be written, he said, adding that 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”.

These are necessary to avert a “mid-life crisis” and respond to challenges, both external and domestic, he said.

He pointed out that it is no longer enough for the Government to solve problems in a “practical, ruthlessly efficient bureaucratic way” and it must also win the hearts of the people. Separately, in his Mandarin speech, the former Prime Minister said he hoped for a stronger emotional connection between leaders and the people.

He said appealing to the head alone would not bind Singaporeans, as people react to policies based on how they are affected at the personal level, even if they are able to see the bigger picture. “Leaders need to win hearts, not just arguments,” he said.

Mr Goh said the Government has already begun reviewing and improving policies in areas such as ensuring the affordability of healthcare and housing as well as achieving inclusive economic growth. The Health Ministry is reviewing its healthcare financing and delivery framework, and the Government has undertaken “a very big commitment” to make HDB flats affordable, for instance.

He added that Mr Lee will “provide an update and lay out plans for these and other areas” at the National Day Rally this Sunday.

Stressing that citizens have to play their part, Mr Goh advocated resilience, self-reliance and a can-do spirit to meet unexpected challenges.

He cited the example of a resident in Marine Parade who recently insisted that town council officials go to her house to kill two cockroaches that she claimed had come from the rubbish chute and were, hence, the town council’s responsibility — “hardly the resilience we are advocating”, he said.

He urged support for the Government in “areas that will ensure Singapore’s long-term success, even if it involved certain sacrifices sometimes”.

“As a country, we must not get stuck in a mid-life crisis,” he said. “Instead, we should seek to recapture that ruggedness, can-do spirit and sense of purpose which united our society.”