SINGAPORE — Calling on Singaporeans to be “pioneers of our generation”, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing has laid out the fourth-generation leadership's priorities, and urged the country to be clear-eyed as it tackles challenges with “vitality and verve”.

Mr Chan, who is among the frontrunners to succeed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, was the first fourth-generation Cabinet Minister to speak during the parliamentary debate on the President's Address, which kicked off on Monday (May 14).

The other Cabinet Minister and fourth-generation leader who spoke was Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, who highlighted the need to grow a “Singapore brand of meritocracy” that balances economic and social policies.

Sixteen other Members of Parliament also joined the debate, proposing ways for the Government to bridge emerging social divides, as a technological revolution sees automation and smart technology becoming integral in the lives of its citizens and affecting jobs.

Mr Chan also briefly delved into these topics before other members of the House spoke. 

He talked about fostering a caring and inclusive society and upholding social mobility, building a stronger sense of nationhood and identity, forging a strong leadership team in the Government, and Singapore having to stay relevant to secure its place in the world.

Businesses and individuals must also keep abreast with global developments and be equipped with the mindset and skillsets to operate and compete globally.

Mr Chan noted that Singaporeans, particularly those who fall into the “middle income, middle age” category are feeling the stresses and strains of technological and business disruptions.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone progresses together,” he said, acknowledging that Singaporeans are looking towards the Government to understand their “fears, concerns and aspirations”.

“We need to continue to better help the striving, broad middle group to keep improving their lives,” he added, noting that making training and re-training of skills more accessible and affordable will be crucial in this aspect.

Borrowing a point President Halimah Yacob made in her speech at the opening of the 13th Parliament last week — about the tendency for a society to accept the status quo as it matures — Mr Chan urged the present generation to be “clear-eyed” about Singapore’s challenges and embrace innovation and change, so that they can become pioneers in their own right.

“It is one thing to be the best-in-class for ports and airports. But it is another to be even better (and) ready for tomorrow's needs ahead of time. It is one thing to beat others in a competition. It is another to beat our own standards, even when we are at the top, so that Singaporeans have even brighter prospects in the future.”

DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

Pioneers, he noted, should not define success by how well they do for themselves, but by how they enable the next generation to do even better.

Planning for the country, “not just for the next 50 years, but also beyond”, has to start now, he said.

He listed the decisions that government leaders in the present term will have to decide, such as how public housing flats and estates are to be “refreshed” and how transport, utilities and data infrastructures can be prepared for the next lap.

“The bottom-line is this: We must never think that we are ever finished with building Singapore. We must never think that we are ever done building Singapore,” he said.

One immediate challenge is the need to uphold social mobility, which tends to slow down as a society matures, partly due to “human’s natural instincts to pass on wealth and privileges to the next generation”.

“If left unchecked, our people may lose faith in our system of meritocracy and this can hurt our social compact,” he said.

“How can we better distribute the fruits of growth to a broad majority to prevent stratification as a society? We have seen the fallout from others who did not do so.”

Beyond economic and social development, Mr Chan said the Government’s “most critical piece of work” is to rally the nation together by forging a stronger sense of nationhood and identity.

This is because a nation is not just about economic benefits, and Singaporeans must not merely be “economic sojourners”.

“A true nation is one where its people will stay and fight for its future and build it all up, even when the chips are down,” he said, pointing out that that was the spirit of Singapore’s pioneer generation.

TACKLING INEQUALITY, DIFFICULT POLICIES

Giving a preview of what is to come for the rest of the week in Parliament, Mr Chan outlined the specific areas to be covered by seven other fourth-generation leaders during the debate on the President’s Address, as well as the plans and policies of various ministries.

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, another contender to succeed Prime Minister Lee, is expected to raise the topic of mobilising public opinion to support difficult policies, among other matters.

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung, also said to be a potential candidate for premiership, will be addressing what it will take for Singapore to tackle inequality.

Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, will delve into how the Government intends to forge a stronger sense of nationhood and identity, while Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong and Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State for Transport, will be speaking about creating a better living environment for residents.

To elaborate on the points covered by Mr Chan, Mr Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, will touch further on Singapore’s pursuit of an innovation-driven economy, and Mr Ng Chee Meng, deputy secretary-general of the National Trades Union Congress, will elaborate more about the labour movement’s efforts to foster a caring and inclusive society.

Stressing the importance of keeping the system of governance here “refreshed and special”, Mr Chan said: “While we study other systems and adapt them where suitable, we must not copy blindly or become intellectually colonised. We must remain prepared to develop systems that work best for us.”

In closing, he said to a thumping of chairs by parliamentarians: “There is absolutely no reason why our generation that has so much more, cannot leave behind an even better Singapore for the next generation. We can, together become Singapore Unlimited — unlimited by our geography, unlimited by our size, unlimited by our resources.

“We can only be limited by the scale of our ambition and drive. And our scale of ambition and drive will determine how far we progress as a nation, for the next 50 years and more.”