Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking to the media on Aug 23. - PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO via The Straits Times/ANN
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Tackling cost-of-living concerns and taking better care of seniors are two key areas of focus for the Government, said Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In a press conference five days after his maiden National Day Rally speech on Friday, PM Wong said he is looking into longer-term care for seniors and their housing needs. This is a big issue that will continue to grow as more people age, he noted while outlining what Singaporeans can expect in the months ahead.
Besides helping older seniors who are in their 70s or 80s, there will also be support for their children – younger seniors who are entering or in their 50s and feel “sandwiched” with both ageing parents and children to look after, he said.
On cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said his Government is looking at doling out more help to specific segments of the population, including those with larger families and more young children, where “costs add up quite quickly”.
Such additional support will add to broad-based schemes such as CDC vouchers, and cost-of-living payouts and U-Save rebates that target the lower- and middle-income groups.
During the press conference at the National Press Centre in Hill Street – PM Wong’s first after he took office as Singapore’s fourth prime minister on May 15 – he said there are different aspects to the cost-of-living issue, which is a major concern.
There are day-to-day expenses such as groceries, food and daily essentials, as well as big-ticket items like housing, he noted.
Asked if the Government will provide more CDC vouchers, given that the $300 in vouchers to be disbursed in January 2025 is less than the $800 given to each Singaporean household in 2024, PM Wong replied: “We haven’t had the 2025 Budget yet. That’s next year.”
PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, added: “So whether or not there will be more CDC vouchers, I think everyone should just wait and see what is in the Budget announcement.”
The Government will continue to review how best to provide appropriate support, whether through broad-based or targeted measures, he added. “And we will do so in the Budget in 2025.”
At the rally on Aug 18, PM Wong had set out a major reset of policies, which included granting more paid leave for new parents, giving temporary financial help to lower- and middle-income workers who lose their jobs, and updating the Gifted Education Programme.
PM Wong said he had sought to flesh out, in more concrete terms, the aspirations and hopes that Singaporeans have shared during the Forward Singapore engagement exercise.
These are underpinned by two key pillars, he said – a renewed social compact and a refreshed Singapore Dream.
The renewed social compact relates to how all Singaporeans will get support despite their setbacks in life and get a fair shot in life, said PM Wong.
“At the same time, everyone has to do their part, work hard, make the effort to excel and uplift their families,” he said.
“If they do that, the Government will be there to support them every step of the way and help them to get ahead,” he added.
PM Wong said the refreshed Singapore Dream relates to how Singaporeans can find their own paths and not have to compare with one another.
“We can all be the best possible versions of ourselves,” he said. “In other words, we can thrive and flourish on our own terms and in ways that are less prescribed and more open.”
Realising these two shared goals requires a “major reset” of certain policies, attitudes and mindsets, he said.
Besides studying measures to help seniors and to address cost-of-living concerns, PM Wong said, his Government is also looking out for other issues that Singaporeans care about.
This is why regular engagement with Singaporeans is a very important aspect of his work, he added.
Since taking office, he has embarked on visits to several districts across the island. These are “very good opportunities for me to meet residents and to hear first-hand their perspectives and feedback”, he said.
PM Wong noted that he had previously committed to hold press conferences from time to time to share his thoughts with Singaporeans through the media.
He said he thought it useful to hold a press conference at this juncture, to take stock of what his Government has done and what is next on the agenda.
He also said he will continue to hold dialogues with different segments of society, and engage Singaporeans through social media and press conferences such as this one.
These engagements can help everyone see a common picture of why the Government is embarking on certain plans, where the nation is heading towards, and what everyone can do in big and small ways to realise a shared vision, he added.
“This is the commitment from me and my team,” he said.
“We are here to listen to you, understand first-hand your concerns, hopes and dreams, and build a stronger, more meaningful connection with every Singaporean.”
Asked if he had met his priorities after 100 days in office, PM Wong said his key priority after taking over was to think about the new directions that his Government would set to take Singapore forward in its next lap, and what that would mean for Singaporeans.
He took reference from the Forward Singapore exercise, and the rally was where he sought to “crystallise” these shared ambitions in clearer and more concrete terms, he added.
On the foreign policy front, PM Wong said he will, in the months ahead, visit more Asean countries before making trips to the country’s key partners outside of South-east Asia.
He is also set to attend a few international summits, including the Asean Summit in Laos from Oct 6 to 11, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru in November, and the Group of 20 summit in Brazil from Nov 18 to 19.
PM Wong said it is important for him to meet leaders of other countries in his new capacity to establish good personal relations with them, as this will set the tone for Singapore’s overall relationship with those countries.
PM Wong also said he will find future occasions to elaborate on Singapore’s foreign policy and the external environment.
“It’s important for me to engage Singaporeans on these issues because I think everyone needs to understand what’s at stake, especially on critical issues where our collective security and fundamental interests are involved,” he said.
“We must be able to come together as one people, despite our differences and perspectives, and take a common, pro-Singapore position to advance our national interest together.” - The Straits Times/ANN
