ND2012 PMLEE ENGTEXT--Singapore Issues Summarise

7/31/2019 ND2012 PMLEE ENGTEXT--Singapore Issues Summarise

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NATIONAL DAY RALLY 2012

PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG'S SPEECH IN ENGLISH,

SUNDAY, 26 AUGUST 2012 AT UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE

A Home With Hope and Heart

1. Singapore has travelled from Third World to Firsta. Singapore Story to date is well knownb.

Question is: What is the next chapter in the Singapore Story?Where do we want Singapore to be 20 years from now?

2. Next 20 years will see many changes in the worlda. Will there be peace and stability in Asia, and in the world?b. If not, Singapore must brace ourselves for a rough ridec. If so (which looks likely), it will be an exciting era of rapid progressand dramatic change

3. Singapore is both a country and a city, hence must see our futureagainst leading countries and cities around the world

a. Asian countries will continue to rise, especially China and Indiai. Competing with us in many business areas manufacturing,services, R&D and surpass us in some

ii. Offering many opportunities for Singaporeansb. Cities like Shanghai and Beijing, Mumbai and Bangalore willbecome even more vibrant and exciting places to live and work

c. Developed countries may not change so dramatically or mayoccasionally have problems, but their leading cities like New York, Los

Angeles, and London will thrive

d. Technology will completely transform our lives tooi. Already huge part of how we live, work and play


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ii. Sometimes taken for granted, but fundamentally a game-changer

iii. 20 years ago (1992):(1) Coin/card phones to handphones

(a) Recruits had to queue up in camp to call home onthe coin/card phone

(b) Today coin/card phones are practically extinct(c) Every NSF has a handphone, and BMTC instructorsremind recruits to call home the first night in camp

mothers first, then girlfriends

(2) Internet had not yet come to Singapore(a) No one imagined Facebook or YouTube, and theirimpact on societies and people

(b) Today we are one of the most wired countries inthe world

iv. How can anyone imagine what breakthroughs will happen inthe next 20 years? How this will impact our livelihoods and lives?

(1) e.g. unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)(a) Saw picture recently on Facebook of a UAVphotographing a BMT Passing-Out Parade

(i) People thought it was some top secretMINDEF project

(ii) I asked MINDEF(iii) Answer: it was Jack Neo filming his latestmovie (Ah Boys To Men)!

(b) UAVs will have many uses in the future civilianand military


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c. It depends on ourselvesi. What we make of our resources, our education, our peopleii.

What we hope

iii. What we Singapore will bewill6. Must set a clear direction, rather than sail off course or drift with thetides

Singapore to become

a. Hence asked Heng Swee Keat to lead a national conversation onOur Singapore, to define what sort of Singapore we want and how we

can achieve it

b. Please join in this national effortc. Think seriously about our future, contribute your ideas and worktogether to make it happen

7. Singapore must keep improving in such a rapidly changing worlda. If we stand still, we will fall behindb. But if we adapt to changes and exploit new opportunities, we willthrive

8. What should the next chapter of the Singapore Story be about?a. Three words: Hope, Heart and Home

9. Singapore must always offer hope of a better futureBRIGHTER HOPES

a. An economy that creates opportunities for our peopleb. A society which nurtures our people to the fullest potentialc. A people who look to the future, and not just to the pastd. A nation where our children will live better lives than us, as wedid our parents

10. Have done it in this generation


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a. e.g. Teck Ghee resident Mr Toh Phee Sengi. Met him recently at my MPSii.

Works in construction industry

iii. Needed help with Construction Safety Orientation Courserecertification

iv. Confident he could pass the exam, but could not read thetest questions

v. Because he is illiteratevi. I gladly wrote him a letter requesting help to take the test

b. Proudly told me his two children were graduatesi. The daughter (Huey Sun) an accountant with IRASii. The son Wei Seong an A*STAR researcher

(1) Graduated from Singapore Poly, went on to university,eventually earned a PhD from NUS

(2) Awarded A*STAR International Fellowship to do post-doctoral fellowship in Harvard

(3) Now a research scientist at the Institute ofBioengineering and Nanotechnology

iii. Happy that his children had done much better than himselfc. Mr Tohs family reflects the experience of many familiesd. Epitomises Singapores transformation from Third World to Firste. For info: MPS outcome

i. NTUC Learning Hub (training provider) advised Mr Toh totake (its) computer-based audio exam

ii. He passed!11. Know people sometimes worry about the future: can our children dobetter than us?


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12. But take a step back, and see our position in perspectivea. We are in much better shape than we give ourselves credit forb.

Strong fundamentals: world-class workforce, sound finances

c. Our system works: not perfect, but we will fix its imperfectionsand make it better

d. We may be very conscious of our shortcomings, but others have ahigh regard for what we have achieved

e. As former-MIT President Susan Hockfield told me recently:Singapore is the only country where we can see the full potential of

the human spirit

13. If we all work together, we can confidently tackle our problems, andimprove our lives

a.i. Bringing in many new investments to create new and betterjobs

Jobs

ii. Strengthening the Singapore core in the workforce, e.g. newSingapore-Industry Scholarship for Singaporeans to go to

university, and work in local companies (90 scholarships this year

with more to come)

iii. Upgrading low income workers, e.g. in cleaning and securityindustries

iv. Take advantage of these opportunities, upgrade yourselvesto become more competitive and employable

b.i. We are making major investments in trains $60b over 10yrs

Transport

(1) Work on Thomson Line (from Woodlands to Marina Bayarea) will start very soon

(2) Downtown Line (Bukit Panjang to Changi Expo) willopen in phases, starting next year


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ii. However, train projects will take time to completeiii. Hence we are doing the BSEPiv.

Commuters should start to see new bus services and betterfrequencies by next month

c. Ageing and healthcarei. New hospitals on the way Ng Teng Fong hospital in Jurong,next one in Sengkang

ii. Building more nursing homes and day care centresiii. But please make the effort to keep fit and live healthily best and cheapest healthcare anyone can provide himself

d. Housingi. Cut waiting time to book HDB flatsii. Confident nearly every Singaporean household can affordtheir own home

iii. Enough space to accommodate our population(1) Developing more housing estates(2) Longer term reclaiming more land

iv. Not just building flats, but creating better livingenvironments, with green spaces, blue waters and clear skies

v. Building stronger communities together with Singaporeansvi. Know singles concerned about housing

(1) Can buy HDB flats on resale market (with grant), but notdirectly from HDB

(2) Fully understand their concerns(3) MND is looking into the issue

14. Beyond these immediate challenges, critical to look ahead and prepareourselves for the longer term


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Education

15. Our most important long term investment in our people: educationa.

Key response to progress in technology, to changing world

b. Learn to control computers and robots, not be replaced by themc. Must keep upgrading ourselves to out-think and out-smart ourcompetition

16. Good education system, at all levelsa. Universities: Producing graduates who are highly sought afterhere and abroad

b. ITEs and Polys: Students win many medals (e.g. in World SkillsCompetition 2011)

i. Latest at FIRA RoboWorld Cup competition yesterday inBristol, NYP won 12 medals

ii. NYPs large robot (Evo Rocky) won the overall Gold (Goldsfor Sprint, Weight Lifting, Penalty Kick, Lift & Carry, Marathon)

iii. The small robot (Red ATOM) is the world record sprinter(BBC: Usain Bolt of robots)!

c. Schools: Our students shine in international competitions thisyear our team won the InternationalBiology Olympiad, and a Singa-

porean (Lim Jeck) came first in the International Mathematics

Olympiad

17.

But we are not just focussing on the best students

a. Yes, we should celebrate our gold medallists and outstandingstudents

b. But schools and teachers are also doing their best for everystudent, from the weakest to the most talented

18. Hence we aim to make every school a good school, in everyneighbourhood


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a. e.g. email from Mr V Balu (father of Praveen, a Primary 6 studentin Townsville Primary School) [Read Quote 1] :

b. I am impressed by the openness and approachability of theteachers... Together with the guidance and motivation of dedicatedteachers like Mdm Suhaizan and Mr Quek, my son performed much

better in his mid-year exams With such a dedicated team of

educators, we are certain that my son will be much (better) prepared

for his forthcoming PSLE.

University

19. Beyond schools, opening up more paths in higher education20. Singaporeans have very high aspirations

a. Every parent wants his or her child to do wellb. Many ITE students hope to make it to poly, and many polystudents hope to go on to get a degree

21. Have been increasing university places, but still more desire to go22. Tasked Lawrence Wong to study this issue

a. Concluded that we should create more university places, focusingon applied, practice-oriented degrees, e.g. engineers, physiotherapists,

social workers

b. But must not simply churn out more graduates regardless ofquality or employment opportunities

i. Other countries have made this mistake, resulting in manyunemployed or underemployed graduates, e.g. US, Europe, evenChina

23. Currently have two institutions that work closely with industry andemphasise practice-oriented teaching

a. SIM University (UniSIM):i. Private institution running part-time courses for adultstudents


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ii. Collaborates closely with industry, e.g. runs courses inAerospace Systems, partnering aviation companies; students get

to learn about practical aspects of aerospace engineering

b. Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT):i. High quality foreign partners in focussed areas, e.g.

(1) DigiPen (interactive digital media) Student renderingan AT-ST (All Terrain Scout Transport) Walker from Star Wars

(2) TUM Technical University of Munich (science &engineering) Students learning to program robots

(3) CIA The Culinary Institute of America (culinary arts) Students learning about pita bread from an American chef

ii. Degrees awarded by foreign partners24. Will increase full-time places for applied degrees

a. SIT and UniSIM will be our fifth and sixth universitiesb. SIT will expand places and award degrees in its own namec. UniSIM will add full-time programmes and build on strongindustry links, but remain a private university

d. Thus increase current full-time university intake by a total of3,000 students per year by 2020 (from 13,000 today to 16,000)

e. Enable 40% of each cohort to go to university (from 27% today) including more poly students

25. At same time, will not forget about part-time, adult studentsa. UniSIM presently runs part-time courses

i. Most students are poly grads, aged late 20s and 30s(1) Chatted with some of them(2) Mature, clear aims in life, determined to succeed(3) Asked why they chose this path


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(4) Some not sure what they wanted to do next when theyleft school

(5) Decided to start work(6) After a few years, learnt more about the working world,and knew their own minds

(7) Decided to go back to schoolii. Students have families and jobs, so need tremendouscommitment and grit

(1) e.g. Alfred Toh (marketing) and Natalie Chen (visualcommunications), who had a baby (Zhi Xuan) mid-waythrough their course, both about to graduate from UniSIM

b. Good option for some studentsc. Will give more support to part-time students

i. Make more part-time places availableii. Extend Government bursaries and loans to UniSIM part-timestudents, so that they get the same support as part-time studentsin NUS and NTU

26. MOE will announce details later27. Hope Singaporeans take advantage of this not just to collect a pieceof paper, but develop themselves, learn something useful and make a

contribution to society

Pre-School

28. Also need to improve quality of pre-school education29. Education used to start at P1

a. My mother only learnt to read when she went to primary schoolb. Norm then, not because she was disadvantagedc. She never felt any loss


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d. But when it came to my turn, she sent me to NanyangKindergarten to learn Chinese

30. Times have changeda. Family structures evolved

i. More nuclear families, fewer children, more dual-incomeparents today

ii. Hence fewer opportunities to socialise with grandparents,siblings or cousins

b. Early years are important for childrens developmenti. Brain is most receptive to learning at that age, especiallylearning languages

ii. Gain confidence and curiosity about the world around themiii. Pick up positive behaviour, social skills and learningattitudes

c. Hence good pre-school education will prepare students to enterP1 and provide many long-term benefits thereafter

31. Situation todaya. Nearly all children (99%) attend pre-schoolb. Diverse mix of pre-school operators: two key non-profit AnchorOperators (AOPs PCF and NTUC) and many different private

providers

c. Financial support (ComCare subsidies1

d. Support to AOPs to raise standardsfor low income

households, plus childcare subsidies) makes pre-school affordable

32. Making progress, but not enough. Must do much more

1Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) and Centre-Based Financial Assistance Scheme for

Childcare (CFAC)


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a. Substantially raise quality of pre-school education for childrenaged 5 and 6 years old, especially the mass market (AOPs)

b. While keeping pre-school affordable, especially to middle- andlower-income households

c. Level up all our students, and make a positive difference to theirdevelopment, especially those from disadvantaged families

33. Hence government will invest substantial resources in pre-school, andplay a more active role

a. Establish new statutory board to oversee pre-school educationb. Provide and upgrade pre-school teacher training to raisestandards

c. Bring in new AOPs in addition to PCF and NTUCd. Upgrade AOPs (existing and new)

i. e.g. more attractive careers and structured developmentopportunities for teachers, creative learning methods for

students

e. Pilot a few Government-run pre-school centres to test newconcepts in kindergarten education

f. Give more support to low- and middle-income families34. But we will not nationalise pre-school sector

a. Mix of operators offers diversity and choiceb. Should not deprive parents of this choicec. Instead emphasise raising the base

35. Sketched out broad outlinea. How exactly to do this? MOE and MCYS will study thisb. Transformation will take some time, but confident we will seeresults in 5-7 years

36. Caution to parents:


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a. Pre-school is to teach certain skills which are best learnt at thatage, e.g. languages, social skills, basic motor skills

b. Must not bring P1 syllabus down to 5-6 year oldsc. Education experts and child development experts warn againstover-teaching pre-school children

d. No homework is not a bad thing; good for young children to play,and learn through play

e. Please: Dont send your kids to two kindergartens and tuition toprepare them for P1!

37. Education (pre-school, school or university) vital to creating Hope for abetter tomorrow

a. Hope is essential to Singapores future and the Singapore Story

38. Besides Hope, Singapore tomorrow must have a bigger HeartABIGGER HEART

a. Care and compassion for the needy and elderlyb. Also largeness of spirit, generosity to those around usc. Reflects the sort of people we are, and the values we hold dear

An Inclusive Society

39. Long recognised the importance of taking care of less fortunatea. Worked hard to build an inclusive societyb. Enable all to enjoy fruits of progress, especially the weak, elderlyand disabled

i. Through housing, education, healthcareii. Especially through growth, which has created jobs andimproved lives for all


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c. Over past decade, addressed new social needs through newprogrammes Workfare, ComCare, Additional and Special Housing

Grants

40. Major shift in this years Inclusive Budgeta. Significant initiatives for

i. Elderly, e.g. Silver Housing Bonusii. Low and middle-income, e.g. GST Vouchersiii. Disabled, e.g. more Day Activity Centres

b. Not just spending more, but setting a new strategic directioni. Laying basis for stronger social safety netsii. Striking new balance in the social compact

c. Will build on this in years to come41. Have a care: Inclusiveness is not just more good things from the state

a.

All benefits must be paid for

i. We are already relying on our reserves, by spending part ofthe returns from investing them (Net Investment Returns

Contributions NIRC)

ii. NIRC has helped us to fund new programmes and stillbalance our budget

iii. In 2011, NIRC ($8 bn)(1) Exceeded what we collected in Personal Income Taxes(2) Paid for 1/7 (14%) of our expenditures2

iv. But we must draw on our reserves in a sustainable way(1) Cannot spend everything on ourselves

2Including Special Transfers


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(2) We have a responsibility to husband them for futuregenerations too

v. Looking ahead, state will spend more on social servicesvi. In many countries, politicians champion social spending, butpretend that it costs taxpayers nothing

vii. Let me tell you the truth: As spending increases significantly,sooner or later taxes must go up too not immediately, but

certainly within the next 20 years

b. Safety nets must be coupled with self-reliance and resiliencei. People must be motivated to do their bestii. State will help you where it can, but cannot replace what youand your family can do for yourselves, and each other

iii. To survive we must be resilient tough as individuals, closeas families, cohesive as a society, and strong as a nation

iv. Be prepared to compete and hold our own impossible torun away from competition

v. When we encounter setbacks, we must have the spunk topick ourselves up, and press on

c. Sense of mutual responsibility, especially among more successfuli. You have succeeded by working hard, but you have alsobenefitted from our system which nurtured you, from the many

others who helped you do well

ii. Hence only right that you help others to succeed tood. Happy to see social enterprises taking root

i. e.g. Josephine Ngs Alteration Initiative (AI)(1) Josephine ran a successful marketing agency, butdecided to sell it and give back to society

(2) Founded a social enterprise Alteration Initiative providing professional alteration services


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b. Neighbours quarrelling over washing of common corridors,placing of potted plants and furniture, noise

c. People opposing nursing homes or studio apartments in ownprecinct, but volunteering to site same facilities in neighbouringprecinct

d. Not new, and for now still only a minoritye. But we seem to be getting less patient, less tolerant, less willingto compromise in order to get along

46. Perhaps we are losing the kampong spirita. In old days, neighbours would regularly meet in common spaces,e.g. common corridors, community centres (watching TVs) or while

waiting for lifts

b. Today, we lead more private lives fewer opportunities to bumpinto our neighbours

c. Less interaction results in less considerationd. Hence rising trend of bad behaviour

47. Should not let this spread, and make us ugly Singaporeansa. Do our best to be big-hearted to our neighbours, fellow citizens,fellow human beings

b. Not just a matter of courtesy, but goes much deeperi. Reflects how unselfish we areii. How much we respect others

48. One difficult area we should be big-hearted: Relations betweenSingaporeans and non-Singaporeans

a. Most Singaporeans understand need for immigrants and foreignworkers, and accept them

b. But many have concerns because the influx has caused realproblems


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c. Completely understand this49. Fair enough to express concern, or disagree with our immigrationtrends or policies

a. But I am worried by some of the nasty views expressed, especiallyonline, and anonymously

b. When a foreigner says or does something wrong, especially to aSingaporean, response is overwhelming

c. But bad Singaporean behaviour often goes uncriticised, and agood deed by a foreigner often goes unnoticed

50. e.g. Internet postsa. Sun Xus offensive blog post was roundly and rightly chastised bySingaporeans

b. Many nasty posts by Singaporeans about foreigners, even somewebsites devoted to such posts, but very few stand up and speak up to

say this is wrong

51. e.g. recent incidents in busesa. ST letter about a foreign nurse on a bus being the only one tohelp a woman who became sick and threw up, while the other

passengers ignored her3

b. YouTube video of two women quarrelling over bus seat aSingaporean with a non-Singaporean (who screamed and behaved

outrageously) went viral

no video or internet response

52. This reflects badly on usa. Damages our international reputation that Singapore is anti-foreigner and xenophobic

i. e.g. NYT: In Singapore, Vitriol Against ChineseNewcomers

4

3 The Foreign Nurse Who Made A Difference, ST Forum, 27 Jul 2012

4NYT, 27 Jul 2012


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ii. Stories in other newspapers too, e.g. IHT, FT, WSJA, Xinhuab. More fundamentally, speaks poorly of the sort of people we are

53.

There will be social frictions from time to time

a. There will be non-Singaporeans who behave badly postsomething offensive, behave badly to neighbours, act insensitively to

people of other races

b. Ditto Singaporeansc. Smartphones and the social media have made it much easier forpeople to offend, and to take offence

d. Should deal with these incidents maturelyi. Alright to express disapproval of what happenedii. Not alright to condemn all non-Singaporeans orSingaporeans based on the actions of a few bad apples

iii. Also wrong to slam shortcomings of others, but ignore ourown transgressions

54. Have to work on this from both sidesa. Singaporeans must show a generosity of spirit to one another,including new arrivals

b. New arrivals must also embrace our values, commit themselvesto Singapore and integrate into our community

c. We will welcome you into our family, but you must make theeffort too

55. There are success stories in integration, e.g.a. Many PRC immigrants serving in the grassroots or doing charitywork

b. Indian PRs volunteering as Youth Mentors in SINDAc. One German PR (married to a Singaporean) shops at TekkaMarket, makes his own sambaland loves durians


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56. One story caught my eye Le Ha Thanh Maia. Came to Singapore from Vietnam on a scholarship at 15, haddifficulty adjusting due to language and cultural barriers

b. Got better after joining Temasek JC classmates welcomed herand helped her integrate

c. At SMU, so localised that no one could tell she was a foreignerexcept for her name

i. Elected by fellow students as International StudentsSecretary of the SMU Students Association

ii. Led efforts to encourage international students to integratewith locals and learn more about one anothers cultures

d. Reflected on her experience [Read Quote 2]: I feel as much aSingaporean as I am a Vietnamese. I have come to love the hawker

food, the Singapore river that I jog along, the fireworks every national

day on the magnificent background of Singapores skyline, the

shopping malls a few streets down the road, the cinemas where I spend

many nights watching movies, the schools I attended and most

importantly, the friendships I have made

57. Ultimately up to us how big-hearted Singapore will bea. May be a small island, but cannot be small-mindedb. We cannot just be a prosperous and successful countryc. We must also be a caring, generous, decent people, who aregracious and warm towards one another, as well as towards others

d. Best way to ensure that Singapore tomorrow will have a biggerHeart

58. Besides Hope and Heart, Singapore must always be our best HomeOUR BEST HOME

a. Feel that we belongb. Show loyalty to country


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c. Take pride in what we have achieved together, and what westand for

d. A home we love the theme for this years NDP (LovingSingapore, Our Home)

59. Families are a big part of what Home meansa. Families are central to our sense of who we areb. Families give us reason to defend and protect what we havec. Set up home means to settle down and start a family

Having Our Own Babies

60. Hence Singapore must be a home where people want to get married,have children and bring up the next generation

a. Alas we are having too few babies!b. TFR still falling steadily: 1.2 in 2011c. Last time we exceeded replacement rate was in 1976 threeDragon years ago!

d. Mini-peaks each Dragon year thereafter, but each smaller thanthe previous one

e. Expect more Dragon babies this yearf. But long-term trend is down

61. Will not give up!62. Received many (serious and non-serious) words of advice, e.g. oneAsian politician: Have more blackouts

63. But not so simplea. More Singaporeans remaining single, or getting married later

i. Working too hard connected 24/7b. Married couples have fewer children


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i. Each married woman has two babies on average (thisnumber has been declining too)

ii. Replacing mum and dad, but not making up for those notmarrying and having children

64. Many Singaporeans explained their concerns about having childrena. Spoke to one teacher recently

i. Mother of four, youngest just one year oldii. Appreciates schemes for working mothers, e.g. paidmaternity leave, flexi-work arrangements

iii. But feels pressure to work hard and fulfil her responsibilitiesin school

iv. Asked what was the one thing that would encourageSingaporeans to have children, she said improve work-life

balance, but added but the government cannot deliver that

b. Another young couple in my branchi. Newly married, moved into HDB flat, not ready for childrenyet

ii. Husband: Make childcare more accessible, offer flexiblework arrangements

iii. Wife: Did not want six months maternity leave (because shemight be away from work too long), but wanted paternity leave

so fathers could help raise children

65. Sensible views, shared by many couples66. What more can we do?

a. NPTD studying this carefully as part of population issueb. Consulting widelyc. Will work out package by the time White Paper is published

67. Meanwhile, some broad ideas taking in views we have received so far:


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a.i. Promote flexible work arrangementsWork-life balance

ii.

Improve work culture and employer attitudes not entirelywithin Governments dispensation

b.i. Give priority to couples with childrenHousing

c.i. Maternity leave 16 weeks is about rightAt birth

ii. Paternity leave (in some form) said no for a long time, buttime to say yes, to signal importance of fathers role, and shared

responsibility for raising children

d.i. Create a Medisave account for each child at birth, and put ina small hongbao to start life with can defray childhood medical

expenses, and reassure parents no need to worry

Medical

e.i. Earlier steps to raise pre-school standards and keep it veryaffordable will be helpful

Pre-school

f.i. More financial support to low- and middle-incomehouseholds

Childcare and Infant Care

ii. Will also continue to help operators to set up centres inhousing estates and near workplaces

g.i. Always welcomeImprove Baby Bonus

68. Ultimately, not about money, but values and deep motivationsa. Singaporeans will marry and have children because of thefulfilment that having a family brings


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b. Measures address the practical problems couples face in havingand bringing up children

c. And signal where we must change our mindsets and norms employer attitudes, work-life balance, fathers duties

d. Beyond that, we want to create the right social environment andethos so Singaporeans want to settle down and have kids

e. Strengthen the sense that this is home, here is where we want toraise our families

Our Singapore Home

69. Besides families, memories of places, old friends, past events arealso essential to keeping Singapore our best home

70. Often the simple things remind us most of homea. e.g. email from Ms Thecla Loh [Read Quote 3]:

Its the simple things that I love about my country, like waking up on

a Sat morning, feeling the chill in the morning air, deciding to go

downstairs to have a warm bowl of duck porridge instead of the usual

cold cereal, having freshly fried, piping hot you zha gui with ice cold

soya milk on a whim.

Having an elderly lady in a wheelchair pull up beside me, mistaking

me for one of her kopi kakis and discussing the weather with me in

Hokkien, watching the Indonesian maid speak fluent Hokkien to her

elderly wheelchair-bound employer and showing genuine concern and

care for the old lady, reminding me of my grandmother and her

Indonesian helper whom I am truly grateful for helping to take care of

the needs of my grandmother in her last years.

71. Thecla remembers Singapore by the food, the people and mostimportantly her family

72. Likewise with me home, family, growing up:a. Pic of family at 38 Oxley Road, May 1965

73.

Over years, more links form, memories accumulate. To me, home alsomeans:


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a. Memories of places where I have known for many years, nowchanged

i. Nanyang PS now and thenii. Orchard Central and Orchard Road car park Best ou luak!iii. SMU and SJI Fieldiv. Marina Bay MBS and Breakwater

(1) Today an icon of the Singapore skylineb. People meeting old friends and comrades

i. Meeting some old soldier who served together with meyears ago

(1) e.g. Omar Haron(a) Met him again at an iftarin Teck Ghee recently(b) Former corporal, vehicle electrician, Taman JurongCamp, 1975

(c) We were both so happy that I took this picture ofus together

(d) Son now a cardiologist(e) Similar story to Mr Toh Phee Seng!

ii. Being greeted by fellow citizens while abroad we are alsofrom Singapore

(1) e.g. in Dalat, Vietnam, last December, having breakfast(2) Two young ladies came over to ask to take a picture(3) One introduced herself as a teacher (Priscilla Pan) inTeck Ghee Primary School

(4) After breakfast, ran into another extended familygroup, also from Ang Mo Kio


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e. Alfred and Natalie: Raising little Zhi Xuan to be a proud, patrioticSingaporean

77. These memories come together to define the Singapore story for allof us

a. Individually our lifes experiencesb. Collectively the soul of the nationc. Must cherish them, and build on them

78. In our shared futurea. The world may be completely differentb. Our lives will be quite transformedc. But our drive to keep the Singapore story vital and fresh for all ofus must never falter

79. Let us work together to create a better Singaporea. Where we look to our shared future with confidence and Hopeb. Where we treat one another and others too with a big Heartc. Where we build for our children and grandchildren our bestHome

80. Good Night!. . . . .

ND2012 PMLEE ENGTEXT--Singapore Issues Summarise

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