Tackling New Challenges after a Roller Coaster Year

TODAY

04 January 2016

Following a momentous year when the country went through a roller coaster of emotional highs and lows, the next 12 months could see the Government — buoyed by a strong mandate in the recent General Election (GE) — getting back to business and moving decisively to tackle immediate and longer-term challenges, experts said.

Political analysts, economists and former Members of Parliament interviewed by TODAY singled out three main issues as the Government’s priorities: Transport, jobs and the economy. At the same time, it needs to focus on the country’s software — including preparing and training Singaporeans to compete against the best in the world — and manage the transition of a Singapore society that is forging its national identity, the experts added.

The country’s leaders — the ranks of which had been bolstered after September’s GE — would have their work cut out as Singapore moves into the post-Lee Kuan Yew era. The death of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister was one of several significant events that took place last year, which also marked Singapore’s 50th year of independence and saw the People’s Action Party romp to a landslide victory in the GE, winning 69.9 per cent of the popular vote.

… Associate Professor Alan Chong, from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said it was not viable to return to the old strategy of pursuing high growth by importing large numbers of foreign workers. Noting a view held by some that slower growth could enhance the quality of life, he said: “When you bring in large numbers of foreign workers, on paper you may have solid economic growth, but are Singaporeans contented?”

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