Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hold on to core values amid changes: PM Lee


Prime News

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Feb 2, 2011

Hold on to core values amid changes: PM Lee

Govt 'will manage pace of change to keep sense of belonging'

AS THE world changes, so too must Singapore.

But even as the country keeps reinventing itself to keep up with global developments, Singaporeans must hold fast to certain constants - their core values, Asian heritage and 'the national spirit' to overcome crises together, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

In his Chinese New Year message, where he traditionally also focuses on the importance of family togetherness, Mr Lee took stock of some hot-button issues that concern Singaporeans.

Some 'feel a sense of dislocation and unfamiliarity' amid the rapid changes.

While there are physical improvements such as the new Marina Bay skyline and upgraded housing estates, society is also changing on a more intangible level.

Younger Singaporeans have different attitudes and aspirations, he observed.

Also, the population has been augmented with a good number of new immigrants, he said, referring to the influx of foreigners in recent years.

Acknowledging that there has been some unease with these trends, he said that while Singapore cannot stay static, the Government 'will manage the pace of change so that we keep our bearings, sense of place and sense of belonging'.

It is important to hold fast to core attributes, he said.

'This means we have to preserve a Singaporean core in our society. We need immigrants to reinforce our ranks, but we must maintain a clear majority of local-born Singaporeans who set the tone of our society and uphold our core values and ethos.

'We are managing the inflow of foreigners who want to live and work here. Many want to become permanent residents and new citizens, but we will only select those who can add value to Singapore.'

Mr Lee did not specify the ideal proportion, but residents born in Singapore now make up 57.3 per cent of the population.

Meanwhile, Singaporeans also need to have enough babies to replace themselves. It has been 'extremely challenging' getting them to do so, he said, noting that the total fertility rate last year slid to a nadir of 1.16.

'I hope more couples will start or add to their families in the Year of the Rabbit,' he said. 'Chinese New Year is the time for families to come together in celebration, and more babies can only mean more joy in the years to come.'

In transmitting values and culture, Singaporeans also must keep their mother tongues alive, he said.

'Our bilingual education policy has helped to make us a global city and yet kept us an Asian society,' he said.

Thus, updating the teaching of mother tongue languages helps keep it current and effective. Measures such as focusing on interactive communication skills 'will help a new generation to use their mother tongue languages freely in a changing language environment', he added.

The community also has a role to play, Mr Lee said, noting the efforts of groups like clan associations and the Business China networking group to promote the use of Mandarin and preserve traditions. The Government encourages such efforts, as well as similar initiatives of the Malay and Indian communities.

Mr Lee was upbeat about the economy, noting that it 'roared in the Year of the Tiger'. Last year's growth was a record 14.7 per cent.

'The momentum is carrying into the Year of the Rabbit. Our prospects are good, boosted by robust growth in Asia and strong investment flows into Singapore,' he said.

But risks remain in the global economy, especially in the United States and Europe.

However, he noted that confidence in Singapore's economy, along with global monetary conditions, had the effect of driving up property prices - a key concern of Singaporeans.

Recent data showed that the bottom 20 per cent of households suffered disproportionately from higher housing prices. The Government has acted to cool the market, he said, but added that more would be done if necessary: 'We will keep housing affordable to Singaporeans, especially public housing.'

On the rise in prices on the back of inflation, he reiterated that the Government will strive to mitigate the impact in this year's Budget.

'After a good year last year, the Government has more scope to implement schemes to help Singaporeans cope with rising costs, especially lower-income households,' he said.

xueying@sph.com.sg



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Full text of PM Lee's message, Review

Review

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Feb 2, 2011

PM LEE HSIEN LOONG'S CHINESE NEW YEAR MESSAGE

Adapting to changes, holding on to constants

SINGAPORE'S economy roared in the Year of the Tiger. We pulled ourselves out of recession, and delivered an exceptional economic performance. Workers are enjoying better bonuses, and all over the island the mood is vibrant and joyous during this festive period.

The momentum is carrying into the Year of the Rabbit. Our prospects are good, boosted by robust growth in Asia and strong investment flows into Singapore. But we need to watch for risks that remain in the global economy, especially in the United States and Europe.

As our economy has picked up, property prices have risen significantly, especially over the past year. This partly reflects optimism and confidence in our economy, on the part of both Singaporeans and foreign investors. But it is also due to global monetary conditions: Interest rates are very low and liquidity abundant, so global funds are chasing higher-yielding assets in Asia. That is why other Asian cities like Hong Kong and Shanghai are also struggling to control property booms.

The Government has acted to curb speculation and cool the property market. We will do more to stabilise the market if and when this becomes necessary. We will keep housing affordable to Singaporeans, especially public housing. At the same time, in a prospering economy home owners should see their properties appreciating in value over the long term.

Other external factors are pushing up consumer prices across Asia, including in Singapore. World oil prices have risen recently, leading to higher electricity, petrol and diesel prices. Floods and bad weather in several countries have disrupted crops, causing shortages and raising food prices. Locally, COE (certificate of entitlement) prices have gone up, because fewer COEs are available for auction, while with rising incomes, more people want to buy cars. For these reasons, we expect somewhat higher inflation over the next few months, but we hope prices will stabilise later in the year.

The Government will strive to mitigate the impact of rising prices. The strong Singapore dollar has lowered the cost of imported goods in Singapore dollar terms. And after a good year last year, the Government has more scope to implement schemes to help Singaporeans cope with rising costs, especially lower-income households.

Singapore is small and open to the world. Each time external conditions change, it affects us. But we have learnt to take this in our stride. We know that we have to stay open, in order to seize opportunities and prosper. The price we pay is that we must keep changing and reinventing ourselves. This we have done successfully. Over the last few years, we have transformed our cityscape, with a spectacular skyline at Marina Bay, new and beautiful housing estates, and park connectors and waters all over the island. Our society is changing too. Young people today have different attitudes and aspirations from earlier generations. And our population has been augmented with a good number of new immigrants.

Some Singaporeans are concerned about the rapid changes in our society, and feel a sense of dislocation and unfamiliarity. We will manage the pace of change, so that we keep our bearings, sense of place and sense of belonging. But we cannot stay static. Singapore has to keep up with the world, or else we will stagnate and decline.

Even as we change, we must hold fast to certain constants: the core values which help Singapore to succeed; the heritage and cultures which make us Asian and Singaporean; and the national cohesion and spirit which enable us to surmount crises together.

This means we have to preserve a Singaporean core in our society. We need immigrants to reinforce our ranks, but we must maintain a clear majority of local- born Singaporeans who set the tone of our society, and uphold our core values and ethos. We are managing the inflow of foreigners who want to live and work here. Many want to become permanent residents and new citizens, but we will select only those who can add value.

We also need Singaporeans to produce enough babies to replace ourselves, and that has proved extremely challenging. Last year, our total fertility rate fell to 1.16, an all-time low. It was even lower for the Chinese - only 1.02 - but the decline was for all races. It could have been because of the Year of the Tiger, or perhaps the economic uncertainties the year before. Whatever the reasons, I hope more couples will start or add to their families in the Year of the Rabbit. Chinese New Year is the time for families to come together in celebration, and more babies can mean only more joy in the years to come.

We must also keep our mother tongues alive, for language is a key vehicle for transmitting values and culture. Our bilingual education policy has helped to make us a global city and yet kept us an Asian society. We regularly update and improve the teaching of mother tongue languages in our schools, to keep it current and effective. Hence the recent measures announced by the Ministry of Education, which will help a new generation to use their mother tongue languages freely in a changing language environment.

The community has to play an active role keeping our culture and heritage vibrant. I am encouraged that organisations like the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations and Business China are working to promote the use of the Chinese language, preserve traditional culture and develop an appreciation and love for our heritage.

Our culture has to be a living asset. We hold on to it not by keeping it frozen, but by reinventing it for each new generation, preserving its essence while adapting its forms to changing times and circumstances. This is how we can keep the essence of what makes us Singaporean, and keep Singapore thriving.

Singaporeans can look forward to a bright future together. The rise of Asia will generate buzz and vitality in our economic and cultural landscapes. We are well placed to be part of the region's development, to become a shining city at the heart of a booming Asia.

I wish all Singaporeans a very happy Year of the Rabbit.



Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Beware of pressure cooker society

ST Forum

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Feb 2, 2011

SUPPLEMENTARY LESSONS

Beware of pressure cooker society

I APPRECIATE yesterday's article on the trend in primary schools to offer supplementary lessons ('Too young for extra lessons?').

The introduction of 'near compulsory' supplementary lessons for Primary 3 and 4 children has taken many parents by surprise. I am one of them.

Although a consent form was given for the lessons, which are offered twice a week, I was made to understand that pupils were strongly encouraged to participate. While I decided against it, I found to my horror that the school bus timings had been rearranged to take the children home after supplementary lessons.

That meant those parents who elected out would have to make alternative transport arrangements. A price I have to pay for taking my child out of the supplementary lessons.

I had elected out for reasons similar to what another parent, Mrs Sherley Servos, mentioned in the article. As parents, we feel that at this age, the child should be offered more time for recuperation and play.

Supplementary lessons at this stage - Primary 3 and 4 - should be reserved for weaker pupils. Conducting mass lessons will yield little value for weaker pupils as this group needs focused coaching. And I am doubtful about the value-add to the stronger pupils.

There is also this larger problem of having too many classes from a young age. The related report ('Even preschools have enrichment classes'; yesterday) attests to this fact.

Some schools have suggested that a majority of parents do not mind and some even want it. Most parents would be afraid their children will lose out and only a few like us would take this extraordinary step to elect out.

I fear such classes will have a detrimental effect in the long run. What level of enrichment will be enough? What will be the opportunity cost in piling lessons on a child from a young age? Are we a pressure cooker society in the making?

Schools should be helping parents to ensure children have an all-rounded education, beyond academic excellence. The recent initiatives suggest the contrary.

M.G.R. Maran Paramanathan

Licensed to bake

Singapore

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Feb 2, 2011

Licensed to bake

Five home bakers get NEA stamp of approval for CNY sales

Home bakers (from left) Charmaine Tan, 31; Sophia Loy, 40; Nur Atika, 23; Fiona Lee, 23; and Delcie Lam, 26; have been licensed to work out of a kitchen at North Bridge Road and market their wares under the brand Whisk and Fold this Chinese New Year. -- ST PHOTO: NURIA LING

TO MAKE sure they were ready for Chinese New Year, five home bakers rented a kitchen space, renovated it, applied for a licence and marketed their wares online.

The reason: They knew about the National Environment Agency's (NEA) rules for home bakers and wanted to make sure their business was legal.

'We knew that we were not allowed to sell goods baked at home to the public, and I couldn't afford the rent alone,' said Miss Delcie Lam, 26, who started actively marketing her pineapple tarts and almond and green tea cookies last month. 'We wanted to be ready for Chinese New Year, when there would be enough demand for mass production.'

The team, which bakes in a kitchen at North Bridge Road and markets its products under the brand Whisk and Fold, has sold more than 450 tubs of pineapple tarts, green tea cookies, almond cookies and brownies for Chinese New Year this year. Prices range from $22 to $28.80 a tub.

Others are also doing a roaring trade but are selling cookies baked out of their kitchens at home, which is illegal.

Under the law, no one is allowed to sell food to the public without a licence, said an agency spokesman in a statement yesterday. 'NEA requires a person's premises to meet hygiene requirements and his food handlers trained before a licence is issued to him to sell food to the public. The law is implemented and enforced to protect public health,' he said, adding that such businesses can operate only from premises that have planning approval from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for use as a food shop.

NEA first issues a warning to those who break the law to stop selling immediately. Failure to comply can lead to a fine of up to $4,000. Last year, enforcement action was taken against six people. There have been no such cases so far this year.

Members of the public can call the NEA hotline on 1800-225-5632 if they find blogs or websites advertising homemade confectionery for sale.

Still, none of this has dampened sales pitches online. Free advertising websites, such as classified ad site 88DB.com, still carry hundreds of ads by home bakers publicising their wares. Others hawk their goods on personal blogs or on social networking site Facebook.

A Straits Times check with 15 such home bakers found that 12 were selling online though they knew it was not allowed.

A home baker, who wants to be known only as Miss Lee, started selling cakes in May last year on her blog. The stay-at-home mother earns about $2,000 a month from such sales. The 35-year-old started by selling to friends, and now sells mainly to the public. 'To have a commercial kitchen, you need money and time. I don't have the money, and I want to be there for my son,' she said.

A 38-year-old housewife, who wants to be known only as Kathy, has been selling cookies out of her flat for the past three years. She advertises on free ad websites and accepts cash on delivery.

The mother of two has sold 100 jars of cookies so far this Chinese New Year season, and said that she knows of many others who bake from home to sell.

'Most of us know this is not allowed, but we sell by word of mouth or through the Internet,' said Kathy, who was retrenched three years ago. 'We are scared the authorities will find out because we are generating an income. But if people ask, we say we are just selling to friends.'

The proliferation of such home-grown businesses, said senior retail lecturer Sarah Lim from Singapore Polytechnic's business school, can be put down to two reasons - the challenges entrepreneurs face setting up businesses here and increased demand.

However, she added that the rules are necessary to maintain hygiene standards.

Her suggestion is for the Government to give more leeway and start a registry of these home businesses. 'These entrepreneurs must start small. When they start making money, they will be encouraged to try bigger things,' she said.

Meanwhile, members of Whisk and Fold are optimistic they will do well beyond the festive season. One of them, Ms Charmaine Tan, 31, quit her job in a bank last year to become a full-time baker. 'I will slowly extend my offerings to other baked goods like tea snacks for the corporate market,' said Ms Tan, who specialises in brownies. 'The legal route is the only way to sustain a business in the long term.'

limjess@sph.com.sg