REACH 564 - What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s May Day Rally speech?

(SK)

02 May 2024 (10am - 7pm)

REACH

2/5/24, 10:30 am - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*

Welcome back! 😊

⏰ We will be opening the chat from *10.30am to 7pm* today. ⏰

*House Rules (short version of our Terms of Use) to keep in mind:* 

1. Be kind and respectful. We all want to be in a safe space to share our views. 

2. Any and all threatening, abusive, vulgar or racially, religiously and ethnically objectionable content is prohibited.

3. Consider the quiet ones among us and give them a chance to comment.

4. No need to repeat your comment or in different forms (including caps) - we heard you loud and clear the first time.

5. Let’s protect each other’s privacy and keep contact details in this group what it should always be - confidential. 

*Full set of Terms of Use:* https://go.gov.sg/reach-whatsapp-terms

We will strive to uphold these rules to ensure this is a safe space for all.

Please be assured that the points made by participants during the chat are aggregated and shared with relevant agencies.

The topic will be posted shortly.

Thank you

Megan 😊

2/5/24, 10:31 am - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his valedictory speech at the May Day Rally on May 1, expressed confidence in the leadership team he has prepared to succeed him.

💬 *What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s May Day Rally speech?*

📌 _*Improvement in Singaporeans Quality of Life*_ :

PM Lee highlighted the significant improvements in Singaporeans' lives during his tenure, including advancements in various sectors such as biotech, information technology, and financial services. He emphasized the diversification of the economic base and the enhancement of Singaporeans' quality of life, particularly for those with lower incomes. The development of new Housing Board towns with green spaces and amenities have been built, such as Punggol, which has turned into an attractive town full of young families. He also pointed out the continuous upgrading of older towns, along with improvements in public transport and the establishment of a first-class healthcare system, were also noted as contributing to the overall improvement in the quality of life for Singaporeans. 

📌 _*Inclusive Society and Social Safety Nets:*_

PM Lee underscored the Government’s commitment to leaving no one behind as the country progressed. “In Singapore, unlike in some other countries, your postal code does not determine your destiny,” he said. He mentioned the creation of social programs such as ComCare, Workfare, and the Progressive Wage Model, as well as the strengthening of various components of Singapore's social safety net. Programs such as KidStart and ComLink+ were also mentioned as initiatives aimed at offering assistance to vulnerable families and children facing disadvantages. On catering to the needs of the elderly, he highlighted MediShield Life and CareShield Life as well as the Pioneer, Merdeka and Majulah packages. 

📌 _*Challenges and Future Directions:*_

PM Lee discussed the uncertainties in the world and the need for updated responses to global changes. He emphasized the importance of social cohesion, racial and religious harmony. He highlighted the need “to continue to work hard to overcome social stresses and tensions, to enlarge our common space, and to strengthen our shared Singaporean identity.” He also mentioned the government's long-term planning and actions, citing the reclamation project that began in 1971 and the decision to allow integrated resorts (IRs) in Singapore. 

📌 _*Political Stability:*_

PM Lee also stressed the significance of political stability and trust in the country's exceptional economic and social gains, urging Singaporeans to uphold an ethos of excellence and maintain political stability. Finally, he called for each generation to steward Singapore to the best of its ability, ensuring the nation's continued progress and success.

👉https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/we-have-built-a-strong-foundation-for-our-future-generations-pm-lee-in-his-last-major-speech 

👉https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lee-hsien-loong-ntuc-may-day-rally-pm-last-speech-4305181

2/5/24, 10:32 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed the group description

2/5/24, 10:32 am - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow all members to send messages to this group

------

2/5/24, 10:35 am - +~l or Smiley face: "If we lose the momentum given to us a 100 years ago by history then we must sink back slowly once more into a glorified fishing village."

-- SM S Rajaratnam (then Minister for Foreign Affairs , circa 19 March, 1967)

2/5/24, 10:43 am - +Jimmy Chew: Agree. We are a phishing village. Our people are being phish 🤣🤣🤣

2/5/24, 10:47 am - +YT: PM Lee will be missed.  I will miss his speeches, his mild mannerisms, his sense of humour during his serious speeches.  However, change is the only constant in this world.  And, I am also looking forward to the leadership change and the different style of governing that this next generation team will bring to Singapore.  We have chosen our leaders wisely and I am confident that the next generation team (who are already making many of the difficult and important decisions) will bring Singapore to greater heights.  A big Thank you PM Lee for his dedication in serving Singapore all these years.  His legacy is larger than life, and because of his and his team's achievements, the next generation team is taking over from a position of strength!

2/5/24, 10:55 am - +JC: I will be looking forward to his memoirs... he's done very well to emerge from his dad's shadow while dealing with so many tough challenges in his personal / professional life. Much respect. LKY might be world famous but LHL has proven himself to be a worthy successor.

2/5/24, 11:05 am - +Nic Freehold: great speech! Although seem like a Greatest Hits album summary of past national rallies but the emotional gravity was there

2/5/24, 11:06 am - +Nic Freehold: Yes our economy is doing decent to well despite global storms

2/5/24, 12:05 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors*

We want to *HEAR MORE* from you! 

💬 *What are your thoughts on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s May Day Rally speech?*

We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active!

Megan 😊

2/5/24, 12:10 pm - +Nic Freehold: Megan, there wasn’t any stated policy changes.

2/5/24, 12:11 pm - +Nic Freehold: kudos for PM Lee for doing the tough things like some laws and policies there are 20-30yrs late

2/5/24, 12:11 pm - +Nic Freehold: Was changed

2/5/24, 12:59 pm - +Andy: There is a saying 富不过三代 but just look at us already passing to the 4G team. We must thank PM Lee for bringing Singapore to the next level. Of course PM Lee had the solid foundation built up by founding PM LKY and 2nd PM Goh, but it's never easy to maintain and flourish yet he together with the team did it. Now passing the baton to DPM Lawrence Wong and 4G team, we must continue to support them and together we shall be able to progress further. I sincerely hope our 4G team and all MPs walk the ground more often to engage every resident especially the young voters like my daughters, 1 will be voting for the 1st time. Don't just wait for the election then come out to shake hands and say hello. I can't imagine what's going to happen to us if Singapore does not govern by a majority PAP especially in such a chaotic world right now, all the more we need stability and a trustworthy team to lead Singapore forward. 15 May 2024 PM Lawrence Wong 黄循财 will lead Singapore forward and since his chinese name has a 财字 we all will HUAT.

2/5/24, 1:26 pm - +Thank You Woman: I have 1 question:

We had brought back the Singa (Merlion ) to kindergarten, that’s great.

Recall my time secondary school got religion knowledge was it taken off?

I think we should bring it back 🙏

2/5/24, 1:27 pm - +REACH: Dear Contributors, 

Please be reminded to post content relevant to the topic that is being discussed. We have had good feedback from this group, and we hope that we can keep the discussion robust and active! 

Thank you. 

Megan

2/5/24, 1:29 pm - +~l or Smiley face: https://youtube.com/shorts/raDy6OpJBCs?si=uBIVA9qLORAi1qn3

2/5/24, 1:48 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. PM Lee May Day Rally speech is his last major speech - which sounds like a parting speech, a speech of summary of what he and his Government does for the last 20 years - but there are some very serious messages.

2. The messages are :-

a. Singapore Leadership cannot be ordinary - it must be Exceptional.

(As Singapore has no natural reserves, has no hinterland or big land mass or large population to fall back on).

Hence it is our duty and responsiblities to ensure Singapore Leadership is Exceptional - by giving them the best team come General Election.

b. Singapore voters cannot venture into political entreprenuership or political adventurism - by copying what overseas countries do - blind faith in rampant democracy that experiment with political opposition bend on antagnoism result in political deadlock, parliament inertia, budget shutdown, change government like changing clothes, and voting in mediocre opposition for the sake of democracy that articulate populist policies that are designed to raid our reserves, dispense of easy money from reserves and fiscal deficit using debt that discourage people from working.

Once we deplete and lose our reserves --- we are finished.

c. Geopolitical tension, protectionism with less emphasis on trade, investment and business, isolationism, decoupling, disruption of global supply chain, tech disruptors - are all adverse elements that have are brewing which directly impact how we trade, how we invite investment, how we manufacture, operate our Economy and business and how it create jobs for Singaporeans.

Trade is 3 to 4 times of our GDP - that give us prosperity and wealth - and create value added business and jobs for us ---- and what is happening in the World - work against us.

Hence, we will need a very strong incumbent Government team to help Singaporeans identify niches, opportunities that sprout out here and there - seize the opportunities and ensure Singaporeans continue to enjoy the continous peace and prosperity for many decades since Independence.

We cannot afford to have political destraction - that happen at home - which will not help us - but derail our Government who need all hands on deck - to seize all opportunities that come our way or sniff out overseas.

d. Internal unity is critical to our success, peace and prosperity - whereby racial, religious, culture and languages are the potential faultlines - that can quickly unravel if exploited.

Hence, it is vital that we continuously ensure we respect our social differences in the various communities, but keep Singapore identity as a unifying force - and never let our faultline unravel that trigger tension steamroll into violence among our different communities.

Looking at what happens in US universities, isolated killings - arising from Israel-Hamas war ---- we must never let other people's problem - become our problem.

2/5/24, 2:01 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢

2/5/24, 2:02 pm - +Frankie Wee: It’s very true getting policies importance without our natural resources. 

Singapore will remain our policies and economy and n future.

2/5/24, 2:03 pm - +~l or Smiley face: <Media omitted>

2/5/24, 2:39 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Moving forward what will be the challenges facing us :

a. High cost of living

b. Economy slowing

c. Job insecurity due to tech disruptors

d. High housing cost

e. Flaring geopolitical confrontation that could trigger conflict

2. We need the strongest Government team to help us tackle the challenges facing us and our future generations to bring them to soft landings.

3. Hence, Political adventurism and entreprenuership won't benefit us. Just look at what happens overseas - oppositions sounds appealing - freedom, more noise in Parliament --- but what follows are good policies that truly benefit the people cannot be push through the Parliament, populist policies that give immediate gratification but have adverse consequences in the long term get implemented to win votes.

Political instability, leadership changing hands like changing clothes, political antagonism - becomes the order of the day.

2/5/24, 3:18 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

1. Singapore is very lucky to have succession of Prime Ministers that are of very high quality, Exceptional quality since Independence.

2. 1st generation Mr LKY set a very high benchmark of Governance - and Singapore become famous Worldwide. Follow by Mr GCT and PM LeeHL.

3. PM Lee 20 years of Premiership together with his Cabinets and Civil Service have come up with manyy sound policies that cover every aspect of our lives and Society - boost our incomes at all level, make our Economies more sophisticated by transforming our Economy into many high-value industries, boosted our Sovererign Wealth Fund Reserves, provide high standard Healthcare and Education, make our Society and Communities more compact and united, make many friends with overseas Countries and make our Country safe.

4. Now the baton is hand over to our 4G Leader Lawrence Wong in good hand and in a position of strength.

5. I am confident that our new PM Lawrence Wong and his team will takeover the torch and make us proud.

6. But as responsible citizens, we must give him whatever support he needed. He need the strongest team possible --- to tackle the formidable challenges confronting us.

7. Singapore is a small Country with a small population - 5..6 million.

8. To bring in competent and good character political candidates into politics to become Cabinet Ministers and helm our Ministries and Government Bodies - are not easy - as we only have a small pool of population to pick from.

9. Hence we cannot afford to cannabilise and handicap our new PM - come the next General Election - to pick lower quality oppositions for the sake of democracy.

We need to give him the best political candidates he has picked --- to help him - in order to help ourselves, our children and our future generations - and not fool around with our own and our descendants' future.

10. When we vote Mr Tharman as our President - we did it rationally, objectively, with good logic --- not clouded by emotion --- when we assessed him systematically versus the other candidates ---- and place our votes objectively.

11. I hope our voters will do likewise come the next General Election - as how we support/or throw spanner to our 4GL transition - will mark whether we succeed or fail - when formidable challenges descend on our doorstep.

2/5/24, 4:00 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢

2/5/24, 4:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: 

Also very important for 4GL to work with the people eg. Through ForwardSG via REACH.

Common-man-in-the-street also have Wisdom - that can jointly provide good feedback to the government.

In addition, jointly build and made Government-Citizens policies - will already have buy in from the citizens - that can help the government to sell, deploy and implement policies with less resistance and more satisfaction from the people.

2/5/24, 4:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: Example:-

2/5/24, 4:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: <Media omitted>

 

2/5/24, 4:09 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: <Media omitted>

 

2/5/24, 4:10 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: <Media omitted>

 

2/5/24, 4:15 pm - ☸️  Danny 心: <Media omitted>

 

2/5/24, 6:00 pm - +REACH: 📢 *Topic* 📢

2/5/24, 6:13 pm - +Thank You Woman: Haiz

2/5/24, 6:29 pm - +Village Consultancy: “There are also other potential divisions, he noted, between the haves and the have-nots; Singaporean-born and naturalised citizens; conservatives and liberals; and the current and future generations.

“All these differences can be exploited politically, to pit Singaporeans one against another, and divide and weaken us,” he said. “Hence, we have got to continue to work hard to overcome social stresses and tensions, to enlarge our common space, and to strengthen our shared Singaporean identity.”

This is why the Government moved to allow Muslim nurses in Singapore’s public healthcare sector to wear the tudung, and repealed Section 377A of the Penal Code. These were controversial and difficult issues, but they were tackled instead of being left to fester, PM Lee said.

“So we prepared the ground carefully, worked out practical compromises and moved to a more sustainable, long-term position, while fostering mutual understanding and acceptance.”

While I appreciate all that PM has done for us, I am not sure about the part relating to S377A that we have “moved to a more sustainable, long-term position, while fostering mutual understanding and acceptance.” 

I believe a lot more constructive conversations are needed, and we all can do our part to truly enable Singapore to be a sustainable and flourishing nation.

2/5/24, 6:30 pm - +Rama: Disagree with repeal of section 377A

2/5/24, 6:42 pm - +Darius Lee: I agree with this view. I think more needs to be done to promote mutual understanding

2/5/24, 6:51 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*

⏰ We will be closing the chat in *10 minutes* ⏰

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

2/5/24, 6:59 pm - +~l or Smiley face: 2 May, 2024

"Saving The Best For All"

"We must include attitudes towards work, willingness to endure the disciplines of the wage system, eagerness for advancement in education, and at a higher level, insatiable intellectual curiosity and abounding business enterprise. These are the intangibles of the modern society."

-- DPM Dr Goh Keng Sweet (then Minister for Finance, circa 29 March, 1968)

Generational effects?

You plan ahead and light years ahead of everyone seems intriguing, at times aloaf and laughable idea. Nope, it isn't so and why not so? History has proven beyond all doubts that systematic and pure logic and preparedness is a game of thorough thinking of all possibilities out of opportunities and threats. Thus having such a strategic playbook in hand is strategically advantage for any country that in moments of uncertainty or even so more handy running head on in a pandemic crisis. And uncertainty itself is fundamentally becoming a conventional wisdom of people and for the people who needs to plan ahead of time. That's the ethos of our past and present leaders and thereafter excellence governance!

So how can we improve on various fronts at workplaces or at public services? It is a smart choice to see things far as what the Chinese called it "see long term" and not losing your foresghts of the immediate future of opportunities and gainings and blinded by it.

"Talk and critic are the the cheapest trade! Things don't merely fall in place and in hope waiting for the fruits to harvest bumper crops, years after years!. You need many able and steadfast hands, enormous effort to cultivate, tenacity, and patience; year after year to fruition."

-- anonymity

For more than half a century of our journey of building Singapore, we came a long, not easy paths and build lasting relationships between people of the past and people of today's.SG.  Our history of excellence governance is clear and concise and evidence to all eyes. Anything lesser or below par, there would not be a thriving SG as at now. No magic nor short cuts! You sow what you have planted and importantly nurtured to grow the plant into a tall and strong tree! 

So the season of bumper crops?

By building on your past experiences of bad and good and transform into better grounds of working with the mindfulness of firstly threats followed by opportunities. Seasonality is one thing that any analyst strives to make sure that the benefits of mutiways and measurable outputs or results are within the metrics of performance. One solid and stable footing is our PM Lee and soon our SM Lee will be around to ensure our 4G leadership transition from May 15 onwards will have full access to knowledge, connection, and experience of our 3G leaders.

It was the past and now, the relentless efforts we put in and the future that will decide our destiny of many products that will yield benefits for all of us! That's the spirit of " can do and will do" team SG and our high standards and expectations from our people! For the record, our country's leadership will always save the Best for all !

"One minute to reflect and respect PM Lee!"

https://youtube.com/shorts/D9bacOapVFE?si=werrluw_cs_BrPRk

   - - Majulah Singapura - -

2/5/24, 7:00 pm - +REACH: *Dear Contributors,*

We will be closing the chat for today.

Thank you very much for being part of our WhatsApp chat and participating actively.

Goodnight!

Megan 😊

2/5/24, 7:01 pm - ~ REACH Singapore changed this group's settings to allow only admins to send messages to this group

====