And so Singaporeans are getting better acquainted with their next Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. He just delivered a speech not only spelling out some of his thoughts on how he and his 4G team will bring Singapore Forward but, in my view, also stressing how the 4Gers will be different from the previous teams. On surface, I detect what appears to be a major departure from the public stances of the 2G and 3G teams which tended to under-appreciate the importance of the Singapore core.
Wong launched the Forward Singapore exercise on Tuesday (Jun 28), a year-long exercise that will “review and refresh” the country’s social compact. The exercise will “set out a roadmap” for the country for the next decade and beyond, said the government in a separate press release, the CNA reported.
We have had similar exercises before, carried out by DPM Heng Swee Keat in 2012 and 2019. Lawrence Wong should start afresh and stamp his own mark and prove that he is different and more in tune with a population that has been taken for granted for far too long. A couple of statements stood out in his speech at a Labour Movement Conversation organised by the NTUC:
“Let me share my thoughts on… how I think our social compact might evolve. First, on how our economy is run, and whether the system benefits all or just a few. Everyone knows we have long relied on open and free markets to grow the economy. That must remain the case – for it is by staying open to investments and talent from around the world that we create wealth, keep our economy innovative and vibrant, and thus provide good jobs and better opportunities for Singaporeans. But we know that left unchecked, the workings of the free market can lead to excessive competition and rising inequalities….
“And we will be passing a new law to ensure that all employers uphold fair employment practices. We will not hesitate to take action against any employer who discriminates on the basis of nationality or other factors, namely, age, sex, disability, race and religion. At the same time, we will continue to update our policies to manage the inflow of work pass holders and ensure they come into sectors where we need them the most, to complement, not to displace, our local workforce.”
Wong has a number of advantages on his side in trying to bond with Singaporeans and in being able to carry them with him as PM.
He is an unencumbered leader. No baggage. No SAF hotshot sense of self-entitlement. Not related to any previous PAP leader, I think. Self-proven.
Tested. He did remarkably well as part of the Covid-19 Multi-Ministry Task Force. Week in and week out, Singaporeans had the chance to get a grasp of a leader working under pressure – and passing inspection with a cool performance. His Budget speech already showed a grasp of what must be done to move Singapore forward.
And now his first major policy statement as PM to be.
The one part of the speech which will help the fourth Singapore PM resonate with Singaporeans is this:
“And I want to assure everyone, Singaporeans and Singaporean workers will always be at the centre of everything we do.”
As an observer of the leaders that came after the LKY generation, this to me is as unambiguous as it can get. I have not seen any PM or DPM making that such a clear commitment. There is no hedging, no unnecessary caution about sending the wrong signal to investors. Wong’s pledge, which I am sure he did not spell out without the risk of having it thrown back at his team at the voting polls or Parliament, is a welcome reassurance to suffering Singaporeans many of whom see themselves as second-class citizens in their own country. According to some, some foreigners actually look down on Singaporeans, their host community!
To strengthen his pledge, Lawrence Wong should take one more vital step.
Without a credible armed force backed by National Service, Singapore would have been just a house of cards. Which investors will be interested in investing anything here?
We are celebrating the contributions of NS and NSMen this year. Wong should do two things.
His team must make it compulsory for the Economic Development Board to emphasise to all foreign companies and all future foreign investors the vital role that NSMen play in the country’s stability. The stability that helps attract investments was not created overnight. Produce a booklet on this.
Give priority to all our NSMen. We need a serious commitment that the sacrifices made by NSMen – for full-time service and reservist training – are not taken for granted and overlooked.
Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of TheIndependent.Sg, is a former senior leader writer with The Straits Times. He was also managing editor of a magazine publishing company.