Scroll down for the English text of the Mandarin speech
国庆群众大会 2009
亲爱的同胞，大家晚上好。我们正经历一场前所未有的经济风暴。我们的经济第一季度大幅度萎缩，幸好到了第二季度经济迅速回弹，现在情况基本稳定下来了。今年 财政预算案里的“振兴配套”已经发挥了作用，公司并没大幅度裁员，我们的失业率维持在可以接受的水平，只是增高了一点。新加坡人诚然已经受到风暴的影响，向国会议员、市镇理事会，或者社区发展理事会求助的人增加了。
但是到目前为止，多数人都生活如常，工作安稳，心情大致上也不错。今年国庆日大汇演，大家都很热烈地庆祝国庆日。再说，最近举行的旅游展也是人山人海。我有张图片，显示的是上周末举行的一次旅游展。旅游社的老板很高兴，告诉记者说，许多人今年来还没有出国旅行，现在已经憋不住了，不得不去！此外，更有说服力的：很多人正在排队买房子。是好是坏暂且不说，不过，这表示新加坡人对前途是蛮有信心的。
无论如何，我们必须继续关注接下来几个月的经济走势。世界经济的大局势基本上现在已经稳定下来了，本地的一些企业也开始招聘员工了。第三季，也就是现在这一 季，应该不会出现大规模裁员的现象。但是，第三季以后，情况还不十分明朗，所以我们应该对此做好心理准备，有备无患。从长远来说，我们应该对前景感到乐 观。风和日丽的日子可能还没回来，不过我们已经看到一些希望，一些“绿苗”了。
在这场风暴中，中小型企业受的影响较大，因为它们的资金有限，人员缺乏。但是政府已经实行了不少措施援助他们，而许多中小型企业也展现了逆境求存的精神。它 们勇于创新，改变经营模式，寻找新的出路。政府将继续全力支持这些中小型企业，包括协助它们进军海外市场。亚洲国家还有很多商机，只要了解市场，人脉好， 不怕没有生意做。
我 以本地家具业做一个例子，解释这个道理。家具业是我国工业化初期的一门行业，因为劳工密集，也不是很高科技的行业，所以当时新加坡制造家具是合情合理的。 可是，三、四十年后，我们的家具业还有新的生机，还没有被淘汰，反而能够脱胎换骨，从夕阳行业转变成朝阳行业，这不一定是每一个人都会预料到的。为什么会 是如此？因为我们现在生产的，是高品质、设计新颖、领导潮流的家具。
我们的新加坡家具商会也很活跃，在国内外有效地促销新加坡品牌的家具。因为经济下滑，行情不好，所以他们加倍努力，成功地开拓了不少海外新市场，包括东亚、东欧和拉丁美洲的市场。现在，他们正在拉丁美洲的巴西招商。全世界都走遍了，肯定有生意做的。
世界最大规模、最有名气的家具展是意大利的米兰家具展。今年四月，新加坡的家具工业理事会在米兰家具展参加了展览。我们的标新局 (Spring) 帮助他们参加，帮助他们争取到一块展览的场地。当时吴作栋资政在意大利访问，他特地到参展会替本地商家打气，拍了一张照片留念。
其实，我国家具商的工厂大多不设在新加坡，而是在邻近国家，因为当地的生产成本比较低。不过，他们以新加坡品牌为号召。在国际市场上，新加坡不仅是个国家的 名称，也是优良品质的象征。所以新加坡这个品牌很重要，这个品牌是商人打天下的“独门武器”，要珍惜它，千万不要糟蹋它。要加强它，使我们在商场上能够百 战百胜。
我国企业家懂得变通，积极寻找新出路，个别新加坡人也应该自动自发，抓紧自我提升的机会。工友应该把握培训的机会，参加SPUR (技能提升与应变计划)所开办的各种课程。失业的人可以向e2i (就业与职能培训中心)或 CDC (社区发展理事会)求助。这些机构帮助了许多人找到了工作。他们相当努力，默默耕耘，效果也不错，最重要的是他们肯拼的决心。在e2i培训中心的一道墙上，挂着一个很有意思的标语，它说：“山不转路转，路不转人转，人不转心转”，鼓励大家下定决心去拼。被生活搞到团团转的人，应该到e2i转一转，一定会转出一条路来。其实，掌握一技之长，是走出生活困境的唯一的、最佳的办法。
未来两年，世界经济的增长可能比较缓慢，我们必须继续逆水行舟，力求上进。世界经济迟早将会全面复苏，到时，我们将已经做好准备，能够再次展翅高飞。
我们忙着振兴经济的时候，也不可忽略其他长远的问题。我今晚要谈两个长远的问题，一个是医药保健和医药费的问题，另一个是宗教种族和谐的问题。先谈医药费、医药保健的问题。
政府采取了不少措施缓和医药费的上涨，所以基本上，多数的新加坡人是负担得起医药费的。但是，我知道这仍旧是新加坡人所关心的问题。为什么关心呢？很多人需要照顾年迈患病的父母，担子比较重。那些刚要步入老年的人，也可能为自己的健康和医药费担心。
政府很关注这个问题，并且已经开始提升医疗服务，以应付人口老化所带来的庞大需求。人到老年比较多病，也病得比较重，康复的时间也比较长，这个是不得已的。 因此我们必须作出积极有效，而且有针对性的反应。我们正在建造更多医院，包括在北部的邱德拔医院和西部的裕廊综合医院。我们不只需要建造大型医院，也需要 建造一些社区医院。差别在哪里，让我解释一下。年长病人在疗养期间，他们需要恰当的护理服务，他们不一定需要继续在大型医院就医，社区医院就可以为他们提 供收费低廉但恰当的护理服务。社区医院可以跟大型的政府医院互相合作，互相支援。政府医院协助社区医院提升他们的医疗水平，使病人得到良好的照顾。而社区 医院可以接收政府医院的一部分病人，腾出一些床位来，把政府医院的病床留给病情比较重的病人。
此外，社区医院也有一个功能，就是他们跟社会的联系较为紧密，有利争取各界的支持。陈笃生医院跟仁慈医院之间的合作关系，就是一个好例子。仁慈医院是一所社 区医院，就坐落陈笃生医院的旁边。我最近走访了仁慈医院，了解一下它的运作情况。仁慈现在有了新的管理层，有了新的运作模式，陈笃生为仁慈提供医疗咨询， 而陈笃生留医的病人病情稳定后，可以到仁慈留医，接受护理服务，一直到康复为止。在仁慈留医的病人也不用担心，因为如果病情恶化，有什么问题的话，可以立 即回到陈笃生就医，所以两边配合得很密切。同时，仁慈医院也有许多热心的义工，为病人组织有益身心的消闲活动，让他们康复得更快。当天我去的时候，就碰到 一组义工，跟病人唱卡拉OK，使病人能够开心一点，开怀一点，能够早日康复。 我看，这是一个好的模式。樟宜医院和圣安德烈社区医院，也有同样的合作关系。卫生部现在正在研究如何将这种运作模式扩展到其他政府医院去。
年老病人住院，不管是政府医院还是社区医院，都不能永远住下去，迟早必须回家，并且越早越好。当他们回到家中休养后，家人就必须负起照顾他们的重任了。我知 道这是相当沉重的负担，有些人甚至说：“久病无孝子”。这个我不以为然，不过无论如何，负担是重的，我们还是不能够，也不应该推卸这个责任。我们亚洲人重 视孝道，这个是传统的美德，我们必须维持下去。再说，虽然政府有责任照顾老年人，政府也会尽政府的责任，但是对家人来说，这个不只是责任，这个是责任加上 爱心。家人的爱心，家庭的温暖，不是疗养院或医院所可以取代的。
最近我跟一些疗养院的负责人谈这个问题，他们就向我反映，一些新加坡人已经失去这些美德了。有些人甚至把年老父母遗弃在疗养院或者医院里。有些人把父母送到 疗养院之后，逃得无影无踪，甚至身份证上的地址都换了。当疗养院联络上他们的时候，他们还表现得事不关己，表示即使疗养院把父母亲赶出去，他们也不在意。 这个是令人心寒的一种新的社会现象，我们不能够不去管它、不去处理它，所以政府正在研究如何更有效地运用 ‹赡养父母法令›，向这些孩子追究责任。
当然，除了设立更多社区医院，政府还会探讨其他措施，以减轻人们在家里照顾患病亲人的负担。政府会尽政府的责任，我们整个医药保健系统会发挥它的功能，但是 个人也应该负自己的责任。个人的责任，第一件重要的事情，就是保持健康，养成良好的生活习惯。要远离疾病，节省医疗费的最好办法，是运动、照顾身体，注意 饮食，不要抽烟。不论你是打太极拳、练气功还是快步走，都是有益身心的。而如果你能够参与集体活动的话，一起做运动，可以增加人生乐趣，可以多交朋友，对 心理健康也有帮助。
我们特别应该注意的，是国人肥胖和超重的趋势。这是所有发达国家面对的问题，以及一些发展中国家开始面对的问题。在美国，将近三分之二的成年人是肥胖的，或 者是超重的。这是有科学定义的，美国是名副其实的“超级重国”，并且一年一年地重起来。在中国，他们也快要迎头赶上了。现在人们害怕“三高” – 什 么是“三高”？高血糖、高血脂，高血压，基本上是高体重造成的问题。改革开放之前，“三高”很少见，这些都是“富贵病”，可是现在“三高”人数已经不少 了，城市里尤其多。最近我看到一则新闻报道，由于城市里肥胖的人越来越多，所以减肥的生意越做越好，促销的花招也越来越厉害，包括所谓的“论斤减肥”，收 费按减掉的“肥肉”计算：5斤300元、10斤500元，20斤800元。
在新加坡，我们还没有到这个“先进”的地步。我们每年都举行全国健康生活运动，替大家免费减肥。我每年都参加，跟几百个基层领袖和乐龄人士一起蹦蹦跳跳，体重越来越轻，可是新加坡全体肥胖人数则有增无减！ 我们还没到美国的地步，美国是三分之二人口肥胖，我们肥胖的人数是三分之一，但是已经够多了，应该减轻一点。我们必须加倍努力，预防肥胖和“三高”，否则疾病缠身，将对自己和社会造成非常沉重的负担。
我接着要谈种族和宗教和谐的问题。种族和宗教和谐对我国有深远的影响。我国一向以种族及宗教和谐而自豪，各种族融合得很好，不同宗教和种族背景的人成为好朋 友、好邻居，在新加坡是很普遍的事情。各宗教组织不但互相尊重，还经常联手推动社区服务，并且是施善不问来者，不问你是什么宗教信仰的，你有需要的话，我 会帮助你。这是很好的现象，是我们四十多年来努力的成果。
当然，我们这样的社会风气，也跟我们的社会结构有关，因为占人口多数的道教徒和佛教徒，向来对其他宗教都采取包容和协商的态度，因此为整个社会定下基调。让 我举个例子：有些道教神庙举行酬神游行的时候，经常到附近的兴都庙拜访。兴都庙也礼尚往来，在举行游行的时候，也经常绕道拜访道教庙宇。最近在义顺就有一 个例子。在这张照片里，兴都庙信徒举行游行时，特地到一间神庙拜访，神庙以舞狮迎接他们，场面又热闹，又温馨。
这 是新加坡独有的现象。当然，我了解其他宗教教义不同，也许不能以同样的方式互相交流。实际上，最重要的是交流的诚意和精神。我相信，这是所有的宗教都可以 接受的。半个世纪以来，我国各宗教社群和平共处，互相容忍。不过，我们不能够因此而感到自满。我们有理由继续注意这个问题，第一，因为新加坡人的宗教热忱 正逐渐升高，加上我国人口稠密，各社群接触频繁，很难完全避免一切的磨擦发生。
让我举一个实际的例子，使大家了解我不是在谈抽象的问题，而是可能发生、曾经发生，必须注意的问题。有一位国会议员告诉我，在他的选区里，去年发生的这起事 件。有一名华族老婆婆去世了，她家人打算在隔壁组屋底层办丧事。他们还没有得到市镇理事会的许可，还没有申请批准，就开始布置灵堂。不幸地，那个地方已经 被一户马来族家庭预订了，作为举行婚礼的场所。马来家庭已经获得市镇理事会的批准，请柬也都发出去了，现在婚礼的场地突然被人家霸占掉了，被人“捷足先 登”，马来家庭当然觉得很不高兴。
市镇理事会出面调解这个问题，劝请这户华族家庭把丧事移到另外一个地方举行，但是华族家庭不愿意配合。他们认为，虽然灵柩还没运到，不过灵堂已经设置好了， 拆下来会带来霉运，这就出现了问题。显然理亏的是华族家庭，可是华族家庭不愿意搬。幸好经过议员和基层领袖的调解，那户马来族家庭大方地同意将婚礼移到附 近的组屋底层举行。市镇理事会也为了向他们表示感激，让他们免费使用场地，并且帮助他们在组屋附近张贴告示，让参加婚礼的宾客知道地点已经改变了。
这是去年发生的事情。无论是喜事或丧事，都是非常敏感的人生大事。红白两事纠缠在一起，情绪容易失控，一发不可收拾。这起事件得以解决，是因为那户马来族家 庭让步。所谓“退一步，海阔天空”。这充分说明了新加坡人够成熟，能够顾全大局。在另一个国家，在另一种情况下，类似的事件很容易演变成两个族群之间的冲 突，或者成为暴力冲突。所以，和谐融洽的种族关系，值得我们庆幸，更值得我们珍惜，而不应被大家认为是理所当然的。我刚才提到这个事件，不是唯一的一起， 也不会是最后的一起。我们必须坚定和机敏地处理这些问题，各方都应该懂得协商，为他人着想。
政府本身的态度很重要。政府应当立场坚定，保持警惕和中立。我再举另外一个例子说明这一点 — 征用土地的例子。政府经常需要征用私人土地，兴建道路、地铁线、学校、政府组屋等等。如果政府没有办法征用土地，新加坡的发展就肯定停滞不前了。有时政府 也会征用到宗教组织的土地。所有的宗教组织都曾受影响，譬如佛寺、基督教堂、兴都庙等，都曾被征用过。政府征用土地的时候，会作出赔偿，但是受影响的组织 虽然得到赔偿，不一定愿意搬迁。如果受影响的是宗教组织的话，那感到不满的不只是一两个负责人或者一两个地主，而可能是许许多多信徒，他们可能向政府发出 请愿，政府就会有一个棘手的问题了。政府当然会慎重考虑受影响的组织的和信徒的意见，如果政府考虑之后，还是无法接受请愿的话，还是必须征用土地的话，那 政府不得不这么做，但是一定会向有关的组织交代。我们的考虑必须是：政府的决定绝不能让人觉得政府偏袒任何一个宗教组织，同时这个决定也不能削弱政府的公 信力，不然政府日后事情就很难办了。到目前为止，我们可以算是幸运的，政府征用土地的时候，一般上都获得地主的谅解与合作，政府应对他们表示衷心的感谢。
这些具体的事例说明，我们处理宗教问题，除了必须很敏感和谨慎之外，也必须坚守一些基本的大原则，所以不只是处理个别案例的时候要机警，谨慎，大原则必须正 确，我们才能有一个正确的框架，维持种族和谐。这些是什么原则呢？我想，基本上是四点：采取包容和协商的态度、坚持政教分离、维持中立、世俗化的政府，同 时尽量扩大我们共同分享的空间。这些是重要的四点，我这边简单地讲一讲，可是稍后我会在英语演讲中再阐述。
我希望各界人士全力支持和维护这些基本原则，这关系到社会的安定和国家的存亡，全体人民应该同心同德，使新加坡成为多元宗教社会的典范，使宗教和谐与宗教自由继续成为我国社会的一大基石。
各位同胞，今年是新加坡成为自治邦50周年。半个世纪以来，我们经历许多风雨，备受考验。幸运的是，新加坡人团结一致，齐心协力，使我们排除万难，创建了今天的新加坡。我有信心，我们能够再次通过考验，克服危机，创造一个更繁荣昌盛的新加坡。
ENGLISH TEXT OF NATIONAL DAY RALLY 2009 MANDARIN SPEECH
My fellow Singaporeans, good evening. We are experiencing an unprecedented economic storm. The economy plunged in the first quarter. Fortunately, it rebounded in the second quarter. The situation is now stabilising. Early this year, we introduced the Resilience Package in the Budget and are now seeing results. There have been no massive retrenchments. Unemployment has been kept at an acceptable level with only a small rise in job losses. The economic storm does have an impact on Singaporeans and more people are asking their MPs, town councils or CDCs (community development councils) for help.
However, until now, for most Singaporeans, life goes on normally. Their jobs are safe and are generally in good spirits. The people have just happily celebrated National Day. Travel fairs have been busy too. I have a picture here showing a travel fair held last week. The boss of the travel agency was very happy. He told reporters: “Many people have not gone for holidays this year. They cannot stand it anymore!” Stronger evidence of this upbeat mood is the fact that the property market is seeing queues again. Putting aside the question of whether it is a good or bad sign, it does suggest that Singaporeans are quite confident about the future.
Whatever the case, the Government will continue to watch economic trends in the next few months. The global economy is stabilising. Some Singapore firms are starting to hire staff. Massive retrenchments are unlikely this quarter which is the third quarter. But beyond that, the situation is still not clear and we need to be mentally prepared. For the long term, we should be optimistic. Sunny days may not be back just yet, but we can see some hope and some green shoots.
During the slump, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have been harder hit as these companies may not have enough funds or staff. However, the Government has implemented many measures to help them and many of them have shown spunk in striving for survival in adversity. The SMEs dare to innovate, change business models and look for new opportunities. The Government will continue to fully support these SMEs, for instance helping them to open up new markets. There are many opportunities in Asia if we understand the market and are able to build connections.
Let me explain using the furniture industry as an example. The furniture industry has been around since the early days of our industrialisation. It was labour-intensive and not high-tech, so it made sense for Singapore to make furniture then. But 30 to 40 years later, our furniture industry has acquired new vitality. It has not been phased out but has instead totally transformed from a sunset industry to a sunrise industry. Not everyone could have predicted this. How did this happen? This is because we are now making top end furniture with trendy new designs.
The Singapore Furniture Association has also been very active in promoting sales of furniture bearing the Singapore brand both at home and overseas. It has doubled its efforts during the economic slump and successfully opened many new markets, including East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. Our furniture companies are now in Brazil, a Latin American country, looking for business opportunities. Having scoured the world for business, they are bound to find it.
In April this year, the Singapore Furniture Industries Council participated in the Milan furniture fair, the largest and most famous furniture fair in the world. Spring Singapore supported the association and helped it secure an exhibition venue at the fair. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was visiting Italy at the time. He went to the fair specially to support the SMEs and took a photo as a memento.
In fact, most of the furniture companies set up factories not in Singapore but in neighbouring countries, where production costs are lower. But they use the Singapore brand as the selling point. In international markets, Singapore is not just the name of a country, but also an icon of quality. So the Singapore brand is very important. It is a special advantage for our businesses. We should treasure it and not mar it. We should enhance it to help us win in the market.
Our businesses are working hard to transform and seek new opportunities. Individual Singaporeans should also take the initiative and seize opportunities to upgrade themselves. Workers should make use of SPUR (Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience) and take up the many training courses offered. Those who are jobless can seek help from e2i (Employment and Employability Institute) and the CDCs. These organisations have helped many people to find jobs. They have been working hard, contributing quietly with good results. Most important is their determination to succeed. An interesting wall mural at the e2i reads: “The mountain does not move, the road winds around it. If the road cannot turn, man can still turn. If man cannot turn, his heart can turn.” It encourages people to have the resolve to strive and work hard. So if you face a mountain in life, go to e2i to find a way. Having a skill is the best way and the only way to get out of adversity.
Over the next two years, the global economy may grow more slowly. We must continue to forge ahead. The global economy will eventually recover. By then we will be ready to take flight again.
We have been busy invigorating our economy, but we must not neglect longer term issues. Tonight, I will discuss two long-term issues. One is healthcare and healthcare costs while the other is religious and racial harmony. Let me first discuss our healthcare system and healthcare costs.
The Government has taken many steps to moderate rising healthcare costs. So generally, most Singaporeans can afford their healthcare expenses. But I know that Singaporeans are still worried. Why? Many need to look after their elderly or ill parents and the burden is heavy. Those getting older may worry about their own health and healthcare costs.
The Government is also concerned about these issues and is already working to upgrade healthcare services to meet the enormous demand arising from an ageing population. Older folks have more health problems, more serious illnesses and longer recovery periods. This cannot be helped. Hence, we need to be proactive, effective and focused in our response. We are building more hospitals, including Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in the north and Jurong General Hospital in the west. We not only need to build large hospitals, we also need to build a few community hospitals. Let me explain the difference between the two types of hospitals. During their recovery period, elderly patients need appropriate step-down care. They need not stay in large hospitals. Community hospitals can provide suitable care at lower cost. They can link up with large government hospitals for mutual support. Government hospitals would help community hospitals raise the quality of medical care to ensure that patients get good care. Community hospitals in turn can share the patient load of government hospitals to free up beds for more serious cases.
Community hospitals also serve another function. They have closer links to society which helps in community outreach. One good example is the cooperation between Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) and Ren Ci Hospital. Ren Ci Hospital is a community hospital next to TTSH. I recently visited Ren Ci Hospital to get a feel of its operations. Ren Ci now has a new management team and a new approach. TTSH guides medical care for Ren Ci patients, and when TTSH patients are stable, they can transfer to Ren Ci for step-down care until they recover. Ren Ci patients too have little cause for worry for if their condition deteriorates or if there are problems, they can transfer back immediately to TTSH for acute treatment. So both sides work closely together. At the same time, Ren Ci is supported by many warm-hearted volunteers who help patients recover faster by providing many leisure activities. When I visited Ren Ci that day, I met a group of volunteers who were singing karaoke with the patients to cheer them up so that they would recover soon. I think this is a good model. Changi Hospital and St Andrew’s Community Hospital have a similar cooperative relationship. The Ministry of Health is studying how to expand this partnership model to other public hospitals.
Elderly patients cannot be hospitalised forever, be it in a government hospital or a community hospital. They have to go home one day, and the sooner the better. When they return home to convalesce, families need to take up the responsibility of looking after them. I know looking after the elderly or the chronically ill is a heavy burden. Some people even went so far as to say that people with chronic illnesses cannot expect filial piety from their children. I cannot agree with such a view. The burden is heavy, but whatever it is, we cannot and should not shirk our responsibility. As Asians, we deeply value filial piety. This is a virtue in our culture and we have to keep it. Moreover, while the Government has to and will do its part in looking after the elderly, for family members, it is not simply responsibility, but responsibility with love. Family love and warmth cannot be replaced by nursing homes or hospitals.
Recently, I met some managers from nursing homes and talked to them about this. They told me that this virtue was already lost in some Singaporeans. Some abandon their elderly parents in nursing homes or hospitals. Some send their parents to nursing homes and then disappear, even changing the address on their ICs. When finally contacted by the nursing home, these people just did not care. They said they would not care even if the homes turf out their parents. This is a chilling social phenomenon. We cannot ignore it and leave it alone. So the Government is studying how best to use the Maintenance of Parents Act to make these people shoulder their responsibility.
Of course, apart from building more community hospitals, the Government will also look for other ways to lighten the homecare burden for families. The Government will do its part. Our healthcare system will work as it should. But individuals too must do their part. I want to emphasise that to maintain good health and a healthy lifestyle is a personal responsibility. The best way to keep illness at bay and reduce healthcare costs is to exercise and take care of your body. Watch your diet, do not smoke. Exercises, be it taiji, qigong or brisk walking, are good for your health. If you can join social activities and exercise together, you will get more pleasure and make more friends. This is good for a healthy mind.
We must also closely monitor the rising obesity trend in Singapore. Rising obesity is a problem facing developed countries, but some developing countries are beginning to face this problem too. In America, nearly two out of three adults are clinically defined as obese or overweight. America is truly a “heavyweight” nation, and it is getting “heavier” every year. China is quickly catching up too. Now people are afraid of the “three highs”. What are the “three highs”? They are high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol. Basically, these are problems caused by heavy body weight. Before China implemented reform and opening up, it seldom saw the problem of “three highs” as these were “problems of wealth”. But now many Chinese have the “three highs”, especially in the cities. I read an article recently, which said that due to rising obesity in China, the weight loss industry is booming in China. There are many promotion gimmicks, including charging fees according to the weight lost. So five katis of weight loss will cost 300 yuan, 10 katis for 500 yuan and 20 katis for 800 yuan.
In Singapore, we are not yet so “advanced”. Every year, we have the Healthy Lifestyle Workout, to help people lose weight for free. I participate every year and work out with a few hundred grassroots leaders and elderly folk. Our weight has gone down, but the nationwide obesity numbers are still gradually rising! We have not reached America’s level in terms of obesity numbers. In America, two-thirds of its population are obese. Here, it is one-third, but this figure is high enough already. We could do with some weight reduction. We must work harder to prevent obesity and the “three highs”. If not, we may have more illnesses and this will increase the burden for our society and ourselves.
Next, I will talk about racial and religious harmony, which has deep and long term effects on Singapore. We can be proud of our racial and religious harmony. Our races mingle well together. It is common in Singapore for people of different races and religions to be good friends and neighbours. Not only do our various religious organisations respect one another, they often cooperate to provide social services. These organisations do not ask about religious affiliations when giving help. Their attitude is: If you need help, I will help you. This is a very good sign. It is the fruit of our hard work over 40 years.
Of course, such a phenomenon also has to do with the structure of Singapore society. The Taoists and Buddhists make up the majority of the population here. Their attitude of tolerance and accommodation sets the basic tone for the Singapore society. Let me give an example. When some Taoist temples hold processions for the gods, they often call on nearby Hindu temples. Conversely, when Hindu temples hold processions, they too will often detour to call on Taoist temples. There was an example recently in Yishun. In this photograph, a Hindu procession is making a special call on a Taoist temple and the temple is welcoming the devotees with a lion dance. It is a heart-warming and lively scene.
This is uniquely Singaporean. Of course, I understand that other religions have different doctrines and may not all interact in the same way. What is more important is the spirit and sincerity of interaction among religions. I believe this is a point all religions can accept. In this half century, we have enjoyed peace and tolerance among our religious groups. But we must not become complacent. There is reason for us to continue to be on our toes on this issue. First, Singaporeans are becoming more religious. We also have a dense population with many contact points between communities, which means friction is inevitable.
Let me give an actual example to show that I am not talking about an abstract issue, but a noteworthy problem that could happen and has happened. One MP told me about an incident that happened last year in his constituency. An old Chinese lady passed away and her family wanted to hold the funeral at the void deck of the neighbouring HDB block. They set up their altar before getting approval from the town council. Unfortunately, that void deck was already booked for a Malay wedding. The Malay family had approval from the town council and invitations were already sent. But the wedding venue was taken by another family. Understandably, the Malay family was very upset.
The town council stepped in to mediate. They tried to persuade the Chinese family to relocate the wake, but the Chinese family refused to cooperate. The coffin was not there yet, but they felt that dismantling the altar would bring bad luck. This presented a problem. Clearly, the Chinese family had a weaker case. Fortunately, the MP and community leaders came in the help resolve the matter. The Malay family graciously relocated the wedding to a nearby void deck. The town council showed its appreciation by waiving the rental charges and putting up posters to redirect wedding guests.
This happened last year. Weddings and funerals are sensitive and important life events. The entanglement of happy and sad occasions can lead to uncontrollable emotions. This incident was resolved because the Malay family was willing to give and take. As the saying goes, “Take a step back and all will feel much better”. This reaffirms the maturity of Singaporeans who would consider the greater good. In another country and another situation, such incidents can cause violence or racial clashes. Hence, we must appreciate and treasure our racial and religious harmony. We should not take it for granted. The example I gave is not the only one, nor will it be the last. We must deal with such incidents firmly and tactfully. We must be accommodating and considerate towards others.
The Government’s attitude on racial and religious harmony is very important. It must maintain a sensitive and neutral but firm position. Let me give another example to illustrate this – land acquisition. The Government acquires private land to build roads, the MRT system, schools and public housing. If the Government is not able to acquire the land, it would definitely stall Singapore’s development. The Government sometimes also acquires religious sites. All religions have been affected. For example, Buddhist temples, Christian churches and Hindu temples have all been affected by land acquisition. The Government compensates for land acquisitions. But some affected groups may not want to move even after getting compensation. If religious groups are affected, it will not be only the people in charge or the landowner who are unhappy. Many followers may be unhappy and petition the Government. The Government will then have a difficult problem. Of course, the Government will consider their views seriously. If the Government still cannot accommodate the petition and has to acquire the land, it will explain to the affected groups. The Government’s consideration in making the decision is that it must be seen as unbiased and must not weaken public trust, or the Government will find it difficult to get things done in the future. Up till now, we have been lucky. Public land acquisition has the understanding and cooperation from owners. The Government should express sincere thanks to affected owners for their support and understanding.
These concrete examples show that when handling religious issues, besides being sensitive and careful, we must also observe some basic principles. Hence, not only do we have to be alert and prudent when handling cases, we must also get our principles right. Only then can we have the right framework to maintain racial harmony. What are these principles? I believe there are four basic principles: Mutual tolerance and accommodation, separation of politics and religion, a neutral and secular Government and expansion of our common space. I will delve into these basic principles, which I have briefly mentioned here, in greater detail in my English speech later.
I hope all groups will support and uphold these principles. These principles affect the stability of our society and the survival of our nation. All of us should pull together to make Singapore a model of a multi-religious society, so that religious harmony and religious freedom continue to be a key foundation for our society.
My fellow Singaporeans, this year is the 50th anniversary of our self-government. In the half century, we have weathered many storms and come through many tests. We were fortunate that Singaporeans were united as one and worked together to overcome these challenges and built the Singapore of today. I am confident we can again pass new tests and overcome challenges and build an even better and more prosperous Singapore for all.