Unity, resilience needed to deal with this generation's 'most dangerous crisis': PM

Singapore

THE Covid-19 pandemic is the "most dangerous crisis" that humanity has faced in a very long time, and Singapore must be ready to deal with immense challenges ahead in order to emerge "even stronger and better", said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday.

There is a "full agenda" on the government's plate for many years to come, he said in a speech as he called on every Singaporean to work together with his team and help steer the country safely through the crisis.

This is the first in a six-part series of national broadcasts by Mr Lee and his ministers to outline the country's plans for a post-Covid-19 future.

Mr Lee's 22-minute speech - titled "Overcoming the crisis of a generation" - took place on the sixth day after Singapore's two-month "circuit breaker" period ended.

Covid-19 is more than just a public health issue, but it's a serious economic, social and political problem too, he said, adding that Singapore also has to navigate many external and domestic issues in addition to the impact from the virus.

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One thing Singapore has to keep its eye on is the worsening relations between the United States and China due to the pandemic.

"It will become harder for countries to stay onside with both powers. It will be a more dangerous world for a small country like Singapore," he noted.

"We must ensure our security, and protect and advance our interests when dealing with other countries, big and small. We must also work with like-minded countries to support free trade and multilateralism, and enhance our voice and influence in the world."

On the home front, Mr Lee said that the government has to strengthen the social compact, and think carefully about how to improve the existing social safety nets beyond the Covid-19 crisis.

"Sustainable social support will give people the confidence to cope in an uncertain environment and make changes to their lives," he noted. "At the same time, everyone must have the incentive to be self-reliant, and to progress through their own efforts."

Mr Lee noted that while there are difficult decisions to make on priorities, resources and budgets, the guiding values remain the same and every Singaporean will have equal opportunities in life.

"Whatever your starting point in life, you will have access to good education, healthcare and housing. If you fall down, we will help you to get up, stronger. You can be sure you will be taken care of. In Singapore, no one will be left to walk his journey alone," he added.

Giving his latest assessment of the Covid-19 situation here, the prime minister said that Singapore has made "good progress" as the number of new cases in the community has come down and the situation in the migrant worker dormitories has stabilised.

On Sunday, the Health Ministry reported aonther 383 new Covid-19 cases, taking Singapore's total to 37,910. The new patients include 14 community cases, among them nine Singaporeans.

According to Mr Lee, Singapore's healthcare system is "coping well" due to the outstanding work of the healthcare professionals and others serving on the frontline.

He also pointed out that the fatality rate among both Singaporeans and migrant workers - there have been 25 deaths so far - is one of the lowest in the world.

Mr Lee reiterated the fact that the virus will remain a problem for a long time to come, and it will take at least a year before vaccines become widely available.

Since the virus struck these shores, Mr Lee said that Singapore has already taken a "severe hit", with the government needing to "intervene decisively" with four major Budgets to protect workers, households and businesses.

In all, Singapore is injecting nearly S$100 billion - 20 per cent of gross domestic product - to tackle the impact from the virus, with this being the largest fiscal intervention in Singapore's history. To help fund these budgets, S$52 billion will be drawn from the past reserves.

"Unlike other countries, we can draw on our reserves, and do not have to pay for our support measures by borrowing," said Mr Lee. "But even for us, this level of spending is hard to sustain. More importantly, these measures cannot shield us from the tectonic shifts taking place in the global economy."

Singapore's economic slowdown - which started even before Covid-19 surfaced - will happen faster and go further, and Mr Lee warned that there will not be a return to the days of an open and connected global economy anytime soon.

Industries that depend on travel - aviation, hotels and tourism - will take a long time to get going again, and these may never recover fully, he said.

And as countries look to become less reliant on others, especially for essential goods and services like food or medical supplies, this will all have "strategic implications" for the global economy.

"Countries will have less stake in each other's well being. They will fight more over how the pie is shared, rather than work together to enlarge the pie for all," he said. "It will be a less-prosperous world, and also a more troubled one."

Mr Lee talked about the importance of preparing for a very different future, as companies of all sizes will be hit hard and some industries experiencing permanent change.

"Many will have to reinvent themselves to survive. Workers too will feel the pain. Retrenchments and unemployment will go up," he said.

"Some jobs will disappear, and will not come back. Workers will have to learn new skills to stay employed. The next few years will be a disruptive and difficult time for all of us."

But even as he painted such a grim outlook for the nation, Mr Lee felt that Singaporeans can still secure a bright future for themselves and there was much reason to be optimistic.

Singapore has many economic strengths along with a strong and trusted international reputation, he pointed out.

Mr Lee expressed confidence that new channels would open up even if some investments get diverted elsewhere or dry up.

Another plus is the stable political system in place that allows businesses to carry on even during a crisis, he said.

"The way Singapore has responded to Covid-19 - openly and transparently, neither avoiding reality, nor acting arbitrarily at the first sign of trouble - has only strengthened this advantage," said the prime minister.

According to Mr Lee, Singapore stands out in Asia and the world for its efforts over the years to upgrade the skills of workers, digitalise the public and private sectors, and build innovation and R&D capabilities.

Right now, the Republic is systematically rebooting the economy by rebuilding transport and trade links, and making supply chains more resilient than before.

As far as the strength of the workforce is concerned, Mr Lee said that Singapore continues to keep its doors open and agencies are working hard to retain and attract talent and investments.

The jobs issue remains the government's biggest priority for now, according to Mr Lee, and he said that workers will get all the help available to keep their jobs or find new ones.

But for all the government's numerous plans to bear fruit, the prime minister said that there needs to be one key ingredient in place - the unity and resilience of the people. He noted that the choices that are made today will "define who we are as a people, and what values and ideals we pass on to future generations".

Mr Lee said that Singapore can continue to be exceptional, and remain a fair and just society where people can chase their dreams. He added that the Cabinet, with the support of the entire public service, will do their best on this front. "We need every one of you to work with us. Together, let us take Singapore safely through this crisis, and make the Singapore spirit flourish in the world."

There are five more national broadcasts in the next two weeks, each delivered by a different minister. National Development Minister Lawrence Wong will speak on the topic "Living with Covid-19" on Tuesday, and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will talk about "Resilience in a changing external environment" on Thursday. The other three speeches are by Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing (June 14), Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam (June 17), and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (June 20).