President Tharman pledges caution on reserves, building of a ‘more inclusive’ Singapore

NEWLY sworn-in President Tharman Shanmugaratnam pledged to strengthen Singapore’s unity in a troubled world, even as the country stays cautious in using its reserves to tackle future crises.

Having campaigned under the slogan “Respect for all”, President Tharman said at his swearing-in ceremony on Thursday (Sep 14) that he intends to work with the government and the community to strengthen multiracialism and nurture a more inclusive society.

“I will do my utmost to support initiatives that deepen the respect we accord to our fellow citizens, of all backgrounds and in every walk of life – the respect for all that is at the heart of our solidarity as Singaporeans,” he said.

While Singaporeans have created a cohesive society with a high level of trust and unity, this is neither assured nor permanent, “as we can see from the tides of change in many countries”, he said. Diversity will also increase as society matures, but Singaporeans must not allow any differences to divide them.

“Now, more than before, we must grow our sense of togetherness as fellow Singaporeans,” he said. “It will make us a better society, and add to our ballast as we face a more turbulent world.”

President Tharman won the Sep 1 presidential election by a landslide, securing 70.4 per cent of valid votes against two other hopefuls, Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian.

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On Thursday, he said Singapore must continue to “add depth and resilience” to its multiracialism. He intends to promote interactions between different communities, such as trying sports that are “played mainly by a particular ethnic group”, learning one another’s art forms, or having self-help groups collaborate.

Besides fostering multiracialism, a truly inclusive society must “build a strong culture of kinship and respect”. To that end, he “will encourage the building of active community stakeholders and a thriving civil society”.

For instance, more can be done to support disadvantaged youth, those with mental health challenges, as well as caregivers and seniors.

President Tharman also plans to lend active support to the arts and sports. While Singapore’s arts scene is becoming more vibrant and several athletes have excelled internationally, “in both fields, the best years are ahead of us”, he said. “By nurturing talent in the arts and sports and supporting them through their journeys, they will inspire us.”

In safeguarding the reserves, President Tharman pledged to be “scrupulous and independent” in making judgments about allowing their use – both in future crises and in ensuring Singapore remains safe and liveable over the longer term.

“Unfortunately, Covid-19 will not be our last crisis. We must gird ourselves for more crises in a far more uncertain and volatile world,” he said, adding that Singapore also faces longer-term threats such as climate change.

“Should the need arise in future to use the reserves to tackle such crises and existential threats, we will weigh the matter carefully.” Singapore will have to balance meeting immediate needs with preserving the reserves for future generations, he said.

As for promoting Singapore’s interests abroad, President Tharman pledged to do his part to reflect the country’s values and views, and enhance its standing in the international community.

Amid global tensions such as deglobalisation and the troubled US-China relationship, Singapore must find its way forward, “always advancing our long-term national interests by standing up firmly for our principles rather than choosing one side or the other”, he said.

The president also thanked the prime minister for his support and encouragement, as well as his predecessor Halimah Yacob for her counsel and advice.