TODAY, as Mr Lee Kuan Yew's torch passes on to the next generation of leaders under Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, we are hopeful that Singapore is united and well prepared to meet all the challenges going forward.
As a first step, I hope that PM Lee and his cohort will deliver on the promises they made during the 2011 General Election.
They have already fulfilled some promises, but it is an ongoing process to build a more inclusive society with compassion and meritocracy.
We need to hear from Generation Y - those born between 1980 and 1998 - as well as those born after 1998 about education and job availability.
They, too, have their needs and aspirations.
There is also an urgent need to promote small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can help to create more jobs.
Many SMEs find the going very tough because of a lack of funding.
Some function as outsource arms of big companies, but find their payments held back for months. I hope auditors and the authorities can help to ensure that the big companies pay the SMEs without delay.
On the economic front, we also have to grow our gross domestic product.
There is a growing sense of complacency and of our workforce giving out less but wanting more.
This must not be allowed, and the call for greater productivity must not fall on deaf ears.
Lastly, we can do more to have more women in politics and corporations. Let us uplift our women and pass legislation to fix a quota of, say, one woman to three men.
There are no soft options, nor is there room for failure.
The Government must be all-inclusive and lead us to a more progressive Singapore.
Anthony Goh Tee Kow
As a first step, I hope that PM Lee and his cohort will deliver on the promises they made during the 2011 General Election.
They have already fulfilled some promises, but it is an ongoing process to build a more inclusive society with compassion and meritocracy.
We need to hear from Generation Y - those born between 1980 and 1998 - as well as those born after 1998 about education and job availability.
They, too, have their needs and aspirations.
There is also an urgent need to promote small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which can help to create more jobs.
Many SMEs find the going very tough because of a lack of funding.
Some function as outsource arms of big companies, but find their payments held back for months. I hope auditors and the authorities can help to ensure that the big companies pay the SMEs without delay.
On the economic front, we also have to grow our gross domestic product.
There is a growing sense of complacency and of our workforce giving out less but wanting more.
This must not be allowed, and the call for greater productivity must not fall on deaf ears.
Lastly, we can do more to have more women in politics and corporations. Let us uplift our women and pass legislation to fix a quota of, say, one woman to three men.
There are no soft options, nor is there room for failure.
The Government must be all-inclusive and lead us to a more progressive Singapore.
Anthony Goh Tee Kow
