Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Singapore must grow its economy in order to take better care of all Singaporeans in housing, medical care and education.
Dr Ng said the country can achieve a new way forward for a better, more caring Singapore if Singaporeans work together to keep its fundamentals strong.
He was speaking at the Potong Pasir Mid-Autumn Festival yesterday evening (Sept 14).
He also referred to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally, where Mr Lee painted a vision of a new way forward to build a better Singapore, where everyone, especially the poor, receives help and enjoys the fruit of the country’s progress.
Dr Ng said the key is jobs and to keep employment high so that Singaporeans can pay for housing and medical care through their CPF contributions, and government can balance its budget.
He added that the country may not grow as fast as before but neither must it slacken or drive costs up to the point that it drives businesses away.
He said if that happens, there will be fewer jobs and unemployment will rise.
Source: CHANNEL NEWSASIA