UNCLASSIFIED

EXCERPT OF SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER GOH CHOK TONG IN

PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 1997

SINGAPORE 21 - A NEW VISION FOR A NEW ERA

1. We can continue as we are, pursuing our current strategies, perhaps with

some minor course corrections, hoping that National Education will grow a
stronger sense of national identity. If we do this, it is quite likely that we will
enjoy several more good years.

2. But what if we should suffer an external shock and run into economic
difficulties? Who would have anticipated the current strain in relations with
Malaysia, a year or even six months ago? What will hold Singaporeans here?
Affluence and prosperity cannot be the only glue holding us together. If
Singaporeans are just economic animals, materialistic with no sense of
belonging, they will be like migratory birds, seeking their fortunes in other lands
when the season changes. They will have no cause to fight for, no community to
live for, no country to defend and die for, only the pragmatic desire to get on and
get rich. If it ever comes to this, Singapore will not survive as a sovereign
nation.

3. To meet this problem, and other challenges now unknown, it will not do
just to make minor course corrections, small improvements to a generally
working model. We need a new vision for Singapore, an ideal, a fresh mindset.
We need to move beyond material progress, to a society which places people at
its very centre. Singapore 21 is my team's vision for the future of Singapore, a
Singapore where people make the difference, where each citizen is valued, a
Singapore which is Our Best Home, an ideal home which we will all help to
build.

4. Singapore 21 is about what the people of Singapore want to make of this

country. More than a house, Singapore must be a home. The Government can
provide the conditions for security and economic growth. But in the end, it is
people who give feeling, the human touch, the sense of pride and achievement,
the warmth. So beyond developing physical infrastructure and hardware, we
need to develop our social infrastructure and software. In Sony corporation, they
call this "heartware". We need to go beyond economic and material needs, and
reorient society to meet the intellectual, emotional, spiritual, cultural and social
needs of our people.

5. Our concept of competitiveness must therefore recognise that the robust

and successful societies of the future will be those which place people at the
centre. Countries and societies which can develop and mobilise their people, and

1
UNCLASSIFIED
 UNCLASSIFIED

serve the human needs, goals and aspirations of their citizens will have a lasting
edge. Singapore must be such a society.

Towards Singapore 21

6. There are several elements that I believe we need to adopt to achieve

this.

Beyond Top Talent - Value and Develop People at all Levels

7. In a global, knowledge-based economy, countries which attract and

mobilise human talent will thrive. We have to continue to draw in talent, but we
must also continue to invest heavily in the education and training of our own
people. We aim to maximise the talents and abilities of all Singaporeans, not just
the best and brightest, but every individual.

8. Not everyone is equally talented. But every person has some useful
ability. Our education system must therefore not only groom our top talent, but
also recognise and develop a range of skills and abilities at every level. We have
begun to move in this direction.

9. Not everyone can perform equally well. But every person who tries his
best should have his contribution recognised. Our attitude should not be that
only a few people at the top add value, while the rest only run the machinery.
Every Singaporean has a contribution to make to his job, his company, his
community and his country. But equally, he has a responsibility to keep himself
employable and productive through continuous learning, and to play his part to
the best of his ability.

10. This does not mean moving away from meritocracy. We must always
give the ablest and most committed the scope and the support to develop to their
full potential, so that they can contribute their maximum to society. But we must
also develop all Singaporeans to their full potential. Countries with a larger
population can afford to use their human resources less efficiently. But
Singapore's talent pool is so small that we cannot afford any human wastage.
Our system must not focus primarily on developing our top talent, but must
value and develop people at all levels

2
UNCLASSIFIED