Engaging Singaporeans on Population Issues

Mdm Speaker, following an extensive debate on the Population White Paper and land use plan, Parliament passed an amended Motion that reflects the concerns of Singaporeans, and calls on the Government to work on five key areas.

First, to resolve the current infrastructure strains.

Second, to develop infrastructure ahead of demand, to meet Singapore's future infrastructure needs and build in a buffer where possible. In the case of infrastructure, it is better to build more than we need, rather than be tight in the future.

Third, focus on encouraging Singaporeans to marry and have more children as a key priority, in order to attain a stable and sustainable citizen population even as our baby boomer generation moves into their silver years between now and 2030.

Fourth, ensure that the benefits of our policies flow to Singaporeans, while slowing down the growth of foreign labour.

Fifth, review our population policies and assumptions in the medium term and ensure that our policies take into account the changing needs of Singapore and Singaporeans.

We will continue to study options and engage Singaporeans on population and its related issues on multiple fronts, including through the Our Singapore

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Conversation and other forums.

We will press on with delivering improvements to our infrastructure, especially housing and transport. We will support businesses in their efforts to increase productivity and reduce reliance on foreign manpower. We will also review policies to ensure inclusive and quality growth that benefits Singaporeans.

Madam, this year's Budget has introduced further substantive steps to put these into effect, including the new marriage and parenthood measures and major improvements to the pre-school sector; tightening of foreign worker levies, dependency ratios, and eligibility criteria; enhanced support to help companies upgrade productivity; the Wage Credit Scheme and significantly enhanced Workfare Income Supplement.

As we continue to engage Singaporeans and work together on policies, address and overcome the specific and practical problems we face and deliver on programmes to benefit Singaporeans, we hope to strengthen trust and consensus among Singaporeans on the future that we must build together.

The Government will continue to provide regular updates on the progress of proposals in the Population White Paper and Land Use Plan, through the release of studies, reports and announcements. We are also working towards a medium-term review before 2020.

Madam, I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for his reply. I am assured that the Government is taking the matter seriously. I think the debate was rather divisive, but I believe immigration is an imperative. My follow-up question relates to how the Government would seek to encourage Singaporeans to keep an open mind as I think that is important. We are not asking Singaporeans to be wedded to a "yes" or a "no" position, but rather how we can continue to strengthen trust and consensus given that immigration is an imperative, relating fundamentally to the well being of our society.

Mdm Speaker, I certainly agree Asst Prof Tan. The ageing population issue that we face is a very major one. It is a one-off problem which we are facing as a result of the very large Baby Boomer generation, spread over about 15 to 18 years, from the early 1950s to the mid 1960s. This is now coming through our system. We have to make preparations for that future. If we want to maintain a stable, energetic and able population for Singapore

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and Singaporeans into the future, and be able to support and make sure that our seniors in these coming two decades are able to look after themselves, are well looked after by their children and by our nation, then we have to shape those policies today. I am glad that the debate has focused attention on this very critical issue and also the range of options and choices that we have from those which are on both ends of the spectrum. We will continue to make sure that we discuss this as we go into the future. We hope that as we go along, Singaporeans will understand the issues and choices that we face, better.