THREE MAJOR RESETS TO BE UNDERTAKEN: LAWRENCE WONG
Channel: A Singaporean
Date: 2021-01-26

THREE MAJOR RESETS TO BE UNDERTAKEN: LAWRENCE WONG

Three Major Resets

Education Minister Lawrence Wong stated yesterday at the Singapore Perspectives Conference, organised by the Institute of Policy Studies, that he predicted that the Covid-19 pandemic would only be over in four to five years. He explained that it would likely take a long time for the world to become fully vaccinated. He told Singaporeans to expect that rules such as mask-wearing and safe distancing would hence stay in place for the foreseeable future.

He then highlighted the three major resets that he believes Singapore must undertake to be prepared for this new normal.

Reset of Singapore's Social Compact

Mr Wong said that a reset of Singapore's social compact was necessary. By delicately balancing between the free market and state intervention, economic inequality could be reduced while still preserving meritocracy and social mobility.

Mr Wong said that Singapore was forced to draw on its reserves to preserve jobs and help those hardest hit. As the economy recovers, the temporary aid measures will be gradually removed. The government has however recognised the need to establish permanent social safety nets, and will find out some way to expand social programmes while also keeping the budget balanced.

Mr Wong also elaborated that meritocracy is always in danger of degenerating into a hereditary system, where people born into privileged circumstances out compete the less fortunate. He reasoned that it was therefore necessary to level the playing field through early intervention. This intervention would start from the prenatal stage, where the well-being of a mother can have lasting effects on a child's development, all the way to preschools and schools with high concentrations of the less fortunate, which would from now on have smaller classes, programmes to enhance soft skills, and more committed teachers and principals. Increased numbers of allied educators, counsellors and welfare officers would also be deployed, especially for students with special needs.

Singapore will also expand the progressive wage model to cover more sectors, and will ensure that polytechnic and ITE graduates can get better pay and career progression.

Reset of Singapore's Economy

Mr Wong also insisted that Singapore's economy had to become more environmentally sustainable.

While Singapore is already one of the world's greenest cities, having frozen the growth of its vehicle population and closed its water loop, Mr Wong believes that Singapore can achieve even cleaner growth and foster greener mindsets.

Reset of Singapore's Efforts For Unity

Mr Wong asserted that Singapore has to foster a greater sense of solidarity.

Due to easy access to information, divisions have arisen in many countries, as falsehoods and conspiracy theories gain a greater spread. This "golden age of ignorance", where extremist thought becomes increasingly prevalent, will harm the ability for nations to form a consensus on issues and for governments to do their jobs. It will also encourage social and political tribalism, where netizens self-select information, reinforcing their confirmation biases and closing them off to all dissenting voices. It thus is important for schools to teach students on cyber wellness.

Mr Wong also said that while racism was still present in Singapore, he views it as being much less bad than a few decades ago. He mentioned that policies like the ethnic integration quotas in HDB flats and race-based self-help groups may be reviewed to ensure that they still serve their intended purpose.

He also warned Singaporeans of the dangers of divisive identity politics taking root in Singapore, as it would lead to inter-racial hostility.

To achieve greater unity, while also preserving Singapore's diversity, it is necessary to build a consensus around a common good and common destiny for all citizens, regardless of individual, aspirational or political differences.

Some Concerns

Mr Wong acknowledged that there were some concerns that Singapore's ability to attract Multi-National Corporations would decline as they could employ anyone remotely around the world. He said that Singapore can still be relevant as humans by nature require some form of in-person social interaction.

He encouraged employers to embrace flexible or hybrid work arrangements, where employees could have a mix of working at workplaces and also at home.

He also explained that the number of travelers entering Singapore had not been allowed to increased, and that the number of infected entering Singapore only rose because the rest of the world is experiencing worsening waves of infection.