SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the country needs to keep up with the rapidly-changing world, or it risks being left behind.
He reiterated the point in a wide-ranging dialogue session at Ang Mo Kio, involving mostly elderly residents, as part of the country's national conversation process.
Mr Lee told the younger participants with
aspirations it is important to also have hope, and that means being
prepared to work and change.
To the older residents, Mr Lee urged them to remain active by being
employed part-time, for instance.
One of the key themes that emerged during the session was the need
for more health care support and facilities to allow Singaporeans
to age in place.
Many residents expressed worry about how Singapore's greying
population can be adequately looked after. Some felt more can be
done to boost health care and support for senior citizens.
Mr Lee acknowledged that demand for health care has grown quickly,
so there is a need for more hospitals, doctors and nurses.
He also noted the need to have more eldercare facilities in housing
estates, close to senior citizens.
Ang Mo Kio for example, has two new senior activity centres serving
some 600 elderly residents.
"Senior citizens have their own aspirations; they want to have
their own area where they can come together and interact with one
another," said Dr Lam Pin Min, chairman of the Government
Parliamentary Committee for Health.
"So I hope that all citizens will be able to support this
initiative of having more Senior Activity Centres in the void
decks, as well as in the community."
Residents also had worries about public housing - if flats will
become smaller.
Mr Lee said: "If you want everybody to have a piece of land (like
a) kampung plot, I think (it is) difficult. But (if) everybody
(wants) to have a good house and a good neighbourhood, I think we
can (do it)."
Other concerns residents expressed included cost of living, public
transport and job opportunities.
- CNA/xq
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