SINGAPORE: Doing The Right Things To Tackle Ageing, Says PM Lee

SINGAPORE (Channel NewsAsia), November 11, 2007:

Singapore can tackle the challenges of ageing population and the growing income gap better than other countries because the ruling party has been 'doing the right things', said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He cited the country's focus on education for all Singaporeans as a key policy which has helped tackle the growing income gap. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (R)

He was speaking at a meeting of the ruling People's Action Party. National issues such as the ageing population, falling fertility rate and widening income gap were discussed under the two sub-themes of "Young and Old" and "High and Low".

Some members said the party comes across as too level-headed and clinical. Another member took issue with Singaporeans' reputation of being 'kiasu' or scared to lose, and he wanted more to be done to make people feel proud of being Singaporeans.

In response, PM Lee said Singapore's image counts, but its reality counts even more. 'Young and Old', 'High and Low' are big issues that we have to deal with.

By Julia Ng,
Channel NewsAsia