A CULTURE OF INTEGRATION, NOT ASSIMILATION.

Speaking at the official opening of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) along Shenton Way, Mr Lee said being Singaporean has “never been a matter of subtraction, but of addition; not of becoming less, but more; not of limitation and contraction, but of openness and expansion”.

The Government has encouraged each of the four major races – Chines...e, Malay, Indian and Eurasian – to preserve its own unique culture and traditions, while respecting that of the others.

This culture of integration, not assimilation, means not one group has been forced to conform to another’s “cultures or identities, let alone that of the majority”, but has been influenced by others, Mr Lee said.

“The result has been distinctive Singaporean variants of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian cultures, and a growing Singaporean identity that we all share, suffusing and linking up our distinct identities and distinct ethnic cultures.”

Often, this distinctness is instantly recognisable when Singaporeans run into each other overseas, whether in neighbouring countries or further away – someone speaking or acting in a certain way is instinctively pegged as a fellow Singaporean.

“When we deal with nationals from these countries, we are confident of our own Singaporean cultures and identities, even as we are conscious that we are ethnic Chinese, Malays, Indians or Eurasians.

“Thus the Chinese Singaporean is proud of his Chinese culture – but also increasingly conscious that his ‘Chineseness’ is different from the Chineseness of the Malaysian and Indonesian Chinese, or the Chineseness of China, Hong Kong or Taiwan,” he added.

Mr Lee pointed out technology, power, and prosperity alone are not the only measures of a civilisation.

China's ambitious Belt and Road Project brings both opportunities and challenges: Lawrence Wong

Minister for National Development & Second Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong said that Singapore's partnership with China in the Belt and Road initiative brings both opportunities and challenges.

Opportunities

Singapore can play a role to help finance infrastructure projects and provide expertise in infrastructure planning, Mr Wong said. Singapore companies can also partner Chinese companies to invest in South East Asia.

Challenges

 "But we should be aware that it can present competition. With the Belt and Road (initiative), new infrastructure will be built all around us. ... Trade routes will be adjusted as these new roads and ports get built and developed," Mr Wong said.

There are other countries looking to be the next transshipment port, air hub, sea hub, or financial hub as they ride on Mr Xi's mega project, which promises to boost growth by building roads, railways, ports and industrial parks along the trade routes.

What this means for us

"This means that we shouldn't be complacent and should continue to work hard to make Singapore relevant," he said.

Be confident

We should also be confident of our abilities to stand up to challenges.

We are not standing still

"Already, if you look at our plans, we are putting in significant investment to expand our airport and seaport. We are doubling the capacity of the two ports, and that will make them much more relevant in the future," he noted.

Singapore's smart nation drive will also put it in a good position to compete with other digital hubs that may be created out of the Belt and Road initiative, he added.

"We are not standing still and we cannot afford to stand still," he said.

It's all about ATTITUDE!

The right attitude will take you far especially in the NEW NORMAL where the only constant you will know is 'CHANGE'.

BECAUSE TECHNOLOGY WILL QUICKLY ALTER YOUR JOB, the perfect job you are looking for will likely remain ELUSIVE. ...

Instead you will find yourself in several job transitions. Those who will be successful are those who are flexible and adaptable, who make the best use of their present opportunities, who do justice to their jobs.

"To do justice to your job" is to continue to do your job to the best of your abilities even if it isn't something you quite like. When you do justice to your job, you do justice to yourself because when you do your best, you gain through your experience. See More

"Majulah NTUC! Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!"

The May Day rallying cry: "Majulah NTUC! Majulah PAP! Majulah Singapura!" traces all the way back to 1958 when Mr Lee Kuan Yew was first involved in union work representing postmen strike.

When the PAP government was first formed in 1959, it openly declared that it was a government on the side of workers.

In his first May Day speech in 1960, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said:...

May Day 1960 will always be a notable occasion in the history of the trade union movement of Singapore. For this is the first time that May Day is celebrated in Singapore when there is a government which is openly on the worker's side. The PAP said clearly before and during the elections that a PAP Government is a Government on the side of the workers. Today nearly a year after assuming office both the employers and the people generally know the significance of this.

He also said:

Not only must we ensure that existing employers are giving their workers a fair share of the fruits of their labour, but we must also ensure that a reasonable margin of profit is left for the employer so that he will find it worthwhile to re-invest and expand. And at the same time other capital must be attracted to come in and build factories.

Today, the declaration has not changed. PM Lee Hsien Loong, in his May Day message said that the Government is on the side of workers, but we must be business-friendly to support businesses so that we can have jobs for all.

The relationship between the PAP and NTUC is a symbiotic relationship in which both the government and the labour movement recognize that a strong economy benefits workers.

Disrupting ourselves before others disrupt us. Making a successful transition.

MORE TIME AND EFFORT NEEDED TO GET THROUGH THIS TRANSITION

Unlike previous spells of economic uncertainty such as the Sars Crisis and the 2009 Global Financial Crisis, this time it is different.

This time, the transition is less cyclical and more structural. Some sectors are still under stress and unemployment could rise further, Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say said.

More time and effort is needed to get through this transition completely.

HOW? BETTER AND FASTER ADOPTION OF TECHNOLOGY, QUICKER INNOVATION AND HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY.

Enterprises and workers able to transform faster and cope with workplace disruptions will emerge stronger in the future economy, said Mr Lim.

LACK OF A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE AND WORKFORCE ADAPTABILITY

Dr Robert Yap, president of the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) said that

some companies were only reaping half the expected productivity gains after taking action for one to three years to boost growth.

The main stumbling blocks were the lack of a culture of excellence and workforce adaptability.

EMPLOYERS AND UNION

Employers and union must work together in mutual trust and good communication and to respond quickly to growth opportunities and challenges in order to achieve 'productivity resurgence', said Dr Yap.

WHAT NTUC IS DOING

Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing said NTUC will be expanding its Education and Training Fund to allow more workers to reskill and upskill through bite-sized modules that can be accessed via new learning technologies.

HELPING TOMORROW'S UNEMPLOYED TO FIND TOMORROW'S JOBS

NTUC has also been working with its Employment and Employability Institute (e2i), NTUC LearningHub and various government agencies to “help tomorrow’s unemployed find tomorrow’s jobs”.

The e2i’s placement, professional development and productivity improvement services have helped over 80,000 working people to date.

DISRUPTING OURSELVES BEFORE OTHERS DISRUPT US

“The digital economic transformation brings both challenges and opportunities. We must disrupt ourselves before others disrupt us and provide new services to meet the needs of tomorrow,” Mr Chan Chun Sing said.

Ng Chee Meng: I personally agonised over the decision and explored different possibilities.

Below is a facebook post from Education Minister Ng Chee Meng on the mergers of schools and colleges:

It’s been a week since MOE’s school mergers announcement. Some, including close friends, have given me your heartfelt feedback. I appreciate your views.

Many told me they understand that what we are doing is necessary, but when it comes to cherished memories, we know that feelings run deep. Some of you also expressed uncertainty over the transition process.

This is a painful but necessary decision for us.

I personally agonised over the decision and explored different possibilities. 

In particular, for the JC mergers, it is a most difficult choice we have to face – if we do nothing, we would see that several of our JCs will only be able to fill less than half of its JC1 desired intakes – it is possible that some would struggle to fill even just 200, given the sharp drop in JC1 cohort for the coming years.

This will limit our students’ educational and CCA experiences. 

My educators and I think this cannot be good for our students. We do not take school mergers lightly.

We only proceeded with these mergers as we are sure it is for the better for our students to come.

Understandably, many feel strongly about it. This decision affects us personally, as students, alumni, parents and teachers. While we understand, we would still feel a sense of loss when schools merge.

A visually-impaired friend told me how much her JC has done for her and helped her succeed. She understands the reasons, but hoped that MOE and the JCs would preserve the heritage and culture of her JC. We will do so.

Heritage and identities

Our schools’ heritage and identities are valuable parts of our student experience, rooted in our hearts. Many of us remember our time in school with our friends with fondness, both the ups and downs.

Our stories, friendships we have forged, and lessons we’ve learnt are memories that will stay with us always and cannot be erased with time.

For me personally, each time I pass by where my primary school used to be, I would still feel nostalgic. When my primary school friends meet up, we would remember our times in school fondly.

Journey this difficult together

It is not an easy transition, but let us – students, alumni, parents and teachers – all work at it together, to honour the identities of our schools even as we make the necessary adjustments for the future. We will go through this journey together.

Singapore named top maritime capital of the world for 3rd consecutive time

Singapore has once again clinched top place in a ranking of the world's maritime capitals called the Menon Report.

The study, by Norwegian consultancy firm Menon Economics, looked at 24 objective indicators and garnered survey responses from more than 250 industry experts across all continents. Singapore was also ranked first in the report's 2015 and 2012 surveys.

Excerpt from the Menon Report:

The third edition of The Leading Maritime Capitals report once again puts Singapore as the Leading Maritime Capital of the World.

Singapore is in a top-5 position within all the five pillars of this study, holding number one position in three of the 5 pillars.

Singapore is in top position in 3 of the 5 pillars.

Despite weak economic conditions in both traditional shipping and the offshore oil and gas markets, Singapore has been able to retain its position as a world leading maritime hub.

Part of the explanation for this is the width of the maritime industry in the city-state.

Singapore has increased its focus on R&D developments within the industry over the last few years. Singapore has also been able to develop a world-leading service industry that is less influenced by business cycles.

Digitalization is expected to disrupt the maritime industry in the coming years.

The maritime experts predict that Singapore, Oslo, Copenhagen and London are the cities best prepared for the digital transformation of the industry.

Looking five years into the future, our experts still predict that Singapore will keep its position as the global leader, while Shanghai is expected to increase its importance and become the second most important maritime city.

Singapore is home to the fourth largest fleet in the world (at city level), while the second largest fleet is managed from the city. This demonstrates the strength in operational capabilities in the city.

One of the industry experts highlights that many foreign owners are located in the city. This illustrates Singapore’s global attractiveness. At the same time, it could also be a sign of vulnerability, because foreign companies probably are more footloose than domestic companies.