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SINGAPORE: In this challenging environment, it will be much harder for the government to deliver prosperity and progress for Singaporeans, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (Apr 21).<\/p>\n
Speaking to civil servants at the annual Administrative Service Dinner, Mr Lee said there is a greater risk that the \u201cvirtuous cycle\u201d of good policies and good government will falter.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to work much harder to keep it going and keep Singapore exceptional.\u201d<\/p>\n
For 60 years, Singapore benefited from a generally stable, rules-based international order, which was anchored and championed by the United States, he said.<\/p>\n
Using these favourable conditions to grow and progress, Singapore\u2019s policies and long-term plans were not derailed by external events.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do not believe the next 60 years will be anything like the last 60,\u201d said Mr Lee, adding that the international system is under tremendous strain.<\/p>\n
Major countries that once promoted and upheld the rules-based global order are now wielding their power overtly to seize immediate gains for themselves, he said.<\/p>\n
Other countries are weaponising dominant positions in particular industries or critical materials to gain leverage over opponents or hold rivals back, and all countries now have to prioritise security and defence over economic growth, he added.<\/p>\n
This all leads to less cooperation on trade and investments, and less prosperity and human welfare, said Mr Lee, adding that war and conflict are now more likely.<\/p>\n
\u201cLife has become much more dangerous for a small country like Singapore,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will be much harder for the government to deliver prosperity and progress for Singaporeans in this challenging, changed environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Singapore must draw on the resourcefulness and capabilities of political leaders and the civil service to come up with solutions to the challenges and difficulties ahead, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe must make the most of the energies and ideas of the population to transform and upgrade Singapore not just top down and centrally, but also bottom-up and across the board,\u201d said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
The government must strengthen the trust that Singaporeans have in each other, as well as the country\u2019s leaders and system, he said, adding that social cohesion must be reinforced.<\/p>\n
This way, the government can continue to \u201cdo the right things for Singapore\u201d, he said, stressing that the administrative service must play its part.<\/p>\n
Singapore relies on its first-rate civil service to develop and implement sound and imaginative government policies, and deliver services to the public, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
Officers who are part of the administrative service, or admin officers, need a broad appreciation of Singapore\u2019s national circumstances, he added.<\/p>\n
This includes the state of the world, how Singapore relates to the region and the global economy, and how external developments can affect the country.<\/p>\n
Basic considerations like Singapore\u2019s overall national goals and the government\u2019s basic principles guide all policies and actions, said the senior minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to understand what they are, why they matter and how to apply them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Within their own domains and ministries, admin officers who join the service need to become familiar with and master this know-how to make intelligent contributions, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not suggesting that we should treat current policies as immutable gospel truths to be enshrined and worshipped. Far from it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Instead, officers must first master the policies, then constantly review and rethink them, update them as circumstances change and even break the mould \u201cfrom time to time\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Lee stressed that good policies \u2013 those that work and are in the country\u2019s interests \u2013 exist, and whether a particular policy is good for a country is \u201cnot a subjective matter of opinion\u201d.<\/p>\n
This can be established through careful studies and logical analysis, he said, adding that Singapore should get the most capable team to work on its problems and come up with the best policies possible.<\/p>\n
While this is not a controversial idea in Singapore, the system has faltered in other countries, where governments have not delivered results and their people have lost trust in them, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
People become disillusioned and feel betrayed, and support populist leaders in their frustration, he added.<\/p>\n
These leaders exploit their anxieties, peddle simplistic slogans and work up their discontent to gain power, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnsurprisingly, this often makes things worse rather than better. And sadly, this seldom causes the public to realise their grievous mistake, and conclude that the way out is once again to support good leaders and sound policies to put things right.\u201d<\/p>\n
This has happened in quite a few Western countries, even some that were once seen as \u201cparagons of democratic virtue and good government\u201d, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cSingapore is not in that tragic situation and must never allow ourselves to get there,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Political leaders and civil servants see it as their job to come up with good policies and implement them well, while Singaporeans understand that there is a right approach towards problems and that \u201cthere is no free lunch\u201d, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of our track record, they generally trust the government to make the correct choices on their behalf, even if it means accepting difficult measures from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Good policies do not appear out of thin air, said the senior minister, highlighting the need for a high-quality public service to produce and implement them.<\/p>\n
Ministers who are as familiar with the issues as permanent secretaries are equally important, he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Civil servants cannot get involved in party politics, but being apolitical does not mean being neutral about the direction of the country or substance of the policies they are in charge of, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour role is not simply to implement whatever policy your ministers decide upon,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou must have a view, take a stand and make considered, sound recommendations to the political leadership.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether economically sound policies can be adopted depends on whether such a rational approach to policymaking is politically feasible, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
The government must be able to win political support for good policies, and voters must be willing to support leaders who advocate for and implement such policies, he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cOtherwise, even the most brilliant policy ideas remain just ideas and simply cannot be carried out.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Singapore has sustained a cycle of good politics enabling good government, this involves \u201cgetting a lot of difficult preconditions right\u201d.<\/p>\n
This includes upholding absolute integrity and incorruptibility in the government, ensuring that elected leaders are working for the people and not for themselves, adopting realistic salaries for public servants and political officeholders, and building a competent team of political leaders and civil servants, said Mr Lee.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot assume that all this will just continue happening on its own. We have to work very hard to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his speech, Mr Lee also recognised the contributions of former head of civil service Leo Yip, and retiring permanent secretaries Ng Chee Kern and Pang Kin Keong.<\/p>\n
Retiring after 43 years of service, Mr Yip is well-respected as a leader and mentor who cares deeply about the development of Singapore\u2019s public service, he added.<\/p>\n
As the first Permanent Secretary for Smart Nation and Digital Government, Mr Ng started Singapore on its digital government journey, said Mr Lee, thanking him for his dedication after 41 years of service.<\/p>\n
Mr Pang, who has served as Permanent Secretary for Law, Transport and Home Affairs, will be retiring in June after 35 years of service, said the Senior Minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis grounded yet visionary leadership has transformed how we safeguard our national security and protect Singaporeans from harm.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n