Updating the political system

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday addressed Parliament during the debate on the President's Address. He announced changes to strengthen Singapore's political system by making it more open, contestable and accountable to the people. Here are extracts

The President and many Members of this House have spoken about the bracing challenges that we face in the future: terrorism, our economy, maintaining our social cohesion, among other things.

Indeed it's a daunting list. But as Members have emphasised, we have every reason to be confident that we can overcome them one by one together.

The question is: How do we do that? How can we build a stronger Singapore? How can we progress together? For Singapore to succeed, what must we do? And one fundamental requirement beyond individual policies was what the President said at the end of his speech, that we need good policies but we also need good politics...

Voters elect us to develop policies, to implement them, to make things happen. They want policies which respond to our people's needs...They want to see policies that will enable our people to achieve their aspirations for themselves and for their children, investing in education at all levels...

And that is what this Government has done for many years. And that is what my Government will do in this term. We will fulfil our promises. But in order to have these good policies, we also must have good politics because the two go hand in hand.

Good politics makes sure that we will elect governments who will develop good policies, who will expand our common space and strengthen our society for the future. And if we have good politics, then we have the best chance of having our system continuing to work for us instead of against us over the long haul.

If we are only concerned over the next five or 10 years, we don't have to make any changes in terms of politics because the system is working now, and will continue to do so for the next 10 years, maybe a bit longer...

CWP and PAP supporters at Fengshan Nomination Centre on Sept 1 last year. "Whatever the shape of Singapore 50 years from now, today we can and must help Singapore build a political system that will give us the best shot at prosperity and progress over the next 50 years," said PM Lee. "A system that's not set in stone, a system that's not fixed and unchangeable but one that future generations can continue to improve and adapt... to meet their future needs." ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 28, 2016, with the headline Updating Singapore's political system: Extracts from PM Lee's speech in Parliament. Subscribe