== National Day Rally 2009 Official Thread ==
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all about NDR09 here.
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last year ndp song nice than dis year
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Singapore can still grow even if world markets not expanding fast
By Wong Siew Ying/Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 August 2009 2029 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore has seen the worst of the current recession and although a subdued recovery is expected for the global economy, the country can still grow by sharpening its skills and enlarging its market share.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said this during his annual National Day Rally at the University Cultural Centre on Sunday night.
Speaking in English, he said the first hint of black clouds on the economy appeared two years ago. But now the eye of the storm has passed and some have even mentioned green shoots in the economy.
Mr Lee noted that Singapore is already seeing positive signs, with local companies expanding and new business sectors - such as in the area of interactive digital media - growing in Singapore.
US entertainment company Lucasfilm, which created the Star Wars movies, has already produced an internationally-popular animation series called "Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance" out of studios in Singapore.
Prime Minister Lee said projects such as these will help grow a new area for Singapore's economy.
The furniture industry too is not taking a back seat amid the economic slowdown. Singapore furniture companies now produce trendy top-end products for international markets including East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Mr Lee said the industry's transformation shows how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can innovate and grow, as well as capitalise on the strength of the Singapore brand-name.
He said: "We should never compromise or lose this advantage, it's not just a name but it depends on a united people, best workforce in the world, good leadership, first-class government."
With Asia poised as a key growth engine, Mr Lee said multi-national companies continue to invest in Singapore, while homegrown companies with strong capabilities - like water treatment firm Hyflux - are expanding overseas, at times in rough business environments.
As for Singapore's economy, Mr Lee said a 6.5 per cent contraction recorded in the first half of the year was not as bad as initially feared. The government has kept to its forecast that the economy will shrink between 4 and 6 per cent for the whole of 2009.
On the jobs front, Mr Lee said though the labour market has stabilised for now, the outlook is unclear beyond the third quarter. He said there are no signs of a rush in Christmas orders, and there could be some job losses due to restructuring or if economic recovery is delayed.
To help workers upgrade their skills and find new jobs, the government will set up two new national continuing education and training campuses - East Campus in Paya Lebar Central and West Campus in Jurong Lake District. More details will be announced by the Manpower Ministry at a later date.
Overall, Mr Lee said, the Resilience Package introduced in January's Budget to help companies and households cope with the recession has worked and there is no need for extra stimulus now. But the government will review what needs to be done for the coming year by the end of 2009.
The prime minister also stressed the need to maintain social cohesion in a carefully nuanced speech. While Singapore has made progress over the past 40 years, he noted that race and religion remains the most visceral and dangerous fault line.
He cited growing religiosity in countries like the US and Malaysia. While there is nothing wrong with that, he said religious fervour needs to be managed.
The risks include aggressive preaching and exclusiveness. Hence, basic rules in Singapore remain, such as separating religion from civil space and politics. Mr Lee pointed to the leadership tussle over women's group AWARE (Association of Women for Action and Research) as an example.
Speaking for the first time on the issue, he said it was not who controlled AWARE that was of concern to the government. Rather, it was the attempt by a religiously-motivated group to enter civil space and impose their agenda. "This was bound to provoke a push back from groups who held the opposite view, as indeed happened, vocally and stridently," said Mr Lee.
Turning to healthcare, the Prime Minister said the focus will be on preparing for an ageing population by developing integrated step-down care. This means pairing acute hospitals like Tan Tock Seng with community ones like Ren Ci Hospital so that patients can receive treatment at an acute hospital and then recuperate at a community hospital.
Mr Lee added that the best way to keep healthcare costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
In closing, Prime Minister Lee painted a picture of how Singapore has progressed since it achieved self-governance 50 years ago. He said as "One United Nation", Singaporeans can continue to upgrade and build the city.
"We will continue to improve our lives, provided we work together and remain a harmonious, cohesive society - so that in another 50 years, we will have built another Singapore which is equally unimaginable today," said Mr Lee.
- CNA/ir -
Mr Lee added that the best way to keep healthcare costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
==> What logic is this? The highest paid PM in the world talking crap!
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o thanks LHL for showing video clips
of the marina bay , IR Resort etc
it help me to adv ..encouraging
more investors..to invest in that area
tk le..
LoL
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
o thanks LHL for showing video clips
of the marina bay , IR Resort etc
it help me to adv ..encouraging
more investors..to invest in that area
tk le..
LoL
YOu thank him here no use, he won't come here read. Go to him personally and thank him, remember also to bootlick him okie! wahahahah! -
Originally posted by Fantagf:
Mr Lee added that the best way to keep healthcare costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
==> What logic is this? The highest paid PM in the world talking crap!
i cant help to agree
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Originally posted by ---Max---:
i cant help to agree
Some uneducated people speak better than him. -
need to work le
where got time to maintain healthy lifestyle
me no money to play golf like LHL le
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Talk so much, repeating what we already know.
No freebies announced.
Equals no election next year.
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
Mr Lee added that the best way to keep healthcare costs down is by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
==> What logic is this? The highest paid PM in the world talking crap!
actually, he's right...
just coz you don't like him doesn't mean everything he says is crap...
by taking that stand that everything he says, right or wrong, is crap, your credibility is shot to hell.. and you already have such little credibility, you cannot afford to lose any more..
p.s. do try a little bit more objectivity.. especially in things as important as the country, things such as "party loyalty" and "being partisan" is trivial and should be left outside to be feasted upon by the dregs of humanity we call "Politicians"
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Originally posted by the Bear:
actually, he's right...
just coz you don't like him doesn't mean everything he says is crap...
by taking that stand that everything he says, right or wrong, is crap, your credibility is shot to hell.. and you already have such little credibility, you cannot afford to lose any more..
p.s. do try a little bit more objectivity.. especially in things as important as the country, things such as "party loyalty" and "being partisan" is trivial and should be left outside to be feasted upon by the dregs of humanity we call "Politicians"
I think what fantagf is saying is that the highest paid PM in the world is stating the obvious.
Everyone knows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle should lead to lesser health issues later.
However, its easier said than done. Singapore is still very much a place where we work ourselves to death.
It's like the discussion on "talking the talk" and "walking the talk".
Anyway, notice I used the word "should". Everyone now also knows that people maintaining a healthy lifestyle sometimes drop dead without any reason. Just look at the deaths in the military of late. Of course, that also keeps healthcare costs down, coz you just die straightaway without incurring any healthcare costs :) So the PM is right in a skewed way.
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Originally posted by soul_rage:
I think what fantagf is saying is that the highest paid PM in the world is stating the obvious.
Everyone knows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle should lead to lesser health issues later.
However, its easier said than done. Singapore is still very much a place where we work ourselves to death.
It's like the discussion on "talking the talk" and "walking the talk".
Anyway, notice I used the word "should". Everyone now also knows that people maintaining a healthy lifestyle sometimes drop dead without any reason. Just look at the deaths in the military of late. Of course, that also keeps healthcare costs down, coz you just die straightaway without incurring any healthcare costs :) So the PM is right in a skewed way.
you do know that sometimes, the obvious is not very obvious to many...what happens when everything is "obvious" and the PM doesn't say a thing because it's obvious to him, to me, to a few others but not to you?
will you rant and rage against him?
as a lea-duh, lau lee's son has to cater to the lowest common denominator out there... he has to say these things...
that should be taken into account...
people want to pick holes in his speech, go ahead and pick on the policies, and not on the trivial stuff.. it turns everything into a circus and the policy gaps and screw-ups will be drowned out by noise caused by nonsensical nitpicking..
and.. for those who dream of having a credible opposition, the noise over trivialities which drowns out the discussion of the gaps in policy will scuttle any effort, and would do a grave disservice to the citizenry of Singapore...
the MIW is not afraid of noise.. that serves to deflect true criticism.. they are mortally afraid of the soft-spoken and incisive questions which cut right into the heart of their policies... which they will then deploy noise to distract and deflect away...
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Originally posted by soul_rage:
I think what fantagf is saying is that the highest paid PM in the world is stating the obvious.
Everyone knows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle should lead to lesser health issues later.
However, its easier said than done. Singapore is still very much a place where we work ourselves to death.
It's like the discussion on "talking the talk" and "walking the talk".
Anyway, notice I used the word "should". Everyone now also knows that people maintaining a healthy lifestyle sometimes drop dead without any reason. Just look at the deaths in the military of late. Of course, that also keeps healthcare costs down, coz you just die straightaway without incurring any healthcare costs :) So the PM is right in a skewed way.
That's like telling someone who needs to work 12 hours a day just to survive, to work 8 hours to stay healthy.
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Originally posted by noahnoah:
need to work le
where got time to maintain healthy lifestyle
me no money to play golf like LHL le
Everybody got the same 24 hours. He get paid 3million dollars a year, tell me he do less work than you?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
you do know that sometimes, the obvious is not very obvious to many...what happens when everything is "obvious" and the PM doesn't say a thing because it's obvious to him, to me, to a few others but not to you?
will you rant and rage against him?
as a lea-duh, lau lee's son has to cater to the lowest common denominator out there... he has to say these things...
that should be taken into account...
people want to pick holes in his speech, go ahead and pick on the policies, and not on the trivial stuff.. it turns everything into a circus and the policy gaps and screw-ups will be drowned out by noise caused by nonsensical nitpicking..
and.. for those who dream of having a credible opposition, the noise over trivialities which drowns out the discussion of the gaps in policy will scuttle any effort, and would do a grave disservice to the citizenry of Singapore...
the MIW is not afraid of noise.. that serves to deflect true criticism.. they are mortally afraid of the soft-spoken and incisive questions which cut right into the heart of their policies... which they will then deploy noise to distract and deflect away...
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Originally posted by Fantagf:
YOu thank him here no use, he won't come here read. Go to him personally and thank him, remember also to bootlick him okie! wahahahah!i can tell they read, here too
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Of course we would want to remain healthy. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't! But it's always sound easy, when it's not so in reality..
Racial harmony has been over-talked in this country. It is always good to remind the people of it from time to time.. Speaking of which, could you guys kindly click here to help me fill up a survey? Will only take you 15 minutes.. Thanks!!
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Originally posted by soul_rage:
I think what fantagf is saying is that the highest paid PM in the world is stating the obvious.
Everyone knows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle should lead to lesser health issues later.
However, its easier said than done. Singapore is still very much a place where we work ourselves to death.
It's like the discussion on "talking the talk" and "walking the talk".
Anyway, notice I used the word "should". Everyone now also knows that people maintaining a healthy lifestyle sometimes drop dead without any reason. Just look at the deaths in the military of late. Of course, that also keeps healthcare costs down, coz you just die straightaway without incurring any healthcare costs :) So the PM is right in a skewed way.
got work, better work, dun talk so much, in singapore, u dun work, u start to think crazy stuff,...work is sometime healthy with some stress, otherwise, sit there, no work also become gong gong -
Originally posted by baby_angel:
Of course we would want to remain healthy. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't! But it's always sound easy, when it's not so in reality..
Racial harmony has been over-talked in this country. It is always good to remind the people of it from time to time.. Speaking of which, could you guys kindly click here to help me fill up a survey? Will only take you 15 minutes.. Thanks!!
walau, talk abit only, want survey liao...how much they paid you?
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Originally posted by the Bear:
you do know that sometimes, the obvious is not very obvious to many...what happens when everything is "obvious" and the PM doesn't say a thing because it's obvious to him, to me, to a few others but not to you?
will you rant and rage against him?
as a lea-duh, lau lee's son has to cater to the lowest common denominator out there... he has to say these things...
that should be taken into account...
people want to pick holes in his speech, go ahead and pick on the policies, and not on the trivial stuff.. it turns everything into a circus and the policy gaps and screw-ups will be drowned out by noise caused by nonsensical nitpicking..
and.. for those who dream of having a credible opposition, the noise over trivialities which drowns out the discussion of the gaps in policy will scuttle any effort, and would do a grave disservice to the citizenry of Singapore...
the MIW is not afraid of noise.. that serves to deflect true criticism.. they are mortally afraid of the soft-spoken and incisive questions which cut right into the heart of their policies... which they will then deploy noise to distract and deflect away...
Point taken on lowest common denominator.
As you can see, I don't rant or rage against him. I am merely pointing out that, there must be a reason why the PAP has antagonized so many people, that a mere statement, can spark off anger. (one part obviously has to do with the astronomical pay that each of those jokers up there draw, which further widens the gap between them and us)
For example, in USA, my pay is not too far from President Obama's pay, therefore you will feel a sense of closeness to him when he speaks.
Given their kind of pay, the MIW will still be too far detached to truly comprehend the difference of 50 cents for a bowl of noodles, therefore, its hard for anyone to believe that they fully empathise with the situation.
Anyway, the above is another medium of discussion, but well, you are right, we need credible opposition or voices, not voices of emotion.
But given their efficient way of stifling the opposition, I truly wonder when Singapore will mature into a society that fully appreciates the need for an alternate voice.
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Originally posted by ditzy:
Everybody got the same 24 hours. He get paid 3million dollars a year, tell me he do less work than you?
There are those who play golf and get paid lots of $$$ a year.
There are those who huff and puff for 12 hours straight, and only earn a fraction of that amount.
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Originally posted by the Bear:
actually, he's right...
just coz you don't like him doesn't mean everything he says is crap...
by taking that stand that everything he says, right or wrong, is crap, your credibility is shot to hell.. and you already have such little credibility, you cannot afford to lose any more..
p.s. do try a little bit more objectivity.. especially in things as important as the country, things such as "party loyalty" and "being partisan" is trivial and should be left outside to be feasted upon by the dregs of humanity we call "Politicians"
if you wanna point fingers, make sure you get your facts right. By disregarding the facts you make yourself no credibility. -
Originally posted by soul_rage:
I think what fantagf is saying is that the highest paid PM in the world is stating the obvious.
Everyone knows that maintaining a healthy lifestyle should lead to lesser health issues later.
However, its easier said than done. Singapore is still very much a place where we work ourselves to death.
It's like the discussion on "talking the talk" and "walking the talk".
Anyway, notice I used the word "should". Everyone now also knows that people maintaining a healthy lifestyle sometimes drop dead without any reason. Just look at the deaths in the military of late. Of course, that also keeps healthcare costs down, coz you just die straightaway without incurring any healthcare costs :) So the PM is right in a skewed way.
The reason for making that statement is regardless of how healthy or unhealthy people are they will still go on to increase healthcare costs so his statement is just too lame. -
But what he said abt world healthcare comparing with Singapore is true. I was surprised to see the BBC comparing Singapore system with large countries like UK and US