<<A speech from the heart>>
The Budget this year had many new schemes to strengthen our social safety nets. This is good and necessary to help vulnerable families. But quite a few Singaporeans have also advised us to be careful not to erode our work ethic and personal responsibility, even as we increase state support. Yesterday, during the budget debate, NMP Chia Yong Yong reiterated the latter point. She said that collective responsibility must take place in the context of personal responsibility. Without personal responsibility, collective responsibility would break down. Intuitively, we know this to be true, because if too many did not take care of their own needs due to neglect or wrong choices, then others would have to support them and the burden would be too great for all to bear.
Ms Chia was speaking about CPF, but her beliefs touch on the core philosophy of our social safety nets. Indeed, our founding generation believed as Ms Chia did, that self and family should be the first line of support and then society – not the reverse. As we introduce new schemes, we should not inadvertently weaken this core belief. Ms Chia is the President of SPD (Society for the Physically Disabled) and widely known for her accomplishments despite a muscle wasting disorder. So I thought her remarks on personal responsibility had a lot of credibility given her own life story and personal struggles. I respect her.
- Ng Eng Hen