Keep social mobility alive, maintain unity in S'pore: President Tharman

Country must find practical ways to address inequality, put 'we before me', he says

- Linette Lai

As Singapore looks beyond 60 years of independence, it must keep social mobility as a national priority, and maintain the unity that makes the country exceptional.

Delivering this reminder at the opening of the 15th Parliament on Sept 5, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said Singapore must resist the trend in mature societies that sees wealth entrench and inequality passed down, and find practical ways to narrow the gap.

Singaporeans must also not take unity for granted. "All of us must, through our everyday deeds and actions, put the collective before self: put 'we' before 'me'," he said.

Mr Tharman noted that social divisions are hardening in many parts of the world, with ethnic tensions in particular rising.

"What makes Singapore exceptional is our unity — built not despite our diversity, but by embracing it, and finding richness in our different cultures," he said.

He warned that this unity cannot be taken for granted, urging people to resist any temptation to use race and religion for political gain, or view national issues through such lenses.

Mr Tharman was speaking at the first Parliament sitting since April, and after the May 3 general election.

As per tradition, the President's Address sets out the Government's priorities, policies and programmes for the current term; and comes after MPs are sworn in.

This time, there are 97 elected MPs and two Non-Constituency MPs, both from the Workers' Party. They were sworn in earlier in the day and Mr Seah Kian Peng was re-elected as Speaker of Parliament.

Mr Tharman spoke for about half an hour, during which he outlined the challenges Singapore will face now that the rules-based global order, underpinned by America's leadership, is fraying.

For one thing, international rules and norms that helped keep the peace and enabled global living standards to rise are losing their force.