This is a transcript of a speech by Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health in Parliament on 9 March 2010.

On the first day of Chinese New Year, I received news that Dr Chee Pui Hung had passed away peacefully at home.
He was 87. As I wrote in my blog, "I lost a friend, a supporter and a critic" whom I respect. Dr Chee was a legend and was larger than life.

Within the healthcare community, he was widely and affectionately referred to as the "A-gong" of the Medical Alumni, who held together the large community of doctors, dentists and pharmacists.

He lived life to the fullest, had a successful medical career, brought up 3 children well, and even dabbled in politics in his early days. In his unique way, he contributed to Singapore; including, I was told, ticking off a couple of Ministers in public!

Many years ago, my father too passed away during the Chinese New Year period. He lived a full life, without any bad habit, kept slim, remained active and socially engaged in retirement.

Several days after all the children who lived overseas had returned to their respective homes following several days of New Year Reunion with him, he had internal bleeding in his brain one night while falling asleep in front of the TV.

My mother rushed him to the hospital in an ambulance. I took the first flight out to Penang but missed him by an hour. The suddenness was traumatic for the family, but after the emotions had settled, we knew it was a good death and quietly wished that we could go just as swiftly when it was our turn to do so.

The Japanese call this "pin pin korori". "Pin pin" is to keep healthy and energetic; "korori" is to roll over and die. The phrase is so commonly used that the Japanese simply abbreviate it as PPK. To PPK means to live a long life without
illness and when the time is up, to simply die peacefully. There are pokkuri temples, promising the worshippers PPK. Although Japan has been in recession for two decades, pokkuri temples are doing rather well.

I studied the Japanese approach carefully because they have the most experience dealing with ageing. How advanced is ageing in the Japanese society?

Let me share some observations. In 1963, Japan started giving silver cups to Japanese who crossed 100. That year, they gave away 153 cups. There are now 40,000 centenarians. They have just reduced the cup size by 15% to save on silver.

Their ageing problem is magnified by a very low birth rate. More adult diapers are now sold there than children's diapers. There are now 23 mil children but 44 mil pets! Pet care is big business in Japan. Even pets are ageing, so they have pet food that is calibrated by age bands.

As noted by Dr Lam Pin Min and Dr Lily Neo, we have a good healthcare system. As current and former Head of GPC for Health, they know what they are talking about. Our system has brought us much success: low mortality, increased longevity, high clinical standards and among the most cost-effective in the world.

But ageing of the population will bring new problems.

We hope for PPK, but what if we do not simply "roll over and die"? The Chinese have a saying: "hard to have a filial son after a prolonged illness". Out-sourcing the care of parents is not the solution. The scene in "Money, No Enough 2" of children dumping their old mother at the gate of a nursing home struck a chord, precisely because that is what we all fear.

I know death is a morbid subject and we have just celebrated Chinese New Year. But let me assure you that this speech is not about gloom and sadness; it is about living well and celebrating life. We are ageing, but there is much cause for optimism.

Today's seniors are very different from the seniors of the past. I am 58 and my residents in Sembawang often tell me that I look younger. When our children become seniors, they will in turn be even better than the seniors of today.

More Singaporeans are exercising, jogging, brisk walking and engaging in many other sports. I must thank the HDB, the NParks and the PUB for creating an increasingly health promoting environment. In Sembawang for example, my residents are making regular use of the park connectors and the cycling tracks, as well as the sports complexes nearby. My GRC MPs and I are now working with the NParks to refresh the Sembawang Park so that it keeps up with the needs of modern Singaporeans.

As we discuss this year's budget and reflect upon our achievements, I agree with Dr Fatimah Lateef that we focus on how we can shape the future to meet our aspirations. I heard Members' thoughtful comments. Let me pick up their key points.