'Don't ask the government to solve all the problems': PM Lee

In the second part of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's televised chat, 'Ask The Prime Minister', he talks about what attitudes of Singaporeans he would like to change, and the importance of social compact and trust.

If there is one attitude of Singaporeans which you could change, what could it be and how would you change it?

I think I would choose two [attitudes].

Do not ask the government to solve all the problems. I think there Is a certain mindset in Singapore every time a problem comes up. Immediate question is: What is the government going to do about it? What is the government going to do about this mindset? And I think that, yes, the government has to be on top of the game, and be thinking ahead, solving problems. But when issues come up, we really would like people to take the attitude: What can I do about it? What can we do together about it? How can we solve this problem and do something and make a difference in our own lives?

I think that is the more resilient, more sturdy approach which will see us through the long-term, so that's one thing I'd like to change.

The other thing I'd like to change is to have our people look out more. We are very preoccupied with our own problems and our day-to-day lives, and that's very important. But we also have to know what's happening in the world around us. Good things, bad things, challenges, opportunities, ways which we should be grateful, ways which we should... learn, can do better.

Big things happen in the world; sometimes we do not pay much attention. There is a very major terrorist attack in Nairobi in Kenya - 60 over people died. The latest reports... didn't make it to the front page of any of our newspapers. What is on the front page? Ceiling fell down at a shopping centre - for several days in a row. Ceilings are important, but I think we need to look out to the rest of the world, because they impact on our lives in a huge way. And it's not thousand of miles away, it's on our doorstep, really. And we need to have that external orientation, that openness, to track what's happening, and to adjust, and to be psychologically ready to deal with things as they happen, and before they happen.

Worry about next generation

Every generation worries about the next. I worry about my children; I think one day they will worry about theirs; I hope I am wrong in my worries, but well, we try our best to guide them the right way. I think that they are probably in some ways, better adapted to the world they are going to live in than we are. Because we are digital immigrants, we grew up before the internet, before social media. We didn't grow up with headphones in our ears, walking around looking down at the screen.

But that's what the kids do - they do it while they are studying, they do it while they are socialising, they chat with one another. Instead of talking to one another they type to one another. But it's natural for them, and the way the world is going, you need these skills, and I think in Singapore these kids will have the skills.

But some things haven't changed in the world. We are still a small country, we are still in South East Asia, it's still a dangerous world, and you still must learn about human beings and how to make your way through life. And I hope that the new generation will have those strengths and those values and those instincts too.

Have basic values of Singapore changed?

That depends on what you define as basic. Say, a sense of identity - that has strengthened; a willingness to work hard - yes, but people also talk about work life balance. Willingness to sacrifice your own individual concerns to a broader, national priority? I think, if you compare with the previous generation, there is probably less sense of that. So when an issue comes up, there is less willingness to say: 'Well, this one I lose, but what to do, it is for the national good'. There is much more desire to say 'This one hurts me, how can you take care of me if you want to do this?' Well, it is a different generation; I think attitudes have changed over the years.

There is a perception that the government is more focused on the young and the future of Singapore. But our population is ageing. Shouldn't we divert more resources to care for the old?

I think you have to do both, but maintain balance. We have to look after the old, because we owe them something special - this generation, the pioneer generation [that] built Singapore. Without them we wouldn't be here today. We owe them because they brought us up. We owe them because in their old age they still have a contribution to make - taking care of grandchildren, passing on their wisdom, being active members of our society.

And that's why we have been working on the Pioneer Generation Package, that's why we've been building up healthcare, a lot of which is for old people. That's why we've been encouraging employers to hire older workers, including people up to 65 or beyond 65, because really that's one of the best ways to help older people, to let them stay active, to work, to stay in circulation and [be] contributing members of society, not just sitting back and drawing pension or in retirement. So we do have to look after the old people, and as a matter of moral duty.

But at the same time we should look after the young ones, and not just look after them, but invest in the young people and prepare them for tomorrow. Because our deepest responsibility in Singapore is to the future of Singapore. And if you want to make Singapore succeed in the future, our young people will have to prepare for that - which means education, which means training, which means developing in them the values, the attitudes which will help them to succeed as a society, help them to stay together as a society, and build a nation with them.

On social compact, trust:

You do it by your actions, by solving the problems, you do it by showing people that you are on their side and finally it's a matter of the feeling that you are with them, they can rely on you, you will fight with them. To a certain extent you can do it by talking, and having speeches and explaining what you say and do it well. But to a very considerable extent, building trust comes from working together.

If I have a crisis, I live through the crisis, I tackle the crisis, we surmount the crisis together, that makes a difference. The haze comes, we are able to react, we are able to have masks distributed, the poor and infirm catered for, the kids in school looked after, and you can respond promptly and deal with that, I think confidence rises. So it comes from really what you do and not just from what you say - and what you do together is critical.

I think there will always have to be an element of mutual obligation, that this is my part, this is my duty, what I ought to do as a citizen, and that's what you are expected to do as a government. I think that's necessary.

But at the same time, there also has to be a mutual confidence that we know that this leadership is competent, has integrity, and has commitment. And it will act in my best interests. And the leaders must also have the confidence that this is a population which has what it takes, which will work together and can work with the government. Then you have got two hands, then you can clap.

Do you personally feel that there is a lack of trust?

Well, I think we can always do better, I think there is disappointment that problems haven't been solved yet. But we are working at the problems.

If you ask me where we stand compared to any other society, I think trust levels in Singapore are very high. Trust in the government, trust in one another, trust in law and order. This is a society where people know they can rely on the system, and they know that the system works. So whatever the disappointment, I think there's a basic level which we must maintain, and we must build on it.

On work-life balance: Do Singaporeans understand the trade-offs that are involved?

I do think that work-life balance has become a tag phrase, and you're not quite sure what it means except you'd like to have a bit more free time and a bit less stress and pressure in life, which is quite understandable. But I don't think that we are very clear exactly what we want, or exactly what the tradeoffs are.

Because in fact… if you just decided to relax, I don't have to be the best, I can be Number 3 on the list - that's good enough. You won't stay Number 3 on the list, very soon you will be heading down. You must keep on trying to climb. You may not reach the top, but you're trying to get there. If you look around you, if you look at other countries - Vietnam, China, even in India - these are people who are not talking about work-life balance. They are hungry, anxious, about to steal your lunch. So I think I'd better guard my lunch.

Changing mindsets towards education

Mindsets are difficult to change. Rules and systems - we will do our best to adapt and make them more functional. So where they are no longer working optimally, like the PSLE grading, we have to find some way to change it, and MOE is going to change it to grades rather than T-score.

The mindset to want to work hard… whether you are in China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan... Everywhere I go, I see tuition centres, I see advertisements that say: 'So many of my students got into Tokyo University or got into Beijing University - please sign up, one on one tuition,' And next door there are another three tuition centres. So the tuition centres are under pressure too. And in Singapore too. And I think we ought to take it in a little bit more relaxed way, but I know how parents feel, and I think it takes time to change these attitudes. Not easy.