Younger Generation Has No Reason Not to Succeed: PM Lee

PM Lee highlighted the difference in circumstances surrounding today’s younger generation as compared to their predecessors, called for them to succeed.

By Godwin Ng

Young people in Singapore today are better off than previous generations and they should take advantage of the opportunities available to them to pursue their dreams, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“You’ve got the benefit of all the work and commitment and success which the last generation, your parents, have done,” said PM Lee to more than 1,000 students at the Ministerial Forum 2014 in NTU yesterday.

“We want you to pursue your hopes, pursue your passion, aim high, go for your dreams, act on your ideas, change Singapore and change the world,” he said.

As Singapore approaches its 50th birthday, PM Lee called for young people to think what the next 50 years will bring.

PM Lee said that the future may be uncertain but it is also exciting, reassuring students that Singapore can weather concerns such as stagnant wages, unemployment and high cost of living.

“We’ve built up the resources and reserves to weather the storms and we have high international standing. So there’s no reason to think we can’t overcome these challenges and create a brighter future,” he added.

However, PM Lee cautioned that divisions between races and religious groups, rich and poor, and locals and foreigners will threaten Singapore’s success.

Citing the Anton Casey incident, PM Lee expressed concern that social media provides a platform for overreaction and “anonymous viciousness”.

“One issue can cause a spark and because of social media, it becomes harder to settle such problems quietly,” he said.

He called for a civil and tolerant community that does not behave like “abusive, hateful mobs”.

Only when fellow Singaporeans are “not divided, not fighting with ourselves, not split and at odds with one another” can Singapore continue to prosper in the long run, he said.