Looking to the past for a better future: DPM Teo

Posted On 03 Feb 2015

Comment: Off

By Cara Wong, News Writer

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Mr Teo paid tribute to the contributions of the Pioneer Generation while urging students to work for the future. PHOTO: TANG HAO

While the Republic celebrates its 50th year of independence this year, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has urged Singaporeans to look on ahead to the future by building on qualities exhibited in the past.

Speaking today (3 Feb) as the guest-of-honour at the annual Ministerial Forum – organised by NTU Students’ Union – Mr Teo asked: “Where do we go from here, and how?”

Mr Teo was speaking to an audience of about 500 students at the auditorium in NTU’s School of Art, Design and Media. Student leaders from other universities like the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Technology and Design were also present.

In line with Singapore’s Golden Jubilee, the topic for this year’s forum was: “Beyond the first 50 years: Building our future together”.

Beckoning students to look to the past for guidance, Mr Teo spoke about important attributes of the pioneer generation – self reliance, as well as investing in and being ready to work for the future. He also encouraged students to carry these qualities as they move forward.

On the attribute of self reliance, Mr Teo noted: “Life is not an escalator, you have to climb to get there. If you think about it, escalators give you a smooth life, guaranteed delivery to the next destination. In the face of development, escalators can only take you to places others have been to, taking you down well-trodden paths.

“If you want to go places where people have not been, you have to break new ground, you can’t take escalators. You must have the self reliance to take your own path. (Even though we know) that we may not always succeed, either individually or as a society, we must have confidence in ourselves.”

Mr Teo also polled students and tackled the top few concerns, including issues like an ageing population and a polarised society. In addition, he addressed some of the audience’s expectations of Singapore in the next 50 years, such as the hope for a stronger kampung spirit and assurance of our basic needs.

Previous speakers at the Ministerial Forum include Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year, and Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam in 2012.

Stay tuned for the full report of DPM Teo’s Ministerial Forum at NTU or read our live-blog coverage of the event below.