S’pore conversation: key challenge is managing expectations

Vladivostok, Russia: The key challenge for the national conversation on Singapore’s future will be that of managing expectations, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

The conversation, he added, is also different from the government’s previous attempts at engaging Singaporeans.

"The last one was Remaking Singapore, which was 10 years ago. I think our situation has changed, our society has changed (since then)," said PM Lee.

In the "Our Singapore Conversation", "we look at our problems afresh in a new situation, with a new generation, with a new perspective," he added.

"So, each time we come back (to engage Singaporeans), some problems are revisited, some issues which we didn’t alter before, now we decide that we may come to the conclusion that we have to make changes. So I think we have to take it in that perspective," said PM Lee.

"You cannot say, I’ve had a discussion before, there is nothing new to discuss. I think that is not the way the world is."

Spearheading the national conversation is a 26—member committee, comprising a mix of Cabinet ministers, academics and ordinary Singaporeans like students and a taxi driver.

PM Lee said that in choosing the committee, the government tried to be inclusive.

PM Lee was speaking to Singapore reporters in Vladivostok, Russia where he attended the APEC leaders’ meeting.

— CNA/ir