Joan Pereira
Singapore
“We need to constantly monitor technological developments, assess their military potential and anticipate how adversaries might use them against us.”
“Third, scenario‑based exercises on sensitive issues, such as foreign conflicts involving race or religion, so that leaders can facilitate difficult conversations without letting emotions tear our social fabric.”
“How are we strengthening sustained capacity-building platforms – talent exchanges, not just in education and work but in the sports and arts as well; institutional partnerships and governance collaboration – so that we build enduring networks of trust, not one-off engagements?”
“Thank you, Speaker, and the Senior Minister of State. I seek two clarifications from the Senior Minister of State on border health measures that have been stepped up in view of the disease outbreaks overseas.”
“Thank you, Speaker and I thank the Minister. I have two clarifications for the Minister. I understand that there is a lot of support in kind in collaborating with our cross border counterparts to tackle fire hotspots, as the Minister mentioned. But how about some financial assistance for countries, if they require it?”
“Thank you, Speaker and Senior Minister of State. I have two clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, could the Ministry provide additional grants and support, including on a longer-term basis, for smaller drinks producers to help defray the costs of complying with the scheme?”
The complete record
Every one of 575 lines we hold for Joan Pereira, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 12 of 12.
“Mdm Chair, it is important to promote good health in seniors so that they can enjoy and spend their longer years meaningfully. One of the initiatives of the Action Plan for Successful Ageing is the National Seniors' Health Programme. The programme will include healthy lifestyle campaigns, community activities and interventions for mature workers at workplaces. I welcome these initiatives for I have encountered many elderly who may not know how to select nutritious food and do the appropriate physical activities to keep fit. Would the Ministry consider providing general guidelines, taking into account age bands, that show the recommended types of physical activities that a senior can do if he has certain medical conditions? Teaching them, their family members and community volunteers to recognise signs of illnesses, including dementia, is also important as early detection and intervention will contribute to more effective treatment. Would the Ministry share further details of the National Seniors' Health Programme to promote good health in seniors? What kind of interventions will be introduced at their workplaces? How does the Ministry plan to encourage more seniors to participate in such programmes and activities?”
“The Action Plan, "A Nation for All Ages", is targeted at the individual level, the community level, as well as the city level. Can I ask about MOH's action plan for community level health promotion for our seniors and what community networks they can tap on, bearing in mind that we also want to align with those that are existing in the constituencies? As we know, we cannot disengage an individual from his/her community and, in fact, the latter has a value-added effect and positive impact on well-being, mental wellness and happiness. Having a trusted group of friends and "kakis", the seniors can be made to feel differently and a lot better. Will we see a more well integrated range of services and networks, readily available to our seniors at no or low cost, up close and personal, near their residences? Can we make these stimulating, broad ranging and exciting as well for our seniors in their active ageing years? As we also plan to integrate the seniors with their multigeneration families and extended families, can the Ministry also consider family-friendly activities and networks which will be appealing to all ages, in order to target multi-generational involvement? One of the initiatives that has been announced include co-locating eldercare and childcare facilities in new Housing and Development Board (HDB) developments to maximise opportunities for interaction among the different generations. National Seniors' Health Programme”
“Mdm Chair, the Action Plan for Successful Ageing report contains several initiatives to improve healthcare for seniors in areas, such as health and wellness, active ageing and aged care services. For many seniors, age becomes almost irrelevant when they are physically, mentally and socially healthy, and they will have the freedom to do as many things as the young can do. I would like to know what are the initiatives to help our elderly live healthy lifestyles, monitor their health conditions and exercise. As a firm believer in preventive health, I would like to know how the Ministry can encourage and enable medical follow-ups of seniors found to have at-risk conditions. I have always found it challenging to encourage our seniors to go for their follow-up treatments and therapies. Some are worried that they would discover more serious medical conditions and would prefer not to know. Others are concerned about costs. And yet others claim they have no time. Whatever medical conditions they have, if treated early, it can prevent deterioration, escalating healthcare costs and poor quality of life. An idea I would like to propose is to tap on the community network of seniors, where elderly neighbours and friends can encourage their peers to see their doctors for follow-ups. Seniors want to age in familiar environments surrounded by people they know and who understand and care for them. They also need easy access to care centres and doctors. Their caregivers also need support from the community in caring for their senior family members. What are the major initiatives for aged care services? Seniors' Action Plan Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): The Action Plan for Successful Ageing includes about 60 initiatives covering 12 areas.”
“Mdm Chair, allow me to begin, first, by stating my appreciation on behalf of many mothers, the good work that NS has done to help our boys become men. Our NSmen form the backbone of our national defence system. As a small country with an ageing population, we have to plan well to enable each serviceman to maximise his potential in protecting Singapore. To fulfil their duties, our servicemen have to make a lot of sacrifices, take time from their studies, work and family life. So, it is only appropriate that they be given due recognition. Hence, I was glad that CSNS was set up to examine how the NS system can be strengthened for the future. Based on feedback, CSNS made recommendations in five areas: (a) strengthening NS training system; (b) increasing opportunities for NSmen to contribute; (c) establishing the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC); (d) enhancing recognition and benefits for NSmen; and (e) expanding community support for NSmen. As a result, MINDEF and MHA adjusted the pre-enlistment medical screening and administration schedule to enlist servicemen between four to six months. Last year, MINDEF also announced the revamp of the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA) into the NS HOME (Housing, Medical and Education) Awards, which will provide additional MediSave and MediShield Life grants. Would the Ministry provide an update on new initiatives by CSNS? How has MINDEF continued its efforts to recognise the contributions of our NSmen? National Servicemen”
“In this vein, I would like to enquire how Singapore is working with other countries in tackling this issue. Page: 113 Emerging Markets Relations”
“Extremism and Terrorism Mr Chairman, my next cut is on extremism and terrorism. Rising extremism has become a global concern in recent years. Hundreds from our region and other countries have travelled to join ISIS. Some travel to ISIS for training before returning to their home countries to carry out acts of terror. In today's digital era, extremist groups can also reach out to and radicalise others online. ISIS has uploaded videos to recruit and attract others as well as spread their ideology. Last year, radicalised Bangladeshis were discovered in Singapore. More recently, ISIS has claimed responsibility for the terrorist attacks in Brussels and Paris. In both instances, the attacks were well-coordinated and occurred at multiple locations just minutes apart. This makes it extremely difficult for security agencies to respond. The Internet and new communications technology allow terrorists to communicate and coordinate their attacks. As terrorists employ more sophisticated tactics, our security agencies must find ways to cope with this quickly evolving threat. However, increasing our security measures alone will not be sufficient and we need to tackle the spread of extremist ideology. Groups and individuals that are at risk of extremist behaviour need to be identified and safeguarded from becoming radicalised. Singaporeans need to look out for family and friends to protect them from radical influences. Individuals also need to keep an eye out for and report any suspicious activity. As a global trade and financial hub, Singapore is a possible target. In May last year, ISIS cited Singapore as a possible target, along with the Philippines and USA. Singapore has also been cited as a target by other terrorist groups. Terrorism is a global, transnational threat.”
“Mr Chairman, we are seeing an increasing number of Singaporeans travelling overseas. In 2012, Singaporeans made more than eight million trips, according to the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS). This is an 85% increase Page: 112 from 2001, when 4.36 million trips were made. More Singaporeans are travelling to exotic locations, such as Turkey and South Africa. Some of these exotic locations may not have Singapore Missions to provide consular support. Even if there are Singapore Missions within a given country, they may not be able to provide support to certain locations due to the large size of the country. For example, in the United States of America, there are Singapore Missions in San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Miami, Florida. However, due to the large size of the USA, these missions may not be able to provide consular support to Singaporeans in other states. I would like to know how MFA plans to help Singaporeans in locations that do not have Singapore missions in the immediate vicinity. Natural disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis could leave Singaporeans stranded overseas. Last year, students and teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School were caught on Mount Kinabalu during the Sabah quake. I would like to know MFA plans to send aid to Singaporeans if a similar incident occurs in a country that Singapore does not have diplomatic ties with, or a location without consular support. In the meantime, the threat of terror looms large globally. Over the past few months alone, we have seen terror attacks in several cities, such as Paris, Istanbul, Brussels and, even closer to home, in Jakarta. Many of such attacks have been linked to ISIS. I would like to know how this rise in terrorist attacks is affecting Singaporeans abroad.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I have one supplementary question. Would HDB consider providing such financial help to HDB owners who have taken loans from the banks?”
“Many of these women hold senior positions in their demanding careers and have to juggle pressing family needs as well. I hope the Minister will take into account their extenuating circumstances. Mr Deputy Speaker, permit me now to conclude by congratulating Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat for a Budget which is not only bold in strategy to transform our economy but also balanced with targeted initiatives to build our community and people, reflecting the collective wisdom of this Government and the many Singaporeans who have contributed actively through their feedback. This Budget deserves the support of every Singaporean. 6.26 pm”
“(In English): Maintaining good health is particularly challenging for women. Generally, more women than men are the main caregivers to the children and elderly in their families and they tend to neglect themselves. With more women also out in the workforce, they have a tough time balancing career and family demands and usually, their own health takes a backseat. Women also live longer than men, although a significant portion of their final days may be in poor health. I hope that MOH will consider new measures to provide more support to women, especially homemakers, in the area of preventive care. With the retirement age increasing to 67, more grandparents will have to choose between work and looking after grandchildren. I would like to urge the Government to consider giving caregiver grandparents the childcare subsidies that would otherwise be given to childcare centres. While a grandparent will probably earn more working outside, such a rebate will help lessen the financial sacrifice if the grandparent is inclined to look after the child herself or himself, especially when the child is an infant or very young. Finally, I would like to speak on the introduction of a cap of $80,000 on personal income tax reliefs which will take effect from Year of Assessment 2018. So far, there has been no limit on the total amount of personal income tax reliefs an individual taxpayer can claim. This change will affect working mothers with higher incomes the most because of the tax reliefs that they get from the Working Mother's Child Relief. Granted, these women earn high incomes but I would like to appeal for the cap to be lifted for those who are divorced or widowed as they usually face more challenges such as raising families on their own.”
“We need the cooperation of our religious organisations to organise such interactive activities between different religious groups to promote mutual understanding and tolerance. While these initiatives may, sometimes, feel unnatural or contrived, we must persevere and resist retreating into our own cliques. More importantly, we must be mindful that we have to conscientiously put in the time and effort to create better relationships for a better home and a better nation for all. Another area of concern is the health of our elderly. With our rapidly ageing population, it is of utmost importance to encourage our seniors to take preventive measures, such as making lifestyle and dietary changes to improve their health. Good lifestyle and diets should start as early as possible. Making changes when one is even older and possibly more set in one's habits will be very much more difficult. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I hope the Health Promotion Board (HPB) will consider offering incentives to encourage the elderly to lead active lives and exercise more. Last year, the authorities launched the National Steps Challenge initiative. This was a very good way to encourage citizens to live an active and healthy life. If HPB can introduce more similar long-term programmes targeted at the elderly, I believe the response will be very good. Through these platforms, HPB can work together with businesses to provide discounts to the elderly. Suitable business partners could include Foodfare, shops which sell spectacles, hearing aides and mobility aides. Of course, to encourage the elderly to make healthier choices, the discounts should only be for "Healthy Choice" dishes.”
“One possibility is a time bank, whereby every hour of volunteering clocked by participating seniors can be deposited, accumulated and exchanged for certain privileges such as priority in queues at polyclinics and public hospitals, free or discounted People's Association (PA) courses, or even a waiver of the $50 application fee for the Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) after the fee waiver expires this September. In addition to recruiting and attracting seniors, we should also design programmes such that our younger generation can be involved. The PA can assist by facilitating the arrangements between schools and seniors' groups. Presently, many students benefit from the exposure to serving their communities due the Community Involvement Programme (CIP) requirements by their schools. Using the same LPA example, seniors can accumulate hours of volunteer service to exchange for a LPA waiver and application assistance from trained student volunteers from an Institution of Higher Learning (IHL). An assigned student can assist him in understanding the requirements and benefits of the LPA, and then guide him through the process and assist him with the application. The student can even help the elderly locate an accredited medical practitioner in his estate to certify his LPA. I think this is a good example of how two volunteers, one young and one senior, can bond through meaningful intergenerational interaction. We should endeavour to promote interracial and inter-religious bonding through similar volunteer programmes. Volunteering for a common cause is the best way to get people of different backgrounds to realise that beneath the labels of race and religion, we have a lot more in common as Singaporeans.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I am heartened by the various targeted programmes to help our families. Many seniors will be assisted through the Silver Support payouts, needy households will get more cash assistance and families with children will benefit from First Step, KidSTART and the Fresh Start grants. These schemes build upon the foundation set by existing programmes. Aside from the funds set aside to support our families and communities, we must encourage more Singaporeans to be active volunteers as many of the problems within our communities cannot be solved through funding alone. I would like to focus on volunteering among our seniors. Volunteering is an important part of active ageing. It is an activity which allows the elderly to stay engaged in the community and derive a sense of satisfaction from giving back, and in turn, enable the community to tap upon his years of very rich experience. Research has also shown that elderly who have meaningful relationships and are engaged in their communities are happier and healthier as a result. Volunteering indeed gives them a deep sense of purpose. However, getting our seniors to volunteer on a sustainable basis is not easy. Attracting a group to one-off projects is easy but beyond that, keeping them motivated to come out of their comfort zones is challenging. Hence, I would like to propose incentives to draw more elderly to our community volunteering programmes.”
“For example, if the donee is not closely related or is unrelated to the donor despite the donor being married with children, would red flags be raised? What if the donee is a foreigner? Would the PG arrange for an interview with the donor to clarify suspicious applications, follow up with his family members, and provide counselling and advisory services? I believe strongly that the family should be the first line of support but, in the event that family members are found not to be suitable to be deputies, how does the Court decide on which professional deputies to be appointed? And for deputies who have been suspended, are their names made known in a register which can be accessible by the public? I appreciate the Minister's response to my questions. I would like to conclude by reaffirming my support for the Bill. 5.42 pm”
“We should have more publicity in mother tongues, including dialects, as we have done for the Pioneer Generation scheme. May I also suggest that we brief our Pioneer Generation Ambassadors(PGAs) so that they can share about LPAs with our senior citizens when they visit their homes? Our PGAs can explain the implications and the importance of selecting the right donees. The third non-legislative initiative I would like to propose is to get registered medical practitioners who are certificate issuers to put up big, elderly-friendly signs indicating that they can witness and certify LPAs at their clinics. The OPG should design and issue these uniform signs. Compared to registered psychiatrists or practising lawyers who are also approved certificate issuers, doctors are much more accessible to the general public. I am sure most people will feel more comfortable approaching their regular neighbourhood GPs to get their LPAs done. These signs will also act as visual prompts to their patients and remind them to do their LPAs. Next, I would like to refer to the amendment to allow the Court to temporarily suspend a donee's or deputy's powers in the absence of a pending Court application. May I ask the Minister if he would share with us the process and duration required to get rid of an unsuitable donee or deputy? Obviously, prevention is very much better than cure. Therefore, the process of selecting suitable donees or deputies should be rigorous. It is far better to choose a suitable one than to have to go through the process of getting rid of an unsuitable donee or deputy. May I ask the Minister if the PG has a set of parameters to check against when it receives LPA applications?”
“Without appointed donees, our Courts will have to hear more applications by affected families to appoint deputies when their loved ones lose their mental capacities. Not only will this be a strain on the resources of the families during a difficult period, it will also tax our public resources. Much more importantly, without appointed donees, the welfare of the elderly will be compromised as care and financial arrangements will inevitably be delayed. Allow me to share a real-life example to highlight the hardships a family went through due to the absence of an LPA. And this is a case from my constituency. An elderly gentleman fell ill and, after a prolonged stay in hospital, he was discharged as the doctors were unable to do more for him. His children took him home. His condition was bad but he hung in there and his children arranged for various medical equipment to be installed at home, which were quite costly. He had his own HDB flat and funds in a few bank accounts. His wife passed away a few years ago. Unfortunately, his children could not draw upon the funds in his bank accounts and so they used their own money. His children also had to support young children of their own. After a few months, they decided to seek help at a Meet-the-People session because the financial strain was increasingly harder to bear. In such a situation, the children should apply to the Court to appoint them as deputies to manage their father's care as well as property and financial assets. However, this process is definitely more troublesome and time-consuming than if an LPA was done earlier. The first target group we must work with is the elderly. Many of them are not aware of LPAs.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. Last month, the Minister for Social and Family Development informed this House that 8,360 people had signed up for the LPAs in 2015. This was a big increase of 160% over 2014. However, if we consider that only about 20,000 LPAs have been accepted since the MCA came into operation five years ago, the number of Singaporeans who have done their LPAs is still very low. I recognise that this is not for lack of trying. The Ministry had made concerted efforts to raise public awareness. There were regular media coverage and public education efforts to get more Singaporeans to appoint donees to make decisions on their behalf in the event that they lose mental capacity in the future. I have seen colourful, full-page advertisements on the LPA in both the English and Chinese newspapers. The Government had even simplified the forms and offered waiver of the $50 fees for the simpler and more widely chosen Form 1 applications between 1 September 2014 and 1 September 2016. Despite all these efforts, the general awareness is still not high, especially among the elderly. Even those who are aware of the scheme are not pro-active in signing up. Some do not think it is necessary. Others assume erroneously that, by default, their spouses and children will be able to make decisions on their behalf. Yet others are superstitious and prefer to avoid this topic altogether. And, probably, the rest are procrastinating. Considering our rapidly ageing population, it is important to get more Singaporeans to do their LPAs. With longer lifespans, the probability of loss of mental capacity in the final years is higher and will affect a greater number of people.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. Would the Senior Minister of State consider providing clear notification to motorists and not merely state that there is an obstacle or an accident on the road because, with knowledge of the severity of the accident and timely notice, motorists would then have the option to take a route away from the incident?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for the very detailed reply. In the event of a Zika virus outbreak, are there lessons from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus outbreak that MOH could apply?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. I would like to ask would the Ministry consider making public on HDB website for each BTO project the nature of complaints and the progress and schedule of rectification works so that it becomes transparent. When this happens, such information not just helps educate the owners on industry norms and standards, but would also better manage expectations.”
“Second, I further suggest that the Government set up a central website so that seniors who wish to become a volunteer can register by stating the areas that they are interested to serve and the time they are willing to devote. Page: 29 Many professionals are still healthy after retirement and they want to contribute to the society. But, sometimes, just because they do not know how, their passion and skills end up being wasted. It is truly regrettable. These professionals include retired teachers, nurses, lawyers and accountants. They possess knowledge, skills and experience accumulated over a life long time and it will be good that there is central system which can act as a middleman, introducing them to organisations that need their service. By doing so, these senior volunteers can maximise their time, remain healthy physically and mentally, and stay connected with the society. The benefiting organisations also save money and manpower at the same time. This is killing two birds with one stone. My last suggestion is asking Town Councils to install Alert Alarm System (AAS) for the poor seniors living in rental flats, so that they can be connected with the 24-hour maintenance centre Essential Maintenance Service Unit (EMSU). Currently, AAS is monitored by the Senior Activity Centres during working hours; at night, it is monitored by neighbours. The problem is that not every HDB block's tenants can help. As EMSU has 24-hour emergency service, it should also be able to receive emergency signals sent by AAS. Mdm Speaker, to build a loving home is not a very difficult task. As long as we all do our part, our society will be filled with love and care. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“I am pleased to see that the Government will introduce several schemes, including the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, to help the seniors live a fulfilling and happy life. We say that, "One should look after the seniors the same way he treats his own parents". When we care for our own seniors, we should also care for and help the seniors around us. Looking after the elderly is not just the responsibility of the children, family and Government; as long as it is within our means, we all have the responsibility to extend help to the elderly around us. There are many warm-hearted VWOs and volunteers in Singapore, who spend time and effort to visit and help the seniors. It will take a multi-prong approach for elder-care to be effective. Hence, I suggest setting up a Statutory Board or an officially recognised organisation to take the lead to provide one-stop services for the seniors. This will streamline administration, improve service quality and ensure the long-term sustainability of the various programmes for seniors. At the same time, I also suggest that the Government consider setting up more holistic eldercare service centres. The centres should have day care services and look after the seniors' needs in areas, such as medicine. Staff in these centres should understand the background of the seniors and slowly build bonds with them through various activities. The centres should also coordinate programmes of VWOs and the Government and look after the needs of the elderly at different stages. I think this operating model will greatly simplify the collaboration process and is worth being introduced more widely.”
“Our community clubs can organise more activities which require participants of different races to team up and work together over a period of time. For example, cooking contests comprising several rounds so that participants have to practise and create several dishes over a few weeks. This would promote mutual understanding through cooperation. Clan associations can also be encouraged to consider inviting non-Chinese to participate in more activities and events. Similar initiatives by private companies should also be encouraged Page: 28 through Government funding or resource sponsorship. Another important platform where social interaction takes place is in cyberspace. The importance of social media will only increase as our younger generations become more and more Internet-savvy. The anonymity provided by social media facilitates freedom of expression but this freedom can also be abused, trigger conflict and deepen divides along racial, religious and income lines. We have legislation in place which enables the Government to act against incendiary expressions in cyberspace or in print. However, prevention is better than cure. We have to step up on public education to set the parameters for acceptable expression and inculcate responsible behaviour online. I urge the Government to continue taking the lead in creating, funding and supporting such public education programmes which should reach as many as possible – schools, housing estates, recreation centres, workplaces and more. Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our seniors. In his speech, the President talked about his hope that Singapore can build a caring society. With our rapid ageing population, groups that need care will include the increasing number of seniors.”
“Whether we are fifth generation Singaporeans or new immigrants, we must always be mindful that we have pledged to stay united, regardless of race, language or religion. Every one of us has an important role to play. Social integration and assimilation are built one encounter, one day at a time. A kind word, a thoughtful gesture or a considerate act can make all the difference. And occasionally, when we accidentally step upon one another's toes, let us always remind ourselves to take the high road for the greater good. Since our Independence, social integration and harmony have always been the Government's priorities, backed by innovative policies. I say "innovative" because these policies have no precedent elsewhere in the world and were even criticised as overly controlling and intrusive. Our Housing and Development Board (HDB) ethnic quota policy is a very good example. However, in view of the clashes in neighbourhood enclaves from the United States (US) to Paris and London, we come to appreciate the intent and benefits of these measures and initiatives. Our political system, National Service, schools, HDB estates and even People's Association activities bear testimony to successful integration. Nonetheless, we can do more. There is always room for improvement. One of the ways is through our community bonding programmes. In addition to our usual inclusive festive seasons' activities, we should put in more effort to update our programme formats. When I was working in the People's Association, there were activities to promote inter-generational bonding, such as parent-and-child, grandparent-and-grandchild, young-and-seniors singing/dancing contests. We can have similar formats to promote inter-racial bonding.”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate to express my support for the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Address. As a new Member, I am humbled to be given this opportunity to serve and be a voice for our constituents whom we care about a lot. Despite overwhelming odds, our Pioneers had brought Singapore from Third World to First within a generation. Singapore has experienced such remarkable growth that other nations are looking to us to share our experience. A number of my residents told me that the recollections of our past during the SG50 celebrations last year have strengthened their resolve to protect our little red dot and preserve our Page: 27 way of life. Indeed, as the President has highlighted in his Address, we must, first and foremost, keep Singapore safe and secure to ensure our own sovereignty and livelihoods. Terrorist attacks had claimed many lives in the last few years, with the most recent in our neighbouring country Indonesia. Just last week, MHA announced that 27 radicalised Bangladeshis were arrested here. We must be prepared and vigilant against potential attacks as well as the impact of incidents upon our social fabric. We must maintain our neutrality and be careful not to get involved in foreign politics or religious movements which could disrupt our delicate social balance and erode the goodwill which has taken years to build. The social harmony we are enjoying today has been hard-earned. Let us continue our work to deepen mutual understanding, tolerance and respect among our diverse racial and religious groups. The President's call to all Singaporeans to unite and to move ahead together is an important reminder for a young nation.”