“Singaporeans come first”: Prime Minister

PM Lee Hsien Loong however stressed that Singaporeans should not turn negative on foreigners, as Singapore has prospered because of its openness to the world.

In his National Day Message 2011, he said, “While we will always put Singaporeans first, let us not turn negative on foreigners. Singapore has prospered because we have been open to the world and alive to economic competition and change. This is how we have attracted investments, created jobs for Singaporeans, and made ourselves a vibrant city. We cannot afford to close in on ourselves, or attribute all our problems to foreigners. We must stay connected to the world, and continue to welcome talent and ideas, wherever they may come from. Only then can we continue to thrive, and build a better Singapore for all.”

The Prime Minister also noted the importance of education and productivity. “We need to keep building for the longer term. We will grow our economy by upgrading ourselves and raising productivity, reducing the need to import so many foreign workers. We will educate our young well, and retrain our older workers effectively. And we will create an outstanding living environment for ourselves: a City in a Garden, and a vibrant, thriving home for all Singaporeans. We have comprehensive plans to achieve these goals,” he said.

Unity was cited as a driving factor as well for the island country. Singaporeans can respond effectively to major challenges and continue to outperform other countries by staying united, said PM Lee Hsien Loong.