Expectations are high: Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has reassured Singaporeans that he will listen to feedback and formulate policies that are right for Singapore.
Speaking on the sidelines of a community event on Friday, he said the crafting of policies must now involve a lot more discussion with people on the ground, including social workers and teachers.
The newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister will also coordinate economic and social policies which he says, is a task that signals a new phase in the government's commitment to inclusive growth. It entails involving more people as well as getting more feedback from the ground.
However, he admitted that public expectations are high after the major Cabinet reshuffle earlier this week.
He said, "Expectations are high and we've got to try to make sure that, coming out of this whole process, we don't fall into one of two situations."
"One is to end up falling flat without being able to deliver much change. Two, trying to deliver change just for the sake of being popular and trying to please as many people as possible."
"Let's do the right thing for as many Singaporeans as possible for the long term," added the Jurong GRC MP. He was also named Manpower Minister and will retain his post as Finance Minister.
Minister Tharman said that to achieve that will include looking at trade-offs. "There are trade-offs involved in every social and economic policy and we've got to focus on those trade-offs honestly, tell people the truth and not pretend as if there are no problems."
"Tell people the truth about every policy choice. That's the way we sustain our credibility over the long term and it's the long-term interests of Singaporeans that have to be foremost in our minds," he added.
When asked how he planned to juggle his different portfolios, he shared that his position at the Ministry of Manpower is likely to be transitional.
"We have a new man coming in, Tan Chuan-Jin, who has a lot of promise. I will be holding the fort and helping to guide him and overseeing policy work especially, but I expect that he will come up to scratch quickly," he said.
BG (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin, will be appointed Minister of State for Manpower and National Development.
