4G leaders have to 'earn the right to lead' Singapore: President Halimah Yacob
Singapore’s fourth-generation (4G) leadership team have to earn the right to lead the country by listening to the views and feelings of the people, said President Halimah Yacob on Monday (7 May).
The leaders will have to show that they have earned the trust of Singaporeans by their words and deeds, yet be bold in mobilising public opinion to support difficult policies in the long-term interests of Singapore, said Halimah in her inaugural opening address in Parliament as President.
Her comments come after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced a Cabinet reshuffle last month in which 4G leaders would take on more responsibilities, with 10 out 16 ministries headed by them.
Opening the second session of the 13th Parliament, Halimah said the right of the 4G leaders to chart Singapore’s future “cannot be inherited”.
“The trust between the people and their leaders is not automatically passed on from one generation to the next. In each generation, the people and leaders must work with one another, go through trials and tribulations together, and forge their own bonds afresh,” Halimah added in her speech drafted mostly by the 4G leaders.
She called on the 4G leaders to “fire up and mobilise the spirit and energy” of young Singaporeans as they take on more responsibilities of governing Singapore.
“They must grow with the people they represent, embrace a diversity of views and ideas, and yet forge a clarity of purpose and unity of action,” Halimah said.
The President noted that Singaporeans are beginning to see the impact of the new leadership in developing and implementing public policies.
But she urged the new leaders and Singaporeans not to take the easy way out as the country reaches an advanced stage of development.
Halimah said, “We may feel that we have more to lose now. We may be tempted not to go for bold changes but instead be content to tweak things at the margin. That would be the wrong approach.”
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