2025 and the coming general election in many ways is critical for Singaporeans as the demographics of the electorate has changed and the feelings and mindset of the voters have changed.
More importantly, there is so much misinformation and disinformation out there that it has clouded many people’s perspective of things………. which is dangerous.
This could very well change the mental and emotional approach in which they are going to vote.
Take for example the subject matter of ‘HDB is beyond the reach of Singaporeans’. I mean that is such bullshit, putting it plainly.
Our government has all the income data from IRAS, our government is aware of the starting salaries of tertiary graduates, diploma graduates, all the way down to ITE graduates. Our government knows how Singaporeans are progressing in their careers 3 years to 5 years down the road, they know how their salaries will increase before these young Singaporeans are ready to buy their BTOs. Also not forgetting, need time for dating and for building the relationship before considering marriage.
Our government ensures that there is a variety of BTOs in different locations from prime to less prime so that there is choice, however, we also need to be realistic, we can’t say that my income is low but I want to live in a prime area, just not possible.
The higher prices in BTOs reflect rising building and constructions costs and the government must continue to improve the build quality, amenities and facilities as they are doing so now. The higher prices of BTOs are also a function of higher incomes of buyers. We can’t expect HDB to keep BTO prices at the 1980s levels as asserted by the opposition parties, it’s not realistic and absolutely no logic. Just consider the fact that the combined income ceiling to apply for BTOs has been adjusted upwards through time from $10K to $12K to $14K and I understand in the near future, it will be adjusted to $16K, this is clearly a reflection of higher combined incomes of young Singaporeans. We should be happy and celebrate the success of our children. I have two boys who are Gen Ys, and one boy who is a Gen Zs, I know what I am talking about.
Most Gen Ys and Zs, by the time they graduate from university and enter the working world it would be about 2008 and thereafter. What does this mean? It means that these two generations have never experienced recessions or difficult times.
Let’s be real for a moment, when I was born the first thing I saw was the ceiling fan in KK Hospital when my boys were born in KK Hospital, the first thing they saw and felt was the aircon…….they are aircon babies!
I am also the ‘sandwich’ generation straddling two generations; looking after and caring for my parents who were born in the early 30s and my own children who are our future, embracing old school traditions and simultaneously, embracing the younger generation way of thinking and feeling…….tough. Appreciating the difficult times our parents went through to build a future for their children makes us more grateful for hard work, integrity and having the ‘iron’ to pursue our dreams.
The Gen Ys and Zs are more of the ‘I, me and myself’, individualism is not bad, it creates leaders, creative and innovative geniuses, however, in an increasingly divided society, it becomes imperative that we work together as a team and work cohesively and inclusively for the greater good.
If we look back in the history of Singapore, we are nothing short of a modern-day miracle, however, it was all attributed to the people of Singapore, our only asset and our best asset. We have no natural resources to rely on Mother Earth, we can only rely on ourselves and each other and we made it.
The challenge now is where do we go from here?
The Singapore of today does not have room nor can cater to the lowly educated, we are developed and matured economy, therefore, we need the bare minimum which is skilled labor and higher. So it is no wonder that school dropouts and unskilled labor are having a tough time affording housing and managing cost of living expenses. Our government is helping the bottom 20% of the population with financial aid and the like, however, we need to help ourselves to acquire a skill so that we can be relevant to Singapore and ensure that we have a better qualify of life. There are many programs from WDA to SkillsFuture to help Singaporeans acquire skills. The opposition is not going to be able to help you, they can’t even help themselves.
Gen Ys & Zs have been labelled as ‘the entitled generation’, is it true are there some foundation for this thinking or not? Can we pass the baton on to the Gen Ys & Zs to take Singapore onwards and upwards to an even better future?
The fact that all of us enjoy a better quality of life is not incidental, it is true hard work, focus and the resolve to ensure that the future is better than the one we inherited. However, today I also see a conceited view of Singapore by our young Singaporeans, who feel entitled and feel that the government should do more, but the question is do the young, do more?
Talk……….like we need to vote in more opposition so PAP will wake up their idea and do better. Or PAP is too conceited and arrogant, and we need to vote in more opposition to humble PAP. I really don’t know where all this is coming from.
Let’s face it, no one is perfect, however, if we look at how PAP has done for the past 60 years, then, their track record is damn good! Today, we have many avenues to voice our concerns to the government, and we are heard, we don’t need the opposition to talk on our behalf.
The opposition has not come forth with any decent policies or proposals, except to keep on saying that we should spend our reserves. Do we spend our savings?
So remember when the time comes to vote, vote because you believe in the party you are voting for, not vote for the opposition to spite PAP, that is not an educated and responsible Singaporean.
The Panthenon Investment Group 