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  Channel NewsAsia 24 Feb 07
Better quality of life will define Singapore as a top First World nation
 By May Wong

SINGAPORE : Better quality of life and reduced number of low-income earners will be key definitions that Singapore has achieved its status of being in the upper half of First World nations. This was the view of some Singaporeans Channel NewsAsia spoke to.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had said that Singapore can move from the lower half into the upper half of First World countries in the next 10 to 20 years.

"Being in the upper half of the First World, we not only have to be financially well-off, but we also have to be more open in our thinking so as to accept other opinions or other ideas," said one Singaporean.

"It's every citizen's desire to see their nation progress and more importantly, they themselves progressing with the nation as well. So I would feel that Singaporeans have the confidence in the government and how the government is planning for the future. So I'm very optimistic about our future," said another.

Lush greenery, additional waterways and an even more vibrant social life will be seen in Singapore in the coming years. But that is just the physical part of transforming this city-state to achieve the upper First World status.

The other part involves cultivating a nation of people who will be cohesive and stay rooted to Singapore.

Many feel it is most apt for the Minister Mentor to paint this new vision for the country now. Halimah Yacob, MP and Assistant Secretary-General, NTUC, said: "For MM to mention it, because he's seen as a father of Singapore, so for him to mention it, let us move and identify some other rallying points. I think that's also part of the critical ways in which to gel the population together, for us to tell Singaporeans that there is a future for Singapore.

"There's always this question mark: that we're small, sometimes we're hedged in among some not very friendly neighbours and also this fear of globalisation, can we make it? So I think it's very important for him to give the very strong message: there is a future, a very good future for all of us."

Elim Chew, President and Founder, 77th Street, said: "It's actually like moving up from an SME into an MNC kind of mindset, where in your vision, you can see what's happening and you can compare yourself globally, instead of comparing yourself within. Because we'd never grow within.

"So we need to look out into the world and say this is what the world is doing, what London is doing, is what New York is doing, what Paris is doing and we want to do it within and we want to grow it even better. Because we want to build a society, not only of infrastructure but to build a society of good people, good heart and love for the nation."

Many are also confident that the country can achieve the new status if all Singaporeans work towards it. - CNA/ch
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