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Singapore 21 is about Singapore in the 21^st Century. On behalf of the Government, I am happy to accept this book as the report of the Singapore 21 Committee. I thank Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean and his team for their effort. They have involved thousands of Singaporeans from all walks of life in discussing the future of Singapore. These Singaporeans care for Singapore. They have candidly shared their hopes, fears and dreams for Singapore. Their views will help us shape the future of Singapore. To all of them, I say thank you.

It was in 1984 that my colleagues and I first spelt out our vision for Singapore. We called it Vision 1999. By 1997, I felt that most of what we wanted to do had been achieved. So when the Ninth Parliament opened in June 1997, I spoke on the need for a new vision for Singapore in the 21^st Century. The purpose was to have a new compass to guide us in the new millennium.

We do not know for certain what the 21^st Century will hold for Singapore. The regional economic crisis which damaged many East Asian economies shows how the unexpected can happen. So does the cruel ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Therefore, we must expect the unexpected, and be prepared for change.

Against this certainty of change, I asked Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean to form the Singapore 21 Committee. His task was to gather views and build a consensus on how to make Singapore our best home - the place of choice to live a fulfilling life, to make a good living and raise a happy family. Crucial here is a change of mindset, from one of reliance on government to one of obligations to the country.

I have read the report of the Singapore 21 Committee with great interest and pleasure. Let me make three points here.

First, this is not an official vision of the Government, but the future that many Singaporeans want for themselves. This vision has been developed through consulting Singaporeans widely. The process of consultation is as important as the outcome. In a borderless world, where Singaporeans are mobile, involving them in shaping Singapore's future will help to bond them and root them here. Forging a national consensus on key issues is a vital part of building up national unity. Unity will enable us to act quickly when the need arises, as our decisive response to the current regional economic crisis has shown.

Second, Singapore 21 is a total vision. It reaches beyond economic and material achievements to hearts and people. It examines values, attitudes, roles and relationships in society. These values bind us together and distinguish us from others as Singaporeans.

The Singaporeans who participated in the Singapore 21 discussions do not want just a house. They want a home. They do not just want to pursue economic and material needs. They want intellectual, emotional, spiritual, cultural and social fulfilment. I support their vision that Singapore is home and we are family.

Third, Singapore 21 is about forging new partnerships in society. The public sector creates conditions for the growth and development of Singapore while the private sector creates wealth for the country. In addition, there is the people sector, made up of all the social, community and voluntary groups. This sector provides the avenues for Singaporeans to contribute to bring about the kind of Singapore they wish to have for themselves and their children. In the new millennium, we need a strong public sector, a vibrant private sector and a dynamic people sector working together to secure the future of Singapore.

There are five key ideas which broadly make up the Singapore 21 vision.

First, every Singaporean matters. Every Singaporean has a place, and a contribution to make. We should help every Singaporean to realise his full potential but everyone should know that he, in turn, has an obligation to make his society better. I, therefore, do not favour the replacement of scholarships with loans for our bright students. Many parents and students would no doubt find tuition loans attractive as they give students the freedom to decide on their choice of university course, and later their career options after graduation. But the Government should not use public funds for an individual's self-fulfilment. They should be used only for national interests. Hence, the Government will continue to give only scholarships for courses of study in areas where the State thinks it needs talent and expertise.

Singapore 21 calls for a broader definition of success. We should not just admire and recognise top talent narrowly defined as people who are academically, professionally or materially successful. We should respect everyone who seeks to be the best that he can be and give of his best to make Singapore better. It is not enough to be the best if you do not give your best to your country.

The second idea is strong families.

Strong families are the key to meeting both the needs of senior citizens and the aspirations of the young. The family must remain the source for giving and receiving care and support. Our elders and our children do not only have physical and material needs. They also require emotional, social and moral support which only the family can provide.

The third idea of the Singapore 21 vision is for Singapore to be a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with opportunities for all. To succeed in the 21^st Century, Singapore must aim to be a cosmopolis. A cosmopolis is a world city, an international place where people, ideas and resources come together to create opportunities, wealth and a better environment for the people here. In future, it would be difficult to make a good living by being just the most efficient city in the region. Singapore will have to be an international city which is among the best in the world, as well as a city which Singaporeans call home.

The fourth idea is The Singapore Heartbeat. This phrase captures the Singapore 21 vision succinctly. What makes a house a home and a family more than shared genes, are the emotional ties, the feelings of love and mutual concern and shared destiny. What makes you and I Singaporean is our shared sense of belonging, a collective memory of our shared past, and total commitment to our shared future. This emotional rootedness to Singapore is The Singapore Heartbeat.

The fifth idea is Active Citizens. As Singapore is our home, if something needs to be done, let us take the initiative and do it. This will involve a deep mindset change on everyone’s part. All of us have an obligation to the society and country that nurtures us. Each and every one of us, as active citizens, can make a difference to society.

The first phase of Singapore 21 - consultation and developing the vision - has been completed. Parliament will debate this vision. Once Parliament endorses it, we will enter the second and far more challenging phase, that of translating this vision into reality. The vision is a broad one, giving us room as Singaporeans to discuss, debate and consider what it means for each of us and what concrete steps we each can take. The public sector is reviewing its approaches and policies in the light of Singapore 21. I encourage all institutions, companies, organisations, community groups, families and individuals to also begin considering what concrete steps they can take to strengthen Singapore. Let us work together to make our Singapore our best home.

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