Hsien Loong's National Day Rally- Protecting people's livelihood

Two points were quite new in this rally other than climate change. One is lowering education cost for Singaporeans and the second, concern of workers who want to work longer with longer lifespan.

The lowering of education cost is not something new as it has been flogged like a dead horse for the last couple of decades with the govt turning a deaf ear and chose to throw more money, in the billions to educate children of foreigners. The numbers kept piling up and the Education Minister must be quite embarrassed reading the numbers in Parliament, hundreds of millions every year, and double the amount in the last couple of decades at the expense of Singaporean children in education. But I am wrong, for the govt said all the money spent on foreign children, including university places for foreigners were not done at the expense of Singapore children. No Singapore children has lost out, lost their university place because of the foreign students paid to study here. OK, I admit I am wrong, no point arguing about it as the coin has two sides and I and many Singaporeans are looking at the wrong side.

Hsien Loong in his rally speech has made right this annual grouse by lowering university and polytechnic tuition fees quite considerably especially in medicine. Students now need to pay only $5000 a year instead of &29,000 to $35,000. And poly students could pay as low as $150 per year. These are good news to the students and their parents. And to make it sweeter and to show that the govt is not wayanging, it takes immediate effect in the next academic year and for existing students unlike past policies that would take place a year later. The kpkb against the grotesque sum given to foreign children may not elicit any response from the govt, or meant nothing to the govt, nor affect a govt that would do the right thing by being deaf. But this change in govt policy should help many families in lowering their financial burden paying for their children's education.

DBS the best bank in the world

The next important point is working longer for Singaporeans that are living longer. DBS was singled for praise for job restructuring and reskilling to enable its employees to work in new jobs and to work longer. Piyush Gupta was in the audience and beaming with pride for the good job done.

The best bank in the world is not for nothing if it does not show care and concern for its workers. Not sure if this include its business partners and agents that lost their livelihood in DBS's restructuring exercise to make the bank trimmer and more efficient. DBS has a big reputation as a national bank, a national icon and cannot do otherwise. Everyone is watching DBS, including Hsien Loong on how DBS contributes positively to create employment in Singapore not just for foreigners but also for Singaporeans and not to destroy their livelihood.

The govt has taken the initiative to increase retirement and reemployment age and raising CPF for senior employees. This is a key message in this year's National Day Rally, providing employment for as long as possible for Singaporeans that want to work longer, not terminating their employment prematurely and killing their livelihood. As the population ages and with more living longer, building and protecting their nest egg is vital if the seniors are to enjoy a life of financial independence and to live with dignity.

Every employer especially GLCs and ministries would have to take note of this policy mission and not to put Hsien Loong in an embarrassing position by acting contrary.