<![CDATA[In New Year message, Singapore PM Lee allays globalisation fears as election looms]>

In his New Year message, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged citizens of the island nation to keep faith in its open economy even as others retreat from globalisation, warning that insularity and anti-establishment sentiment elsewhere in the world have fuelled "nativism, chauvinism and sectarian strife".

With a general election around the corner, Lee stressed that despite growing anxieties about the global economic slowdown, the Lion City remained better placed than other countries, and that the government would press on with developing "long-term ideals" such as building a more equal society even as it tends to bread-and-butter issues.

The 67-year-old leader invoked the examples of Hong Kong, France and Chile as societies that were "under stress".

He said despite economic growth in these societies, people had become "anxious, discouraged and upset" as they worried about basic needs and were angered that the "fruits of growth have not been shared equitably and income gaps are widening".

"Consequently, large parts of their populations have lost faith in their economic and political systems, and are pessimistic about the future," Lee said. "This is fuelling nativism and chauvinism, and sectarian strife. Everywhere globalisation seems to be in retreat."

While Singaporeans too have concerns, "we must resist the temptation to turn inward", Lee said. "Instead, we must stay open and connected to the world. Globalisation has benefited Singapore enormously. A Singapore turned inward cannot survive."

Flash full-year GDP results are expected to show that Singapore's economy grew between 0.5 to 1 per cent in 2019, its slowest pace in a decade. Photo: Roy Issa alt=Flash full-year GDP results are expected to show that Singapore's economy grew between 0.5 to 1 per cent in 2019, its slowest pace in a decade. Photo: Roy Issa

Lee said his government was keeping a close eye on "more immediate risks and pressures", noting that the dark clouds around the global economy were already affecting the city state's economy " widely viewed as a bellwether for Asia's economic health.

Flash full-year GDP results to be released on Thursday are expected to show that the economy grew between 0.5 to 1 per cent in 2019, its slowest pace in a decade.

Lee did not release the GDP flash estimates as he has done in some years, and instead noted that the economy "avoided a recession".

"Our economy is still growing, but less vigorously than we would like," he said.

He said measures the government was planning to take in its next budget, due in February, would help cushion the financial pressures on workers and businesses. Lee also outlined reforms the government had undertaken in public transport, housing and health care.

And while there are expectations that Lee will call a general election in the next few months, his New Year message did not reference the upcoming vote.

Co-founded by the late Lee Kuan Yew " the country's independence leader and the current premier's father " the ruling People's Action Party has held uninterrupted power for six decades and will be seeking re-election for the 15th time.

The younger Lee has been in power since taking over from his father's successor Goh Chok Tong in 2004. Heng Swee Keat, the 58-year-old deputy prime minister, was last November named the PAP's next chief after a leadership race that was unexpectedly tight, and is now poised to take over the reins of power from Lee some time after the coming polls.

Singapore's deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat is expected to take over the reins of power some time after the upcoming general election. Photo: Reuters alt=Singapore's deputy prime minister Heng Swee Keat is expected to take over the reins of power some time after the upcoming general election. Photo: Reuters

In a signal of Heng's political ascendance, he released a New Year message of his own earlier on Tuesday in his capacity as first assistant secretary general of the PAP " the party's No 2 position.

Heng echoed Lee's points in his message, pointing out that "in different parts of the world, we see sharper political polarisation, social unrest and people driven apart by differences of race, religion, class or generation".

"These divisions feed distrust and suspicion, hurting societies and their people," he said. "In Singapore, our people have more diverse needs and experiences. We must not allow our differences to divide us. Instead, we must harness our diversity as a strength."

Heng, who is also finance minister, pledged that his team of newer ministers " dubbed the "4G leadership" " will continue the PAP's mission to "build a fair and just society where the benefits of progress are spread widely to all".

Immigration " a perennial hot-button issue in Singapore politics " is expected to once again emerge as a major issue of debate as the election nears, along with the city state's widening income gap.

Pundits believe the PAP is likely to comfortably retain its decades-old parliamentary supermajority in the election as Singaporean voters tend to flock to the incumbent in larger numbers in times of economic uncertainty.

The opposition remains disparate, and observers have said a combination of infighting, poor funding, and institutional restrictions put in place by the PAP continue to hurt their electoral chances.

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.