SINGAPORE - Singapore has built a strong international reputation over the years because people know that the country’s leaders enjoy the support and confidence of the people and deliver on what they say, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament on Wednesday.

This is a key reason why the country has attracted good investments and Singaporeans enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world, but there is nothing that can magically prevent things from going awry, he added.

He asked people not to take the Singapore brand for granted, adding that the best chance to keep the country on the right track is to ensure that the economy is sound, institutions are in place, people stay united, and the reserves are well managed and protected.

In all of this, having leaders who are capable, dedicated and trustworthy stewards is crucial, he said, calling on people to support the People’s Action Party’s fourth-generation leadership team and their leader, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“I ask you to give Lawrence and the 4G ministers your fullest support. I ask you to give them your full support for now as members of my team, but in due course when they take over the reins as the next leadership for Singapore,” he said.

“Help me make this leadership renewal a success for Singapore and for you. Show your support for a government that works hard and works well for you.”

In a wide-ranging speech on how the war in Ukraine, worsening United States-China relations and a world trade system under siege affect Singapore, he said the quality of Singapore’s government and leaders is an important factor in helping the country to navigate the increasingly dangerous world.

Over the years, Singapore has gained a good reputation and standing because people know that the Singapore system works, he said.

Its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic well has made this track record stand out even more, he added, noting that the 4G team played a key role in tackling the crisis.

Singapore is also known to honour its commitments and act based on principles which are upheld consistently, said PM Lee, and not reverse its policies from one election to another.

“Our leaders speak with the mandate and authority to deliver on what they say because they enjoy the support and confidence of the people,” he added.

In addition, Singaporeans make useful contributions on global issues, he said.

For instance, Mr Daren Tang, the director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, is a Singaporean; Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is co-chairing the global commission on water governance; and Singapore’s Ambassador for Oceans and Law of the Sea Issues Rena Lee had in March successfully brought all parties together to conclude a historic deal on the protection of international waters.

All of these factors have helped confidence and trust in the Singapore brand to grow, PM Lee said, calling on Singaporeans to uphold the country’s reputation.

But he noted that there is no formula that can guarantee that Singapore’s system will continue to work well for the long term, acknowledging that attitudes and mindsets change, new stresses and strains appear, and people forget the values and experience of the founding generation over time.

That is why ensuring that Singapore has good leaders for the long term is an unending and demanding challenge for successive generations, said PM Lee.

He added that he and his older colleagues have prepared a strong and capable next team to take over, who can take Singapore further forward so that the country has the chance to produce and support new generations of leaders to come.

Singaporeans experienced first-hand the importance of strong political leadership during the pandemic, he said.

The population rose to the occasion, the public service performed magnificently, but Singapore’s response, and the results, would have been very different without political leaders who could set the direction, make the tough calls and rally the people together, he added.

“The MTF ministers were in the hot seat, but the whole 4G team played a key role,” PM Lee said, referring to the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19.

“It was a formative experience for the 4G ministers. Handling the crisis, they got the measure of each other and gained confidence in each other’s judgment and abilities.”

Increasingly, the 4G ministers are also responsible for the safety and well-being of the country, he added.

The team has a strong agenda to fulfil both domestically and internationally, but cannot do it on their own, PM Lee said, as he asked for Singaporeans’ support to see through these plans.

“Elect the leaders whom you can trust to take us forward,” he said. “Give yourselves the best chance to keep our system working well for Singaporeans for many years to come.”