RVCooks

Are Singaporeans dependent on the state for their basic needs?

Background information:

Lee Kuan Yew often said that welfare undermined self-reliance. Singapore always had, in the past, an anti-welfare stance, especially during the time of our first leaders. In the second generation of leaders, they had the many helping hands approach to help encourage the spirit of gotong royong (Malay for cooperation). Nowadays, since Covid, the government has doled out the Assurance Package to help the people through the tough years.

Source A: The “Many Helping Hands” approach in Singapore 

Source B: Poster on the Assurance Package 2026

Source C: An outline of how medical bills are paid in Singapore 

Source D: a source about skillsfuture training

Study Sources B and D. How different are the sources?

Study Source A. What can you infer about the second team of leaders?

Study Source C. What is the message of the source?