Singapore's President outlines goals for the government's new term

Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam said on Friday the government would work in its new term to keep the country safe and secure, renew the economy and foster a more caring society.

Work must be done to transform Singapore's urban landscape and foster partnership and collaboration among citizens, the president said during his address at the first session of the 13th parliament.

President Tan also offered the solution to ensure Singapore remains special, that is, "we must first resolve to move ahead together."

"The work of securing this nation and improving our lives is never-ending. We must continually adjust our programs and policies to ensure that Singapore keeps on an upward path." he said.

In the wake of the terror attacks in Jakarta on Thursday, President Tan warned that a terrorist attack in Singapore will "not only cause death and injury, but could also tear apart our social fabric". Hence, it's important to keep Singaporean society united and resilient.

"Every Singaporean has a role to play in keeping our country safe and preserving our multi-racial harmony. All must reject violence, and keep working to deepen mutual understanding and expand our common spaces." said the president.

As for renewing the economy, President Tan stressed Singapore must continue to invest in education, from pre-school to lifelong, secure the success of the SkillsFuture program to make sure workers mastering skills that equipped for the jobs of the future.

The government will keep healthcare affordable and accessible, and strengthen the primary care sector, he said.