Welcome Remarks by President Halimah Yacob at the Merdeka Generation Roadshow at Wisma Geylang Serai

Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, 

Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs and Mayor of South East District, 

Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Good morning. I am pleased to join you here today at the 17^th roadshow organised for our Merdeka Generation seniors. I am happy to see so many fellow Merdeka Generation members here with their families. 

The Merdeka Generation grew up amidst the uncertainty of our nation’s formative years in the 1950s and 60s. As a member of this generation, I remember the times when things were not so smooth sailing. Many of us made sacrifices so that our families could enjoy more comfortable lives. This often meant that we had fewer opportunities and were less able to save up for our healthcare needs. I am therefore glad that the Government has come up with the Merdeka Generation Package (MGP). The Package will enable this generation of Singaporeans, who helped build Singapore into what it is today, to age actively and purposefully with better assurance over future healthcare costs. An estimated 500,000 Singaporeans from the Merdeka Generation will benefit from the Package. 

Three of the five benefits in the Package have already taken effect – a $100 PAssion Silver Card top-up, which can be used for public transport or active ageing programmes; a $200 MediSave top-up; and a 5% subsidy off the MediShield Life annual premium. Come November, Merdeka Generation seniors can also look forward to additional subsidies for outpatient care by General Practitioners and dental clinics participating in the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), polyclinics and public specialist outpatient clinics.   

Apart from these direct benefits, the MGP roadshows have also become a useful platform for various government agencies to come together to create meaningful activities and programmes for our seniors. To date, Merdeka Generation community outreach efforts have engaged about 130,000 seniors to help them stay healthy, active and connected. At the roadshows, seniors can learn about their benefits, pick up digital skills and sign up for active aging programmes.   

We can all play a part to support our Merdeka Generation seniors in their silver years, by helping them understand and make use of the benefits available to them. At today’s roadshow, we have booths set up by M³ - a collaborative effort between MENDAKI, MUIS and MESRA - and KURNIA@WGS to share more about the support networks and services for seniors in the Malay/Muslim community. Harnessing the energy and ‘kampong spirit’ of these community networks, we can provide holistic support and last-mile delivery services to meet the needs of our seniors.  

With the Merdeka Generation Package, Singaporeans of that generation can feel a lot more secure in meeting their healthcare needs. However, the best approach is still to stay healthy, so that we do not have to make use of medical services. Poor health affects our quality of life as it disrupts our ability to carry out our activities of daily living, or to take part in social activities and it is hard on the family. Hence, it is imperative that we take control of our own health by exercising regularly, eating healthily and going for regular medical check-ups. We need to focus more on preventive measures as the statistics on the health condition of the community is not encouraging at all. All of us have a duty to take care of our own health and to encourage, motivate and support others in our family, office and community to do likewise. Let me now say a few words in Malay. 

Pameran bergerak Pakej Generasi Merdeka juga merupakan wadah yang berguna bagi agensi-agensi pemerintah berganding bahu untuk menganjurkan kegiatan-kegiatan dan program-program yang bermakna bagi warga emas kita. Sejauh ini, usaha pendekatan masyarakat Generasi Merdeka telah melibatkan kira-kira 130,000 warga emas, untuk membantu mereka kekal sihat, aktif dan terhubung. Menerusi pameran-pameran bergerak ini, warga emas boleh mendapatkan maklumat mengenai faedah-faedah yang boleh mereka nikmati, mempelajari kemahiran digital, dan mendaftarkan diri untuk program-program penuaan aktif.  

Kita semua boleh memainkan peranan dalam menyokong warga emas Generasi Merdeka sedang mereka meniti usia senja, dengan membantu mereka memahami dan memanfaatkan faedah-faedah yang disediakan untuk mereka. Pada pameran bergerak hari ini, ada reruai-reruai yang disediakan oleh M Kuasa Tiga (M³), iaitu kerjasama antara Mendaki, MUIS dan MESRA, serta KURNIA@WGS. Tujuan badan-badan ini adalah untuk berkongsi lebih lanjut mengenai rangkaian sokongan dan perkhidmatan bagi golongan warga emas Melayu/Islam. Dengan menggembleng tenaga dan semangat gotong-royong rangkaian masyarakat ini, kita mampu memberi sokongan menyeluruh dan memastikan warga emas kita dapat memanfaatkan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan bagi memenuhi keperluan mereka. 

Dengan adanya Pakej Generasi Merdeka, rakyat Singapura daripada generasi tersebut akan berasa lebih terjamin untuk menampung keperluan penjagaan kesihatan mereka. Namun, cara yang terbaik masihlah dengan menjaga kesihatan, supaya kita tidak perlu menggunakan khidmat perubatan. Jika kita jatuh sakit, mutu kehidupan kita akan terjejas kerana kita tidak lagi mampu melakukan kegiatan harian, atau sosial kita. Keluarga kita juga merasa kesannya. Oleh itu, adalah penting untuk kita sendiri bertanggungjawab atas kesihatan diri kita dengan kerap bersenam, menjaga makan dan menjalani pemeriksaan perubatan. Kita harus memberi perhatian yang lebih kepada langkah-langkah pencegahan. Ini kerana statistik mengenai tahap kesihatan masyarakat kita agak kurang menggalakkan. Kita semua mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk menjaga kesihatan kita dan memberi galakan, motivasi dan sokongan kepada anggota keluarga kita, rakan sekerja dan masyarakat kita supaya melakukan yang sama. Jadi saya harap ibu-ibu dan bapa bapa yang hadir hari ini sudah dapat informasi atau keterangan butir-butir tentang Pakej Generasi Merdeka. Saya berharap anda semua dapat berkongsi dengan jiran, ahli keluarga atau rakan kerja supaya mereka yang layak dapat juga menmanfaatkan dari pakej ini. 

In closing, I would like to commend the efforts of government agencies, community organisations and Singaporeans to help the Merdeka Generation to stay healthy, active and connected. To my fellow Merdeka Generation members, I hope that you will enjoy the activities planned for you today. Thank you.