Speaking to some 300 students at the SMU Ministerial Forum on Wednesday, Law Minister K. Shanmugam painted a startling picture of how demographic trends combined with rising costs and external competition could cause Singapore to fall behind its neighbours in ASEAN. This, he said, could have implications on how the country supports its growing number of retirees. Citing statistics to back up his point, he said that by 2030, each retired person will be supported by just two working adults, down from the current six. For the working population to better support this larger pool of retirees, he added, the country's economy must continue to grow. The minister also responded to questions raised by the students on the haze, foreign affairs, education, population and freedom of speech.