Faith in the promise of Singapore gave its people the strength to build a nation from scratch 60 years ago, and this shared purpose will be even more vital in the years ahead, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In his National Day message on Aug 8, he called on Singaporeans to band together to overcome new challenges in a rapidly changing and more uncertain world.
Singapore must remain exceptional in its cohesion, resolve and performance to stay ahead, PM Wong said.
“As a small nation, we cannot afford to be divided. Our unity has always been our source of strength. When we stand together, there is nothing we cannot overcome,” he said as he briefly recounted how the Republic has prevailed against the odds since its independence.
He was speaking at the Padang, where Singapore’s first local head of state Yusof Ishak was inaugurated when it became a self-governing state in 1959, and the venue of the inaugural National Day Parade in 1966.
The 2025 parade celebrating SG60 will take place at the Padang on Aug 9.
A five-minute video of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew reading out the Proclamation of Singapore – the official document that marked Singapore’s separation from Malaysia – was broadcast before the National Day message.
PM Wong, who had spoken of a changed world ahead of and throughout the hustings before the May general election, said in his message that the situation has since grown graver.
“New conflicts have broken out. Geopolitical tensions have deepened. Barriers to trade are hardening. And protectionist sentiments are worsening,” he said.
“To put it bluntly: The global order that enabled Singapore to thrive for decades is unravelling before our eyes.”
Singapore must now navigate this more contested and volatile world in its own way, said PM Wong.
In the general election, Singaporeans “chose the team you believe can best steer Singapore through this turbulence”, he said.
“Your wisdom and trust give my government the political assurance to act boldly, and the confidence to lead with conviction.”
The PAP won 87 out of 97 seats, along with 65.6 per cent of the vote, in PM Wong’s first electoral outing as party secretary-general.
With the global economy expected to remain troubled for some time, the Prime Minister set out how the Government is responding – the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce is rolling out targeted measures to support businesses and workers, and identifying new opportunities.
While Singapore’s economy has been resilient so far, the outlook remains highly uncertain, he noted.
Beyond responding to immediate headwinds, Singapore has to anticipate what is on the horizon as other countries are not standing still, said PM Wong.
Bigger powers, with more resources and larger populations, are now more willing to use every tool at their disposal – economic, technological and geopolitical – to tilt the playing field in their favour, he said.
“That will make it harder for small states like Singapore to hold our own,” he added.
Singapore is thus refreshing its economic strategy, PM Wong said, to strengthen its competitiveness, deepen its capabilities and secure its future in a very different world.
The review was announced earlier in the week, with five committees formed to look at different aspects of the economy including competitiveness, technology and entrepreneurship.
“We must move faster, adapt quicker and innovate smarter,” he said.
This means applying new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics meaningfully across the economy.
While this transition may cause some disruption, the Government will expand opportunities for learning and skills upgrading, strengthen social safety nets and help every Singaporean facing setbacks to bounce back, said PM Wong.
Some new policies like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support scheme – which provides temporary financial support to people who are involuntarily unemployed – have already been introduced to help those individuals get back on their feet, he noted.
The Government will do more to uplift lower-income workers and families, and create more pathways for every Singaporean to succeed, regardless of their starting point in life, he added.
This has to be a shared effort, he said. The Government is partnering community groups, businesses, unions and individuals to shape solutions, put ideas into action, and make a difference.
“Singapore’s future must be built by all of us together – through our actions, our compassion, and our willingness to lift up one another.”
The Straits Times
