National Day Rally 2025: Beyond SG60 Writing Our Next Chapter

PM Lawrence Wong calls on Singaporeans to unite, write nation’s next chapter together

Government will place citizens at centre of what it does but people must also chip in, look out for one another, he says

By Goh Yan Han, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called on Singaporeans to band together to write the next chapter of the nation’s story, as he set out plans to support them throughout various stages of life.

He gave the assurance that the Government will place Singaporeans at the centre of everything it does, be it navigating economic uncertainty or tackling technological disruption and demographic shifts.

In his first National Day Rally after the general election, PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, outlined how his Government intends to address the challenges relating to the economy, senior citizens and the younger population.

It will provide job support – in particular, for fresh graduates and mid-career workers – and develop community infrastructure to support the growing population of elderly citizens.

Addressing the audience at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 17, PM Wong opened his English speech by setting out the immediate challenges that Singapore is facing in a “more troubled and turbulent world”.

These include global tariffs imposed by the United States earlier this year, growing global contestation and rapid advancements in technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Singapore is reviewing its economic strategy on various fronts to secure its future in a changed world, he said, noting that harnessing innovation and technology will allow the country to sustainably raise its productivity and improve lives.

“Ultimately, our economic strategy is about jobs, jobs and jobs – that’s our No. 1 priority”, said PM Wong.

Three announcements in his speech centred on jobs: a job-matching scheme at the town level, enhancements to an existing SkillsFuture scheme for mid-career workers, and a government-funded traineeship programme for tertiary education graduates. The details of these schemes will be announced later.

PM Wong said new jobs will be created, as he acknowledged Singaporeans’ worries about jobs evolving or disappearing due to technological change.

“I assure you, even as we embrace AI and technology, we will not lose sight of our key priority,” he said.

“Singaporeans will always be at the centre of everything we do.”

He said the Government is committed to helping every worker progress and succeed, and will not rush headlong into adopting new technology.

There are plans to equip and empower every business, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to harness AI effectively, he said.

The authorities will also work closely with unions and workers to redesign jobs and help Singaporeans seize new job opportunities, he added.

“The road ahead will not be easy. But we are not going to sit back and resign ourselves to being mere bystanders in a world shaped by others,” said PM Wong.

“We will take charge of our own destiny. We will shape the future we want – through our own actions, and our own choices.”

Turning to the issue of long-term care for seniors, PM Wong announced a new Age Well Neighbourhoods scheme that will adopt features from HDB Community Care Apartments – senior-friendly public housing that provides care services for residents.

The scheme is meant to allow senior citizens to live more independently in their own neighbourhoods, as Singapore’s demographics shift towards more elderly citizens and smaller family sizes.

Identified towns – starting with Toa Payoh and one or two other areas – will have more active ageing centres for seniors to gather, said PM Wong.

Home-based services such as basic health checks and housekeeping will be provided to seniors, with healthcare services brought closer to them as well, he added.

The scheme builds on the existing Age Well SG nationwide initiative for seniors to lead more active lives in their homes and communities.

“That’s how we will grow old – not in isolation, never alone, but always together as one Singapore family,” PM Wong said.

On challenges faced by the younger generation, PM Wong brought up vaping and excessive screen time.

Flagging vaping as a serious concern, he said the Government will take much tougher action and treat it as a drug issue.

It is also studying how other countries manage access to the internet and social media for children, he added.

Setting out the Government’s stance on responding to technological developments – like the use of AI by students – PM Wong said Singapore has to strike the right balance between protecting young people from potential harms and empowering them to fully exploit the benefits of technology.

He also sketched out plans for the northern part of the island, building on the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Draft Master Plan 2025, which covers Singapore’s development plans for the next 10 to 15 years.

These plans include redeveloping the areas in Woodlands North, Kranji racecourse and Sembawang Shipyard.

As the Government reimagines new uses for existing land, it is also developing plans to protect the country’s coastline against rising sea levels, he added.

“So even as climate shifts and circumstances evolve, one thing is certain: Singapore’s progress will never be left to chance. We are – and have always been – a nation that adapts, reinvents and dares to dream,” said PM Wong.

Good plans and strategies are just the first step for Singapore’s continued progress, said PM Wong as he wrapped up his speech.

“What matters just as much – and even more – is the collective will of our people,” he said, adding it is this Singapore spirit that binds everyone together.

Going forward, Singapore must be a “we first” society with a people that considers others and not just themselves, said PM Wong.

“If each of us does our part for the ‘we’ – care, contribute and look out for one another – then the ‘me’ will thrive and flourish too,” he added.

His team will continue to involve Singaporeans in policy discussions, and will open up more avenues for people to be heard and to get involved.

“We certainly do not want to end up as a society where people rely solely on the government. It’s about all of us – government, businesses, workers and unions, community groups and civil society – doing our part,” he said.

“That’s how my team and I intend to lead. Not just doing things for Singaporeans – but doing things with Singaporeans.”

The nation cannot stand still as it looks beyond SG60, as standing still today is the same as falling behind, said PM Wong.

He urged Singaporeans to dream bigger, be bolder in pushing new frontiers, and be ready to try new things, even if they stumble or fall.

“We take pride in whatever we do, and strive to be the best possible versions of ourselves,” he said.

“We never give up and we never let each other down. That’s how we’ve achieved exceptional performance. That’s how we will continue to stay exceptional – as a people and a country.”

NDP 2025: Majulah Singapura

Singapore turns 60: Padang and Marina Bay dazzle in milestone celebration

By Ng Keng Gene, The Straits Times, 10 Aug 2025

In a grand celebration of Singapore’s diamond jubilee, tens of thousands flocked to the heart of the city-state on Aug 9 to mark the Republic’s 60th year of independence.

To allow more to soak in the pomp and pageantry of the birthday bash, parade organisers extended the celebrations beyond the Padang to Marina Bay, where about 200,000 people gathered.

At the bay, some spots were so popular that Merlion Park and the area in front of One Fullerton were closed by 4.38pm – an hour before the National Day Parade (NDP) kicked off at 5.40pm.

The earlier sweltering heat gave way to a passing drizzle shortly before the parade got under way.

Kicking off the milestone parade, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made a surprise appearance with his electric guitar in the pre-parade video Makin’ Our Way.

Another crowd pleaser came at 5.50pm, when seven naval divers leapt from an H225M medium-lift helicopter, descending about 1,830m into the bay – flippers first.

They were followed about five minutes later by seven Red Lions parachutists, whose much-awaited arrival at the Padang delighted the crowd.

Having the naval divers plop into the waters of Marina Bay enabled more people to get up close to the action outside the Padang, where the main parade took place.

Among the 27,000 spectators at the Padang were foreign guests such as Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, who were seated close to Singapore’s Cabinet ministers in the VIP stand to witness the special event.

Besides the customary 21-gun salute for President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, spectators at the bay were also treated to a maritime vessel display, four water floats, a live performance by singer Benjamin Kheng on a floating stage, as well as vibrant light projections on The Fullerton Hotel and UOB Plaza.

NDP 2025, which involved about 6,000 participants across the pre-parade, parade and ceremony, mobile column and show segments, offered notable firsts.

For the first time in parade history, the parade and ceremony segment featured a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) guard-of-honour contingent, following public feedback.

It will be a permanent fixture of the guard-of-honour contingents in the years to come, joining four from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and one from the Singapore Police Force.

The Singapore Armed Forces Volunteer Corps, to commemorate its 10th anniversary, also fielded a full contingent at the parade for the first time.

Eyes were turned skywards and necks craned as the Republic of Singapore Air Force put on eight aerial displays over the course of the night.

It began with the traditional State Flag fly-past. Later, fighter jet pilots pulled off a gravity-defying “bomb burst” manoeuvre, where the planes soared upwards before speeding off in various directions in a salute to the nation.

Integrating aerial fly-pasts into the mobile column had never been done until NDP 2025, where 22 aircraft flew over the Padang in four formations in a display of the RSAF’s aerial prowess.

While the mobile column demonstrated the Republic’s military might, some of the parade’s most poignant moments came in its final segment, beginning when Lieutenant-Colonel (NS) Alex Chan appeared in a Leopard 2SG main battle tank with his 10-year-old son Keith.

The crowd then broke into cheers when some SAF and Home Team veterans were introduced – in a nod to the shared commitment to defence across generations.

Among them were 95-year-old retired Second Warrant Officer Booi Seow Kiat, who sailed on RSS Panglima, the Republic of Singapore Navy’s first ship, and retired Senior Warrant Officer 1 Jimmy Tan, 66, who responded to the Hotel New World collapse in 1986 that killed 33.

It was on this note that the show segment kicked off, with singer-songwriter Charlie Lim and singer Kit Chan taking the stage to perform the parade’s theme song Here We Are.

As with most NDP shows, the artiste line-up was a mix of experienced hands and young talent.

Making its first appearance since NDP 2009 was local indie band Electrico, which performed that year’s parade theme song What Do You See.

Also returning to the show after a hiatus was Dick Lee, who last performed at NDP 2020, when an evening indoor concert was held in lieu of the usual outdoor show owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hoisted up in a basket attached to a floating balloon, he sang We Will Get There – the first National Day song he wrote, which was performed at the 2002 parade.

Representing a younger generation of artistes was singer-songwriter Linying, who performed original composition I Will Walk With You, while songstress Heema Izzati sang Lim’s Room At The Table.

Some of the night’s loudest cheers were reserved for Aldrich Jai Kishen, 31, one of five Singaporeans whose stories were told in a film screened in segments between the show’s four acts.

The film told of how Jai – a youth worker at Boys’ Town, where he was a resident – discovered a passion for drumming while in his teens that helped him to overcome a rough childhood.

Jai took to the stage for the show’s final act after the film concluded, performing an upbeat remix of Linying’s NDP 2021 theme song The Road Ahead, alongside Electrico vocalist Dave Tan.

In a Facebook post on Aug 9, President Tharman hailed Jai and others involved in the parade, saying “we have heroes all around the island”.

He cited Amelia Tan, nine, who was born with a rare condition resulting in her having speech and hearing difficulty. She did the sign language interpretation of the National Pledge towards the parade’s end.

“Such calm and composure, despite it being her first signing in public,” he said.

“As this year’s NDP song says, every voice is a story,” added the President. “We can all be heroes. Heroes in our own ways, in the story we write together.”

PM Wong said in a separate Facebook post that the parade was “a proud celebration of how far we’ve come – and a heartfelt tribute to the generations who built our nation”.

“As we mark SG60, we honour our past and look ahead to a new chapter. Our solidarity, resilience and unity will stand us in good stead for the road ahead,” he said.

“The best of our journey is yet to come.”

Rounding off the show was Kit Chan, who returned to the NDP stage for the first time since 2015 to belt out Home, the classic that she first performed at NDP 1998.

In a dazzling finale to NDP 2025, its theme – Majulah Singapura – were the last words sang as a kaleidoscope of fireworks illuminated the night sky at the close of the National Anthem.

Before long, rain fell over the Padang again, as President Tharman greeted performers prior to leaving the parade grounds.

Referring to the return of the drizzle as “showers of blessing”, show host Joakim Gomez said: “As we close this chapter to SG60, let’s move on into the next 60 years together. Relax – we will get there.”