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.”
10 highlights from PM Wong’s National Day Rally speech
By Chin Soo Fang, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025
Good plans and strategies are just the first step for Singapore and Singaporeans to continue progressing. What matters as much, if not more, is the collective will of the people – the Singapore spirit that binds the nation together and propels it forward.
This was a key message from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who delivered his second National Day Rally speech on Aug 17 at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.
Singapore got through the Covid-19 pandemic not only because of government measures, but also because of the Singapore spirit, said PM Wong. To keep the Republic going beyond SG60, it must be a “we first” society where everyone thrives together, he added.
“That’s how my team and I intend to lead,” he said. “Not just doing things for Singaporeans – but doing things with Singaporeans.”
Here are 10 highlights from his speech in English, Malay and Mandarin:
1. New state-funded traineeship programme
A new traineeship programme will be launched for Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnic and university graduates. Funded by the Government, it is aimed at addressing concerns about finding jobs amid the current economic uncertainties.
During the pandemic, a traineeship programme co-funded by the authorities helped keep the graduates’ skills warm as they prepared for economic recovery. With fresh government support, companies can offer more training opportunities, and the new programme will be scaled up should the economy worsen.
2. Job matching by CDCs
A new job-matching initiative at the town level will be led by the Community Development Councils (CDCs).
Given their strong networks with local merchants, small and medium-sized enterprises and community partners, CDCs are well placed to match job seekers with vacancies, especially those who prefer to work closer to home, said PM Wong.
The mayors will share more details soon.
3. Enhancements to SkillsFuture Level-Up
The SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme was introduced in 2024 to help Singaporeans aged 40 and above to reboot their skills. They get $4,000 in SkillsFuture credits and training allowances of up to $3,000 per month, for up to 24 months if they take time off from work to study full-time.
Two enhancements will be made to the programme. First, the Government will allow a portion of the training allowances to be claimed for part-time courses.
Second, it will expand the course offerings. While most of the eligible courses are currently offered by institutes of higher learning, there will be more quality courses offered by industry leaders and private training providers.
4. New Age Well Neighbourhoods to support seniors
Age Well Neighbourhoods to support seniors will be built, starting with Toa Payoh and one or two HDB towns with a higher concentration of the elderly.
These take the essential elements of Community Care Apartments, which are Housing Board flats that combine housing with care arrangements for seniors.
Physical touchpoints, such as active ageing centres, will be made more accessible to seniors in these neighbourhoods. Home-based services such as simple home fixes and basic health checks will be expanded, with dedicated care staff visiting seniors regularly and being first responders in times of emergency. Healthcare services will also be brought closer to the seniors, all to allow them to age in place with dignity, purpose and joy.
5. Tougher action against vaping
Vaping, which to date has been treated like tobacco, with fines imposed, will soon be tackled as a drug issue with much stiffer penalties.
Jail sentences and more severe punishments will be meted out to those who sell vapes with harmful substances. Those addicted to vapes will be provided with supervision and rehabilitation to help them quit.
A major public education drive will be mounted, starting in schools and the institutes of higher learning, and during national service.
6. Harnessing artificial intelligence effectively
Singapore will use artificial intelligence (AI) to raise productivity and create new value through every part of the economy.
It will equip and empower every enterprise, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to harness AI effectively and sharpen their competitive edge. It will also work closely with unions and workers to redesign jobs, and equip and empower workers.
Teachers are also encouraged to use AI in creative ways to improve learning outcomes, and to help their students be discerning and responsible users of technology who question, reflect and form their own judgments.
7. Strengthening online safety for children
The Government is studying ways to support parents in strengthening online safety for their children by looking at the experiences of countries which have passed laws to tighten internet and social media access for minors.
PM Wong noted that many parents are worried that their children are spending too much time online, and young people who are overly immersed in the virtual world may grow up more socially isolated, or be exposed to harmful content that affects their mental well-being.
In this age of AI, what matters are human qualities that machines cannot replicate, such as character, values, empathy and a sense of purpose, he added.
To emphasise this, more allied educators and teacher-counsellors are being deployed in schools, with greater emphasis being placed on Character and Citizenship Education.
8. More avenues for Singaporeans to be heard and involved
More avenues will be created for Singaporeans to be heard and to get involved in shaping policy. This is on top of the hackathons, citizens’ panels and youth panels that the Government has organised as channels for Singaporeans to co-create solutions.
Singapore must be a “we first” society, where everyone cares, contributes and looks out for one another, said PM Wong as he urged Singaporeans to strengthen their bonds, which will also help each one to thrive and flourish.
9. New Singapore College of Islamic Studies to have its own campus
The upcoming Singapore College of Islamic Studies (SCIS) will have its own campus next to the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) campus in Rochor.
SCIS and SUSS will be housed in their own buildings, reflecting their unique identities and purpose.
SCIS students will be able to take SUSS’ social science courses as part of their studies.
Both institutions will also share facilities, ensuring that students from both institutions can better interact with one another and enrich their time on campus.
10. Future developments and coastal protection
The northern part of Singapore, which is seen by some as more remote, will be transformed.
The Woodlands Checkpoint will be made five times bigger. Flexible industrial spaces will be built around the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link station to support businesses seeking to take full advantage of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. In addition, there will be spaces for new homes, making Woodlands a modern and vibrant regional centre.
Kranji will become a new public housing estate for up to 14,000 homes, while new concepts for dining, shopping and housing are in the pipeline for Sembawang, with plans being formulated for its waterfront.
Meanwhile, coastal protection will be enhanced around the island, such as the Long Island project for the south-eastern shorelines, and protection works around Changi Bay.
Age Well Neighbourhoods to boost seniors’ access to healthcare, activities
Move to provide them with support to age at home and within their community
By Judith Tan and Samuel Devaraj, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025
With more seniors preferring to age at home and within the community they live in, Singapore will be rolling out a scheme to provide them with the support to do so.
Called Age Well Neighbourhoods, the initiative was announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 17.
The first of these neighbourhoods will be launched in Toa Payoh, one of Singapore’s oldest towns, as well as in “one or two other places” with a higher concentration of seniors, he added.
“Nearly one-quarter of residents in Toa Payoh are 65 and above – it is already a super-aged town.”
PM Wong said that while many of the seniors live with caregivers – their children or domestic helpers – more are living on their own.
This reflects Singapore’s changing demographics, where there are more singles and couples without children. Even among those with children, family sizes are smaller, he added.
“So many seniors choose to live independently, in order not to burden their children. We have been studying how to better support seniors in Toa Payoh and other older towns.”
He said that while Community Care Apartments (CCAs), a joint initiative by the National Development and Health ministries, are an answer to tackle long-term care and living arrangements, they are not the primary solution to Singapore’s seniors ageing in place. For one thing, there is a limit to how many of such flats can be built, he added.
CCAs are HDB flats that combine housing with care arrangements for seniors. These flats come with senior-friendly features such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms with grab bars and slip-resistant floors.
The senior residents subscribe to a package of services, such as home fixes, health checks or housekeeping.
There is currently only one completed CCA project in Singapore in Bukit Batok.
Another CCA project in Queenstown is expected to be completed in 2028, while a third project was launched in Bedok in December 2023.
“Furthermore, many seniors do not want to move out. They have lived in their homes for many years. They are used to their neighbours and familiar with their current environment. So they prefer to age where they are, and we will need to provide for them as they get older,” PM Wong said.
Within every CCA block, there is a centre with full-time staff who work round the clock to coordinate the delivery of the services and attend to urgent needs.
The centre also serves as an activity centre for residents to gather daily, meet friends and take part in activities.
PM Wong said he had visited Singapore’s first CCA project, Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok, earlier this year.
“The residents told me they were very happy to live there,” he added.
“I told Desmond Lee, who was then Minister for National Development, that we needed more CCAs! Now Chee Hong Tat in MND (Ministry of National Development) is pursuing this.”
But while the Government will build more CCAs in HDB towns in the coming years, such flats cannot be the main solution.
“But we can take the essential elements from the CCA and apply the same thinking to the wider neighbourhood – to build Age Well Neighbourhoods that support our seniors where they are,” PM Wong said.
For example, he said, the Government will make “physical touchpoints more accessible to seniors”.
There were six active ageing centres in Toa Payoh four years ago.
“There are now 13 (such centres). That may sound like a lot, but some seniors still have to walk more than 1km just to reach the nearest one. So we will identify new sites, to make it more convenient,” he added.
Having more space also means more activities and facilities, such as exercise classes and gym rooms.
“We can offer more varied forms of exercise – even kickboxing, which some seniors have taken up; or this activity called cardio drumming,” he said, referring to an exercise that is a mix of aerobic workout and drumming.
The Prime Minister also noticed that such activities appeal more to women, “so we are also working on programmes that can interest the men, including hands-on activities like carpentry workshops”.
He said some seniors may also want to contribute their time to volunteer at these centres.
He cited a group that had offered DIY repair services for wheelchairs, saying: “It shows that seniors don’t just want to be looked after, they want to care for others too.”
Another essential element from the CCA, such as home-based services, will be expanded in the Age Well Neighbourhoods as well, PM Wong said.
Seniors can choose what services they need, such as simple home repairs and basic health checks.
“For seniors with additional needs, we will provide additional options like housekeeping, laundry and meal deliveries; and assistance with activities of daily living like showering and feeding,” he said.
He added that there will be dedicated care staff to coordinate these services, visit seniors regularly and be first responders in times of emergency.
He also promised to bring healthcare services closer to the seniors through Age Well Neighbourhoods, with more care facilities for those who need rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
“Public hospitals will set up health posts in the community. These health posts will deploy nurses on the ground more regularly. They will help with post-discharge follow-up and medication management,” he said.
PM Wong added: “Seniors can drop by for basic care and health consultations without having to travel to a clinic.”
The Prime Minister said that in other countries, what he had described might be called a retirement village.
“But in Singapore, we don’t want our seniors to live in separate isolated places,” he said.
“We will build a Singapore where every senior – no matter where they live – can age with dignity, purpose and joy; a Singapore where we support one another – as neighbours and friends in our community.
“That is how we will grow old – not in isolation, never alone, but always together as one Singapore family.”
Mr Foo Cexiang, an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, welcomed PM Wong’s announcement to launch the Age Well Neighbourhoods initiative in areas with a higher concentration of seniors.
He oversees the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru ward within the constituency.
He told The Straits Times that his constituency is one of the oldest in Singapore, and that the seniors there “want to age where they live because they have ties and strong sense of belonging in the area”.
Mr Foo, who is on the government parliamentary committees for National Development and Sustainability and the Environment, added that he hopes his constituency would be selected for the Age Well Neighbourhoods scheme.
Tanjong Pagar is separated from Tiong Bahru by the Central Expressway, he said, adding that residents do not tend to cross from one neighbourhood to the next for activities.
“I believe mobility is a big part of it. The other reason is that it takes time to travel – that also increases the inertia,” he said.
Mr Foo added that while his constituency has existing schemes to support seniors, providing amenities and home care services within the neighbourhood “is on another level”.
“Having home care services go in and show seniors the warmth and concern of the community, build friendships, and from that process, encourage them to come out of the home, I think that is the virtuous circle we are trying to create,” he added.
First homes at former Kranji racecourse ready in about 10 years
Three areas in Singapore’s north to be turned into vibrant locations: PM Wong
By Ng Keng Gene, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025
The first homes in a new public housing estate at the former racecourse in Kranji will be ready in about 10 years’ time.
This new estate will combine urban living with natural heritage, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 17, as he laid out redevelopment plans for three areas in northern Singapore – Kranji, Sembawang Shipyard and Woodlands.
PM Wong noted that previous speeches had covered plans for the western, eastern and central regions.
“Some people say the northern part of Singapore is more ‘ulu’, more remote. I assure you, it’s not. So tonight, I will focus on the north,” he said to applause from the audience at ITE College Central.
Referring to the Kranji racecourse as “a rare opportunity for a major transformation”, PM Wong said the site has the right ingredients to be developed for housing, such as ample space, good connectivity and nature at its doorstep.
Singapore Turf Club held its last race at the Kranji racecourse on Oct 5, 2024, and the club will return the site to the Government by March 2027, freeing up about 130ha of land – equivalent in size to roughly 200 football fields – for development.
PM Wong said the connectivity of the Kranji area will be improved, citing plans for a new MRT station at Sungei Kadut, which will be an interchange connecting the North-South and Downtown MRT lines.
The station is slated to open in 2035 and will be one stop away from the existing Kranji MRT station.
PM Wong also highlighted the former racecourse site’s natural surroundings, citing the upcoming Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat Nature Park that is set to open in 2028, the Rail Corridor, and Sungei Mandai, a waterway.
He said some 14,000 new homes will be built, and noted that they will be nestled amid lush green spaces and supported by new amenities like a new neighbourhood centre around Kranji MRT station.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) previously said both public and private homes will be built at the site.
Turning to the plans for Sembawang Shipyard, PM Wong said there are many possibilities for the creative reuse of the space.
For instance, he said, a dry dock where ships are repaired could be reused as a community space for sports, concerts and events, or as a plaza for people to gather.
Referencing the site’s coastline, PM Wong said there will be homes with waterfront living, new dining and shopping concepts, and new community spaces along the promenade.
“When you put it all together, this can become a new vibrant waterfront destination in the north – rich in heritage, yet reimagined for the future,” he said of the area, which was a naval base established by the British in 1938 before being converted into a shipyard that was officially opened in 1971.
URA said in June that the shipyard will be relocated from 2028.
As for Woodlands, PM Wong said more homes, including public housing, will be built along the Woodlands waterfront.
These are in addition to the upcoming “Housing by the Woods” precinct, which the Housing Board said will have about 4,000 flats built over 21ha of land, offering scenic views of Admiralty Park and Woodlands Waterfront.
Citing these plans and other upcoming infrastructural upgrades, PM Wong said Woodlands will be reshaped and transformed into a modern and vibrant regional centre.
He touched on Woodlands Checkpoint, which will be expanded to five times its current size, and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is set to open in 2026.
More flexible industrial spaces will be built around the RTS station in Woodlands North. These are expected to accommodate a mix of uses, including retail and dining.
Referencing the development of Punggol over the past two decades, PM Wong said the Government will deliver on its plans to develop Kranji and Sembawang.
“Kranji and Sembawang will flourish as even more vibrant towns – full of life and opportunity,” he said.
Briefly recapping plans to protect Singapore against climate change and rising sea levels, PM Wong listed land reclamation at Pulau Tekong, works at Changi Bay and the upcoming Long Island project off East Coast.
“Land is limited and precious in Singapore – so we do whatever it takes to protect whatever we have today,” said PM Wong, adding that plans to protect other parts of Singapore are being developed.
Amid climate change and other shifting circumstances, Singapore’s progress will never be left to chance, PM Wong said.
“We are and have always been a nation that adapts, reinvents and dares to dream.”
A ‘we first’ Singapore is the hardest policy for PM Lawrence Wong to deliver
Any workable conception of a ‘we first’ society starts with this: The Government is not the main character.
By Bhavan Jaipragas, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025
The idea that Singapore’s social compact needs rejuvenation has run through much of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s domestically orientated, big-picture speeches since he took office – and in the year before, as he prepared for succession.
Fifteen months in as Prime Minister, with a landslide election victory in the bag, this looks like the golden thread in his governing philosophy.
So it is no surprise the theme coursed through Aug 17’s National Day Rally – across his Malay, Mandarin and English speeches.
The big idea PM Wong gave Singaporeans to chew on was building a “we first” society – the antithesis of hyper-individualism and the ever-present “you do you” ethos, where life is seen as solely an individual journey towards personal fulfilment.
Instead, PM Wong said, each Singaporean also has a responsibility to contribute to and care for one another. For Singapore to succeed, “we” must precede “me”.
Yet of all the big things he spoke about – help for youth, building Age Well Neighbourhoods – the most nebulous is surely this “we first” society idea.
PM Wong would probably be the first to concede that. This is not something his Cabinet and the bureaucracy can deliver through their world-beating ability to fulfil policy promises, or by simply spending, drawing on the republic’s status as one of the world’s wealthiest societies.
Here, the Government can be a guiding hand – but even at its best, it cannot drive this change on its own.
PM Wong put it aptly in his Mandarin speech, noting that if Singapore were to rely solely on top-down policies, it would never achieve true success. “Singapore’s success is built on the efforts of every Singaporean – helping one another, sharing weal and woe, and braving challenges hand in hand,” he said.
Any workable conception of a “we first” society starts with this: The Government is not the main character. Ordinary people are, and change spreads through a contagion of small gestures, with institutions, the state with its social policies, and the corporate sector playing important supporting roles.
Among individuals, some will go beyond small gestures – like the three people PM Wong highlighted in his English speech. Among them was 2024 Straits Times Singaporean of the Year Koh Seng Choon, whose push to build Dignity Kitchen, which hires people with disabilities, meant not taking a salary for years and at one point doing five jobs at once.
Also featured was Ms Siti Adriana Muhamad Rasip, who learnt about the difficulties faced by lower-income families during an internship at the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and subsequently went on to co-found the Empowered Families Initiative, which supports these at-risk family units. Another example PM Wong cited was Mr Yasser Amin, who chanced upon a Telegram channel for beach clean-ups in 2020 and now runs his own sessions.
The point of spotlighting them is not to suggest everyone must be a big organiser or have the means to scale their efforts to help others. You do not have to. If anything, treating such stories as the minimum standard paralyses a “we first” society. What matters is doing that bit extra for those around you – to care, contribute and look out for one another, to use PM Wong’s words – and that can be small.
Be more neighbourly for a start – and, crucially, because it is right, not because you are required to be.
If you are a smoker, do not smoke in your flat because you care about second-hand smoke affecting your neighbours. Bag your rubbish properly so refuse workers have an easier time. Whether you are a pedestrian, cyclist or personal mobility device user, be kind to others on pavements.
Be extra patient with seniors who need help with instructions, with directions or with using technology. Greet the security guard, the cleaner in your office – acknowledge their humanity. Indeed, there’s no shortage of such acts. Anyone paying attention sees them every day.
A “we first” society does not need grand gestures; it needs a constant stream of these small ones.
It should not be an “up there” stratospheric ideal or a distant target to meet. It is about today – here, where life actually takes place.
PM Wong captured this when he noted that greatness is not just found in big projects.
It is found in the aspirations and hopes of every Singaporean – regardless of postcode, income level, the schools you went to. Everyone has something to contribute.
The obvious obstacle standing in the way of this we-first ideal is hyper-individualism – the opposite extreme philosophy.
When every aspect of life is oriented towards economic gain, people’s mental gears keep zooming in to “how can I benefit?”, not “how can we do right by one another?”. Much as in Western societies, we too are enveloped by forces fuelling this trend – consumerism and a terminally online digital culture.
Singapore’s saving grace, one could say, is the cultural moorings of our melting-pot society, which emphasise that community is strength. The Malay saying PM Wong quoted in his Malay speech, “muafakat membawa berkat” (“consensus brings blessings”), is one expression of that – but such instincts are not self-renewing; they need tending, or the tide of hyper-individualism will pull us the other way.
Another challenge in building a “we first” society: the old fault lines we have grappled with throughout our nation-building project. Building a society that cuts across ethnic tribes and other schisms requires give-and-take.
As new generations come into political consciousness, they need to heed how we negotiate middle ground – how we argue our positions on policy, social issues, relations with a particular country, or any international matter – with tact.
Here, the words of American columnist Peggy Noonan come to mind. She laments that in her country, there is an “epidemic of tactlessness, which is an absence of respect for the other side, for whoever is on that side”. Singapore should not slide down that route.
Whether it is the Government, political parties, civil society groups or individuals in dialogue, nothing is lost when criticism is heard and respected. The “other side” – so long as the motive is clearly national interest, not narrow self-interest or the interest of external parties – should be listened to, not met with insulting labels.
The other threat – and, in this columnist’s view, the biggest – is cynicism and declinism: the strain one reads in some online discourse that the good “gotong royong” or “kampung spirit” years are gone for good, so the ongoing efforts to shore up social capital are wasted. It holds the early years to a gold standard, often through a sepia-tinted lens.
But that can miss how society is changing – younger Singaporeans often show solidarity differently, through online communities, ad-hoc mutual-aid efforts and issue-based activism. Gotong royong will continue to evolve with the times, and is certainly not dead.
It is hard to argue this counterpoint rationally with the cynics and the declinists.
The only real counter is action – by all Singaporeans – in small, selfless gestures and, as with Mr Koh, Ms Siti Adriana or Mr Yasser, sometimes not-so-small ones.
In his Mandarin speech, PM Wong evoked the 1980’s Hokkien hit song A Little Umbrella, about two people sharing shelter in the rain. Unable to see the road ahead clearly, they kept singing: “As the rain gets heavier, I will take care of you, and you will take care of me.”
In a dangerous, changed world, that must be the Singaporean instinct: When the sky opens, look out for one another – do that bit extra, show up for someone other than yourself. Rain or shine, “we” must precede “me”.
NDR 2025 a rallying cry amid significant challenges facing Singapore, say analysts
Emphasis on ‘we first’ society signals Government wants to involve Singaporeans in shaping future
By Vanessa Paige Chelvan and and Shermaine Ang, The Straits Times, 18 Aug 2025
At the heart of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s National Day Rally speech on Aug 17 was a rallying cry for Singaporeans as the country faces near- and medium-term challenges, from an ageing population to issues confronting young people, political analysts said.
PM Wong’s emphasis on a “we first” society also signalled that it is not only the Government that sets the direction for Singapore. It wants to actively involve Singaporeans in shaping the country’s future, they added.
The speech was a rallying call around the Singapore spirit, said Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
“Being SG60, the PM laced the speech with robust references to what built the nation – the sense of purpose, grit and agency,” Dr Koh said.
Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University, agreed.
“At a time of pervasive gloom globally, the PM’s National Day Rally speech sought to be reassuring, optimistic, encouraging, and a call to action. It is a rallying cry for the country to be united,” he said.
In his speech at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio, PM Wong said Singapore must be a “we first” society to keep the country going, and the Republic is finished if everyone thinks only about “me” and puts “me” ahead of “we”.
Dr Mathew Mathews, a principal research fellow at IPS and head of its Social Lab, said it is a much-needed refrain, especially with Singapore being home to people from around the world.
“What binds all of us will not be where we were born, or our ethnicities, but the common spirit to defy the odds and trust in the people around us who call this home,” said Dr Mathews.
Invoking what he called the “Singapore spirit”, PM Wong called on Singaporeans to partner the Government and fellow citizens to “roll up our sleeves, come up with solutions, and turn good ideas for a better Singapore into reality”.
These words, said Dr Koh, are a strong signal of the Prime Minister’s belief that citizens and civil society have an integral role in governance under his leadership.
“(It) again fleshes out this notion of a “we first” society. This is not the ‘state-led’ Singapore that we used to think of,” she added.
Prof Tan said what stood out to him was PM Wong’s emphasis on what it means to be Singaporean. “It is values – and not economic value alone – that will keep Singapore exceptional,” he said.
Prof Tan said this reflects again that PM Wong’s approach to governance emphasises inclusivity and being more consultative.
The mention of a “we first” society also makes clear the expectation that it is not only the Government that articulates what is important for society, which was prominent in the early years of Singapore’s development, said Dr Mathews.
“Instead, the ‘we first’ approach involves Singaporeans themselves actively discerning what matters, and being recognised as equal partners in shaping and pursuing collective goals,” he added.
Adjunct associate professor in practice Terence Ho from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS said the message “suggests collective responsibility and co-creation”.
The Republic could see more initiatives to co-create government policies, such as citizen panels under the Forward Singapore exercise, which was aimed at forging a new social compact.
He added that the focus on young people and seniors suggests that the Government is particularly cognisant of the concerns and challenges facing these two segments of society.
Dr Mathews agreed, saying that the challenges Singapore is facing and will face in the near and medium term are significant.
The Government must seriously consider the needs of an ageing population, which will constitute “a very significant portion of the electorate”.
At the same time, it cannot forget the crucial work of guarding the future of young Singaporeans.
Support for young and old
Prof Ho said PM Wong’s focus on young people stood out for him.
“This segment may not have received as much attention as other demographic groups previously,” he said.
PM Wong brought up vaping and excessive screen time as among the challenges facing the younger generation.
Dr Koh said the initiatives to support seniors in ageing well stood out in the rally speech. “This is a very large demographic as we are becoming a super-aged society,” she said.
The Age Well Neighbourhoods initiative, for instance, aims to provide seniors with convenient access to social activities and healthcare in their neighbourhoods.
It extends care arrangements offered in Community Care Apartments to the wider neighbourhood, and provides home care services and care facilities for seniors who need rehabilitation and physiotherapy in the neighbourhood.
Dr Koh said encouraging seniors to care for one another through active ageing centres will also lighten the load on working-age adults.
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, noted the emphasis on a greater involvement of the people in governing Singapore.
“The Government and society will have to work even more closely together in a sensible and realistic way to keep Singapore going as an inclusive and prosperous country,” he said.
Dr Hamid Razak, an MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, noted that the Prime Minister spoke about how 60 years ago, Singapore was a fledgling nation that “took the plunge with independence and separation”.
“We were a country of many races, villages and religions, but we all chose to be Singaporeans and we decided to work together,” he said.
“This is a moment that we all can be encouraged by, as we chart the next journey (for) Singapore.”
Additional reporting by Gabrielle Chan
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