Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announces major reset in family support
He says every Singaporean child will get almost $70,000 in direct financial help
By Ng Wei Kai, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Parents will get more childcare leave, greater financial support and pay lower preschool fees, as the country makes a fundamental shift in how it supports families.
The Government wants to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of raising their children, instead of concentrating help mainly around the birth of a child, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at his third National Day Rally.
Measures to make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to raise a family formed a key plank of PM Wong’s speech, in which he outlined other plans to equip Singapore to deal with rapid changes in technology and the global order.
These include merging several islands south of Jurong Island to create one larger island that can house new power generation infrastructure, putting in place more safeguards for tech use and adoption, and embracing integration to remain open and connected while retaining a Singaporean core.
Addressing about 1,300 guests at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio on Aug 23, PM Wong said that across the globe, the rules and norms that underpinned stability and prosperity for decades are being overturned.
One key reason is that the balance of power is shifting. While the US remains the world’s leading power, China has risen rapidly and is now a “peer competitor” with deep capabilities in many areas, he said.
Many middle powers are also asserting their interests more actively, with different centres jostling for influence and competing for markets, technology, and resources, he added.
The world is more contested, unstable and dangerous than before, and this is the new normal that Singapore will have to endure and survive for many years to come, PM Wong said.
The Government’s immediate priority has been to “steady the ship”, he said, citing two support packages totalling almost $2 billion that were announced in April and July to help households and businesses cope with rising costs caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
But Singapore must go beyond that and prepare for deeper changes to come, PM Wong said, as he pledged to give families greater support and confidence for the future.
He announced that every working parent will get 8 to 12 days of childcare leave, depending on the number of children aged 12 and below they have. More details will be given at a later date.
Every Singaporean child will also get nearly $70,000 in direct financial support, while full-day childcare fees will be lowered to $150 a month by 2030.
Turning to housing, PM Wong said the income ceiling for Build-to-Order (BTO) flats will be raised to $16,000, and to $18,000 for executive condominiums.
This is to ensure the vast majority of Singaporean couples will continue to have access to subsidised public housing, he said.
Families applying for their first flat will also get one additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting, he added.
These moves are part of the first tranche of recommendations from a workgroup that aims to reset Singapore’s approach to marriage and parenthood, PM Wong said. The workgroup, led by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, was formed in April after the nation’s total fertility rate (TFR) fell to a new low of 0.87 in 2025.
“We want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the Government will stand with you. We will provide more support, and over more years,” he said.
More measures will be shared in the coming months, including at the Government’s next Budget in 2027, he added.
PM Wong said the Government’s work does not stop with those raising young children, with more to be done for seniors, people with disabilities and singles.
“We are putting real resources behind all of these plans because supporting families and Singaporeans through every stage of life is a national priority,” he said.
Looking longer term, the Prime Minister sketched out plans spanning decades that will create more land and options for future generations of Singaporeans.
Recounting how Jurong Island was created and turned into a global energy and chemicals hub, he said Singapore plans to merge several smaller islands off its southern coast, including Pulau Semakau, Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sudong, into a new western island.
This new island can support a new generation of industries, including advanced manufacturing facilities, and accommodate new power generation infrastructure to meet Singapore’s future needs as well as defence uses, he added.
A new link will be built to connect Jurong Island to the new western island.
The Government will also explore the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Pulau Tekong – which is used mainly for military training – with the mainland, and reclaim land to integrate the resort island Sentosa with nearby Pulau Brani.
PM Wong said these plans will require resources, planning and investment over many terms of government.
“Our pioneers built Jurong Island long before anyone could see what it could become,” he said. “They planned and built for our generation and now we will do so for the generations that follow.”
He also set out how Singapore will deal with accelerating technological change.
The country has to guard against risks that are harder to predict, he said, citing developments like a recent case where an AI agent broke into a company’s systems.
PM Wong said Singapore will do its part to bring countries and companies together, and build coalitions around practical safeguards. It will also take action at home, he added.
To shield young social media users, social media platforms will be required to put in place robust and reliable checks so that the minimum age to use them – 13 for most platforms – is properly set and enforced, PM Wong said.
For teenagers above 13, the Government’s immediate priority is to make social media safer by design, he added.
It will require stronger safeguards for young users against features that keep them endlessly scrolling, clicking and coming back for more.
If a platform’s safeguards remain inadequate, the Government will consider additional restrictions – including raising the minimum age for access to that platform beyond 13, he said.
Turning to immigration and the need for Singapore to remain open, PM Wong gave assurances that the Government will ensure Singaporeans remain the “majority in our own country”.
Even as more is done to support families, Singapore must be realistic that its TFR will still likely fall “far short” of the replacement rate, PM Wong said. The rate, where a population is reproducing enough to replace itself, is around 2.1.
He noted that for many years, Singapore has supplemented its population by welcoming new citizens.
The Government’s aim is to refresh the citizen population at a measured and sustainable pace, he said.
While it welcomes foreign manpower to complement the local workforce and support the economy, it will do so in a careful and controlled way, he added.
This means that Singapore’s overall population and labour force will grow more slowly in the coming years.
While businesses often ask the Government to ease foreign worker policies, especially in the services sector, PM Wong said even a modest easing could lead to a significant increase in the number of workers. “That’s not the path we want to take. So we have to adapt to these realities,” he added.
Going forward, more of Singapore’s growth must come from technology and productivity – and from enabling every Singaporean to realise their full potential, he said.
PM Wong also said the Government will continue to broadly maintain Singapore’s current ethnic balance, even as it stays open.
“Singaporeans must feel that the Singapore we know and cherish will endure,” he said.
At the same time, it will keep working at integration. Newcomers must make every effort to fit in, and Singaporeans must also reach out with open hearts, he added.
Concluding, PM Wong said the years ahead will test the country in new ways, and it can choose how it responds.
“We face challenges with courage and grit. We adapt instead of standing still. We stand together instead of turning on one another. That is who we are.”
10 highlights from PM Wong’s speech
By Samuel Devaraj, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Families will get greater support and confidence for the future, while Singapore will harness the power of new technology on its own terms.
These are not separate agendas, but part of one larger mission to keep the Republic trusted, relevant and resilient in a rapidly changing world, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23 at the ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio.
The Republic will also keep planning and building for the long term, the Prime Minister said as he sketched out horizon plans for Singapore’s outer islands.
1 More sustained financial support for each Singaporean child
A new SG Child Support Package will replace the existing baby bonus scheme, and will give every Singaporean child more support throughout the years, regardless of birth order.
Under the new package, each child will receive $2,000 in child credits every year from age 1 to 16, alongside Edusave top-ups every year in primary and secondary school. At 17 years old, $10,000 will be topped-up into a child’s post-secondary education account.
The new package means every Singaporean child will receive around $70,000 of direct financial support by the time they turn 17. Parents currently receive between $27,500 and $56,500 per child in financial support, depending on birth order.
Singaporean children born on or after April 1, 2027 will come fully under the new package. Those born in or turning 1 to 17 in 2026 will receive benefits based on their corresponding age in 2026 and in subsequent years.
2 More childcare leave until children turn 12
Every working parent will be eligible for eight, 10 or 12 days of childcare leave per calendar year, depending on whether they have one, two, or three or more Singaporean children aged 12 and below.
Currently, working parents are entitled to six days of childcare leave if their youngest child is six years old or younger, and two days’ leave if their youngest child is between seven and 12 years old.
The Government will also cover the cost of all statutory child-related leave up to the reimbursement limit, a change from the current arrangement where costs are shared between the Government and employers.
The start date of the new childcare leave scheme will be announced subsequently.
3 Childcare and infant care fees to be reduced as more centres receive Govt support
Full-day childcare fees will be reduced to $150 per month and infant care fees will be lowered to $300 per month at government-supported preschool centres in a few years’ time, with the lower fees to apply to every Singaporean child regardless of household income.
While there are already significant subsidies, PM Wong noted that families above a certain income level today pay nearly $600 per month for full-day childcare and more than $1,000 each month for infant care.
Such fees will be progressively reduced as the Government expands its network of anchor and partner operators, with the target fee levels to be achieved by 2030. Lower-income families will continue to receive additional subsidies.
4 BTO income ceiling raised
The income ceiling for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will be raised from $14,000 to $16,000, and for executive condominiums (EC) from $16,000 to $18,000.
For HDB buyers, this will take effect for those applying for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter from Aug 24, while the new EC income ceiling will apply to developments with land sale tender closing dates from the same date. It will not apply to balance units in existing ECs.
The revision comes as Singaporeans are marrying later, with more young couples crossing the current income ceilings by the time they settle down, said PM Wong.
From the February 2027 sales exercise, those looking to own their first BTO or Sale of Balance flat will also receive one additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting.
5 Social media platforms to more strictly enforce age restrictions
Singapore will require social media platforms to put in place robust and reliable checks – and to enforce them – so that children here are genuinely protected.
While most platforms have a minimum age of 13, they largely rely on users to declare their own ages and “we know this is not working well”, said PM Wong. The Republic will also prioritise making social media safer by design, and will consider additional restrictions on platforms if it deems their safeguards inadequate, he added.
More details about the updated requirements will be shared in the coming days.
6 Singapore to build coalitions for safer AI use
Singapore will do its part in bringing countries and companies together and build coalitions around practical artificial intelligence safeguards.
Citing an example of an OpenAI agent going beyond its test environment to attack a company, PM Wong said developments like this bring enormous possibilities but very serious consequences when things go wrong.
The Republic will not embrace new technologies blindly, he added. It will instead anticipate the risks, put appropriate safeguards in place, and always ensure that people remain in control.
7 AVs to be scaled up here when tech is proven
Singapore intends to expand the use of autonomous vehicles (AVs) to meet its growing transport needs once the technology is proven. PM Wong said the response to trials in Punggol has been very encouraging, and that residents want more routes, more pick-up points, and even 24-hour service. Recruiting bus captains has also become harder, while the taxi workforce is ageing.
But the country will proceed step by step, building confidence in the technology and with safety as the first priority. Adoption will also not run ahead of Singapore’s ability to support affected drivers, he added.
8 Cap on dialect films to be lifted
Films with dialect content will no longer be subject to screening limits, so long as Chinese subtitles are shown and a Mandarin-dubbed version of the same film is also made available. The updated dialect guidelines will take effect in September.
PM Wong said he agreed with the view that dialects are a cultural heritage worth preserving.
At the same time, Mandarin connects Singapore with Chinese communities worldwide, and the Republic’s bilingual policy and efforts to promote Mandarin must continue, he added.
9 New island to be formed by merging islands south of Jurong Island
A new western island will be formed in the coming decades by merging several islands lying to the south of Jurong Island.
This cluster of islands comprises Pulau Semakau, which houses Singapore’s offshore landfill; Pulau Bukom, where Singapore’s first refinery still operates; Pulau Sudong and a few other smaller islands.
Besides petrochemicals, the new island can support a new generation of industries and can accommodate new power-generation infrastructure to meet Singapore’s future needs, said PM Wong.
Separately, Sentosa’s beaches and waterfront will be enhanced, while NTUC will build its new Downtown South resort on Pulau Brani. Land will also be reclaimed to better connect Sentosa and Brani.
10 Undersea tunnels between Tekong and mainland being studied
Singapore is studying the feasibility of building undersea tunnels to connect Pulau Tekong, its largest outlying island, to the mainland.
There are also further plans to reclaim the southern part of Tekong, which will create more training space for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), said PM Wong. Even after meeting the SAF’s needs, there will still be around 500ha available for future civilian use.
Noting that the pioneers had built Jurong Island long before anyone could see what it could become, PM Wong said this generation will likewise plan and build for those to come.
8 to 12 days of childcare leave a year for working parents with kids aged 12 and below
Those with 3 or more eligible kids get max entitlement of 12 days under new scheme
By Shermaine Ang, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Working parents with children aged 12 and below will get between eight and 12 days of childcare leave a year, depending on the number of children they have.
Those with three or more children in that age group will receive the maximum 12 days, as part of a revamped scheme that will provide more protected time for caregiving through a child’s primary school years.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the change in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23, where he spoke of making a “fundamental shift” in how the Government supports families.
“Today, much of our support is concentrated around the birth of a child. Instead, we want to support parents more consistently throughout the journey of raising their children,” he said.
The existing leave schemes will be merged into a single one for working parents with Singaporean children aged 12 and below.
Under the new scheme, a working parent with one child aged 12 and below will get eight days of childcare leave a year. Those with two children aged 12 and below will get 10 days, while parents with three or more will get 12 days, which is the maximum entitlement.
This means that a couple who are both working and have three or more eligible children will have up to 24 days between them.
Currently, each working parent gets six days of childcare leave a year when their youngest child is aged six and below. This falls to two days of extended childcare leave when the youngest child is aged seven to 12.
“Many parents tell us this is not enough. Because having more children means greater caregiving responsibilities. And older children still need their parents – the needs are different, but they do not go away,” PM Wong said, adding that parents often end up using their annual leave.
The higher leave provisions are part of a raft of measures aimed at giving Singaporeans greater assurance to start and raise families. These include stronger financial support through a child’s growing years and making pre-school more affordable.
The Government will also reimburse employers for the full duration of all child-related leave schemes, such as maternity leave and childcare leave, up to a limit.
More details, including when the new childcare leave scheme and changes to reimbursement for child-related leave will start, will be announced later.
“When we think about what matters most to Singaporeans, family is at the heart of it,” PM Wong said. “That’s why nothing matters more than helping families thrive.”
He said families everywhere are under growing pressure, with young couples worrying about the responsibilities and costs of starting a family, and parents facing a “balancing act” every day between work and family.
“Many also worry about the future their children will inherit, and whether they are doing enough to help them succeed. We are aiming for more than incremental improvements or changes to individual schemes. We want to make a fundamental shift in how we support families,” PM Wong said.
Parents had given feedback that existing leave provisions were insufficient to cover sickness episodes and school closure days, said the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD).
NPTD said the new baseline of eight days would give two working parents enough childcare leave between them to cover mandated pre-school and primary school closure days, with a buffer for unplanned sickness episodes.
The increase is smaller with each additional child as some caregiving needs can overlap, such as school closure days. The entitlement is thus capped at 12 days per working parent.
Merging the two existing leave schemes is also intended to make the system simpler for parents and easier for employers to track.
The higher leave entitlements will also apply to adoptive parents and single unwed mothers.
Reimbursing employers for parental leave
PM Wong said the Government will reimburse employers for the full duration of all child-related leave schemes, including childcare leave and maternity leave, up to a cap. Currently, employers bear part of the cost of maternity and adoption leave for the first and second child, as well as the first three days of childcare leave.
“This will reduce the financial burden on employers,” he said.
The reimbursement will be capped at $500 per day, $2,500 per week, or $10,000 for four weeks.
This will also apply to eligible self-employed persons, who can currently claim compensation for income lost during the government-paid portion of child-related leave schemes.
NPTD said employers should put in place progressive human resources practices, while employees should use their leave responsibly and discuss leave plans early where possible, so that caregiving needs and workplace operations can be managed well.
Over the years, paid parental leave has been significantly expanded to up to 7½ months of government-paid leave today, PM Wong said. This comprises 16 weeks of maternity leave, four weeks of paternity leave and 10 weeks of shared parental leave.
“Can we go further? I won’t rule it out,” he said.
“But these leave arrangements have just been introduced, and employers do need time to adapt. So we will let these changes settle in first.”
PM Wong urged employers to support parents, give them confidence to take leave to care for their children, and help them settle back into work afterwards.
“Make sure that becoming a parent never becomes a disadvantage in someone’s career,” he said, adding that parents who feel supported are better able to give their best at work.
The Government will continue to engage employers and parents in the coming months to gather feedback on implementation. Updates to legislation and systems are also required.
The measures are the first set of recommendations from the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup to be accepted by the Government, ahead of its full report in early 2027.
The inter-agency workgroup, chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, is reviewing issues cited as barriers to marriage and parenthood. These include work-life support, fertility and maternity healthcare, housing, relationship formation and education, on top of child-raising costs and caregiving.
The workgroup was formed in April to support Singaporeans as they navigate marriage and parenthood, aiming to bring about a societal “reset” that gives citizens greater hope to start and raise families. The nation’s total fertility rate fell to a historic low of 0.87 in 2025.
“Ultimately, the decision to have children is a deeply personal one. Policies alone cannot make this happen. But what we can do is make it easier for Singaporeans who want children to start and raise a family,” said PM Wong.
“And we want every family to know: if you choose to have children, the Government will stand with you.”
Each Singaporean child to get almost $70,000 from birth to age 17
By Syarafana Shafeeq, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Every Singaporean child will receive almost $70,000 in government support that will provide more sustained financial help throughout their growing years, regardless of birth order.
The new package includes a $10,000 Baby Gift in cash and $32,000 in Child Credits.
Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the new $62,000 SG Child Support Package during his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23. Other parts of the new package consist of a $5,000 Child Development Account (CDA) First Step Grant, up to $5,000 in government CDA co-matching and a $10,000 top-up to the child’s Post-Secondary Education Account.
He said: “The work is still ongoing. We are aiming for more than incremental improvements or changes to individual schemes. We want to make a fundamental shift in how we support families.”
Together with existing benefits like the $5,000 MediSave Grant for Newborns at birth and annual Edusave contributions across primary and secondary school, each Singaporean child will receive around $70,000 in direct financial support from birth to age 17.
This is up from $27,500 to $56,500 per child that parents currently receive in direct financial support, depending on birth order.
As at June, there are more than 610,000 children across 380,000 households in Singapore who are expected to benefit from the measures.
In his speech, PM Wong said that no other institution can replace the family, and that is why nothing matters more than helping families thrive. Singapore’s future will only be as strong as the families that build it, he added.
He said that today, there are different schemes and ways to support parents, and support varies depending on the child’s birth order.
“The schemes have become quite complex, and many parents find it hard to understand.”
“We will make things simpler. Every child will receive the same level of support. We will provide more support not just at birth but throughout the years, as children grow up,” he said.
How the new package will work
Under the new package, the $10,000 Baby Gift will be disbursed in two tranches within 12 months of the child’s birth, providing more upfront help with the higher expenses incurred at birth and during the first year.
The $32,000 Child Credits will provide a $2,000 annual cash payout from the year the child turns one until the year he or she turns 16.
This replaces and enhances the existing Large Family LifeSG Credits, which currently offers $1,000 a year for six years to each third and subsequent child. Under the new package, the annual amount will double to $2,000, the support will continue for 16 years, and it will be extended to children of all birth orders.
The package also includes a $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and up to $5,000 in government co-matching contributions.
The CDA will remain open until the end of the year the child turns 16, instead of closing when the child turns 12 under the current system. This gives parents a longer period to benefit from government co-matching and use CDA funds for approved child-raising costs, said the National Population and Talent Division on Aug 23.
Children born on or after Jan 1, 2015, will have their CDAs extended to the end of the year they turn 16. Those born before Jan 1, 2015, will retain their Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEAs) because their CDAs would already have closed.
When the child turns 17, the Government will provide a further $10,000 top-up to his or her PSEA to help defray the cost of higher education.
The new package will also cover existing Singaporean children born in or turning one to 17 in 2026. They will receive benefits based on their corresponding age in 2026 and in subsequent years.
There will be transitional arrangements for children who are already receiving support under the existing schemes.
Children born before April 1, 2027, who are still receiving Baby Bonus Cash Gift payouts will continue to receive those payouts until March 31, 2027. As the Baby Gift replaces the Baby Bonus Cash Gift, they will receive a top-up, where applicable, by April 30, 2027, to bring their total support to $10,000.
For Child Credits, children who turn one to 16 in 2026 will receive their 2026 payment of $2,000 by April 30, 2027.
For children with birthdays between January and April 2027, their 2027 Child Credits of $2,000 will also be paid by April 30, 2027. Those with birthdays between May and December will receive the payment on their birthdays.
From 2028, Child Credits will be paid annually on the child’s birthday until the year he or she turns 16. The existing Large Family LifeSG Credits will cease, with no disbursements in 2027.
Child Development Account co-matching
There will also be transitional arrangements for CDA co-matching.
Children born on or after April 1, 2027, will receive the $5,000 CDA First Step Grant and be eligible for government CDA co-matching of up to $5,000.
For children born between Jan 1, 2015, and March 31, 2027, their existing CDA co-matching caps will be retained until Sept 30, 2027, after which their caps will be adjusted to the uniform $5,000 cap from Oct 1, 2027.
For older children born between Jan 1, 2009, and Dec 31, 2014, their existing PSEA co-matching arrangements will similarly be retained until Sept 30, 2027, before being adjusted to the uniform $5,000 cap from Oct 1. PSEA co-matching will cease for new PSEAs opened from Jan 1, 2028.
The $10,000 PSEA top-up will be given in June 2027 to children turning 17 in 2026. Children turning 17 from 2027 onwards will receive the top-up in June of the year they turn 17.
Large families with three or more children will continue to receive additional support on top of the new SG Child Support Package. They will get more targeted help in areas where costs are more likely to rise sharply as families grow, such as healthcare, transport and housing, said NPTD.
The Government is also studying how to reposition and extend the current $5,000 Large Family MediSave Grant to existing large families that have yet to receive it. The Ministry of Transport will provide additional support to help large families manage transport costs, while the Ministry of National Development is studying additional housing support measures.
Plans for seniors, people with disabilities, singles
PM Wong added that the Government is also looking at several ways to help seniors.
This includes helping those who want to keep working to stay active and continue contributing, providing more flexibility in using MediSave to meet healthcare needs, and making it easier for seniors to unlock the values of their homes for retirement while they continue to live there.
He said several ministries are working on this package of measures, and more details will be shared when ready.
For people with disabilities, PM Wong said the Government will smoothen the transition from school to work and expand employment opportunities. Access to care and community support will be strengthened as well.
Many singles in Singapore are caring for ageing parents or supporting their families in different ways, and have concerns in areas like housing, he said.
The authorities are looking at how to better support singles and intend to take further steps within this term of government.
“We are putting real resources behind all of these plans because supporting families and Singaporeans through every stage of life is a national priority.”
Several islands to be merged to form new western island
It will take place over coming decades to deliver benefits, like building new industries
By Ang Qing, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Singapore intends to merge several southern islands to create a new “western island” in the coming decades for a new generation of industries, power generation infrastructure and defence needs.
Pulau Semakau, Pulau Bukom and Pulau Sudong are among the islands that could be merged through planned land reclamation announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 23 at the 2026 National Day Rally.
PM Wong said the new island follows the example of Jurong Island, a global energy and chemicals hub that was formed from the reclamation of several offshore islands.
That investment has delivered lasting benefits for Singapore, he added, citing Jurong Island’s role in creating jobs and anchoring important industries, making Singapore a critical node in global energy flows, and strengthening its energy security and resilience, most recently amid the disruptions in the Middle East.
Said PM Wong: “Jurong Island was the result of bold decisions, careful planning and sustained investment over many decades.
“Now it’s our turn to think just as boldly, and build for the next generation.”
He said that every piece of land matters in Singapore, where space is needed for homes, jobs, transport and infrastructure. At the same time, the Republic cherishes green spaces, biodiversity and places with heritage and history.
“Sometimes, difficult choices and trade-offs have to be made.
“Where development is necessary, we study the impact carefully, make adjustments and minimise the disruption.”
Nearly half of Singapore is covered in greenery, PM Wong pointed out, adding that Singapore is continuing to expand its green spaces and strengthen native biodiversity.
He stressed that the Singapore way is to plan far ahead by creating new options for future generations so that they will have room to grow, while preserving what is precious about the city-state.
He said: “We plan 50, 70, even 100 years ahead. We plan with every Singaporean – born and not yet born – in mind.”
To create some of these new possibilities, the Government is looking to transform Singapore’s outer islands, said PM Wong.
He highlighted a cluster of islands south of Jurong Island, which includes Pulau Semakau that houses Singapore’s only offshore landfill, Pulau Bukom where the nation’s first refinery still operates, and Pulau Sudong.
According to a video shown at the rally, the reclamation profile for the area could also absorb Pulau Hantu, Pulau Jong and Pulau Sebarok.
Over the coming decades, Singapore intends to “merge several of these islands into one larger island”, just as the Republic did to create Jurong Island, said PM Wong.
He said: “This new island won’t just be for petrochemicals.
“It can support a new generation of industries, including advanced manufacturing facilities. It can accommodate new power generation infrastructure to meet Singapore’s future needs.”
He said there will be space for Singapore’s defence needs, noting that Pulau Sudong now has an airstrip that the Singapore Armed Forces uses during emergencies.
A new link will also be built to connect Jurong Island to the new western island.
These long-term plans are being studied carefully, said PM Wong.
Just as Jurong Island shaped Singapore’s economy for the last 50 years, the new western island can help shape Singapore for the next 50 years and beyond, he added.
Undersea tunnels linking Pulau Tekong to mainland being studied
More reclamation works at Tekong’s southern end also in the pipeline
By Ng Keng Gene, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Studies are under way to see if it is feasible to build undersea tunnels linking the mainland to Pulau Tekong, and make it easier for people to reach Singapore’s largest offshore island.
More reclamation works at the southern end of Pulau Tekong are also in the pipeline, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his Rally speech on Aug 23.
That will create more training space for the Singapore Armed Forces and leave another 500ha of land – about the size of Toa Payoh – for civilian use, he added.
The proposed tunnels are a “major engineering undertaking”, and are among several decades-long projects that will give future Singaporeans more space, more opportunities and even greater possibilities than what the country has today, he said.
PM Wong added that Pulau Tekong – unlike other outer islands such as Jurong Island – has no land link to the mainland.
“The obvious solution is to build bridges, but that would cut across busy shipping channels. So, if we can’t go over the sea, we will try to go under it,” he said.
He added that Singapore has experience building underground road tunnels but it has never built undersea tunnels of this scale.
Pulau Tekong was once two islands called Tekong Besar and Tekong Kechil. Land has been reclaimed around Tekong Besar, and a polder near Tekong Kechil has been completed, PM Wong said.
And there is more reclamation to come, he said, as he outlined plans for the southern end of Pulau Tekong.
As for the 500ha of land kept aside for future civilian uses, PM Wong said: “We have not decided what to use this land for, and we don’t have to decide now.
“What matters is that we have the space, and that gives us valuable options for the future.”
If Singapore goes ahead and builds the undersea tunnels, it will bring the outer islands much closer to the rest of the country, he added.
PM Wong said soldiers in the past had to rely on Ramp Powered Launches to travel to the island for military training, before air-conditioned ferries were used instead.
“One day, our recruits may have an even easier journey to Tekong,” he added.
He also spoke about the Long Island project, which involves reclaiming land tracts that will create about 800ha of land off the East Coast.
PM Wong – who grew up in Marine Parade – said his parents would often tell him that much of the land in the area used to be sea.
“In fact, my grandfather made a living in those very waters – as a fisherman off Kampong Amber.”
In the past, some people used to be worried that homes built on reclaimed land would sink, but these homes have today become prized because it’s difficult to find Housing Board flats so close to the sea, he said.
“One day, Long Island will become another new waterfront for future generations. They will live there, raise their families there, and perhaps tell their own children that this, too, was once part of the sea,” he added.
PM Wong said projects like the undersea tunnels to Tekong, Long Island and merging western offshore islands such as Semakau, Bukom and Sudong to support a new generation of industries will take decades to complete.
“They will require resources, planning, and investment over many terms of government. That’s what long-term planning is about,” he said.
Plans for a vehicular connection between mainland Singapore and Pulau Tekong have been considered for at least three decades, since Concept Plan 1991.
Two types of connections between the mainland and Pulau Tekong were mooted – a vehicular link that would begin near Tanah Merah Coast Road, and an MRT route that would run through land to the east of Singapore that had yet to be reclaimed, before passing by the Johor Strait and arriving at Pulau Tekong.
The idea was for these two connections to link Pulau Tekong to Pulau Ubin, and for Pulau Ubin to be connected back to the mainland at Punggol and Lorong Halus.
Under the 1991 plan, that part of Pulau Tekong would be used for new homes and jobs.
These plans have morphed over time, and in the 2001 Concept Plan, the rail link between mainland Singapore and the two north-eastern islands was dropped, although the road link remained.
The planned road link remained a feature in Concept Plan 2011 and the Long-Term Plan that came out in 2022, which both provide a road map for Singapore’s infrastructure development for the next 50 years and beyond.
Singaporeans to remain majority; Govt will manage size of foreign workforce: PM Lawrence Wong
He says citizen population will be refreshed at a measured and sustainable pace
By Tham Yuen-C, Senior Political Correspondent, The Straits Times, 24 Aug 2026
Singaporeans will remain the majority in Singapore, even as the country continues to welcome newcomers to maintain a sustainable population, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
The country’s multi-racial and multi-religious character will also remain as the Government will continue to broadly maintain the current ethnic balance, he added at the National Day Rally on Aug 23.
PM Wong gave these two assurances as he spoke of how Singapore has to remain open to immigration as relying only on births would result in a shrinking citizen population.
The Government will refresh the citizen population at a measured and sustainable pace, and welcome new citizens that embrace Singapore’s ideals and values, he said.
At the same time, it will manage the size of the foreign workforce in a “careful and controlled way”, he added.
It will also work at integrating newcomers and Singaporeans, which must go both ways, he said.
PM Wong’s remarks on this topic came after he had earlier in his Rally speech announced wide-ranging measures to better support families here.
“Despite all that we do to support families, we have to be realistic – our total fertility rate is still likely to fall far short of replacement,” he said.
If Singapore relied only on births, its citizen population would shrink and age more rapidly, and there would be fewer younger Singaporeans to support a growing number of seniors, he said.
“Over time, this would have profound consequences – for our economy, our society and our ability to keep Singapore going,” he added.
That is why for many years, Singapore supplemented its population by welcoming new citizens, he said, noting that the country has always been shaped by immigration throughout its history.
The Malays came from different parts of the Malay Archipelago, while the Chinese came from different parts of China and the Indians came from across the subcontinent. Others came from the Middle East, Europe and many other parts of the world, he added.
“Nearly all of us have parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who came to Singapore from somewhere else,” he said.
Today, newcomers continue to be a part of the Singapore story, as Singaporeans work or study overseas and form relationships across borders while others come here to work and settle down, he said.
While it may take time for the first generation to fully settle in, the next generation will grow up with Singapore being their home, attending local schools, making friends and even serving National Service together, he added.
That is why being Singaporean has never been about ancestry or where one’s family first came from,” he said.
“It has always been about commitment. A commitment to put Singapore first. A commitment to our values and way of life. And a belief that, whatever our backgrounds, our future is ours to build together.”
These convictions are captured in the National Pledge, which marks its 60th anniversary this year, and is a promise that generation after generation of Singaporeans have kept, he said.
Newcomers, by embracing the ideals and values in the pledge – to build a democratic society based on justice and equality, and to become one united people regardless of race, language or religion – strengthen the Singapore identity, he added.
“They bring fresh perspective and new energy. They contribute to our communities. They add to the Singapore story, just like the generations before them did,” he said.
“This is how we will continue to welcome newcomers into our Singapore family.”
At the same time, the Government will continue to manage the size of the foreign workforce, he said.
“We welcome foreign manpower to complement our local workforce and support our economy. But we do so in a careful and controlled way.”
But this means in the coming years, the overall population – and labour force – will grow more slowly, said PM Wong.
Businesses often ask the Government to ease foreign worker policies to fill roles that Singaporeans do not want to do, he noted.
But work permit holders are already the largest group of foreign pass holders in Singapore, so even a modest easing of policies could lead to a significant increase in numbers, he said.
“That is not the path Singapore will take.”
Singapore must then adapt to these realities, said PM Wong.
“Going forward, more of our growth must come from technology and productivity – and from enabling every Singaporean to realise their full potential.”
Even as Singapore stays open, every community will continue to have its place in Singapore, along with its language, culture and traditions, said PM Wong.
He added that the Government will continue to broadly maintain the current ethnic balance so that Singapore’s multi-racial and multi-religious character will remain.
“This has served Singapore well, and it continues to give every community confidence – that their place, representation and voice in Singapore remain secure,” he said.
He said the Government will also work at integration, noting that this works both ways.
He called on newcomers to make every effort to fit in and on Singaporeans to also reach out with open hearts.
He cited the examples of George Wall, originally from England, and Chika Imakita, originally from Japan, as well as Singaporean Dwen Hwee.
Wall and Imakita met in Singapore in 2011 while working here, and got married in 2016. They became Singaporeans in 2025.
Both of them serve in the SAF Volunteer Corps and also mentor young people and volunteer in the community.
Wall, 51, and Imakita, 50, told The Straits Times that they feel a deep connection with Singapore because of the work they do while volunteering.
“We feel like Singapore is home, and that made us stay here,” said Imakita.
There is also Hwee, in her 40s, who made the effort to introduce her foreign colleagues to Singapore’s food, traditions and festivals.
The head of human resources at Tata Consultancy Services for Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia said: “When I went to England to study more than 20 years ago, I remember how my schoolmates were so welcoming, and how they took the initiative to share about their culture as much as they wanted to learn about mine.”
When she returned to Singapore, she was determined to pay that kindness forward.
PM Wong, noting that Singapore’s population will continue to evolve, said: “Newcomers will become part of our society, and new generations will grow up together.
“But what makes us Singaporean will endure. Our shared identity and values. Our commitment to one another. And our pledge, which binds us together as one united people.”
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