(Singapore, Aug 8, 2023) The best chapters of the Singapore story are yet to be written, said Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today in a televised National Day Message.
He began the 12-minute speech addressing the inflation issue and explained the government’s approach to other major issues, including the recent series of political cases involving Ministers and Members of Parliament.
“Such issues come up from time to time. When they do, we deal with them properly and transparently,” said the 71-year-old eldest son of Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
The cases he referred to include the exoneration of Foreign Minister Vivian and Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam in bungalow rental issues, the ongoing investigation by the CPIB of Minister for Transport Iswaran, and the resignations of Tan Chuan Jin, the former Speaker of Parliament, and Cheng Li Hui, a former MP.
Housing is the central focus of the PM’s six-part speech.
“HDB flats are more than just roofs over our heads. They are homes we take pride in owning, neighborhoods where we raise our families, and communities we build together,” he said, recording his message today at SkyOasis@Dawson in Queenstown, one of Singapore’s oldest towns.
While he chose to discuss more details of housing plans at the National Day Rally, he has promised to maintain fairness and inclusivity in the country’s housing schemes.
“This is my Government’s commitment to you, and we will deliver on it,” he assured.
Another key issue the PM addressed in his message is aging.
“As we refresh our approach to public housing, we are also making special efforts to adapt our HDB estates and flats to serve a rapidly aging population.”
He noted that nearly one in five Singaporeans is now a senior, aged 65 or older, and by 2030, one in four will be a senior. He announced that he will provide more details about the government’s plans to support seniors’ CPF savings at the Rally as well.
Tomorrow, Singapore will hold its National Day Parade at Padang to celebrate its 58th Birthday. Every year on August 9th, Singapore celebrates the nation’s birthday. This year, the celebration returns to the Padang, the site where the city-state held its historic first National Day Parade in 1966. It also marks the first return to the Padang since 2019 for the NDP.
The theme of this year’s NDP is “Onward as One,” a call for Singaporeans to stay united as one people and one nation as they work together to build an even better Singapore for themselves and the next generation. The Red Lions will perform jumps at the Padang, departing from their usual heartlands locations for the first time in three years. Additionally, an enhanced aerial display will commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
