There is something unusual about this year's National Day Rally (NDR) compared to those in the last few years.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong seem to have ignored other important issues chosen to focus on only three key but very domestic topics: Preschool, Diabetes, and Smart Nation.

How does this year's topics compare to the previous NDRs? We went back a few years to dig them up so that you don't have to.

2016 

Last year, PM Lee, who gave everyone a scare with his fainting spell that interrupted his speech, spoke candidly about how we can progress, how to hold our place in the international arena, and the future of politics in Singapore.

He focused on the following topics:

• Economy: The need to embrace and adapt to disruptions posed by new technology and globalisation to our economy.
• Foreign relations: Singapore “need a network of friends” and her position towards the US and China remains unchanged. PM Lee also went in-depth on the South China Sea issue.
• Terrorism: Strengthening Singapore’s social fabric against terror threats.
• Presidential Election
• Leadership renewal

2015 (SG50)

In the country's 50th year of independence, and with General Elections (GE) coming up, PM Lee spoke on a wide range of topics.

In particular, he tackled the three hot button topics - Housing, Education and Population, in preparation for the GE.

• Recounting the three factors that have led Singapore to where it is: multi-racial society, culture of self-reliance and mutual support, keeping faith between the government and the people.
• Foreign relations: We need to bear in mind our place on the regional and world stage.
• Housing: A slew of housing policy measures, including the raising of the income ceiling for HDB flats.
• Education: Combining the multiple campuses of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) into one centralised campus in Punggol.
• Population: Various policy measures, including raising of re-employment age, enhancing the Baby Bonus, doubling paternity leave, and introducing the CPF Medisave grant for newborns.

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2014

At NDR 2014, PM Lee's speech focused on giving Singaporeans full opportunities to achieve their potential, providing them more assurance in retirement, and making Singapore a home for all ages.

• Honouring our Pioneers
• Foreign relations and global outlook: World is in flux and conflicts far away can affect Singapore, including tensions in the South China Sea.
• Singapore’s challenges: New generation with new aspirations and ageing population with new social needs.
• Education: Achieving Singaporeans' potential.
• Assurance in Retirement: The government was studying how CPF can be improved.

2013

Three major concerns were the focus of NDR 2013: housing, healthcare and education.

• Strategic shift in approach to nation building: Getting the Community and Government to do more to reduce the pressures on individuals.
• OurSGConversation process: It created a firmer, shared basis to discuss and plan S’pore’s future.
• Housing: Measures to ensure that a HDB flat is always affordable and available to S’poreans. 
• MediShield for Life: MediShield will be revamped to become MediShield Life. 
• Taking care of our Pioneer Generation: Pioneer Generation Package
• Education: Giving children the best start in life through Edusave contributions. 

Fewer topics covered at NDR 2017

Compared to last three NDRs, there was no mention of our external environment and foreign relations.

The focus of covering fewer topics this year is also in contrast to public expectations that had expected PM Lee to address hot button issues such as:

• Jobs and the economy: How are we doing in our economic transformation journey?
• Public transportation: Think of the recent MRT breakdowns.
• Foreign relations: Singapore's foreign policy in line with recent debate over whether Singapore should act like a small state, and our relations with China.

Perhaps next year will be different. In the meantime, let's eat and live healthily till then.

Top images from PMO Youtube.

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