Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong held a Fullerton lunchtime rally at noon on Monday afternoon (July 6).

The lunchtime rally at Fullerton has been a staple and tradition of Singapore politics, but the pandemic meant that he had to deliver his speech virtually.

In his speech, he spoke about what the government has done during the Covid-19 pandemic, his own political journey, as well as his views on the opposition.

He also made a personal pitch to Singaporeans that he needed to find “the strongest team we can find, to work with me, and with you”.

Here are some of the most quotable quotes from his speech.

1. "These are fashionable peacetime slogans, not serious wartime plans."

(The Opposition) prattle on about a minimum wage, or a universal basic income. These are fashionable peacetime slogans, not serious wartime plans. How will a minimum wage help somebody who is unemployed? It will just add to employers' costs, and pressure employers to drop even more workers. How will we pay for a universal basic income? All the GST increases in the world will not be enough. Do you really want to vote for parties who in a crisis come up with nothing better than old recycled manifestos?

2. "People might call this 'clickbait'"

We placed a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal, with an eye-catching headline: “Who would be mad enough to invest in Singapore in a recession?” Nowadays people might call this “clickbait”

3. "Don’t buy insurance from someone on a promise...their cheques will bounce"

The Opposition says they are offering Singaporeans insurance in case you need it. Don’t buy insurance from someone on a promise, especially when you have reason to suspect this company cannot pay out on the insurance, and their cheques will bounce.

4. "We believe in political renewal, not political recycling."

Our policies have improved people’s lives beyond measure. We’ve maintained trust with the people. And we’ve renewed our leadership, to keep the party vigorous and in sync with your aspirations As ESM Goh recently put it, we believe in political renewal, not political recycling.

5. "The PAP seeks not just your mandate, but your strong mandate, to lead Singapore through this crisis"

The world is watching this election closely. Will we show the world that Singaporeans are still one united people, strongly supporting the leaders they have chosen, and working together to overcome the crisis?

Or will we reveal ourselves to be fractious and divided, withholding our support from the government we elect, in a crisis where swift, decisive action is vital to save jobs and lives? That is why in this election, the PAP seeks not just your mandate, but your strong mandate, to lead Singapore through this crisis

6. "I am determined to hand over Singapore, intact and in good working order, to the next team."

You have my word: Together with my older colleagues like Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, as well as the 4G ministers, I will see this through. I am determined to hand over Singapore, intact and in good working order, to the next team.

7. "I cannot do it alone. I need the strongest team we can find."

I have spent all my adult life serving my country, because I believe in Singapore...All my life, I have felt a deep personal responsibility to do my part to keep Singapore safe, and to make it succeed. Now, to get through this crisis, I need your help. I cannot do it alone. I need the strongest team we can find, to work with me, and with you. I also need full support from all of you.

8. "Don’t be taken in by those who say that it is important just to have more choices."

After a government falls, what follows isn’t a new, more stable equilibrium, but more frequent changes of governments and divisive politicking. People appear to have a choice, but often the more things change, the more they remain the same. These countries have not done better than Singapore. So I ask Singaporeans: don’t be taken in by those who say that it is important just to have more choices.

Top photo from Youtube.