PM Wong urges S'poreans to 'blaze a bold path forward' in 1st New Year message

Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has delivered his 2025 New Year's message.

He heralded the beginning of the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence and said it was a time for reflection on social values, identity, and how Singaporeans could shape their future together.

He warned of a challenging time ahead but reassured all Singaporeans, regardless of income level and age, that the government would continue to offer them assistance, and that every citizen had a role and place in Singapore's society.

“No one will be left behind because we are all in this together.”

Eventful and turbulent

PM Wong began his message by acknowledging that 2024 had been an eventful and turbulent year.

Geopolitical tensions continued to rise, and he cited wars in the Middle East, as well as extreme weather events and natural disasters.

Meanwhile, PM Wong noted that while global inflation has moderated, price levels have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.

This was true for Singaporeans as it was across the world: cost of living pressures continued to “weigh heavily”, leading to angst and anxiety, resulting in faltering political systems, erosion in institutional trust, and divided societies.

Singapore, he warned, was not immune from such “global mood shifts”.

But despite this, PM Wong said Singapore has been able to distinguish itself as a safe, secure, and stable beacon in a troubled world.

PM Wong said that Singaporean workers' wages had outpaced inflation, with median incomes rising 2.2 per cent per annum above inflation in the past decade, while the economy grew by four per cent in 2024, exceeding expectations.

“With the strong economy, I expect real incomes to rise further.”

Together

PM Wong also spoke about facing tough challenges together.

Recounting difficulties during and before 2024, he acknowledged that the government had “not gotten everything right in the first instance”, but had been upfront with Singaporeans “when we fell short and could have done better”.

The aviation sector was cited an example of the success of Singapore's tripartite partnerships, between the government, the private sector, and worker’s unions, which PM Wong said lay at the core of Singapore's stability.

The aviation sector had been greatly affected by the pandemic, but the government provided financial support to sustain and upgrade critical capabilities; companies reskilled and upgraded their workforce; unions and workers supported the measures, showing great resilience.

"Today, Changi Airport is thriving," said PM Wong, with passenger traffic nearly back at pre-pandemic levels, and the aviation workforce surpassing pre-pandemic numbers.

In a few months time, ground will be broken for Changi’s Terminal 5.

PM Wong recounted efforts to tackle cost-of-living increases, such as cash support given to Singaporeans, CDC vouchers, and utilities rebates, all to mitigate the impact of inflation.

He also paid tribute to Singapore's Olympians and Paralympians, such as Max Maeder and Yip Pin Xiu, who won medals during their respective competitions.

Their achievements were not solo efforts, PM Wong said, but the hard work of an entire community of coaches, sports scientists, administrators, and supportive family.

PM Wong said that this Team Singapore spirit needed to be continued into 2025 and beyond.

Forward Singapore and beyond

That was why Singapore had embarked on the Forward Singapore exercise: to renew Singapore’s social compact and strengthen solidarity, so as to be able to navigate uncertainties together.

The Forward Singapore exercise will allow Singapore to revise policies, reset attitudes and mindsets, as well as “refresh the Singapore Dream”.

PM Wong said:

“We will build a fairer and more inclusive society, where everyone is assured of opportunities to succeed, regardless of their starting points in life, where every one of us can realise our dreams, and live with dignity, security and hope for a brighter future."

PM Wong said that the government had already taken major steps towards these goals, such as updated policies making HDB flats more affordable, the Majulah package, as well as new programs supporting seniors, like Healthier SG and Age Well SG.

But he also promised to do more, saying that he would set out the next steps for Forward Singapore in Budget 2025, due to be delivered on Feb. 18, 2025.

He said that his government would continue to cushion the impact of cost-of-living increases and provide more targeted help to those who are finding it harder to cope, especially older people and lower-income groups.

Middle-income and middle-aged segments, who are both caring for elderly parents and young children, would not be neglected either, he said.

60

2025 would mark the 60th anniversary of Singapore's independence, and PM Wong said the journey ahead would not be short of challenges, but added that Singapore had “never allowed itself to be browbeaten or discouraged”.

Young Singaporeans, like the generations before them, had shown resilience and fighting spirit during the pandemic.

“Each time I meet and engage with Singaporeans, old and young, I feel reassured and confident about our future.”

Singapore, he said, was built against the odds, and had turned what seemed impossible into reality.

Every previous generation had done its part, and now it was “our turn to blaze a bold path forward”, PM Wong said.

He wished Singaporeans "a very Happy New Year".

Top image via Lawrence Wong/Facebook