Difficult times ahead, but S'pore won't 'throw up our hands in despair': PM Wong in SG60 National Day Message

During his SG60 National Day Message, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned that difficult times lie ahead and Singapore must navigate a world that is more contested, fragmented and volatile.

"To put it bluntly: The global order that enabled Singapore to thrive for decades is unravelling before our eyes," said PM Wong.

However, he added that Singapore will overcome the new challenges and do it in its own way, shaping the future it wants with its own actions.

It is expected that the global economy will remain troubled for some time, and while Singapore's economy has been resilient, PM Wong shared that the outlook remains uncertain.

Refreshing economic strategy

With such global uncertainty, PM Wong shared that the government is refreshing Singapore's economic strategy.

This is to strengthen Singapore's competitiveness, deepen its capabilities and secure the future.

"To stay ahead, Singapore must remain exceptional — in our cohesion, in our resolve, in our performance. We must move faster, adapt quicker and innovate smarter," PM Wong added.

This meant embracing new technologies like Artificial Intelligence and robotics, and applying them across Singapore's economy.

"We must enable our people, workers and businesses to make full use of these tools, and sharpen our competitive edge," he said.

Not alone

While acknowledging that the pace of change will be rapid and not always comfortable, PM Wong said no one will face these challenges alone.

He assured Singaporeans that the government will "walk this journey" with them.

"We will expand opportunities for learning and skills upgrading, strengthen social safety nets, and help every Singaporean who faces setbacks to bounce back and press on."

PM Wong touched on Forward Singapore, which was launched to refresh Singapore's social economy, and new policies like the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme to help those who lost their jobs.

"We will do more to uplift lower-income workers and families, and create more pathways for every Singaporean to succeed, regardless of their starting point in life," said PM Wong.

Cannot afford to be divided

PM Wong shared that the significance of SG60 was not just that Singapore endured, but that it prevailed and prospered when few believed that it would survive.

"More than once, we ourselves feared we might not pull through. But we did not falter. We overcame every challenge – from racial strife and the British pullout, to economic crises, terrorism and global pandemics.

Each time, we picked ourselves up, learnt from our setbacks, and found the strength and will to carry on."

He added that above all, Singapore stood together and built a home for all, regardless of race, language or religion.

As a small nation, Singapore cannot afford to be divided as its unity has always been its "source of strength".

"When we stand together, there is nothing we cannot overcome," he said.

"We may come from different races, speak different languages, and hold different beliefs. But we are bound by something deeper: a shared commitment to one another, and to Singapore.

This is the faith that has sustained us these past 60 years: faith in ourselves, in one another, and in the promise of Singapore. It gave us the strength to build a nation from scratch. And this same spirit will be even more vital in the years ahead, as the pace of change quickens and the world becomes more uncertain."

Top photo via Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI)