S'pore govt will provide blueprint, but 'We First' only happens through individual action: David Neo

In shaping a "We First" society, the government will take the first step to provide a blueprint, but a "We First" society only happens when individuals take action to make it a reality, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo said in his speech at Singapore Perspectives 2026 on Jan. 26.

Organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), the theme of this year's annual conference is "Fratenity" and explores the state of social connectedness in Singapore.

Neo, who is also Senior Minister of State for Education, was part of a panel that fielded questions on ways to strengthen the Singapore identity, move beyond individual success and foster a collective mindset.

'We First' requires something deeper: Neo

In his speech, Neo touched on why a "We First" society is better and the ways it can be realised.

He pointed out that a "We First" society underpins good governance, growth and prosperity, and has been part of the "Singapore story" for the past 60 years.

However, Neo acknowledged that a "We First" society is the "hardest policy" to achieve because it "demands something deeper".

"The Government will take the first step to provide a blueprint for change, but the movement only happens when each of us, through our individual actions, turn these blueprints into our reality," the acting minister said.

He went on to suggest three ways in which a "We First" society can be built in Singapore: create opportunities for people to interact, have citizens, government and the private sector build community and the nation together, and make "We First" a way of life.

Singapore's ability to build a cohesive nation through its diversity contributed to its success and exceptionalism in the past 60 years, Neo remarked.

"And for us to continue to stay exceptional in this changed world, we need to work together to nurture a 'We First' society," he concluded.

Dignity as important as support: Neo

Responding to a question on whether state welfarism should remain a "dirty word" in Singapore's policy lexicon, Neo said that the government is always on the lookout for how to uplift Singaporeans and affirmed that social mobility is important.

"In my whole life growing up, being given opportunities, given support by the state, I never for once felt like it was welfare... I always felt like I had to work for it," Neo shared, adding that this gave him a sense of "dignity".

"What we want to create [is]... a field of opportunities where people, where all our kids, and even more so those who are perhaps underprivileged, will be able to grasp at," he remarked.

This will create the sense that "they have earned it," Neo continued.

"And I think that's what helps uplift them more than just providing them support," he said.

Meritocracy and competition need constant review

On meritocracy, Neo explained that it is a means of achieving social mobility, which is a natural human want.

"You have to constantly look at it and constantly review it, so that no matter what, in Singapore, you have the best chance [at] life. And it's something that we got to keep working on," he said.

Neo also said that every generation must be allowed to define for themselves what success is.

On whether volunteerism and philanthropy might become transactional if people are only driven by incentives, such as tax reliefs, Neo suggested that incentives may be the starting point to "spark" the spirit of volunteerism, but it should not end there.

"I think it's important for all our volunteer organisations out there to also take the time to nurture and to build that love for serving in our volunteers. It cannot be a transaction," the acting minister remarked.

If any country can be 'We First', Singapore is the one

In his concluding remarks, Neo commented that framing and asking the right questions are crucial.

"Yes, we are kiasu, but then even when it comes to being kind, doing good and doing well, we want to be better than other people, right?" Neo quipped, responding to a comment by a fellow panellist that Singapore's kiasu culture is a negative.

"If anybody can be a 'We First' society, Singapore is the one," he concluded.

Top image via Jacky Ho / Institute of Policy Studies NUS