NDR 2025 a rallying cry amid significant challenges facing Singapore, say analysts

Straits Times

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PM Lawrence Wong's emphasis on a 'we first' society signalled it is not just the Government that sets Singapore's direction.
SINGAPORE – At the heart of Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech on Aug 17 was a rallying cry for Singaporeans as the country faces near- and medium-term challenges, from an ageing population to issues confronting young people, political analysts said.
PM Wong's
emphasis on a 'we first' society also signalled that it is not only the Government that sets the direction for Singapore. It wants to actively involve Singaporeans in shaping the country's future, they added.
The speech was a rallying call around the Singapore spirit, said Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).
'Being SG60, the PM laced the speech with robust references to what built the nation – the sense of purpose, grit and agency,' Dr Koh said.
Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst and law don at the Singapore Management University, agreed.
'At a time of pervasive gloom globally, the PM's National Day Rally speech sought to be reassuring, optimistic, encouraging, and a call to action. It is a rallying cry for the country to be united,' he said.
In his speech at ITE College Central in Ang Mo Kio, PM Wong said Singapore must be a 'we first' society to keep the country going, and the Republic is finished if everyone thinks only about 'me' and puts 'me' ahead of 'we'.
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Dr Mathew Mathews, a principal research fellow at IPS and head of its Social Lab, said it is a much-needed refrain, especially with Singapore being home to people from around the world.
'What binds all of us will not be where we were born, or our ethnicities, but the common spirit to defy the odds and trust in the people around us who call this home,' said Dr Mathews.
Invoking
what he called the 'Singapore spirit' , PM Wong called on Singaporeans to partner the Government and fellow citizens to 'roll up our sleeves, come up with solutions, and turn good ideas for a better Singapore into reality'.
These words, said Dr Koh, are a strong signal of the Prime Minister's belief that citizens and civil society have an integral role in governance under his leadership.
'(It) again fleshes out this notion of a 'we first' society. This is not the 'state-led' Singapore that we used to think of,' she added.
Prof Tan said what stood out to him was PM Wong's emphasis on what it means to be Singaporean. 'It is values – and not economic value alone – that will keep Singapore exceptional,' he said.
Prof Tan said this reflects again that PM Wong's approach to governance emphasises inclusivity and being more consultative.
The mention of a 'we first' society also makes clear the expectation that it is not only the Government that articulates what is important for society, which was prominent in the early years of Singapore's development, said Dr Mathews.
'Instead, the 'we first' approach involves Singaporeans themselves actively discerning what matters, and being recognised as equal partners in shaping and pursuing collective goals,' he added.
Adjunct associate professor in practice Terence Ho from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS said the message 'suggests collective responsibility and co-creation'.
The Republic could see more initiatives to co-create government policies, such as citizen panels under
the Forward Singapore exercise , which was aimed at forging a new social compact.
He added that the focus on young people and seniors suggests that the Government is particularly cognisant of the concerns and challenges facing these two segments of society.
Dr Mathews agreed, saying that the challenges Singapore is facing and will face in the near and medium term are significant.
The Government must seriously consider the needs of an ageing population, which will constitute 'a very significant portion of the electorate'.
At the same time, it cannot forget the crucial work of guarding the future of young Singaporeans.
Support for young and old
Prof Ho said PM Wong's focus on young people stood out for him.
'This segment may not have received as much attention as other demographic groups previously,' he said.
PM Wong
brought up vaping and excessive screen time as among the challenges facing the younger generation.
Dr Koh said the initiatives to support seniors in ageing well stood out in the rally speech. 'This is a very large demographic as we are becoming a super-aged society,' she said.
The
Age Well Neighbourhoods initiative , for instance, aims to provide seniors with convenient access to social activities and healthcare in their neighbourhoods.
It extends care arrangements offered in Community Care Apartments to the wider neighbourhood, and provides home care services and care facilities for seniors who need rehabilitation and physiotherapy in the neighbourhood.
Dr Koh said encouraging seniors to care for one another through active ageing centres will also lighten the load on working-age adults.
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at consultancy Solaris Strategies Singapore, noted the emphasis on a greater involvement of the people in governing Singapore.
'The Government and society will have to work even more closely together in a sensible and realistic way to keep Singapore going as an inclusive and prosperous country,' he said.
Dr Hamid Razak, an MP for West Coast-Jurong West GRC, noted that the Prime Minister spoke about how 60 years ago, Singapore was a fledgling nation that 'took the plunge with independence and separation'.
'We were a country of many races, villages and religions, but we all chose to be Singaporeans and we decided to work together,' he said.
'This is a moment that we all can be encouraged by, as we chart the next journey (for) Singapore.'
Additional reporting by Gabrielle Chan
Read more: Key announcements from PM Wong's first National Day Rally
Watch PM Wong's National Day Rally speech here: