‘We are not at war, but neither are we at peace': Chan Chun Sing
He noted that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is dealing with a range of threats and challenges daily across all four of its services.
'Today, we are not at war in the conventional sense, neither are we at peace in the conventional sense,' he told reporters in an interview on June 25.
'We are always operating somewhere in between, with different gradations. And that's what keeps us on our toes.'
Mr Chan cited how the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) and other government agencies deal with thousands of attempts to penetrate Singapore's cyber systems every day, without naming those behind these attacks.
'Sometimes it could be just people fooling around, but often, I think people are doing this very intentionally and probably with malicious intent,' he said.
It is a round-the-clock operation to protect Singapore's cyber domain, he added, noting that a breach could mean not just a hit to the country's reputation or the loss of some classified information, but real consequences for its power grid and financial and water systems.
There are also constant efforts to secure Singapore's airspace and territorial waters.
Mr Chan said the air force responds to hundreds of cases every year, some requiring air defence assets to be scrambled to verify unknown threats.
'For the navy, it is the same thing,' said Mr Chan, who was chief of army before entering politics.
'The number of ships that sail through the narrow Singapore Strait, the number of boardings that we have to (do to) check and verify to make sure that the strait remains safe from threat actors, that goes into the hundreds as well and, in fact, sometimes the thousands.'
In the information sphere, people are constantly trying to shape how Singaporeans think – another threat the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) counters daily, he said.
'The type of information operations that people conduct, perhaps directly on us and sometimes indirectly on us, where we are the collateral, is also not something that we will take lightly.'
Mr Chan spoke to the media at Mindef's headquarters in Bukit Gombak ahead of SAF Day on July 1, amid rising global tensions fuelled by escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Addressing the conflict between Iran and Israel, which also involved the US bombing Iran's nuclear facilities, he said retaliation from Iran may not be limited to targets in America or Israel.
'It could be anywhere else,' Mr Chan said, adding: 'It could also stoke up emotions in the region, and we must be careful that these do not spill into terrorist activities.'
There are greater security concerns because of these conflicts, he said, noting that the threats now go beyond conventional terrorism and extend into new areas such as cyberspace.
Similarly, the nature of threats that Singapore faces has changed, Mr Chan said.
While some technologies, such as computer viruses and drones, are not new, the way and intensity in which they are applied have evolved, he said.
The lines between military and civilian use of these technologies have also blurred, he added.
Moving forward, security operations will be more decentralised, with troops operating in smaller units, he noted.
This plays into the SAF's strengths, Mr Chan said.
The SAF has never relied on the size of its troops since 1965, but on technology as a force multiplier, he noted.
'If anything, going forward, the new generations of technology that is coming in across the world will allow the SAF to multiply its manpower capabilities even more.'
Another strength is the quality of manpower and leadership it has, he said.
Mr Chan said some believe that having full-time national servicemen (NSFs) or national servicemen (NSmen) is a disadvantage for the SAF.
'We never think so, because by having NSF and NSmen, we are able to have the best across society operating our systems, participating in the design of our systems.'
This is why the SAF can operate with more decentralisation, he added.
There will be more leadership opportunities for these groups going forward, he said, noting that this does not just refer to an increase in the number of soldiers attending SAF leadership schools, he said.
It also means more leadership at different levels and more of such opportunities for many NSFs, he said.
Mr Chan gave an example from the DIS, the SAF's newest service, where soldiers operate in groups as small as three or five, compared with traditional army companies that can have around 100 men.
'Each and every one of them must be able to take (on) leadership because of the technology that they are using and applying.'
Going forward, the SAF will continue to spend prudently and in areas that will 'give us bang for (our) buck', Mr Chan said.
It will not simply target a certain amount of expenditure but ensure that spending is sustainable because building new capacities takes many years, he said.
'What we don't want is what we call the 'feast and famine' kind of spending, where you buy a lot of things when you have money, and then you find that you can't maintain it,' he added.
'That's not how we stretch the defence dollar.'
Over the last few years, defence spending has hovered around 3 per cent of Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP), Mr Chan noted.
This does not include security spending outside Mindef, such as on the Home Team and cyber security.
The minister was answering a question on whether Singapore's current spending is sufficient given the global security situation.
There have been calls in the region for an increase in defence spending.
At the Shangri-La Dialogue in May, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth asked American allies in the Indo-Pacific to raise their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
Mr Chan said the SAF has been fortunate to have the public and political support to spend up to 6 per cent of GDP.
There will be areas that will require more spending because of the new nature of warfare, he added.
'Today there are also new opportunities for us to look at other low-cost options to complement what we have and what we need,' he said. 'We will continue on that trajectory.'
On adopting new technology, Mr Chan said the SAF is constantly looking at emerging tech such as artificial intelligence, but does not want to be caught up in fads.
'We've been looking at many of these technologies for many years. We want to be able to apply them to what we call 'tangible use cases',' he said.
'So, it's not applying things in general, but very specifically how it helps us.'
While the SAF constantly tracks changes to warfare, such as the increased use of drones and cyber attacks, its challenge is to predict what new threats will emerge in the future, Mr Chan said.
This is so that the SAF can put in place programmes to develop capabilities to counter these threats even before they emerge and be able to deal with them by the time they do.
He made the point that the SAF does not build new capabilities just because there is a new defence minister.
After a recent Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Chan took over the portfolio from Dr Ng Eng Hen, who was defence minister from 2011 to 2025 and retired ahead of the 2025 General Election.
'Many of the capabilities that the SAF has today are built up through the generations,' he said, including those that were mooted during or before his stint as chief of army from 2010 to 2011.
That is why many SAF projects are classified, so the force remains ahead of the curve, he said.
'We don't always publicise all that we do, but at the appropriate time, we will reveal those capabilities to let Singaporeans have the confidence that we are ready,' he said.
'And there'll be many capabilities in the SAF which we will never reveal. The fact that we don't have to reveal them, we don't have to use them by the time they get retired – to us, that is success.'
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
2 hours ago
South Sudanese exiles face uncertain future after release from prison in neighboring Sudan
RENK, South Sudan -- As a young man in the mid-1980s, Daud Mahmoud Abdullah left his home in Aweil in South Sudan and headed north. It was a time of war. South Sudan was still part of Sudan and was fighting for independence, in a conflict that would claim about 2 million lives. He never went back. But now, aged 60 and after 6 months in a Sudanese prison, he is closer to home than he's been in 40 years. This July, he finally crossed the border back into his native South Sudan, taking a deep breath and reminding himself, 'I am alive.' After everything that has happened to him, it feels like a miracle. Sudan — once his place of refuge — has been embroiled in a brutal civil war since April 2023 that has killed 40,000 people and displaced nearly 13 million more, according to UN agencies. Abdullah lived in the town of Wad Madani, capital of Al Jazirah State, about 135km (85 miles) south of Khartoum. There had been incursions into the area by the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary force once known as the Janjaweed who were notorious for mass killings, rapes and other atrocities in Darfur two decades ago. More recently, the RSF have again been accused of by the International Criminal Court of committing war crimes, including the attacks on famine-hit Zamzam and other camps in North Darfur. In January, the Sudanese Armed Forces began recapturing parts of Al Jazirah state from the RSF — and making sweeping arrests. Abdullah got caught up in the incursions on his way home from the market: he was picked up by SAF soldiers and accused of cooperating with the RSF. Abdullah says that he was 'beaten, tortured and burned with cigarettes' to make him confess. Although he never made a confession, he was thrown in prison. In a report released in March, the top U.N. human rights body detailed how both the SAF and the RSF have detained tens of thousands of people 'without charge, with limited or no contact with their families, in squalid and overcrowded facilities' in 'a widespread pattern of arbitrary detention, torture, and ill-treatment.' Abdullah can attest to this. He remembers inmates dying from starvation, beatings or illnesses like cholera on a daily basis. One morning, he discovered that 28 of his fellow inmates had died in the night. For the next three days the bodies lay inside his cell, and the soldiers refused to remove them. 'Even when you shouted to them,' said Abdullah, 'they would tell you, 'if you want to die also, you can die with them.'' The Associated Press spoke to eight men in total, some of whom were detained in other prisons in Al Jazirah State and Khartoum. All recounted nightmarish conditions during their incarceration. They described being crammed into cells alongside hundreds of other prisoners. Cells were so crowded that they were forced to sleep with their knees tucked under their chin. Beatings occurred regularly; one said he lost the use of his right eye as a result. One man, Michael Deng Dut, 29, said he had been 'tortured with electricity more than 18 times.' Simon Tong, 39, said that he was tortured with a knife during an interrogation, and rolled up his sleeve to expose the scars on his arm. Many of the men said they were given only a handful of food and a small cup of water once a day. 'This is the reason many of us passed away,' said Tong, 'because of the lack of food and water.' In July, 99 South Sudanese prisoners were separated from the other inmates. As the men awaited their fate, one died, reducing their number to 98. On July 28, they were bundled into a bus and driven away, not knowing where they were going. 'They did not tell us they were going to release us,' says Abdullah. He didn't realize where he was until they reached the South Sudanese border and were taken to Renk, the country's northernmost town, by South Sudanese officials. Though still far from home, Abdullah was back in his own country for the first time in 40 years. The border town of Renk has become a hub for South Sudanese nationals trying to get home. When the Sudanese civil war broke out in 2023, UN agencies and the South Sudanese government established an onward transportation program which has moved more than 250,000 people, according to the UN's International Office of Migration. On June 1, 2025, the program was suspended due to global cuts to humanitarian funding. The number of people living in and around a transit center in Renk has since swelled to 12,000, roughly six times its intended capacity. Thousands are living in makeshift shelters made of sticks and cloth. But for Abdullah, arriving in Renk was a moment of overwhelming joy after months of torture and uncertainty. He was overcome to see his wife, daughter, and younger brother waiting for him. His wife had decided to take his family south after his younger brother had been arrested and released by SAF for the third time. 'When I saw Abdullah, I thanked God,' she said. 'We did not expect to see him alive again.' Abdullah now hopes to return to Aweil, the town where he was born. He still has family in Sudan, and is trying to contact them so that they might join him in Renk. 'If they come back safely, then we plan to go to Aweil,' he said. 'All of us, together.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Sengkang Green Primary School suspends three P3 students over death threats; Key takeaways from NDR 2025: Singapore live news
Sengkang Green Primary School says they have suspended three Primary 3 students after it emerged they sent death threats to a classmate's mother who had reported them for alleged bullying offences against her daughter. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong issued a rallying cry as he called on Singaporeans to unite and write the next chapter of the nation's story. PM Wong outlined in his National Day Rally (NDR) speech, on 17 August, several plans the government has to support Singaporeans as they come to grips with multiple challenges. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates: Sengkang Green Primary School suspends three P3 students over death threats Three Primary 3 students from Sengkang Green Primary School have been suspended after they sent death threats to a classmate's mother who had reported them for alleged bullying offences against her daughter. Facebook user Ni Yin, who claims to be the victim's mother, posted that for almost six months her daughter had been persistently bullied by three boys in her class. She also included an audio clip of the death threats sent to her where a voice can be heard saying: "I might dissect her. I might dissect her into pieces like you. So which one do you want me to do? Dissect her? Or end her life in school? Choose one. Either don't want one, I will kill you instead and your husband." Sengkang Green Primary School, in response to CNA, revealed it has engaged with the parents of the three students on their actions, and those who made the calls and threats were immediately suspended. However, the school added that "in the course of the school's investigations, we found that the affected student had also engaged in hurtful behaviours." The girl's mother said the school's statement about her daughter's behaviour "deeply harms the victim, diverts public attention, and shifts blame onto the child". The family of the girl made a police report after receiving the death threats. They also raised the issue with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and their Member of Parliament (MP). NDR 2025: Key takeaways Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his first National Day Rally after the General Election 2025. Here are key takeaways from Sunday night's speech. More details about each topic in the links. Vaping will be treated as a drug issue with much stiffer penalties to be imposed. Govt to help workers better use AI in a bid to raise productivity and create new value in the economy. Schools to help students adapt to new technologies like AI while developing human qualities. Singapore to consider more ways to support parents and make online spaces safer for children. Match job seekers to roles nearer to home: Community development councils (CDCs) to lead effort. New state-funded traineeship programme for ITE, poly, university graduates. Rolling out of Age Well Neighbourhoods to support seniors. First homes at former Kranji racecourse to be ready in about 10 years. New Islamic college to be located next to SUSS in Rochor. You can watch PM Wong's full speech from the National Day Rally 2025, here. Singapore steps up anti-vaping efforts on public transport Commuters caught vaping in public transport spaces will be "removed from the premises and reported to authorities", warned the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 18 August. LTA added that the police may be called in for offenders "found to be intoxicated" and that "our station staff are on active patrol to keep our public transport spaces safe and smoke-free." Echoing LTA, operator SMRT also released a statement today on Facebook reminding the public that vaping is "strictly banned" on their public transport network. "We enforce a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to report offenders to the relevant authorities." The statements follow shortly after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement during Sunday's National Day Rally speech where he declared the government will treat vaping as a drug issue with stiffer penalties to be imposed. 'Running Man' star Kim Jong-kook announces marriage plans View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jk (@kjk76) Kim Jong-kook has news that will delight (or perhaps upset some) fans. The star of the hit series 'Running Man' is set to get married. The 49-year-old singer and entertainer announced the big development via a handwritten letter on his fan cafe this morning (18 August). He wrote: "At some point, I always thought to myself that a day would come when I would write and post something like this, so I kept preparing for it in my heart. But now that I am actually writing it, I feel much more nervous and anxious than I had imagined...I am getting married." Kim did not reveal the identity of his wife-to-be but did share that the wedding will be held soon in a "small setting with family and a few close friends". "I know that for many of you, the news will feel quite sudden. This year marks my 30th debut anniversary and instead of making the album I was supposed to make, I ended up making my other half," he said. Ker Ah Kin, owner of iconic Long Hwee stationery store, dies aged 78 Ker Ah Kin, the beloved owner of the iconic Long Hwee stationery store in Mei Ling, has died at the age of 78. The news was shared by Facebook page My Community on the evening of 15 August, along with a touching tribute, which you can read in full through the link. "Thanks for making all Queenstown kids fall in love with books and reading," a line from the tribute read. "We will always remember your soft, sweet smile. We will always remember you." Ker, with her husband Wee Kak Choo, set up their Queenstown store in 1968 and over the decades it became a permanent fixture for students and residents in the neighbourhood. In an interview with Mothership in June 2023, Ker revealed that business had been poor for a while and she was contemplating closing her much-loved store. NDR 2025: What analysts thought of PM Wong's rallying cry The Straits Times interviewed a number of analysts to offer their thoughts on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech on 17 August. Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), described the speech as a rallying call around the Singapore spirit. Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst at the Singapore Management University, shared similar thoughts, adding that the "speech sought to be reassuring, optimistic, encouraging, and a call to action." Dr Mathew Mathews, a principal research fellow at IPS and head of its Social Lab, said PM Wong's emphasis that Singapore must be a 'we first' society instead of "me first" was a much-needed refrain. "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,' he said. Adjunct associate professor in practice Terence Ho from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS noted that Wong's focus on young people – including highlighting issues of vaping and excessive screen time – stood out for him. "This segment may not have received as much attention as other demographic groups previously,' he said. You can read the full ST article, here. PHOTOS: Hundreds of thousands in Israel protest Netanyahu's Gaza plan You can read about the protests in Tel Aviv and protests in Jerusalem, here. WP urges govt to engage widely and consider all options amid global uncertainty The Workers' Party (WP) – Singapore's largest opposition party – have responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech. They urged the government to "leave no stone unturned" as Singapore looks to thrive despite global economic uncertainty. "Against this cautious backdrop, the Workers' Party urges the government to engage widely and explore all solutions tabled in good faith, including previously untapped ones," said WP. Among the needs addressed in WP's lengthy statement included ensuring that Singapore's economy remains resilient and keeps up with the times. "We reiterate our manifesto proposals that JTC Corporation should expand its market share for industrial space and continue offering low-rent options at different price-value points for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alongside its private sector-run facilities," said WP. WP also once again called for a statutory minimum wage. You can read WP's full statement, here. Three Primary 3 students from Sengkang Green Primary School have been suspended after they sent death threats to a classmate's mother who had reported them for alleged bullying offences against her daughter. Facebook user Ni Yin, who claims to be the victim's mother, posted that for almost six months her daughter had been persistently bullied by three boys in her class. She also included an audio clip of the death threats sent to her where a voice can be heard saying: "I might dissect her. I might dissect her into pieces like you. So which one do you want me to do? Dissect her? Or end her life in school? Choose one. Either don't want one, I will kill you instead and your husband." Sengkang Green Primary School, in response to CNA, revealed it has engaged with the parents of the three students on their actions, and those who made the calls and threats were immediately suspended. However, the school added that "in the course of the school's investigations, we found that the affected student had also engaged in hurtful behaviours." The girl's mother said the school's statement about her daughter's behaviour "deeply harms the victim, diverts public attention, and shifts blame onto the child". The family of the girl made a police report after receiving the death threats. They also raised the issue with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and their Member of Parliament (MP). Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered his first National Day Rally after the General Election 2025. Here are key takeaways from Sunday night's speech. More details about each topic in the links. Vaping will be treated as a drug issue with much stiffer penalties to be imposed. Govt to help workers better use AI in a bid to raise productivity and create new value in the economy. Schools to help students adapt to new technologies like AI while developing human qualities. Singapore to consider more ways to support parents and make online spaces safer for children. Match job seekers to roles nearer to home: Community development councils (CDCs) to lead effort. New state-funded traineeship programme for ITE, poly, university graduates. Rolling out of Age Well Neighbourhoods to support seniors. First homes at former Kranji racecourse to be ready in about 10 years. New Islamic college to be located next to SUSS in Rochor. You can watch PM Wong's full speech from the National Day Rally 2025, here. Singapore steps up anti-vaping efforts on public transport Commuters caught vaping in public transport spaces will be "removed from the premises and reported to authorities", warned the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 18 August. LTA added that the police may be called in for offenders "found to be intoxicated" and that "our station staff are on active patrol to keep our public transport spaces safe and smoke-free." Echoing LTA, operator SMRT also released a statement today on Facebook reminding the public that vaping is "strictly banned" on their public transport network. "We enforce a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to report offenders to the relevant authorities." The statements follow shortly after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement during Sunday's National Day Rally speech where he declared the government will treat vaping as a drug issue with stiffer penalties to be imposed. Commuters caught vaping in public transport spaces will be "removed from the premises and reported to authorities", warned the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on 18 August. LTA added that the police may be called in for offenders "found to be intoxicated" and that "our station staff are on active patrol to keep our public transport spaces safe and smoke-free." Echoing LTA, operator SMRT also released a statement today on Facebook reminding the public that vaping is "strictly banned" on their public transport network. "We enforce a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to report offenders to the relevant authorities." The statements follow shortly after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement during Sunday's National Day Rally speech where he declared the government will treat vaping as a drug issue with stiffer penalties to be imposed. 'Running Man' star Kim Jong-kook announces marriage plans View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jk (@kjk76) Kim Jong-kook has news that will delight (or perhaps upset some) fans. The star of the hit series 'Running Man' is set to get married. The 49-year-old singer and entertainer announced the big development via a handwritten letter on his fan cafe this morning (18 August). He wrote: "At some point, I always thought to myself that a day would come when I would write and post something like this, so I kept preparing for it in my heart. But now that I am actually writing it, I feel much more nervous and anxious than I had imagined...I am getting married." Kim did not reveal the identity of his wife-to-be but did share that the wedding will be held soon in a "small setting with family and a few close friends". "I know that for many of you, the news will feel quite sudden. This year marks my 30th debut anniversary and instead of making the album I was supposed to make, I ended up making my other half," he said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jk (@kjk76) Kim Jong-kook has news that will delight (or perhaps upset some) fans. The star of the hit series 'Running Man' is set to get married. The 49-year-old singer and entertainer announced the big development via a handwritten letter on his fan cafe this morning (18 August). He wrote: "At some point, I always thought to myself that a day would come when I would write and post something like this, so I kept preparing for it in my heart. But now that I am actually writing it, I feel much more nervous and anxious than I had imagined...I am getting married." Kim did not reveal the identity of his wife-to-be but did share that the wedding will be held soon in a "small setting with family and a few close friends". "I know that for many of you, the news will feel quite sudden. This year marks my 30th debut anniversary and instead of making the album I was supposed to make, I ended up making my other half," he said. Ker Ah Kin, owner of iconic Long Hwee stationery store, dies aged 78 Ker Ah Kin, the beloved owner of the iconic Long Hwee stationery store in Mei Ling, has died at the age of 78. The news was shared by Facebook page My Community on the evening of 15 August, along with a touching tribute, which you can read in full through the link. "Thanks for making all Queenstown kids fall in love with books and reading," a line from the tribute read. "We will always remember your soft, sweet smile. We will always remember you." Ker, with her husband Wee Kak Choo, set up their Queenstown store in 1968 and over the decades it became a permanent fixture for students and residents in the neighbourhood. In an interview with Mothership in June 2023, Ker revealed that business had been poor for a while and she was contemplating closing her much-loved store. Ker Ah Kin, the beloved owner of the iconic Long Hwee stationery store in Mei Ling, has died at the age of 78. The news was shared by Facebook page My Community on the evening of 15 August, along with a touching tribute, which you can read in full through the link. "Thanks for making all Queenstown kids fall in love with books and reading," a line from the tribute read. "We will always remember your soft, sweet smile. We will always remember you." Ker, with her husband Wee Kak Choo, set up their Queenstown store in 1968 and over the decades it became a permanent fixture for students and residents in the neighbourhood. In an interview with Mothership in June 2023, Ker revealed that business had been poor for a while and she was contemplating closing her much-loved store. NDR 2025: What analysts thought of PM Wong's rallying cry The Straits Times interviewed a number of analysts to offer their thoughts on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech on 17 August. Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), described the speech as a rallying call around the Singapore spirit. Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst at the Singapore Management University, shared similar thoughts, adding that the "speech sought to be reassuring, optimistic, encouraging, and a call to action." Dr Mathew Mathews, a principal research fellow at IPS and head of its Social Lab, said PM Wong's emphasis that Singapore must be a 'we first' society instead of "me first" was a much-needed refrain. "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,' he said. Adjunct associate professor in practice Terence Ho from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS noted that Wong's focus on young people – including highlighting issues of vaping and excessive screen time – stood out for him. "This segment may not have received as much attention as other demographic groups previously,' he said. You can read the full ST article, here. The Straits Times interviewed a number of analysts to offer their thoughts on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech on 17 August. Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), described the speech as a rallying call around the Singapore spirit. Associate Professor Eugene Tan, a political analyst at the Singapore Management University, shared similar thoughts, adding that the "speech sought to be reassuring, optimistic, encouraging, and a call to action." Dr Mathew Mathews, a principal research fellow at IPS and head of its Social Lab, said PM Wong's emphasis that Singapore must be a 'we first' society instead of "me first" was a much-needed refrain. "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,' he said. Adjunct associate professor in practice Terence Ho from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS noted that Wong's focus on young people – including highlighting issues of vaping and excessive screen time – stood out for him. "This segment may not have received as much attention as other demographic groups previously,' he said. You can read the full ST article, here. PHOTOS: Hundreds of thousands in Israel protest Netanyahu's Gaza plan You can read about the protests in Tel Aviv and protests in Jerusalem, here. You can read about the protests in Tel Aviv and protests in Jerusalem, here. WP urges govt to engage widely and consider all options amid global uncertainty The Workers' Party (WP) – Singapore's largest opposition party – have responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech. They urged the government to "leave no stone unturned" as Singapore looks to thrive despite global economic uncertainty. "Against this cautious backdrop, the Workers' Party urges the government to engage widely and explore all solutions tabled in good faith, including previously untapped ones," said WP. Among the needs addressed in WP's lengthy statement included ensuring that Singapore's economy remains resilient and keeps up with the times. "We reiterate our manifesto proposals that JTC Corporation should expand its market share for industrial space and continue offering low-rent options at different price-value points for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alongside its private sector-run facilities," said WP. WP also once again called for a statutory minimum wage. You can read WP's full statement, here. The Workers' Party (WP) – Singapore's largest opposition party – have responded to Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally speech. They urged the government to "leave no stone unturned" as Singapore looks to thrive despite global economic uncertainty. "Against this cautious backdrop, the Workers' Party urges the government to engage widely and explore all solutions tabled in good faith, including previously untapped ones," said WP. Among the needs addressed in WP's lengthy statement included ensuring that Singapore's economy remains resilient and keeps up with the times. "We reiterate our manifesto proposals that JTC Corporation should expand its market share for industrial space and continue offering low-rent options at different price-value points for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) alongside its private sector-run facilities," said WP. WP also once again called for a statutory minimum wage. You can read WP's full statement, here.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
WP urges Government to engage widely, explore all solutions following National Day Rally 2025
SINGAPORE – The Workers' Party (WP) has urged the Government to engage widely and explore all policy suggestions in good faith, including previously untapped ones. In its response to the 2025 National Day Rally, the opposition party said Singapore should 'leave no stone unturned' in collective efforts to build a truly resilient nation for the future. The WP issued its statement following Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's Rally speech at ITE College Central on Aug 17, where he called for Singaporeans to unite to write the next chapter of the country's history and outlined new schemes to support workers and independent living for seniors, among others. PM Wong also spoke extensively about the challenges Singapore faces, including an unstable global economy and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) impacting jobs and businesses. The WP addressed some of the new initiatives, and added its suggestions and concerns. On government efforts to address economic concerns, WP said it agrees that Singapore's economy needs to 'keep up with the times'. Responding to a new scheme announced by PM Wong during the Rally where Community Development Councils will match workers with jobs near their homes, the WP said: 'We agree with the approach of improving job-matching efforts for Singaporeans, and ask that the relevant organisations accelerate the setting up of this programme with the economic uncertainty ahead.' It added that in the party's experience, many residents referred to NTUC's Employment and Employability Institute receive career counselling, but 'not the direct job-matching support they truly need'. 'The new approach reflects what many job seekers are looking for: not just advice, but real opportunities and connections to employers who are hiring,' it added. It urged the Government to also tackle 'present concerns surrounding businesses and employees', including rising rental costs, skills-related underemployment and 'slow rate of real income growth of 0.7 per cent per annum over the past five years'. The WP reiterated some proposals from its GE2025 manifesto. These included having JTC Corporation, which oversees industrial infrastructure, expand its market share to offer low-rent options for small and medium-sized enterprises, and for a statutory minimum wage to be established. The party also responded to PM Wong's announcement of a new government-funded traineeship scheme for graduates from the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities. PM Wong said the scheme will begin as a 'focused' one which can be scaled up if the economy worsens. The WP said it recognises the importance of helping young graduates and mid-career workers find their footing, but urged the Government to ensure the programme is designed with safeguards so that it is effective and fair. The party said: 'State-sponsored internships and apprenticeships must not be used by companies only as a source of cheaper, subsidised labour. 'There should be clear performance metrics and a transparent commitment from participating companies to consider trainees for full-time employment once the training period ends.' It is also essential that all trainees receive basic workplace protections, including paid sick leave and safe working conditions, it added. The party will advocate for fair, transparent and sustainable employment pathways, especially for younger Singaporeans and those navigating mid-career transitions, it added. On the impact of AI on schools and the economy, the WP said it agrees with the importance of preparing students for life, not just exams – which PM Wong said the Government is doing more of. The WP called for an increase in the number of allied educators, which can lead to a 'meaningful reduction in class sizes' so students receive the attention they need to develop essential soft skills such as empathy and adaptability. The opposition party also called on the Government to improve social safety nets in the light of the ongoing disruptions caused by AI adoption, and reiterated its call for Singapore to introduce redundancy insurance. The WP said it looks forward to championing these ideas and others in the 15th Parliament. The party will have 12 MPs in the House when Parliament reopens on Sept 5, its largest-ever contingent. Progress Singapore Party (PSP) chief Leong Mun Wai also released a statement following the Rally in which he welcomed immediate support for new graduates but raised concerns that these proposals 'risk being mere Band-Aid solutions that do not address our country's deeper structural issues'. PSP also said the new government-funded traineeships raise the question of whether tertiary education is adequately preparing young people for the workforce 'if graduates are increasingly expected to settle for traineeships instead of full-time jobs'. Singapore must confront some fundamental questions in the years ahead, and the PSP believes these are not questions the Government can answer alone, said Mr Leong. 'Ultimately, the National Day Rally provided some ideas, but many critical questions on key issues such as housing affordability and cost of living were left unanswered,' he said. 'The PSP will continue to push for more fundamental reform in these areas and provide alternative policy proposals.' Watch PM Wong's National Day Rally speech here: Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
