PM Lee’s National Day Message 2022 Includes Cost Of Living Concerns Facing Singaporeans
Singaporeans are finally celebrating a “normal” National Day for the first time in three years, but one thing has remained constant: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Message.
He’s delivered this yearly without fail, with or without the pandemic.
For Singapore’s 57th birthday, he astutely spoke about what many citizens have been concerned about lately: Prices for everything going up and up.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube
The Government is “doing everything necessary” to help Singaporeans with rising prices, he assured.
Cost of living addressed in National Day Message
In the National Day Message 2022, delivered on Monday (8 Aug), Mr Lee acknowledged that the cost of living is “at the top of everyone’s minds”.
Amid the backdrop of the Gardens By The Bay, he listed out some ways the Government has helped Singaporeans:
- They’ve released multiple support packages to target the most needy among us, and more will be coming within months. These will complement the support programmes started by private companies and community groups.
- On skyrocketing food prices in particular, the Government has tried to alleviate them by securing supplies from diversified sources and building stockpiles.
Source: Singapore Food Agency on Facebook
- To dampen imported inflation, Singapore has tightened our exchange rate policy and strengthened our currency.
World outlook has clouded considerably
If the situation worsens, Mr Lee also assured that the Government is “ready to do more” to help citizens.
But there’s bad news: He warned that the world isn’t likely to return to low inflation levels and interest rates anytime soon.
That’s because “international economic conditions have shifted” and that’s the reality, the PM added.
He cited the Russia-Ukraine war for worsening the existing inflation and supply-chain disruption caused by Covid-19.
Thus, though Singapore’s economy has “emerged strongly from the pandemic”, he added,
The outlook has clouded considerably.
As an indication, food and energy prices are rising across the world, not just in Singapore.
We should respond by:
- transforming our industry
- upgrading our skills
- raising our productivity
In this way, our wages can go up higher than inflation, he explained.
Tensions in the world at large
Darkening the outlook even further, Mr Lee pointed to tensions in the world at large, saying,
Around us, a storm is gathering.
This means Singapore “will be buffeted by intense rivalry and tensions in the region around us”.
Among the geopolitical pressure points are:
- United-States (US)-China relations, which are worsening, and unlikely to improve soon.
- the Russia-Ukraine war, which though far away has implications for Singapore because:
- it pits Russia against many countries in the world
- it violates United Nations Charter principles that underpin Singapore’s existence
- it will affect regional security in the Asia-Pacific
Source: Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via Reuters
The PM thus urged Singapore to stay united to survive, and keep our armed forces and Home Team “strong and credible”.
We should also prepare ourselves for a less peaceful and stable region in coming decades.
Covid-19 position much better now
On the Covid-19 situation, Mr Lee struck a more optimistic tone.
After 2.5 tumultuous years battling the disease, he concluded,
We are now in a much better position.
He cited as evidence that the population is highly vaccinated and our healthcare facilities are “busy, but not overwhelmed”.
Source: Tan Tock Seng Hospital on Facebook
What might give Singaporeans the most cheer, however, is the fact that we haven’t tightened measures again so far, despite a recent surge in cases.
Mr Lee thanked all the individuals and organisations who helped fight Covid-19.
Our success wouldn’t have been possible without the “high level of trust in our society”, he added, mentioning Singaporeans who trusted the Government and one another.
Describing Covid-19 as “the test of a generation”, the PM felt that Singaporeans have emerged stronger and more united from it.
Founders’ Memorial construction will start soon
Looking to the future, Mr Lee said Singapore is planning ahead for the next 30 or 50 years and beyond.
In the near-term, works at the Bay East Gardens will commence soon, including the construction of the Founders’ Memorial.
Source: Courtesy of Kengo Kuma & Associates and K2LD Architects
For the long-term, there’s a lot to look forward to, he said.
A Long-Term Plan Review launched by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will consult a wide of people for ideas to re-imagine Singapore’s physical environment.
As for our society, he emphasised the need to invest in people to reach their full potential and take care of our elderly and vulnerable.
To that end, the Forward Singapore exercise launched by Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong aims to refresh our social compact.
He invited Singaporeans to participate actively and contribute ideas to shape the Republic’s future.
Stay united & resolute
Mr Lee concluded by warning that Covid-19 won’t be Singapore’s last crisis, and more trouble lies ahead.
However, Singaporeans shouldn’t fear as long as we stay united and resolute, he said.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube
This will keep the nation peaceful and secure, among other ideals, he added.
Watch Mr Lee’s full speech here, or if you prefer, read the transcript.
National Day Message has optimism & warnings
While Mr Lee’s National Day Message was optimistic, it also carried some warnings about the road ahead.
Singaporeans will welcome the assurance on the rising cost of living, as that’s the most pertinent issue that must be addressed.
However, it helps that he looked to the future too. Though abstract, it gives us hope of brighter things to come amid the gloom.
Let’s stay strong together and contribute to the dialogue as every citizen has a stake in directing the nation’s next phase.
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Featured image adapted from Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore on YouTube.
