NATIONAL DAY MESSAGE 2013

Amacam my kaki Singaporeans 1. I tell you hor. This new atas SAFRA clubhouse in Toa Payoh here is where SAFRA built their very first clubhouse in 1975 lah. We just cun cun

habis rebuilding it with better facilities for NSmen and your families lah. Its like to tell you my thanks to you for your many contributions and sacrifices lor. Or-bi-good right? It is also an example of how we are upgrading our amenities lah and the environment as Singapore become better, year by year lor. 2. Also, We made to steady progress this past year lah. No more queue for HDB flats, make stable the BTO prices and tight up on property speculation and excessive borrowing. Then, we also add more buses and increase the number of bus routes lor. But you see orh, still super crowded lei now. Haiya, how liddat. We also trying out free early morning train rides to the city. Steady right? We confirm add more trains to the existing lines one. Phase One of the Downtown Line will open in December so more and more MRT lines after that. We also celebrated many success in the arts and sports, like the LionsXII team, wah piang eh!, win the MSL eh. Terror right. You see. 3. We also tackling long issues lah, like for marriage and parenthood, dont forget also the population. I tell you hor, the White Paper on Population in January that time make us kena shoot so bad lei, of course we also not happy fight back lah. But then the talk helped us to understand the problem better. We really need those foreign workers and immigrants to give back to our economy and also Singaporean needs, then also, for what you ask? Well, of course, we tu lan lor, need to make up for that time we not active in the baby business. But then hor, jialat lei, still so crowded and congested, how to maintain our Singaporean identity. So how ar? we man man make our way in front, we know what we need and until where we can do things and so like that we trying to see la what is the best outcome for Singaporeans. 4. Our economic is holding steady in the global kecohness. We are attracting more swee investments. Of course, no job remains low la, let me tell you, this job just nice grow 2.0% from January to june lah, 2013, this year. And then we also expecting it to grow 2.5-3.5% this year, higher than before you know. Good right?? We even make tight on the foreign workers and immigration system la, we must maintain investor confidence and keep Singapore open for business. 5. The world is changing so fast and unpredictably. Technology is transforming our lives. Societies everywhere feel under pressure, wah piang, kids will do better hor. 6. Singapore is changing too. The economy is maturing and our population is ageing. Different groups in society now have more different and more shiok homes. 7. 8. Our road ahead will be very different from the road we have jalan. So we must reassess our position, check back our direction, and refresh our strategies to be more senang. In my Message last year, I said hor that Singapore should always be our best Home, with Heart and Hope. We got launch Our Singapore suggestions. Solid sia! Thank you hor for taking part in this effort. 9. Our Singapore Conversation has helped us make crystal to what we want to do: A Singapore which gives the citizens chance to succeed and live fulfilling lives. A nation which make success in many ways, and offers a lot of paths. A society with safety nets that give people no worry mindset. A community where the unlucky one get help, and those who more better in turn do more to help others. 10. 11. We will set goals and work out plans to know these aspirations. Then must match these aspirations against the world we live in our competition, our opportunities, and our potential hor!. Today Singapore stands very terror internationally. Many countries admire us. Solid siah! Developed countries and emerging economies want in wages, and our people studying and working abroad are welcomed and respected. 12. 13. 14. 15. At the same time hor, other countries are rapidly progressing and catching up. We must kiasu abit, stay ahead of the competition, and maintain our standing in the world. To become success under changing circumstances, we must adapt our basic approach to nation building lah. We must strike hor, a new balance between the roles of the individual, the community and the State. We must strengthen our sense of community. Must be damn buaya. We need to sama-sama support to one another helping the less fortunate in big ways and small; volunteering for causes that we care about; organising ourselves for the common good. But then ar, we already do this, especially during crises. When the dengue and the haze threatened us, we stand together and take care of help one another in the good times and the bad. We need to make strong this spirit of togetherness. 16. The Government will also play a bigger role to build a fair and just society. We will do more to enable every Singaporean to succeed, through education and lifelong learning hor. Then like that we will keep avenues to rise wide open to all. We will tolong those from families with less get off to a more easy start in life, beginning from pre-school. We will take care the cost of living, for example healthcare costs, especially for the elderly. We will foster a more equal society, by helping every family afford their own HDB flat hor, and giving low income workers a better deal through Workfare lah. In Singapore, everyone will always have a stake in this country, and ample chances to make good in life. 17. 18. But remember: We cannot bo chap on! Each one of us must still do our best, and most take care of ourselves and resourceful. Because Singapore can only succeed if skarly one of us never contribute his part. At the same time hor, all this is only possible if we are one united people, and not divided by race, social class, or political faction. We must always have able, honest and committed leaders, who can be trusted to serve Singaporeans. Like me lor. We need a good Government that thinks and plans ahead, not just tok kok and more importantly feels for our concerns and hopes. That is the way to build a better Singapore together. 19. We have come a long way, but our best years are ahead of us. We have the power to shape our destiny and write a new chapter in the Singapore story. Let us stand together, and dedicate ourselves to building in Singapore a brighter future for all. Okay ar! 20. Happy National Day hor! one another. That is Singapore not just one person, but a community with a shared purpose and a sense of responsibility, taking the initiative to to pick up ideas from us. Monkey see monkey do lor! Every citizen gains from our see beh strong Singapore brand our workers enjoy a premium Conversation to define our shared future together. Many people semangat participating actively and passionately. We got hear many many valuable even conflict interests. Old Singaporeans worry about healthcare and costs of living. Young ones aspire to so many education opportunities and eh!, jobs have become less secure, salary are rising more slowly or even stagnating, families all working harder, and parents worry whether their