SINGAPORE, Aug 8 — As a nation Singapore may be young but it has seen its fair share of challenges, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Message 2023.
Yet each time, Lee said the Singapore spirit shone through and the nation “emerged stronger and more united.”
Singapore will celebrate its 58th National Day on Wednesday (Aug 9).
The prime minister expressed his confidence that the same spirit will continue to hold them together, even amidst troubling times.
Lee noted that inflation is still a problem for Singapore, as it is for many countries with households and businesses feeling the pinch of rising prices.
“The storm may not blow over soon. But however long it lasts, you know this government will weather it together with you,” Lee told fellow Singaporeans.
Lee also touched on the recent series of cases involving Ministers and Members of Parliament.
In all the cases, Lee said for the good of the country, “we sought to do the right thing, protect the integrity of our system of government, and carry through everything that needed to be done.”
“Let there be no doubt, my government is determined to keep our system free of corruption and wrongdoing.
“We will maintain our high standards of honesty, integrity, and propriety. Singaporeans have come to expect this of us, and so have our international partners,” said Lee.
According to Lee, some have asked what those incidents say about the government.
“My answer is this: such issues come up from time to time. When they do, we deal with them properly and transparently. That is what we have always done; and that is what we have done this time too.”
Lee delivered his speech which was telecast live from SkyOasis@Dawson, here in Queenstown, one of Singapore’s oldest towns.
