00:00Mr President, friends and colleagues, my fellow Singaporeans, thank you for joining us tonight.
00:09Mr President, friends and colleagues, my fellow Singaporeans, we've just concluded a pivotal general election.
00:18It took place during SG60, a major milestone in our nation-building journey.
00:24It unfolded amidst a world gripped by uncertainty and turbulence.
00:32And it was my first election as Prime Minister and Secretary General of the PAP.
00:40Singaporeans faced some critical choices in this election.
00:44You had to decide the kind of future you wanted for yourselves, your families and for Singapore.
00:50Singapore. You had to choose the people you trust to be your town councillors and to represent you in Parliament.
01:00Most importantly, you had to decide on the team that would form the government
01:05and would work with you to write the next chapter of our Singapore story.
01:10Singaporeans have given me and my team a clear mandate.
01:18The PAP was returned to government with a strengthened majority of 65%.
01:22My team and I are humbled and honoured by the trust you have placed in us.
01:30Singaporeans voted for a strong and stable government while re-electing opposition MPs in the constituencies they held.
01:41This outcome reflects the collective desire of Singaporeans.
01:47In these uncertain times, you understood what was at stake.
01:53Our vulnerability and our future.
01:56You chose leaders you could trust, a government you could rely on and a steady course for our nation's next phase of development.
02:10The international community and investors would have taken note of these outcomes.
02:14They would see a nation that is united, standing firmly behind its leaders and placing confidence in the government
02:24with the strength and security to secure Singapore's place in an unpredictable world.
02:32The outcome leaves no room for doubt.
02:36No one in the world can question the resolve of Singaporeans and the government they have chosen.
02:42This is a clear advantage for Singapore, especially in the conduct of our foreign policy.
02:49For that, as your Prime Minister, I am deeply grateful to my fellow citizens.
02:58My government will use our mandate to serve all Singaporeans,
03:04regardless of race, language, religion or political preference.
03:08This is our solemn duty.
03:12We will work tirelessly to improve the lives of every Singaporean.
03:17We will deliver on our promises.
03:24I have done my utmost to assemble the strongest team I could for Singapore.
03:29My new team comprises both experienced ministers who will provide steady hands
03:33and new ministers who will provide fresh perspectives and ideas.
03:39I have appointed four key Cabinet Ministers to assist me in my work.
03:43DPM Gan Kim Yong and Coordinating Ministers Kei Shyamugam, Chan Chun Seng and Ong Ye Kang.
03:51They will oversee four critical areas.
03:54The economy, national security, public services and social policies.
03:59They bring a wealth of experience and leadership and will serve as a steady anchor for our government.
04:08Amongst the ministers, some will continue with their present roles,
04:13especially in key areas where continuity and stability are critical.
04:18But I've also assigned new roles to others, giving them the opportunity to broaden their exposures.
04:27At the same time, I have reinforced the team with nine new office holders,
04:32including fresh faces from the election and experienced members from the backbench.
04:37I have entrusted them with significant responsibilities.
04:42They will be stretched and tested.
04:45They will learn the ropes and prove themselves in service to Singapore.
04:53Together as a team, we pledge to serve Singaporeans to the best of our abilities,
04:59with commitment and integrity, with sincerity and humility.
05:03We will work with you to solve problems, overcome challenges and take Singapore forward.
05:11Our mission is clear, to always put Singaporeans at the centre of all we do,
05:17to listen to your concerns and to respond decisively.
05:21We begin this new term of government in a world that is more uncertain and unpredictable than before.
05:32The conditions that once underpinned our survival, security and success are shifting beneath our feeds.
05:40The rules-based international order, which form the foundation for peace, security and free trade, is fraying.
05:47Again, multilateral cooperation is giving way to a tangle of bilateral and transactional deals
05:55where might often mix right.
05:59The major powers of the world are reassessing their strategies and shifting their positions to secure their upper hand.
06:06Competition is intensifying, and smaller countries risk being caught in the crossfire
06:13or being cut out of the conversation altogether.
06:18Singapore will not stand still.
06:20We cannot afford to be passive.
06:23We must be clear-eyed, proactive and adapt nimbly to the shifting dynamics.
06:31Our first priority is to secure for Singapore an assured place in this changed world.
06:37We will deepen our relations with the major powers, especially America and China.
06:44We will stay friends with both without being caught in their rivalry.
06:50We will engage openly and honestly with each in a consistent and principled manner.
06:57Where our interests align, we will work with them.
07:00Where they do not, we will stand firm and protect Singapore's security and sovereignty.
07:09We will strengthen our ties with friends near and far
07:12and seek new ones in parts of the world like Africa and South America
07:16where we do not as yet have much presence
07:19and ensure Singapore remains a trusted, reliable and respected voice on the global stage.
07:25In a world of shifting alliances, we will be a steady and constructive partner.
07:34One willing and able to contribute to peace and stability,
07:38to advance dialogue and fraternity, and support a rules-based global order.
07:45Our goal is not just to navigate this uncertain world,
07:50but to help shape it for the better by working with like-minded partners,
07:56upholding shared principles and values so that small nations too have a place under the sun.
08:07We will steer our economy for the challenges ahead.
08:11We will review and update our economic strategies for this new landscape.
08:15We will work with tripartite partners to develop a new economic blueprint for our next phase
08:23so that we can sustain our competitive edge and create good jobs for Singaporeans.
08:30In the near term, as global growth slows,
08:34we will continue to help businesses and households weather the storm.
08:38We will work closely with NTUC to support our workers and job seekers
08:44so that every Singaporean who is prepared to work is able to secure a job and progress in their careers.
08:54We will press on with Forward Singapore to refresh and strengthen our social combat.
08:59This is critical, not only because seeking an ever-fairer and just society is the right thing to do,
09:08but it's also because a society torn by inequalities cannot possibly stand resilient in the face of a more turbulent world.
09:19So we will enhance our social support system to provide greater assurances to Singaporeans
09:24across all life stages, from early childhood to retirement.
09:30This means keeping essential services like education, healthcare and housing accessible and affordable.
09:37It also means strengthening support for our seniors
09:40so they can live with dignity, purpose and fulfilment.
09:45We will create more diverse and flexible pathways for Singaporeans to seek happiness, prosperity and progress.
09:56Whether you are a student exploring career options or a mid-career seeking to upskill
10:02or a senior who wishes to continue contributing,
10:07there will be opportunities for you.
10:09Our aim is for every Singaporean to thrive and flourish on their own terms.
10:18We will deepen mutual understanding and respect between Singaporeans of different ethnic,
10:23religious and social backgrounds,
10:26strengthening the bonds that unite us.
10:30When issues of race and religion surfaced in this election,
10:34we did not allow them to divide us.
10:37This shows how far we have come as a society.
10:42But it's also a reminder that we cannot take our racial and religious harmony for granted.
10:49We will continue to guard these fault lines carefully
10:53and redouble our efforts to build a society
10:56where everyone feels respected and valued and knows they truly belong.
11:03At the same time, we will look beyond the immediate concerns to prepare Singapore for the future.
11:11In particular, we will accelerate our transition to cleaner energy
11:15and adapt to the realities of climate change.
11:19We will transform our infrastructure
11:21and create smarter, more connected and greener homes for all Singaporeans.
11:27We will build a global city that is dynamic and vibrant,
11:33yet distinctively Singaporean,
11:35a great place to live and one we are all proud to call home.
11:43Above all, we will work shoulder to shoulder with all Singaporeans
11:48to write this next chapter of our nation's story.
11:51We will continue to engage Singaporeans from all walks of life
11:57to hear your hopes and concerns
11:59and to reflect your voices in our policies.
12:04Beyond listening, we will actively involve you
12:07in creating and implementing solutions that matter to you and your families.
12:13This is how my team and I will govern in partnership with Singaporeans.
12:22Everyone will have a say in shaping our way forward
12:25and building our shared future.
12:29For I firmly believe that a more open and engaged society
12:34will strengthen, not weaken Singapore.
12:37We are not afraid of differing views.
12:42We welcome constructive debates.
12:46They push us to think harder, plan better
12:49and serve Singaporeans more effectively.
12:53But at the same time, we must always respect one another
12:58and remember that even with our differences,
13:02we share more in common with each other.
13:05This consciousness will make us a stronger, more resilient
13:11and more united nation.
13:17History has not been kind to small nations like Singapore.
13:21We have always been vulnerable,
13:24caught between the interests of greater powers.
13:28Yet for 60 years, Singapore has defied the odds.
13:32This was never just a matter of good luck.
13:36It has always been about our courage,
13:39our conviction and our collective will as one people.
13:45And as long as we continue to believe in ourselves,
13:48have faith in one another and work together,
13:52we will endure.
13:54Singapore will endure.
13:56So be it SG-100 or even beyond,
14:02there will still be Singaporeans standing strong and free.
14:08And not only will we survive,
14:10we will prevail.
14:12And we will keep this little red dot shining brightly
14:15as a beacon of hope, resilience and possibility.
14:20So my fellow Singaporeans,
14:23with courage, imagination and new resolve,
14:28let us build a Singapore that is open,
14:31inclusive and full of opportunities.
14:34Let us secure a brighter future for ourselves,
14:38our families and for generations to come.
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