Building a cohesive and caring "We First" Singapore together

Chairman, I recently visited the Founders’ Memorial’s “Not Mere Spectators” exhibition.

Since 1959, Singapore’s diversity has been built and held together by our people’s active participation. Throughout the years, Singaporeans stepped forward to care for one another and uphold our unity in diversity.

One example is the People’s Cultural Concerts.

1. These were performances by the people, for the people – nurturing a sense of belonging, mutual respect and shared identity.

2. Held in open spaces across Singapore, people came to perform, watch and learn together.

Several pioneers in our arts scene, like Dr Uma Rajan and Mdm Som Said, performed at these concerts, and became lifelong friends.

1. Their experiences at these concerts left them with a deep conviction that multiculturalism must be lived, and not just be spoken about. Both, in fact, went on to shape Singapore’s cultural landscape.

2. Our nation’s early years and journey reflects the seeds and foundation of the “We First” society that we seek to forge.

We see this “We First” spirit at different levels of our society, where Singaporeans care, share, and uplift each other.

1. At the individual level, we see it in volunteers like Mdm Ratnam Periowsamy. She is 90 years old. At 90, she is the oldest volunteer at Care Corner’s Active Aging Centre in Toa Payoh East. She goes door-to-door to check on seniors living alone and organises activities for them. Her example shows us that you can contribute and care regardless of age.

2. At the community level, groups like the Kampong Gelam Association, or KGA for short. They came together to develop the Kampong Gelam Place Plan to enhance the precinct’s heritage and cultural importance.

3. At the business level, we see the “we-first” spirit in companies like aAdvantage (pronounced “a-advantage”). About half of its 20 staff members receive time off to volunteer regularly at a nursing home.

4. The common thread we shared earlier at the individual, business, and community-level – show ordinary Singaporeans and groups stepping forward to make a big impact in our society.

5. This is the kind of “We First” spirit that MCCY seeks to spark, spur and strengthen. We will do so by:

   1. Number one, creating common spaces through our heritage – we will bring people together, both physically and in spirit, to foster a stronger sense of community.

   2. Number two, by encouraging and enabling active citizenry to ensure that good ideas are turned into actions, and no one is left behind.

Chairman, when we speak about heritage as a common space, we are referring not only to our landmarks, but also to familiar places within our neighbourhoods – places that hold meaning, memory and shared experience among Singaporeans.

Mr Foo Cexiang asked about MCCY’s plan to allow more Singaporeans to play an active role in celebrating our neighbourhood heritage.

Through the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Heritage Activation Nodes, in short we call HANs, NHB partners residents and stakeholders to co-create programmes celebrating their neighbourhood.

1. Since 2024, NHB has launched three HANs across Singapore that has drawn more than 30,000 visitors. They are in Katong-Joo Chiat, Clementi and Punggol.

2. In Katong-Joo Chiat, there is a mural of a mama shop along Lorong Stangee, created by a local artist Mr Alvin Mark Tan based on his childhood memories.

3. This mural has inspired passers-by to contribute their stories and old photos of Joo Chiat.

Across the three HANs, more than 360 volunteers have stepped forward to deepen our local community heritage.

Building on this momentum, NHB will launch two new HANs in 2026:

1. One will be in Telok Blangah, in partnership with Participate in Design. It will focus on uncovering hidden neighbourhood gems and stories;

2. And the other HAN will be in Tiong Bahru, with Tiong Bahru Community Centre as our partner. It will celebrate public housing architecture, religious sites, as well as heritage businesses.

In addition, we will continue to steward our landmarks and historic districts carefully, so that they remain meaningful to all Singaporeans and are sensitively integrated into the everyday lives of surrounding communities.

Ms Joan Pereira asked for a Whole-of-Government approach in assessing the future public use of 38 Oxley Road, and to consult neighbouring residents throughout the decision-making process.

1. As mentioned by Acting Minister David Neo in his previous Ministerial Statement, MCCY will certainly study possible options to make the site accessible to the public, so it can become part of our shared memory and a common space for all Singaporeans.

2. The acquisition process for the site is ongoing. Once access is obtained, NHB will conduct a holistic study in consultation with the relevant agencies, to assess how the public education value of the site can be optimised.

3. We will work with the Member, as well as the relevant government agencies, to engage residents staying near the site, and consider ideas and feedback to minimise any potential disamenities.

To enhance and protect our historic districts, NHB will establish a Placemaking Project Office under the Interagency Task Force for Heritage Businesses, Traditional Trades and Cultural Life, which I co-chair with SMS Faishal Ibrahim.

1. The Project Office will work closely with key district stakeholders, like the KGA, Little India Shopkeepers & Heritage Association, and Chinatown Business Association, to better understand their needs, and empower them to enliven their precincts.

2. In addition, the Project Office will provide seed funding, link groups to relevant agencies, and build capabilities to design, implement and scale placemaking initiatives.

Heritage businesses play an important role in enhancing the unique character of our historic districts and serve as community anchors.

Mr Kenneth Goh asked whether more targeted succession planning support could be given to preserve heritage businesses and support their financial viability.

1. We recognise that succession planning can be complex and deeply personal. Where heritage businesses are ready to pass down the reins, our agencies will certainly provide support.

2. This includes business improvement initiatives such as the NHB's Organisation Transformation Grant.

3. For example, Rumah Makan Minang, a third-generation family-run restaurant, tapped on this grant to strengthen its long-term sustainability by reviewing and restructuring roles within the family business.

NHB will also be working with citizen volunteers to document heritage businesses and their contributions as part of the Little India Citizen Engagement Project.

1. Interested members of the community can look out for NHB’s call for citizen volunteers for the exercise, which will be announced by May this year.

These efforts remind us that heritage endures not only because it is preserved by institutions, but because it is kept alive by people.

Besides strengthening our sense of community through heritage spaces, we will nurture the growth of a “We First” society by spurring active citizenry. We want to see everyone coming together to shape and take ownership of our shared future.

To spark active citizenry, we set up the Singapore Government Partnerships Office (or SGPO) two years ago in 2024. Last year, the Government received over 1,600 partnership proposals addressing a wide range of community needs.

Let me cite two quick examples:

1. Project #JalanJalan (pronounced: Project-Jalan-Jalan) is a youth-led performing arts ground-up with the mission to connect people through performances in public spaces. During SG60, they staged more than 20 performances across five locations.

2. Another project is Skillseed, an established community builder that works with residents to uncover neighbourhood stories and to strengthen local leadership. Skillseed seeks to build trust, capability and ownership within the community.

Both projects had different starting points, but they have the same spirit of contribution. Such citizen-driven initiatives have immense potential to spread their impact and their outreach.

That is where the new SG Partnerships Fund, in short the SGPF announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Acting Minister David Neo, will play a key role to spur and strengthen active citizenry. As requested by Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim, I will briefly explain how the fund is tailored. It is tailored to empower different levels of ground-up ideas and activities through three tiers of support:

1. First, the Seed tier aims to grow a democracy of deeds by supporting citizen-led ideas, even nascent ones, with accessible and low-barrier funding, up to a maximum of $5,000 per year.

   1. We hope that this tier, with its simple application process, will motivate more individuals and ground-ups to come forward with their ideas, no matter how small, to address community needs or to better the lives of fellow Singaporeans.

2. The next tier, the Sprout tier, aims to grow the circle of ground action by providing support for those with proven ideas to amplify their impact and outreach. It is also the next tier of funding that successful “graduates” of Seed tier recipients could apply to, to grow their project ideas.

   1. To qualify for the Sprout tier, individuals or ground-ups need to demonstrate track record in implementing projects of a similar nature or have conducted successful pilots of the proposed idea. This tier provides up to 80 per cent funding, capped at $50,000, up to a period of two years.

3. Finally, the Scale tier is for organisations that aim to deliver systemic or sector-wide social impact, or to foster cross-sector partnerships with measurable outcomes. This can take the form of large-scale initiatives that grow civic participation or capacity.

   1. Similar to Sprout, applicants for this tier would need to demonstrate prior success in implementing projects of similar nature and that the proposed idea has achieved tangible results in pilots.

   2. Chairman, we recognise that implementing such programmes could require greater capacity from the organisations. Therefore, we will work with successful Scale applicants, to strengthen their capabilities to execute their projects more sustainably. The fund will provide up to 80 per cent funding, capped at $1 million over three years. The fund will also cover capacity costs such as manpower and training.

Ms Elysa Chen asked about ringfencing SGPF’s funding to support youth or parent-led initiatives, and if the fund should be increased to boost mutual support and neighbourliness.

1. The SGPF is sized at $50 million over five years, and we wish to ensure that it remains accessible, to encourage a broad range of initiatives that leads to positive change for our communities, certainly including youth and parents.

2. The SGPF also complements existing schemes such as the NYC’s Young ChangeMakers Grant and the NYF.

3. We will review the SGPF’s impact on catalysing projects that support active citizenry, before we consider enlarging it.

Applications will open from next month, April 2026, and more information will be released on SGPO’s website.

We welcome and invite all Singaporeans to step forward and make a difference. Your ideas and efforts matter, and we can create a “We-First” Singapore where no one walks alone.

Chairman, a “We First” society is built when people, communities and businesses step forward to serve the collective good. Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim has asked how we can rally more to do so.

First, we will incentivise and actively support corporate volunteerism.

1. As Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced, the Corporate Volunteer Scheme will be extended for three more years.

2. This allows companies to enjoy 250 per cent tax deductions on qualifying expenditures when employees volunteer with Institutions of Public Character, including employee salaries and volunteering supplies.

Second, we will help companies build capability and confidence to contribute and shape our society for the better.

1. For instance, the partnership between the Singapore Business Federation and VolunteerInc. provides companies with training, guidance and connections to community organisations.

   1. Since the programme was launched in July last year, more than 100 companies have stepped forward to partner VolunteerInc.

   2. One of them is Coface, a multinational trade credit insurance company, which launched a drive to develop adaptive floorball sessions for elderly persons. Last year, 52 Coface volunteers contributed 624 hours of their time over 8 floorball sessions. And this very meaningful initiative saw the seniors gain confidence through adaptive floorball, form friendships, not just amongst the elderly and also with Coface employees, and rediscover the joy of staying active.

2. Over the next five years, we aim to mobilise 600 companies and 6,000 employees to participate in similar projects.

Third, we will continue to nurture a culture of giving back.

1. In 2025, the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s Company of Good initiative recognised 371 companies for their contributions.

2. Then there is the Collective for a Stronger Society, launched two years ago in 2024 and led by CFS, the Community Foundation of Singapore, which brings together Government agencies, donors and community partners to better support lower-income families. To date, CSS has raised approximately $16 million, translating generosity into meaningful support for families who need it most.

Ms Elysa Chen asked whether the Government is considering alternative ways to encourage neighbourliness and mutual help, for example, through time banking.

1. While time banking is a good idea to increase neighbourliness and foster mutual help, there may be practical implementation challenges.

2. However, there are community-led initiatives that have similar objectives to time banking. For example:

   1. Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities implemented a programme, supported by the DBS Foundation, where Active Ageing Centre participants take on short micro-tasks based on their abilities and schedules, and receive small allowances upon completion.

3. MCCY will be happy to support similar ground-up initiatives, including any time banking pilots, under the just-announced SGPF.

Chairman, while corporate and organised giving matter greatly, a “We First” society is also expressed through everyday acts of care. Volunteerism, therefore, is vital to growing active citizenry.

1. Our islandwide network of 24 SG Cares Volunteer Centres works closely with communities to identify and address their needs.

   1. We have volunteers like 90-year-old Mdm Periowsamy who cares for seniors living alone.

   2. More than 720 volunteers from semiconductor manufacturer Micron, partnered with the SG Cares Volunteer Centre in Sembawang to run Micron Kampung, which befriends seniors and bring them on outings and festive visits.

2. This year, we aim to engage 36,000 volunteers to benefit 180,000 service users.

When corporates, community groups, and individuals choose to step forward, to connect, to care and to contribute, the foundations of active citizenry are built and the seeds for a “We First” society are sown.

Chairman, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin.

主席，新加坡建国的基础，就是建立一个多元种族、多元文化和谐共荣的社会。我们常说，“先有国，才有家”，先有“我们”，才有“我”。树立以“我们“，而不是以“我“，为先的一个价值观，是新加坡赖以生存、能够繁荣昌盛的建国基础。

为加深“我们优先”的理念，我们希望“三管齐下”，通过“公司”、通过“公众”和通过“公民”，加强社区守望相助的精神，打造“以我们优先“的社会。

首先，政府将继续通过我们的文化遗产，创造更多共同的社区空间，加强社会凝聚力。

1. 国家文物局将成立一个“社区营造项目办公室”，携手社区内的企业、社团以及个人，加强国人的认同感。

2. 我们也将在原先的3个文化遗产新启点（HANs）之上，增加两个新的启点，分别是在直落布兰雅和中峇鲁，这两个富有浓厚历史文化氛围的社区。

由黄循财总理和梁部长刚才宣布的新项目：“新加坡政民合作项目基金” SGPF，通过一个明确的框架，为不同阶段和规模的社区项目，提供资源，这项5年的计划总额达到5千万元。

1. 从“种子”阶段的每年5千元的顶限，到“萌芽”阶段的最多两年5万元，到“成长”阶段的最多三年一百万元的资助，政府希望按部就班的支持，鼓励个人和机构，从小规模做起，把更多有创意的好点子，和更多人分享，凝聚社区。

企业、公司和专业团体，也能够通过“企业志愿服务计划”，建立机制，鼓励员工回馈社区。

“以我们优先”的社会，需要“我们”来一起共同创造和落实。通过携手“公司”、“公众”和“公民”，“三管齐下”，我们希望每一位新加坡人都能够共参与，共同打造一个和谐、团结、进步的温馨家园，一个真正属于“我们”的新加坡。

Let us aspire and work towards the “We First” society we hope for. Where no Singaporean walks alone. And where people of all races, backgrounds and creeds are joined together by our common hope and vision of a caring and cohesive Singapore.

We see the seeds of what that “We First” spirit blossoming in the examples we shared today – from 90-year-old Mdm Periowsamy, to the dedicated volunteers from Coface, and our many Companies of Good.

MCCY will continue to partner Singaporeans to create the conditions for this spirit to grow.

Let us shape a “We First” Singapore, strong and resilient, and stronger together. Thank you.