Maintaining Singapore's exceptionalism by building a “We-first” nation

1. Very good afternoon to all of you. I’m so privileged to be able to join you this afternoon, and to be able to speak on this important topic

2. I saw that you had some very lively discussions earlier today – on questions of community, diversity, and strengthening our community in Singapore.

   1. These are very important conversations: they, amongst others, help us define the very fabric of the society that we want to live in, that we want to see, and also leave behind for our children.

   2. Occasions like this also allow us to share ideas on how to take Singapore forward.

   3. We might agree or disagree on some suggestions. But I think it is important to speak frankly, and to be able to exchange views safely.

3. For Singapore, strength in unity, and unity amidst diversity, have been very much central pillars of our success over the last six decades.

4. But increasingly, the forces which undermine this unity have grown stronger.

   1. Societies worldwide grow increasingly divided along so many fault lines – ethnic, religious, socio-economic, age, sexual orientation and many other ideological lines.

   2. Multi-lateral relations globally have fractured.

   3. Views have become increasingly polarised at opposite ends of the spectrum, leaving not much in the middle.

   4. Economic progress around the world has slowed.

   5. Demographics, including immigration, have changed the identity of so many societies.

   6. The rise of technology, including the advent of AI and the proliferation of social media, to name a few.

   7. These are all different fault lines that have threatened the cohesion of communities around the world.

5. Singapore is not immune to these trends.

   1. We will have to find a way to navigate these trends and be able to tackle them as a society collectively head on.

Singapore in 1965

6. Before looking at today’s issues, I thought it would be useful to start with some original principles when we became independent 60 years ago.

   1. At that time, we had a plan, or at least an outline of a plan, on how to forge social cohesion out of a multiethnic Singapore that was very recently separated from the larger Malaysia.

   2. These principles, I believe, remain relevant and instructive even today.

7. In 1965, our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew made two very important decisions, amongst the many that he had made, which shaped the contours of the Singaporean identity.

8. The first was for us to adopt a very open posture. We were then a small country, newly independent – no resources, no hinterland; we had a young but mainly uneducated population. But one of the first things we did was to embrace the usage of the English language. 

9. We needed to be connected and relevant to the world. An open economy and an open society – these have become the bedrock of our country’s development and progress.

10. And it remains so today.

    1. Singapore today thrives on an open exchange, having strong multi-lateral ties;

    2. Connected to the world at various levels, including a myriad of trade, social and other security arrangements with our partners in networks around the world.

11. The second was for Singapore to be a Singapore for Singaporeans. Not for Malays, Chinese or Indians alone. But for all, equal. At the same time, having a very clear eye on protecting the minorities, and ensuring freedom of religion and ethnic practices in Singapore.

12. This would seem the natural thing to do when you look at it in today's lens. But remember, this was in 1965 – and I think in 1965, this was a pretty brave position to take. Some might even say it was foolhardy given the racial tensions of that era and the demographic make-up of our large neighbours, both to the north as well as to the south.

13. Contrast Malaysia – where a few years after our independence in Singapore, the Bumiputra policy was put in place, to advantage the majority segment of society. Not for us to judge whether it is right or wrong – it works for Malaysia. We have a different system, but we take a different approach.

14. Our early leaders felt that it was important for us, critical that we rise above our own natural human instinct to be operating in your own tribe and to think of and think for your own tribe, particularly on core identity markers like race, language or religion. Policies were designed to accept those differences in Singapore from a very early stage, but to navigate and transcend above.

15. Externally, openness to the world; internally, openness to every Singaporean – this was the DNA which drove Singapore's success.

16. At that time, nobody expected Singapore to survive, let alone thrive, but we did just that. 

17. We managed to develop a strong national identity and internally, cohesive community despite our diversity, or perhaps in some cases, because of our diversity.  In the context of where and how we started as a nation, this was an exceptional outcome – one that we can celebrate as we look at SG60, and one that we can also draw a lot of learnings from as we navigate SG100 and beyond.

18. I believe that this exceptionalism is achieved through:

    1. First, building our national identity upon the strength of our diverse cultural and ethnic identities, rather than in place of it.

    2. Second, by fostering interaction and mutual appreciation of our rich diverse cultures.

    3. And third, by being very systematic and deliberate about being impartial to all races and religions, and avoiding a purist and ideological position.

19. To these principles, we added form and substance to that multi-cultural framework.

    1. Legislatively:  Our Constitution expressly protects our minorities.

    2. Article 152 says “It shall be the responsibility of the Government to constantly care for the interests of the racial and religious minorities in Singapore.” It's been there from day one. It remains there, and that's a direct exhortation to the Government today.

    3. We have the Presidential Council of Minority Rights, the PCMR.

    4. We have the MOHA to maintain religious harmony, 

20. And all of these are overlaid by policies that support intentional mixing amongst our people in our community where we work, live and play, and also, strive to reduce stratifying our community on the different fault lines.

21. For example, 

    1. We have the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP),

    2. We have the Self-Help Groups, that pay particular attention to certain segments of our population in specific need areas, like education and healthcare.

    3. We have a progressive range of social transfer mechanisms, a progressive fiscal policy to reduce inequality.

    4. We celebrate all our ethnic festivals.

    5. We have Religious Organisations, and space and freedom to practice and preach.

22. At the same time, there is also extensive effort on the ground at the community level to bring people together, to foster inclusion.

    1. Through People’s Association, and a wide network of Grassroots Leaders and volunteers.

    2. We have the SG Cares networks – we now have a Volunteer Centre in every town in Singapore.

    3. We have the Social Service Agencies.

    4. Harmony Circles.

    5. Religious Organisations.

    6. All of whom provide social aid and support in a secular fashion – a church reaches out to everyone; a temple has programmes for all races and all religions and of all denominations.

23. All of this is not just a programme, but it’s a mindset. It is a philosophical undertone that is Singapore. And all of these have become the cornerstone of Singapore’s own multicultural identity,

    1. Carefully woven into our national tapestry,

    2. But reinforced in an almost retail way, when it comes to building social capital.

24. This approach has driven Singapore’s success over the years.

    1. We have become a developed nation.

    2. In tough times, we hunker down as a society, weathered successive storms together from financial crises to the recent health pandemic.

    3. And we also collectively contribute, to share in our collective success.

    4. All of these under-pinned by what Pope Francis, when he came to visit Singapore recently, called Singapore’s “spirit of openness, mutual accommodation and respect”

Today’s Challenge:  60 Years On

25. But what does all these mean for us, in today’s context?

26. The first, and perhaps most important aspect, is to never let all of these get to our heads. Never let what a phrase like what Pope Francis said, make us complacent.

27. Singapore is often celebrated as a multicultural and multireligious society that has successfully navigated the challenges of diversity to forge a cohesive and progressive nation, and so on.

    1. But times change. Global and domestic dynamics constantly evolve.

    2. And there are new divisive forces that threaten to pull us apart in different ways, in new ways.

    3. And so, maintaining social cohesion could even be harder than building social cohesion in the first place.

    4. Maintaining an open society will require continuous effort, innovation and adaptability.

28. Globally, we see many other societies – including many other developed ones with a lot more natural resources than we do – grappling with profound challenges to their own social fabric.

    1. Europe has been gripped by identity politics.

    2. Political instability and poor economic outcomes have accentuated anti-immigrant sentiments.

       1. Last year, the UK witnesses anti-Islam riots stoked by far-right groups.

       2. Qurans were burned in Sweden in 2023.

       3. And right across Central Europe, the perception of unchecked immigration has fanned the flames of nativism, Islamophobia, deeply fracturing societies across so many divides.

29. Externally, the geopolitical environment has become increasingly volatile. 

    1. Just have a look at the conflicts around the world – we thought Russia and Ukraine would be over in a matter of weeks. It is now carrying on into the years.

    2. The Israel-Hamas War, likewise.

    3. Tensions between the United States and China.

30. All of this instability around the world has worsened deglobalisation, with many countries turning inwards, and embracing introspective policies.

    1. In the US, we have seen the rise of an “America first” movement.

    2. In Europe, we had Brexit not so long ago, and growing Euroscepticism.

31. These global developments have a profound impact on Singapore.

    1. International tensions may strain the balance between ethnic or cultural ties and indeed, impact our shared Singaporean identity.

    2. Also, as nativist sentiments gain traction worldwide, Singapore faces a very important, pivotal choice –

       1. Do we maintain our commitment to openness and diversity, which was our recipe for success many years ago, 

       2. Or do we risk losing the essence of what makes us exceptional?

    3. Unlike many other countries, and I would say perhaps unlike any other country, Singapore cannot afford to close our doors. Our survival and prosperity hinge on remaining open to the world, connected through networks and embracing diversity.

32. But at the same time, we will also face challenges from within.  One key area is our own demographic profile.

    1. In 2023, we reached a sobering milestone: our total fertility rate fell below 1 for the first time in our nation’s history.

    2. 2024 was the Dragon year, but the traditional uptick in births in a Dragon year was quite dismal – quite different from the other Dragon years in the previous cycles.

    3. And the reality therefore is this, the statistics warn us, Singapore is not just ageing – we are “super-ageing”, also ageing at a sharply increasing rate.

    4. A couple years ago, one in five were 65 and older. By 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be 65 and older. And of course, it follows then that the senior support ratio is expected to fall to 2.4 working adults.

33. What does this have to do with the community we want to build or social cohesion? As our society ages, we will have no choice but to balance immigration against demographics to sustain our economy.

34. At the same time, we will have to look at deepening efforts, doing more to strengthen bonds between all those who call Singapore their home, citizen or otherwise.

    1. Inevitably, this has triggered concerns over job competition, crowded living spaces, and the erosion of national identity.  How we order coffee at the coffee shop is one hallmark of how Singaporeans converse and transact.

    2. Some Singaporeans also worry about the formation of foreign enclaves or cultural clashes as we have seen from time to time. 

    3. If left unaddressed, such concerns could deepen societal divides. 

    4. Therefore, thoughtful and very deliberate integration efforts are essential to maintain our cohesion.

35. In addition to demographic shifts, we also become a much more divisive society in terms of perspectives, views, norms and aspirations.

36. Social media and artificial intelligence have transformed how we share and consume information.

    1. Technology might well enable faster interactions. 

    2. But ironically, faster, better technology can also accelerate the fragmentation of our society, as people gravitate towards interacting only with those who share similar views online. And you know how it is with echo chambers online – if people of similar views, similar profile coming together.

37. And in today’s digital age, impressions are formed in microseconds and attention spans have shrunk dramatically.

    1. Influence is democratised – anybody can be an influencer, anyone can shape opinions, and everyone is vulnerable to persuasion.

38. Social media feeds have also become potent tools for shaping opinions and mobilising action.

    1. We have seen that events occurring far from Singapore have a strong local resonance in Singapore.

       1. For instance, the Israel-Hamas conflict, geographically distant, but we share certain sympathies, and we see that this has deeply moved many Singaporeans.

39. Similarly, movements like Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, or Fridays for Future have also sparked conversations here, despite these movements being initiated in very different contextual, and also indeed very different populational circumstances. 

Moving Forward

40. So, as we look to the future, with all this landscape, one thing is certain:  there is no straightforward solution to this challenge we face now, sixty years after we started building our nation from independence.

    1. The problems we will face are going to be complex – multifaceted, volatile, and perhaps quite scarily, for the most parts, beyond our direct control, or at least our direct control.

41. But having said all that, I believe that our ability to forge a strong, collective “We” as opposed to “Me”, whilst enabling and even encouraging diversities to come forward, sharing perspectives and having collective aspirations will give us the space to flourish. And this, I believe, will be the key to our continued success.

42. What has worked well for Singapore since our independence, we must keep and preserve.  It has worked well for six decades, our structures, our life, our policies, our systems, and even our laws.

    1. And we must not, in the zeitgeist of change, seek to throw out the baby with the bath water.

43. What then is Singapore’s recipe to community cohesion?

    1. I’m not sure if I myself have the answer, I think we can collectively devise it,

    2. But I would say, Singapore’s success so far – “exceptionalism” if you will – in building a cohesive community despite high diversity, arises from the ability of our people to come together to collectively want to build a strong social compact, but still creating space for people who are different from us, who may have a different belief, practice and views.

44. Singapore’s approach to social integration and building social capital has to be guided by pragmatism and purpose. It can’t be seen in a vacuum. It has got to be seen in the context of how we build our nation, allow everyone to progress, strengthen the economy so that we can overcome inequality. 

    1. All of these are part of a multifaceted mix. It's not a single dimension question.

45. So, we must enable the space for diverse cultures to flourish, but also develop a strong sense of “We first” as a nation.

46. And I think this approach is best encapsulated by then-Prime Minister Lee’s speech in 2017 at the opening of the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre:
    
    “Our aim is integration, not assimilation.  No race or culture in Singapore is coerced into conforming with other cultures or identities, let alone that of the majority.”

47. And I think this speaks to me as the right approach. Everyone coming together, we gain a special identity. 

48. But a little bit like the rojak that we have, where you have distinct features of the individual ingredients of the rojak. They all taste different. They all feel different. They all have a different texture. But they are bound together by a special sauce, and together collectively, stronger than the sum of its parts. I think that's what we are. That's what we can strive to be.

49. We need to embed and translate this approach, this rojak approach, through consistent hard work in investing in social cohesion, facilitated and organised, convened by the Government, but engaging leaders from different ethnic communities and faiths.

    1. It has to be a collective leadership effort across all segments of society. The Government alone can't do this. 

    2. It can convene, it can aggregate, it can organise, but it doesn't always have to direct.

    3. I think power has been given to our community to step up, step forward, partner and move forward collectively as a total collective leadership effort.

50. What it also means is that we must strengthen our common values and principles, such as multi-culturalism and our commitment to racial and religious harmony. What is multi-culturalism today and what was multi-culturalism six decades ago might also need to evolve.

51. We used to think of multi-culturalism as embracing different ethnicities, religions, and maybe languages. But today we might need to think of it in terms of encompassing other broader fault lines. We can discuss it when we have a dialogue later.

    1. This also means that we have to think about our secular approach to policy making.

       1. It means guaranteeing freedom of speech, where every person has the right to practice their religious beliefs,

       2. And that policies remain fair to all, where no racial or religious community is given preferential treatment.

       3. And the recently introduced Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill is the latest piece of legislation that coheres with these longstanding principles.

52. At the same time, as a people, I believe we must continue to be even more intentional in encouraging and promoting social mixing and mutual appreciation.

    1. Only by doing this can we hope to ensure sufficient common spaces and building of sufficiently strong and diverse networks to accommodate our different people in our diverse society.

53. At the same time, we must also be prepared to evolve, to recognise that today we are building social capital, building a strong community with the same ethos and the same structures. But in a different kind from 1965.

54. And there will be areas where change will be necessary.

    1. For example, recent shifts on issues such as the wearing of the tudung in certain professions in Singapore and the more recent repeal of Section 377A demonstrate how policies can, indeed must, evolve in response to changing social norms.

    2. I'd like to say that these changes when they came up for the Government, they were not made lightly; 

       1. They were the result of extensive and very careful and deliberate consultation with different groups, different stakeholders, to understand the evolving values of our society over many years.

    3. This approach – thoughtful, consultative, and incremental – is how this Government will address major policy shifts, particularly those which impact our social cohesion.

    4. It may not always be possible to find common ground with everyone all the time.  

    5. But the goal should always be to foster deeper understanding and acceptance, and mediate a position that is acceptable to most.

    6. This will help us ensure that changes can strengthen rather than fray our social fabric.

55. Finally, at SG60, we do need to continue to forge a stronger confidence in a sense of “Us” as a nation – with a deeper appreciation of our history, and our unique cultural heritage.  

56. And I think we can use more of the arts, heritage and sports as natural bridges that connect hearts and minds.

    1. One example is the Harmony Games, where religious groups take turns to organise sporting events. 

       1. Across all the different religions, people take part, form a team, play sport together, compete with one another and have a good time at the Harmony Games.

       2. I would say nowhere else, and no other platform, would you find so many people diverse faiths coming together in friendly competition and camaraderie.

       3. And that’s because sport is not defined by racial or religious lines.

       4. Another example is the arts programme that we started –ArtsEverywhere@CDC. By bringing the arts directly into the heartlands, we provide opportunities for everyone to create shared experiences. And this can be performance that are of ethnic nature or international nature – it doesn’t matter. These are all occasions for us to come together, spend time together in our neighbourhood, where we work, live or play.

57. Finally, building a strong sense of “We” also comes from engaging everyone, to build a piece of Singapore as our home.  

58. I agree with the earlier speakers who said that this is an area that the Government can do more for, to create even more space for citizens and stakeholders to contribute.

    1. Indeed, as I said earlier, the Government alone cannot solve this challenge – true progress demands that all of us step up to do it together.

    2. And I think in today's context, when we contrast our population and where Singapore was sixty years ago, it will be more sustainable, more powerful, and also more meaningful if we could do this together.

    3. A vibrant and cohesive society requires partnership between the public, private and people sectors.

    4. And so, the Government is working to create an environment where Singaporeans and communities are empowered, and hopefully even inspired, to step up.

59. This includes every one of you here today.  Many of you and many of us have seen amongst the most fruitful initiatives come through because of partnerships.

    1. Consider the Harmony-in-action fundraising campaign, for instance.  I spoke about what’s happening in Gaza.

       1. Led by the Racial and Religious Harmony Circles, and with the support of humanitarian NGOs, this programme united Singaporeans across all backgrounds.  

       2. The campaign raised over half a million dollars for Gaza conflict victims from the community, demonstrating the power of community-driven efforts.

60. So, we recognise the need for more collaboration, and in doing so, recently we launched the Singapore Government Partnerships Office (SGPO) last year, marking a very important, pivotal shift towards deeper citizen engagement and partnership.

    1. One example of how SGPO has supported community efforts is through setting up The Foundry, in partnership with registered charity The Majurity Trust (TMT) and Tote Board.

    2. Located at Prinsep Street, this collective impact hub provides non-profit organisations and social enterprises a platform to come together, give them resources to incubate ideas, co-create the pilot solutions, and through this process, which sometimes is as important as the outcome itself, to build communities.

Conclusion

61. As we confront today’s uncertainties, it looks like a very difficult terrain ahead of us. Perhaps it is, but I think we can draw inspiration from where we were, and how we were in 1965 – when, against all odds, we built a nation.

62. And I think we must, again, beat these odds to maintain our exceptionalism.

    1. From fragility to strength – that was our story in 1965.  Today, recall that same spirit, and give ourselves the opportunity to write the next chapter of resilience and hope for the next generation of Singaporeans.

    2. The challenges we face today will define the Singapore that we leave behind for future generations. 

    3. And I think a measure of a successful society is not so much how we are today as we are living, but how tomorrow's generation benefit from the work that we have done to make Singapore more liveable, nicer, more inclusive, maybe kinder and gentler as well.

    4. And I believe that together we can shape a Singapore where every individual finds belonging, every community thrives, and every challenge can transform into a shared opportunity.

63. Thank you very much, and I look forward to our dialogue.