As Singapore commemorates its independence in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic once again, the city-state’s political parties have made the people’s resilience and the importance of caring for one another during this trying time a focal point in their 56th National Day messages.
Posting an English translation of the national anthem, ‘Majulah Singapura’, the ruling People’s Action Party said that the call for unity “holds true especially during this challenging period where we face the crisis of a generation”.
“We have made difficult decisions to protect each other, and we have united as one people in our continuous fight against Covid-19.
“Let’s continue to move onward as one and build back stronger,” said the People’s Action Party (PAP) in a Facebook post on Monday (9 Aug).
Party secretary-general, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day speech touched on issues on the forefront of many Singaporeans’ minds such as COVID-19, foreign labour, and the string of racist incidents in recent months, among others.
While he acknowledged that “new crises will again test our resolve and unity”, Mr Lee said that the pandemic “has shown that we can face them with grit and determination, and stay one united people”.
“As this year’s NDP (National Day Parade) theme song goes, “We did it before and we’ll do it again!” I am confident that Singapore can keep on building a more harmonious society, a more prosperous economy, and a more successful nation for generations to come,” he said.
The Workers’ Party — one of the two alternative parties with representatives in Parliament — in a video drew attention to the importance of taking time to check in with the people around us and listening to their struggles, even by simply asking “How are you?”.
“It’s a simple question but an important one to reflect on what has been an incredibly difficult year,” said WP.
In the video, individuals — from Singaporeans to migrant workers, from food delivery riders to students — speak about issues they face during the pandemic, from retrenchment to challenges they face with home-based learning and senior citizens learning to navigate technology in place of in-person activities.
“As Singapore gears towards a post-pandemic world, we could all do with a pause and a breather. Look around and lend a shoulder to those who need it. Ask them how they are. More importantly, ask yourself how you are. We are only as strong as the weakest,” said WP.
WP chief and Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh in his own Facebook post shared a photograph of himself standing with other party members who are also parliamentarians, awaiting their antigen rapid test results before the “scaled-down” National Day parade.
“Happy National Day to all Singaporeans from all of us!” said Mr Singh.
Progress Singapore Party in a Facebook post on Sunday said that National Day “takes on an added meaning” this year in “this challenging and difficult time for our nation and the world”.
“It is a time to re-dedicate ourselves to stand united as one people, to be confident of overcoming all odds and to keep the interests of our country and our people close to our hearts,” said party chief Francis Yuen in his National Day message.
“While we can do without celebrating this special day with pomp and splendour, we cannot do without the strong spirit of nation building which we have always had,” he said.
Mr Yuen urged the people to “strive to build a more equal society where opportunities abound for our citizens, where decent livelihoods are available to everyone, where we progress with grace and compassion and in harmony with the environment, and where prosperity transcends material comfort to include prosperity of ideas and communities that care and share”.
“The lion must continue to roar. Our talents must continue to soar.
“Stay healthy and stay safe Singapore!” the party secretary-general said.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in a video paid tribute to the nation’s forefathers who have shed tears and worked hard to bring Singapore to where it is now.
The party also called on the people to build collective strength on National Day “and beyond” in the midst of the looming pandemic.
Key SDP figures such as chairman Dr Paul Tambyah were seen making their “Happy National Day” wishes in separate clips to highlight the element of unity despite the COVID-19 restrictions preventing physical gatherings.
“Let’s stay united and grow from strength to strength,” said SDP in a Facebook post on Monday.
People’s Voice (PV) Party chief Lim Tean in a Facebook post on Saturday dedicated his National Day message to “remembering the many hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans who have helped built our nation, but are now staring into the abyss as far as their prospects of a better future are concerned”.
Sharing a table of statistics prepared by financial advisor and party member Leong Sze Hian reflecting an increasing trend of resident households struggling to make ends meet and to survive, Mr Lim said: “The promised Swiss standard of living of Goh Chok Tong’s is but a pipe dream under the PAP Government.”
“We think that it is disgraceful and indecent that a supposed 1st world nation exhibits such statistics.
“We dedicate our struggle to improving the lot of the our fellow countrymen so that together with our Next Generation, we can truly become a 1st class nation and a shining beacon of hope to the rest of the World,” said Mr Lim.
For the Red Dot United (RDU) party, happiness is a core value upon which it will premise its objectives moving forward this National Day.
Party chief Ravi Philemon said in a Facebook post on Saturday that while certain founding members were of the view that “happiness was a state of the mind of an individual”, he had advocated the inclusion of happiness, as such a value is also the responsibility of the State.
“(H)appiness is so important that it is found not only in our pledge but also in our founding document – The Proclamation of Singapore,” said Mr Ravi.
“We, the citizens of Singapore,
pledge ourselves as one united people,
regardless of race, language or religion,
to build a democratic society
based on justice and equality
so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.”
“Let’s resolve to choose happiness over paranoia this National Day,” he said.
Reform Party (RP) chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam in a National Day video message, posted on Facebook on Monday, said that he has heard the plight of many who “continue to suffer economically because the support you receive from the government is inadequate” during the pandemic.
“Sadly, this is not because the Government cannot afford to help you. My calculations show that the Government is sitting or could be sitting on at least two point, six trillion dollars of financial assets and it’s not why not?”
“Reform Party has called for all adult Singaporeans to receive support payments of at least two thousand dollars with additional payments of $1,000, for every child under the age of 21.
“This is easily affordable and would constitute less than half of one year’s Net Investment Contribution from our reserves,” he said, adding that this is not a handout but “an investment in Singaporeans”.
Mr Jeyaretnam, an economist by training, also criticised the PAP’s heavy reliance on low-wage labour to artificially boost Singapore’s gross domestic product growth.
“When you have an economic model that relies on the cheapest, imported labour, what happens when you can’t access that labour? Foreign labour locked into dorms or tens of thousands more who cannot re-enter. Well, your model collapses,” he said.
“Even without the disruption of a pandemic, relying on cheap, foreign imported labour has led to Singapore becoming a low-cost, low-productivity economy … Low-wages combined with excessively long working hours,” said Mr Jeyaretnam.
“Singapore is a rich nation but only a tiny elite benefit. The rest of you are excluded from that wealth,” he said.
The Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) in its National Day message this year called on the people to “reflect on our past, cherish our present and work towards building a better future for all of us”.
“We are duty bound to do so as citizens. Happy Singapore Independence Day To You,” SDA said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
