Speeches
Speech by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, at the 2009 National Day Observance Ceremony at MOE HQ on 7th August at 0920 hrs
Mrs Tan Ching Yee
Permanent Secretary
Ms Yeoh Chee Yan
2nd Permanent Secretary
Ms Ho Peng
Director-General of Education
Deputy Secretaries, Directors, colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen.
On Sunday, we mark Singapore’s 44th year of independence. This year is also the 50th anniversary of self-government.
As a small, open economy, Singapore has deeply felt the impact of the global financial crisis. This year, our economy is expected to contract by between 4 and 6%, with unemployment at 3.3%. When you go around shopping or sightseeing, you don’t feel these figures. While there are some signs that the economy is improving, it is too early to conclude that the crisis is over. Similarly, we do not know whether H1N1 will become more virulent. The recent bomb blasts in Mumbai and Jakarta remind us that terrorism is a continuing threat. Even as we strive to live as normally as possible, we must remain vigilant and ready to act against all challenges.
But we can also take heart from the fact that Singapore is well-prepared to face global challenges. In times of strong economic growth, we took the opportunity to diversify our economy, budgeted wisely, and accumulated reserves for a rainy day. Earlier this year, we took the unprecedented step of dipping into our reserves to support the nation with a Resilience Package. In MOE, we increased financial assistance to needy students. Schools have also done a good job in slowing the spread of H1N1. While we continue to adjust our measures in line with the changing H1N1 situation, I am confident that MOE and the schools are ready to respond should the situation worsen.
I am glad to see that in challenging times, different segments of Singapore — the Government, the people and the private sector — have come together, working hand in hand to overcome adversity. What lessons can we draw from such experiences, as we write the next chapter of the Singapore Story?
Responding to Adversity with Unity
It is a great achievement for our young nation that we have responded to each challenge as “one united people”. One recent example is the successful organisation of the inaugural Asian Youth Games, in which MOE had a pivotal role. As luck would have it, the H1N1 outbreak occurred at the same time. At the back of our minds, we feared that a worst case scenario would ensue, with the games derailed, clusters of infections forming, and even deaths. I spoke to Prof Tay Boon Keng, the co-chairman of the Medical Services Committee, after the event, and he shared that his confidence was boosted when he discovered the attention to detail that MOE staff brought to their roles. He shared that temperatures were meticulously taken several times daily, and as a result we discovered several cases early. Beyond MOE, Singaporeans came together to ensure that the sporting events could proceed smoothly even as necessary health measures were put in place. More than 5,000 local volunteers helped to ensure that the 1,400 athletes and 1,200 officials were able to successfully participate in the Games with minimal disruption. Many volunteers came from MOE, and I am proud to say that none of our volunteers declined to participate because of H1N1.
Singaporeans have also demonstrated our unity in the fight against H1N1, by being socially responsible. Together, we were able to prevent the community spread of the virus for 7 weeks — no mean feat for a densely-populated city like Singapore. When students returning from affected countries after the June holidays were kept away from school for a week, students, teachers, and parents quickly rose to the challenge to ensure that learning was not compromised, by using e-learning approaches and adjusting school programmes. Parents have also been doing their part by not sending their sick children to school.
Transforming Adversity into Opportunity
We have transformed challenges into opportunities for Singapore “to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our people”. When we gained independence, we were too weak to defend ourselves. We responded by starting National Service for all Singaporean males. Since then, several generations of our young men have stepped forward to serve the nation. When I attend passing-out parades today, I see 2 or 3 generations of family in attendance. Today, we have a technologically advanced 3rd generation SAF which is not only capable of defending our homeland, but is also a responsible member of the international community, taking part in security and reconstruction missions overseas. It is not just advanced technology that makes the SAF strong but more importantly, our fighting spirit and our will to overcome which assures Singapore’s security.
Singapore has also invested heavily to overcome our reliance on imported water. As a result, today we not only have secure sources of water, but we have closed the water loop and lead the world in water technologies. In June this year, Singapore hosted the second Singapore International Water Week, bringing together policymakers, businessmen and scientists from all over the world to develop long-term strategies for sustainable living and water management solutions. Besides sharing our experiences with countries that face similar challenges, local and international companies also successfully clinched $2.2 billion worth of deals in water technologies. This is a great achievement for a country previously dependent on others for water.
Come Together as One Singapore
These are just a few examples of what we have done in building a strong foundation for the Singapore Story. Our experience as a nation shows us how we can achieve success by being united, determined to overcome adversity and by transforming challenges into opportunities. Looking ahead, we must continue to hold dear our core values such as racial harmony and meritocracy. We must consciously keep and expand our common space to include Singaporeans of all races and religions, even as we embrace new principles and ideas to meet changing demands of the future. We must never take our survival for granted as each has a role to contribute to Singapore’s future success.
This year’s National Day provides a valuable opportunity for us to “Come Together” to reflect upon our past challenges and successes, while we look forward to a brighter future. At 8.22pm on National Day, there will be a “Pledge Moment” for Singaporeans to recite the pledge together. The Chairman of the Organising Committee, BG Tan Chuan Jin, shared with me that many organisations have responded positively and will participate in the “Pledge Moment”, wherever Singaporeans are. I encourage all of you to recite the pledge together with your family and friends, wherever you may be celebrating National Day. Let us, as “one united people”, reaffirm our commitment to Singapore on our 50th anniversary of self-governance.
I wish you a happy 44th National Day.