Cabinet ministers to deliver a series of national broadcasts on Singapore’s post-Covid-19 future

SINGAPORE — A series of national broadcasts delivered by government leaders will be shown from June 7 to 20 to explain to Singaporeans what a post-Covid-19 future will look like for Singapore, and to lay out plans for the country to emerge stronger. 

In a press release on Saturday (June 6), the Prime Minister’s Office said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver the first broadcast on Sunday followed by National Development Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat. 

Mr Wong will speak on June 9, Mr Teo on June 11, Mr Chan on June 14, Mr Tharman on June 17 and Mr Heng on June 20. 

The statement added that while the Government has committed almost S$100 billion through the four national budgets to support workers and businesses to fight against Covid-19, the longer-term economic challenges remain formidable. 

“Covid-19 has severely disrupted the global economy. Singapore must respond quickly to these global shifts and prepare for the difficult times ahead,” it said. 

In the national broadcasts, the topics that will be covered include: 

• What Singaporeans must do to live with Covid-19 for the long haul, so that people can go about their daily lives safely

• How Singapore can maintain its relevance on the world stage as the geopolitical situation changes

• How to keep the economy competitive so that businesses can prosper and create good jobs for Singaporeans

• How to create promising opportunities for all Singaporeans to succeed and care for those who are more vulnerable 

• How Singaporeans can work together to emerge stronger from this crisis

All broadcasts will follow the same timing schedule:

• English broadcast at 7.30pm on CNA

• Malay broadcast at 8.30pm on Suria

• English broadcast with sign language interpretation at 8.30pm on Channel 5

• Tamil broadcast on Vasantham at 9pm

• Mandarin broadcast at 9.30pm on Channel 8