• In his National Day message, Mr Lee called on Singaporeans to brace themselves for economic difficulties ahead
• Covid-19 crisis is “far from over”, and Singaporeans are “understandably anxious and worried” as job losses mount
• But Mr Lee expressed confidence that Singapore will get through the crisis, just as how it has overcome past crises
• He also announced that the design contract for NS Square has been awarded

SINGAPORE — Calling on Singaporeans to brace themselves for the trials wrought by a crisis that is “far from over”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Aug 9) that he is confident that the country will get through the Covid-19 pandemic just as how it has overcome several economic crises in the past decades.

Singapore is celebrating its 55th birthday on Sunday. In the last quarter of a century alone, it has experienced the Asian Financial Crisis from 1997 to 1998, the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York, and the Global Financial Crisis from 2007 to 2009.

“Each time the outlook was ominous, and we feared the worst, but each time we worked hard to secure our position, gritted our teeth, and came through together,” said Mr Lee in his National Day message which was broadcast on television, radio and the internet.

With business closures, retrenchments and unemployment all likely to go up in the coming months, Mr Lee said Singaporeans are “understandably anxious and worried”.

But the same unity and resilience which Singaporeans amply displayed in their selfless acts amid the Covid-19 crisis would be needed more than ever, he said.

These efforts ranged from retired doctors and nurses volunteering to serve, full-time national servicemen extending their terms to support operations, to ordinary Singaporeans stepping up to help others in need and volunteering to be trained for swab operations.

“I am confident we will get through this current crisis too, though it may take longer. All of us must do our part, but none of us will be alone,” he said. “The government is actively helping people find new jobs and acquire new skills. We also have the Jobs Support Scheme and Self-employed person Income Relief Scheme to ease the burden on employers and individuals.”

He added that the labour movement is working with employers to create job training programmes and career pathways.

It will also ensure that every worker is treated fairly and with dignity, especially when job losses cannot be avoided.

“Employers, too, must make every effort to keep their workers, and not drop them at the first sign of trouble. This will build loyalty and encourage the employees to help their employers rebuild when conditions improve,” Mr Lee said.

Mr Lee reiterated that the Covid-19 crisis will be around for some time. Many countries brought the coronavirus under control and eased their restrictions, only to see their cases rise sharply again.

“This can happen to us, too, despite all our precautions. It will most likely take a year or two before a vaccine is widely available and the threat of the virus is blunted. Until then, we have to maintain our vigilance and resolve, to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbours all safe.”

Mr Lee noted that the country’s experience fighting the pandemic, “grim and hard as it has been”, has brought Singaporeans closer together.

“The shared ordeal will toughen a whole population and bond us together as one united people. Just like how the Pioneer and Merdeka Generations were tempered by Separation and Independence, and economic crises in our early years as a nation,” he said.

NS SQUARE

In 2017, Mr Lee announced that the floating platform at Marina Bay would be rebuilt into NS Square, a permanent space to commemorate National Service and the central role that it plays in Singapore.

Mr Lee announced on Sunday that the design contract for the venue has been awarded.

Showing artist impressions of how NS Square and the area around it would look like, Mr Lee said the platform “will become a red dot, shining bright in our city”.

Calling it the future “central focus” of Singapore’s new downtown, Mr Lee said a gallery will be built at NS Square to showcase the country’s NS story and honour the contributions of national servicemen past and present.

“NS Square will also be a community space for everyone, young and old, to enjoy. And of course, we will continue to hold our National Day parades there,” he said.

Mr Lee noted that every National Day, Singaporeans remind themselves that Singapore “is a nation whose story is worth celebrating, whose history is worth cherishing, and whose future is worth building”.

“Every year, rain or shine, Singaporeans come together on the 9th of August for the National Day Parade, to celebrate the making of our nation and renew our commitment to Singapore,” he said.

While the country is unable to celebrate National Day this year in the usual way, “we are determined still to hold the parade as a symbol of our unity as a nation, like we have done every year since independence”.

This year’s parade is also an opportunity for Singaporeans to salute those on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19, he said.

“In good years, our parades rejoice in our progress, and look forward to a better future together,” he added. “In difficult years, we still hold National Day parades, to renew our resolve to weather the storm and take Singapore through to better days.”