PM Wong to S’poreans: Join me and my team in shaping our future

He wants to build a Singapore where everyone matters and has a stake in nation’s progress

- Tham Yuen-C

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong called on Singaporeans to join him in the ambitious goal of building a society where everyone matters "and a Singapore that matters to all Singaporeans".

There will be no easy formulas to apply, and no models to follow in this task, he said on May 15 after being sworn in as Singapore's fourth prime minister at the Istana.

But he and his fourth-generation political leaders, together with the help of Singaporeans, will experiment to discover fresh solutions and blaze new paths.

"Everyone will have a stake in our nation's progress. Everyone will play a key role in shaping our future," he said in his inauguration speech.

Addressing Singaporeans for the first time as their prime minister, he promised to serve with all his heart, to never settle for the status quo, and to "always seek better ways to make tomorrow better than today".

As prime minister, his mission was clear: To continue defying the odds and to sustain the miracle of Singapore.

"So that we can reach even greater heights. So that we can be a beacon of hope and unity for ourselves and our children," he added.

Laying out his plans to take Singapore forward amid a more challenging world, PM Wong said there will be those who doubt Singapore's ability to go further.

But he was sure they would be proven wrong as they have been in the past.

"When the going gets tough, we do not crumble. We press on, with faith in our fellow citizens and in Singapore's future. We strive harder, reach further, and prove that with determination and hard work, there is no challenge we cannot overcome," he said.

This is the spirit he will bring to his new role, he added.