PM Wong calls on Singaporeans to band together to stay ahead in a more challenging world

Country must remain exceptional in its cohesion, he says in National Day message

- Goh Yan Han

Faith in the promise of Singapore gave its people the strength to build a nation from scratch 60 years ago, and this shared purpose will be even more vital in the years ahead, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

In his National Day message on Aug 8, he called on Singaporeans to band together to overcome new challenges in a rapidly changing and more uncertain world.

Singapore must remain exceptional in its cohesion, resolve and performance to stay ahead, PM Wong said.

"As a small nation, we cannot afford to be divided. Our unity has always been our source of strength. When we stand together, there is nothing we cannot overcome," he said as he briefly recounted how the Republic has prevailed against the odds since its independence.

He was speaking at the Padang, where Singapore's first local head of state Yusof Ishak was inaugurated when it became a self-governing state in 1959, and the venue of the inaugural National Day Parade in 1966.

The 2025 parade celebrating SG60 will take place at the Padang on Aug 9.

A five-minute video of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew reading out the Proclamation of Singapore — the official document that marked Singapore's separation from Malaysia — was broadcast before the National Day message.