More consensus than conflict in the House on Trump's tariffs

Days after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong put up a five-minute video warning Singaporeans to brace themselves for more shocks to come in the wake of sweeping tariffs imposed by America, the issue took centre stage when Parliament sat on April 8.

- Tham Yuen-C

The video, which laid out the dangers ahead for the world after the US move to abandon the global trading system it once championed, attracted much attention — more than a million views so far on various social media platforms. But it also attracted cynicism from some opposition figures here, who accused the PAP Government of trying to instil fear ahead of the coming election.

Such accusations were not repeated after PM Wong's 20-minute speech on April 8, in which he reiterated the need to be resolute and united in the face of a changed world, and his Government's plans to deal with the unpredictable days ahead.

If anything, he called for the opposite of fear.

"We have our ingenuity and wit, our grit and gumption, and never-say-die spirit that has seen us through every crisis, and will carry us through the ones to come," he said. "So I say to this House and to fellow Singaporeans — do not fear."