Dear Voters of East Coast GRC, Fengshan SMC, fellow Singaporeans, good evening!
When I was in Primary 2, I took home with me from school this book here. I don’t know how many of you will remember it, but it is entitled ‘The Next Lap’. It was exciting, had the photograph and autograph of our Prime Minister at the front, and was produced to mark 25 years of Nationhood. It had the hopes and aspirations of Singaporeans in 1990. Being just seven years old, the pictures caught my eye more than the words. But to the young me, this book symbolised a truism, a fact that I took for granted, that the country I was born in was something special and we had plenty to look forward to.
Today, I still believe that we are special, that we should be confident about our future. That we still have so much to be grateful for, so much to be proud of to call Singapore our home. However, when I looked through this book today, I noticed a few things.
The book’s first chapter is on ‘PEOPLE: our most precious resource’. 25 years on, how many of you here today, think we are treated like Singapore’s most precious resource?
The book also talks about increasing birth rates, reducing class sizes, increasing productivity by 3-4% a year, increasing home sizes, a public transport system that works, smooth traffic on our roads, and this is my favourite: CPF as a comprehensive social security net. 25 years on, how many of these have we achieved?
25 years on, what are our goals and dreams for the next 50 years? What can we do to make sure we achieve them?
Earlier this year, the Workers’ Party Youth Wing launched our ‘SG100’ project. We wanted to ask Singaporeans, especially those under 40, to share their dreams and hopes for where Singapore should be in 2065.
We believe that while we look back with gratitude on the last 50 years, we also need to look at the future to decide together what we want it to be.
During our SG100 art competition, children and young Singaporeans across our constituencies submitted artwork about their vision for SG100. Some were light-hearted, including one showing free ERP, but key themes that emerged strongly throughout were: happiness, harmony, diversity. These are also key themes that residents have brought up during our interaction on the ground with them. We need to be proud that these values are ingrained in so many of us, young and old. We need to ensure these remain values which we fight to preserve.
Another Singaporean said, yes, for SG50, we honour our pioneer generation. But we too, are pioneers. We are pioneers, because we wake up each morning, determined to fight for a better life for us and our loved ones. Voters in Hougang, Aljunied and Punggol East, were pioneers, because you voted for more Workers’ Party MPs in Parliament, to make the government listen more to the voices of you, the people. All of us in this field despite the rain, the haze and the mud, are pioneers, because we love our country and want to do what we can to ensure a bright future for it!
So what do we pioneers want?
For SG100, we want to harness our energy as a young nation moving ever onwards, by ensuring that we focus on the Singaporean core with a dynamic population. We know, that our people, like our flats, need constant care and upgrading.
For SG100, we want progress. We want confident workers and businesses to bring Singapore to the next level of development. We know, a sustainable economy is key for our future success.
For SG100, we want equality, with aspiring students and families. We know, that we must help one another realise our dreams.
For SG100, we want justice, with a Singapore that is both Our City and Our Home. We know, that this must be co-created by Singaporeans with strong roots to our land.
For SG100, we want democracy. We want a robust governance system that promotes solidarity and trust among citizens. We know, that we must work together towards a more responsible public sphere.
For SG100, we want peace. We want a Singapore that is a confident, good citizen of the world. We know, that we must promote peace and development.
These are the chapters of our 2015 Manifesto, and we have detailed proposals for the ways in which we feel these can be achieved.
Over the last six weeks, one of the most common phrases I have heard, as I met fellow Singaporeans, was “Don’t worry, don’t worry”. Fellow Singaporeans have been coming up to shake our hands, cheer us on, and say to us, “Don’t worry, we will support you.” “Don’t worry, we are behind you.” “Don’t worry, we have got your backs.” You do not know how much strength and courage these words have given us as we go through our campaign.
And tonight, I would like to say the same to you, my fellow Singaporeans: “Don’t worry”. Singaporeans know how to come together — look at all of you standing here today! Singaporeans know how to vote wisely, to think about what is best for our country in the long-term. Singaporeans know, that together, we can overcome obstacles and move forward as one.
Singaporeans know, that we want confidence, not complacency. Solidarity, not division. Humility, not arrogance. Faith, not fear.
Tomorrow is Cooling-Off Day. It is supposed to be a day of reflection, a day for us to think about the future of the country. A day to perhaps read our manifesto, and to think about the pioneering spirit that we Singaporeans have held and always will hold dear. A day, to think about the choices we will need to make in that polling booth on 11 September.
In my first speech just over a week ago, I asked that everyone would yourself ask three questions in the polling booth on 11 September.
One, do we want more diverse voices in Parliament.
Two, should our children be able to speak out responsibly without fear.
Three, do we want empowered citizens to create a society for each and every one of us to thrive in?
Now, as then, I hope the answer is YES. I hope, that you will be able to say YES to an empowered people marching confidently towards a bright SG100. We hope, that you will work together with us, in continuing the pioneering spirit, in creating an even better, more stable future for our Singapore!
Empower Your Future. Vote for the Workers’ Party!