Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his new Cabinet were officially sworn in at the Istana on May 23. In his inaugural speech, Wong emphasized Singapore’s need to navigate a shifting global order by maintaining strong ties with both the U.S. and China—without taking sides. He pledged consistent, principled diplomacy and named Gan Kim Yong as Deputy PM. Key appointments include K. Shanmugam for national security, Chan Chun Sing for defence, and Ong Ye Kung for social policies. Wong’s leadership marks a pivotal new chapter for Singapore.
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#LawrenceWong #SingaporePM #NewCabinet #GanKimYong #KShanmugam #ChanChunSing #OngYeKung #Istana #USChinaRelations #SingaporePolitics #GlobalDiplomacy #LeadershipTransition #Cabinet2024 #SingaporeNews #PoliticalShift #BalancedForeignPolicy #AsiaNews #Geopolitics #SingaporeLeadership #PMO #PublicService #NationalSecurity #HealthPolicy #DefenceMinister #CabinetSwearingIn #WorldAffairs #StrategicPartnerships #NewEra #SingaporeFirst #ForeignPolicy #GlobalStability
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NewsTranscript
00:00Mr President, friends and colleagues, my fellow Singaporeans, thank you for joining us tonight.
00:09Mr President, friends and colleagues, my fellow Singaporeans, we've just concluded a pivotal general election.
00:18It took place during SG60, a major milestone in our nation-building journey.
00:24It unfolded amidst a world gripped by uncertainty and turbulence.
00:32And it was my first election as Prime Minister and Secretary General of the PAP.
00:40Singaporeans faced some critical choices in this election.
00:44You had to decide the kind of future you wanted for yourselves, your families and for Singapore.
00:50Singapore. You had to choose the people you trust to be your town councillors and to represent you in Parliament.
01:00Most importantly, you had to decide on the team that would form the government
01:05and would work with you to write the next chapter of our Singapore story.
01:10Singaporeans have given me and my team a clear mandate.
01:18The PAP was returned to government with a strengthened majority of 65%.
01:22My team and I are humbled and honoured by the trust you have placed in us.
01:30Singaporeans voted for a strong and stable government while re-electing opposition MPs in the constituencies they held.
01:41This outcome reflects the collective desire of Singaporeans.
01:47In these uncertain times, you understood what was at stake.
01:53Our vulnerability and our future.
01:56You chose leaders you could trust, a government you could rely on and a steady course for our nation's next phase of development.
02:10The international community and investors would have taken note of these outcomes.
02:14They would see a nation that is united, standing firmly behind its leaders and placing confidence in the government
02:24with the strength and security to secure Singapore's place in an unpredictable world.
02:32The outcome leaves no room for doubt.
02:36No one in the world can question the resolve of Singaporeans and the government they have chosen.
02:42This is a clear advantage for Singapore, especially in the conduct of our foreign policy.
02:49For that, as your Prime Minister, I am deeply grateful to my fellow citizens.
02:58My government will use our mandate to serve all Singaporeans,
03:04regardless of race, language, religion or political preference.
03:08This is our solemn duty.
03:12We will work tirelessly to improve the lives of every Singaporean.
03:17We will deliver on our promises.
03:24I have done my utmost to assemble the strongest team I could for Singapore.
03:29My new team comprises both experienced ministers who will provide steady hands
03:33and new ministers who will provide fresh perspectives and ideas.
03:39I have appointed four key Cabinet Ministers to assist me in my work.
03:43DPM Gan Kim Yong and Coordinating Ministers Kei Shyamugam, Chan Chun Seng and Ong Ye Kang.
03:51They will oversee four critical areas.
03:54The economy, national security, public services and social policies.
03:59They bring a wealth of experience and leadership and will serve as a steady anchor for our government.
04:08Amongst the ministers, some will continue with their present roles,
04:13especially in key areas where continuity and stability are critical.
04:18But I've also assigned new roles to others, giving them the opportunity to broaden their exposures.
04:27At the same time, I have reinforced the team with nine new office holders,
04:32including fresh faces from the election and experienced members from the backbench.
04:37I have entrusted them with significant responsibilities.
04:42They will be stretched and tested.
04:45They will learn the ropes and prove themselves in service to Singapore.
04:53Together as a team, we pledge to serve Singaporeans to the best of our abilities,
04:59with commitment and integrity, with sincerity and humility.
05:03We will work with you to solve problems, overcome challenges and take Singapore forward.
05:11Our mission is clear, to always put Singaporeans at the centre of all we do,
05:17to listen to your concerns and to respond decisively.
05:21We begin this new term of government in a world that is more uncertain and unpredictable than before.
05:32The conditions that once underpinned our survival, security and success are shifting beneath our feeds.
05:40The rules-based international order, which form the foundation for peace, security and free trade, is fraying.
05:47Again, multilateral cooperation is giving way to a tangle of bilateral and transactional deals
05:55where might often mix right.
05:59The major powers of the world are reassessing their strategies and shifting their positions to secure their upper hand.
06:06Competition is intensifying, and smaller countries risk being caught in the crossfire
06:13or being cut out of the conversation altogether.
06:18Singapore will not stand still.
06:20We cannot afford to be passive.
06:23We must be clear-eyed, proactive and adapt nimbly to the shifting dynamics.
06:31Our first priority is to secure for Singapore an assured place in this changed world.
06:37We will deepen our relations with the major powers, especially America and China.
06:44We will stay friends with both without being caught in their rivalry.
06:50We will engage openly and honestly with each in a consistent and principled manner.
06:57Where our interests align, we will work with them.
07:00Where they do not, we will stand firm and protect Singapore's security and sovereignty.
07:09We will strengthen our ties with friends near and far
07:12and seek new ones in parts of the world like Africa and South America
07:16where we do not as yet have much presence
07:19and ensure Singapore remains a trusted, reliable and respected voice on the global stage.
07:25In a world of shifting alliances, we will be a steady and constructive partner.
07:34One willing and able to contribute to peace and stability,
07:38to advance dialogue and fraternity, and support a rules-based global order.
07:45Our goal is not just to navigate this uncertain world,
07:50but to help shape it for the better by working with like-minded partners,
07:56upholding shared principles and values so that small nations too have a place under the sun.
08:07We will steer our economy for the challenges ahead.
08:11We will review and update our economic strategies for this new landscape.
08:15We will work with tripartite partners to develop a new economic blueprint for our next phase
08:23so that we can sustain our competitive edge and create good jobs for Singaporeans.
08:30In the near term, as global growth slows,
08:34we will continue to help businesses and households weather the storm.
08:38We will work closely with NTUC to support our workers and job seekers
08:44so that every Singaporean who is prepared to work is able to secure a job and progress in their careers.
08:54We will press on with Forward Singapore to refresh and strengthen our social combat.
08:59This is critical, not only because seeking an ever-fairer and just society is the right thing to do,
09:08but it's also because a society torn by inequalities cannot possibly stand resilient in the face of a more turbulent world.
09:19So we will enhance our social support system to provide greater assurances to Singaporeans
09:24across all life stages, from early childhood to retirement.
09:30This means keeping essential services like education, healthcare and housing accessible and affordable.
09:37It also means strengthening support for our seniors
09:40so they can live with dignity, purpose and fulfilment.
09:45We will create more diverse and flexible pathways for Singaporeans to seek happiness, prosperity and progress.
09:56Whether you are a student exploring career options or a mid-career seeking to upskill
10:02or a senior who wishes to continue contributing,
10:07there will be opportunities for you.
10:09Our aim is for every Singaporean to thrive and flourish on their own terms.
10:18We will deepen mutual understanding and respect between Singaporeans of different ethnic,
10:23religious and social backgrounds,
10:26strengthening the bonds that unite us.
10:30When issues of race and religion surfaced in this election,
10:34we did not allow them to divide us.
10:37This shows how far we have come as a society.
10:42But it's also a reminder that we cannot take our racial and religious harmony for granted.
10:49We will continue to guard these fault lines carefully
10:53and redouble our efforts to build a society
10:56where everyone feels respected and valued and knows they truly belong.
11:03At the same time, we will look beyond the immediate concerns to prepare Singapore for the future.
11:11In particular, we will accelerate our transition to cleaner energy
11:15and adapt to the realities of climate change.
11:19We will transform our infrastructure
11:21and create smarter, more connected and greener homes for all Singaporeans.
11:27We will build a global city that is dynamic and vibrant,
11:33yet distinctively Singaporean,
11:35a great place to live and one we are all proud to call home.
11:43Above all, we will work shoulder to shoulder with all Singaporeans
11:48to write this next chapter of our nation's story.
11:51We will continue to engage Singaporeans from all walks of life
11:57to hear your hopes and concerns
11:59and to reflect your voices in our policies.
12:04Beyond listening, we will actively involve you
12:07in creating and implementing solutions that matter to you and your families.
12:13This is how my team and I will govern in partnership with Singaporeans.
12:22Everyone will have a say in shaping our way forward
12:25and building our shared future.
12:29For I firmly believe that a more open and engaged society
12:34will strengthen, not weaken Singapore.
12:37We are not afraid of differing views.
12:42We welcome constructive debates.
12:46They push us to think harder, plan better
12:49and serve Singaporeans more effectively.
12:53But at the same time, we must always respect one another
12:58and remember that even with our differences,
13:02we share more in common with each other.
13:05This consciousness will make us a stronger, more resilient
13:11and more united nation.
13:17History has not been kind to small nations like Singapore.
13:21We have always been vulnerable,
13:24caught between the interests of greater powers.
13:28Yet for 60 years, Singapore has defied the odds.
13:32This was never just a matter of good luck.
13:36It has always been about our courage,
13:39our conviction and our collective will as one people.
13:45And as long as we continue to believe in ourselves,
13:48have faith in one another and work together,
13:52we will endure.
13:54Singapore will endure.
13:56So be it SG-100 or even beyond,
14:02there will still be Singaporeans standing strong and free.
14:08And not only will we survive,
14:10we will prevail.
14:12And we will keep this little red dot shining brightly
14:15as a beacon of hope, resilience and possibility.
14:20So my fellow Singaporeans,
14:23with courage, imagination and new resolve,
14:28let us build a Singapore that is open,
14:31inclusive and full of opportunities.
14:34Let us secure a brighter future for ourselves,
14:38our families and for generations to come.
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