Leaders' red-and-white ensemble sends the right message

JUST after last year's National Day Parade, my suggestion that our leaders shed their party uniforms for the red-and-white ensemble of national colours was published in the Forum Page ("One people, one dress code, please"; Aug 11, last year).

I am gratified that they did so this year, the first time in a National Day Parade that most, if not all, of our MPs came dressed in red and white.

This may be a small gesture, but it is evident that the People's Action Party is open to ideas of change that will benefit us as a nation.

The change identifies leaders and the public as one united people sharing a common vision of progress for the nation.

This is indeed a new beginning and, hopefully, there will be more changes to come as we look forward to staying united, regardless of political affiliation, to work towards the continual building of our island republic.

In a family, we are bound to have our differences, and more so as a nation, but it is important that we stay united and respect our differences.

Our future will be bright, if not brighter than what it has been over the past 47 years, as long as we continue to embrace the necessary changes to stay united for a common goal.

Ronald Seow