National Day Rally 2019 commentary: Identity and an island nation's vulnerability

PM highlights need to stay united as Singapore tackles challenges ahead, including climate change

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The Bicentennial Experience at Fort Canning takes the visitor through 700 years of Singapore's history in an hour, and tells the story of how this island flourished and languished over the centuries.

The exhibition, along with a host of activities by community, grassroots and other organisations this year, showcases how disparate groups of immigrants and sojourners settled here, made fortunes, raised families, gave back to society, worked together and helped shape a sense of common identity that, largely, still holds today.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 19, 2019, with the headline NDR 2019: Identity and an island nation's vulnerability. Subscribe