Singapore’s diverse society must be protected amid global troubles: PM Wong at Bukit Panjang event

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s multiracial and diverse society is precious, and amid global troubles, all effort must be made to protect that, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“What we have here is precious, and what we have here must always be protected and cherished,” he told residents at a Hari Raya celebration near Pending LRT station on April 13.

Despite coming from different backgrounds and cultures, and having different perspectives, “we will always be one Singapore”, said PM Wong, who was attending a community event in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC for the first time after becoming prime minister.

“And when we celebrate a festival, like now, whether it is Hari Raya, whether it is Deepavali, whether it is Chinese New Year... we all celebrate as one family together. So, long may this spirit of solidarity and unity continue in Singapore,” he said.

The SG60 Raya Bersama event on April 13 was attended by residents of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Bukit Panjang SMC.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MPs – anchor minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, and MPs Christopher de Souza and Edward Chia – were present, along with MP for Bukit Panjang SMC Liang Eng Hwa.

There were no new faces – political newcomers who might contest in the upcoming election – spotted at the event, where residents enjoyed traditional Malay games, performances and local food, including dishes from home-based businesses.

Before the event, PM Wong joined the other MPs in interacting with residents and taking wefies at Bangkit Market in Bukit Panjang.

He had also met religious leaders and visited a community pantry at Masjid Al-Iman, where a food distribution drive was scheduled for families in need. 

During the event, PM Wong reiterated his message on the need for Singapore to be resolute and united in the face of a changed world.

“We know that we are living in very difficult times globally. The recent developments have made for a very uncertain outlook in the world.

“But we will do everything we can to make sure, despite the turbulence, despite the uncertainties, that Singapore will always remain a beacon of stability and harmony,” said PM Wong.

His comments come after a

ministerial statement in Parliament

on April 8, in which he said the recent tariffs imposed by the US will hurt the Singapore economy. He had also

released a video on April 4

detailing the “harsh reality” of these moves.

Fears of a trade war continue to escalate after sweeping trade tariffs were imposed by the US government on countries worldwide, including Singapore.

PM Wong’s islandwide engagements have stepped up a gear in the past weeks, with appearances across the island, from Marsiling to Marine Parade, and Serangoon to Sengkang, in the lead-up to the upcoming election.

Holland-Bukit Timah is a four-member group representation constituency with 122,891 voters. There are many private home dwellers in the area.

The GRC has been a battleground between the PAP and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in the past three elections. In the 2015 and 2020 elections, the PAP secured about 66 per cent of the vote, while the SDP garnered the remaining one-third. In the 2011 polls, the PAP clinched 60.08 per cent of the vote. 

Bukit Panjang was one of the most hotly contested seats in GE2020, with Mr Liang facing SDP chairman Paul Tambyah. The PAP retained the seat with 53.73 per cent of the vote.