S’pore needs to stay on top of external developments
PM Lee Hsien Loong speaking at the National Day Rally
SINGAPORE — As a “little red dot”, it is a “fundamental reality” for Singapore that it has to be alive to its external environment because developments elsewhere are bound to have repercussions on the country, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Singapore’s ability to stay on top of these developments has a bearing on whether it can remain a “shining red dot” to take on the challenges coming its way, he added.
“We will always be a small country in South-east Asia ... Big things are happening around us, and they are bound to affect us,” said Mr Lee during his 12th National Day Rally (NDR) speech today (Aug 23).
While Mr Lee’s past NDR speeches centred primarily on domestic issues, he devoted a significant chunk of his speech last night to the importance of external relations in maintaining Singapore’s standing in the world.
He stressed that it is not a given that Singapore’s good relations with its neighbours nurtured over the past 50 years will continue.
“Even in the next 10 years, we cannot be sure. Certainly in the next 50 years, nobody can rule out instability, tension or even war in Asia,” he added.
“(South-east Asia) is an exciting place to be, but also a rather dangerous place to live ... Unless we are keeping track of events and stay on top of developments, we may be overwhelmed.”
To illustrate his point, Mr Lee went on to detail happenings concerning the Malaysian government, perspectives held by some Indonesians and possible scenarios involving superpowers in the region that could have a bearing on Singapore.
Maintaining the Republic’s standing as a “shining red dot” in the world also calls for tenacity and unity among its people. “If we are soft and flabby, we are going to be eaten up. We have to be rugged and have that steel in us.”
He added that we must also guard against divisions along racial and class lines. “We have to stand as one united people, we have to progress together.”
So far, Singapore has been able to maintain its security and standing in the world because of key advantages, such as a strong defence force, economic success, and good diplomats and leadership.
He added: “We must keep these advantages to sail through the next 50 years safely.”
