Tanjong Pagar MPs call for spirit of unity among residents
Labour chief Chan Chun Sing (second from right) at the National Day Dinner at Tanjong Pagar Community Club yesterday. Photo: Ernest Chua
SINGAPORE — Invoking memories of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew at Tanjong Pagar’s first National Day Dinner since his death, Members of Parliament for the constituency, Mr Chan Chun Sing and Ms Indranee Rajah, reminded residents of the values Singapore’s founding Prime Minister stood for and urged for unity as a nation.
Speaking to about 1,000 residents and stakeholders at an event at Tanjong Pagar Community Club, Mr Chan recounted that Mr Lee had once told him that ensuring the younger generation could continue to take care of Singapore would be the biggest assurance to him.
The Republic may have “defied the odds” in the past 50 years, but it has to stay united to overcome the challenges ahead, added the labour chief.
Also, Singapore must not stray from the discipline and prudence that Mr Lee had inculcated, even though the country is in an era of wealth and affluence now.
Ms Indranee, who is Senior Minister of State for Law and Education, also called on Tanjong Pagar residents to retain their spirit of unity.
An example of this spirit, which will “forever remain etched in my memory”, she added, was when residents stood in support of Mr Lee when he walked slowly to the stage to address the crowd at the constituency’s National Day Dinner two years ago.
It is this spirit of staying together even as the country tries to stay ahead of intense global competition that will help overcome challenges in the future, added Mr Chan.
“We can achieve all these miracles in the past 50 years only because the people and Government have worked together as one united team ... So long as we maintain this tight nexus between our people and the Government, I am confident that no matter what challenges come our way, we will be able to overcome (them),” he said.
