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Dear
Members and Friends
“We are going to have a
multi-racial nation in
Singapore. We will set the
example.”
Mr. Lee Kuan
Yew, 9 August 1965.
As we
celebrate the 58th anniversary
of the founding of our Republic
on 9 August, it is useful to ask
ourselves have we set an
example?
Yes, we have.
Are we perfect? No, of course
not because we are all just
imperfect humans. But we have
the right values and the right
fundamentals in place. While
Singapore, and all of us, are
works in progress, we are a
collective beacon on a hill, a
lighthouse for the world and a
positive example of what can be
achieved in a multiracial
society.
This is all down
to having the right values and
practising them. Ditto, the
right focus areas for the common
good. National Day is always a
good time to remind ourselves of
our values and focus areas and
why they are still important and
relevant to us today.
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Equality and justice
for all women and men
regardless of race, language
or religion: integrated
multiculturalism.
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Integrity and a zero
tolerance for corruption.
Everyone is accountable
under the law without fear
or favour.
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Openness to the
world and to all
those who are willing to
befriend, invest, trade and
work with us provided they
respect our sovereignty.
Singapore knows it needs
local and global investment
and talent to sustain its
economy and job creation.
This is what it means to be
a global city.
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Boldness in decision
making and always for the
common, long term good of
Singaporeans and Singapore
rather than for reasons of
short term expediency,
popularity and/or narrow,
special interests. Singapore
and most Singaporeans have
always accepted there have
been, and always will be,
hard choices and trade-offs
as the price of progress.
-
A clean and green
city for the
benefit of all citizens’ and
residents’ health and
wellbeing. Singapore
understood and planned for
this well before it became
fashionable and necessary
and
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Sports to
help sustain health, build
relationships and resilience
as well as cultural
activities to feed
the heart and soul. There is
something for everyone in
diverse Singapore. This
city, like our Chamber,
understands how to leverage
diversity by being inclusive
of it.
There is so much to celebrate
this and every National Day and
there is also so much to protect
and sustain. As we celebrate on
9 August, let’s all ask
ourselves: how am I contributing
to sustaining Singapore and its
values?
Happy National
Day! Majulah Singapura!
#allforonesingapore
#weareSingapore
Yours faithfully
Victor Mills
Chief Executive
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