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Dear Members and Friends
🙏 On 9
August we will celebrate the 59th
year of Singapore’s independence
as a sovereign republic. It is
so easy for us Singaporeans and
residents to take so much of
what we all enjoy in this
country for granted. We should
not. It was hard won. Our lives
are not the norm in this
troubled world. We are fortunate
and we can never be complacent
either about our security or the
quality of life we have. We are
grateful for what we have and
what we contribute to
maintaining. This is what active
citizenship means: always we,
never me.
🙏 We know
it took real, Trojan graft by
the Pioneer Generation and their
political leaders to achieve the
transformation of what was a 3rd
world backwater in 1965 into a 1st
world, global city all in the
lifetime of one generation. We
remember all of them with
gratitude and respect.
🙏 It took
true grit to build and sustain a
defence capability to provide
the security necessary for our
businesses and economy to
thrive. We thank all the men and
women of the SAF and Home Team
and all NSmen for their 24/7,
enabling service.
🙏 We are a
well governed country led by
political leaders whose only
special interest is the
wellbeing and success of their
fellow citizens. The Singapore
system has a zero tolerance for
corruption, a zealous respect
for the rule of law and a
forensic focus on sustaining a
vibrant economy to maintain our
way of life. Our pragmatic,
non-ideological form of politics
is ideal for a small, city
state. Our unity is our strength
as is our diversity because we
are inclusive of it.
🙏 In the
peace and safety of our home, in
the way it is governed and in
the lives most of us lead we are
very lucky. We are outliers. But
we are also an example of what
can be achieved when people live
and work together in harmony
regardless of race, language or
religion. Let us be that example
for ourselves, for Singapore and
for the world every day. Majulah
Singapura!
Yours faithfully
Victor Mills
Chief Executive
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