National Day Rally 2021 (Mandarin)

PM Lee Hsien Loong spoke in Malay and Mandarin, followed by English. For the English translation, please scroll down or click here.

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李显龙总理国庆群众大会2021华语演讲

各位同胞，晚上好！

过去20个月，我们一起对抗冠病，你们与政府全力配合，使到新加坡可以逐步走向新常态，回到我们熟悉的生活。

自去年以来，我们的世界就起了翻天覆地的变化。在这段时间，我们在生活上和在工作上，不断地做出调整，克服了一次又一次的挑战。我们失去了不少，但也得到了不少。我们应对逆境的“功力”更深了，学会了见招拆招，灵活应对。我们学会了在网上买东西和卖东西，也体会到电子付款的便利。大钞换小钞，店家没得找，手机扫一扫，麻烦省不少。不能外出时，我们也没闲着，借机学习新科技和掌握新技能，活到老学到老。

由于病毒总是在找机会突破防线，我们必须时刻保持警惕，以保护自己，保护家人。

现在，我们的接种率已经达到了80%，抗疫跨部门工作小组经过评估后，已经决定开始谨慎地调整防疫措施。我们原本采取“病例清零”的策略，现在正在小心翼翼地转向“与病毒共存”。 在逐步开放后，每天的确诊病例可能会增加。不过，我们会关注住院和病危的人数，确保医院可以应付。

我必须强调，打了疫苗，不代表你就百毒不侵，不会被感染。不过，接种疫苗会降低你被感染的几率。而如果你不幸还是被感染，疫苗可以大大减少你病重的可能性。此外，目前在全球传播的德尔塔变种病毒，传染性高。我们还有10万名年长人士还没有接种。这让我很担心。我一再向你们做出呼吁、劝告，希望你不要嫌我啰嗦，但我必须再说一两次。如果你还没有打疫苗，为了自己，为了家人，也为了社会，恳请你马上行动吧！

种族与宗教

冠病对新加坡，以及全世界，都是一代人的考验。虽然我国的情况比很多其他的国家好。但是，我们的社会也面对一些挑战。其中一项非常敏感的问题是种族和宗教关系。

维护新加坡多元种族、多元文化的根本

过去几个月，我国社会发生了几起种族事件，引发很多讨论和争议。从前，这类事件偶尔发生，但比较少受到关注。如今，在这个社交媒体时代，这类事件很容易被夸大和渲染，激起强烈的情绪，影响到种族之间的感情。值得庆幸的是，大多数新加坡人明白种族和谐的重要，各族人士纷纷表态，要和种族歧视划清界线。

我们的建国和立国一代，经历过动荡的时代，所以他们很支持多元种族的政策。在新加坡独立的初期，建国领袖坚决采取对各个种族一视同仁的总体方针。政府在制定法律和行政措施时，在各族之间不偏不倚，不偏袒任何一族。这个最根本的建国政策，获得了华社的支持，奠定了各族和睦相处的基础。当时，华族为大局着想，做出了一些让步，譬如接受英语作为共同用语，让少数种族生活得更安心。我们使用英语，也意味着只会华语和方言的华族，是处在不利的位置。因此，所谓的“华人特权”，在新加坡是毫无根据的。我们平等对待各族，没有什么特权；很少国家采取这样的平等政策；能够真正做到这一点的，就更少了。

半个世纪前，新加坡华社人士做出妥协，甚至觉得自己退让了一大步。但是，过了56年，事实证明，历史证明，这个基本国策对各族同胞都是有利的，包括华族同胞。这是因为它带来了种族和谐，社会稳定。让人人都能够安居乐业。它还帮助我们与邻国建立互相信任的关系，减少彼此之间的猜忌。因此，我感谢作为人口多数的华族同胞，你们一直以来支持这个建国理念，确保我们享有长久的安定和繁荣。

过去几十年，我们的日子很平静，我们可能渐渐地把种族和谐视为理所当然，因此失去一些敏感度。一些华族人士可能没有意识到少数种族的感受。但我不时会得到非华族同胞这方面的反映。今晚，我想举两个例子来提醒大家，我们的种族和谐还必须不断地完善。种族关系是比以前更密切了，但是种族情绪仍旧存在。

第一个例子是：少数种族租用房子的不愉快经历。所有的屋主都希望找到理想的房客。有些华族屋主因此先讲好条件，吩咐房屋经纪“最好不要租给某某种族的房客”。所以，当房屋经纪遇到非华族的房客时，只好告诉他们，“对不起，房子不可以租给你，因为屋主不想要某某种族的房客”。不是所有的屋主都有这样的偏见。不过这种事情发生时，我们不难想象，这些少数种族的房客碰钉子后，会感到很痛心、很难受。

第二个例子是：少数种族同胞在寻找工作时，有时会比华族来得困难。这是因为一些华族雇主倾向于聘请华族员工。一些工作需要用到华语，这是可以理解的，也是必须接受的。但其他工作，就没有这个必要；如果雇主在招聘时列出这个要求，就会让少数种族觉得不合理、不公平。

我举这两个例子，是希望大家能够体会少数种族的担忧和困扰，并且对他们做出应有的通融。我们在结交朋友和找对象时，会偏向寻找与自己语言和文化相近的人。这是人之常情，在任何社会、任何族群，都有这个现象。这是私人的空间和个人的决定，一般上不会对社会造成很大的影响。然而，人员的聘用和房屋的租用，牵涉到各族的共同空间，直接影响到种族关系。我们一旦让雇主和屋主的偏好积累起来，久而久之，就成了少数种族所感受到的偏见，甚至是歧视。这样下去，我们的社会裂痕会逐渐加深。因此，大家都必须秉持各族平等的原则，以建立一个更包容的社会。

总的来说，我希望各族新加坡人继续以大局为重，互相妥协。唯有这样，我们才能长久维持社会的和谐与国家的团结。

我希望各族新加坡人继续以大局为重，互相妥协。唯有这样，我们才能长久维持社会的和谐与国家的团结。

李显龙总理

保护我们的根

对于华族文化，政府一向来全力支持。我很欣慰华社组织不遗余力，弘扬本地华族文化。比如，去年庆祝成立180周年的福建会馆。它属下的文化学院所提供的各项课程，培养学生多方面的才艺。我看过小朋友们的表演和作品，水平都很高。除了各个宗乡会馆，推广华语理事会和新加坡华族文化中心等机构也肩负着同样的使命。政府会全力支持它们，让华族文化能够薪火相传。我也要鼓励家长在家里多跟孩子孙子讲华语，让他们接触华族文化，从小培养他们的兴趣。

经年累月，我国的华族文化展现了新加坡的精神特质。文化奖得主林子平先生的艺术生涯，就是很好的例子。两个月前，我很荣幸有机会和林老先生见面。这位土生土长的百岁书画家，艺术创作独树一格，融汇中西。他早期的作品里，描绘了新加坡旧日的生活面貌，表达了对国家的深厚情感。为了感谢母校–中正中学–的栽培，林老先生也捐出很多作品给中正。这体现了华人饮水思源的传统美德，也凸显了华校的良好校风。我们为了保留昔日华校的优良传统和价值观，而设立了特选学校，让学生能够沉浸在双语环境里，并且有更多使用华文华语的机会。我希望特选学校在新的时代里再接再厉，为国家培养新一代的双语双文化人才。与此同时，学校应该让学生多接触其他族群，让他们从小就知道维护多元种族社会的重要。我们需要继续重视这项工作。

这么多年来，在政府、文化教育工作者，以及各界人士的努力之下，我们塑造了一个独特的社会面貌。这是跟其他地方的华人社会有所区别的。在新加坡社会，我们接纳了不少来自外地的华人和华裔。他们需要时间入乡随俗，我们也应该帮助他们融入新加坡社会。他们当中，有成功的企业家和专业人士，也有杰出的艺术家和运动员，他们成为了我们这个大家庭的一分子，为社会、为国家争光。

其中一位是我国乒乓国手于梦雨。梦雨17岁来到新加坡，多年来代表我国参赛。本届奥运，乒乓队出发前，我跟他们在网上见面，为他们加油打气。我就告诉梦雨，你是我们的沙场老将了！梦雨这一次带伤出战，尽管面对实力更强的对手，她却毫不畏惧，一分分拼搏，一路杀进四强，一心想为新加坡争取奖牌。很多新加坡人在观看现场直播时，也为她的毅力而感动。我也追看了这几场比赛，能感受到她的坚持和拼搏的精神。梦雨自己说，我已经全力以赴，没有任何遗憾。虽然她最后没赢得奖牌，却赢得了新加坡人的尊敬与掌声。

这就是新加坡精神：不屈不挠，奋勇向前，永不言弃。

这就是新加坡精神：不屈不挠，奋勇向前，永不言弃。

李显龙总理

结语

这让我想起一首我们老华校生都很熟悉的老歌，那是三十年代的《春天里》。大家应该熟悉这首歌的开头：“春天里来百花香，朗里格朗里格朗里格朗”。但最有意思的，是这首歌的最后几句歌词：“不用悲、不用伤，前途自有风和浪……向前进，莫彷徨，黑暗尽处有曙光”。

所以，我吁请大家不用悲，不用伤，我们已经看到了曙光，只要保持团结，就一定能够走出这风和浪！

谢谢大家！

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ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF NATIONAL DAY RALLY 2021 MANDARIN SPEECH

For the past 20 months, we have been fighting COVID-19 together. With your strong support, Singapore is now progressing towards a new normal and we can regain a sense of normalcy.

The pandemic has upended our world. During this time, we had to keep adjusting our work and daily lives, to overcome every challenge that came our way. We lost some, but we also gained some. We rolled with the punches and learnt to adapt. We learnt how to buy and sell things online and grew to appreciate the convenience of digital payments. No change? No problem. Scan with our phones and save the hassle. When we had to stay home during the pandemic, we kept ourselves busy by learning new technologies and skills. We are never too old to learn.

The virus will try to break through our defences. Therefore, we must stay vigilant to protect ourselves and our families.

With our vaccination rate now at 80%, the Multi-Ministry Task Force has decided to adjust our safe distancing measures cautiously. We are carefully transiting from a “COVID zero” approach to living with COVID-19. As we gradually open up, our daily cases numbers may go up. But we will pay close attention to the number of hospitalised and critical cases, to ensure that our hospitals can cope.

I must emphasise that vaccination doesn’t guarantee that you will be absolutely immune to COVID-19 but it reduces your risk of being infected. And if you do get COVID-19, it greatly reduces the possibility of severe illness. Besides, the Delta variant that is now dominant globally is highly infectious. We have 100,000 seniors who are still unvaccinated, and this worries me greatly. I have said this many times and I hope you don’t feel that I am nagging, but I have to say it again. If you still have not gotten your shot, please do it for yourself, your family and our community!

Race and Religion

COVID-19 has been a generational crisis, not just for Singapore but the world. We have fared better than many other countries but our society is also facing some challenges. E.g. Our race and religious relations, which are sensitive issues

Protecting Singapore’s multiracial and multicultural foundations

Over the past few months, there were a few race-related incidents which generated much discussion and debate. Such incidents have sometimes occurred in the past, but they did not attract as much attention. Now, in the age of social media, such incidents can easily be played up and blown out of proportion, stir up emotions and affect race relations. Fortunately, most Singaporeans understand the importance of racial harmony. Many people of all races have spoken up against racism and rejected racial discrimination.

Having lived through turbulent times, our Pioneer and Merdeka generations greatly support Singapore’s multiracial policies. In the early years of nationhood, our founding leaders stood firm on the overarching policy of racial equality. The government was impartial when drafting our laws and administrative measures, and did not favour any race. This fundamental founding policy was supported by the Chinese community and became the bedrock of our multiracial harmony. Chinese Singaporeans made some concessions for the greater good. For instance, to put the ethnic minorities more at ease, we adopted English as our lingua franca. The use of English put those who spoke only Mandarin and dialects in a disadvantageous position. Therefore, it is entirely baseless to claim that there is “Chinese privilege” in Singapore. We treat all races equally, with no special privileges. Few countries have made this their policy, and even fewer have actually managed to make it a reality.

Half a century ago, the Chinese community made a compromise, and some among them even felt that they made a huge concession. But what we see after 56 years is testament that this fundamental national policy has benefitted all races, including the Chinese. It brought about racial harmony and social stability, which has enabled us to live peacefully. It has also helped to strengthen our relations with our neighbouring countries, and built trust. Hence, I thank the Chinese community for standing by this founding ideal, which has enabled us to enjoy lasting stability and prosperity.

Having had decades of peace, we may now gradually take racial harmony for granted and become less sensitive. Some Chinese Singaporeans may be unaware of how our ethnic minorities feel. I hear about this from non-Chinese Singaporeans from time to time. Tonight, I wish to share two examples to remind ourselves that our racial harmony remains a work in progress. While the different communities have become closer, racial emotions still exist.

The first example: Some ethnic minorities have had unhappy experiences when renting a home. All homeowners wish to find the ideal tenant. Some Chinese homeowners tell their property agents upfront that they prefer not to have tenants of a particular race. Thus, when non-Chinese prospective tenants show up, the property agent tells them: “Sorry, you can’t rent the place as the owner doesn’t want tenants of a particular race.” Not all homeowners are like that but it’s not difficult for us to imagine how hurt these minority tenants feel when they have such encounters.

The second example: Ethnic minorities sometimes face more difficulties than Chinese looking for jobs. The reason is that some Chinese employers prefer to hire Chinese employees. Some jobs require proficiency in the Chinese language, and this is understandable and acceptable but it is not a must for some other jobs. If employers still state Mandarin as a requirement, the minorities will find this unreasonable and unfair.

I raise these two examples to prompt all of us to understand the concerns and difficulties faced by our ethnic minorities and be accommodating towards them. When we seek friends and life partners, we are drawn to those with similar linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This is human nature and common to any society or race. These are matters that concern our private lives and personal decisions, and generally have no great impact on society. But that is not the case when employing someone or renting a house. These involve the common space that all races share and directly affect race relations. If we let the preferences of such employers and homeowners build up over time, they will become prejudice, and minorities will feel they are discriminated against. If left unaddressed, such preferences will gradually deepen the fissures in our society. Therefore, all of us must uphold the principle of racial equality to build a more inclusive society.

In short, I hope Singaporeans of all races can continue to work for the greater good in the spirit of mutual compromise. Only then can we achieve lasting harmony and unity as a country and society.

Protecting our roots

We should treat everyone equally while seeking unity amidst diversity. It is on this premise that the government will support all races in promoting and preserving their own rich cultural heritage. We do our best to share our heritage with the younger generation, so that they can imbibe the richness of history. These are our roots. We cannot lose our cultural roots for they are our anchor.

The government has always given its full support to Chinese culture. I am heartened by the tireless efforts of many Chinese organisations to promote local Chinese culture. E.g. Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, which celebrated its 180th anniversary last year. Its Cultural Academy offers various classes to nurture students with many different talents. I have seen the children’s works and performances, which are all of very high standards. Apart from the various clan associations, institutions such as the Promote Mandarin Council and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre also share the same mission of keeping Chinese culture alive. The government will continue to give them its full support as they pass the torch to the next generation. I also wish to encourage parents and grandparents to speak Mandarin with their children and grandchildren at home, expose them to Chinese culture and cultivate their interest from young.

Over time, our Chinese culture has also developed to reflect our unique Singapore spirit. Cultural Medallion recipient Mr Lim Tze Peng is an excellent example. I had the privilege of meeting Mr Lim two months ago. Born and bred in Singapore, this centenarian artist has integrated the artistic traditions of the East and West to create his own unique style. His early works depict Singapore of the past and are expressions of his deep love for his country. As a gesture of gratitude, Mr Lim donated many of his works to his alma mater Chung Cheng High School. His act exemplifies the traditional Chinese value of remembering one’s roots and highlights the fine traditions of our Chinese schools. We established SAP schools to preserve the traditions and values of former Chinese schools. Giving our students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a bilingual environment and use the Chinese language. I hope that SAP schools will continue to nurture more bilingual and bicultural talents for our country in the new era. SAP schools should also let their students interact more frequently with members of other races. That way, they will understand the importance of safeguarding our multicultural society from young. We must continue to prioritise this.

All these years, everyone from the government, educators, cultural workers to people from all walks of life have worked hard together to forge a unique Chinese Singaporean identity. This sets us apart from other Chinese communities. Singapore has also accepted ethnic Chinese from overseas. They need time to adapt to our way of life and we should also help them integrate into our society. Among them are successful entrepreneurs and professionals, as well as outstanding artists and athletes, some of whom have become one of us and done us proud.

One of them is our national table tennis player Yu Mengyu. Mengyu came to Singapore when she was 17 and has represented Team Singapore for many years. Before our athletes left for the Olympics, I met them online to cheer them on and I teased Mengyu that she is one of our seasoned players! Despite suffering an injury, Mengyu was fearless against stronger opponents and fought hard for every point. She made it to the semi-finals, and hoped very much to win a medal for Singapore. Many Singaporeans who saw her in action were moved by her determination. I watched some of her matches and sensed her perseverance and fighting spirit. In her own words, she had no regrets about losing as she had done her best. While she did not win a medal in the end, she won the applause and respect of Singaporeans.

And that is the Singapore spirit, to be indomitable, to keep going and never give up.

Conclusion

Over the past year or so, we have fought off successive waves of infections. Singaporeans have made sacrifices and shown their resilience at critical junctures of this fight. In the next few years, all Singaporeans must stand together to overcome this crisis.

I am reminded of an old song from the 1930s which my Chinese-educated friends may be familiar with. It’s called “In Springtime”. The song goes: “In spring, hundreds of flowers bloom, lang li ge lang li ge lang li ge lang…” The last few lines are the most meaningful: “Don’t be sad or dejected, for there will sometimes be strong winds and waves… keep going and don’t falter, for beyond the darkness comes the light of dawn”.

So, please don’t be sad or dejected, for we can now see the light of dawn. Let’s stay united, and we will surely ride out the winds and waves.

Thank you!