Mr Teo Chong Tee, former parliamentary colleague and former MP for Changi,

Mr Teo Yeow Soon, PBM, Chairman of Siglap Citizens’ Consultative Committee,

Mr Ali Bin Montail, PBM, Chairman of Pulau Ubin CC Management Committee,

Mr Chris Chen, Chairman of Siglap CC Management Committee,

Mr Vincent Lim, Acting Chairman of this year’s National Day Dinner,

Community leaders, friends and supporters of Siglap,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening.

We’re here tonight to celebrate our 35^th National Day and the first in the new millennium. It was only 8 months ago that we ushered Singapore into the 21^st century with nation-wide celebrations and merry-making.

We have many things to be thankful for as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our nation. We live in peace and stability. Our economy has recovered very quickly. We are in a position to invest in our people by providing them with education, skills and training to prepare us for the new global economy.

With the dawn of the new economy, where more and more business is transacted with breathtaking speed over the internet, a global marketplace has emerged for almost anything that you can imagine - E-commerce, E-payment, E-banking, E-auction, E-mail, etc. Globalisation means new markets, increased investments and opportunities. It also means keener competition and increased exposure to values, lifestyles and ideas not all of which are beneficial to us. We must therefore learn and be able to select what is good and beneficial to us and to our country and prevent the negative and destructive aspects from affecting our lives.

Singapore’s standard of living is high. We have our physical and material comforts. But we can make a living in Singapore even better if we can improve our social behaviour in our interaction with others. This is especially critical when we live close together in such a small place like Singapore.

How much more pleasant will life be in Singapore if we are more considerate to our neighbours, treat public property and places as if they are our own by keeping them clean and undamaged. How much safer will it be if people stop throwing furniture, TV, flower pots and other things from their flats? How much safer and pleasant will it be to drive our cars without people beating us up for the smallest offence or provocation? How much more improved our interaction will be if we tolerate and accept our racial, religious and cultural differences?

We will have to match our material progress with our social behaviour and attitudes. Just like diamonds, they become more beautiful and valuable when properly cut and polished.

The various grassroots organisations like the CCC, CCMC and RC can help to develop and improve our social behaviour and graces by increasing interaction and understanding among neighbours and the various races. In the private estates, the NCs can play the same role by organising activities which bring residents and neighbours together to interact, know each other and develop bonds towards one another.

The ultimate aim is to bring us together, to bond us together as citizens of this country which we will build together and make it prosper and to defend it when we need to. On this occasion, as we celebrate our National Day, let us commit ourselves to the well-being and prosperity of this place, Singapore, which is our home.

Tonight’s dinner is made possible due to the hardwork and effort of a group of grassroots leaders led by Mr Lim Siaw Sue, BBM. Unfortunately, Mr Lim Siaw Sue is indisposed and unable to be with us this evening.

In conclusion, I wish to extend my appreciation to Mr Vincent Lim, Acting Chairman of the National Day Dinner Organising Committee for putting together tonight’s event. Last but no least, I wish all of you Good Health, Peace, Prosperity and a happy National Day. Thank you and have a wonderful evening.