SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s first National Day Message will be broadcast on August 8, as announced by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday (August 1).
Mr Wong, who is also the Finance Minister, will deliver his message in English.
This will be his first National Day message as Prime Minister, following his swearing-in on 15 May, succeeding Mr Lee Hsien Loong, who is now Senior Minister.
Amid speculation of an early election, it is widely anticipated for PM Wong’s speech to seek to strengthen public trust in the PAP Government, particularly in the face of a series of controversies, including extramarital affairs involving the former Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, corruption charges against former Transport Minister Iswaran, and the Ridout Road saga.
And more recently, the public outcry over the proposed sale of Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz.
According to PMO, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong will deliver the message in Mandarin, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli will deliver it in Malay, and Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam will deliver the message in Tamil.
The first broadcast in English will air on CNA and CNA938 at 6.45 pm.
The Malay broadcast will be at 8.30 pm on Suria, followed by the Mandarin broadcast on Channel 8 and Capital 958 at 8.45 pm.
The Tamil broadcast will air at 9 pm on Vasantham and Oli 968.
The National Day Message in all four languages will also be available on the PMO website and its YouTube channel after the initial broadcasts.
In 2023, PM Wong, who was then Deputy Prime Minister, delivered the National Day message in Mandarin.