Speech by Minister Desmond Lee at the MND National Day Awards Investiture (NDAI) 2023

Oct 25, 2023

A very good morning to all of you.

Let me start right off by congratulating all our 2023 National Day Awards recipients. Today, we honour your commitment, and dedication to Public Service and to Singapore. Although many of you were very heavily involved over the past few years in fighting the COVID pandemic as one Government, you continued to work very hard to advance Singapore’s key priorities under MND’s responsibility. Your efforts exemplify the Public Service values of integrity, service, and excellence.

For instance, Mr Toh Chee Kiong from HDB supported many homeowners that faced financial challenges by providing them professional financial counselling. The appreciation that he has received from so many homeowners is testament to his professionalism, care and personal touch.

Another example – Ms Loy Ju-Lin, Senior Architect in URA’s Conservation Planning Department. She helped to protect and enhance our heritage buildings, so that future generations can appreciate the stories that these buildings tell about Singapore’s history and development. She led public engagements and focused group discussions on Singapore’s built heritage during our Long-Term Plan Review, to give Singaporeans a better understanding of the considerations behind our conservation efforts. 

Third example – Mr Muhamad Shahrizal bin Sihab, Deputy Director for Streetscape at NParks. He has been instrumental in inter-agency efforts to promote greenery all across our city. He worked closely with LTA to improve the design of MRT viaduct columns so that climber shrubs can grow and thrive. He also collaborated with colleagues from SCDF to conduct detailed studies that have reduced vegetation fire incidents along expressways. 

These are just some of the many colleagues whom we are recognising today – serving Singaporeans with care and professionalism, often going beyond your bounds of duty, engaging and involving Singaporeans in shaping our own future, and reaching across agencies to be more effective as one MND family, and as one Public Service.

Many of you have been working long hours and late nights, serving our nation. We really appreciate your hard work, tenacity and commitment to the mission. On behalf of the MND Family and senior management, thank you and congratulations.

MND’s Key Thrusts

Let me take this opportunity to briefly recap some of our key thrusts, so that we can better appreciate the work that all of you do within the broader mission of the MND Family.

First, housing remains a major focus. We must constantly review and enhance our public housing programme to ensure that it remains inclusive and equitable, and keeps up with the changes that are happening in our city, even as we strive to meet the diverse needs and wants of Singaporeans. Recently, we made changes through the way in which we classify public housing. It is not just a matter of classification, but a reflection of the evolving nature of our urban landscape, and of the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. I want to thank our colleagues at MND HQ as well as HDB and partner agencies, for working hard to bring this major policy change to fruition and working hard to operationalise it next year.

Next, we must continue to make the most of our limited land through careful long-term planning and with the important DNA of stewardship. With limited undeveloped greenfield sites left, the trade-offs will be increasingly difficult. We have to develop and rejuvenate our urban landscape sensitively, taking into account our need to conserve biodiversity, heritage and history. Beyond stewarding our land, we also have a responsibility to carefully steward a sustainable living environment for both current and future generations of Singaporeans. As a low-lying island nation, we are especially vulnerable to climate change, and we are already experiencing its impacts. We must press on with our efforts to green our buildings and transform Singapore into a City in Nature.

Lastly, we must continue to transform our Built Environment (BE) sector, towards one that is more dynamic, resilient and productive. This is crucial because our BE sector is a backbone for our living environment. It is not just about building houses and industrial facilities, but also building communities and spaces that Singaporeans need to live, work, and play.

Navigating the Future

Amidst these focus areas and more, the world we live in is becoming increasingly uncertain and dangerous as you have seen. Our society is also evolving. Not only is our population ageing rapidly, it is also becoming more diverse in culture, beliefs and socio-economic status.

We must continue to organise ourselves and develop the hard and soft skills required to navigate this environment and safeguard our future. Let me list a couple of ways.

First, we have to work more closely across multiple agencies as well across different domains. The policy issues that we grapple with, the challenges that Singaporeans face, and difficulties that Singapore will have to deal with, are becoming increasingly complex, including for infrastructure and urban planning issues – where housing, urban development, social challenges, greenery, conservation, and construction productivity are often closely intertwined and no one agency can do it on its own.

Second, engagements with members of the public, fellow Singaporeans and external stakeholders within Singapore and outside, will play an increasingly prominent role in the way we develop and deliver our policies. I encourage all of us to take the time and effort to understand concerns on the ground, foster trust and build partnerships, and develop the networks of volunteer movements that can help us amplify our efforts.

Third, we have to become more nimble and agile to respond to the ever-changing needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. The policy-making cycle and the operational cycle have become a lot quicker. We must be ready to think out of the box, take calibrated risks and push the boundaries and work with multiple stakeholders – both within and outside the public service – while accepting that success and failure are integral parts of this process.

Conclusion

On that note, I want to once again thank and congratulate all our award recipients today, as well as the families who stand behind you and support you day by day in the work that you do. Our constant mission to house a nation carries on, and we have every confidence that you will continue to serve with honour and distinction, and be good role models to colleagues around you.

Congratulations once again, I wish you all a wonderful celebration.

Thank you.