SINGAPORE – During the National Day Rally (August 19) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke about a wide range of topics, including cost of living, healthcare and housing.
In addition to the main announcements, his speech in Malay, Mandarin and English lasted more than two hours was also peppered with interesting anecdotes and light-hearted moments.
Here are some things you may have missed:
1. MILK POWDER MADNESS
In his Mandarin address, Prime Minister Lee addressed the issue of infant formula as an example of the pressure of living expenses for young Singaporean parents.
"In the past there were many ads with babies & cute babies & # 39; s animals with mortar boards, as if drinking that brand will make the kids smarter," he said, laughing from the audience.
"I'm glad that there are fewer such ads now," he added, and Lee noted that this might be possible because infant formula feeders have received the message that the government is determined to address this issue. [19659002] Last year, the then competition committee of Singapore said in a report that aggressive marketing tactics such as sponsorship and payments to private hospitals by formula milk producers were factors that propelled formula milk prices in Singapore to one of the highest in the world
"When I was a baby was, there were no such expensive brands or infant formula, but my generation is still grown up healthy. So I believe the next generation will have no problem, "Mr. Lee added.
2. DID YOU KNOW ELECTRICITY IS STILL CHEAPER TODAY?
PM Lee called for a straw poll on Sunday evening the public for this question: Do you think the electricity tariff of today has risen or fallen, compared to 10 years ago?
During his speech in Mandarin, Mr. Lee illustrated his point with graphs showing the rise and fall of the rates over the years
A decade ago, in the third quarter of 2008, the electricity tariff was 25.07 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh), today it is lower, at 23.65 cents per kwh
said Lee, to laugh from the audience: "Unfortunately, we all remember vividly when the electricity tariff goes up, but when the rate goes down, we forget quickly. "
3. NASI LEMAK, OR SOTO AYAM?
Shortly before the Singapore decision was announced to nominate its Hawker culture registered on UNESCO's intangible list of cultural heritage, Prime Minister Lee commented on how Singaporeans all races, religions and income groups could eat together in hawker centers – and enjoy nasi lemak, char kway teow and roti prata.
But he added quickly: "But I hope you also remember what we discussed during the National Day Rally last year, and as far as possible choose healthier options such as Soto Ayam, Yong Tau Foo and Thosai. "
Last year, PM Lee called on Singaporeans to eat healthy and fight diabetes, and had a conversation by having a healthy dinner of olive rice, seafood, having fun and making chye sim at the Rally.
This year he said that those attending the Rally will enjoy "affordable and tasty" chicken rice from a stall at Our Tampines Hub, and eight other hawker stalls from around the island.
M. Raymond Kiang, 57, who the box operates, said that things can not be too expensive in a peddler center, or people will not be able to afford them.
"There are chicken stands without legs in the whole of Singapore. We can earn less, but we give everyone a chance to taste an authentic Hainanese chicken rice, "he said.
His father was one of the pioneering gangs who used the famous Chatterbox Chicken Rice at Mandarin Hotel in Orchard Road. 1971
4. DO NOT FORGET WHEN YOUR HOUSE HAD A COMMITMENT?
PM Lee also discussed in his Mandaran speech how telecommunications have changed over the years.
M. Lee said that in the 90 years, most families Singaporeans only had a fixed telephone line, with everyone in the family taking turns using the phone.
The telephone bill then amounted to about $ 8 per month, or $ 100 per year. from a mobile phone to hundreds of dollars and most households do not have longer fixed lines.
"Every family member – young and old, grandparents and even young children – now has a handphone," M. Lee said.
" Handphone s have become a necessity in our daily lives. Without them we can not surf the internet, receive information or contact our friends. We feel disconnected from the world. Our lives become unbearable & # 39 ;. "
5. IT IS BACK TO TEAL
PM Lee's shirt choices for the Rally have varied over the years, with last years we see different shades of red, blue and even purple. [19659002] 66-year-old this year chose a return to green-blue, a color he last wore in 2014.
In 2012, Prime Minister Lee had worn a red shirt and the following year a pink shirt, one of his more often worn shades
When Singapore celebrated its 50th year in 2015, PM Lee wore a red shirt and the next year he wore a blue one
6. LIGHT UP THE WORLD
Early in his English speech, Premier Lee said a Primary 2pupils class from Methodist Girls Primary School postcards had written to thank Singapore for "lighting the world" by successfully holding the top between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 19659002] They also wrote that "wanne there are Singaporeans working together, we can do great things ", said Lee.
"I am very grateful Even our eight-year-olds followed the news and knew what we were doing," Lee said.
A photo shared by the prime minister's office shows postcards starting with "Dear Singapore …" addressed to Mr. Leo Yip, head of public service, posted in July this year.
A postcard said: "We are proud of the way Singapore held its candle and illuminated the world on June 12."
Mr. Lee ended the Rally, quoting one of the postcards of the MGS girls: "Singapore may be a small country, but we have big hearts."
"Let's fulfill that ambition, let's continue standing for long, chase with rainbows and work together for a much better tomorrow," he added.
Additional report by Seow Bei Yi
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