Mr Wong reiterated some extent he made in an interview earlier than taking workplace, that he doesn’t take the mandate from Singaporeans without any consideration.
“I don’t assume that I’ll proceed as prime minister or that the PAP (Individuals’s Motion Get together) will routinely type the following authorities,” he mentioned.
When the following normal election arrives, the PAP will current to the folks its monitor file and what it has carried out on this time period of presidency, mentioned Mr Wong.
“We hope that shall be ample to earn confidence and belief from Singaporeans, and we hope they are going to give us the possibility to control Singapore,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the federal government is anxious, due to the latest American elections and contests elsewhere, about election outcomes the place “society turns into extra divided, extra polarised, after which there isn’t any winner”.
“Sure, the election could produce a winner. However ultimately, everyone seems to be worse off as a result of it makes it more durable to control, and it makes it more durable for nations to maneuver ahead,” mentioned Mr Wong.
He mentioned the federal government has safeguards in place to deal with this, having put in place measures to counter falsehoods, deepfakes and misinformation whereas explaining its concerns to Singaporeans.
“We hope on the finish of the day that Singaporeans themselves will do their half, as a result of on the finish of the day, Singaporeans hopefully will perceive what’s at stake is selecting the best celebration to control,” mentioned Mr Wong.
That is vital for Singapore because it charts its manner by way of a world that’s “turning into extra harmful, extra turbulent, extra risky, harder for small nations like us”, he added.
Finally, elections will come and go, however everybody, together with the federal government, the folks and all political events, ought to make sure that society doesn’t find yourself divided after that, mentioned Mr Wong.
“We strive our greatest to not go down the trail of political populism and opportunism, however discover methods to maintain our society robust, united, and preserve a excessive degree of belief, as a result of that is important for Singapore to remain related and to outlive on this new world,” he mentioned.
That is the second press convention Mr Wong has held to interact with native media since he took workplace in Could.
At the moment, he had pledged to carry extra press conferences in order that the federal government may higher talk its “pondering and concerns” to the general public.
He mentioned then that “when there are some new developments” or when there’s “new pondering”, it could be helpful for himself or related ministers to satisfy with the media in press conferences.
In August this yr, Mr Wong on his one centesimal day in workplace met with the media to elaborate on matters and insurance policies he spoke about on the just lately held Nationwide Day Rally.
Through the session on the Nationwide Press Centre, he touched on the core rules and values underpinning the nation’s insurance policies, cost-of-living issues and the significance of making a family-friendly atmosphere, amongst different points.
