SINGAPORE – The PAP is a broad tent that brings together people from different races and religions with the common purpose of serving all Singaporeans.
For as long that remains true and people keep faith with one another, Singapore will not only ensure but be an inspiration, said party activist and lawyer Ahmad Firdaus Daud.
He was among the four People’s Action Party activists who spoke at the party’s Awards and Convention on Nov 9, and who gave their take on how the PAP and Singaporeans can shape a more inclusive and selfless society.
Over 1,800 PAP activists were present at the ruling party’s annual gathering at the Singapore Expo, where they were addressed by PAP secretary-general and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as well as party chairman and Education Minister Desmond Lee.
Drawing on the Malay words ‘kami’ and ‘kita’ – both words for ‘we’ – Mr Ahmad Firdaus noted that while ‘kami’ excludes the listener and distinguishes between us and them, ‘kita’ is an inclusive ‘we’ that embraces everyone.
“Having that ‘kita’ spirit doesn’t mean ignoring our differences – it means embracing one another fully, even, and perhaps especially, our religious identities.”
He noted that while the city-state provides equal space for all Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion, people often avoid speaking of religion in public because they know how sensitive the topic can be.
Yet, Singaporeans cannot be blind to the dangers – such as of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism – when religion enters public conversation. Such dangers are precisely why society has to seek a deeper unity to anchor itself in uncertain times, he added.
The father of two cited how the Malay/Muslim community responded calmly after a
suspicious parcel was sent to Masjid Al-Istiqamah in September.
A Singaporean man was on Sept 27 charged for his alleged involvement in sending the
parcel, which contained pork.
“We knew it was the act of a single individual. I was proud of our community’s response – full of patience and maturity,” he said. “And it is here that our true strength lies – in the spirit of ‘kita’, not ‘kami’.”
Noting that every major faith teaches the same truth of caring beyond oneself, he urged people to focus on the light in one another’s faiths, and not the shadows of the differences.
That the national anthem has the words ‘mari kita’ also shows that Singapore has in its DNA the recipe to overcome tribal instinct, he added.
Other speakers also focused on this “we first” mindset, which was a theme in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s
National Day Rally 2025 speech
and in President Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s
speech at the opening of Parliament in September
.
Mr Ramesh Selvaraj, who is also a lawyer, spoke of ways to bring different communities together.
Mr Ramesh shared about a recreational running group he had started with some friends to get back into shape, and how it has since grown to have over 1,800 members from different walks of life.
“When we lace up, there are no differences – foreign workers, new citizens, the young, the old,” he said.
He recalled how one of their regular runners, a migrant worker, said he felt like he had found a family in the group, thousands of miles away from his village in India. Another, a new citizen, said he felt a sense of belonging that allowed him to make new friends and integrate with the larger community.
“Moments like these remind me what community really means – no titles, no labels – just people moving forward together,” he said.
His involvement in AGAM Theatre Lab, a theatre company and charity, also showed the power of the performing stage in getting people of different backgrounds to come together and understand each other, he added.
“My experiences have taught me something simple: ‘we first’ is not about big slogans; it is about small, everyday choices,” he said.
“When we check in on a neighbour, help a colleague who’s struggling at work, or simply listen before we speak — these small acts don’t make headlines, but they hold this country together.”
Keeping the faith and strengthening partnerships was also the focus of a speech by activist and unionist Andy Ang.
He said the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) shares the PAP’s belief that every worker matters and every citizen matters, and a shared conviction to serve is the foundation of their symbiotic relationship.
Both sides must continue to work closely together to shape policies that benefit Singaporeans, added the assistant director for the NTUC Freelancer, an initiative under the labour movement.
“The world may be changing rapidly but the values that bind us remain constant: putting workers at the heart of progress, advancing together through tripartite collaborations, and ensuring that growth is inclusive and no one is left behind,” he said.
In her speech, entrepreneur Ong Jing Jing stressed the need for more diverse voices in Parliament, so as to close the gaps between national policies and the unique struggles of each person and family.
She called for more women in the PAP’s leadership and in Parliament, and for more support for seniors, as well as for caregivers of those with both young children and elderly parents.
With lifelong learning a non-negotiable in the age of artificial intelligence, she also called for further improvement to the national SkillsFuture movement.
There should be greater flexibility in the scheduling of courses, and opportunities to upskill should be accessible to everyone regardless of age or circumstance, she added.
Ms Ong said the PAP’s strong mandate allows it to make the necessary and bold changes to address Singaporeans’ deep concerns, but it requires PAP activists to step up and “carry forward this strong spirit of action”.
“The challenges are immense, the competition is fierce. But we have the leadership, the policies, and most importantly, the heart to rise to the occasion,” she said.
