Postcards from a P2 class from Methodist Girls’ Primary School. They wrote to thank Singapore for having “lighted the world” by successfully hosting the DPRK-US Summit in June.

In an uncertain world, ASEAN is all the more important. We must work to strengthen ASEAN & work on our relationships with all ASEAN partners, especially our 2 closest neighbours, Indonesia & Malaysia.

Indonesia will hold elections next year. I have worked well with President Jokowi. We have wide-ranging cooperation with Indonesia, and I hope this will continue.

Malaysia’s new PM is not new to us. We have completed several impt projects with Malaysia under him. I told him I wanted to work with him to take our bilateral relationship forward, and he agreed.

How has the Govt kept healthcare spending affordable? Our 3M framework – MediSave, MediShield & MediFund. Govt also provides heavy subsidies – up to 80% in hospitals.

In recent years the Govt has upgraded MediShield to MediShield Life & also introduced the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS), which provides generous subsidies to help with outpatient expenses.

As we grow older, more will have chronic conditions. Currently, CHAS covers middle & lower income Singaporeans. The Govt will now extend CHAS to all with chronic conditions, regardless of income.

MOH has been building & upgrading several polyclinics & medical centres – in Punggol & Kampung Admiralty, among others.

The Govt is building more polyclinics across Singapore – in Sembawang, Eunos, Kallang, & Bukit Panjang by 2020; and in Nee Soon Central and Tampines North by 2023. #ndrsg

ElderShield will be revamped into CareShield Life in 2020, & cover those born 1980 & younger. It will pay out at least $600 a month for life if you cannot do 3 Activities of Daily Living.

Some of the big changes we have made over the last few yrs so that Sporeans have access to affordable, high quality healthcare. No one will be deprived of medical care because they cannot afford it.

We are taking special care of elderly Sporeans. We launched the Pioneer Generation Package to help them. So far, 450,000 have benefited, and we have spent more than $1.3b of the $8b we set aside.

The Govt will work out a “Merdeka Package” for Singaporeans born in the 1950s. It will cover similar areas as the Pioneer Generation Package and help meet their medical expenses.

Singapore’s housing policies have been uniquely successful. We are the only major city in the world where nearly every young couple getting married can afford to buy their first home immediately.

3 FUTURE PLANS FOR HOUSING

1. Expand HIP to upgrade flats built btwn 1987-1997.

2. HIP II to upgrade flats a 2nd time when they reach 60-70yrs.

3. VERS to progressively redevelop precincts, fr abt the 70th yr.

100 yrs from now, Singapore should stand out not just for its modern skyscrapers & world rankings, but for being a nation of boundless opportunities.

NDR 2018 has come to an end.

The full recordings of the Malay, Chinese and English speeches with subtitles will be available on the PMO YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/pmosingapore) shortly.

Good night from the PMO team!

All set for the F1 Night Race tonight! Best of luck to all the teams taking part in the Singapore Grand Prix 2018! 🏁