Despite optimism following the National Day Rally, economic worries persist among residents.
Following Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 21), many Singaporeans expressed feelings of being ‘optimistic’ or ‘hopeful,’ yet concerns about the rising cost of living remain their top priority. A poll conducted by Milieu Insight after the speech indicated that a significant number of respondents believe the country’s economic outlook will improve.
One notable announcement during the rally was the decision to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalizes sex between men. Among those surveyed, nearly half (46 percent) expressed neutrality towards this repeal, while 34 percent supported the government’s decision, and 20 percent opposed it.
The poll results indicated a positive reception to the speech, with 37 percent of respondents feeling ‘hopeful’ and 35 percent feeling ‘optimistic.’ Only a small percentage reported feelings of ‘anxiety,’ ‘nervousness,’ or ‘stress.’
When asked about the key issues facing Singapore, 90 percent of respondents identified the ‘increase in cost of living,’ followed by concerns about a ‘looming economic recession’ (47 percent), ‘aging population’ (44 percent), ‘US/China tensions’ (41 percent), and ‘climate change’ (39 percent).
Regarding the potential removal of the mask mandate for indoor settings, 61 percent of respondents expressed support, with nearly half (47 percent) believing that the timing of this decision is “just right.” However, 28 percent felt that lifting the mandate might be premature. Despite 47 percent of those surveyed worrying that removing masks could worsen the Covid-19 situation, a strong 91 percent expressed confidence in the government’s capability to manage the pandemic.
On the geopolitical front, over 80 percent of respondents (81 percent) believed the government has effectively handled the tensions between the United States and China.
“As Singapore progresses towards an endemic phase, our latest poll suggests that residents are adapting well, with concerns about new Covid-19 strains ranking lower than issues like the rising cost of living, potential economic recession, and climate change. Despite these worries, we are encouraged by the overall sense of hope and optimism—there is strong confidence in the government’s ability to lead the recovery, with many expecting economic conditions to improve over the next year,” stated Gerald Ang, CEO of Milieu Insight.
