Prime Minister Lawrence Wong highlighted community support, local partnerships and volunteerism in Singapore
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong attended the North West District Meeting and Council Appointment Ceremony on 18 September 2026, marking the start of the 10th term of the North West District Council. He thanked outgoing District Councillors for their service and congratulated the incoming Councillors on their appointments.
Addressing Mayor Alex Yam, grassroots advisers, District Councillors, partners and volunteers, Prime Minister Wong highlighted the role of Community Development Councils (CDCs) in connecting national programmes with residents and responding to needs at the local level.
He noted that global developments, including conflicts, trade frictions and disruptions arising from new technologies, could affect Singaporeans through their impact on jobs, expenses and concerns about the future. While the Government would support families and businesses and steer the economy through these changes, he said strong communities were also an important part of the response.
Prime Minister Wong said CDCs and their partners helped connect residents with schools, social service agencies, grassroots organisations and volunteers. He also cited initiatives that began at the local level and were subsequently expanded, including CDC Vouchers and Walking Trails @ CDC, which originated from North West CDC’s North West Eco Trails in 2016.
He also highlighted Jobs Nearby @ CDCs, launched in October 2025 to help residents find suitable employment closer to home while connecting businesses with potential workers. The initiative takes into account considerations such as flexible working arrangements and proximity to home, while supporting businesses with recruitment needs.
Beyond assistance and service delivery, Prime Minister Wong emphasised the importance of creating opportunities for residents, volunteers and businesses to contribute to their communities. He said, “The best programmes connect people,” adding that friendship, encouragement, a listening ear and a helping hand were contributions that people could provide to one another within the community.
Prime Minister Wong described this approach as building a “We-First” society, where people look out for one another and share a stake in one another’s success.
As the new Council term began, he encouraged District Councillors and partners to bring in new volunteers, develop partnerships, find new ways to engage residents and create more opportunities for residents to contribute.
Source: PMO Singapore
