Speech by Minister Indranee Rajah at the Pasir Ris Changi National Day Dinner

Good evening, everyone.

I am delighted to be here with you at our Pasir Ris-Changi National Day Dinner, together with my fellow Grassroots Advisers: Mr Desmond Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Valerie Lee.

But tonight we have with us two very special guests – one is Dr. Ahmad Magad, and another one, Mr Teo Chee Hean. Please give them a warm welcome!

Welcome back, Mr Teo. Since we are all here as one big Pasir Ris – Changi family, let me start by touching on the improvements to our town over the last year since the last GE and also what all of you can look forward to.

Over the last year we have improved connectivity and access to facilities for residents.

In April 2025 we opened the new Integrated Transport Hub, making bus and MRT connections more seamless. It is connected to Pasir Ris Mall creating a vibrant town centre.

The new Pasir Ris Polyclinic at the Mall has also made it more convenient for residents to go for their medical appointments and healthcare services.

And then recently we have the opening of the new MRT entrance B. This was ahead of time. It was supposed to be a few years down the road, but we listened to your feedback. We spoke to LTA, and LTA worked very hard to open it ahead of time. So thank you LTA, for making it easier for our residents!

This entrance also connects to the recently opened Pasir Ris Town Square, the new go-to venue for our community events, where families, friends and neighbours can connect. We are planning more programmes and activities for all of you at this space, and that will bring more life, energy and community spirit to our Town.

Our Pasir Ris – Changi family is also growing.

The Costa Grove BTO was completed last year and many have collected their keys and moved in. Some are new residents but many are also children of families who have lived here and want to be close to their parents.

The other BTO Costa Riviera is also on track and we will see more couples and young families moving in when it is completed.

We have also been working closely with our Malay-Muslim community.

This year we had our very first Pasir Ris–Changi Ramadan Bazaar along Pasir Ris Drive 6, which was very well received by all residents – muslim and non muslim residents alike

We opened a new Qaarya at Blk 555 and increased our prayer facilities for Hari Raya and Hari Raya Haji.

Korban services were brought back at Al Istighfar mosque for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are also working closely with Al Istighfar mosque and the relevant authorities to get TOL for temporary prayer space to support the growing number of attending the mosque.

But that is not all. There are many more improvements in the pipeline that Pasir Ris – Changi residents can look forward to.

The Loyang Viaduct is scheduled for completion in 2028. Once open, it will connect the Changi Aviation hub through Loyang all the way to Tampines. Together with the road enhancements that’s part of the Changi Northern Corridor, road travel this area is going to be much faster, smoother and more convenient.

By 2030, travel to and from Pasir Ris-Changi will be transformed when the four new MRT stations are completed, with the connection to Tampines. The connection to Punggol will follow in 2032.

The Enhanced Cycling Path Network along the upper part of Loyang Avenue, Telok Paku Road, Nichol Drive and Changi Coast and a cycling connector between Pasir Ris and Tampines, is also in the works.

We are setting up more Active Ageing Centres for seniors, and will have a newly renovated Pasir Ris Central Sports and Recreation Centre by 2029. Elias Community Club and Elias Mall will also be undergoing renovation.

Across the whole GRC we have a slew of upcoming Neighbourhood Renewal Projects and Home Improvement Projects that will benefit our residents.

All of these projects will refresh and rejuvenate Pasir Ris–Changi and make it an even better place to live.

From local matters let me now turn to an important national issue. This evening we celebrate our 61st National Day.

And since the beginning, our greatest strength has been our people. In order for our nation to succeed and do well, we need Singaporeans. For that to happen, we need more Singaporean families and more Singaporean children. Our families are our anchors. They are the ones who love and care for us, the ones who cheer us on and share our joys and sorrows. Our children are our future. They carry our hopes, our values and they are the ones who will take the Singapore story forward.

However, family formation is on a downward trend both globally and in Singapore.

Last year, our Total Fertility Rate fell to 0.87, the lowest to date. In 2025, there were fewer than 30,000 live births recorded for the first time in the past 60 years, and that is an 11.4% drop from 2024.

At the same time, marriages have been declining. Last year, there were about 24,700 registered marriages, a 6.2% drop from 2024. With fewer marriages over the last few years, we are likely to see fewer births this year.

But we are not content to sit back and do nothing. We will do all we can to make marriage and parenthood more achievable, supported and valued in Singapore. And that is why we formed the Marriage and Parenthood Reset Workgroup earlier this year, which I chair, to develop the roadmap for this Reset.

Over the past few months, the Workgroup members have been speaking to many Singaporeans about marriage and parenthood – about their hopes, their aspirations and their concerns.

What is clear is that many do aspire to get married and have children. But at the same time, they do encounter challenges including the cost of raising children, the need for time with family, caregiving arrangements, and housing.

The Workgroup will release our full report in early 2027. However, from our engagements over the past few months, we have already identified several areas where there is a clear consensus as to the challenges families face and where action can begin earlier.

We have therefore advanced a set of interim policy recommendations so that we do not lose time in addressing this important issue. As mentioned by the Prime Minister in his National Day message, we are taking a fresh look at costs of raising children, access to affordable infant care and childcare, and other support for families. The Prime Minister will share more at the upcoming National Day Rally. So do look out for that and tune in.

Policies are important, but reversing the TFR trajectory goes beyond policy and needs a whole-of-nation effort.

Everyday actions can have a big impact, whether it be:

a. The understanding employer who ensures a family friendly workplace culture;

b. The line supervisor who exercises flexibility when a parent needs time to attend to family matters;

c. The kind neighbour who offers a listening ear;

d. The understanding commuter who gives up a seat to a pregnant woman;

e. The friend who checks in, or the community volunteer who steps forward to lend a hand.

These everyday acts of support can make a meaningful difference to families.

Here at the local level in Pasir Ris-Changi, we already see this community spirit in action – through our volunteers, grassroots leaders and residents who give their time and energy to care for one another.

What we must do at a national level is to build a Singapore where families are supported and cherished. Everyone has a role to play in this.

So let’s heed the call of this year’s National Day theme. Together, let us go beyond, and build a Singapore where families can truly flourish. Majulah Singapura! Thank you very much.