National Day Rally 2025 underwhelms netizens: 'Motherhood statements without concrete details'
Trixy Toh
TNP
Aug 19, 2025
"What do you think of the National Day Rally?" was the question posed in a recent r/askSingapore subreddit thread - and commenters seemed largely underwhelmed by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's second rally.
The original poster (OP) was "surprised" that there were no new "big policies or plans", adding that they were looking forward to a "bigger vision of what a PM Wong government" would look like.
"All that was new was stricter vape enforcement, traineeship, SkillsFuture and Age Well Neighbourhoods," they wrote, describing the announcements as "vague".
As of press time, the thread has drawn over 100 comments.
"Less exciting than last year's honestly," one user wrote, noting that there were only "two major takeaways" - a clampdown on vaping and the Age Well Neighbourhood plans.
The latter, introduced by PM Wong in his speech, aims to support the growing number of seniors who prefer to age at home and within their communities.
A Redditor added that it was "a little disappointing" that, unlike in previous years, housing issues such as HDB policies were not given much attention.
At last year's rally, PM Wong announced that singles applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats would receive priority if they bought a home near their parents from mid-2025.
He also highlighted the government's efforts to make HDB flats more affordable and accessible, including additional support for lower-income buyers purchasing their first home.
Another commenter felt that much more "needs to be addressed", citing unemployment as an example, and described the rally as "disappointingly lacking in depth".
"Was expecting housing changes," one remarked, describing PM Wong's speech as "very fluffy" and filled with "motherhood statements without concrete details".
While many seemed dissatisfied with the points raised by the PM, others offered a more optimistic outlook.
"It's a National Day Rally," a user wrote, calling it a speech to outline how the country can continue to improve, while also appreciating progress.
"Not everything is about progress and plans all the time," they said. "Take a chill pill and enjoy your SG60 voucher."
Another user noted the Age Well Neighbourhood plan, stressing that "paying attention to seniors is actually big".
They explained that while the rise in the elderly population from 13 to 20 per cent over the past decade may not seem significant now, it will become a concern "when the time comes".
The commenter added that they had never held high expectations of the rally - "but it's meant to be like that" - pointing out that more "tangible outlines are typically announced during Budget every year".
Describing it as a "smart move", one user suggested that making sudden, "sweeping changes" could be "destabilising".
They added that PM Wong might be avoiding "rocking the boat" in order to identify where the greatest impact can be made "before changing things significantly".
"Give him a year," the commenter wrote.
