Road safety, drug addiction among Sim Ann’s focus areas as Second Minister for Foreign and Home Affairs

Singapore's Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, Sim Ann, has outlined her priorities for the coming years. These include improving road safety, tackling drug addiction, and strengthening ties with regional neighbors. Sim Ann emphasized the need for Singaporeans to be aware of external attempts to influence them and divide society. She highlighted Singapore's multicultural identity and religious harmony as strengths that should be confidently upheld, even in the face of such influence.

On the home front, Sim Ann identified road safety as a key priority, noting that while laws and regulations are important, changing mindsets is equally crucial. She plans to launch a more intensive public education campaign targeting all road users. In addition, she will focus on drug addiction, incarceration and rehabilitation, as well as the Yellow Ribbon initiative to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society.

Sim Ann stated that these areas are closely connected across the Home Team and with other agencies. Regarding foreign affairs, she reiterated her commitment to building Singapore's links with Northeast Asia, including China, as well as Southeast Asia. This work is particularly relevant as Singapore prepares to assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2027, marking the regional grouping's 60th anniversary.

Sim Ann stressed the importance of understanding Singapore's national interests and being confident in what makes the country unique. She warned that external actors could attempt to turn differences within society into divisions. To counter this, Singaporeans need to be familiar with their own multicultural identity, multiracial identity, religious harmony, and the evolution of Chinese, Malay and Indian cultures.

By developing "cultural competence," Singaporeans can better recognize and resist attempts to question the validity or authenticity of their identity.