National Day Rally 2026 (Malay)

PM spoke in Malay and Mandarin, followed by English.

For the English translation of the Malay speech, please see below.

* * * * *

Saudara-saudari sekalian,

Sepanjang setahun yang lalu, saya banyak mendampingi masyarakat Melayu/Islam dan bersama anda dalam pelbagai program dan kegiatan. Anda membuka pintu hati anda, menerima kehadiran saya dengan penuh mesra di majlis berbuka puasa, acara kebudayaan serta sesi bersama masyarakat. Semasa sesi-sesi ini, anda berkongsi harapan, kebimbangan dan aspirasi anda dengan jujur dan ikhlas. Ramai juga terus memberi saya semangat untuk belajar Bahasa Melayu. Terima kasih!

Asal Usul dan Jati Diri yang Kukuh

Setiap kali saya bersama masyarakat Melayu/Islam, saya dapat rasakan semangat dan rasa bangga anda terhadap jati diri serta warisan anda. Saya melihatnya sendiri semasa pembukaan semula Taman Warisan Melayu. Buat pertama kalinya, perarakan budaya diadakan di sekitar Kampong Gelam. Para seniman, kumpulan masyarakat, peniaga dan relawan berganding bahu untuk meraikan warisan masyarakat yang begitu kaya.

Kampong Gelam ialah tempat yang istimewa untuk kita semua. Ia mengingatkan kita akan hubungan erat kita dengan rantau ini. Ia juga sebahagian daripada sejarah dan warisan yang kita kongsi bersama.

Kita hargai pertalian ini. Sebab itulah Bahasa Melayu ialah
Bahasa Kebangsaan kita, bahasa Lagu Kebangsaan kita, dan juga bahasa arahan Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura. Bahasa Melayu adalah sebahagian daripada identiti Singapura!

Memandangkan kedudukan kita di rantau ini, ada baiknya jika rakyat Singapura belajar Bahasa Melayu dan lebih mendalami budaya Melayu.

Pertalian ini bukan sahaja tentang warisan kita. Malah, ia membantu kita mengeratkan hubungan dengan jiran-jiran serantau dan membuka lebih banyak peluang untuk rakyat dan perniagaan Singapura.

Izinkan saya beri satu contoh, iaitu Pondok Abang. Pondok Abang diasaskan oleh Encik Abdul Rahman bin Yad Ali. Beliau bermula dengan sebuah gerai penjaja. Masakannya mendapat sambutan hangat. Lebih banyak gerai dibuka. Pondok Abang juga ialah sebuah dapur pusat dan menjadi pembekal kepada peniaga makanan yang lain.

Hari ini, Pondok Abang diurus oleh anaknya, Hasan. Mereka masih berniaga di gerai penjaja, dan juga menjadi pengeluar makanan halal yang utama. Hasan sedar pasaran untuk masakan tradisional Melayu semakin berkembang di rantau ini.

Kini, Pondok Abang sudah pun bertapak di Brunei dan Malaysia, dan bakal tebarkan sayap ke negara-negara jiran lain. Encik Rahman dan Hasan ada bersama kita di sini. Kepada anda berdua, selamat maju jaya!

Menangani Cabaran Bersama

Pada masa yang sama, saya tahu ramai yang bimbang tentang kos sara hidup, tentang pekerjaan dan tentang masa hadapan anak-anak kita.

Saya faham kebimbangan anda. Dunia hari ini kian tidak menentu. Perubahan pula semakin pantas.

Namun, bak kata pepatah, berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing. Kita akan mengatasi cabaran ini bersama-sama!

Pemerintah akan terus bekerja rapat dengan para pemimpin dan badan masyarakat supaya kita lebih bersedia menghadapi cabaran mendatang.

Matlamat kami jelas. Kami mahu setiap anggota masyarakat Melayu/Islam yakin, berupaya dan ada peluang untuk berjaya.

Memperkukuh Masyarakat Kita

Satu kekuatan utama masyarakat Melayu/Islam ialah perpaduan anda. Kita dapat melihatnya melalui M³. Kami meluaskannya menjadi M³+ dengan melibatkan lebih ramai rakan kongsi dan lebih banyak sumber. Apabila kita berganding bahu, lebih banyak yang boleh dicapai.

Semangat ini jelas dapat dilihat melalui program Santunan Emas. Ia bermula sebagai usaha sama antara Masjid Al-Muttaqin, Ma:een dan Muhammadiyah demi membantu warga emas di Ang Mo Kio. Mereka mendampingi ramai warga emas Melayu/Islam di sana. Melalui M³+, mereka menggabungkan kepakaran daripada pelbagai pihak dalam masyarakat.

Saya gembira untuk umumkan mereka akan luaskan usaha ini ke Yishun, Sembawang dan Woodlands. Dengan ini, lebih ramai warga emas dapat meniti usia senja mereka dengan mulia dan lebih bermakna.

Kami juga sedang memperkukuh kerjasama untuk membuka lebih banyak peluang. Sebagai contoh, kerjasama antara PERGAS dan Persatuan Syarikat-syarikat Kecil dan Sederhana (ASME). Melalui inisiatif ini, perusahaan yang dimiliki golongan asatizah boleh memanfaatkan khidmat nasihat, alat digital dan rangkaian perniagaan. Dan hasilnya, perniagaan-perniagaan pula mendapat manfaat daripada kepakaran bahasa dan budaya masyarakat apabila mereka berkembang ke pasaran serantau.

Semua usaha ini berjaya membawa perubahan yang ketara.

Hari ini, lebih ramai rakyat Melayu/Islam Singapura mencipta nama dalam pelbagai sektor.

Mereka berkhidmat dengan cemerlang dalam Perkhidmatan Awam, Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura, badan kehakiman, karyawan, perniagaan dan pelbagai bidang lain.

Mereka menyumbang kepada kemajuan Singapura sambil terus berpegang teguh pada masyarakat dan warisan mereka.

Itulah yang mahu kita lihat – bukan setakat masyarakat Melayu/Islam yang kukuh, malah rakyat Melayu/Islam Singapura yang memainkan peranan lebih besar untuk Singapura.

Penutup

Saudara-saudari, kita kini mempunyai Pemangku Menteri Bertanggungjawab bagi Ehwal Masyarakat Islam yang baharu, Zaqy Mohamad. Beliau memimpin para pemegang jawatan dan Anggota Parlimen (AP) Melayu/Islam kita.

Saya gembira melihat pemegang jawatan yang lebih muda tampil untuk memikul tanggungjawab. Kita ada Rahayu Mahzam. Selepas Pilihan Raya Umum yang lalu, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim dan Dr Syed Harun pula sertai kami. Mereka membawa bersama pengalaman dari sektor swasta. Pasukan ini bekerjasama dengan baik, dan saya akan terus memperbaharu dan memperkukuh pasukan ini.

Bersama-sama, mereka akan menerajui pelbagai inisiatif. Contohnya, Jawatankuasa Daya Ekonomi dipimpin dua AP, Dr Wan Rizal dan Saktiandi Supaat. Mereka menerima banyak idea bernas daripada masyarakat. Satu fokus utama ialah membantu belia Melayu/Islam membangun kemahiran, mendapat lebih banyak pengalaman dan merebut peluang dalam sektor-sektor baharu yang sedang berkembang.

Ini cuma satu daripada pelbagai usaha Zaqy dan pasukannya. Mereka akan umumkan usaha-usaha lain kelak. 

Berilah mereka sokongan padu anda agar kita dapat sama-sama membantu setiap rakyat Melayu/Islam Singapura mencapai potensi masing-masing kerana apabila masyarakat Melayu/Islam berjaya, Singapura juga berjaya.

Bersama-sama, marilah kita membina masyarakat Melayu/Islam yang lebih yakin dan Singapura yang lebih kukuh, bersatu padu dan terus bersinar.

Terima kasih.

* * * * *

English Translation of National Day Rally 2026 Malay Speech

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past year, I have had many opportunities to engage members of the Malay/Muslim community and to spend time with you in various programmes and activities. You have warmly welcomed me to your Buka Puasa gatherings, cultural events and community engagements. During these sessions, you shared your hopes, concerns and aspirations with openness and sincerity. Many of you have continued to encourage me to learn the Malay language. Thank you!

Strong Roots and Identity

Each time I am with the Malay/Muslim community, I can feel your spirit and pride in your identity and heritage. I saw this for myself at the reopening of the Malay Heritage Centre. For the first time, a cultural parade was held around Kampong Glam. Artists, community groups, businesses and volunteers come together to celebrate the community’s rich heritage.

Kampong Glam is a special place for all of us. It reminds us of our close connections to this region. It is also a part of our shared history and heritage.

We value these connections. That’s why Malay is our National Language. It is the language of our National Anthem. It is also the language used for commands in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). It is an integral part of Singapore’s identity.

Given Singapore’s location in this region, it would be valuable for Singaporeans to learn Malay and better appreciate Malay culture.

These connections are not only about our heritage. In fact, they help us strengthen our ties with our neighbours in the region. And open up more opportunities for our people and Singapore businesses.

Let me share one example. Take Pondok Abang. Pondok Abang was founded by Abdul Rahman bin Yad Ali. He started with a single hawker stall. His cooking was well-loved. He opened more stalls. Pondok Abang now is also a central kitchen, and a supplier to other food vendors.

Today, the business is managed by his son, Hasan. They still run hawker stalls, but they have also become a leading halal food manufacturer. Hasan realised that the market for traditional Malay cuisine in the region was growing.

Now, Pondok Abang has established a presence in Brunei and Malaysia, and intends to expand into other neighbouring markets. Rahman and Hasan are here with us. To the both of you, all the best!

Tackling Challenges Together

At the same time, I know many are concerned – about cost pressures, about jobs, and about the future of our children.

I understand your concerns. The world today is becoming more uncertain. Change is happening faster than ever.

However, as the saying goes, a burden shared is a burden halved. We will overcome challenges together!

The Government will continue to work closely with community leaders and organisations so that we are better prepared for the challenges ahead.

Our goal is clear. We want every member of the Malay/Muslim community to have the confidence, capabilities and opportunities to succeed.

Strengthening the Community

A key strength of the Malay/Muslim community is this: your unity. We see this in M³. We’ve expanded it to M³+, bringing in even more partners and resources. When we work hand in hand, we can achieve more.

This spirit of unity can be seen in the Santunan Emas programme. It started as a joint effort by Al-Muttaqin Mosque, Ma:een and Muhammadiyah to support seniors in Ang Mo Kio. They have engaged many Malay/Muslim seniors there. Through the M³+ network, they tapped on expertise from across the community.

I am happy to announce that they will expand this initiative to Yishun, Sembawang and Woodlands. So that more seniors can live their golden years with dignity and purpose.

We are also strengthening partnerships to create new opportunities. Take the collaboration between PERGAS and the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME). Through this initiative, Asatizah-led enterprises can now leverage advisory support, digital tools and business networks. And in return, businesses gain from the community’s cultural and language expertise, as they expand to regional markets.

All of these efforts are making a significant difference.                   

Today, more Malay/Muslim Singaporeans are making their mark across various sectors.

They serve with distinction. In the Public Service, the SAF, the judiciary, the professions, business and many other fields.

They are contributing to Singapore’s progress, while remaining firmly rooted in their community and heritage.    

That’s exactly what we want to see – not just a strong Malay/Muslim community, but Malay/Muslim Singaporeans making bigger contributions to Singapore.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Zaqy Mohamad. He leads our Malay/Muslim office-holders and MPs.

I’m happy to see our younger office-holders stepping up. We have Rahayu Mahzam. After the last GE, Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Dr Syed Harun also joined us. They bring with them experience from the private sector. The team is working well. And I will continue to renew and strengthen this team.

Together, they are taking forward many initiatives. One example is the Committee for Economic Resilience, led by two MPs, Dr Wan Rizal and Saktiandi Supaat. They have received many thoughtful suggestions from the community. One key thrust is to support Malay/Muslim youths develop their skills, broaden their exposure and seize opportunities in new and growing sectors.

This is just one example of many initiatives underway by Zaqy and his team. They will announce other initiatives in due course.

Give them your full support so that, together, we can help every Malay/Muslim Singaporean realise their potential. Because when the Malay/Muslim community succeeds, Singapore succeeds too.

Together, let us build an even more confident Malay/Muslim community, and a stronger, more united and more successful Singapore.

Thank you.

Videos and transcripts

National Day Rally 2026

National Day Rally 2026 (Mandarin)

Watch more

National Day Rally 2025

National Day Rally 2024