Govt to strengthen partnership with Chinese community to keep it vibrant

Groups played key role in nation-building, shaping strong sense of national identity

- Chin Hui Shan

Singaporeans' strong sense of national identity today is due in part to the Chinese community's significant contributions in the early years of nation-building, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 17.

Moving forward, the Government will strengthen its partnership with the community, so that its groups and associations can stay vibrant and continue to contribute to society, he added.

PM Wong noted that in the colonial days, many successful Chinese leaders and businessmen donated money and resources generously, which helped lay a strong foundation for Singapore's development.

These leaders founded clans and other associations, built schools and hospitals, and established welfare organisations, which benefited Singaporeans of all races.

The community also took it upon itself almost a century ago to champion a local identity and cultivate a sense of belonging to Singapore through school textbooks, by injecting elements of Nanyang culture to replace teaching materials from China and Hong Kong.

This had a profound impact on the development of post-independence Singapore, said PM Wong.

"It not only enabled us to build confidence and pride in our own cultural identity, but also laid the groundwork for the Chinese community to support policies that fostered a multiracial and multicultural Singapore," he added.

Today, Chinese Singaporeans have their own sense of identity, and never forget they are Singaporeans even if they are miles away from home, noted PM Wong.