Speech by SMS Lee Yi Shyan at the Chinese Heritage Centre’s Chinese New Year Luncheon and 20th Anniversary Celebration at Nanyang Technological University

Professor Bertil Andersson, President of Nanyang Technological University,

Professor Su Guaning, Chairman, Chinese Heritage Centre Board of Governors,

Professor Zhou Min, Director, Chinese Heritage Centre,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

On this day - the 12th day of Chinese New Year at this beautiful and historical site of Nantah – Let me first wish you a happy year of the Goat. Allow me to say a few words in Chinese, “在这个喜气洋洋的大好日子里， 让我祝愿大家羊年如意，心想事成，身体健康，事业腾达“。

While the Chinese Heritage Centre (CHC) turns 20 years old, our nation is celebrating its golden jubilee. But the history of Singapore goes much further back. I am not a historian. But given that we have come to a point in history to cherish and reflect upon our past, to ponder how this nation came about, and what CHC has accomplished, there is so much we can be proud of and so much more we can look forward to.

Singapore’s journey to independence

As an entrepot anchored in the maritime silk-route, Singapore has been welcoming traders from the west and the east. The influx and infusion of different cultures, religions and social norms have added to the social fabric of this multi-cultural and open society.  Our forefathers of different races hailed from humble origins and their stories of diligence and perseverance form a core part of the nation’s heritage. As Confucius once said, “Study the past if you would define the future”. Their accomplishments were as significant historically as they are instructive for our journey forward.

Singapore was born in the second half of the 20th century. It was a tumultuous time that had seen two World Wars. At the beginning of the century, the largest nation by population - China - began searching for a new political system to replace the dysfunctional Qing administration. The ensuing “1911 Chinese revolution” (辛亥革命) not only changed the destiny of modern China but also had a profound impact on Southeast Asia and the world. Singapore, as it turned out, played a perhaps unexpected but instrumental role in the revolution.

Historical archives suggest that between 1900 and 1911, Dr. Sun Yat Sen visited Singapore nine times. Dr. Sun rallied overseas Chinese, including many local prominent leaders such as Teo Eng Hock, Tan Chor Nam, Lim Nee Soon, and Lim Boon Keng to build up a supporter base, establish newspapers, raise funds and set up the Singapore branch of the Tong Meng Hui (同盟会). Dr Sun subsequently designated Singapore as his revolutionary headquarters in Nanyang to better coordinate the various revolutionary activities in the region.

After World War II, inhabitants on this island realised that they could no longer depend on foreigners to protect themselves. A sense of new nationalism and anti-colonialism emerged. In the area of education, prominent local leaders such as Tan Lark Sye were convinced that China’s weakness was due to an illiterate populace. They decided that for Singapore, or for the Chinese community at least, they had to set up education institutions to provide quality education for the masses. Consequently, Nahtah University was established and it became a beacon of Chinese language education and culture in Southeast Asia. Stories had it that even labourers, taxi drivers and bar hostesses donated to the cause of Nantah.

Fast forward to 2015, a century after the 1911 Revolution, where China has taken on a totally different role in the region. It is now the second largest economy in the world. Because of its mammoth size, its consumption, or non-consumption, of resources or goods has now become the daily talk of analysts and investors. Naturally, rising in tandem with this is its political and economic influences around the world.

Fortunately, throughout the century, Singapore has preserved our Chinese heritage, culture and linguistic abilities through our bilingual policy. The Ministry of Education has 25 Chinese-language schools in the form of Special Assistance Plan (SAP) Schools

[1]

so as to preserve the best traditions of the old Chinese medium schools and to nurture a core group of students proficient in both English and Chinese. These policies gave us access to the world of commerce and technology.  Many visiting Chinese officials shared that they admire our ability to integrate the best of western management know-how and technology with an essentially oriental or Chinese culture.

More recently, in 2007, we launched “Business China” to nurture a bilingual and bicultural group of young Singaporeans. Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew felt that Singapore’s ability to engage China would be dependent on having a critical mass of Singaporeans who were effectively bilingual and bi-cultural. The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCICI) also set up the China Cultural Centre to showcase to our young the rich cultural heritage our forefathers had brought with them.

Singapore-China relations

2015 is an important year for Singapore and China, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Over the past years, we have enjoyed warm bilateral ties and strong economic relations. Singapore was China’s largest foreign investor for the second consecutive year in 2014, with investments amounting to US$5.8 billion in over 700 projects last year. China was also Singapore’s largest trading partner last year, with bilateral trade in goods increasing by 5.4% to S$121.5 billion.

Singapore welcomed close to 2 million Chinese tourists in the last two years. We had also trained close to 50,000 officials since 1996 in various aspects of urban solutions and public administration. In fact Prof Su Guaning, who is here today, and NTU are a well-respected name in China because of the large alumni across China.  More recently, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli proposed for Singapore to consider undertaking a 3rd Government-to-Government project in Western China, after the success of Suzhou Industrial Park and Tianjin Eco-City. Singapore will continue to establish new opportunities while understanding the needs of a growing and changing China so as to retain its relevance.

About the Chinese Heritage Centre

The Chinese Heritage Centre (CHC) was established in 1995 to commemorate our forefathers and our cultural heritage. Distinguished leaders like Mr George Yeo, Dr Wee Cho Yaw, Sir Li Ka Shing, Mr Liem Sioe Liong, and Chinese clan associations like the Hokkien Huay Kuan and Ngee Ann Kongsi spearheaded and supported CHC’s establishment.

As you have heard from Prof Zhou Min earlier, the Centre has published a series of major scholarly works and regularly organises academic conferences and workshops to stimulate intellectual exchange. It has also curated a special collection of early Chinese school textbooks that were used prior to 1965 with an online bibliography, which records more than 1,200 textbook titles.

I urge the Centre to continue promoting awareness and understanding of Chinese history, culture, and tradition as an integral part of Singapore’s development. As our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, said at CHC’s 10th anniversary gala dinner in 2005: 

“Heritage is not something static, lying hidden to be discovered, admired and conserved. It is a part of the lives of people, and it shapes the ways people meet new challenges and helps them adapt to survive.”

I am sure with support from NTU and the wider community, the Chinese Heritage Centre will continue to achieve greater success. On this note, let me wish everyone great health and happiness in the year of the Goat！Thank you.

[1]

10 SAP secondary schools and 15 SAP primary schools (

www.moe.gov.sg/media/press/2008/02/enhanced-programmes-by-special.php

)