Honorable Senior Minister Professor S Jayakumar
Mr Gan Kim Yong, Minister for Manpower
Ambassador Wei Wei
Mr Sam Tan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary
Members of Parliament, Senior Officials
Leaders and representatives of various clan associations
Board members of Business China, Council members and Committee members of the federation
Ladies and gentlemen,
Happy Lunar New Year!
Today is a significant Lunar New Year gathering. It is the first time that Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Association (SFCCA) and Business China jointly organize a Spring Reception. First and foremost, on behalf of SFCCA and Business China, I sincerely wish the Guest-of-Honour and all guests a very happy and prosperous year ahead!
Over the past 25 years, leveraging on the collective strengths of the clan associations, SFCCA has done and contributed much to the Chinese community and society. Keeping pace with time, we shall continue with our self-renewal while bearing our mission in mind. Today, we break new grounds in celebrating the Lunar New Year together with the leaders of the clan associations as well as friends and associates from many segments. This opens a new chapter for SFCCA.
Before setting its sail for a new expedition, a leadership team ought to seek new ideas and suggestions, cross fertilize them, reach a consensus, and set a common goal. To help in our quest for a new breakthrough and motivation for higher success for our 200 member clan associations, the SFCCA council and committee members will conduct a retreat at Bintan Island later this month. Leverage on the experience of our member associations, we will examine and set new course for SFCCA and the clan associations, build a new image, and formulate a work-plan for the short-, mid- and long-term periods. In so doing, we will garner the collective strengths of our member clan associations to set new trend for citizens in clan-organized activities, and at the same time to show case the strong heritage of the clans.
Recently, Ministry of Education (MOE) announced a raft of changes to mother tongue languages teaching to make mother tongue languages a living language for students and to take their learning to as high a level as they are able to master. This represents another significant step in the Government’s efforts to improve the learning of mother tongue languages. We welcome this. Henceforth, other than strengthening the cooperation between the clan associations, the SFCCA shall also expand its collaboration with the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business China. We shall tap on one another’s resources and contribute to nurturing bilingualism and bi-culturalism in Singapore.
The SFCCA and Business China are prime movers in promoting ethnic culture. To learn one’s mother tongue language effectively, one must love his ethnic culture. The clan associations house assets of ethnic culture. I urge all members to support MOE’s implementation of the new initiatives. Together with parents, schools, and other civic organizations, we shall help create an environment that inspires the young and encourages them to love and learn Chinese language and culture.
Since our independence, Singapore has been progressing very well in areas of economic, social, education, and culture. However, the same cannot be said about our population growth. Perhaps because last year was the Year of The Tiger, the total fertility rate for the Chinese population in Singapore sank to a record low. Mencius said, family is the foundation of society and nation. The importance of family can therefore never be over-emphasized.
Rabbits are highly reproductive creatures. It could reproduce dozens of off-springs every year. As we send off the Tiger and usher in the Rabbit, we hope citizens will produce more Rabbit babies, and be as discerning, as wise and as cohesive as the Rabbits. Together, we shall make Singapore a more harmonious and happy home for everybody.
In closing, on behalf of SFCCA and Business China, I thank Senior Minister S Jayakumar for joining us today in celebrating Lunar New Year. I also wish to express my gratitude to Minister Gan Kim Yong, Ambassador Wei Wei, and all guests for being with us for this auspicious occasion. I wish everybody good health and happiness!
Thank you!