SM Lee Hsien Loong at the SCCC-SFCCA Spring Reception 2025

Please scroll down for the English translation.

* * * * *

“团结一心，共创未来家园”

新加坡宗乡会馆联合总会会长蔡其生先生
新加坡华族文化中心主席吴绍均先生
各位来宾
大家早上好！

祝大家新年快乐，万事如意！会长刚才说我上一次参加宗乡总会的新春团拜，是13年前，已经是上一个龙年的事了。我很高兴今天能够再次与大家齐聚一堂，一起迎接蛇年的到来。

对新加坡来说，新的一年别具意义。因为今年是新加坡独立60周年。在这周年纪念的开始，是我们回顾过去、展望未来的好时刻。让我们先回顾华社的贡献，特别是它如何帮助国家建立一个和谐和繁荣的多元种族社会。我们也应该展望未来，探讨华社如何协助国家再攀高峰。

宗乡会馆：巩固我国的社会结构

首先，我想谈一谈本地华社的一大支柱：我们历史悠久的宗乡会馆。一两个世纪以来，宗乡会馆是我国社会的中流砥柱，为国家和社会的建设贡献良多。在殖民地时代，各个方言群体的会馆致力于接济和安顿离乡背井的同乡。此外，会馆还热心慈善公益、推广教育、弘扬文化、团结社会。

在各个会馆的推动下，我们的许多先辈最终在这里落地生根。在国家独立后的60年里，他们与土生土长的后代，逐渐深化了新加坡的国民意识。我们的华社也拥有了自己独特的精神面貌。

随着大环境改变，会馆也必须自我更新。一些规模较小的会馆，已经走入历史。值得庆幸的是，更多的会馆成功转型，满足新时代的需求。

现在，不少国人对自己的祖籍与华族文化深感兴趣。许多会馆也顺着这个趋势开办了各种课程，例如：福建会馆就成立了文化学院，推出一系列的才艺课程。

一些会馆也在大中华地区为本地企业引线，寻找商机。会馆有自己的人脉网络，又熟悉当地社会，所以可以帮助本地企业进军这些市场。

在社会公益方面，一些会馆现在也为任何有需要的同胞提供助学金和奖学金等经济援助。这种不分籍贯和种族的互助精神，有助于促进社会团结与和谐。

另一方面，会馆延续了以往的使命，帮助新一代移民融入新加坡社会。近几十年来，有些新移民也成立了自己的会馆。他们的需求已和以往的新客大不相同。他们需要的不是生活上的援助，而是对新加坡特别国情的了解，尤其是学习如何与其他种族相处、如何互相尊重和包容。

今年是宗乡总会成立四十周年，我知道总会未来的一大方针，是弘扬我们秉持的社会价值观，同时也加强与新移民的联系，协助他们建立对本地社会的认同感。

不过，单靠会馆的力量是不够的。国人应该继续放宽胸怀，帮助新移民成为我们这个大家庭的一份子。当然，新移民也应该入乡随俗，尊重和接受本地的社会规范、文化习俗和价值观。唯有这样，他们才能建立归属感，而新旧公民之间才能和睦共处。我发现，许多在新加坡居住了十几、二十年的新移民，无论是想法、观点，还是语言和生活习惯，跟土生土长的国人都没什么差别。因此，我有信心，只要我们一同努力，新移民也会和先辈一样，在这里立足扎根，为多元社会注入活力，为我们独特的华族文化增添色彩。

华社：多元文化社会不可或缺的一部分

一直以来，我国华社都以国家利益为先，以大局为重，支持推行具包容性的政策，全力维护多元种族的立国原则。在建国初期，我们誓愿不分种族、言语、宗教，团结一致。但这个理想在当时仿佛是天方夜谭，遥不可及。年长一代对当时的种族暴乱应该记忆犹新。所幸，我们的建国元勋坚守信念，与一代代国人携手同心，将这个崇高的理想逐步化为现实。作为人数最多的社群，华社发挥了关键和带头的作用。华人在维护自身传统文化的时候，也尊重他族的文化，确保各族同胞得到平等的待遇，新加坡才得以长治久安。

我了解华社对文化传承的重视。我们的华族文化既有传统的滋养，也从本地多元文化吸取养分，从而拥有了自己的精神特质。长久以来，本地艺术家创作的许多歌曲、绘画、诗歌、电影和戏剧，都体现了浓厚的本土意识，也有别具一格的成就。这为我们带来了文化自信。2017年，在宗乡总会的主导和华社的鼎力支持下，我们成立了新加坡华族文化中心。自创立以来，华族文化中心展现了我们文化建设的成果，为艺术团体提供了表演和创作的平台，让本土文化发扬光大。中心设立了一个关于新加坡华族文化的常年展览，至今接待了三十多万名公众和学生。中心也在去年推出网上双语平台《新加坡华族文化百科》，有系统的介绍本地华族文化的发展脉络和特色。值得一提的是，教育部有意把这个平台上的内容融入华文教科书，并且作为辅助教材，以增强年轻一代的文化和身份认同。

回首一甲子的建国历程

适逢新加坡独立60周年，各个华社团体今年将推出一系列精彩纷呈的活动，纪念这个建国里程碑。例如，华族文化中心将推出两个全新的巡回展。今年的“春到河畔”也融入了SG60的元素，还有别开生面的“新加坡派”才艺表演。

这些活动为国家的60岁生日增添异彩，令人期待。

总结

在华族传统中，60年为一甲子。对个人而言，六十岁是耳顺之年。但是对国家来说，其实只是刚起步，还有很长的路要走。60年来，我们不畏艰难、齐心协力，创造了举世瞩目的经济奇迹。更重要的是，我们建立了和谐、包容和坚韧的多元社会。一个让人民感到自豪的“小红点”。

如今，一甲子后，新一任总理黄循财和第四代领导团队已经接班了。他们正通过 “Forward SG”（新加坡携手前进）运动带领我国迈入新时代、与国人一同更新社会契约，塑造更美好的未来。

这个小红点是否能在下一个60年继续取得卓越成就，就要看我们能不能继续精益求精，勇往直前。在此，我恳请华社继续发挥领导作用，与政府一起合作，巩固我国多元文化的基础，加强社会凝聚力。

因此，我的新年愿望，以及对国家的生日祝愿，是希望大家能继续团结一心，一起谱写新加坡的新篇章。祝愿新加坡在新的一年里，风调雨顺，国泰民安。也祝愿大家蛇年大吉，阖家安康。

谢谢！

* * * * *

English translation of the Mandarin speech

“Building our Future Singapore as one Community”

Mr Thomas Chua, President, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations;
Mr Ng Siew Quan, Chairman, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre;
Distinguished guests;
Good morning

A very happy and prosperous Chinese New Year to everyone. I last attended SFCCA’s Spring Reception 13 years ago, in the previous Year of the Dragon. Happy to be here again to welcome the Year of the Snake with all of you.

This is a significant year for Singapore. As we commemorate 60 years of independence. Now, at the start of the year, it is timely for us to reflect on the past and look to the future: to remember the contributions of the Chinese community, especially how it helped to build our harmonious and prosperous multiracial society. We should also ponder the Chinese community’s future, and how it can help Singapore scale greater heights.

Chinese clans: reinforcing our social fabric

First, let me highlight one important pillar of the Chinese community: our clans. Over the past two centuries, clans have been an important part of Singapore’s social fabric, and have contributed much to Singapore’s development. In colonial times, clan associations established by various dialect groups gave support and financial assistance to fellow clansmen, helping these new arrivals to settle down in Singapore. Clans also contributed generously to social and charitable causes, promoted education and Chinese culture, and strengthened social unity.

Through the efforts of the various clans, many of our forefathers eventually made Singapore home. In the 60 years since Singapore’s independence, they and their local-born descendants gradually developed a Singaporean national identity, and also a unique Singaporean Chinese cultural identity.

But as the landscape evolves, clan associations must renew themselves. Some smaller clans have faded away. Fortunately, more of them have successfully transformed to meet society’s evolving needs.

Quite a few Singaporeans are now deeply interested in their roots and Chinese culture. Many clans have embraced this trend by offering programmes to help them explore these interests. For instance, the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Cultural Academy offers various arts and cultural programmes.

Some clans are also helping local enterprises seek new business opportunities in Greater China. With their networks and familiarity with the region, they are well-poised to help our enterprises venture into these markets.

When it comes to social support, some clans now avail financial assistance to any Singaporean in need, including bursaries and scholarships. This spirit of not differentiating between clans or races helps to promote social cohesion and unity.

At the same time, clan associations have continued to help new immigrants integrate into our society. Over the past decades, some new immigrants have also established their own clans. However, the needs of new immigrants are now very different from those in the past. They no longer require support for basic needs. Rather, they need help navigating our societal culture and norms, especially in learning how to get along with other racial groups, and showing them mutual respect and understanding.

This year, the SFCCA is celebrating its 40th anniversary. One of its key thrusts for the future is to promote our social values, and strengthen our ties with new immigrants, to help them forge a sense of shared identity.

But clans cannot do this alone. Singaporeans should continue to open our hearts to these new arrivals, and help them become part of our Singapore family. Of course, new immigrants themselves must also make the added effort to assimilate, as well as respect and accept local norms, cultural practices, and values. This is essential for them to foster a sense of belonging to Singapore, and harmonious relations with local-born Singaporeans. I have found that many of those who have spent more than a decade here generally share similar worldviews and lifestyle habits as local-born Singaporeans. Therefore, with everyone’s efforts, I am confident that new immigrants, just like our forebears, will become rooted to Singapore, and add to the vibrancy of our society and unique Chinese culture.

The Chinese community: an integral part of our multicultural society

The Chinese community has always prioritised our national interests and the bigger picture, and supported inclusive policies for a multiracial Singapore. In the early days of nation-building, our pledge to be one united people, regardless of race, language, or religion, seemed like a distant, if not impossible ideal. The older generation would still remember vividly the racial strife that rocked Singapore back then. Fortunately, our founding fathers held firm to their beliefs and, together with successive generations of Singaporeans, we gradually turned this lofty ideal into reality. As the largest community, the Chinese played a crucial and leading role in this endeavour. While maintaining their own cultural traditions, they also respected other races and cultures, and understood that for Singapore to achieve long-term stability and peace, we must all stand equal as Singaporeans.

I understand the importance that the Chinese community places on passing on our cultural heritage. Enriched by tradition and nurtured in a multicultural environment, our Chinese culture has developed its unique spirit and characteristics. Over the years, many local artists have won accolades through their songs, paintings, poems, films, and dramatic works, which demonstrate strong local flavour. This has given us a sense of cultural confidence. In 2017, under the SFCCA’s leadership and with strong support from the Chinese community, we established the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC). Since its inception, the SCCC has showcased the development of local Chinese culture, by providing a platform for artistic groups to perform and create, and by actively promoting local culture. It has also set up a permanent exhibition on Singapore's Chinese culture, which has received more than 300,000 visitors to date. Last year, it also launched the bilingual Culturepaedia online repository, which offers a comprehensive introduction to the development and characteristics of local Chinese culture. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Education plans to incorporate Culturepaedia in its teaching materials, to strengthen the cultural and national identity of the younger generation.

Reflecting on SG60

There will be a full slate of Chinese cultural initiatives this year, as we commemorate our 60th year of independence, e.g. Singaporeans can look forward to two new travelling exhibitions by SCCC. SFCCA will incorporate SG60 elements into the Annual River Hongbao, and will hold a Singapore Talent Night to commemorate this special year.

These activities lend a special touch to our nation’s 60th birthday.

Conclusion

For the Chinese, 60 years marks the completion of one sexagenary cycle. For individuals, reaching 60 years old is a significant life milestone. But for a country, it is just the beginning, with a long way to go. Over the past 60 years, we have defied the odds to become an economic success story. More importantly, we have built a harmonious, inclusive, and resilient multicultural society. And become a shining little red dot that we can all be proud of.

60 years on, a new Prime Minister – Prime Minister Lawrence Wong – and his 4G team have taken over. They are leading Singapore into a new era with the Forward SG effort, refreshing our social compact, and building a better future for Singapore.

Whether this little red dot can continue to shine in the next 60 years depends on whether Singaporeans can continue to strive for excellence and forge ahead. I urge the Chinese community to continue playing a leadership role and work with the Government to strengthen our multicultural fabric, social cohesion and unity.

Therefore, my New Year's wish, and my wish for Singapore, is for everyone to unite in writing our new chapter together. May this be a year of peace and prosperity for our nation. And good fortune in the year of the Snake for all.

Thank you!