SM Teo Chee Hean at Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan's Spring Reception and Launch of SHHK 180th Anniversary Celebrations

The translation of the speech is provided below.

卫生部部长 颜金勇先生,
高级政务次长 孙雪玲女士，
新加坡福建会馆前任会长 蔡天宝先生,
会长 陈精毅先生,
各位理事、会员，
附属学校的同事们，
女士们、先生们,

大家下午好。很高兴出席新加坡福建会馆的新春活动，和启动会馆的180周年庆典。

去年，新加坡纪念了开埠200周年。今年，福建会馆庆祝180周年。会馆的成立和新加坡的开埠，只相差20年。由此可见，福建会馆和新加坡的历史，息息相关。福建社群对新加坡的发展，也扮演非常重要的角色。

新加坡的华人当中，最多的就是福建人。180年来，福建社群在各个领域，例如建筑、教育、工商、金融、房地产以及航运，为建国作出重要贡献。福建人“爱拼才会赢”的精神值得大家学习。

所有的新加坡人都有着同样的斗志，共同拼出了今天的新加坡. 今天，我想谈谈政府如何与每位国人共同努力，创造更美好的未来。

首先，我们要确保每个小孩, 无论家庭背景如何，都能有个好的开始。多年来，通过附属学校，福建会馆提供了优良的中小学教育。会馆成立了幼儿园和文化学院，提供良好的学前教育和各种课程，栽培热爱华族文化的学生。通过福建基金，会馆帮助了许多有需要的学生。我期待会馆的附属学校与教育部一起实施重要的改革，为学生提供更好、更全方位的教育。

第二，政府也好好地照顾我们的长辈们。随着新加坡人的寿命越来越长，更多的新加坡人也想继续工作。政府将提高退休年龄，让年长的员工继续贡献他们的智慧和经验，让企业和其他员工受惠。我希望我们的企业能多多支持这项调整。

第三，政府也继续照顾我们的企业,为国人提供良好的就业机会。我们推出了23个产业转型蓝图，帮助企业创新和转型。政府也推出了《技能创前程》，帮助企业提升你们员工的技能。

最近新型病毒的情况令大家担忧。我想感谢所有的医疗人员，和努力确保我们大家安全的工作人员。我们为了自己、在工作场所，都需要保持良好的卫生习惯。我们好好照顾自己和确保工作场所保持安全，同时也能确保新加坡保持安全。

政府也会帮助受影响的企业和员工。我们将提供配套，帮助企业和员工度过难关。

最后，我希望福建会馆能与政府和所有的新加坡社群同心协力、一起克服所有挑战，继续为新加坡打造更光明的前程。

我祝大家鼠年进步、万事如意、身体健康。也祝贺福建会馆180周年庆的活动圆满成功！谢谢。

English Translation

Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong,
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sun Xueling,
Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan’s Past President Chua Thian Poh,
President Tan Cheng Gay,
Executive Council Members, Members,
Colleagues from the Affiliated Schools,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon. I am happy to attend the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan’s Spring Reception, and to launch the celebrations for the Huay Kuan’s 180^th anniversary.

Last year, Singapore marked our Bicentennial. This year, Hokkien Huay Kan is celebrating its 180^th anniversary. The Huay Kuan’s establishment and Singapore’s founding were only 20 years apart. This shows that the Huay Kuan is closely intertwined with Singapore’s history. The Hokkien community has also played a very important role in Singapore’s development.

Among the Singaporean Chinese population, the Hokkiens are our biggest community. Over the past 180 years, the Hokkien community made important contributions to our nation-building in various fields, such as construction, education, commerce, finance, real estate, and transportation. We should all learn from the Hokkien spirit, “Ai Piah Jiah Eh Yia” (You Gotta Fight to Win).

All Singaporeans share this same spirit of tenacity. And all communities have worked together to build the Singapore of today. Today, I would like to talk about how the Government is working together with all Singaporeans to create a brighter future for everyone. 

First, we want to ensure that every child, regardless of family background, can have the best start in life. Over the years, Hokkien Huay Kuan has provided good quality primary and secondary education through your affiliated educational institutions. The Huay Kuan started a Pre-School and Cultural Academy, to provide good pre-school education and various educational courses, to nurture students with a passion for Chinese culture. Through the Hokkien Foundation, the Huay Kuan has supported many students in need.  I look forward to the Huay Kuan’s affiliated education institutions working together with MOE to implement the important reforms to provide a better and more holistic education for our students.

Second, the Government takes good care of all our seniors. As Singaporeans live longer, more Singaporeans want to continue working.The Government will raise the Retirement Age, to allow our older workers to continue to contribute their knowledge and experience, which will benefit our companies and other workers. I hope that our businesses will support this move.

Third, the Government will continue to take care of our companies to create good jobs for our workers. We have introduced 23 Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs), to help our companies to innovate and transform. The Government has also introduced SkillsFuture, to help our companies to upgrade the skills of your workers.

The recent novel coronavirus outbreak has been a cause for concern for everyone. I would like to thank all our healthcare professionals and all those working hard to keep us safe. All of us should adopt good hygiene practices, for ourselves, and in work places. By keeping ourselves and our workplaces safe, we also help keep Singapore safe.

The Government will also help our affected companies and workers. We will be providing a package to help our companies and workers to tide over this difficult period.

Lastly, I hope that Hokkien Huay Kuan will work together with the government and all communities in Singapore to overcome all challenges, and continue to create a brighter future for Singapore.

I wish everyone progress, happiness and good health in the Year of the Rat. I also wish Hokkien Huay Kuan’s 180^th anniversary commemorative activities a resounding success! Thank you.