Daily Lessons from Life 28 April 2012 - S'pore should remain open and welcome diversity: DPM Teo

"S'pore should remain open and welcome diversity: DPM Teo - AsiaOne Apr 28, 2012

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said Saturday that Singapore should remain open and welcome diversity, even as the Republic faces challenges brought about by globalisation, technology and extremism.

Speaking to some 600 community and grassroots leaders at the National Community Engagement Programme (CEP) Dialogue , DPM Teo said successfully overcoming the challenges of diversity will let Singapore connect with the great growing centres in a more cosmopolitan world.

"We have put in decades of hard work to weave this social fabric, but it will not take very much to tear apart the trust and mutual respect that we have developed over the years.

"This challenge has become greater as we socialise a new wave of migrants who have come to our shores," he said.

He said that while Singapore will continue to welcome people who can Contribute to the nation, extra attention is needed to facilitate new immigrants so that they can integrate into society quicker.

"Many (immigrants) have come here because they value what we value - the well-integrated, harmonious, multi-racial society in Singapore.

"However, Singaporeans can also do our part to make them feel more welcome, and to help them imbibe the values which have made us strong as a society," he said.

DPM Teo said that while technology was useful, it may amplify extreme views which may only be in the minority and draw unnecessary attention to differences.

Similarly, extremism could also be dealt with if there are strong community partnerships to help reduce opportunities for it to take hold of groups or individuals."

There is NO doubt in any clear thinking Singaporeans that Singapore must accept diversity. In fact, to build on its many decades of building a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society relatively successfully.

Lessons for me are:

1. the 3 major races in Singapore, the Malay, Chinese, and Indian have lived together for a long time. Many of them had gone through the hard times in the nation building stages. Many 1st generation leaders of the different races, including the Eurasians studied, worked and fought against a common enemy, the Japanese or the Communists or the British colonial maters. The races had also gone through bloodshed to understand how futile and destructive it can be to the peace and stability, and hence, prosperity of the nation for everyone! THIS cannot be easily replicated!!;

2. the 2 main NEW migrant groups are from PRC (People's Republic of China) and ROI (Republic of India) and they brought with them a VERY different set of values. While DPM Teo said many of them came because they embraced the values of Singapore, many have NOT the experience of actually living with races of very different background and customs. Also the language ability posed a significant challenge too. Some of the India Indians still have the caste system deep in their belief system while a Singapore or Malaysia Indians are LESS LIKELY to think in that vein! The China Chinese way of 'let's work it out over relationship' to the point of 'bending or breaking the strict compliance to laws and rules of Singapore traditional strength CAN be challenging too.

So, SPECIFIC areas for the 'integration program' MUST be clearly spelt out and work on with regular progress measurement done.

3. there is NO DOUBT that lots of research and collection of data for subsequent analysis on how NEW citizens from different country of origin gel with local born and bred Singaporeans must be conducted. It can be an emotive subject and through PURPOSEFUL collect of data and analysing them into meaningful information, we can make it easier to try to influence Singaporeans to REALLY see what are the ISSUES of 'bad integration' and not just generalized statements from the power that be!!

Happy integration and happy contributing to Singapore's progress by the NEW citizens!