Singaporeans must “take a keen interest in each other's cultures and participate wherever possible in each other's cultures”, said Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Wednesday (Feb 10).

In his address, Shanmugaratnam said Singapore was at a “very interesting stage” after 50 years of development, in terms of both the economy and the country’s culture and identity, and it was organisations like the SFCCA, Business China and the SCCC that could play “a very important role” in deepening Singapore’s identity in the coming years.

"I think it's remarkable where we are today, a peaceful, multi-racial society. And it is very normal for an Indian minister to be attending this event," he said. 

He was speaking at the Spring Reception 2016, an annual event for Chinese community leaders organised by the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA), Business China, and the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC). More than 500 guests from the Chinese community were present. Labour chief Chan Chun Sing, Acting Education Minister (Schools) Ng Chee Meng and Senior Minister of State for Finance and Culture, Community and Youth Sim Ann also attended the event.

However, Shanmugaratnam said for the future of Singapore, "we have to deepen our identity".

This did not mean diluting each of Singapore's cultural identities or fusing the different cultures into one – doing so would result in a "weak and confused" culture and sense of identity among Singaporeans, he said. 

"We have to preserve and deepen our respective identities … take a keen interest in each other's cultures, and participate wherever possible in each other's cultures.”

For example, the new 11-storey Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre building in Shenton Way will not just be for local Chinese, "but for all Singaporeans to learn about our evolving Chinese culture in Singapore, just as the majority community should take a keen interest in our Malay culture, our Indian culture, and the cultures of the regions around us”, Shanmugaratnam said.

He added that it was also important to “intensify efforts to integrate new immigrants in society" and make sure the culture of giving back to the community remained strong beyond the current generation.

(Channel News Asia)