Oppilan Association Singapore's Inauguration

Community leaders, 

Friends from the Oppilan community, 

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. Good evening, Vanakkam and Salam’alaikum. 

2. I am truly honoured to join you this evening for Oppilan Association Singapore’s official inauguration.

3. Today marks an extremely important milestone for the Oppilan community, which has a long and rich history in Singapore. 

Tracing The Community’s Roots

4. In the 1920s, a small group of migrants from the village of Oppilan in Tamil Nadu made Singapore their home. They came to work as shopkeepers and cooks — and were among the earliest pioneers of Singapore’s hawker culture, something that we hold so dearly here in Singapore.

5. Many Singaporeans today are very familiar with the dishes at hawker centres, including mee goreng, which has become a key part of our local food culture. Some of these stalls are still run by families descended from early migrants from the Oppilan community.

6. The descendants of those early pioneers are also contributing in many more fields — such as education, engineering, as lawyers, doctors and public officers. And some names stand out:

   1. Mr Uthuman Gani, a lawyer and former television host, who was a real trailblazer in public communications.

   2. And Mr Mohamed Kasim Shanavas — a Singapore Literature Prize winner — who continues to shape the literary landscape with his work in Tamil poetry and prose.

7. Today’s inauguration reflects the community’s intent to build a strong foundation — by organising itself around a common identity and a shared heritage.

Marking a New Chapter

8. Singapore’s Indian-Muslim community has not only thrived over the decades, but has also played a very unique role — in bridging and connecting traditions, experiences, and values from both the Indian and Malay-Muslim communities. The Oppilan community reflects this rich confluence.

9. This has been made possible by Singapore’s model of active multiculturalism — one that encourages social mixing and shared spaces, while respecting each community’s right to preserve its heritage and identity. It is a model that has allowed diverse cultures to flourish, not just in isolation, but through mutual respect and shared growth.

10. We see this in everyday life. In platforms such as the Federation of Singapore Indian Muslims. And in the way different communities come together — not just coexisting, but collaborating in close partnership. And that is what is really beautiful about what we have here today in this community.

11. The Oppilan Association Singapore (OAS) will add to this vibrant tapestry and culture. By creating a space for a distinct sub-community to organise, share, and grow, it strengthens the broader ecosystem of multicultural Singapore.

12. OAS can play a valuable role in this effort:

    1. Through the community events and cultural programmes it organises, it creates opportunities for social interaction and deeper understanding.

    2. By anchoring younger generations in their heritage, it helps them to navigate modernity with confidence. 

    3. And through shared experiences — including food, stories, and festivals — it can bring people together across many backgrounds. 

Towards a Shared Future

13. This year is exciting. As we celebrate Singapore’s birthday – SG60, we are reminded that our multicultural society is always evolving. It is something we must constantly work at — by building trust, deepening relationships, and embracing both heritage and change.

14. Multiculturalism thrives when communities are confident in expressing their own identity, while remaining open and respectful of others. This is the Singapore way — and we must continue to protect it and ensure it lives on.

    1. I encourage OAS to stay true to this inclusive spirit.

    2. Not only by engaging the Indian community, but also by reaching across racial, religious and generational lines.

    3. Efforts that bring different communities together, including newer residents, will go a long way in deepening mutual respect and strengthening our shared social fabric. 

15. Congratulations once again on this inauguration. I wish the OAS every success as they embark on this exciting new chapter. 

16. Thank you so much.