Paying tribute to the maritime sector

NTUC Central Committee Members

Captain Robin Foo, President of SMOU

Mr Thomas Tay, Emeritus General Secretary of SMOU

Executive Committee and members of SMOU

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

1. A very good morning and it is very good to join you for your annual Chinese New Year celebration. Let me start by wishing one and all good health and happiness for the Year of the Goat. 祝大家在新的一年，洋洋得意，身体健康，万事如意，新年快乐!

2. All of you are maritime officers. You are seafaring professionals and you know that to be out at sea is not an easy task. I think it takes a special quality of a person to be a seafaring professional. The old saying is that the sea does not tolerate any cowards. So if you are out at sea, you can immediately tell the character of a person: whether the person has courage, whether the person has fortitude or resilience. So we thank all of you for your contributions. Being seafaring professionals, it is not an easy calling. You often travel away from Singapore. Sometimes you may not get to celebrate Chinese New Year. The ones who are here today are fortunate. But some of you, I am sure, in the past have been away during Chinese New Year, during New Year, during festive occasions or even during the birthdays of loved ones and family members. So we want to thank you for your many contributions, for your commitment and passion and dedication to this industry and to this profession. Thank you very much.

Singapore depends on your profession

3. The sea has been important to Singapore and to human progress for many many years, for centuries. Nowadays, we are familiar with air travel, but in fact more than 90% of international trade still happens by sea.  So the sea routes form a vital network for all our economies, that is what keeps our economies going and that is true for Singapore as well. Our maritime sector contributes to seven percent of our GDP. That is not insignificant. It is an important part of our economy. But it is not just about the economic figures. Beyond the economy, the maritime sector contributes jobs, opportunities, very good opportunities for young Singaporeans. It provides us with material comfort. All the things we enjoy in Singapore, made possible through goods and produce, travelling through the sea into Singapore.

4. Our smartphones that we use everyday come from places manufactured or assembled outside of Singapore. The produce that we eat every day on our dining table - they come from farms from all over the world, through sea routes, to Singapore. The comfort that we enjoy would not be possible without your industry and it would not possible without the work that you do.

5. I am glad that Singaporeans are also interested in our maritime’s history and our maritime profession. Last year, we had the Singapore Maritime Week, and many people came forward because they were interested in what you do, they are interested in our maritime history. And we had something called the Singapore Maritime Trails which were also well received, in fact it was over-subscribed because many Singaporeans, including young Singaporeans, are interested in the work that you do.

6. So for more than 50 years of Singapore’s history, the maritime industry has played an important role, I am sure you will continue to play that pivotal role for Singapore, as we go forward in next 50 years. Through your work, you have enabled our country to prosper and progress. In this regard all of you, and SMOU in particular, have already given Singaporeans a big ang bao.
   

SMOU renders support to its member and our community

7. I am also heartened that SMOU not only contributes to the economy, but you are finding ways to give back to the community. You are helping your members in training and development. You are also looking at how to reach out to benefit the community and to give back to our society. So as mentioned just now, in our midst, there is a group of Singaporeans from SMOU’s adopted charity Henderson Home, I am glad you are here to join us for this lunch. And I know that SMOU is also reaching out to seniors from other homes through a Chinese New Year celebration later this week.

8. It is very heartening to hear just now from our Young SMOU Chair that the outreach you’re doing is not amongst your elderly members, but the Young SMOU members are also taking the lead. So the younger members are also stepping forward to contribute, to give back to our community. I understand Young SMOU makes it a point to organise regular outings with the elderly at the Henderson Home. They are raising funds, not just to give ang baos senior citizens, but they are also spending time with the elderly. In many ways, this is more difficult to do. Raising funds is one thing but to spend time to provide a listening ear, and the elderly appreciate this very much. So we want to thank the Young SMOU for all their efforts, I think we should give them a round of applause to encourage them.
   

Conclusion

9. Finally in closing, we know this year is an important year for all of us, we are celebrating Singapore’s 50th birthday. There are many things that are happening throughout the year. We have just started and there will be many more activities happening, taking place in the year. I would encourage SMOU to do its part: participate actively in the SG50 Celebrations or find ways that you can do something among your own members to celebrate SG50 in your own way. SMOU is actually older than Singapore. This year, SMOU is 64 years old and next year you celebrate your 65th birthday. So you have a rich and proud history as a union, as an industry, as a profession. I am sure you will celebrate a lot of things you have achieved this year as part of SG50, but next year will be an even more significant milestone for you as your union steps into its 65th anniversary. There is a lot we have achieved and there is much more we can do together. So let us look forward to many more good years. I wish you all the very best as you venture forward. And once again, let me wish you good health, happiness and best wishes for the New Year. Thank you very much.