A tapestry of Singapore’s multicultural legacy

Speech by Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Trade and Industry, At “12 Family Histories: A Tapestry of Singapore’s Multi-Cultural Legacy” on 23 Sep 2023

Introduction

1. Good afternoon. It is with great delight that I join you today for the launch of the book “12 Family Histories: A tapestry of Singapore’s multi-cultural legacy”. This is really a tapestry of Singapore’s multicultural legacy, published jointly by Genealogy Society Singapore as well as the Goh Loo Club.
2. The family histories of individual Singaporeans really are important, and contribute to the depth of our social understanding and the richness of our society. This is a very important milestone because it is truly something multiracial and multicultural. These narratives reveal intricate details of past social and family contexts that may not be readily found in our official records but actually form an integral and irreplaceable part of our shared Singapore heritage.
3. The 12 families featured in this book come from various ethnic groups and diverse backgrounds. The stories delve into the lives of their ancestors, uncovering where their forefathers came from, why they came to Singapore, and how they lived. It is stories like these that will really come alive and as we impart this to our children, it reminds us to be grateful for what we have. It also reminds us to also be grateful for our forefathers’, our grandparents', and parents’ contributions to Singapore.
4. When we reflect on history, we often focus on the “big picture” and often on “big personalities” – what nations and national leaders did. Of course, that is important as our history lesson, but we all agree that the history of our country has been equally shaped by the stories of ordinary men and women. In fact, I dare say that the people on the streets are extraordinary men and women. It is these stories that really offer us precious glimpses into the lives led by our ancestors through their personal and family stories, portraits, and photographs. Photographs are very revealing – the kids will realise this, and all these records and visuals really help humanise our history, providing valuable insights into the experiences and contributions of those who came before us. We are really who we are because they walked the journey for us.
5. These stories not only reveal the diverse range of experiences among our people but also highlight our common threads. Around us are Malays, Indians, Eurasians and Chinese – but we are all Singaporeans. In this wonderfully diverse society, our shared heritage plays a vital role in bridging differences and fostering understanding. Having the twelve family stories compiled in a single book is particularly valuable as it paints a vivid picture of the rich social tapestry and histories that have shaped the Singapore of today.
6. Beyond the hardcopy, the book also comes in an e-book version. After receiving the book today, we are counting on each and every one of you to share the copy with more people and let more younger Singaporeans know, understand the history and where we all came from.
7. A big thank you to Mr Ng Yew Kang with the Genealogy Society Singapore and Mr Daniel Teo with his team at Goh Loo Club for your hard work and generous support in documenting our heritage and making it come alive. Your dedication has really helped deepen our appreciation of Singapore’s diversity, legacy and values that we hold dear. Your work has contributed much to fostering mutual understanding and unity in our community.
8. On behalf of MCCY and NHB, we want to extend a heartiest congratulations to Mr Ng Yew Kang, Mr Daniel Teo, our 12 authors and the publisher on the launch of this book.
9. Thank you.