Idea Transcript
Singapore Government Press Release Media Relations Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, MICA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369 Tel: 6837-9666 SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT THE OPENING OF THE MALAY HERITAGE CENTRE ON SAT, 4 JUN 2005, 5.05 P.M. Mr Ridzwan Dzafir, Chairman of the Malay Heritage Foundation, Ladies and gentlemen 1. I am happy to be here this evening to mark an important milestone in the history of the Malay community in Singapore. Let me say a few words in Malay first, before continuing the rest of my speech in English. MESSAGE IN MALAY 2. Setiap kaum harus mengetahui, memahami dan mendalami asal-usul masyarakat mereka. Anda boleh menjadikan Taman Warisan Melayu ini wadah yang baik untuk masyarakat Melayu lebih mendalami pengetahuan tentang asal-usul dan warisan mereka, dan berkongsi dengan semua rakyat Singapura tentang warisan anda. Bagi rakyat muda Singapura yang hidup dalam era Singapura moden, ini merupakan satu wadah yang penting. Penting bagi mereka mengetahui dan memahami bagaimana nenek-moyang mereka hidup pada zaman silam, tentang sejarah mereka yang gemilang dan menarek serta nilai-nilai yang mengeratkan hubungan masyarakat mereka. Dengan mendalami dan memahami asal-usul masyarakat kita sendiri, kita dapat lebih memperkuatkan lagi keyakinan sebagai sebuah masyarakat. Dan memahami serta menghargai warisan masyarakat-masyarakat lain, membantu membina masyarakat yang lebih teguh. Warisan anda adalah warisan kita semua – warisan Singapura. 3. Masyarakat Melayu Singapura harus berbangga dengan tertubuhnya Taman Warisan Melayu ini. Setiap anggota masyarakat Melayu Singapura mempunyai kepentingan memastikan kejayaan Taman Warisan Melayu. Mari kita bersama memberi sokongan padu untuk menjayakan Taman Warisan Melayu agar ia menjadi ikon masyarakat Melayu Singapura. 4. It is important for each community to know their roots. Taman Warisan Melayu Centre is a useful platform for the Malay community to learn more about their roots, and share their heritage with all Singaporeans. This is especially important for our young, who grew up in a modern Singapore. They need to understand how their ancestors used to live, appreciate their rich and colourful history, and acquire the values which knit the community together. Understanding our own heritage can help us build our confidence as a community, and appreciating other communities’ heritages contribute to a stronger society. Your heritage is therefore also Singapore’s heritage. 5. The Malay community should be proud of the establishment of Taman Warisan Melayu. Every member of the Malay community has a stake in the success of Taman Warisan Melayu. Let’s give our solid support towards making the Centre an icon of the Malay community. INTRODUCTION 6. Singapore’s history is closely interlinked with Malay culture. Before the British arrived in 1819, Singapore was part of the Malay world comprising the Riaus and Johor. After Stamford Raffles landed, he signed treaties with Sultan Hussein Mohamed Shah of Johor and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, to establish Singapore as a trading post for the British East India Company. Kampong Glam was then established as Sultan Hussein’s residence, and the area around it allocated to Malays and other Muslims. 7. Singapore soon became a flourishing trading port, with vessels calling in from the region and as far as China, England and India. With economic growth and trade, and stronger linkages with the outside world, Malay culture flourished in Singapore. Many Malays, including respected scholars and teachers, came from Sumatra, Riaus and Malacca to settle here. By the early 1900’s, Singapore had become a centre for Islamic commerce, culture and art. The old Sultan Mosque had to be rebuilt and expanded into today’s iconic monument of Singapore. 8. It is therefore befitting that we have transformed the two historic buildings – the former residence of the Sultan Hussein Shah and the Gedung Kuning – into a beautiful heritage centre that showcases the rich arts and cultural traditions of the Malay community. The community has worked very hard to bring this about. It is an achievement to be proud of. NEXT PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT 9. But hardware development is just the first phase. To make the Centre successful, the Malay community will need to press on with the next phase – software development. 10. Ultimately, it is the intangibles that will give life to the Centre. There has to be an attractive product mix, interesting exhibits, engaging activities, performances, forums, entertainment and leisure, that will bring buzz to the area. The young and old, Malays and non-Malays, Singaporeans and foreigners, must want to come to learn, to see, to eat, or simply to soak in the atmosphere. 11. The Centre has also established relationships with performing arts and cultural bodies in the region. These are steps in the right direction. 12. Besides software development, another challenge is to ensure that the Centre is financially sustainable. The Government has undertaken the cost of restoration and development. From here on, the Centre must cover its own operations and maintenance costs. The Centre recognizes this, and has taken a practical, commercial approach to running its facilities, but without losing its distinctive Malay flavour. The transform ation of the Gedung Kuning into a lively Tepak Sireh Restaurant, is a good example. The Centre has also started to fundraise. It will be working hard to raise funds to benefit from the dollar-for-dollar matching grant from Government of up to $2 million. 13. I therefore call on the Malay community to take ownership of the Centre, tackle these challenges, and make this project a success. The Centre is a cultural anchor point for the community. Make this a place where the intellectual, cultural and artistic activities of our Malay community in Singapore can thrive, and a place where your roots, history and cultural tradition are showcased and celebrated. 14. Just like in the earlier era, the more outward looking Singapore is and the more we are linked up with the outside world, the more we will be a cultural hub, with a vibrant exchange of people, knowledge and ideas. We are strengthening our partnership with our Southeast Asian neighbours, including forging closer people to people ties with Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. We are also establishing new linkages with the countries in the Middle East. Our Malay community should seize these opportunities. A CENTRE FOR ALL SINGAPOREANS 15. In developing this Heritage Centre, the Malay community can count on the support of all Singaporeans. Our ethnic cultures, and in particular the rich Malay culture, are an integral part of our national identity and way of life. 16. Singaporeans want to see the Malay Heritage Centre succeed. That is why the Centre has received support from the other communities. The Lee Foundation and the Sun Yat Sen Villa Memorial Hall have contributed towards a bust of Zubir Said, which was commissioned in Guangzhou, China. The NUS Centre for the Arts has also donated Malay orchestra instruments which would support keroncong, ghazal, asli and dondang sayang music. Many more Singaporeans will support the Centre by visiting it, and enjoying its activities. 17. The Government too, is committed to support the efforts of the different communities to preserve our heritage. That is why over the past 15 years, we have actively set up arts and heritage infrastructures, to help Singaporeans celebrate each community’s cultural diversity while continuing to build our own multi-racial, multi-cultural identity. Knowing and strengthening our roots is key to our survival as a nation. As a young country, our identity must be drawn from the rich cultures and histories of our various ethnic groups. Over time, by sharing experiences and going through ups and downs together, we enlarge our common ground and strengthen our sense of belonging to Singapore. CONCLUSION 18. Finally, let me congratulate Mr Ridzwan Dzafir and all the members of his team, who over the past six years have provided able leadership, overseeing the restoration and development works of the Centre. I also wish to thank the Malay Heritage Foundation, the two working Committees and several Sub-Committees, for taking up the challenge, and the many Singaporeans who have lent a hand, one way or another to this project. 19. It is now my pleasure to declare the Malay Heritage Centre open. ###