Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts, 36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963. Tel: 3757794/5

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SPEECH BY MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT THE DINNER TO CELEBRATE "NAVROZE" (ZOROASTRIAN NEW YEAR) FRIDAY, 21 MARCH 1997, 8.30 PM BUNKER ROOM, SINGAPORE ISLAND COUNTRY CLUB

Good evening

Mr Cyrus Bagwadia, President, Parsi Association

Members of the Managing Committee

Ladies and Gentlemen

My wife and I are very happy to be here for tonight's dinner organised by the Parsi Association in celebration of the Zoroastrian New Year, "Navroze".

I understand from the Association that the estimated number of Parsees in the world today is about 150,000. In Singapore, there are only about 150 Parsees or 0.1% of the total Parsee population. But despite this, your community has produced a number of outstanding individuals who have made contributions to Singapore society which far overshadow your fewness in number. One of these was the late Mr Cursetjee Framjee, who in the last century, was a founding partner of Little Cursetjee & Co, which later became the present John Littles & Co, now a subsidiary of Robinsons. Another prominent Parsi was the late Mr Navroji Mistri, who started the Phoenix Aerated Water Company. When he died, he willed money for tuberculosis research, as well as for the building of a children's ward, named the Mistri Wing, in the then Outram Road General Hospital.

When I accepted the invitation to this event, I must confess that I knew very little about the Parsees or of your faith. So I asked for information about your community to help me prepare for this brief speech. I now have a modest knowledge and better appreciation of your history and way of life. And I am glad for this opportunity to learn more about you and your faith.

If there is any lesson to be learnt from this, it is that ignorance is an obstacle to understanding and appreciation. This is particularly crucial to issues relating to race and religion in our multi-racial and multi-religious society. Knowledge can, but does not necessarily mean, agreement. But it at least fills in the vacuum called "ignorance" with proper and correct information rather than leaving that vacuum to be filled with speculation, assumptions and misperception which create a fertile ground for stereotypes, prejudices and suspicion.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Parsi Association for its efforts in preserving your unique culture and heritage as well as bonding the community together. Tonight's dinner is just one example. Faced with your small numbers and Singapore's cosmopolitan nature and contacts with so many diverse cultures, it is indeed a challenging task to preserve your roots but at the same time be part of and contributor to Singapore.

When Mr Bagwadia wrote to one of my officials, he asked how the Parsi community could contribute more to Singapore and return a little of what the community has gained from living in Singapore. I admire this sentiment and how I wish every citizen in this country could feel the same way.

You could contribute further by enhancing our inter-racial and inter-religious harmony through example. You could continue to contribute through helping the less able and less fortunate within our society to improve or bring some cheer and comfort into their lives. My Ministry will be happy to work with you on projects which could achieve these objectives.

When the weak and needy are supported by fellow Singaporeans and the Government through a network of social services that are sensitive to their needs, only then can we be on our way to becoming a gracious, caring and compassionate society. I am pleased to know that the Parsi Association has been very active in providing various forms of assistance such as scholarships, not only to Parsi children residing in Singapore and Malaysia, but also to children from other communities. The Association also provides medical and housing benefits to their fellow needy Parsians. I am confident that the Association and the Parsi community will continue to contribute further in these areas.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Parsi Association and the community for inviting my wife and I to share your joy in celebrating Navroze this evening. May there be gaiety and laughter among you and your loved ones. I hope you have a pleasant evening.