Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Chairman, Mr Anthony Thng and Members of De La Salle’s Management Committee

Brother Michael Broughton, School Supervisor

Mr Loh Weng Kheong, School Superintendent of West 4

Mdm Vivienne Tan, Principal

Parents

Teachers and students of De La Salle

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is my pleasure to join you today for De La Salle School’s Racial Harmony Day Celebrations.

Racial Harmony Day is being celebrated by schools in Singapore today, to commemorate the outbreak of racial riots on this very day in 1964. Although it happened a long time ago, when none of the students here were born yet, it is still important for us to remember and never to forget those turbulent times. At that time, misunderstandings and unhappiness amongst the different races caused the breakdown of Singapore’s racial harmony. It brought our country to a standstill, and indeed, nearly cost us our very existence as a nation.

I was a teenager when racial riots broke out in Singapore in 1964. I was living in a shop-house, at where Funan Centre stands today. I still remember vividly the horror and fear that I felt, when I looked out my window, and saw the fighting between different racial groups just a short distance away from me. And I also remember the newspapers showing pictures of overturned cars and fires in several parts of Singapore. All these happened because troublemakers used race issues to stir up some parts of the population. As a result, some people started to view national issues according to their race.

Having lived through the racial riots, older Singaporeans understand the importance of racial peace and harmony. They know we must never allow the racial riots of 1964 to be ever repeated.

More than thirty years later, we still need to be constantly reminded of the importance of racial harmony. In Singapore, we have three main ethnic groups living side by side – the Chinese, the Malays and the Indians. The differences between the races are quite clear. From the colour of our skin, to our religions and culture, there are differences. Yet, all of us need to work and live together, as Singapore is the only place we can truly call our home.

For the students of De La Salle, you are young Singaporeans. With you lies the future of our country. All of you have an important part to play in safeguarding racial harmony. You must continue to treat equally well and befriend fellow students who belong to other races, and not make fun of those who are different. Learn to treat everyone equally regardless of colour, race or religion. Invite your friends to your homes when you celebrate festivals like Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali or Christmas, so that all of you will be able to learn, understand and appreciate each other’s cultures. All of us need to take racial harmony seriously, as we have seen how the slightest trigger could result in racial misunderstandings on a large scale.

Our schools too, can do more to emphasise the similarities the different races in Singapore share. As we are Asians, we share many similar customs and values. For example, our cultures emphasise respect for our elders and authority, and place importance on the family and education for our children. Efforts can be directed at enlarging these common grounds and forging stronger ties to bind us together as one people, rather than focusing our attention on where we are different.

I am glad that the need to emphasise our similarities has been present in De La Salle since the school was founded by the Christian Brothers in 1952. The Brothers of the La Salle order also set up other schools in Singapore like St Joseph’s Institution, St Patrick’s School, St Anthony’s Primary School, St Michael’s and St Stephen’s Schools. In setting up these schools, the aim of the Brothers’ has always been to provide affordable education to our boys, regardless of their race or religion.

In continuing the tradition of your founding fathers, De La Salle has been active in introducing new programmes to enable both parents and the community to be a part of the school’s activities. For example, the school set up a parent support group last year called ‘DLS PaCT’. Parents in the group play many roles, for example, organising events such as a stress management symposium, the school’s annual dinner and cultural and festive events. They have also been instrumental in other programmes such as the ‘reading mums’ programme, gardening, and even out-of-school activities which the students attend.

I urge more parents to join DLS PaCT, as your own children would be encouraged and take pride in your active participation in their school’s activities. The group can also be an opportunity for parents to share their experiences in bringing up their children. Currently, there are 55 parents in this parent support group. I hope that the school will be able to double the size of the group in a year’s time.

I am also encouraged that since De La Salle School moved to Choa Chu Kang in late 1997, the school has been active in getting the grassroots organisations involved in school activities, such as your Lantern Festival celebrations last year. I also commend the school for involving the community in today’s Racial Harmony Day activities.

As the next step, I hope that De La Salle will consider networking with other voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) in your vicinity, such as Family Service Centres (FSCs), Student Care Centres or even Day Care Centres for the Elderly. Networking with such VWOs will bring mutual benefits to the school and the VWOs. Students will have opportunities to work with the less privileged in the community, and learn important lessons such as sharing and caring for others. On the other hand, the school can tap on the professional staff of these VWOs to help run programmes at the school, such as counselling programmes by staff of FSCs or even joint activities with Student Care Centres.

It is only through such diverse links with the community that the school and your teachers and students will feel you are a part of the Yew Tee community. The school has to work doubly hard, having moved here less than four years ago, after having been in Kampong Bahru for more than 40 years. Nevertheless, I am sure that your efforts to integrate further with the community here will be welcomed and appreciated by the residents.

I wish all of you a very happy Racial Harmony Day. Thank you.

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