(From left) Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) President Chua Thian Poh, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, ESM Goh Chok Tong and Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) Chairman Teo Siong Seng launched the new books together.
On 21 November 2011, the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI) collaborated to host the Tribute Dinner in honour of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and Emeritus Senior Minister (ESM) Goh Chok Tong at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre’s second-floor ballroom.
A thousand people were present at the tribute dinner, with 120 tables set up. The main organisers, SFCCA and SCCCI, co-published two special book releases, 《李光耀与华社 (Lee Kuan Yew and the Chinese Community)》and 《吴作栋与华社(Goh Chok Tong and the Chinese Community)》to honour both of Singapore’s former Prime Ministers to the highest degree.
The books documented Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong’s contributions and dedication to the Chinese community, as well as the suggestions they have for the development of Chinese society.
The tribute dinner was also attended by Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (MHA) Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong, and many other Members of Parliament.
Lee Kuan Yew: The New Challenges faced by SFCCA in the 21st Century
During the tribute dinner, Lee Kuan Yew touched on the diminishing number of young people who can speak dialects. He emphasised the need for local federations and clan associations, especially those dedicated to specific dialect groups, to continually evolve and ensure that the dialects remain relevant in the 21st century. Lee Kuan Yew also urged SFCCA and SCCCI to reconsider the roles they wish to play in society. Rather than limiting their focus to supporting their respective communities, they should extend their support to new immigrants from Guangdong, Fujian, or Shanghai in Singapore. This includes helping them grasp the English language and facilitating better integration into our society, given that English is Singapore’s common working language.
Lee Kuan Yew suggested that SFCCA and SCCCI collaborate with the Government to organise two to three English lessons per week at various community centres and clubs island wide for new migrants. This initiative aims to equip them with basic English proficiency for effective communication.
Goh Chok Tong: Lee Kuan Yew is the best political mentor
In his message, ESM Goh Chok Tong expressed special thanks to Lee Kuan Yew, whom he described as his best political mentor. Following the handover to Goh Chok Tong, Lee Kuan Yew regularly met with him to discuss domestic politics, party affairs, diplomatic issues, and challenges related to the promotion of renewed leadership, in addition to attending cabinet meetings. Goh expressed that without Lee’s guidance, he might not have succeeded.
During his speech, Goh Chok Tong openly admitted that his initial preference was to become an academic scholar, never contemplating a career in politics. However, he felt a sense of duty to give back to society after benefiting from the system with a government stipend for his university education. This sense of responsibility ultimately motivated him to enter politics later in life.
In addition to expressing gratitude to the first-generation leaders for their guidance, Goh Chok Tong extended his thanks to SFCCA and SCCCI for their support during his term of service. He emphasised his hope to see Singaporeans working together with the Government to continue overcoming various challenges in the future.
Expressing the highest respect from the Chinese community
In his speech at the tribute dinner, President Chua Thian Poh mentioned that the SFCCA and SCCCI jointly held the dinner for 1,000 guests to express the highest form of respect the Chinese clans have for the two national leaders who have made outstanding contributions since Singapore’s independence.
President Chua stated that after the General Election in 2011, the two Senior Ministers stepped down from their posts and the cabinet. This decision aimed to create more opportunities for the younger generation of leaders to showcase their talents, reflecting the nobility and open-mindedness of these politicians.
He underscored that both Senior Ministers have maintained close ties with Chinese societies since Singapore’s founding. They consistently demonstrated care for these societies and actively promoted the development of clans. Throughout different historical eras, both of them delivered numerous important speeches addressing Chinese businessmen, Chinese societies, Chinese traditions, and Chinese traditional culture. They also implemented corresponding measures, such as sustaining the Speak Mandarin Campaign and fostering the development of organisations such as SFCCA, Chinese Development Assistance Council, as well as Business China. All of these initiatives have had a lasting impact on Chinese societies.
