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[h=2]ESM Goh: S’poreans should help new citizens integrate[/h]
August 31st, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
ESM Goh Chok Tong
Speaking at the national citizenship ceremony today (31 Aug), Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said that integration between new citizens and Singaporeans is important for building the “best home for all of us together”.
While he urged new citizens to take the initiative to involve themselves in the community, he said that Singaporeans should also do their part to help new citizens integrate and adjust to their new home.
At the ceremony, 137 new citizens received their Singapore citizenship certificates. Mr Goh told them that they need to shoulder the obligations and responsibilities of being a Singaporean even as they enjoy the benefits and privileges.
He said they now share a common future with other fellow Singaporeans.
He encouraged them to consider how they can, as part of the Singapore family, build a better home by caring for and strengthening the relationships between the people living in the home i.e. Singaporeans.
He asked the new citizens to reach out to fellow Singaporeans who are likely to appreciate the gesture and reciprocate.
Mr Goh said that new citizens can play a part by volunteering with grassroots organizations i.e. organizations linked to the People’s Association (PA).
In Singapore, RCs, CCCs (citizens’ consultative committees), and CCs (community clubs) are all grassroots organizations that come under the purview of PA, a statutory board funded by taxpayers’ money, which is tasked to take care of all the grassroots activities in Singapore.
The relationship between PA and PAP is a close one. The chairman of PA is none other than the PM himself, who is also the Secretary-General of PAP.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said that the PRCs have been sending teams of officials from China to study Singapore for years. He told of a lesson the Chinese learnt, “They discover that the People’s Action Party has only a small office in Bedok. But everywhere they go, they see the PAP – in the RCs, CCCs and CCs.”
About 3,600 other new citizens will also be affirming their commitment to Singapore at 13 GRC-level ceremonies across Singapore this weekend.
Speaking at the national citizenship ceremony today (31 Aug), Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said that integration between new citizens and Singaporeans is important for building the “best home for all of us together”.
While he urged new citizens to take the initiative to involve themselves in the community, he said that Singaporeans should also do their part to help new citizens integrate and adjust to their new home.
At the ceremony, 137 new citizens received their Singapore citizenship certificates. Mr Goh told them that they need to shoulder the obligations and responsibilities of being a Singaporean even as they enjoy the benefits and privileges.
He said they now share a common future with other fellow Singaporeans.
He encouraged them to consider how they can, as part of the Singapore family, build a better home by caring for and strengthening the relationships between the people living in the home i.e. Singaporeans.
He asked the new citizens to reach out to fellow Singaporeans who are likely to appreciate the gesture and reciprocate.
Mr Goh said that new citizens can play a part by volunteering with grassroots organizations i.e. organizations linked to the People’s Association (PA).
In Singapore, RCs, CCCs (citizens’ consultative committees), and CCs (community clubs) are all grassroots organizations that come under the purview of PA, a statutory board funded by taxpayers’ money, which is tasked to take care of all the grassroots activities in Singapore.
The relationship between PA and PAP is a close one. The chairman of PA is none other than the PM himself, who is also the Secretary-General of PAP.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said that the PRCs have been sending teams of officials from China to study Singapore for years. He told of a lesson the Chinese learnt, “They discover that the People’s Action Party has only a small office in Bedok. But everywhere they go, they see the PAP – in the RCs, CCCs and CCs.”
About 3,600 other new citizens will also be affirming their commitment to Singapore at 13 GRC-level ceremonies across Singapore this weekend.
