Speech by Minister of State for Education, RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew at the Launch of Culture By The Bay on Friday 27th July at 10.30 am at Ngee Ann Auditorium, Asian Civilisations Museum

SPEECH BY MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION, RDM (NS) LUI TUCK YEW AT THE LAUNCH OF CULTURE BY THE BAY ON FRIDAY 27TH JULY AT 10.30 AM AT NGEE ANN AUDITORIUM, ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM

1. I am pleased to be here this morning to celebrate the launch of Culture by the Bay.

2. The rejuvenation of the Singapore River is synonymous with the development of this country. When I was your age, the Singapore River was very different. It was filthy, smelly and polluted because it served as the open sewers of Singapore. Cleaning up the Singapore River and its tributaries was a massive effort. We had to lay underground sewers for the whole island. We had to move backyard industries and resettle them in industrial estates. We had to change ingrained habits. Bumboats, lighters and barges had plied this river even before the founding of Singapore. Their workers lived, cooked and washed on these vessels and discharged their wastes overboard. They too had to be relocated. Likewise for street vendors with their pushcarts of cooked food and market produce. We phased out the pig farms because pig waste polluted our streams and farmers had to be resettled. It was a huge undertaking.

3. What we see around us is not the natural state of affairs and we must never take this for granted. It is the result of a great vision, meticulous planning and careful implementation, a can-do spirit and sheer hard work that has made this River and Singapore what they are today. We reap the fruits of that labour – a different quality of life, a sparkling city with apartments in place of shipyards, cafes, restaurants and skyscrapers in place of old warehouses, greenery in place of sludge and filth. Only those who are incurably nostalgic would yearn for those bygone sights and smells and yet, it is a segment of our history that is worth preserving, memories worth safeguarding. In part, it is to help each new generation trace the changes that were painstakingly wrought in order that all Singaporeans may have a better life

4. I started with this brief history of the Singapore River to also illustrate the point that every place, event or person has a story to tell. And these stories may not just be about famous people or events, but also about simple things in life, about how and why ordinary people came to Singapore, where they lived and how they earned a living, their hopes and dreams. Collectively, these stories become part of our history and heritage.

5. Imagine what would have happened if these stories had not been documented in the form of photographs, oral history recordings, journals and paintings. These stories would be gone as the people who knew them passed on. Story-telling and documenting past events add to our history and heritage. It does not take a specialist to do so. We can start by sharing memories of our experiences with families and friends or asking our parents and grandparents to recount their experiences. We can keep a diary, journal, a blog or even take snapshots to keep in albums or scrapbooks. All these will collectively become our personal story to be safeguarded for the future.

6. Many of us may have heard the saying “A picture paints a thousand words”. I would like to think that a picture also tells a thousand stories. When we look at a work of art, we often consider the colours, shapes and how the different elements of art are balanced. But it also tells us something about the artist, his values and beliefs, the environment he lived in, and the inspiration that spurred him to create that work. Seen in this light, art can also be used as a piece of historical evidence, to document history and to tell a story.

7. In this regard, I am heartened to see the collaboration between the National Heritage Board, the Ministry of Education and the National Day Parade Executive Committee 2007 to get students to draw or paint their interpretation of the story of the Singapore River. The students conducted research on the history of the river and used interpretative and language skills to explain their works. This is a good way of drawing on different disciplines to encourage thought and creativity. I am sure many of the 3,800 participants have benefited from this experience. This project is also an excellent way to engage young children and the youth to appreciate art, history and heritage, and through that, highlight the fact that heritage is living, interesting, and colourful. Through this project, the students have not only painted their image of the present Singapore River, but have also learnt about its past and how it has evolved over the years. It may have also inspired them to envision how the river will look like in the future. This is one way we can engage our young to play a part in contributing to the next chapter of the Singapore Story.

8. Hence, projects like Culture by the Bay are great opportunities for students to gain new experiences, acquire new knowledge, develop their social skills, and practise problem-solving and team work. All these contribute towards a holistic education to better prepare our young for the future. And as successes and pursuit for excellence must be tempered by a sense of who we are and where we belong, it is important for students to experience moments that bring them back to their roots so that they can better understand their cultural DNA.

9. Another highlight of Culture by the Bay is the Arts Fair that will be held over this weekend. I understand that the grounds of the Asian Civilisations Museum will be transformed into an open-air arts fair where budding and professional artists, designers and photographers will be conducting demonstrations and selling their works. This event will provide opportunities for our community of artists to be appreciated for their works. Such activities will also enliven the river banks and breathe new life and buzz into the arts and civic district.

10. I would like to thank the National Heritage Board, the National Day Parade Executive Committee 2007 and my colleagues from the Ministry of Education for organising this meaningful project. I also want to commend the organisers for including a category for the Special Education Students to recognise their talents and contributions to our society. Culture by the Bay will no doubt give Singaporeans a new experience as they celebrate National Day this year, adding colour and vibrancy to the river front and enhancing the experience of a walk along the river.

11. The theme for this year’s National Day Parade is “Celebrate Singapore: City of Possibilities”. Indeed, the possibilities are limited only by our own imagination. And in this City of Possibilities, everyone matters.