Speeches

Launch of singapore creates

Speech by RAdm (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State for Education and Information, Communications and the Arts at open field next to Pasir Ris MRT Station on 2 August 2008 at 1000 hrs.

SPEECH BY RADM (NS) LUI TUCK YEW
SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR EDUCATION AND
INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS
AT THE LAUNCH OF SINGAPORECREATES 2008
SATURDAY 2 AUGUST 2008, 10 AM
OPEN FIELD NEXT TO PASIR RIS MRT STATION


RAdm Sim Gim Guan, Deputy Secretary, MICA
Mr Loh Ngai Seng, Deputy Secretary (Policy), MOE
Ladies and Gentlemen
Boys and Girls
Good morning

  1. I am delighted to join you this morning at the launch of SingaporeCreates.  To me, this is a very special endeavour, as it seeks to motivate our students to actively think through what it means to be Singaporean, how they believe they can contribute to Singapore’s future, and the best way to express it through art.  Indeed, the title ‘SingaporeCreates’ says it all – that the students are recreating the old, generating something new, and saying what they believe the Singapore Spirit encompasses.

  2. This launch also ties in nicely with the theme for this year’s National Day Parade – ‘Celebrating the Singapore Spirit’.  Next Saturday, we celebrate 43 years of independence.  When we first became independent in 1965, many had thought that we could not survive on our own.  But we defied the odds and have developed a vibrant economy, provided good education for our children, and built comfortable and affordable homes for Singaporeans.All this did not come about by a stroke of luck or good fortune, but because of hard work and our determination to succeed.  It is the Singapore Spirit that has sustained us so far on our journey of 43 years.  It is this spirit that has stitched our social fabric in harmony, united us in adversity and propelled us to what we are today.

  3. All this did not come about by a stroke of luck or good fortune, but because of hard work and our determination to succeed.  It is the Singapore Spirit that has sustained us so far on our journey of 43 years.  It is this spirit that has stitched our social fabric in harmony, united us in adversity and propelled us to what we are today.

    Celebrating the Singapore Spirit
  4. Yet, the Singapore Spirit means different things to each of us, as can be seen in the range of very impressive art works produced by our students.  A number of them included some of Singapore’s favorite physical icons – Changi Airport, the Merlion and the Esplanade.  Others felt that the Singapore Spirit could not be captured with just one icon and featured a montage of various elements – National Day, Racial Harmony Day, living in HDB flats.  Yet others celebrated new developments like the Singapore Flyer and the first F1 night race.  A number chose to focus on facets of life in Singapore such as the Karung Guni man and blue-collar workers.  The Singapore Spirit is really an amalgation of all these and more.  It is our shared experiences, our common history, and our future that binds us all as one people.

  5. Out of over 400 students who participated, some 80 students who produced the most promising work, were selected to participate in two workshops at the School of the Arts.  They received guidance from professional designers to turn their ideas into designs for buses, bus-stops, MRT stations, trains and Caltex service stations.  Jayson and Justin Wong, two brothers from Pathlight School, are among those who participated in the workshop.  Their works culminated in a display of the bright lights and colourful fire-works of the National Day Parade!  The best efforts from all the students have been realised and you will see them showcased at Somerset MRT Station, an MRT train, bendy buses, bus shelters and Caltex service stations over the August – September period.

  6. Looking at the outstanding designs, I am particularly happy to see that our students have shown their creative spark in conceptualizing these ideas, and  turning them into actual designs.  I hope that the students who have participated in the process have all learnt from their experiences, and enjoyed the process of transforming their ideas into designs.

    Acknowledgements
  7. At the same time, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the teachers, who provided inspiration, guidance and support for their participating students.  To quote the students of Westgrove Primary School, “Without teachers, there will not be leaders of the future”.  To all the teachers who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, I am sure you must be very proud to see the results of your commitment and dedication to educating our students.

  8. Let me also thank the participating companies, including SMRT Corporation, SMRT Media, JC Decaux and Caltex.  You have helped to provide a public arena to display the efforts of our young students.  This gives them room to showcase their talents, and will help them to gain confidence in themselves and their art works.

  9. On a broader level, your participation has helped to engage our young in contributing to the next chapter of the Singapore Story.  By involving the students in this project, we have connected with them emotionally and intellectually, and helped to create in them, a desire to play their part in charting Singapore's future.  Given the growing opportunities for Singaporeans to live, work and study abroad, it is especially important for the youths to appreciate and love Singapore - so that they will regard Singapore as their home no matter how far they journey and how long they are away. 

Thank you.

 

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