A rich, diverse heritage shaped by interactions

On the eve of Chinese New Year, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sim Ann shares with Andrea Ong what it means to be a Chinese Singaporean today. She heads the Bicultural Taskforce, a group of People's Action Party MPs exploring new ways for the Government to engage the Chinese community more effectively

The Straits Times, 9 Feb 2013

What do you think it means to be Chinese Singaporean in this day and age?

There definitely is a Chinese Singaporean identity. It's not so easy to define, but the way I see it, it's a rich and diverse heritage shaped predominantly by pre-Independence immigration patterns.

For most of the Chinese Singaporeans here, our forefathers were from the southern provinces. Our origins influence the way we speak, the things we eat and also our outlook. Most of our forefathers had very humble beginnings in Singapore. That imparts a certain flavour to our identity - very down to earth, very practical. We look at the world with the eyes of working men and women.

There are also other interesting elements. Those who arrived in Singapore the earliest had to change a lot to adapt. So you also have groups within the Chinese community whose forefathers adapted very well to colonial society and underwent English education, such that these families were very close to the Western mould in their outlooks and practices. Then you also have another group, the Straits Chinese, with their own unique heritage.

It's hard to pin down what it means to be Chinese in Singapore. But I see it as a rich tapestry of experiences and complex human interactions which reflects the fact that Singapore was and still is a crossroads for East and West.

How have Chinese Singaporean culture and traditions evolved over the years?

We've preserved quite a fair bit of customs and traditions. I think many people have this experience. They don't realise just how traditional they themselves or their family members are until they get married. That's when it all hits you, my goodness, you have to prepare all these gifts and auspicious items. Family members who may never have professed any interest in traditional culture may suddenly insist that you must look at the almanac for wedding dates.

So I would say that some of these elements run quite deep in our DNA and they will surface at various milestones in our lives.

Has there been an erosion in Chinese Singaporean identity?

There is definitely growth and change. I think it is constantly evolving. But whether there is erosion depends on your perspective. I notice that quite a number of young people are quite interested in issues regarding personal and group identity. As long as there is that interest, I can't really see that people will lose touch with their roots.

What would you say to the Chinese-educated members of the older generation who may be concerned that traditional Chinese values and language are fading?

This is a group of community stakeholders whom I respect very much. I understand where they are coming from. It is a noble aspiration to see a society where many are able to achieve a strong grasp of their mother tongue. Let's keep at it and work at it, but at the same time recognise and celebrate the diversity within the Singapore Chinese community.

The language environment has also become more complex. I have been noticing a number of what I call latent Chinese speakers. I think over time we will see more of them. These are students who went through 10 years of Chinese lessons in our schools. They may feel they didn't learn very much or resisted learning, but as chance brings them into contact with Chinese-speaking environments, like if they are posted to work in China, they find it's not that difficult to pick it up again and plug into the environment.

How has the Chinese Singaporean identity been affected by globalisation and Westernisation?

This is actually where the larger Singapore identity becomes important. Our dedication to honesty, hard work, thrift, teamwork, multiracial harmony - these are all very important values that define not just Chinese Singaporeans but also Singaporeans as a whole.

Singaporeans exposed to forces of globalisation also realise that it's not about becoming like someone else. We have to retain our own uniqueness and distinctiveness in order to stand out.

Why do some Singaporeans still feel a sense of unease towards the mainland Chinese?There are clear differences in terms of habits between local-borns and newcomers. My own sense is that where our people most feel a sense of difference is, say, the volume at which people speak and hearing unfamiliar accents. It also matters how quickly the newcomers pick up local habits like queueing at a respectable distance behind someone at the ATM for instance.

Because these are visible differences, they can sometimes also be the quickest to cause misunderstanding and offence.

What can be done to bridge the gap between the local and mainland Chinese?

The pace of bringing in newcomers cannot be faster than society's ability to digest the change. Communication and interaction are also key. I encourage Singaporeans to speak up if you feel that someone is invading your space or if you feel that someone is doing something, which if he or she changed it, would make both of you a lot more comfortable.

For the newcomers, they really need to understand us. Some of them come thinking that all Chinese Singaporeans speak Mandarin. Clearly that's not the case, and that's something many of them grapple with only when they arrive. Having an open mind and being prepared to adjust expectations are very important.

Have Chinese Singaporeans been doing enough to integrate with the other races?

I think Singaporeans have been very forthcoming and friendly on the whole. What always remains important in Singapore is to maintain the common space and not let it shrink. As long as there is enough common space in schools, in the workplace, in the community, in national service, then the dynamics will work themselves out over time.

Does religion have an impact on Chinese Singaporean identity?

I see cultural and religious identities as overlapping, so I would hesitate to say that any changes in religious affiliation would have a very clear impact on cultural identity.

I've been to many Taoist festivals celebrating deities' birthdays. I find them all fascinating because every deity has a different story and the kind of human bonds that keep a temple going are very interesting facets of society.

But if I were to interact with Chinese churchgoers, I also find that many of them have their own sense of identity. Some churches have very well-developed Chinese services and they go to great lengths to translate and even compose original hymns in Chinese.

How do you celebrate Chinese New Year and has it changed?

The way I celebrate Chinese New Year has pretty much remained the same. My family has distilled it to the two really important customs, the reunion dinner and the visiting. For the dinner, my mother, who is the chief cook of the family, will usually outdo herself. As part of her Chinese Singaporean identity, she is a very eclectic cook, so on her table you would find assam fish head curry next to char kway teow and sometimes prata. That's also part of the Singaporeanness that I enjoy, having a rojak dinner table.

In Bukit Timah (Ms Sim's ward), the MPs traditionally host a Chinese New Year open house on the second day for volunteers of all races. We did this in Dr Wang Kai Yuen's time, in Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon's time, and now I'm carrying on the tradition.