Philanthropy must evolve beyond clans: Tharman
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SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam says philanthropy has to evolve beyond giving within clans or ethnic groups to include all communities.
He was speaking at an event on Saturday to mark the 50th death anniversary of one of Singapore's foremost philanthropists, Tan Kah Kee.
Mr Tharman noted that Tan Kah Kee's spirit of philanthropy was influenced by the conditions of his time.
He said the immigrant groups had to fend for themselves during colonial rule and did not feel a sense of permanence in their adopted countries.
So, it was natural for the overseas Chinese to offer mutual help within the clan rather than contribute to the larger society.
But environments have changed, and Mr Tharman said the state is now in charge of redistributing wealth and needs to encourage others to contribute.
- CNA/ir -
philanderer?
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there is nothing wrong with current practice of philantrophy by clans
you cant help all, but you can help one
why not
Philanthropy must evolve beyond elites?
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Ee Hoe Hean Club
怡和轩俱�部
Colonial Singapore offered entrepreneurs various economic opportunities. Many Chinese migrants were able to build successful businesses and became very wealthy. As this group’s economic capital accumulated and as they emerged as a distinct group, new organizations were founded to serve its needs.One of these organizations was the Ee Hoe Hean club, 怡和轩俱ä¹�部 founded in 1895. It was a gathering place for leading Chinese businessman and a networking place for exploring new political ideas and social issues.
Its membership was opened to Chinese from any dialect group. This policy transcended the dialect and/or clan based social divide among the Chinese community at that time.
Ee Hoe Hean & society
As China went through various political crisis and internal chaos, overseas Chinese explored different ideas to solve China’s problems. Some of Ee Hoe Hean club’s members were in favor of political change and actively supported Sun Yat Sen's å™ä¸å±±plan to overthrow the Manchu government,满清皇æœ�. The Qing dynasty collapse in 1911 but China’s problems remained unresolved.
In 1925, Ee Hoe Hean Club shifted from its original location in Duxton Hill to Bukit Pasoh in Singapore Chinatown. The chairman of Ee Hoe Hean Club was Mr. Tan Kah Kee, 陈 嘉 庚. Mr. Tan Kah Kee’s chairmanship coincided with the Second Sino Japanese War that erupted between Japan and China in 1937.
In 1938, 170 overseas Chinese representatives from the region met to establish a regional body to co ordinate regional relief work to support China against Japanese advancement.
These delegates founded the Nanyang Federation of China Relief Fund, å�—æ´‹å�Žä¾¨ç¹èµˆç¥–国难民总会 and elected Mr. Tan Kah Kee as the chairman. The regional headquarter of China Relief Fund was located in Ee Hoe Hean Club.
As the chairman of China Relief Fund, Mr. Tan Kah Kee spent a lot of time in the Ee Hoe Hean office and eventually moved to live there. The Ee Hoe Hean was also used to host farewell ceremonies for Nanyang Volunteers, �侨技工leaving to serve on the Burma Road. Mr. Tan Kah Kee and China Relief fund leaders made speeches to encourage and to motivate these volunteers.
China Relief Fund was disbanded just before British Surrender on 15 February 1942. During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, the Ee Hoe Hean Club was used as an exclusive club for the Japanese Navy officers.
After the Japanese surrender in 1945, Ee Hoe Hean Club functioned as a social club again. It was involved in social and charity activities to serve the needs of post war Singapore. Politically, it championed citizenship rights and helped in voter’s registration. On 18 October 1995, Ee Hoe Hean Club was gazetted as a National Monument.
In 2006/7, the Ee Hoe Hean Club embarked on a restoration project. In 2008, plans were announced to built a hall, 先贤馆 dedicated to Chinese pioneers in Singapore.
On 25 June 2011, Ee hoe Hean was the starting point for a group of Malaysians and a few Singaporeans driving to Kunming in memory of Nanyang Volunteers.
Ee Hoe Hean 2006
Bt Pasoh, Singapore Chinatown
Ee Hoe Hean undergoing restoration (2007)
Speech by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister for Finance, at inauguration of the Ee Hoe Hean Building and the opening of the Pioneers' Memorial HallChu Lu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMUyz8AdfbU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy0zvLUDIdc&feature=related
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its meaningless saying it.
why dont the ministers donate their million dollar salary to other races as an example?
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Originally posted by dragg:
its meaningless saying it.
why dont the ministers donate their million dollar salary to other races as an example?
They already said.
Don't always depend on them everytime you have a problem.
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What nonsense...
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Singaporeans need to be more dependent on themselves.
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Why is it that certain government officials always like to question and push away clans or clan organizations or associations ?
This is the umpteenth time I have read things like this.
In the past also there were several speeches about "broadening" , "modernizing" , and so on etc.
It gives me the feeling that some government officials just have a certain kind of dislike, discomfort, of clan associations.
There has hardly been a positive, encouraging, and reaffirming speech.
It is always pushing and hectoring the associations to change, change, change. Change this and that.
What is wrong with it ?
Hasnt there been already enough charities bodies which are broad and diverse ?
What about NKF ?
Will a government official make a speech to NKF to "broaden itself" and not focus on just kidney patients, but also cancer patients, AIDS patients, autism patients ?
So why is it looked at as something that always need to be changed.
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Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
Why is it that certain government officials always like to question and push away clans or clan organizations or associations ?
This is the umpteenth time I have read things like this.
In the past also there were several speeches about "broadening" , "modernizing" , and so on etc.
It gives me the feeling that some government officials just have a certain kind of dislike, discomfort, of clan associations.
There has hardly been a positive, encouraging, and reaffirming speech.
It is always pushing and hectoring the associations to change, change, change. Change this and that.
What is wrong with it ?
Hasnt there been already enough charities bodies which are broad and diverse ?
What about NKF ?
Will a government official make a speech to NKF to "broaden itself" and not focus on just kidney patients, but also cancer patients, AIDS patients, autism patients ?
So why is it looked at as something that always need to be changed.
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Well, they need to appear once in awhile and say something nonsense...
I think making nonsense speeches is part of their KPI
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Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
Why is it that certain government officials always like to question and push away clans or clan organizations or associations ?
There has hardly been a positive, encouraging, and reaffirming speech.
It is always pushing and hectoring the associations to change, change, change. Change this and that.
Come mon, Veggie, you and I both know the real reason why there are elements in government that doesn't like chinese clans. Why never openly say it out loud?
When a minority rules over majority there will be these type of problems.
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Botak like other ministers only use their mouths to talk, who don't know! As leaders set good example to lead people to do so.
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Originally posted by Veggie Bao:
Why is it that certain government officials always like to question and push away clans or clan organizations or associations ?
This is the umpteenth time I have read things like this.
In the past also there were several speeches about "broadening" , "modernizing" , and so on etc.
It gives me the feeling that some government officials just have a certain kind of dislike, discomfort, of clan associations.
There has hardly been a positive, encouraging, and reaffirming speech.
It is always pushing and hectoring the associations to change, change, change. Change this and that.
What is wrong with it ?
Hasnt there been already enough charities bodies which are broad and diverse ?
What about NKF ?
Will a government official make a speech to NKF to "broaden itself" and not focus on just kidney patients, but also cancer patients, AIDS patients, autism patients ?
So why is it looked at as something that always need to be changed.
They are bias and probably at the same time feel threaten by the many clans existing.
Actually they are the ones who need to be changed.
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Why botak tharman never talk about Ghandi foundation only focus on Tan Kah Kee make Tan Kah Kee looks so "selfish". If he does not want to help by donating to the society no point to point at others, makes himself so bitchy.
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And... upgrading of HDB precincts? How, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
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Originally posted by mancha:
And... upgrading of HDB precincts? How, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Huh?
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Originally posted by charlize:
Huh?
Mr Tharman is asking the clans ethnic groups not to think within their ranks only but to include the whole community.
How does the PAP dish out upgrading projects? Do they apply what Mr Tharman is calling for?
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Hmmm. a bit lost.. haha..