MP Inderjit Singh urges Sikh graduates to contribute to wider Singapore society

Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh’s message to Sikh graduates is clear – carry on the good work on the earlier generations of Sikhs and continue to contribute to the Singapore society. Mr Inderjit made these comments in his address to 25 Sikh graduates in a networking tea reception organised by Young Sikh Association (Singapore) and the Sikh Centre.

Speaking to more than 100 guests, Mr Inderjit said, “The Singapore government has done well to protect the space of the minorities. This is has been the result of an enlightened policy and the fact of the earlier generation of Sikhs seized the opportunity to fill the space that was created for the community. After all, all the space in the world does not matter if the community is bent on isolating itself from the other communities, not being constructive and not contributing to the betterment of the country.”

He added that, in order for the Sikh community to contribute to the wider Singaporean community, it must also remain vibrant. He stated that, “If the community has nothing of value to showcase, then we bring nothing special to the common table. What this means is that the Sikh community needs to keep its community strong, uphold its traditions and culture, keep its language alive and in use, and its values intact”. He cited the example of the Sikh temples and Sikh institutions such as the Sikh Education Foundation, the Sikh Welfare Council and Young Sikh Association (Singapore) which have done well to promote the religion, education, culture and sports among the Sikhs.

Mr Malminderjit Singh, who received his Master of Science from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies this year, stated that, “We can see societies in many countries being fragmented because different ethnic groups do their own thing. We cannot let that happen in Singapore. Young Sikhs, like other youths, have a part to play in Singapore’s development and growth.”