There has always been a strong sense of volunteerism in our history. Early immigrants to Singapore established clan associations to help other newcomers settle down, and find jobs and accommodation. Some of us will remember our mothers and relatives volunteering their time in the kitchens of Chinese and Indian temples during festive occasions. Muslim Singaporeans help the less fortunate through the "zakat", the obligatory contribution to share wealth with the poor.

There are also many modern-day stories of volunteerism. More than one hundred management committees of volunteers look after the Community Centres and Clubs (CCs). Many Singaporeans serve actively on the management boards of schools and welfare organisations.

Then there is this story about the mother of two teenage boys who set up Elias Park Junior Club, a football club, so that her sons and the boys in her neighbourhood could learn to play soccer from the professionals. The club now has over 100 members, professional coaches, and a vision of its own clubhouse that will be a second home to the boys. It is an excellent example of how the efforts of an active citizen can make a difference to the community.

The challenge for Singapore society will be to improve on the present level of community spirit. I spoke earlier this year about the work-place taking family time away from the individual. The competitive pressure of economic development that forces us to spend increasing hours at work will similarly reduce the time we have for the community. In a recent national survey on volunteerism, 74% of non-volunteers cited "no time" due to work and family commitments as their main reason for not volunteering. The New Economy too, in some ways, emphasises the values of individualism. Unless we make a conscious effort, our economic success could gradually erode the sense of empathy for the less fortunate among us, and lead to a colder, less caring society.

The same survey showed that only 9.3% of the Singapore population are current volunteers. (This figure excludes students involved in compulsory community involvement programmes and extra-curricular activities). In contrast, in Japan, one in every four persons is involved in community work. In the US, an impressive 56% of the people do volunteer work. Every natural disaster, such as floods, brings out armies of volunteers to pile up sandbags or distribute food. On a more routine, mundane level, Americans help out in soup kitchens, coach Little League, or clean the schools. We have a long way to go to catch up with these countries in developing a culture of community involvement.

An article in the Economist some years ago pointed out that in the 1830s, the tenuousness and distance of government in America required men to do many community jobs themselves. And that although the US government today has become all-embracing and creeping into every fissure of life, many Americans still like to think that they can help the community by their own efforts when the need arises. Perhaps this offers another explanation why the level of volunteerism in Singapore is far behind that in the US. The Singapore Government has taken active management of most aspects of society since independence. Over a generation, this might have taken away some of the impetus and motivation for community involvement. We will have to learn to devolve more responsibilities to the community level. This is what we have started to do through the Community Development Councils.

But the primary constraint to higher levels of volunteerism, I believe, is this rat race that many of us complain we are caught in. I can just hear the Singaporean complaining. The Government urges us every other day to enhance our competitiveness and go for re-training or risk losing our livelihood. Then it tells us to start a family. Now it wants us to get more involved in community work. How will I find the time?

I do not have the answer. It is for each of us to decide how we choose to allocate the 24 hours in a day. All I can do, as I have done before, is to urge you to find a meaningful balance between self, family and community.

Volunteerism promotes community bonding. When individuals from different walks of life get together for a charitable cause, a sense of fellowship and camaraderie develops. It strengthens the bonds within the community and facilitates the development of a gentle and gracious society. It builds a sense of belonging to the community. It helps build the people sector, and strengthens the Singapore Heartbeat. As others have observed, the moral test of any society is how it treats its weakest: children, elderly, sick, needy and handicapped. I could not agree more. The Government has a role in this. But so do the people.

For example, in this current debate about the widening income gap in Singapore, the focus so far has been on what the Government is doing to address the problem. I have said that the Government cannot artificially narrow the income gap, but will ensure that every Singaporean has an equal opportunity to rise to the top, and that we can put in place schemes to assist the needy in areas such as education, housing and healthcare. We can also enhance their assets. However, a more pertinent question to ask is what those of you who have benefited from the general increase in prosperity in Singapore have put back into society. The successful have the greatest moral responsibility to give back some of what society has allowed them to earn. They should do their part, and contribute some of their hours to helping the under-privileged. It is more than just money that is needed. The under-privileged and disabled need the warmth and encouragement of the able and better off.

To facilitate efforts to promote volunteerism in Singapore, the Government agreed in 1998 to fund the establishment of a new national institution, the National Volunteer Centre (NVC). The Government has also set up a Volunteer Development Grant for the NVC to fund new volunteer initiatives. The initial amount provided under the Grant stands at $600,000 annually, but can grow as the NVC develops more programmes. The NVC is not a statutory board. It is run by its own group of committee members, drawn from the public, private and people sectors. The Government is merely helping with funds.

The NVC will promote volunteerism as a way of life across all sectors and at all levels of society. It will try to entrench volunteerism in Singapore. One significant contribution the NVC can make is to encourage and help organisations to manage volunteers well. Volunteers, just like employees, need to be properly inducted, trained, and recognised for what they do. In the long run, with better management, organisations will be able to attract more volunteers.

Companies can play a significant part in making it possible for working adults to do volunteer work. Not surprisingly, working adults, faced with many demands on their time and energy, are under-represented among Singapore volunteers. Given that the average Singaporean will spend some 30 to 40 years working, the workplace is a major influence on his or her attitudes towards issues such as volunteerism.

I would like to encourage more companies to set up corporate community involvement programmes. They should follow the example of Ngee Ann Polytechnic which allocates time to staff to involve themselves and their families in community projects. BP, HSBC, Lucent Technologies, United Parcels, SIA, DBS, JTC, HDB and ITE are other examples of organisations that are engaged in corporate volunteering. By providing an avenue for those who wish to do something but may not really know how to begin, companies can be a catalyst for community involvement by the individual.

The other observation from the national survey is that only 17% of volunteers are retirees. I believe that there is scope for greater participation by retirees. They do not have the constraint of work. Their wealth of experience will be beneficial to the organisations they choose to assist. It would also be an excellent way of keeping their mind and body active, and remaining useful to the community at large.

I am cheered by the care and concern shown by many successful Singaporeans for the less fortunate. The latest group of Singapore Youth Award recipients is an example. They have volunteered their time and effort to help those in need even though they are in the midst of very exciting and demanding professional developments. But I hope to see more able and successful Singaporeans come forward and serve the community.

It gives me great pleasure to officially open the National Volunteer Centre. I wish it every success.