SPEECH BY MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT THE LAUNCH OF TOUCH COMMUNITY SERVICES' FAMILY FESTIVAL MONDAY, 26 MAY 1997, 12 NOON CALTEX HOUSE, CHANGE ALLEY

Good afternoon

Mr Lawrence Khong, Chairman, TOUCH Community Services

Mr Eugene Seow, Executive Director, TOUCH Community Services

Distinguished guests

Ladies & gentlemen

I am pleased to be here for the launch of Family Festival '97 organised by TOUCH Community Services. The idea of holding such a meaningful festival right in the heart of our Central Business District (CBD) and in this way is a very refreshing and innovative one. This festival serves as a timely reminder of the importance of our families amongst the business community in Shenton Way. It reminds us that life is not just about working and earning money. Our ability to work and earn a living is enhanced by a happy and fulfilled life which in turn is sustained by a strong and closely knit family.

A key factor of Singapore's success story is its people. There is no doubt that the hard work and commitment of our workforce have continued to attract investments into Singapore. As our economy prospers and as we work harder than before, we sometimes tend to overlook the pivotal role played by our families. Some of us may even neglect our families, giving the excuse that we are too caught up with our work or with entertaining business clients.

As good employers we should allow the family to be accommodated when we work out our tight schedules. In this respect, employers and those managers and supervisors should try to be more understanding and accommodating especially towards staff who have both children and elder parents to look after at home. The pressures exerted by both family and work can sometime be too overwhelming for some of us. Considerate and caring colleagues can make a lot of difference under such circumstances.

In Singapore, our families are still cohesive and tightly-knit, bound by values which our various communities hold and cherish. However, as our economy regionalises and globalises, coupled with the growing trend towards nuclear families and dual-working couples, the amount of time parents actually spend with their children is reduced considerably. This situation, if not monitored closely, may threaten or diminish the importance of the family in our society.

To ensure that Singaporeans are better able to cope with family life, my Ministry is currently working on an information booklet to be given free to Singaporeans, on issues relating to the family. The booklet covers pro-family schemes available and provides information on the family education programmes and resources for the family. I welcome views from Singaporeans on what they would like to see in the booklet.

I congratulate TOUCH Community Services for organising Family Festival with "The Working Family" as its theme. By staging this event in the CBD area, we bring the family right to the 'doorstep' of the working community. An info-bazaar has been set up at Change Alley to house representatives from the various community organisations, self-help groups, Government agencies and corporations to provide information on their services for the family. I hope that those of you working in this area will take a few minutes of your lunch break to stroll through the info-bazaar to pick up tips and tools which can further enhance the quality of your family life. Alternatively, you can also attend the half-hour lunch talks on family issues. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the CBD, let us remember our families and acknowledge its relevance to us as individuals and as a nation.

Next week will be the start of the mid-year school holidays, and it is apt that the organisers have chosen this week to launch this festival. No matter how busy we will be, we should remember to take some time off to spend with our children, to show them that we care for them and are concerned about them.

And now it is my pleasure to declare this Family Festival open.

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