Lianhe Zaobao, along with Singapore, has weathered many storms.It has witnessed and chronicled the key events that shaped modern Singapore. Your history is intertwined with the history of Singapore. The Chinese newspapers under the Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) are among the longest surviving Chinese newspapers in the world. Lianhe Zaobao’s immediate predecessors were the two Chinese dailies, Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Jit Poh, founded in 1923 and 1929 respectively. Their origins reflect the very character and evolution of modernSingapore. Nanyang Siang Pau was started by rubber magnate, Tan Kah Kee, an eminent figure in the Hokkien-speaking community, our largest Chinese dialect group. Sin Chew Jit Poh was established by the Aw brothers who were influential figures in the Khek community.Both Tan Kah Kee and the Aw brothers were immigrants who worked hard to fulfil their dreams and sank roots in Singapore.

Today, Lianhe Zaobao is more than just a newspaper. It is a major Chinese intellectual and cultural institution and a key player in the Singapore society. The editorial approach and worldview of Lianhe Zaobao are different from the English newspapers. There are always nuances and subtle meanings between the lines and the absence of a mention can also be significant. A recent example illustrates this point. In July this year, at the DBS Bank’s 30^th anniversary gala dinner, I called on the business community to have faith in the Government’s leadership in tackling the economic crisis and said that recent criticisms of the Government’s off-budget measures were not helpful. Both Zaobao and Berita Harian highlighted the softer, more positive elements in my speech. Zaobao headlined its report, "Government can lead country to tide over economic difficulty" while Berita Harian said, "Have confidence in Government’s leadership". In contrast, both The Straits Times and The Business Times zeroed in on the critical aside, with the headline: "PM Goh raps off-budget critics" (ST) and "PM Goh hits back at gripes about off-budget measures" (BT). I raise this example not to compare the English newspapers unfavourably with Zaobao in their transmission of key messages, but to show that the editorial approach of our main newspapers is indeed different.

A study of the pages of Zaobao over a brief period reveals two key themes which are surfaced repeatedly as commentaries or reports – language and culture. Commentaries and reporting have touched on such concerns as the need for a Chinese Language Department to be established at NTU, the concerns of Nantah alumni and the welfare of Chinese language teachers in schools. The standard of Chinese language in schools and the transmission of cultural values are also favourite topics. That these subjects are covered regularly is not surprising. Peoples and nations everywhere seek answers to that very basic but important question – who are we? And they try to find their answers by relating to the things closest to their hearts and minds – religion, language, ancestral roots, cultural values, customs and institutions.

Singapore is not alone in having to find solutions to the complex problems of a multiracial and multicultural society. In America, a country with a longer history than ours, a lively debate continues to rage between those who subscribe to the idea of the "melting pot" and those who subscribe to the concept of the "salad bowl". Those who believe in the melting pot feel that differences of race, religion and nationality should be submerged in a larger democracy and be assimilated. On the other hand, the multiculturalists prefer to see America as a collection of self-interest groups, celebrating differences and rejecting the idea of assimilation.

In Singapore, we have evolved our own unique formula of a multiracial, multicultural society. It is based on creating a beautiful pattern out of the different pieces of mosaic or communities which make up Singapore. The mosaics are joined into a harmonious whole, but each piece, ie each community, retains its own unique colour and vibrancy. So while English is the dominant language, it has not taken away the space of Singaporeans who take pride in their own ethnic languages and culture.

That is why we have stressed the importance of bilingual education and nurtured the growth of SAP schools to carry on the best traditions of the old Chinese schools. The annual Mandarin campaign and the many efforts to revitalise Chinese cultural institutions and traditions have also helped to meet the needs and concerns of the Chinese community in Singapore. The rapid growth and emergence of China will increase the importance of the Chinese language. Our knowledge of Chinese enables us to tap into this growing economy. It is an asset which we must enhance and not throw away.

I am happy to note that the readership of Chinese newspapers continues to grow. Lianhe Zaobao today has a readership of over 800,000. It has also become an important regional newspaper through the reach of its Internet edition. Zaobao Online enjoys 26 million hits per month, with more than ninety percent of the traffic coming from overseas, mainly from America and China. It has established itself as an important source of information for Chinese-speaking readers outside Singapore to learn more about us and the region.

But Zaobao must find ways and means of attracting younger bilingual Chinese Singaporeans who prefer to read only the English newspapers. The recent efforts to make Zaobao more attractive and lively are a step in the right direction. For the recently concluded National Education Exhibition, we made a conscious effort to reach out to these same younger Singaporeans by employing the latest multi-media technology.
Likewise, Zaobao’s editorial staff must constantly explore novel ways of reaching out to this very important constituency. Perhaps you should get more feedback on why they are not reading Zaobao and what contents and presentation will make them do so.

Failure to reach out to this younger generation will result in lower readership and over time, render Zaobao less influential. That will be a great loss because Zaobao offers a different perspective from that of the English newspapers. Newspapers play an important part in the transmission of cultural values. And values provide the tools for economic and social success, and for holding a nation together. The task is particularly important today given our openness, and the fact that the young have so many distractions and alternative media to get information from. It is a little disconcerting that a Hong Kong University survey in July this year found that teenagers in Hong Kong perceive Chinese culture to be inferior to Western culture. It would be a sad day if similar results were thrown up in a survey of Singapore youth.

The media has an important role in nation building because of its reach and influence on the population. We have made our diversity our strength, not a weakness. But it is a strength only if there is social cohesion. Otherwise, it becomes a major weakness. Over the years, through patient nation building, we have brought our different communities closer together. Today, we have a common education system and increasingly a common worldview. Our sense of one Singapore is a lot stronger. This was manifestly clear during our recent National Day celebrations at the National Stadium, and in our united response to unwarranted criticisms from outside. But the differences between communities will not disappear, not even within the Chinese population. Hence, whilst we promote the language and culture of each group, we should not forget that this must be done within the wider canvas of Singapore nationalism. We cannot be an extension of China, India, the West, or the Malay archipelago. Our heritage must be congealed into a distinct Singaporean identity with such core values as meritocracy, tolerance and consensus building.

Lastly, let me wish Lianhe Zaobao further success. The popularity of Mandarin serials on television and movies tells us that Chinese language and culture will remain a major characteristic of Singapore society even as we become more cosmopolitan. Lianhe Zaobao should continue to play the influential role in the development of this particular piece of mosaic so that its quality will remain rich and attractive. In turn, this will help to brighten up the other pieces of mosaic as well. This whole process will contribute to the strengthening of the values underpinning Singapore as a strong, cohesive and resilient nation.

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