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SINGAPORE
A Rich Mix of Diverse
Cultures at Their Best
As Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam
of Chinese, Malay, Indian and European immigrants, the
culture of Singapore expresses the diversity of the
population as the various ethnic groups continue to
celebrate their own cultures while they intermingle with
one another. For example, one can find a Malay wedding
taking place beside a Chinese funeral at a void deck, on
the ground floor of a HDB apartment block. This can be
said to be due to the policies of the HDB which tried to
make sure all public housing have a diverse mix of races.
However, Singapore has achieved a significant degree of
cultural diffusion with its unique combination of these
ethnic groups, and has given Singapore a rich mixture of
diversity for its young age.
Singapore has several distinct ethnic neighborhoods,
including Little India, Chinatown and Kampong Glam,
formed by the Raffles Plan of Singapore in the early 19th
century to segregate the new immigrants into specific
areas. Although the population are no longer segregated
in distribution, mainly due to the policies of the Housing
Development Board and the ruling People's Action Party,
these ethnic neighborhoods retain unique elements of
their specific culture. The usage of such neighborhoods is
mostly commercial or for cottage industry specific to the
culture of its ethnic neighborhood, and no longer plays a
large part in housing the population, although it was
once used for that purpose. Hence, these neighborhoods
have patronage of all races who wish to either eat or buy
something specific to that culture.
For example, Little India is known and patronized by all
races within the population for its thalis-- South Indian
"buffets" that are vegetarian and served on the traditional
banana leaves. These neighborhoods are accessible by
public transport, especially by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT).
In other parts of the country, such segregation is
discouraged by government policy. The policies of the
Housing Development Board are designed to encourage
a mix of all races within each housing district, with a quota
system in place to achieve a minimum of minorities in
each block. This effect can be observed in all parts of the
country; for example a store devoted to selling Malay
food might be right next to stores selling Chinese or
Indian goods. The aim is to foster social cohesion and
national loyalty, which Lee Kuan Yew felt was crucial for
sustaining Singapore after independence when he was
Prime Minister. There is a weighty emphasis on racial
harmony and subsequent case study of historical events,
such as the 1964 Race Riots.
Culture
Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of
an indigenous Malay population with a third generation
Chinese majority, as well as Indian and Arab immigrants
with some intermarriages. There also exist Eurasian and
Peranakan (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities.
Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of
OPEN TRADE 53
Oct-Dec 2007