BiblioAsia - National Library Singapore
BiblioAsia - National Library Singapore
BiblioAsia - National Library Singapore
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Vol 6 I Issue 1 I April 2010 I ISSN 0219-8126 (Print) I ISSN 1793-9968 (Online)biblioasia04º¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢úþÄ츢 ÅÇ÷12Women and Warfarein Malaysia and <strong>Singapore</strong>, 1941-8919Chinese Dialect Groups and TheirOccupations in 19 th and Early 20 thCentury <strong>Singapore</strong>29Green Matters: The Environmentand Sustainability Collection at theLee Kong Chian Reference <strong>Library</strong>
CONTENTSDIRECTOR’S COLUMNSPOTLIGHT04COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS29NEWS44º¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷FEATURES3338414608A Comparative Study of FilmCriticism on <strong>Singapore</strong> Films inPost-1965 <strong>Singapore</strong> Chineseand English Newspapersand Journals19Chinese Dialect Groups andTheir Occupations in 19 th andEarly 20 th Century <strong>Singapore</strong>Green Matters: The Environment and Sustainability Collectionat the Lee Kong Chian Reference <strong>Library</strong>Early Tourist Guidebooks to <strong>Singapore</strong>The Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong> (1892)The Asian Children’s Collection– Multicultural Children’s LiteratureThe George Hicks Collection12Research Collaboratory Client Series:“Policy Making 2010 – Emergent Technologies”Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship:Three New Research Fellows AwardedWomen and Warfare inMalaysia and <strong>Singapore</strong>,1941-8926<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> DistinguishedReader: Insights from DrAndrew ChewEDITORIAL/PRODUCTIONSUPERVISING EDITORSVeronica CheeWong Siok MuoiCONTRIBUTORSBonny TanGeoff WadeJaclyn TeoJoseph DawesMahani AwangMalarvele IlangovanDESIGN AND PRINT PRODUCTIONOrgnix CreativesCover: Chinatown, <strong>Singapore</strong>.EDITORNg Loke KoonNorasyikin BinteAhmad IsmailPanna KantilalSamuel SngSara PekTan Chee LayAll rights reserved. <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board <strong>Singapore</strong> 2010Printed in April 2010ISSN 0219-8126 (Print)ISSN 1793-9968 (Online)<strong>BiblioAsia</strong> is published and copyrighted in 2010 by the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board,<strong>Singapore</strong> for all contents, designs, drawings and photographs printed in theRepublic of <strong>Singapore</strong>.<strong>BiblioAsia</strong> is published by <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board, <strong>Singapore</strong> with permissionfrom the copyright owner. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, for any reason or by anymeans, whether re-drawn, enlarged or otherwise altered including mechanical,photocopy, digital storage and retrieval or otherwise, without the prior permissionin writing from both the copyright owner and the publisher, except in the case ofbrief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The text, layout anddesigns presented in this publication, as well as the publication in its entirety, areprotected by the copyright laws of the Republic of <strong>Singapore</strong> and similar laws inother countries. Commercial production of works based in whole or in part uponthe designs, drawings and photographs contained in this publication is strictlyforbidden without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.While every effort has been made in the collection, preparation and presentationof the material in this publication, no responsibility can be taken for how thisinformation is used by the reader, for any change that may occur after publicationor for any error or omission on the part of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board, <strong>Singapore</strong>.Neither the respective copyrights owners or authors or the publishers acceptsresponsibility for any loss suffered by any person who acts or refrains fromacting on any matter as a result of reliance upon any information contained inthis publication.Scanning, uploading and/or distribution of this publication, or any designs ordrawings or photographs contained herein, in whole or part (whether re-drawn,re-photographed or otherwise altered) via the Internet, CD, DVD, E-zine,photocopied hand-outs, or any other means (whether offered for free or for a fee)without the expressed written permission from both the copyright owner and thepublisher is illegal and punishable by the laws of the Republic of <strong>Singapore</strong> andsimilar laws in other countries.The copyright owner and publisher of this publication appreciate your honesty andintegrity and ask that you do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrightedmaterial. Be sure to purchase (or download) only authorised material. We thankyou for your support.Please direct all correspondence to:<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board100 Victoria Street #14-01 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Building <strong>Singapore</strong> 188064Tel: +65 6332 3255Fax: +65 6332 3611Email: ref@nlb.gov.sgWebsite:www.nlb.gov.sgWant to know more about what’s going on at the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>?Get the latest on our programmes at http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg/
DIRECTOR’SCOLUMNThe eagerly awaited exhibition Rihlah – Arabs inSoutheast Asia (Rihlah means journey in Arabic)was launched at the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> on 10 April.To be held till October, the exhibition acknowledges the closeties between Southeast Asia and the Arab community. Ondisplay are photographs and artefacts ranging from personaldocuments to musical instruments many of which are on publicdisplay for the first time. Be enthralled by the rich historyand culture of the Arabs in Southeast Asia. This exhibition isdefinitely a visual feast not to be missed.The “Spotlight” article documents the development of theTamil literary scene in <strong>Singapore</strong> which has more than one hundredyears of history. Featured in the article are some Tamil literarypioneers who have contributed significantly to the growthof Tamil literature in <strong>Singapore</strong>. Some major Tamil literary worksare also mentioned in the article.The research findings of two of our Lee Kong Chian ResearchFellows, Tan Chee Lay and Mahani Awang, are publishedin this issue. Tan Chee Lay undertakes a comparativestudy of film criticism on <strong>Singapore</strong> films in post-1965 <strong>Singapore</strong>Chinese and English newspapers and journals. Film criticismplays an important role in contributing to and promotingthe local film industry. Mahani Awang looks at the role andinvolvement of women in warfare in Malaysia and <strong>Singapore</strong>from 1941 to 1989. Using both historical method and genderas analytical tools, she attempts to find out the role of womenvis-à-vis men in various activities connected to war.The different Chinese dialect groups in <strong>Singapore</strong> areassociated with certain skills and trades. A feature article byJaclyn Teo, a librarian with the Lee Kong Chian Reference<strong>Library</strong>, looks at the occupational specialisation of Chinese dialectgroups in <strong>Singapore</strong> from 1819 till the 1950s. Highlightedin the article are the dominant trades for Hokkiens, Teochews,Cantonese, Hakkas and Hainanese.Launched in April 2006, the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>’s DistinguishedReaders Initiative aims to honour and pay tribute to prominentand learned <strong>Singapore</strong>ans whose leadership and professionalsuccess in their respective fields have propelled <strong>Singapore</strong> asa key player on the global stage, whether in government, business,academia or the arts. The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> was privilegedto have interviewed Dr Andrew Chew, Distinguished Readerand former Chairman of the Public Service Commission.Excerpts of the interview are published in this issue.Featured in this issue are three collections of the <strong>National</strong><strong>Library</strong> – the Environment and Sustainability Collection, theAsian Children’s Collection and the George Hicks Collection.The Environment and Sustainability Collection aims to informand provide insights and ideas on a broad spectrum of resourceson major environmental trends and issues such as climatechange, global warming, sustainable development, green businessand buildings and clean technology. The Asian Children’sCollection is a unique collection of more than 20,000 children’stitles with Asian content. It provides a good resource for researchersinterested in the origins of Asian-oriented children’sbooks and the influences and attitudes affecting the pattern andstages of their development. The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> is fortunateto have received a collection of more than 3,000 books fromGeorge Lyndon Hicks – economist, author, book-lover, traveller,businessman and long-time <strong>Singapore</strong> resident. The collection’smain areas of focus are the economics, history andculture of China, Japan and Southeast Asia.Happy reading! We look forward to receiving yourcomments and feedback.Ms Ngian Lek ChohDirector<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>biblioasia • April 20103
4Spotlightº¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢úþÄ츢 ÅÇ÷Edited BySundari BalasubramaniamLibrarianLee Kong Chian Reference <strong>Library</strong><strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>Íó¾Ã¢ À¡ÄÍôÃÁ½¢Âõáĸ «¾¢¸¡Ã¢Ä£ ¦¸¡í º¢Âý §Áü§¸¡û§¾º¢Â áĸ šâÂõBy Malarvele IlangovanSenior LibrarianProfessional Services<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>மலர்விழி இளங்§¸¡வன்ãò¾ áĸ «¾¢¸¡Ã¢Ä£ ¦¸¡í º¢Âý §Áü§¸¡û§¾º¢Â áĸ வாரியம்“±í¸û Å¡ú×õ ±í¸û ÅÇÓõ Áí¸¡¾ ¾Á¢¦ÆýÚ ºí§¸ÓÆíÌ”, ±ýÈ À¡§Åó¾÷ À¡Ã¾¢¾¡ºý ÜüÚôÀÊ ¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢Â¢ý º¢ÈôÒõ, ¦ºÆ¢ôÒõ, «¾ý ÀÂýÀ¡Îõ ¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢¨Â ¯Ä¸ «Ãí¸¢ø ¦¾¡ý¨Á Á¢ì¸ ¦Á¡Æ¢¸Ç¢ø´ýÈ¡¸ ¿¢Úò¾¢ÔûÇÐ. «òмý ¦ºùÅ¢Âø ¦Á¡Æ¢¸Ç¢ýÅ⨺¢Öõ ¾Á¢ú §º÷ì¸ôÀðÎ, ¯Ä¸ÇÅ¢ø ¾Á¢¨ÆÈôÒÈî ¦ºöÐûÇÐ.º¢í¸ôâ÷ º¢ýÉï º¢Ú ¾£× ¿¡¼¡Â¢Ûõ, Íமார்14 ஆம்áüÈ¡ñÊÄ¢Õó§¾ ÅÃÄ¡üÚ ²Î¸Ç¢ø ÌÈ¢ôÀ¢¼ôÀðÎÅóÐûÇÐ. §ÁÖõ் தமிழ் ¿¡ðμÛõ ¦¾¡¼÷Ò¦¸¡ñÊÕì¸Ä¡õ ±É×õ, ¸¼¡Ãõ ¦¸¡ண்ட §º¡ழமண்டலத்தின் ¬ðº¢ìÌ ¯ðÀðÊÕì¸Ä¡õ ±É×õ ¾Á¢ú¿¡ðÊý ÅÃÄ¡üÚ ÌÈ¢ôÒ¸û ¦¾Ã¢Å¢ôÀ¾¡¸ ¬öÅ¡Ç÷¸û¸Õи¢ýÈÉ÷.ÍÁ¡÷ 1880-¸Ç¢ý À¢üÀ̾¢Â¢ø À¢¨ÆôÒò §¾Ê¾Á¢ú ¿¡ðÊÄ¢ÕóÐõ, þÄí¨¸Â¢Ä¢ÕóÐõ º¢í¸ôââøÌʧÂȢ ¾Á¢ú Áì¸û ¾í¸û ÀñÀ¡ðÎ ¸Ä¡º¡Ãò§¾¡Î¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢¨ÂÔõ þíÌ §ÅåýÈ¢É÷. ¸¢¨¼ì¸ô¦ÀüȬŽí¸Ç¢ý ¯¾Å¢§Â¡Î º¢í¸ôââý ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢ÂÅÃÄ¡Ú ²Èį̀È 130 ¬ñθû ÀƨÁ Å¡öó¾Ð±É ÅÃÄ¡üÚ «È¢»÷¸û ¸½¢òÐûÇÉ÷. «¾üÌ ÓýÒÀ¨¼ì¸ô¦ÀüÈ ¬Å½í¸û ²Ðõ ¸¢¨¼ì¸¡¾¾¡øþ¨¾§Â «¨ÉÅÕõ ²üÚ즸¡ñ¼É÷. þýÚ º¢í¸ôâ÷«ÃÍõ, Áì¸Ùõ ¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢ìÌõ ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âò¾¢üÌõ¦¸¡ÎòÐÅÕõ º¢ÈôÒ «¨ÉÅÕõ «È¢ó¾§¾. ¯Ä¸ò¾¢ø¾Á¢ú¿¡ðÊüÌ «Îò¾ÀÊ¡¸ º¢í¨¸Â¢ø¾¡ý ¾Á¢ú¬ðº¢¦Á¡Æ¢Â¡¸ ¯ûÇÐ.º¢í¸ôââý ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢 ÅÃÄ¡Úஇலக்கியம் ±ýÀÐ ´Õ ¿¡ðÊý ͺ⨾ §À¡ýÈÐ.²¦ÉýÈ¡ø þÄ츢Âõ «ó¿¡ðÊý ºÓ¾¡Â ¬Å½Á¡¸ò¾¢¸ú¸¢ÈÐ. ´Õ ¾É¢ ÁÉ¢¾¨ÉÔõ ºã¸ò¨¾Ôõþ¨½ìÌõ ¸ÕŢ¡¸×õ ¸¡½Ä¡õ. ÁÉ¢¾÷¸ÙைடயசÓதாய நம்பிக்கைகள், மக்களின் ÀÆì¸ÅÆì¸í¸û,ÀñÀ¡ðÎìÜÚ¸û ¬¸¢ÂÅü¨È þÄ츢Âõ À¢Ã¾¢ÀĢ츢ÈÐ.º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âõ ±ýÀÐ º¢í¸ôââýÀ¢ýɽ¢Â¢ø º¢í¸ôâÃ÷¸Ç¡ø «øÄÐ ¿¢Ãó¾ÃÅ¡º¢¸Ç¡ø±Ø¾ôÀθ¢ýÈ þÄ츢Âõ ±ÉÄ¡õ. 1870 À¢üÀ̾¢Â¢øº¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢ú «îº¸í¸û ¿¢ÚÅôÀð¼ ¿¢¨Ä¢ø ÀĦºö¾¢ò¾¡û¸û ¯ÕÅ¡¸¢ þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷ìÌ Å¢ò¾¢ð¼É.þôÀ¢ýɽ¢Â¢ø º¢í¸ôââý Ó¾ø ¾Á¢úô À¨¼ôÒ ´Õ¸Å¢¨¾ áÄ¡¸ ¦ÅÇ¢Åó¾Ð.1872 ¬õ ¬ñÎ Ó¸õÁÐ «ôÐø ¸¡¾¢÷ «Å÷¸û`ÓÉ¡ƒ¡òÐ ¾¢ÃðÎ’ ±ýÈ ¸Å¢¨¾ á¨Ä ±Ø¾¢É¡÷. þк¢í¸ôââý ¬¸ô ÀƨÁÂ¡É áø ±Éî º¢ÈôÒüÈÐ.³ó¾¡ñθǢø ÁüÈ ¸Å¢¨¾ò ¦¾¡ÌôҸǡÉ`¿¸Ã󾡾¢Ôõ’, `º¢ò¾¢Ã¸Å¢¸Ùõ’ ¦ÅÇ¢Åó¾É. «¨Åº¢í¸ôâ÷ ÍôÀ¢ÃÁ½¢Â ÍÅ¡Á¢ §Áø À¡¼ô¦ÀüȨÅ¡Ìõ.¿ÂÁ¢ì¸ þì¸Å¢¨¾¸û ¬úó¾ ¾òÐÅì ¸ÕòÐ츨ÇÔõÀì¾¢ ¯½÷¨ÅÔõ ¦ÅÇ¢ôÀÎò¾¢É. þÅü¨Èî º¢í¸ôâ÷º¢. Ì. ÁÌàõ º¡ÂÒ «Å÷¸û ¾ÁìÌî ¦º¡ó¾Á¡¸¢Â`¾£§É¡¾Â þÂó¾¢Ã º¡¨Ä¢ø’ «îº¢ð¼¡÷. þóÐ츼רÇôÀüȢ ÀüȢ ¸Å¢¨¾¸¨Ç µ÷ þÍÄ¡Á¢Â÷¦ÅǢ¢ð¼Ð À¡Ã¡ð¼ò¾ì¸¦Å¡ýÚ. «ì¸¡Äõ¦¾¡ð§¼þíÌ Áì¸û ºÁ ¿øÄ¢½ì¸Óõ þÉ, Á¾ ´üÚ¨ÁÔõ¦¸¡ñÊÕó¾É÷ ±ýÀ¨¾ þÐ ¸¡ðθ¢ÈÐ.1888 þø ÁÌàõ º¡ÂÒ ±ýÀÅ÷ `Å¢§É¡¾ ºõÀ¡„¨½’±ýÈ ¾¨ÄôÀ¢ø º¢í¸ôââø Ó¾ý ӾĢø º¢Ú¸¨¾ò¦¾¡ÌôÒ áø ´ýÚ ¦ÅǢ¢ð¼¡÷. þЧŠº¢í¸ôââø§¾¡ýȢ Ӿø ¾Á¢úî º¢Ú¸¨¾Â¡Ìõ. þڸ¨¾ò¦¾¡ÌôÒ ¦ÅÇ¢¿¡ðÎ °Æ¢Â÷¸ÙìÌõ º¢í¸ôââøź¢ìÌõ ¿¢Ãó¾Ã Å¡º¢ìÌõ þ¨¼§Â ¿¨¼¦ÀÚõ¸ÕòÐô ÀÈ¢Á¡üÈí¸û, ¯¨Ã¡¼ø¸û ¬¸¢ÂÅü¨Èò¾¢Ã¢ì¸¢ýÈÉ. «ì¸¡Ä¸ð¼ò¾¢ø º¢í¸ôâÕìÌôÀ¢¨Æô¨Àò §¾Ê Åó¾ þó¾¢Â÷¸Ç¢ý ÁÉ ¿¢¨Ä, Ò¾¢ÂÀÆì¸ÅÆì¸í¸û, Ò¾¢Â ¦Á¡Æ¢¸û ¬¸¢ÂÅü¨Èô ÀüȢ«Å÷¸Ç¢ý ÌÆôÀí¸û, ÀÂõ, ±ôÀÊò ¾í¸û §Å¨Ä¨Â¾ì¸ ¨ÅòÐì ¦¸¡ûÇ §À¡¸¢§È¡õ ±ýÈ «îºõ§À¡ýȨŸ¨Ç þ츨¾¸û Å¢Åâ츢ýÈÉ.þ측ĸð¼ò¾¢ø «Îò¾Îò¾¡¸ §ÁÖõ º¢Ä áø¸û¦ÅÇ¢Åó¾É. ¿. Å. Ãí¸º¡Á¢ ¾¡ºÉ¢ý `«¾¢Å¢§É¡¾Ì¾¢¨Ãô Àó¾Â ġŽ¢Ôõ’, ¸. §ÅÖôÀ¢û¨Ç¢ý`º¢í¨¸ ÓÕ§¸º÷§Àரிø À¾¢¸Óõ’ ´§Ã ¬ñÊø (1893)¦ÅǢ¢¼ôÀð¼Ð. ¬ÃõÀ ¸¡Äò¾¢ø º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢Æ÷¸û¦¸¡ñÊÕó¾ þÄ츢 ¬÷Åò¨¾ þÐ ¸¡ðθ¢ÈÐ.ÀƨÁÂ¡É º¢í¸ôââø ±ôÀÊ À¢¨Æô¨Àò §¾Ê ¸¼ø
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§¿¡ìÌõ À¢Ã¨É¸û, º£É þó¾¢Â Áì¸Ù츢¨¼§Â²üÀð¼ ¸ÄôÒò ¾¢ÕÁ½í¸û ¬¸¢ÂÅü¨Èì ÌÈ¢òбØÐõ §À¡ìÌ þÕó¾Ð. ‘§ÅûÅ¢’ ±ýÛõ ÌÚ¿¡ÅÄ¢ø¿¡. §¸¡Å¢ó¾º¡Á¢ ¾õÓ¨¼Â н¢îºÄ¡É À¡½¢Â¢ø¬ÄÂõ ±ØôÒž¢ø ²üÀð¼ À¢Ã¨É¸¨Ç ¨ÁÂÁ¡¸¨ÅòÐ ±Ø¾¢ÔûÇ¡÷.சிÚகைதகளின் வளர்ச்சி¿¡Åø¸Ù¼ý ´ôÀ¢Îõ §À¡Ðº¢í¸ôââø º¢Ú¸¨¾¸Ç¢ýÅÇ÷ µí¸¢Â¢Õó¾Ð.§ÁÖõ Å¡º¸÷ Åð¼ò¾¢øÁ¢Ìó¾ À¡Ã¡ð¨¼Ôõ¦ºøš쨸Ôõ º¢Ú¸¨¾¸û¦ÀüÈÉ. Áñ½¢ý Á½õ¸Á¢Øõ º¢í¸ôââýÀ¢ýɽ¢î Ýú¿¢¨Ä¢øÁÉ¢¾ ¯½÷׸û, Å¡ú쨸,¾¢Õ ¿¡. §¸¡Å¢ó¾º¡Á¢ «øÄø¸û§À¡ýȨŸ¨ÇôÀ¢Ã¾¢ÀÄ¢òÐ ´Õ «üÒ¾ôÀ¨¼ôÀ¡¸î º¢Ú¸¨¾¸û¦ÅÇ¢Åó¾É.¯¾¡Ã½ò¾¢üÌ ¾¢Õ¿¡. §¸¡Å¢ó¾º¡Á¢Â¢ý‘´ðÎñ½¢¸û’, ¾¢ÕþáÁ. ¸ñ½À¢Ã¡É¢ý‘ஆÚÀòÐ À¾¢§ÉØ’, ¾¢Õ¦À¡ý Íó¾ÃáÍÅ¢ý‘±ýÉ ¾¡ý ¦ºöÅÐ?’¾¢Õ ¦ºí§¸¡¼É¢ý ‘¿¡ý´Õ º¢í¸ôââÂý’ §À¡ýȺ¢Ú¸¨¾¸û º¢í¸ôââýºÓ¾¡Âô À¢ýɽ¢Â¢øþÇí¸ñ½ý, º¢í¨¸ Á¡. ±Øò¾ôÀð¼¨Å.2006. ãýÚ ÌÚ¿¡Åø¸û. ÀÄ þÉ Á츨Ç캢í¸ôâ÷: <strong>National</strong> Arts ¦¸¡ñ¼¿¡ðÊøCouncil.±ôÀÊ þÉ ¿øÄ¢½ì¸õAll rights reserved, <strong>National</strong>Arts Council, 2006.þÕ츢ÈÐ ±ýÀ¨¾ôÀ¢Ã¾¢ÀÄ¢òÐ ¸¡ðθ¢ýÈɺ¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢úî º¢Ú¸¨¾¸û. þ¾üÌ µ÷ ¯¾¡Ã½õ`ºÀ¡Ã¢Â¡’ ±ýÛõ þáÁ. ¸ñ½À¢Ã¡É¢ý ¸¨¾Â¢ø ¾Á¢úìÌÎõÀò¾¢üÌõ ÁÄ¡ö ÌÎõÀò¾¢üÌõ þ¨¼§Â ²üÀÎõ¿ð¨Àô ÀüÈ¢ «üÒ¾Á¡¸ º¢ò¾¢Ã¢ì¸ôÀðÎûÇÐ. þôÀÊÀÄ ±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸û ¯ÕÅ¡¸¢É¡÷¸û. «Å÷¸Ùû º¢í¨¸Á¡þÇí¸ñ½ý, Ó. ¾í¸Ã¡ºý, º¢í¨¸ò ¾Á¢úøÅõ,§ƒ. ±õ. º¡Ä¢ , ºí¸Ã¢ áÁ¡Ûƒõ, ². À¢. ºñÓ¸õ¬¸¢§Â¡÷ ÌÈ¢ôÀ¢¼ò¾ì¸Å÷¸û.¿¡¼¸í¸Ç¢ý வளர்ச்சி¿¡¼¸òШÈÔõ º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âò¾¢üÌô ¦ÀÕõÀíÌ ¬üÈ¢ÂÐ ±ýÚ ¦º¡ýÉ¡ø «Ð Á¢¨¸Â¡¸¡Ð. ÀÄ¿¡¼¸í¸û Å¡¦É¡Ä¢Â¢Öõ, §Á¨¼Â¢Öõ «Ãí§¸È¢É.º¢Ä ¿¡¼¸í¸û áø ¯ÕÅõ ¦ÀüÚõ Åó¾¢Õ츢ýÈɱýÀÐ ÌÈ¢ôÀ¢¼ò¾ì¸Ð. ‘ÍÅθû’ ‘º¢í¸ôââø §Á¨¼¿¡¼¸í¸û” ¬¸¢Â áø¸û º¢í¸ôââý ¿¡¼¸ÅÇ÷ì̾¢Õ À¢. ¸¢Õ‰½ý± Î ò Ð ì ¸ ¡ ð ¼ ¡ ö ò¾¢¸ú¸¢ýÈÉ. §ÁÖõ À¢.¸¢Õ‰½É¢ý ¿¡¼¸ôÀ¨¼ôÒ¸Ç¡É ‘Á¡ÊÅ£ðÎ Áí¸Çõ,’ ‘«ÎìÌÅ£ðÎ «ñ½¡º¡Á¢’¬¸¢ÂÉ º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢úþÄ츢 ¬÷ÅÄ÷¸Ç¢ý¦¿ïºí¸Ç¢ø ¿£í¸¡¾þ¼õ À¢ÊòРŢð¼É.ÌÆ󨾸û þÄ츢Âõº¢í¸ôââø ÌÆó¨¾ þÄ츢Âõ ÅÇà °¼¸í¸ûШ½Òâó¾É. ¾Á¢ú Óú¢ø Á¡½Å÷ Á½¢ÁýÈõ ±ýȾɢôÀ̾¢ 1952 Ä¢ÕóÐ ¦ÅÇ¢ÅóÐ º¢ÚÅ÷¸Ç¢ý ±ØÐõ¬ü鬀 ÅÇ÷ò¾Ð. ¸. Ð. Ó. þìÀ¡ø, ÓÕ¸¾¡ºý,¿. ÀÆ¿¢§ÅÖ, Àýý,ÓòÐÁ¡½¢ì¸õ, ¦Á.þÇÁ¡Èý §À¡ý§È¡÷ÌÆó¨¾ þÄ츢ÂÅÇ÷ìÌô ¦ÀÕõÀí¸¡üÈ¢É÷. ±É¢ÛõÌÆó¨¾ þÄ츢Âõ ¦Àâ«ÇÅ¢ø º¢í¸ôââø þýÛõÅÇ÷¨¼ÂÅ¢ø¨Ä. ´Õº¢Ä÷ ¦º¡ó¾ ÓÂüº¢Â¡ø¾í¸û À¨¼ôÒ¸¨Ç¦ÅǢ¢ðÎ ÅÕ¸¢ýÈÉ÷.¬÷. §¸. §Å½¢,`¿¡ðÎôÒÈ þÄ츢Âõ’,ÁÄ÷ŢƢ þÇí§¸¡Åý. 2003.`§¸Ç¢îº¢ò¾¢Ãì ¸¨¾¸û’,þ§¾¡ Åó¾Ð ¨¼§É¡‘º¢ÚÅ÷ ¸¨¾¸û §À¡ýÈ º¢ÄAll rights reserved,TamilBookShop.com., 2003. À¨¼ôÒ¸¨Çò ¾óÐûÇ¡÷.ÁÄ÷ŢƢ þÇí§¸¡Åý‘«õÁ¡ ±í§¸?’, `þ§¾¡ Åó¾Ð ¨¼§É¡’ ±ýÈ þÃñκ¢ÚÅ÷ ¸¨¾ô Òò¾¸í¸¨Ç ¦ÅǢ¢ðÎûÇ¡÷.þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷ìÌ «Ãº¡í¸ò¾¢ý °ìÌÅ¢ôÒº¢í¨¸Â¢ø ¯ûÇ þÕ¦Á¡Æ¢ì ¦¸¡û¨¸Â¢É¡ø ¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢ìÌ «Ãº¡í¸ò¾¢ý «í¸£¸¡Ãõ ¸¢¨¼ò¾¢Õ츢ÈÐ.¾Á¢ú þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷ìÌî º¢í¸ôâ÷ «Ãº¡í¸õ¦ÀâÐõ ¬¾Ã× «Ç¢òÐ ÅÕ¸¢ÈÐ. §ÁÖõ ¾Á¢ú ¦Á¡Æ¢Â¢ýÅÇ÷ìÌ °¼¸ ÅÇ÷Ôõ ¦ÀÚõ Àí¸¡üÈ¢ ÅÕ¸¢ÈÐ.º¢í¸ôââø ¦¾¡¨Ä측ðº¢, Å¡¦É¡Ä¢, ¦ºö¾¢ò¾¡û¬¸¢Â Áì¸û ¦¾¡¼÷Òò ¾¸Åø º¡¾Éí¸û ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢ÂÅÇ÷ìÌô ¦ÀâÐõ ¯¾Å¢ ÅÕ¸¢ýÈÉ. §ÁÖõ º¢í¸ôâ÷«Ãº¡í¸õ þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷¨Â °ì¸ôÀÎòÐõ Ũ¸Â¢øþÄ츢Âõ, ¸¨Ä ¬¸¢ÂÅüÈ¢ø º¢ÈóРŢÇíÌÀÅ÷¸¨Çì¸ñ¼È¢óÐ ¯Ââ `¸Ä¡º¡Ã Å¢ÕÐ’ ÅÆí¸¢ ÅÕ¸¢ÈÐ.«Ãº¡í¸ò¾¡ø ¿¼ò¾ôÀÎõ `±Øò¾¡Ç÷ Å¡Ãõ’,`º¢í¸ôâ÷ ¸¨ÄŢơ’ ¬¸¢Â ¿¢¸ú¸û ±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸Ç¢ýÀ¨¼ôÀ¡üÈÖìÌ ¬¾Ã×õ °ì¸Óõ «Ç¢ì¸¢ýÈÉ. «òмýº¢í¸ôââø þÂíÌõ «¨ÁôÒ¸Ùû ´ýÈ¡É §¾º¢ÂôÒò¾¸ §ÁõÀ¡ðÎì ¸Æ¸õ º¢Èó¾ À¨¼ôÀ¡Ç÷¸ÙìÌÅ¢ÕÐ ÅÆí¸¢ ¦¸ªÃŢ츢ÈÐ.6 biblioasia • April 2010
¾¡öÄ¡óÐ «Ãº¡í¸ò¾¡ø ÅÆí¸ôÀÎõ `¦¾ý¸¢Æ측º¢ÂþÄ츢 ŢÕÐ’ º¢Èó¾ þÄ츢Âô À¨¼ôÀ¢üÌÅÆí¸ôÀÎõ ¯Ââ Ţվ¡Ìõ. ¦¾ý¸¢Æ측º¢Â¡Å¢ø¬º¢Â¡ý Üð¼¨ÁôÀ¢ø ¯ûÇ ¿¡Î¸Ç¢ý «¾¢¸¡ÃòÐŦÁ¡Æ¢¸Ç¢ø À¨¼ì¸ôÀÎõ ¾¨Äº¢Èó¾ þÄ츢Âí¸ÙìÌþùÅ¢ÕÐ ÅÆí¸ôÀθ¢ÈÐ. þó¾ô ¦ÀÕ¨Á ¾Á¢ú±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸Ç¢ø, º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢úô À¨¼ôÀ¡Ç¢¸ÙìÌÁðΧÁ ¯Ã¢ÂÐ. ¦¾ý¸¢Æ측º¢Â¡Å¢ý Üð¼ணி¢ø¾Á¢¨Æ ¬ðº¢¦Á¡Æ¢Â¡¸ì ¦¸¡ñÎûÇ ¿¡Î º¢í¸ôâ÷ÁðΧÁ. þó¾ «í¸£¸¡Ãõ ¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢ìÌì ¸¢¨¼ò¾µ÷ ¯Ââ º¢ÈôÀ¡Ìõ. º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âõ,¬º¢Â¡Å¢ý «Ãí¸¢ø þ¼õ¦ÀÚÅÐ ¾Á¢ØìÌ ÁðÎÁøÄ,º¢í¸ôâÕìÌõ ¦ÀÕ¨Á¡Ìõ.º¢í¸ôâ÷ þÄ츢Âò¾¢ý ±¾¢÷¸¡Äõ.º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âõ ´Õ áüÈ¡ñÎì̧Áø ÅÇ÷ ¸ñÊÕôÀ¢Ûõ, þýÛõ ÒШÁ¡ɺ¢ó¾¨ÉÔ¼ý Á¢Ç¢÷žüÌÅ¡öôÒ¸û ¯ñÎ. º¢í¸ôâ÷±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸û À¨¼ôÀ¡üÈøÁ¢ì¸Å÷¸û ±ýÀ¾¢ø³ÂÁ¢ø¨Ä. ÌÊÂú¢øÅÇ÷žüÌõ, Å¡úžüÌõ°ì¸ãð¼ ¿ÁÐ «Ãº¡í¸õ¾Â¡Ã¡¸Á¢Õ츢ÈÐ. ¸¢¨¼ìÌõÅ¡öô¨À ±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸û¿ýÌ ÀÂýÀÎò¾¢ì¦¸¡ûǧÅñÎõ.ÀÄ þÉ ºÓ¾¡ÂÓõ,Á¾í¸Ùõ, ¸Ä¡º¡ÃÓõþÇí§¸¡, À¢îº¢É¢ì¸¡Î.2009. Á¨Æ Å¢Øó¾ §¿Ãõ.¾ï¨º: ¸¡Î À¾¢ôÀ¸õ.All rights reserved, ¸¡ÎÀ¾¢ôÀ¸õ, 2009.¦¸¡ñ¼ º¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢úþÄ츢Âõ ¾É¢ò¾ý¨ÁÅ¡öóÐô ¦À¡Ä¢×¼ý¾¢¸úÅÐ º¡ò¾¢Âõ.À¨¼ôÀ¡Ç÷¸û ¬ú󾺢ó¾¨ÉÔ¼ý ºÓ¾¡Âò¨¾ ´ðÊ ´Õ ŨèÃìÌûÁðÎÁøÄ¡Ð ÀÃÅÄ¡¸î º¢ó¾¢òÐô ÀÄ §¸¡½í¸Ç¢øºã¸ò¨¾ô À¡÷¨Å¢ðÎò ¾ÃÁ¡É þÄ츢Âí¸¨ÇôÀ¨¼ì¸ §ÅñÎõ. Á¡. «ýÀƸý, À¢îº¢É¢ì¸¡Î þÇí§¸¡,¦ƒÂó¾¢ ºí¸÷ §À¡ýÈÅ÷¸û º¢í¸ôâ÷ ÝÆÄ¢ø ¾í¸ûþÄ츢Âí¸¨Çô À¨¼ì¸¢ýÈÉ÷. þÅ÷¸¨Çô §À¡ýÚ§ÁÖõ ÀÄ Ò¾¢Â ±Øò¾¡Ç÷¸û ¿¢¨È ±Ø¾ §ÅñÎõ.¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢Â¢ø ¿ýÌ §¾÷ ¦ÀüÈÅ÷¸û ¾Á¢úþÄ츢 ÅÇ÷ìÌô Àí¸¡üȢɡø º¢í¸ôââø¾Á¢ú Å¡Øõ, ¾Á¢ú Å¡Øõ Ũà ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âí¸ÙõÅ¡Øõ. º¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âõ §Áý§ÁÖõ ¾É¢ò¾ý¨ÁÔ¼Ûõ ÒÐô ¦À¡Ä¢×¼Ûõ Á¢Ç¢÷ÅÐ ¾¢ñ½õ.TAMIL LITERARY DEVELOPMENT IN SINGAPORE<strong>Singapore</strong>’s Tamil literary development has more than ahundred years of history. Tamil-speaking Indians arrived in thisregion in the 18th and 19th centuries and brought with them theTamil language. Over the years, the Tamil community becamea clearly distinguishable ethnic group within the <strong>Singapore</strong>Indian community. Tamil language attained a high status in thelives of the early settlers. The Tamil diaspora has developed anaspiration to nurture Tamil as a vital language that links themto their culture.The recognition of Tamil as one of four national languagesin <strong>Singapore</strong> gave the Tamils an intrinsic satisfaction. TheTamils developed the language’s literary status in <strong>Singapore</strong>over a span of hundred years in several aspects of Tamilliterature -- poetry, novels, short stories and drama. The Tamilliterary scene in <strong>Singapore</strong> is more than literature. It beganas a movement in the early days with the renaissance of theTamil language in <strong>Singapore</strong>. Prolific Tamil writers contributedto the development and status of Tamil literature in <strong>Singapore</strong>.There is certainly much potential for new and emerging writersto contribute to the Tamil literary development in <strong>Singapore</strong>.¬¾¡Ãì ÌÈ¢ôÒ¸ûÒò¾¸í¸û1. Ilangovan Malarvele. (2001). <strong>Library</strong>provision to the Tamil communityin <strong>Singapore</strong>. <strong>Singapore</strong>: NanyangTechnological University, School ofComputer Engineering.Call no.: R SING q027.63095957 ILA2. Centre for the Arts <strong>National</strong> Universityof <strong>Singapore</strong>. (2002). Conference onTamil literature in <strong>Singapore</strong> andMalaysia, 7 & 8 September 2002<strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>National</strong> University of<strong>Singapore</strong>.Call no.: RSING q894.811471 CON3. Seminar Conference on TamilLanguage and Literature in<strong>Singapore</strong>, & Mani, A. (1977).º¢í¸ôââø ¾Á¢Øõ ¾Á¢Æ¢Ä츢ÂÓõ:¬öÅÃí¸ Á¡¿¡Îì ¸ðΨøû.º¢í¸ôâ÷ : º¢í¸ôâ÷ Àø¸¨Äì¸Æ¸¾Á¢úô§ÀèÅ.Call no.: RSING 494.81109595 SIN4. Ä£ ¦¸¡í º¢Âý áĸò¾¢ý º£Ã¢Â¾Á¢úò ¦¾¡ÌôÒ (2008). º¢í¸ôâ÷ :The Lee Kong Chian Reference<strong>Library</strong>, <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board, 2008.Call no.: RSING 025.218755957 LIK5. ‚ÄŒÁ¢, ±õ. ±Š. (2005).º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢Âõ ¬ÆÓõ«¸ÄÓõ. ¦ºý¨É : ÁÕ¾¡.Call no.:RSING 894.811109 SRI6. º£¾¡Ã¡Áý, ¾. (1996). º¢í¸ôââø¾Á¢ú º¢Ú¸¨¾. ¦ºý¨É :þħ¡ġ ¾ýɡ𺢠¸øæâ.Call no.: RSING q894.811371 SEE7. Å£ÃÁ½¢, «. (ed.) (2007). º¢í¸ôââø¾Á¢ú¦Á¡Æ¢ ¾Á¢ú þÄ츢 ÅÇ÷1965-1990 : Tamil language andliterature in <strong>Singapore</strong> : 1966-1990.Call no.: RSING 494.811 SIN8. þÇíÌÁÃý, þá. (2000).§¾Å§¿Âô À¡Å¡½÷. ¦ºý¨É :¾¢Õ¦¿ø§ÅÄ¢, ¦¾ýÉ¢ó¾¢Â¨ºÅº¢ò¾¡ó¾ áüÀ¾¢ôÒì ¸Æ¸õ.Call no.: R 494.811092 ILA9. º¢ÅÌÁ¡Ãý. (2001). º¢í¸ôâ÷ò ¾Á¢úþÄ츢Âõ : º¡¾¨É¸Ùõ±¾¢÷¸¡Äò ¾¢ð¼í¸Ùõ. º¢í¸ôâ÷ :Å¡½¢¾¡ºý À¾¢ôÀ¸õ.Call no.: RSING 894.811472 SIV10. º¢ò¾¡÷ò¾ý. (2000). ¾Á¢ú Å¡Øõ.¦ºý¨É : ¿÷Á¾¡ À¾¢ôÀ¸õ.Call no.: RSING 894.811472 SIDbiblioasia • April 20107
Table 1<strong>Singapore</strong> Films Produced After 19651965196719691971197319751977197919811983198519871989199119931995199719992001200320052007Number of films per yearDEFINITION OF A SINGAPORE FILMDefining a <strong>Singapore</strong> film has always been a tricky issue. Onewould expect <strong>Singapore</strong> cinema to be locally rooted, to reflectthe various ethnicities and languages of <strong>Singapore</strong> and capturethe different themes of local lifestyles. However, since thebirth of <strong>Singapore</strong>’s film industry, a key characteristic of thefilm industry is the use of talents from different countries andcultural backgrounds. Both Shaw and Cathay-Keris’ early filmsfeatured casts and crews of talents recruited from China andIndia. Recent films have once again proved that “home-grown”or local films might not necessarily be filmed, produced or performedby locals. This is a situation that is fast becoming thenorm in a rapidly globalised world. “Made-by-<strong>Singapore</strong>” 3 filmsare defined as “made with <strong>Singapore</strong> talent, financing and expertisebut not necessarily entirely made in <strong>Singapore</strong> or madefor the <strong>Singapore</strong> audience only” 4 . Though it was commentedthat “none of these films, however, contributed to having a <strong>Singapore</strong>identity on screen” 5 , these co-productions have allowed<strong>Singapore</strong> to be placed on the global stage of the cinematicindustry. Moreover, such international co-productions which involveseveral countries are increasing worldwide, and it hasbecome increasingly difficult to draw a clear line as to whichcountry a film should be credited. Film historiographers are“witnessing a weakening, if not the demise, of the traditionalconcept of ‘national cinema’, defined by territory, language anda homogenous culture.” 6While it may not even occur to most local audiences thatthe films they are watching are “Made-by-<strong>Singapore</strong>” films,such films are imperative for <strong>Singapore</strong> to move towards gaininginternational exposure and recognition. Besides, <strong>Singapore</strong>companies learn and benefit through their experiences ofworking with established overseas film production companies.Thus, this study will include film criticism on films that were producedlocally, and “Made-by-<strong>Singapore</strong>” films. As 1991 marksthe revival of <strong>Singapore</strong>’s film industry (refer to Table 1), itcomes as no surprise that film criticisms and articles have increasedsignificantly since then, and which are reflected in thedata collected below.DATA COLLECTIONThis analysis is based on various local film reviews collectedmainly from both local English and Chinese newspapers, andto a lesser degree, local journals.This study comprises a comprehensive list of <strong>Singapore</strong>feature films. Short, non-commercial films with limited or no release,digital films or other non-theatrical films are excluded, aswell as the various reviews in Chinese and English on featurefilms. However, there are some limitations in this collection.First, not all films have both Chinese and Englishcommentaries, thus it is impossible to perform an exact film-tofilmcomparison. Second, during the period of data collection,two new newspapers – My Paper and Today – have surfaced,and their form of writing and critique are very different in stylecompared with the traditional ones found in Lianhe Zaobao orThe Straits Times, hence affecting the comparability of data collated.Third, I have chosen to implement a general trend analysisinstead of a film-by-film analysis for this report. This is becausea general trend analysis will allow us to identify the evolvingtrends and mitigate the fact that different films have differentnumbers of reviews, or may lack either Chinese or English reviews.Fourth, although a number of newspapers/journals ratefilms, I have chosen not to take these ratings into considerationwhen comparing the reviews. This is because these ratings arebased on varying grading scales. In addition, there are manynewspapers that do not carry any ratings. Lastly, there are alarger number of English reviews than Chinese reviews, simplybecause there are more English newspapers and journals thanChinese ones.In total, this report focuses on the data of 89 feature filmsstarting from 1991 to 2008. Correspondingly, there are a totalof 237 reviews collected and researched; of these, 69 areChinese films reviews and 168 are English reviews.All rights reserved, OxfordUniversity Press, 2000.ANALYSIS OF DATAEnglish Film Reviews Appear to be More Encouraging thanChinese Film ReviewsIn general, both Chinese and English reviewers have, over theyears and especially after the 1990s, given <strong>Singapore</strong> filmsrather negative reviews. However,English film reviewersappear to be relatively moreencouraging than Chinesefilms reviewers. Interestingly,many of the Chinese film reviewsbefore 1965, in comparison,were more encouragingin nature as they sympathisedwith local filmmakers while acknowledgingthe difficult filmmakingcircumstances. 7 Thismay explain why some readersmay still hold the perceptionthat Chinese film criticismis more forgiving or positive.biblioasia • April 20109
An example is the film The Leap Years. Two Lianhe Zaobaoreviewers on the film unanimously gave it bad reviews. 8 Thereview published in the Today new paper, however, was notgood but still encouraging. It ended off with “Nice effort, hope tosee more good - if not better - work in the future”. 9 The effortin producing the film has been clearly acknowledged, althoughthe results may speak otherwise.One explanation for such a difference in treatment by Englishand Chinese reviewers may be the difference in culturesbetween the West and the East, or correspondingly, the English-speakingand Chinese-speaking communities in <strong>Singapore</strong>.In the West, failure or occasional mistakes seem to bemore acceptable and thus people are more encouraging towardsfailures. However, in the East, mistake or failure is moreoften frowned upon.Chinese Film Reviews Include Both Entertainment andArtistic IndexesIn many of the Chinese Film Reviews by Lianhe Zaobao, thereare both entertainment and artistic ratings for the films. This isa more balanced and comprehensive form of reviewing films.First, English film reviewers generally give only a singular overallfilm review, which may not do justice to the film. Audiencesfrequently simply judge a film on the overall film rating, regardlessof what the rating is based on. For example, a commercialfilm might not have a high artistic value, but is still veryentertaining for the mainstream audience. By separatingthe artistic factor and entertainment factor of the film, audiencesare better able to judge if a local film would suit theirviewing susceptibilities.One prominent example is the review of Jack Neo’s I NotStupid Too in the Business Times. The overall review washighly negative, save for one sentence that acknowledged thatit would have its target mainstream entertainment audience.However, with the film getting an overall rating of C-, it is possiblethat readers would not pick up this line but merely glanceat the overall rating before moving on to the next movie rating.On the other hand, although the Lianhe Zaobao reviewercommented that the movie was overtly “preachy” and awardedit a mere two stars for its artistic factor, it still rightly gave itthree stars for its entertainment factor 10 . Hence audiences arebetter informed, and those who weigh entertainment over artistrywould still consider watching the film. In this scenario, it iscertain that the Lianhe Zaobao’s star ratings would stand outmore than the Business Times’s one-liner that praised the film’sentertaining factor.Having a two-tier rating system would project a morebalanced view of the film production, and further offer reviewreaders an alternative perception of the different emphasesundertaken by local films. Of course, it is not to say that artisticand entertainment factors are mutually exclusive, but thereare certainly different emphases as exemplified in many localproductions, such as the abovementioned Jack Neo’s film. Furthermore,it should not come as a surprise that top box officeperformers, such as I Not Stupid, are high in entertainmentvalue but low in the artistic department; this co-relationship isapparently more palpable with the introduction of an entertainmentclassification system. In addition, the two-tier rating, in away, also balances the comparatively more negative criticism ofChinese reviews as mentioned in the preceding section.MORAL VALUESChinese film reviewers tend to stress more on moral-relatedthemes brought up by the films in their reviews compared withto English film reviewers. This is likely because Chinese cultureplaces more emphasis on advocating moral values andtheir various manifestations, including how they are portrayedin films. The emphasis on moral values in <strong>Singapore</strong>’s Chinesefilm reviews has been prevalent since the emergence of Chinesefilms. Much evidence can be found in <strong>Singapore</strong> Chinesenewspapers during the 1950s to 1970s with the beginning ofthe popularity of local Chinese film productions.A recent example of such an emphasis can be seen in thediffering Chinese and English film criticism and reviews on RoystonTan’s 15. The English reviewers for this film focused oncharacter development, Tan’s filming techniques and effort. 11However, the Chinese critics for this film went a step furtherto discuss the injustice in our society in general. One articleeven commented on how society needed to improve its treatmentof marginalised teenagers and how the education systemcould improve to cater to these teens, 12 turning the review intoan educational doctrine and a social commentary as well asa film criticism.The above example illustrates the trend of Chinese filmreviews focusing more on moral values than English filmreviews, a phenomenon that runs parallel to the Chinese traditionof wen yi zai dao (the text is the carrier of the Way, or themoral values).CONCLUSIONWith the current revival of <strong>Singapore</strong>-made-films, it is importantthat a study is conducted to analyse the trends of what local filmreviewers are writing about our local films.First, it would be useful for film-makers to understand andeven utilise these trends as film-making is never only aboutfilming the film itself; it is a comprehensive project. Producersof <strong>Singapore</strong> films could make use of the identified trendsto target varying segmentsof the population and appealto different languagespeakingaudiences. With thisinclusion, the film wouldalso resonate with its target<strong>Singapore</strong>an community.Second, the average filmgoermay wish to understandcontemporary local film trendsand biases in making aninformed choice in choosing afilm to view.All rights reserved, RoystonTan, 2003.Third, for scholars whoare doing in-depth research10 biblioasia • April 2010
elationship with the enemy (Buccheim, 2008). As a result thesemothers took their secret to the grave.Overall, Malayan women, irrespective of their background,race or religion, suffered and endured dire hardship during theJapanese Occupation in 1942-45. Rapes had taken place beforethe eyes of their own family. Many survived the ordealby disguising themselves as men and smearing their faceswith mud and charcoal to make themselves unattractive to theJapanese soldiers (Sybil, 1983).WOMEN GUERILLASSince time immemorial, war with its masculine nature, isdefined as a male activity, while the culturally female biologyof women and motherhood means women do not takepart in war. The exclusion of women from war and organisedviolence was a result of the general exclusion of women fromthe formal societal apparatus of power and coercion and theirinvolvement in motherhood (Pierson, 1987). This polarisationsubsequently creates gender differences – with war and publicdomain being a male preserve, while the women became anatural symbol for peace, the home and the protected society(Macdonald, 1987).However, besides being war-victims, women did notdistance themselves from the resistance movement in their locality.In the 1940s and 1950s the call for revolution issuedby both the Hukbalahap guerillas in Luzon and the Viet Minhin North Vietnam, for instance, saw many women enteringthe war zone. In Malaya and <strong>Singapore</strong>, the signing of theHat Yai Peace Accord in 1989 between the Malaysian governmentand the MCP which ended the 40-year guerilla warfor the first time brought to the surface the story of women involvementin underground activities and the guerilla war. Subsequently,most of them settled in the four “peace” villages insouthern Thailand which was opened by courtesy of the Thaigovernment. Sixteen of the women were interviewed by AgnesKhoo and became the main source of Life as the RiverFlows. Khoo concludes that women, from different educationaland social backgrounds joined the movement as “a formof rebellion against feudalistic, patriarchal oppression theyexperienced as young women”(Khoo, 2004).Unknown to Khoo, manywomen had joined or followedtheir husbands, friends,relatives or lovers to join theguerillas without themselveshaving any understanding ofthe communist objectives/ideologies, but who neverthelesswere impressed withthe MCP leaders who alwaysharped on British bias and discriminationagainst the poorAll rights reserved, StrategicInformation ResearchDevelopment, 2004.and women. Some of them,especially those who hadjoined after the MCP relocatedto the Malaysia-Thai border in 1953 (referred here as thesecond generation), did so due to poverty; they believed lifewould be much better if they joined the guerillas becauseeverything was provided for. After the relocation, which wasmade due to security reasons, access to food sources, whichwas the major problem for the MCP guerillas during the Emergency,had improved considerably because there was supportfrom the local villagers (Ibrahim Chik, 2004). Undoubtedly,some were coerced to do so (Xiulan, 1983). There were casesin which women were kidnapped and taken to the jungle, suchas the case of the 84-year-old Rosimah Alang bin Mat Yen fromKampong Gajah, Perak. Rosimah had spent 52 years of herlife living with the communists after she was kidnapped whileworking on the padi field in Changkat Jering in Manjong district,Perak, at the age of 17 (Utusan Melayu, 30 May 2009).The understanding of communist ideology and militarystruggle was more discernible among the first batch of womenguerillas (those who had joined before the MCP withdrawal tosouth Thailand) who were born during the British colonial periodand had witnessed the colonial domination in Malaya. The earliestinvolvement of Malayan women in the anti-colonial movementhad taken place in the 1930s. The Japanese invasion ofChina in 1937 led the MCP to mobilise the Chinese regardlessof gender into the anti-Japanese movement which becamemore organised during 1941-45. The women specially targetedwere those with education; they were then subjected to the occasionalcommunist propaganda (Suriani, 2006). Initially theChinese women became underground members of the MCP orthe Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA), acting ascouriers, assisting the communists in their propaganda work,purchasing food for its armed forces and carrying out subversiveactivities. Chapman, during three-and-a-half years of livingwith the guerillas in the Malayan jungle as liason officer with theMCP, dubbed the MPAJA girls as great fighters who were committedto fighting the Japanese and were never afraid to holdguns. He related one case: when the Japanese ambushed MCPleaders during a meeting near Kuala Lumpur; a girl emergedas an unlikely heroine firing at the Japanese with her tommygunto enable the men to escape until she was shot (Chapman,1963). By the end of the Japanese Occupation, MCPpropaganda had succeeded in bringing about the involvementof women into their armed forces and to continue the struggleagainst British colonial rule. Through educated Chinese womencomrades, the MPAJA and MCP struggles were extendedto the Malay villages where the anti-Japanese feeling wasstrong (Abdullah C.D, 2005).Compared with the Chinese community – which putkinship relations and friendship network above everything – thatprovided family members or close friends who had joined theguerilla movement with all kinds of support (Stubbs, 2004),the majority of Malays viewed Malay involvement in the radicalmovement as against Islam and many stayed away. Familieswhich had members openly involved in such activitieswere often looked at with deep suspicion. In the end, manydid join secretively the guerilla movement. Many Malay womenwho joined the guerilla movement were former members ofbiblioasia • April 201013
the Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS), the women wing of theMalay <strong>National</strong>ist Party (MNP). These women had their ownphilosophy and were pursuing aggressively the liberation ofwomen from feudal oppression and negative social practices(Ahmad Boestamam, 2004). When the British banned all radicaland leftist movements like MNP, Pembela Tanahair (PETA),Angkatan Pemuda Insaf (API) and AWAS in 1948, most of theradical Malays joined the MCP guerillas, including ShamsiahFakeh and Zainab Mahmud, the leader and secretary of AWAS,respectively. This benefited the MCP enormously as thesewomen were then widely accepted as “heroine” (srikandi)with their fluent and confident articulation, educational(religious) background, strong fighting spirit and unfazed by guns(Shamsiah, 2004).WOMEN COMRADES AT WORKHistory has shown that each guerilla war has its own specificcharacteristics. However, a comparison among different guerillawars shows that these wars do share some common traits.Like the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), femaleMCP cadres generally occupied a lower position in most of themilitary actions orchestrated by the party. Combat operationswere normally handled by men and this became an impedimentfor women to climb to higher positions in the party hierarchyas combat experience was often taken into consideration forpromotion (Hilsdon, 1995). The belief among female comradesthat only those who were brave and intelligent could climb theladder of success within the organisation was quite prevalent.This statement is quite true if we look at the “success” storyof well known MCP women leaders like Shamsiah Fakeh andSuriani Abdullah or Eng Ming Ching before her marriage toAbdullah C. D., the commander of the Malay Regiment in theMCP – the 10 th Regiment – in 1955. Starting as an MCP memberin Ipoh in 1940, the urban-educated Suriani, who had foughtfor the liberation of Malaya (from the British) and also for theliberation of women, began the rapid climb in the MCP whenshe was entrusted to lead a propaganda team in Ipoh, and laterin <strong>Singapore</strong>, and was directly responsible for the relocationof the 10 th Regiment from Pahang to the Malaya-Thai borderin 1953-54. The highest position Suriani had held was that ofcentral committee member of the MCP (Suriani, 2006). Hercharismatic way in handling the tasks and settling the problemsgiven to her and her wide experience in wartime had led herto hold many important appointments within the MCP (RashidMaidin, 2005). In other words, her marriage to the regimentalcommander was a mere coincidence. For Shamsiah, althoughit was not clear what her rank was within the MCP, her leadershipwas groomed by leaders of the 10 th Regiment who werealso former colleagues from the MNP, with the aim to attractmore Malay women to join the movement (Dewan Masyarakat,August 1991).Before the MCP relocated to south Thailand, womencomrades, although their exact number was not known, formedan important part of the fighting strength of the MCP, with afew heading platoons and fighting units. Interestingly, AbdullahC.D. (2007) viewed those women who had perished in theanti-colonial struggle as “Srikandibangsa” (flowers of thenation), a label that was neveraccorded at the time by anyother Malayan political movementto their women wing.They were also involved in the“long march” towards the Malaya-Thaiborder in 1953 whichmany MCP members dubbedthe highest struggle when theyhad to march from one placeto another through thick jungleand mountainous terrain, oftenat the risk of ambush by colonialforces, handicapped byshortage of arms, ammunitionAll rights reserved, StrategicInformation ResearchDevelopment, 2009.and food, and without the support of the Orang Asli and Chinesesquatters who were moved to “New Villages” following theimplementation of the “Briggs Plan” in 1950. 5 The journey itselftook a year and six months to complete (Apa khabar OrangKampong / Village People Radio Show, 2007). For female comrades,they suffered more especially those who were pregnant,such as the case of Zainab Mahmud (Musa Ahmad’s wife) 6 whowas at an early stage of pregnancy when the long march began(Aloysius, 1995). During this testing period, all hygienic needsduring birth or menstruation were secondary with jungle plantsused widely to stop or delay this biological process while somewomen stopped menstruating due to the hardship. These plantswere also used to facilitate abortion or to prevent hunger. 7LIFE IN THE GUERILLA CAMPSAs stressed by Becket (1999), the word “guerilla” connotes warand wartime conditions in difficult terrains like mountain andjungle. Being well versed with the local environment providesmobility to the guerillas who favours “hit-and-run” tactics thatwould inflict damage. It also provides time and opportunityto evade the enemy. Guerillas also tend to enjoy local support,especially those living in the jungle, although at timesthis was secured through terror tactics which were a necessityso as to prolong the struggles (Beckett, 1999). This definitionfits the nature of the MCP struggles. Its tactics of “attackand quick withdrawal” and “hide and survive” becamethe main feature of the MCP guerilla war which enabled it tosurvive until 1989. The MCP guerillas lacked both arms andfood. Hunger and starvation were part of their lives and theyalso had to be constantly on the run and never camped forlong in one place (Ibrahim Chik, 2004; Apa Khabar OrangKampong, 2007).Under this stressful and uncertain condition, both the MPAJAand MCP female guerillas lived their everyday life together withmale comrades. During stressful times, such as the JapaneseOccupation (1941-45) and the Emergency (1948-60) there wasno clear boundaries or lines between gender especially duringwartime as both male and female comrades had to combinetheir collective energy to ensure victory. Like the males,14 biblioasia • April 2010
female combatants underwenta similarly difficult life; they hadto abide by party discipline,undertake specific duties inthe camps such as sentry duty,transporting food which manyfemale comrades claimed asthe most difficult task (Xiulan,1983), cooking and nursing,besides attending militarytrainings and political courses.They were also exposed tooffensive measures by Japaneseintelligence apparatusand later British security forcesAll rights reserved, ObjectifsFilms, 2007.and were liable to be killed if caught by the enemy as reportedin the Straits Echo and Times of Malaya between the late 1940sand early 1950s.Moving to urban guerilla warfare in <strong>Singapore</strong> (<strong>Singapore</strong>became the main base for propaganda work), the colonial responsesaw the arrests of many women including a Chinesewoman who was responsible for directing all the MCP activitiesin <strong>Singapore</strong> (CO 1022/207). Many were also caught bythe <strong>Singapore</strong> authority for their involvement in the “anti-yellowculture” campaign of the 1950s which saw the active involvementof the <strong>Singapore</strong> Women Federation (PRO 27 330/56).The campaign was directed against imported culture which corruptedthe individual and public moral but was perceived by thecolonial government as communist propaganda to raise politicalawareness in the intellectual class (Harper, 1999).Even though their job seemed to be equal to that of themen’s, some of the former female guerillas claimed womenwere given comparatively easy tasks due to their physical built.Perhaps this refers to those from the second-generation combatantswho saw fewer armed skirmishes and the women weregiven tasks such as sewing, breeding animals and nursing aswell as tasks related to the kitchen; these job were less demandingwhereas going to war was preferably given to men.Except for Chang Li Li, most of the women interviewed (mostof them were from the second generation of MCP combatants)claimed they were never involved with any armed skirmishesand that women would be the last to be given weapontraining compared with the men in their camp. They admitted thecombination of bravery and intelligence would certainlyenhance (in the eyes of their superior) the female cadres’opportunity for success (namely, promotion) and to take partin military operations.While war might break down gender boundaries especiallyduring stressful times, and women were able to live in thehostile jungle, in reality, there was little to separate the womenguerillas from womanhood or the emotion of motherhood. Ofinterest are their love life (to be in love and to be loved), marriage,procreation and children. Each camp conducted its everydaylife in accordance with its own rules. Interestingly, whilethe Communist Party of the Philippines’ (CPP) practised a moreliberal policy on sexual matters which created problem to themovement by allowing marriage and, in the end, many femaleCPP were engrossed in looking after their family while war becamethe responsibility of the men (Hilsdon, 1995), the MCPseemed to have a stricter general policy about family life withinthe camp although, towards the end of the struggle, this policybecame more lenient. Marriage was allowed in most MCPcamps but during the Japanese Occupation, husband and wifewere not allowed to work in the same camp to avoid sexualcomplications. As reported by Force 136 (during the liaison withthe MPAJA), these matters were unheard of during their waragainst the Japanese (Chin & Hack, 2004). This complicationbecame common during the Emergency and thereafter withcertain camps putting up a strict policy with regards to love,marriage and pregnancy. The 8 th Regiment in Natawee district,for instance, prohibited its women cadres to be pregnant; and iffound to be so they were forced to have an abortion.As the hostile jungle and wartime condition were notsuitable to raise children, most camps had in place a ruling ofgiving away babies to local villagers. Again the female cadreshad to face enormous emotional struggles to part with theirloved ones. Although some interviewed women tried to hidetheir real feelings at the time of their involvement with the guerillasby saying they did not regret what they had gone through,there were women who refused to think or remember their lifein the jungle, especially when asked about the separation withtheir children. Others simply could not resist motherhood andmanaged to escape from the camp. The 68-year-old Khatijah,who was interviewed in March 2009 in Betong, south Thailand,claimed many women had to endure the feeling of sadnessupon leaving their family behind but did not have the courage toleave camp for fear of possible punishment by the MCP. Somefelt miserable at the time of separation with their babies but relentedas the safety of the children became their main concern(I Love Malaya, 2006). The most tragic incident befell ShamsiahFakeh when she was accused of killing her own baby in thejungle, an accusation, which she claimed was meant to smearher reputation, that she had repeatedly refuted in her memoir.In the memoir she asked her readers “as a nationalist fighter,could a mother kill her own child?” (Shamsiah, 2004: 72).The accusation of killing her son (in the case of ShamsiahFakeh) is probably the only case of its kind in the history of femaleguerillas in the MCP. But the problem of illicit sex, whichled to unwanted pregnancywas nothing new in guerillalife. Sometimes it also involvedleaders of the movementwhich led to morale decline inthe party. Some party membersregarded illicit love affairsas a serious problem thatstarted when the MCP tried tostrengthen the party after thewithdrawal to south Thailandby “accepting newcomers”(men and women) to the party,mostly local Thais. As thereAll rights reserved, ComstarEntertainment, 2006.biblioasia • April 201015
was no clear method to controlrecruitment, the MCP failed todifferentiate the “good guys” fromthe “bad guys”. There were alsomembers who believed womenwere manipulated as a tool tosabotage the MCP; these womenwere sent to create havoc by usingillicit love affairs to ensure thatleaders were engrossed in thisdistraction to the detriment of thepolitical struggle and ideologicalpurity (Ibrahim Chik, 2004: 202).Besides the issue of intimate relationship,MCP members hadalso claimed the enemy (Thaigovernment) had used women topoison their leaders through foodas women were in control of thekitchen. There were many casesof sabotage by poisoning whichwere highlighted in the memoirsof MCP leaders. 8Spies (including women spies) who had infiltrated theMCP had caused considerable chaos among party membersat the end of the 1960s. In its effort to eliminate sabotagethe MCP conducted a rectification campaign to identifyand capture spies. Orchestrating these efforts were afew leading figures of the North Malaya Bureau, including afemale leader by the name of Ah Yen who admitted to usingtorture to get the truth from those arrested. This campaignsaw many women caught and punished on suspicion ofbeing spies (Bei Ma Ju Po Huo Di Jian Zheng Xiang, 1999). InMembers of the 8 th Regiment. Photo courtesy of Mahani Awang.1968, the rectification campaign in the 12 th Regiment saw 35members massacred, 200 others “exposed and criticised” andanother 70 sacked from the party. The same drive was targeted atthe 8 th regiment.The drive to capture spies in the MCP created cracks in themovement as some camp leaders claimed many combatantshad become victims of unproven accusations. The rectificationcampaign, which affected every new recruit and later theveterans, brought about a major split in the MCP into factions,including the MCP central faction, 12 th Regiment breakawayfaction, the MCP (Marxist-Leninist)faction which was formed inAugust 1974 and the MCPrevolutionary faction (formerlythe 8 th Regiment).The author at the entrance of the Khao NamKhang Historical Tunnel Natawee District,Songkhla Province, which used to be thebase camp for the 8th Regiment.Photo courtesy of Mahani Awang.The stairs inside the Khao Nam Khangtunnel which was used as an escape route.Photo courtesy of Mahani Awang.CONCLUSIONFrom the discussion, womendo have their own “space” inwar history whether as fighters,spies, wives, daughters and warvictims.In the case of the guerillamovements in Malaya/Malaysiaand <strong>Singapore</strong>, while thewar broke down the boundariesbetween men and women asthey had to fight for survival andvictory, womanhood was nevertotally suppressed from the femalecomrades. To be in loveand to be loved that often endedin unwanted pregnancies, thesadness of being detached from16 biblioasia • April 2010
motherhood as they were not allowed to raise children in thecamps, and missing out on the “outside world” which led manyto escape, were among the issues that had appeared withincamp life in the jungle. This perspective offers a new insightwith regards to women involvement in the guerilla movementin Malaya, and is different from Khoo’s Life as the River Flowswhich is more concerned with the “voices” of these womencollected through interviews without in-depth analysis.The author wishes to thank Dr Cheah Boon Kheng,Honorary Editor, Journal of Malaysian Branch of the Royal AsiaticSociety (JMBRAS), for his constructive comments on anearlier draft of the paper.ENDNOTES1See, Sybil Kathigasu. (1983). No Dramof Mercy (with Introduction by Sir RichardWinstedt and Preface by Cheah BoonKheng). <strong>Singapore</strong>: Oxford UniversityPress; Zhou Mei. (1995). Elizabeth Choy:More than A War Heroine. <strong>Singapore</strong>:Landmark Books. Sybil and Elizabethsuffered direct physical and psychologicaltorture in the hands of the Japanesekempeitai (military police). Sybil died inJune 1949 due to the torture.2The revelation was made through thepublication of memoirs by victims. See,for instance, Maria Rosa Henson. (1999).Comfort Women: A Filipina’s Storyof Prostitution and Slavery under theJapanese Military. Lanbam: Rowman &Littlefield Publishers; Swee Lian. (2008).Tears of a Teen-age Comfort Women.<strong>Singapore</strong>: Horizontal Books; Jan Huff-O’Herne. (1994). 50 Years of Silence:Comfort Women of Indonesia. Australia:Editions Tom Thompson.3‘Indisch’ denotes both Europeanand Eurasian who had settled in theNetherlands East Indies. They were bornthrough the intimate relationship of theirmothers with Japanese soldiers.4This information was based on interviewswith former female MCP guerillas nowresiding in Betong, south Thailand,between January 2009 and March 2009.5Iskandar Carey. (1976). 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(Directors) (2006).I love Malaya [videorecording].<strong>Singapore</strong>: Objectifs Films, 2006.Call no.: RSING 320.53209225951Interviews49. Aishah @ Suti, personalcommunication, January 7, 1998.50. A’Ling @ A’Yu, personalcommunication, March 11, 2009.51. A’Por @ Wun Jun Yin, personalcommunication, March 11, 2009.52. Chang Li Li, personal communication,January 1, 2009.53. Khadijah Daud @ Mama, personalcommunication, February 25, 2009.54. Leong Yee Seng @ Hamitt, personalcommunication, March 14, 2009.55. Maimunah @ Khamsiah, personalcommunication, February 25, 2009.56. Muna or Mek Pik, personalcommunication, March 14, 2009.57. Shiu Yin, personal communication,March 14, 2009.58. Ya Mai, personal communication,January 1, 2009.18 biblioasia • April 2010
Feature19Chinese Dialect Groups andTheir Occupationsin 19 th and Early 20 th Century <strong>Singapore</strong>“The Teochews are reputed for making fine kuayteow,the Hokkiens for their mee,the Hainanese for their coffee,and the Cantonese for their pee”. 1Li Yih Yuan, Yige Yizhi de Shizhen[ 一 个 移 殖 的 市 镇 : 马 来 亚 华 人 市 镇 生 活 的 调 查 研 究 ]By Jaclyn TeoLibrarianLee Kong ChianReference <strong>Library</strong><strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>The above ditty is a common saying indicative of socialstereotyping among Chinese dialect groups observed in Muar,Johore, in the 1950s. In fact, as far back as the 19 th and early20 th century, there were already studies in <strong>Singapore</strong> highlightingthe relationship between the occupations held by Chineseimmigrants and their dialect origins (Braddell, 1855; Seah,1848; Vaughan, 1874). Hokkiens and Teochews, being earlysettlers on the island, were known to dominate the more lucrativebusinesses, while later immigrants and minority dialectgroups like Hainanese and Foochows were frequently regardedas occupying a lower position in the economic standings(Tan, 1990). Drawing on published English resources availablein the Lee Kong Chian Reference <strong>Library</strong>, this articleaims to explore why certain Chinese dialect groups in <strong>Singapore</strong>,such as Hokkiens, Teochews, Cantonese, Hakkas andHainanese, seem to have specialised in specific trades andoccupations, particularly during the early colonial period untilthe 1950s. It also posits some reasons why dialect groupidentities are no longer as dominant and obvious now asthey used to be.CHINESE MIGRATION TO SINGAPOREBefore delving into the occupational specialisation of eachdialect group, it is important to first understand the social andeconomic background that resulted in the large-scale migrationof Chinese from China to <strong>Singapore</strong> in the 19 th century. Duringthat time, life was extremely difficult in China; overpopulationresulted in a shortage in rice, a basic food staple, which led toinflation. Chinese peasants were also exploited by landlords,who imposed exorbitant rents on cultivable land to counter thehigh land taxes and surcharges levied by the Qing government.Natural calamities further aggravated the situation. From 1877to 1888, for example, the drought in north and east China leftclose to six million people homeless and, without any aid fromthe government, many starved to death. Moreover, China wasalso mired in political turmoil. The Taiping Rebellion (1850-65),which originated in southern China, wiped out about 600 citiesand towns, destroyed all the central provinces of China and adverselyaffected agricultural production, leading to widespreadpoverty and lawlessness. All these factors pushed manyChinese to go overseas in search of a better life (Yen, 1986).Fortuitously, the founding of <strong>Singapore</strong> by the British in 1819,and the subsequent establishment of the Straits Settlementsstates of Penang, Malacca and <strong>Singapore</strong> by 1826 opened upnumerous trade and work opportunities for the Chinese. In thelast quarter of the 19 th century, the discovery of tin in the Malayanstates, as well as the large-scale development of rubberplantations, were additional pull factors for the Chinese tomigrate to the region (Tan, 1986). The British brought aboutlaw and order in the Straits Settlements and initiated policiesof free trade, unrestricted immigration (at least until the AliensOrdinance was introduced in 1933 to limit the number of malemigrants) (Cheng, 1985) and non-interference in the affairs ofthe migrant population, all of which were advantageous to theChinese migrants in search of economic advancement (Tan,1986). <strong>Singapore</strong>, which came under direct British control as acrown colony in 1867, was not only the most important hub inthe south of the Malayan Peninsula for the handling and processingof raw materials, it was also one of the major transitpoints where indentured labour from China and India were deployedto other parts of Southeast Asia. With a thriving economy,abundant job opportunities, and favourable British policies,large numbers of Chinese flocked to <strong>Singapore</strong>. In a letterto the Duchess of Somerset in June 1819, Stamford Raffles,the founder of modern <strong>Singapore</strong>, claimed that his “new colonythrives most rapidly… and it has received an accession ofpopulation exceeding 5000, principally Chinese, and their numberis daily increasing” (quoted in Song, 1923, p. 7). By 1836,the Chinese population (at 45.9%) had already surpassed theindigenous Malay community to become the major ethnic groupin <strong>Singapore</strong> (Saw, 1969).FORMATION OF TRADE SPECIALISATIONSDespite originating from the same country, the Chinesecommunity in <strong>Singapore</strong> was not a homogenous one, but washighly divided and fragmented instead (Tan, 1986). The Chinesecame from different provinces in China and spoke different dialects:those who came from the Fujian province spoke Hokkien;the ones from Chaozhou prefecture spoke Teochew; peoplefrom Guangdong province spoke Cantonese, while those fromHainan Island spoke Hainanese. In addition, the dialect groupsworshipped different local deities and considered their own
traditions and customs to be superior to those of the others(Yen, 1986). As the different spoken dialects posed a significantcommunication barrier between groups, the Chinese immigrantsnaturally banded together within their own provincialcommunities for security and assistance in this new environment(Yen, 1986). This phenomenon was further aided byRaffles’ plan to segregate the different groups (Braddell, 1854).In 1822, Raffles proclaimed that “in establishing the Chinesekampong on a proper footing, it will be necessary to advert tothe provincial and other distinctions among this peculiar people.It is well known that the people of one province are morequarrelsome than another, and that continued disputes and disturbancestake place between people of different provinces”.(Song, 1923, pp.12)How then did the trade specialisations based on dialectgroupings come about? Cheng (1985) posited that the concentrationof each dialect group in specific areas on the islandprovided a geographical and socioeconomic base for startinga trade. As more and more people of the same dialect groupmoved into the same area, the trade that was initially started bysome would become increasingly established and entrenched.This was especially so because new migrants to <strong>Singapore</strong>tended to turn to their relatives (usually of the same dialectgroup) for jobs. Indeed, an early immigrant, Ang Kian Teck,confirmed this point. He related that “when you first arrive in<strong>Singapore</strong>, you find out what your relatives are doing and youfollow suit. If your relatives are rickshaw pullers, then you toowould become one. My elder brother was already in <strong>Singapore</strong>working as chap he tiam shopkeeper, so I joined him.” (quotedin Chou & Lim, 1990, p. 28). It was also natural for experiencedmigrants, such as fishermen, artisans and traders, to continuewith their specialised trades when they resettled. Factors suchas the physical environment, as well as the intervention of secretsocieties, also contributed to the dominance of particulardialect groups in certain trades (Mak, 1981).Mak (1995) puts forth several reasons to explain why suchoccupational patterns continued to persist. First, businesseswhich were capital-intensive, by the very fact that they requiredlarge amounts of resources, tended to exclude the poorer dialectgroups. Close network ties within communities similarlyprevented other dialect groups from participating in the sametrades. The way trade groups were organised, and the formationof occupational guilds and the apprenticeship system, weresuccessful in keeping businesses within certain dialect groups.Occupational guilds helped to contain the supply of materialsand information required for the trade within the dialect group.For example, the <strong>Singapore</strong> Cycle and Motor Traders’ Association,dominated by Henghuas, ensured that the continuationof trade stayed within the same dialect group by encouragingmembers to take over the retiring businesses of fellow clansmen(Cheng, 1985). The apprenticeship system, which entailsthe passing of skills from one to another, was more effectivewhen employers and trainees understood each other. Hence,the employer who was looking for an apprentice would tendto choose someone from the same dialect origin. Over time,the acquired reputation of a dialect group in a particular trademight also prevent other dialect groups from competing in thesame trade successfully.All the above factors reinforced one another and strengthenthe dialect group’s position in that trade. As a result, the “consequenceof dialect trade specialisation is that the particulardialect becomes the language of the trade. Dialect incomprehensibilityamong different dialect groups, dialect patronage,and trade associations are mutually influencing and reinforcing;and together they form a barrier by excluding members of otherdialect groups from entry or effective participation. Thus, unlessthe conditions for dialect trade are disrupted, the trend ofdevelopment is towards further consolidation and expansion.”(Cheng, 1985, p. 90).DOMINANT TRADES FORMAJOR DIALECT GROUPSHokkiensAmong the various dialect groups, Hokkiens were among theearliest to arrive in <strong>Singapore</strong>. It was recorded that the firstgroups of Chinese to arrive in <strong>Singapore</strong> had come from Malaccaand most of these early migrants were believed to beHokkiens, then known as Malacca–born Chinese (Seah, 1848).Subsequently, Hokkiens from Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Yongchunand Longyan prefectures of Fujian province also migratedto <strong>Singapore</strong> (Cheng, 1985). With a long history of junk tradeinvolvement in Southeast Asia, it was natural for Hokkiensto continue to be active in commerce, working as shopkeepers,general agriculturalists, manufacturers, boatmen, porters,All rights reserved, OpinionBooks, 1990.All rights reserved, <strong>Singapore</strong>Society of Asian Studies, 1995.fishermen and bricklayers, according to an estimate made in1848 (Braddell, 1855). In fact, Braddell noted that the HokkienMalaccan Chinese, who were Western educated andhad prior interactions with European merchants, had “a virtualmonopoly of trade at <strong>Singapore</strong>” in the 1850s (p. 115). Rafflesalso noted in a letter to European officials that the morerespectable traders were found among the Hokkiens (Tan,1986). The Hokkiens congregated and settled in Telok AyerStreet, which was near the seacoast, and this gavethem an added advantage for coastal trade. All thesepropelled the Hokkiens to successfully establish a20 biblioasia • April 2010
strong commercial footing onthe island (Cheng, 1985).Hokkiens’ strong economicposition allowed them toaccumulate capital, whichin turn gave them a higherchance of venturing into newbusinesses like rubber plantingwhen the economy grew(Cheng, 1985). Hokkien capitalistswere the first pioneers toinvest in rubber planting, whichwas considered to be a riskierand more capital-intensiveventure than gambier planting,as rubber could be tappedonly after many years, andwas also subjected to violentprice fluctuations. The rubberboom during World War I andthe Korean War strengthenedHokkiens’ economic positionfurther and Hokkiens went onto control the speculative coffee and spice trade, as well as anumber of banks, including the Ho Hong Bank (1917), Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation (1932), United Overseas Bank(1935), Bank of <strong>Singapore</strong> (1954), and Tat Lee Bank (1975), toname a few (Cheng, 1985).Another well-documented trade specialisation amongHokkiens (specifically those who came from Anxi of Quanzhouprefecture) was the chap he tiam business, otherwise knownas the “mixed goods” store or retail provision store business(Chou & Lim, 1990). Well-known Hokkien personalities likeTan Kah Kee and Lee Kong Chian were also involved in thepineapple-canning business (Tan, 1999). All in all, Hokkiensdominated the more lucrative trades and had a lion’s sharein the following fields: banking, finance, insurance, shipping,manufacturing, import and exporttrade in Straits produce,ship-handling, textiles, realtyand even building andconstruction (Cheng, 1985).Hokkiens were and continueto be the largest Chinesedialect group in <strong>Singapore</strong>, accountingfor more than 40% ofthe overall Chinese population(Leow, 2001).A chap he tiam in China Street stocked with dried goods and Chinese produce.Image reproduced from Tan, T. (Ed.). (1990). Chinese dialect groups: Traits and trades, p. 24.All rights reserved, Opinion Books, 1990.the Chaozhou prefecture in Guangdong province.Teochews were inclined towards agriculture, and theireconomic prowess was anchored in the planting and marketingof gambier and pepper (Tan, 1990). Records have shownthat even before the arrival of the British in <strong>Singapore</strong>, someTeochew farmers and their gambier plantations were alreadyon the island (Bartley, 1933). The first Teochews to arrive onthe British colony were believed to have come from the RiauIslands (Cheng, 1985), which had a large Teochew settlement,and was a centre for gambier trade. With a free port status offeringa gateway to international markets, <strong>Singapore</strong> soon replacedRiau as the preferred gambier trading centre for manyTeochew traders. Before long, the gambier and pepper trades in<strong>Singapore</strong> were dominated by Teochews, and in the 1840s,TeochewsTeochews, who are sometimesknown as the “SwatowPeople”, formed thesecond largest dialect groupin <strong>Singapore</strong> (Tan, 1990),and originated largely fromA kelong.Image reproduced from Tan, T. (Ed.). (1990). Chinese dialect groups: Traits and trades, p. 39.All rights reserved, Opinion Books, 1990.biblioasia • April 201021
they made up more than 95%of the Chinese gambier andpepper planters and coolies(Braddell, 1855). Seah EuChin, a Teochew, was said tobe the first Chinese to initiatethe large-scale plantingof gambier and pepper onthe island and his plantation“stretched for eight to ten milesfrom the upper end of RiverValley Road to Bukit Timahand Thomson Road” (Song,1923, p. 20)As gambier and pepper producewas transported to townvia waterways, Teochews tendedto settle along the middleportion of the <strong>Singapore</strong> River.It was said that Teochews onthe left bank of the <strong>Singapore</strong>River were mainly involvedin gambier, pepper and othertropical produce while Teochewson the right bank of theTraditional Chinese medicine shop.Image reproduced from Tan, T. (Ed.). (1990). Chinese dialect groups: Traits and trades, p. 53.All rights reserved, Opinion Books, 1990.<strong>Singapore</strong> River virtually dominated the sundry goods andtextile trades (Phua, 1950). Teochews were also involved inthe boat trade with Siam, Hong Kong, Shantou, Vietnam andWest Borneo (Hodder, 1953), and had a dominant share inthe trading of rice, chinaware, and glassware as well (Cheng,1985). The establishment of the Four Seas CommunicationsBank by leading Teochews in 1907 marked the peak of theireconomic strength.Unfortunately, gambier cultivation declined in <strong>Singapore</strong>from 1850 as a result of soil exhaustion. This led many Teochewsto move their base to Johore (Makepeace, et al, 1921).In addition, as chemicals increasingly replaced gambier as adye, Teochews’ economic strength dwindled further.Another group of Teochews was recorded to have settled inPunggol and Kangkar, along the northern coastal fringes of theisland (Chou, 1990). Living close to the sea, they became experiencedfishermen, boatmen, fishmongers and fish wholesalers.Their livelihood as fishermen was badly affected, however,when the <strong>Singapore</strong> government decided to phase out kelongs(the largest form of fish trap) in favour of fish farms in 1981.CantoneseNumbering 14,853 in 1881, Cantonese were the third largestdialect group after Hokkiens and Teochews. 2 Cantonese originatedfrom the Pearl River Delta region, particularly from theGuangzhou and Zhaoqing prefectures in Guangdong province.They were sometimes labelled as “Macaus” as they had usedMacau as their main port of emigration prior to the openingup of Hong Kong in 1842 (Tan, 1990). The first Cantonese toarrive in <strong>Singapore</strong> was believed to be Chow Ah Chi, who arrivedin <strong>Singapore</strong> together with Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.One source mentioned that he was a carpenter from Penang(Cheng, 1985), while another source claimed that he was infact the cook named Ts’ao Ah Chih on board Raffles’ ship (Tan,1990). Cantonese were among the first to arrive in <strong>Singapore</strong>,and they settled in the Kreta Ayer region as they preferredthe elevated inland areas to the swampy waterfront district(Cheng, 1985).Cantonese were involved in a wide variety of occupations.Seah Eu Chin (1848) observed in 1848 that Cantonese andHakkas were predominantly artisans. Similarly, William Pickering,who later became the First Protector of Chinese in <strong>Singapore</strong>,wrote in 1876 that most Cantonese and Hakkas in theStraits Settlements were miners and artisans. The Cantonesein <strong>Singapore</strong> were known to work as bricklayers, carpenters,cabinet-makers, woodcutters and goldsmiths. Cantonese womenfrom San Sui (Three Rivers), in particular, were noted fortheir contribution to <strong>Singapore</strong>’s construction industry in the1950s and 1960s (Tan, 1990). The Cantonese also opened anumber of restaurants and herbal medical stores in <strong>Singapore</strong>during the late 19 th century (Mak, 1995).Vice was another trade that was reportedly linked to Cantonese(Mak, 1995). The Superintendent of Census remarkedthat most prostitutes were of Cantonese origin, and newspapersof that period reported that there were a few thousandprostitutes in the Kreta Ayer region, an area that was predominantlyoccupied by Cantonese. Although there were also Hokkienand Teochew brothels, their numbers decreased due topressure from Hokkien leaders to close down Hokkien broth-22 biblioasia • April 2010
els in a bid to undo the shame brought to their dialect group,as well as a ban on the emigration of Teochew women fromChaozhou in the 1880s.The trades engaged by Cantonese were mainly craftbasedand were small in scale. Such trades, when comparedto the import and export businesses dominated by Hokkiens,generated much less income and wealth. Thus, Cantonesewere generally regarded as less economically well-off thanHokkiens and Teochews.HakkasUnlike the other dialect groups which were based in oneor two prefectures, the presence of Hakkas was extensivethroughout China. Known as the nomads of China, the southwardmigration to Southeast Asia was a natural progressionInterior of a pawnshop.Image reproduced from Tan, T. (Ed.). (1990). Chinese dialect groups: Traits and trades, p. 70.All rights reserved, Opinion Books, 1990.100 as barbers. Hakkas (together with the Cantonese) in theStraits Settlements were also recognised by Pickering in 1876as miners and artisans. Mak (1995) suggested that Hakkas didnot seem to like sea-related work, as there was no evidenceof any Hakkas working in or near the sea although there wererecords of Hokkien longshore men, Cantonese boat-builders,and Teochew fishermen.Two trades engaged by Hakkas warrant special mention.Pawnbroking was one of them. Regarded as the “poor man’sbank”, pawnshops had more than one hundred years of historyin <strong>Singapore</strong> (Cheng, 1985). Pawnbroking was a service thatthe poor could utilise to get quick cash in return for a pledgeof their valuables. According to Tan and Chua (1990), Hakkasseemed to have dominated this trade right from its beginning.In 1880, <strong>Singapore</strong> did not have any pawnshops, but the Britishgovernment subsequently decidedto kick start the industryby issuing pawnshop licencesto applicants who were willingto pay a fee of $200 per annum.A Dabu Hakka, Mr HoYuen Oh, pioneered this industryby successfully obtainingthe licences to operate thefirst eight pawnshops in <strong>Singapore</strong>.Since then, Hakkas havedominated this trade.Another trade worth notingwas Hakkas’ participationin the textile trade. The textiletrade was initially dominated byTeochews and Hokkiens, butHakkas managed to competeand gain a slice of the marketshare by directing their textileexports to Johore Bahru, Malacca,Ipoh and some parts ofIndonesia, all of which werenot covered by the other twodialect groups (Cheng, 1985).for the community. The term “Hakka” is actually a Cantonesetranslation for “guest family”, or “ke jia” in Mandarin.In <strong>Singapore</strong>, it was documented that Hakkas had settledin South Bridge Road, North Bridge Road and the Lorong TaiSeng area in Paya Lebar (Tan, 1990), while Cheng (1985) alsosuggested that they had largely settled in Pasir Panjang, LimChu Kang, Chua Chu Kang, Kampong Bahru and Jurong.Like Cantonese, Hakkas were involved in a wide range ofcraft-related occupations such as shoemaking, garment manufacturing, tailoring and jewellery making. Estimating the numbersand occupations of Chinese in <strong>Singapore</strong> in 1848, Braddell(1855) recorded that there were about 1,000 Hakkas working ashouse carpenters, 800 involved as woodcutters, 600 as shopkeepersand traders, 500 as blacksmiths, 400 as tailors andshoemakers, 200 as cabinet makers, 100 as goldsmiths andAll rights reserved, <strong>Singapore</strong>University Press, 1985.All rights reserved, OxfordUniversity Press, 1986.biblioasia • April 201023
HainaneseHainanese originated from Hainan Island, which was under thejurisdiction of Guangdong province. Most Hainanese in <strong>Singapore</strong>had come from either the Wencheng or Qiongzhou districtsof Hainan Island (Tan, 1990). Some Hainanese still addressthemselves as “Kheng Chew Nang” (people of Kheng Chew),the old name for Hainan Island. Currently, Hainanese are thefifth largest dialect group in <strong>Singapore</strong>, constituting 6.69% ofthe Chinese population (Leow, 2001).Hainanese migrated to <strong>Singapore</strong> much later than the otherdialect groups, mainly because of the late opening of HainanIsland to foreign trade when Hankou was made a treaty portin 1870. Cheng (1985) noted that there was a lack of Hainanesepresence in <strong>Singapore</strong> in the first 20 years after the island’sfounding, and the first Hainanese association in <strong>Singapore</strong>was established only in 1857. This late migration affectedHainanese economically and left them with few employmentchoices as early settlers such as Hokkiens and Teochews hadby then established a firm foundation in the more lucrative businesseslike commerce, trade and agriculture. With no businesscontacts, and possessing a dialect that was not comprehensibleto most other groups, Hainanese found it difficult to breakinto the commercial sector. They eventually carved a niche forthemselves in the service industries, dominating a range ofoccupations largely associated with food and beverages, suchas coffee stall holders and assistants, bakers, as well as barmenand waiters in local hotels and restaurants (Yap, 1990). Infact, the signature local concoction ”<strong>Singapore</strong> Sling” was saidto be created by Ngiam Tong Boon, a Hainanese bartender whoworked at Raffles Hotel (Conceicao, 2009). Many Hainanesesalso found jobs as domestic servants or cooks for Europeanfamilies and rich Peranakan households. It was not unusual fora British family to hire a Hainanese couple with the husbandtaking charge of both the cook’s and butler’s responsibilitieswhile the wife would assume the role of a housekeeper (Yap,1990). The experience of working for these European and Peranakanfamilies equipped Hainanese with the culinary skillsthey are known for even today – Western food and Nyonya cuisine.Due to their jobs in European households and the militarybases, clusters of Hainanese could be found in the Bukit Timah,Tanglin, Changi and Nee Soon areas (Tan, 1990).Hainanese influence could also be found in the areas aroundBeach Road and Seah Street. These places were pepperedwith Hainanese coffee shops, a trade which the Hainanesedominated until the 1930s (Yap, 1990). Hainanese chose to enterthe food trade as it did not require a large amount of capitalinvestment. They were able to set up simple coffee stalls withjust a few pieces of furniture by the roadside serving coffee tothe masses. From such humble beginnings, Hainanese eventuallyprogressed and moved their businesses to better locationsin shop houses when the rentals for shop houses fell during theDepression years. However, Hainanese dominance in the coffeeshop trade waned in the 1930s and gave way to Foochowsinstead, who operated bigger ventures, were better able tocooperate and were more willing to take advantage ofbank loans (Yap, 1990).Other Dialect GroupsOther dialect groups that existed in <strong>Singapore</strong> includedFoochows (who dominate the coffee shop trade after the1930s), Henghuas and Hokchias (who specialised in the rickshawand bicycle trades) and Shanghainese (otherwise knownas the Waijiangren or Sanjiangren) who were involved in thetailoring, leather goods, antiques, cinema entertainment andsundry goods businesses (Cheng, 1985).EROSION OF DIALECT GROUP IDENTITYIn the past, dialect group identity played an important role in thechoice of occupational specialisation among the early Chineseimmigrant society. However, the same cannot be said for today.Mak (1995) had, in fact, commented that dialect group identitywas by now a “social reality of the past” (p.189).There are a number of factors that have brought about thischange, one of which could be occupational differentiation.When the island was first founded, the jobs available to the newimmigrants were labour-intensive ones that were mostly associatedwith the primary sectors. The requirements for jobs weresimilar and employers tended to hire based on similar dialectorigins, which also guaranteed similar language, culture anda certain level of trust (Mak, 1995). As the economy advancedand grew, jobs grew in complexity and required different skillsets. As a result, employers began to hire according to one’sskills or education rather than dialect group association. Thepresence of job placement and training agencies also perpetuatedthe importance of skills in a successful job search.A second reason for dialect group erosion could be thedecreasing need to maintain ties with clansmen (Tan, 1986).Early immigrants felt a need to band together within similardialect groups for security and support in a new environment.However, generations later, there is a much lower sense ofcultural affinity to China, and a greater focus on nation-buildingin a multicultural <strong>Singapore</strong> instead.Another important factor that contributed to the erosion ofdialect group identity would be the “Speak Mandarin” campaignlaunched in 1979, which promoted the use of Mandarin as acommon language in a bid to unify the Chinese of differentdialect groups.CONCLUSIONThe early Chinese settlers who migrated to <strong>Singapore</strong> in the19 th and early 20 th centuries banded together in their respectivedialect groupings for security and support in a new environment,which reinforced the occupational specialisations associatedwith special dialect groups. Hokkiens, being early arrivals, hadgained a lion’s share in lucrative trades like commerce, banking,shipping, and manufacturing, while Teochews were mostlyagriculturalists and their financial strength was anchored in theplanting and marketing of gambier and pepper. Cantonese dominatedthe crafts-related trades, Hakkas in pawnbroking, andHainanese featured prominently in the services sector. Whilepatterns could be observed between the types of occupationsand dialect groups, it should be pointed out that thesituation of “one dialect group one occupation” never24 biblioasia • April 2010
existed and could only be regarded as a myth (Mak, 1995).Hence, even when a dialect group dominated a particulartrade, there might still exist minority members fromother dialect groups who were involved in the same trade.Today, dialect groupings no longer play such an importantrole in occupational choice. While employers in the past tendedto hire based on similar dialect origin, such clan affiliationsare no longer as important in today’s recruitment scene, andhave given way to other employment considerations such aseducational qualifications and suitable skill sets instead.ENDNOTES1Pee: a crude slang implying alady’s genitals.2Cheng (1985) claimed that betweenthe years 1891 and 1947, Cantonesewere the second largest group afterHokkiens, and were only overtaken byTeochews in numbers after 1947.REFERENCES1. Bartley, W. (1933). Population of<strong>Singapore</strong>. Journal of the MalaysianBranch of the Royal Asiatic Society.11(2), 177.Microfilm no.: NL 262392. Braddell, T. (1854). Notices of<strong>Singapore</strong>. Journal of IndianArchipelago and Eastern Asia,8(4), 101-110.Microfilm no.: NL257963. Braddell, T. (1855). Notes on theChinese in the Straits of Malacca.Journal of the Indian Archipelago andEastern Asia, 9(2), 109-124.Microfilm no.: NL257974. Cheng, L. K. (1985). Social changeand the Chinese in <strong>Singapore</strong>: Asocio-economic geography with specialreference to bang structure. <strong>Singapore</strong>:<strong>Singapore</strong> University Press.Call no.: RSING 369.25957 CHE5. Chou, C. (1990). Teochews in thekelong industry. In T. Tan (Ed.),Chinese dialect groups: Traits andtrades (pp. 38-50). <strong>Singapore</strong>:Opinion Books.Call no.: RSING 305.8951095957 CHI6. Chou, C., & Lim, P. Y. (1990). Hokkiensin the provision shop business. InT. Tan (Ed.), Chinese dialect groups:Traits and trades (pp. 21-37).<strong>Singapore</strong>: Opinion Books.Call no.: RSING 305.8951095957 CHI7. Conceicao, J. L. (2009, March 25).Hainanese community. RetrievedFebruary 7, 2010 from <strong>Singapore</strong>Infopedia http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1492_2009-03-25.html.8. Freedman, M. (1960). Immigrantsand associations: Chinese innineteenth century <strong>Singapore</strong>.Comparative Studies in Society andHistory, 3(1), 25-48. RetrievedDecember 21, 2009 fromJSTOR: the scholarly journal archive.9. Hodder, B. W. (1953). Racial groupingsin <strong>Singapore</strong>. The Malayan Journal ofTropical Geography, I, 25 - 36.Microflm no.: NL1032710. Leow, B. G. (2001). Censusof population 2000: Demographiccharacteristics. Statistical release1. <strong>Singapore</strong>: Department of Statistics,Ministry of Trade and Industry.Call no.: RSING q304.6021095957 LEO11. Li, Y. Y. (1970). Yige yizhi de shizen[An immigrant town: Life in a Chineseimmigrant community in SouthernMalaya]. Taipei: Institute of Ethnology,Academemia Sinica.(Available at Nanyang TechnologicalUniversity, Wang Gungwu <strong>Library</strong>@Chinese Heritage Centre.)12. Mak, L. - F. (1981). The sociology ofsecret societies: A study of Chinesesecret societies in <strong>Singapore</strong> andPeninsula Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur;New York: Oxford University Press.Call no.: RSING 366.095957 MAK13. Mak, L. -F. (1995). The dynamics ofChinese dialect groups in early Malaya.<strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>Singapore</strong> Society ofAsian Studies.Call no.: RSING 305.89510595 MAK14. Makepeace, W., et al. (1921). Onehundred years of <strong>Singapore</strong> (Vol.1).London: John Murray.Call no.: 959.57 ONE -[HIS]15. Phua, C. L. (1950) Ma lai ya chaoqiao tong jian [The Teochews inMalaya]. <strong>Singapore</strong>: South IslandPublisher. [ 潘 醒 农 (1950) 马 来 亚 潮 侨 通鉴 , 新 加 坡 : 新 加 坡 南 岛 出 版 社 ]Call no.: RCLOS. 305.895105951 PXNMicrofilm no.: NL 958316. Pickering, W. A. (1876, October). TheChinese in the Straits of Malacca.Fraser’s Magazine, 440.17. Saw, S. - H. (1969). <strong>Singapore</strong>population in transition. Philadelphia:University of Pennsylvania Press.Call no.: RCLOS 301.3295957 SAW18. Seah, U. - C. (1848). The Chinesein <strong>Singapore</strong>. Journal of the IndianArchipelago and Eastern Asia,2(9), 283-289.Microfilm no.: NL2579019. Song, O. S. (1923). One hundredyears’ history of the Chinese in<strong>Singapore</strong>. London: Murray.Call no.: RCLOS 959.57 SON20. Tan, B. (1999, January 22). Tan KahKee. Retrieved February 7, 2010 from<strong>Singapore</strong> Infopedia http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_839_2004-12-28.html.21. Tan, T. (1986). Your Chinese roots: Theoverseas Chinese story. <strong>Singapore</strong>:Times Books International.Call no.: RSING 301.451951 TAN22. Tan, T. (Ed.). (1990). Chinese dialectgroups: Traits and trades. <strong>Singapore</strong>:Opinion Books.Call no.: RSING 305.8951095957 CHI23. Vaughan, J. D. (1874). The mannersand customs of the Chinese.<strong>Singapore</strong>: Oxford University Press.Call no.: RSING 390.0951 VAU -[CUS]24. Yap, M. T. (1990). Hainanese in therestaurant and catering business. . InT. Tan (Ed.), Chinese dialect groups:Traits and trades (pp. 78-90).<strong>Singapore</strong>: Opinion Books.Call no.: RSING 305.8951095957 CHI25. Yen, C. H. (1986). A social history ofthe Chinese in <strong>Singapore</strong> and Malaya1800-1911. <strong>Singapore</strong>: OxfordUniversity Press.Call no.: RSING 301.45195105957 YENbiblioasia • April 201025
26Feature<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Distinguished ReaderInsights fromDr Andrew ChewBy Joseph DawesResearch Associate IPublishing and Research Services<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>Dr Andrew Chew is one of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>’s DistinguishedReaders. The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Distinguished Readers Initiativewas launched in April 2006 with the aim to honour and paytribute to prominent and learned <strong>Singapore</strong>ans whoseleadership and professional success in their respective fieldsDr Chew... multiplier effect.have propelled <strong>Singapore</strong> as a key player on the global stage,whether in government, business, academia or the arts. The<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> interviews Dr Chew on his insights.<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>: You have said you found the mostsatisfaction in finding ways to create a multiplier effect.You extolled teaching and teachers (in any profession)as being able to create that multiplier effect. How canlibraries be part of that landscape in teaching and learningto multiply the talent base in <strong>Singapore</strong>?Dr Andrew Chew: Libraries are important because they keep thepopulation informed. Our library is unique and I have not seenan equivalent anywhere else. Even libraries have changed asthe world has changed in terms of technology and the Internet.I trust the Wikipedia to a large extent even though some mayhave reservations. As the world has changed in terms of technology,probably the type ofuser has changed as well.Yet, I still like reading froma book or magazine ratherthan a computer screen,despite the Internet andits technologies. Individualsread selectively. Forsome, a trip to the libraryis a family affair, and differentmembers are in differentsections of the library.So libraries are still veryuseful, but it has differentpurposes for differentindividuals. If an individualenjoys his experience inthe library, he is bound todraw in others he knowsas well, and that createsthe multiplier effect. Whatthe libraries in <strong>Singapore</strong>have done is make everybodycomfortable and peopleknow what and whereto get anything they wanteasily. Today, it is really wonderful that libraries here are a connectednetwork rather than operating as single entities.NL: What is your favourite book or discourse? Why do youlike it and would you recommend it to others?AC: It could be something I could have enjoyed years ago, andyet go back to it again to enjoy it. But I do not read very lengthythings. I had a visitor from Texas who asked for books thatwould describe <strong>Singapore</strong>. I said there were many books writtenby <strong>Singapore</strong>ans, but I gave him a book by a man whostayed here for 10 years and since migrated to Australia. The
author is Neil Humphreys whose latest publication is CompleteNotes from <strong>Singapore</strong> – Omnibus Edition. That is one of myways to share about <strong>Singapore</strong>.I also enjoy books that teach you what to do. My interestin <strong>National</strong> Geographic over the years has triggered and sustainedmy interest in maps. For example, my granddaughterwho is at McMurdo (or Mac Town) in the Antarctica for research,studying various periods of the Ice Age in the south, has postedpictures of different places there on her blog. As long as Iam interested in that, I have got to find out where exactly MacTown is! So my interest in maps has remained intact over theyears and is tied up with my interest in the <strong>National</strong> Geographicmagazine. And wherever I held office, I had a lot of detailedmaps. Looking at a map is fascinating as the orientation to theplace is different from that if I were to have just read about it.Interest is developed as you go along. One does not needto tell others to develop an interest. Reading as many sourcesas possible provides you with a way to pick and choose whatis interesting for yourself. I do, from time to time, share what Ihave read with others and even recommend it. For example, if Ifind an interesting read on doing business in India, I print out acopy of the article and pass it on to someone who may need it.That is my way of passing on information that is useful.NL: The knowledge economy requires leadership thatoperates on different resources and premises fromthose that succeeded in the industrial economy. Howdo you think <strong>Singapore</strong> can enhance its human capitalinvestments in the knowledge economy?AC: Per capita income of families has gone up, which is good.Parents can now afford to give their children more. They havegiven them access to modern electronic equipment, which isvery important. In the old days, parents would say, “Why shouldwe spoil these kids and waste their time by giving them gameswhen they should be studying.” But we find now that their abilityto send SMSes (short message service) or punch keys is goingto serve them well in the office and, more importantly, in theSAF (<strong>Singapore</strong> Armed Forces). From that point, we should notstop them from picking up and keeping these skills. Today, ouryoungsters have a very good knowledge of what is available.Modern instrumentation has made all this possible.Modern armies have also changed. Look at how the Americansfought the war in Afghanistan and in Iraq. These are soldierswith brains. And that’s what our third-generation SAF hasto be. We want soldiers who can make use of robotic equipmentand in the enemy territory, without getting themselves exposed.Even if you have the money, but if you don’t have thebasic knowledge, you can’t make it. The way we see it, ouryoungsters in the SAF are going to be top-notch soldiers.When it comes to mathematics, Indians are very strong.If you look at the graduates from the neighbouring countries,most are from the arts and social sciences and not the hardsciences. We have a balance of both.So IT (information technology) is something we mustpush very hard and we must continue to do so though we aredoing okay. Today, we can do a surgical procedure withmodern IT equipment making very small punctures in the bodyand getting the job done. You can develop the skills. So it’sabout education. I’m glad we spend about 6% of our nationalbudget on defence, and a little over 4% on education. Thinkabout some countries that spend about 50% on defence, buttheir economy is not that great. So the rest of the country isliving very poorly.NL: You have noted that progress tends to come in spurtsand yet there is a tendency to want to accomplish thingsso fast that some in the public may feel marginalised orflat footed. How can libraries remain relevant or evenbecome touchstones of new forms of learning withoutalienating some in the public?AC: It’s a fact that those who are fortunate can get a lot andcan get it very quickly. So there is this difference in societyalready. We cannot run away from this: there will always be therich and there will always be the poor. But we try to even outas much as we can. Fortunately for us in this country, we havea thick base of middle-class. That’s very important. And that,of course, helps to maintain a stable government and country.To keep pace with advances, scientific libraries will provide thatdirection. But in the overall education of the public, libraries willcontinue to be important.In <strong>Singapore</strong> we have an educated population that can respondto the progress of the libraries. Censorship is somethingthat we can’t run away from. I don’t believe in the so-calledtotal freedom that some advocate. The way the Americanspractise democracy is a bit extreme and I would not like it forthis country. We come from a different part of the world and wefind their way a bit strange. Total freedom is only good whena person can exercise 100% responsibility. In any population,that cannot be guaranteed. Not every individual is trustworthy.So there will always be a need for caution and modification.NL: What are some of your cherished memories of thelibraries in <strong>Singapore</strong> or around the world?AC: In Australia, there are libraries in townships and counties,but not to the extent we have here. My own experience of librariesis that they are specific to the place I study or work. Both asan undergraduate and as a post-graduate, I visited the medicallibrary quite often. Libraries must also be easily accessible andthis promotes use of the library, and people take advantage ofthe proximity. There was a library in Siglap Community Centre,which was just 200 metres from my home. I used to visit thatplace many days a week. I borrowed books, read and returnedthem and borrowed again. I really enjoyed it. Then the librarymoved to Marine Parade. I found I was visiting the library lessafter that. But I still visited.I am not a user of libraries in other parts of the world thoughI have visited them. In <strong>Singapore</strong>, of course, libraries are usefulfor me when I have a need for something. I used the medical libraryvery often even 25 years ago. Today I don’t access libraryfacilities like I once used to though there are other ways andmeans I get the information I want.biblioasia • April 201027
NL: How would you describe your experiences sitting inon Cabinet meetings across two prime ministerships?AC: As Head of Civil Service I served the first and second PrimeMinisters. As Chairman of the Public Service CommissionI liaised closely with the second and third Prime Ministers.Of course, when they had private matters to discuss, wewould not be inside for the meeting. We would be there onlyfor the weekly Cabinet meetings during which proper paperswere presented.One very good thing I noted was that a decision once madewas said to have consensus. There was no such thing as someonesaying, “Please write down that I have made an objection.”The decisions were fairly straightforward. Consensus is howthe government has worked and it has been very good. A lotwould have been decided even before the meeting is held. Butcontroversial issues would have to be sorted out first, involvingtwo or three ministries putting their heads together even beforethe meeting, or else it wouldn’t be brought up.Preparations for Cabinet meetings were very carefullycarried out. It also showed that ministries could not just workon their own. They must liaise with one another. There was atime when two ministers couldn’t agree on some financial issuesand the government swapped their portfolios just to helpthem see the other’s need. You know best when you are insideit, not when you see it from the outside! So both the prime ministerswere cautious and careful and the ministries worked as ateam, which was wonderful.NL: What were the changes taking place in outlook andaspirations of young <strong>Singapore</strong>ans during the period whenyou chaired the PSC (Public Service Commission) sinceyou had interviewed so many of them for scholarships?AC: Actually, the changes occurred well before that. We couldsee that quite clearly. Even when I worked at different ministries,there were scholars who wanted to break their bonds. Iwould speak to them as I wanted to know their reasons. Forexample, one said the family business needed him, and youcould understand his needs. But at the same time I took theapproach, “the door is always open, please come back whenyou think you want to come back.” We had conveyed a verybad impression that once you’ve left, you cannot come back,which was wrong. I had always made it a point not to leave abitter taste in their mouth. Their reasons for breaking the bondas they saw it, seemed right to them, even though it might notseem so to me. But that did not mean they were wrong. Therewere president’s scholars who said, “I will never get a chanceto work in this American law firm if I do not take it up now.” Sowe said, “We’ll meet you half way. One year? Two years? Thencome back?” They said, “No, they want me for many moreyears.” Then, if the parents were willing to pay the bond, theywere free to leave. A few factors needed to be taken into consideration:No longer were scholarships sought after becausethe applicants were poor. Some could afford them and stillwanted the scholarships, so we gave them on merit.At that time we knew the number of “A” level studentswho applied for scholarships and realised not all eligible onesapplied. Their parents could afford their education. So you cansee that patterns have changed because the per capita incomehas gone up. Sometimes the families may prefer them not totake up the scholarship. Sometimes the youngsters may notwant the scholarship. We want good scholars, so we sell. Butwe sell in such a way that we don’t lose dignity in the process.We try to make it clear that we view them as persons who canfill leadership positions in the civil service. Even as undergraduates,they will be exposed to areas that we will arrange to makethem realise that we are serious. In this way, it is a very clearand open way to show that we know their concerns and that wealso have our concerns, but let us do it this way. I have spokento the prime ministers on this and they have said to continue togive as many scholarships as we can. But we make sure theyknow that this is something special and not treat it as a run-ofthe-milloffer. And there is no quota. This year if there are only100 eligible, so be it. And next year if there are 150, every oneof them must get it.But scholars also have changed. Some have been givenlocal scholarships, and they ask to go overseas. We did that fora long time with the medical scholars; we never gave scholarshipsto study overseas. But the market changes. As I said,parents can afford it. So I decided before I finished my term ofoffice, that I should reverse the trend and I gave them scholarshipsto study medicine in the United Kingdom.But we still have scholars who want to study in <strong>Singapore</strong>and they have their reasons. Maybe they want to remain closeto their families, or some other reason. There was a time whenonly the medical faculty received president scholars. Then science,engineering and all the other faculties asked why theydidn’t receive president scholars. But actually, most of thepresident scholars wanted to study abroad.NL: As the head of the civil service once yourself, andnow a user of civil service products, what do you thinkare the new skills and mindset that civil servants need toserve <strong>Singapore</strong> well?AC: When we talk about civil servants, don’t forget there is atotal range: from the top man to the one who serves you acrossthe counter. I think of myself today as a user of services and Igo to the counter. We have provided the training skills at thatlevel to enable them to serve the public. As far as I am concernedthis has been reasonably well fulfilled. I have had occasionswhen I was a little upset - not necessarily encounteringanother civil servant, but even in the private sector. These arethings you have to accept. And I don’t think you want to use avery coarse instrument against everybody. So if you ask mewhat we need to do, there so many levels - each one mustensure that each level functions well. Not only horizontal integration,but a little bit of vertical integration as well. WhenI talk about vertical integration I am not talking about the 10layers. I am talking about only two layers. It’s impractical totalk about the top.This country is not run by just people at the top. Many arecontributing at the lower levels. Let’s not allow them to feel theyare losing out on the quality of life.28 biblioasia • April 2010
Collection Highlights29Green Matters: The Environmentand Sustainability Collectionat the Lee Kong Chian Reference <strong>Library</strong>“We are living in this planet as if we had another one to go to.”Paul ConnettProfessor Emeritus of ChemistrySt Lawrence University, Canton, NY 1By Sara PekSenior LibrarianLee Kong ChianReference <strong>Library</strong><strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>The first major study 2 on the full impact of climate change onhuman life warns that the world is in the throes of a “silentcrisis”. Published in June 2009, it claims that more than 300million people are seriously affected by global warming todayand that number will double by 2030.We face many environmental challenges such as watershortages, pollution, global warming and consequent risingsea levels. As citizens of the planet Earth, we can and shouldtake responsibility to save the environment. The Environmentand Sustainability collection at the Lee Kong Chian Reference<strong>Library</strong> aims to inform and provide insights and ideas on a broadspectrum of resources on major environmental trends and issuessuch as climate change, global warming, sustainable development,green business and buildings and clean technology.This article highlights selected publications from the collection.ENVIRONMENT101Environmental awareness isa hot topic today. To increaseyouth’s awareness of the livingsurroundings, schoolsare integrating environmentalconcepts into their curriculum.One useful resource that canhelp teachers, librarians, environmentaleducators andparents find authoritative informationon building a library ofenvironmental books, curriculumplanning and story-timeactivities is Green reads: Bestenvironmental resources foryouth, K-12 (Wesson, 2009).All rights reserved, LibrariesUnlimited/ABC-CLIO, 2009.More than 450 current fiction and non-fiction titles about theenvironment, including digital media, are covered.Students and professionals seeking to understand theenvironmental sciences can refer to a range of references onthe topics. The Oxford companion to global change (Goudie& Cuff, 2009) is a well-balanced coverage of the Earthsystems and human factors. It examines key environmentalevents, trends and issues related to global change. The 2007All rights reserved, OxfordUniversity Press, 2009.All rights reserved, HoughtonMifflin, 1994.report of the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change(IPCC), which assesses thescientific, technical, environmental,economic and socialaspects of climate change,is discussed.Numerous heroes of theenvironment have cared intenselyabout the environment.Works on these prominentenvironmental leaders and visionaries,activists, scientists,innovators and entrepreneurssuch as Rachel Carson, AldoLeopold, Jane Goodall, JohnMuir, David Attenborough, AlGore, Tim Flannery, LesterBrown and Henry David Thoreaucan be found in the library.One book that many consideredas the most importantenvironmental book of the20 th century is Rachel Carson’sSilent spring (Carson,1962, 1994 reprint). Carsonalerts readers on the widespreaduse of chemical pesticidesdestroying wildlife andposing serious threat to publichealth. The brave womanfaced condemnation and strikes by the chemical industryto ban the book. In the end, she succeeded increating public awareness of the environment, which ledto changes in government policy and inspired the modernecological movement.Earth Day is celebrated every year. It is a special day toappreciate the planet Earth and be environmentally conscious.The first Earth Day in 1970 was often thought as oneof the factors leading to the field of environmental ethics.A good introduction to this increasingly urgent topic is
Environmental ethics: An antholgy (Rolston & Light, 2003). Thistext is compilation of classical and contemporary essays on keyenvironmental debates and issues.Cities throughout the world face the common challenge tobalance sustainability, economic progress and good governance.There are many discussions addressing the subject ofenvironmentally sustainable development such as: Resilientcities: Responding to peak oil and climate change (Newman,Beatley & Boyer, 2009) and World cities: Achieving liveabilityand vibrancy (Ooi & Yuen, 2010).The largest and most discussed report in recent years isStern Review on the Economics of Climate Change (Stern,2007). This 700-page report is a comprehensive analysis ofthe economic aspects of environmental issues. Compiled by aneconomist, the review gives an optimistic assessment for thefuture but warns that the world must act now on climate changeto avoid devastating economic consequences.A deluge of eco-literaturehas been coming to the libraryshelves. Some bookscarry weight for the specificmessage they convey. Othersstand out for the clarity theybring to environmental andclimate issue such as globalwarming, carbon footprints andgreenhouse emissions. Manypopular works have becomeinstant classics.Some of these greenAll rights reserved, Farrar,Straus & Giroux, c2008.books include: Our choice:A plan to solve the climatecrisis (Gore, 2009), Hot, flat,and crowded: Why we need a green revolution – and how itcan renew America (Friedman, 2008), Earth in mind: On education,environment, and the human (Orr, 2004) and Eco barons:The dreamers, schemers, and millionaires who are saving ourplanet (Humes, 2009).GLOBAL RACE FOR CLEAN RESOURCES“Because our economic future depends on our leadershipin the industries of the future, we are investing in basic appliedresearch... We know the nation that leads in clean energywill be the nation that leads the world.”United States President Barack Obama’s speech 3 on the economyand job creation ideas on 8 December 2009.The benefits of producing clean and sustainable powerfrom renewable energy sources have received growing attentionworldwide, including in <strong>Singapore</strong>. The International EnergyAgency (IEA) reports 4 that nations must invest US$37trillion in energy technologies by 2030 to avoid climate catastropheand meet energy needs. Asia’s rising “clean technologytigers” 5 – China, Japan and South Korea – are poised to win theclean energy race with their hefty investment in clean energyinfrastructure and technology.All rights reserved. John Wiley& Sons, 2009.All rights reserved, CollinsBusiness, 2008.Since identifying clean technology as a strategic part of asustainable economy, the <strong>Singapore</strong> government has committed$700 million 6 for R&D and manpower training to growthe sector. Clean technology or “clean-tech” is applied in abroad range of industries, including energy, water, manufacturing,advanced materials and transportation. Examplesof clean-tech are solar and wind energy, water filtrationand electric vehicles.To support the information needs of this rapidly emergingfield, the library has built a collection of key publications onmarket trends, investment, technological and economic aspectsof renewable energy. Recent titles include: Global energytransformation: Four necessary steps to make clean energy thenext success story (Larson, 2009), Clean money: Picking winnersin the green tech boom (Rubino, 2009) and The clean techrevolution: Discover the top trends, technologies, andcompanies to watch (Pernick & Wilder, 2008).The push for environmental and water technologies (EWT)industry has also thrown up new and exciting challengesfor those in the engineering fields. Job seekers and practicingengineers looking to strengthen their career prospectscan refer to titles like Alternative energy systems and application(Hodge, 2010) and Energy systems engineering:Evaluation and implementation (Vanek & Albright, 2008), TheYaws handbook of properties for environmental and greenengineering (Yaws, 2008) and Handbook of environmentalengineering calculations (Lee & Lin, 2007).Online databases 7 , such as IEEE/IET electroniclibrary, SpringerLink, Nature.com and Proquest Science offer,premium content from international journals and reports. <strong>Library</strong>users can access these resources at the library or at home.Some of the periodicals available are Energy Design Update,Energy Compass, Energy Engineering, Energy Intelligence,The Energy Journal, The Journal of Energy Markets, Water &Wastewater International, Water Environment Research andJournal of Water Resource and Protection.GOING GREENGreen is now mainstream. A <strong>National</strong> Geographic survey,Greendex 8 shows that consumers are buying more green30 biblioasia • April 2010
products even during the economic crisis of 2008. Companiesare introducing new greener products. Books on green marketingand green business like The truth about green business(Friend & Kordesch & Privitt, 2009), Harvard Business Reviewon green business strategy (Harvard business review, 2007)and Strategies for the green economy: Opportunities and challengesin the new world of business (Makower & Pike, 2009)are relevant to this segment of readers.However, media experts 9All rights reserved, McGraw-Hill, 2009.warn that marketing strategiesdubbed “greenwashing” couldbe leading the eco-consciousastray as more companies aremaking false or misleadinggreen marketing claim.With pressing interest ingreen economy, organisationsare adapting to new environmentalpolicy and regulations.Others are developing strategiesfor sustainable businessor “green” their operation.Policy makers and businessstakeholders wondering howpolicy decisions come about can be better informed frombooks such as Environmental policy analysis and practice(Greenberg, 2007). The author explains clearly how all policyconsiderations are broken down and tools that are widely used inpolicy analysis.The <strong>Singapore</strong> government has been a key driver forenvironmental change since independence. After 40 yearsof dedicated green and clean programmes, the country haswon numerous international accolades. Readers interested totrace the remarkable transformation of <strong>Singapore</strong> can refer tobooks about <strong>Singapore</strong>’s experience with environmentalmanagement and pollution cotrol.Energy-efficient buildings are universally recognised toreduce greenhouse gas emission. A <strong>Singapore</strong> Green BuildingCouncil (SGBC) was set up to drive the green-buildingsmovement in <strong>Singapore</strong>. 10 The Building and ConstructionAuthority (BCA) has announced ambitious effortsto have 80% of <strong>Singapore</strong>‘s buildings attain minimumgreen-certified standards by 2030. The “green collar” sector isexpected to grow by leaps and bounds. There will be strong demandfor manpower in the development, design, construction,operation and maintenance ofgreen buildings.Environmental planners,consultants and plant operatorslooking for references onenergy efficient buildings,green architecture and ecocitywill find many new titles onthe topics, for example, Thegreen building bottom line: Thereal cost of sustainable building(Melaver & Mueller, 2009),Ecomasterplanning (Yeang,2009) and Green architecturenow! (Jodidio, 2009).Green vehicles will soon hit the roads in <strong>Singapore</strong>. A multiagencytaskforce led by the Energy Market Authority (EMA)and Land Transport Authority(LTA) has embarked on nationalelectric vehicles (EVs)test-bedding programme. 11 Itwill allow testing of differentEV prototypes and chargingtechnologies and researchinto vehicle-to-grid (V2G)power. Anyone interestedto know the technology andissues behind EV can referto books such as Futurecars: Bio fuel, hybrid, electric,hydrogen, fuel economyAll rights reserved, John Wiley& Sons, c2010.All rights reserved, Chichester,2009.in all sizes and shapes (Bethscheider-Kieser, 2008) andPlug-in electric vehicles: What role for Washington?(Sandalow, 2009).CONCLUSIONIt is currently believed that science and technology can provideeffective solutions to most environmental problems. However,efforts to conserve natural resources and preserve the wildernessand even local culture should not be overlooked to ensurea healthy environment for all living beings on Earth. To quotea recent ad from The <strong>Singapore</strong> Environmental Council (SEC),“It starts with their lives. It ends with yours.” Humans andanimals are all affected by global warming. Go, readgreen and live green.ENDNOTES1Commissioners face waste disposalcrisis. (2007, August 30). The FrederickNews Post Online. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2010 from http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=644122Global Humanitarian Forum. (2009).Human impact report: Climate change - Theanatomy of a silent crisis. Retrieved January,18, 2010 from http://ghfgeneva.org/Portals/0/pdfs/human_impact_report.pdf3Obama, B. (2009, December 8).Remarks by the President on jobcreation and economic growth. TheWhite House. The Brookings Institution,Washington, D.C. Retrieved January 18,2010 from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-jobcreation-and-economic-growthbiblioasia • April 201031
ENDNOTES4International Energy Agency. (2009).World energy outlook 2009. Paris:Washington, D.C.: Organisation forEconomic Co-operation and Development.Call no. R 333.79 WEO5Breakthrough Institute and the InformationTechnology and Innovation Foundation.(2009, November). Rising tigers, sleepinggiant: Asian nations set to dominate theclean energy race by out-investing theUnited States. Retrieved January 18,2010 from http://thebreakthrough.org/blog/Rising_Tigers.pdf6Chee, K. G. (March 11, 2009). Highhopes for <strong>Singapore</strong> cleantech. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2010 from http://cleantech.com/news/4256/setting-high-hopessingapore-cleant7<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board (2009).eResources. Retrieved January 18, 2010from http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/8GreenDex: Survey of SustainableConsumption (2009). <strong>National</strong> Geographic.Retrieved January 18, 2010 from http://www.nationalgeographic.com/greendex/9France-Presse, A. (December 5, 2009).Beware the great “greenwashing” con,experts warn. Retrieved January, 18, 2010from http://lifestyle.sg.msn.com/afp/article.aspx?cp-documentid=373404810<strong>Singapore</strong> Green Building Council(2009). A strategic plan. Retrieved January18, 2010 from http://www.sgbc.sg/images/uploads/SGBC_Strategic_Plan_v5.pdf11Energy Market Authority. (2009).Electric vehicles test bedding. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2010 from http://www.ema.gov.sg/index.php?option=com_news&task=article&cid[]=6REFERENCES1. Bethscheider-Kieser, U. (2008).Future cars: Bio fuel, hybrid, electric,hydrogen, fuel economy in all sizesand shapes. Ludwigsburg: Avedition.Call no.: R 629.229 BET2. Carson, R. (1994). Silent spring.Boston: Houghton Mifflin.Call no.: R 363.7384 CAR3. Friedman, T. L. (2008). Hot, flat,and crowded: Why we need a greenrevolution – and how it can renewAmerica. New York: Farrar,Straus and Giroux.Call no.: R 363.705250973 FRI4. Friend, G., Kordesch, N. & Privitt, B.(2009). The truth about green business.Upper Saddle River, N.J.: FT Press.Call no.: RBUS 658.4083 FRI5. Gore, A. (2009). Our choice: A planto solve the climate crisis.London: Bloomsbury.Call no.: R 363.73874 GOR6. Goudie, A. & Cuff, D. J. (Eds.). (2009).The Oxford companion to globalchange. New York: OxfordUniversity Press.Call no.: R 363.7 OXF7. Greenberg, M. R. (2007).Environmental policy analysis andpractice. New Brunswick, N.J.:Rutgers University Press.Call no.: R 363.700973 GRE8. Harvard business review on greenbusiness strategy. (2007). Boston,Mass.: Harvard Business School Pub.Call no.: RBUS 658.4083 HAR9. Hodge, B. K. (2010). Alternative energysystems and applications. Hoboken,NJ: John Wiley & Sons.Call no.: R 621.042 HOD10. Humes, E. (2009). Eco barons: Thedreamers, schemers, and millionaireswho are saving our planet.New York: Ecco.Call no.: R 363.70092273 HUM11. Jodidio, P. (2009). Grüne Architekturheute! = L’architecture verted’aujourd’hui! [Green architecturenow!]. Cologne: [Germany]: Taschen.Call no.: RART 720.47 JOD12. Larsson, M. (2009). Global energytransformation: Four necessary stepsto make clean energy the next successstory. Basingstoke; New York:Palgrave Macmillan.Call no.: R 333.79 LAR13. Lee, C. C. & Lin, S. (Eds.) (2007).Handbook of environmentalengineering calculations. New York:McGraw Hill.Call no.: R 628 HAN14. Makower, J. & Pike, C. (2009).Strategies for the green economy:Opportunities and challenges inthe new world of business. New York:McGraw-Hill.Call no.: RBUS 658.4083 MAK15. Melaver, M. & Mueller, P. (Eds.) (2009).The green building bottom line: Thereal cost of sustainable building.New York: McGraw-Hill.Call no.: R 690.8047 GRE16. Newman, P., Beatley, T. & Boyer, H.(2009). Resilient cities: Respondingto peak oil and climate change.Washington, D.C.: Island Press.Call no.: R 307.76 NEW17. Ooi, G. L. & Yuen, B. (Eds.) (2010).World cities: Achieving liveability andvibrancy. <strong>Singapore</strong>: World Scientific.Call no.: RSING 338.927 WOR18. Orr, D. W. (2004). Earth in mind: Oneducation, environment, and thehuman prospect. Washington, D.C.:Island Press.Call no.: R 363.70071 ORR19. Pernick, R. & Wilder, C. (2008). Theclean tech revolution: Discover the toptrends, technologies, and companies towatch. New York: Collins Business.Call no.: R 333.794 PER20. Rolston, H. & Light, A. (2003).Environmental ethics: An anthology.Oxford; Malden, MA: Blackwell.Call no.: R 179.1 ENV21. Rubino, J. A. (2009). Clean money:Picking winners in the green-techboom. Hoboken, N.J.: JohnWiley & Sons.Call no.: RBUS 332.6 RUB22. Sandalow, D. B. (Ed). (2009).Plug-in electric vehicles: What rolefor Washington? Washington, D.C.:Brookings Institution Press.Call no.: R 388.32 PLU23. Stern, N. H. (2007). The economicsof climate change: The Stern Review.Cambridge, UK: CambridgeUniversity Press.Call no.: R 363.73874 GRE24. Vanek, F. M. & Albright, L. D. (2008).Energy systems engineering:Evaluation and implementation.New York: McGraw-Hill.Call no.: R 621.4 VAN25. Wesson, L. P. (2009). Green reads:Best environmental resources foryouth, K-12. Santa Barbara, Calif.:Libraries Unlimited/ABC-CLIO.Call no.: R 016.33372 WES-[LIB]26. Yaws, C. L. (2008). The Yawshandbook of properties forenvironmental and green engineering.Houston, Tex.: Gulf Pub. Co.Call no.: R 660 YAW27. Yeang, K. (2009). Ecomasterplanning.Hoboken, N.J.: Chichester.Call no.: RSEA 720.47 YEA32 biblioasia • April 2010
Collection Highlights33Early Tourist Guidebooks to <strong>Singapore</strong>The Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong>(1892)By“No part of the world is now to be sacred from the intrusive foot of the touristand where the traveler goes, guide-books will ultimately follow….”G. M. Reith, Padre in partibus, p. IBonny TanSenior LibrarianLee Kong ChianReference <strong>Library</strong><strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>Travellers from Europe saw their journey to the East cut downby as much as half when the Suez Canal opened in 1869.Steamships, helped along with advances in their engine development,were preferred over sailing ships as they provedfaster and more efficient. Beginning as mail services dispatchingpost, ships from companies like the Peninsular and OrientalSteam Navigation Company soon became vessels for ferryingpassengers. In turn, travelogues written by the adventurous sojournerwho happened to be sailor, civil servant or missionarysoon evolved into travel guides published by travel companiesfor the paying tourist seeking a leisurely but safe journey to themystical but demystified Far East.A USEFUL VADE-MECUMAt a time when guidebooks for the Western hemisphere werebeing churned out by such publishers as Murray and Badaeker,Rev. George Murray Reith, resident minister of the local PresbyterianChurch, took it upon himself to write a handy guide to<strong>Singapore</strong> for visitors to the town.“It is intended to supply a felt want in <strong>Singapore</strong>; to give in ahandy form some notes historical, descriptive, scientific, &c, inregard to the town and island; to afford what information is necessaryto guide visitors during their stay, and to obviate someof the difficulties which travelers always encounter in a strangeplace.” (Reith, 1892, p. iii).This “useful vade-mecum”(Reith, 1892, p. iii) or readyreference was designed tohelp visitors who had merelya few hours to a few daysin the town. In contrast, earlierguides that had precededit, namely, The Stranger’sguide to <strong>Singapore</strong> (1890)by B. E. D’ Aranjo and Picturesqueand busy <strong>Singapore</strong>(1887) by T. J. Keaghran hadproved too “limited” in their“scope” (Aranjo’s) (Reith, 1892,p. iii) or “too general to be ofpractical value” (Keaghran’s)(Reith, 1892, p. iii).Inside page to Handbook to<strong>Singapore</strong> (Reith, 1892) 1 .Segmented into 15 chapters, the guide starts off with acondensed historical overview of <strong>Singapore</strong> beginning withits founding in 1819 by Stamford Raffles 2 and giving insightfuldetails of events prior to 1900. Reith’s historical overview isbased on Buckley’s articles in the <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Pressentitled Anecdotal history of <strong>Singapore</strong> which later was to bepublished as an important text on <strong>Singapore</strong>’s history.DESCRIPTIONS OF THE ENVIRONSFollowing this is a general description of the town and its environs,walking tours or drives, descriptions of buildings and landmarksas well as places of worship and hospitals. Reith doesnot merely describe landscape and landmark, but waxes lyricalover scenery and the island’s natural beauty. For example indescribing the approach to <strong>Singapore</strong> from the west, he notes:“The scenery has a quiet beauty that impresses everyspectator; and as the water in the channel is generally smooth,all are able to enjoy the prospect. Every now and then theship startles a gar-fish that skips nimbly over the surface ofthe water to a safe distance. Occasionally a golden-colouredwatersnake may be seen hurrying away from the bows.”(Reith, 1892, p. 26).He highlights details which set off the unusual beautysurrounding the island. For example, in the same passage hepoints to a common opticalillusion in which the distantsouthern islands seem to besuspended above the sea.In Chapter Four, he givesdirections for four toursaround and beyond the town,each one accommodating atourist’s length of stay whichcould vary from a few hoursto half a day. The tours skirtaround the wharves throughthe town to locations suchas the Botanical Gardens,the Impounding Reservoir(MacRitchie Reservoir), aInside page to The Stranger’sGuide to <strong>Singapore</strong>, 1914.climb up Mount Faber, anda carriage ride to Johore
Bahru. In delineating thejourneys, Reith also paintsa three-dimensional pictureof <strong>Singapore</strong> town inthe late 19 th century, highlightingfamiliar locationsand landmarks now longforgotten, and capturingthe leisurely lifestyle of the View of the Harbour (Souvenir ofexpatriate along with the <strong>Singapore</strong>, 1914, p. 6).labouring duties of the natives.“(There) lies the Esplanade (Padang Besar) a large plain,encircled by a well-laid-out carriage drive. The <strong>Singapore</strong>Cricket Club, and the <strong>Singapore</strong> Recreation Club divide theplain between them for the purpose of cricket, tennis, bowls,and other athletic sports, and in the centre stands a fine statueof Sir T. Stamford Raffles, erected in 1887. A large part ofthe Esplanade occupies ground recently reclaimed from thesea; and it is now a favourite afternoon resort of the residents.On the landward side are the Hotel de l’Europe (PunchausBesar) and St. Andrew’sCathedral (Greja Besar)…”(Reith, 1892, p. 36).He also gives an interestingperspective on theRaffles <strong>Library</strong>’s standingduring that era with an interestingemphasis on J.R. Logan’s collection ofphilological works:“The Raffles <strong>Library</strong>and Museum (TempatBuildings and landmarks aroundthe Esplanade (Souvenir of <strong>Singapore</strong>,1914, p. 12).Kitab)… is well worth a visit, for the <strong>Library</strong> is one of the largestand most comprehensive in the East, and the Museum, whichis being daily enriched by zoological, mineralogical, ethnologicaland archaeological collections from the Peninsula and theArchipelago, promises to be, in time, one of the finest exhibitionsof its kind in Asia…There is a valuable collection of Orientalliterature, called the Logan <strong>Library</strong>, access to which may beobtained by special permission from the Secretary.” (Reith,1892, pp. 36 – 37).Chapter Five offers descriptions of public buildings andplaces of interest, listing them alphabetically, many of whichare no longer extant. They include the gaol which used to standat the Sepoy Lines, Boustead Institute and the Chinese Protectorate.Others are of large spaces like Bukit Timah hill, thedockyards and the esplanade. Many of them are of governmentbuildings and civic locations although he does highlight unusuallocal buildings and sights such as the Shrine of Iskandar Khanand the Shrine of Habib Noor along with Whampoa’s garden.Other useful information such as a listing of clubs, societies,banks, consulates, religious buildings, hospitals, hotels andshops are also compiled in subsequent chapters. Of pragmaticimportance are the rates for hiring private and hackney carriages,listed with tables of distance and relevant fares. Theprincipal steamship lines and agents along with a listing of portsare given in a separate chapter. Statistical details of population,imports, exports, shipping and even weather conditions reflectthe dynamics between trade and people in <strong>Singapore</strong> at theturn of the century. There is even a chapter on the fauna, floraand geology of the island. He credits W. Davison of the Raffles<strong>Library</strong> and Museum for his work on the fauna, and H. N. Ridleyfor his piece on the flora and geology of <strong>Singapore</strong>, both ofwhich were published in his handbook. 3COLLOQUIAL EXPRESSIONSThroughout the text, Reith gives the colloquial place namesmainly in Malay of colonial buildings and landmarks with footnotesgiving pronunciation as well as English translations. Alonger listing of Malay place names alongside their Englishnames are given in Chapter 9, revealing how the locals viewedsome of these colonial landmarks. For example, the MasonicHall was known familiarly as “Rumah Hantu” (Reith, 1892, p.90) or “Haunted House” and so the Methodist Episcopal Churchthat had just been established beside it was known as “Grejadekat Rumah Hantu” (Reith, 1892, p. 90) or the “church nearby the Haunted House”. Also listed are Malay terms for givingdirections to hackney carriage drivers such as “Turn the Carriage”– “Pusing kreta”, “Light the lamps” – “Pasang pelita (orLampo)”, “Too much” – “Banyak chukup” and “Off with you!” –“Pulang!” (Reith, 1892, p. 92-93). He concludes with advice topurchase the Malay pronouncing hand-book, published in 1886,to better equip the visitor in communicating with the locals.A full chapter, the last in the book, focuses on the Malaylanguage and literature and was commended by Paul Kratoskain the introduction to the 1985 reprint as “a competent summaryof the then current views on the Malay language” (Reith,1985, p.v). Here, Reith reveals his appreciation for the poeticnuances found in local expressions:“Many of the common words and phrases of ordinary lifeare, from a Western point of view, highly poetical, owing to thechildlike, but artistic combination of ideas that are not naturallyconnected. The Malay,for example, calls thesun Mata-hari, “the eyeof day,” he speaks of abrook as anak sungei,“the son of a river,” whenhe is sorrowful or angryhe says he is sakit hati,“sick at heart”…” (Reith,1892, p. 130)Reith also introducesthe reader tothe wealth of Malay literatureranging from itsdramatic legends to theprofound truths found inpantuns or poems whilelamenting the loss of“a valuable collectionof Malay manuscripts,Advertisement for a popular bookon Malay vocabulary (Reith, 1892,Advertisements, p. 6).34 biblioasia • April 2010
made by Sir Stamford Raffles” (Reith, 1892, p. 133) whenhis ship went up in flames.ILLUSTRATIONS AND ADVERTISEMENTSAlthough there are no sketches, photographs or illustrations,there is a useful map of <strong>Singapore</strong> with an accompanying index.Interestingly, a plan of the Botanical Gardens is also theonly other illustrated panel in this publication. Unfortunately, the<strong>Library</strong>’s copy lacks the town map and plan of the gardens.Eleven pages of text-based advertisements end off the guideand show some aspects of the early companies and agenciesthat helped fuel the tourist trade.The dining room of a hotel (Souvenir of <strong>Singapore</strong>, 1914).REPRINTS, REVIEWS AND REMISSReith had taken some pains to ensure that the published informationwas accurate although in the late 19 th century, this hadproved difficult. Even so, Reith had pre-empted a reprint of theguide saying: “… it is hoped that future editions… will correctthe errors that may have crept into this edition” (Reith, 1892, p.iii). Indeed, some 15 years later, Walter Makepeace would helpupdate the guide, adding an extra chapter on the FederatedMalay States and photographic plates of landmarks and sightsin <strong>Singapore</strong> by G. R. Lambert, besides providing the most currentstatistical and informative data for 1907. This version of theguide remained highly valued with a reprint made in 1985 byOxford Press with an insightful introduction by Paul Kratoska.Mary Turnbull, in her review of the 1985 reprint summarisesthe handbook’s value succinctly, thus accounting for its repeatedreprints across almost a century:“Designed for the days of leisurely sea travel, the Handbookis more informative than more modern counterparts, assumingan intelligent interest in government and civic matters.It thus provides the modern reader with a clear picture of someaspects of <strong>Singapore</strong> life at the turn of the century, althoughheavily slanted towards the expatriate minority.” (Turnbull,1988, p. 302).Kratoska, in his introduction to the 1985 reprint of the handbook,notes that “Something of the character of the late Victoriantraveler can be seen from the information Reith providesand the sights he recommends. The attraction was not Asiabut European activities and accomplishments in Asia, and thecity’s main points of interest were the fruit of the Public WorksDepartment’s art.” (Reith, 1985, pp. v – vi). Turnbull, however,counters Kratoska’s criticism of the text as being Europeancentricby pointing out that “the guide was enterprising for itsday in recommending strolls through the “native quarters” andshopping forays into the “Thieves Market” in Rochor (Turnbull,1988, p. 302).Reith seemed awareof the cultural tightrope hewalked when writing hisguides and travelogues,and had published an openapology for any offenceinadvertently made whichhe published in his subsequentbook, Padre (1897):The local people (Souvenir of“If offence has been<strong>Singapore</strong>, p. 8).given by some of my remarksand criticisms, I am heartily sorry; none was intended:but in this age one cannot put pen to paper without unwittinglywounding somebody’s sensibilities, especially when the mannersand customs of other nations are involved… Nations verynaturally feel hurt when they are taken at anything lower thantheir own estimate, or described in terms which do not correspondwith their own glorified ideas of themselves. But the descriptionthat startles and hurts them does not mean envy ormalice in the describer – at least not usually; it is sometimesdone with the best intentions.” (Reith, 1897, p. ii)And then as if to explain both why such offence is likely tobe made by one especially from the British Isles, and how theBriton can sustain similar criticisms, he says:“The Briton seems to be the only person in the world whocan take the prick of a foreign free-lance with a laugh and acareless shrug of the shoulders. This no doubt is due to theinvulnerable vanity and insufferable arrogance of the Anglo-Saxon, about which other nations are in a chronic state of eloquence…Most of our countrymen, however, live in healthyand blissful ignorance of what their neighbours think and say ofthem: and it is well that they should be so.” (Reith, 1897, p. ii)Both Kratoska and Turnbull agree that the handbook is achild of its time – “a competent guide to a colonial city and acolonial way of life” (Reith, 1985, p. x) as well as offering “a justifiablepride in showing off the settlement to visitors” (Turnbull,1988, p. 302). It was after all written from a British perspectivefor the Western tourist and we must read it with a Scotsman’ssense of humour!The guidebook can be read online at the <strong>Singapore</strong> Pagesat http://sgebooks.nl.sg/details/020000003.html. The 1907 reprintby Walter Makepeace as well as the Oxford Press 1985reprint are also available at the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>. Photographicplates for this article were derived from the Souvenir of <strong>Singapore</strong>,1914 which is also available at the <strong>Singapore</strong> Pages athttp://sgebooks.nl.sg/details/020000029.html.biblioasia • April 201035
About George Murray Reith(b.1863, Aberdeen Scotland – d.1948, February 27, Edinburgh)EARLY LIFEThe eldest son of Dr Archibald Reith, George Murray obtainedhis MA at Aberdeen University in 1884 and furthered his educationat New College, Edinburgh. He assisted at Dundee Mc-Cheyne Memorial before being ordained at the London FreeChurch Presbytery. Then he was sent to serve in <strong>Singapore</strong> in1889 where he was made the minister of the local Presbyterianchurch in <strong>Singapore</strong> between 1889 and 1896.PRESBYTERIAN MINISTERHe was the eighth minister appointed to the Presbyterianchurch since the founding of the local church in 1856. It cameunder the jurisdiction of the Presbytery of London (North) asmany of the merchants who attended this church would retireto London. However, the church was always associated withthe Scots who had formed the first congregation. The churchbuilding at Stamford Road was established more than a decadeearlier in 1878 prior to Reith’s arrival. Ministers stayed betweenfour and six years, so Reith’s term of about seven years wasconsidered long. He preached at the Presbyterian church aswell as the Boustead Institute each Sunday. Besides this, healso conducted monthly lectures on Church history and BiblicalCriticism along with special classes on the background to Scotland.He was unafraid to engage the authorities in controversialmatters such as labouring on Sundays 4 and the problemsof gambling at the races. Nicknamed the Presbyterian padre,likely after his publication Padre in partibus (1897), he wassucceeded by Rev S. Stephen Walker in 1896 after which Reithreturned to Edinburgh in Scotland.COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONSAs a parting gift, the community in <strong>Singapore</strong> gave him a silverink stand – a sign of how his contribution to <strong>Singapore</strong> townwas greatly appreciated. Besides serving as preacher andminister, he was also founder and the first secretary-treasurerof the Straits Philosophical Society which began in 1893.In addition, he was also a committee member of the StraitsSettlements Association as well as the Straits Asiatic Society,Raffles Institution and Raffles <strong>Library</strong>. He also gave directionto the local Theological Society which held monthly meetings.He remained active in the community even after he left <strong>Singapore</strong>,contributing to the local press, writing particularly ofthe Scottish community until as late as 1910. Locally, he wasmost known for publishing the Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong> in 1892,which was then revised by Walter Makepeace and republishedin 1907. The later version was republished in 1985 by OxfordPress almost a century later.LIFE IN SCOTLANDUpon his return to Scotland, he was appointed minister to StCuthbert’s United Free Church, Edinburgh in 1898. He continuedwriting and served as editor of the Proceedings and Debates ofthe Free Church General Assembly in Great Britain from 1900.His poor health led him to resign from St. Cuthbert in 1911 althoughhe continued ministry serving as minister to CumbernauldBaird United Free Church in Glasgow between 1916 and 1917.QUOTATION“Do not believe all the evil things that well meaning and religiouspeople with ample leisure write and say about their fellowcountrymen abroad, and the worse things they imagine aboutthem. Do not withdraw yourself from the life of the place, forfear of contamination. Mingle freely with people of all ranks andclasses, learn their lives, carrying with you the white flower of ablameless life and you will find, that though the social life is freer,and the morality more lax than that to which we have beenaccustomed in Europe, the hearts of most are sterling gold –metal which may be worked up, and worked up by you, to adornthe temple of God.” – (The Presbyterian Church. (1896, April27). The <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, p.2)FAMILYFather: Dr Archibald Reith, Aberdeen.Sister: Mary Reith, eldest sister (b.1865? - d. 1947, March 25).She had married James Moffatt, the learned theologian whobecame well known for his translation of the Bible.Wife: May McNeill Bowie (m. 1907), daughter of Rev.John Sharp Bowie.Sons: He had four sons.LIST OF PUBLICATIONS• Reith, G. M. (1897). A padre in partibus: Being notes andimpressions of a brief holiday tour through Java, the easternarchipelago and Siam. <strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>Singapore</strong> andStraits Print. Off.[Call no.: RRARE 959.8022 REI, Microfilm no.: NL5829]• Reith, G. M. (1892). Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong>: with map anda plan of the Botanic Gardens. <strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>Singapore</strong> andStraits Printing Office.[Call no.: RRARE 959.57 REI , Microfilm no.: NL7522]• Reith, G. M. (1893, August 12). The opium problemin the Straits Settlements. Transactions of the StraitsPhilosophical Society, I, p. 94.• Reith, G. M. (1910). The breezy Pentlands. Edinburgh:T. and N Foulis.36 biblioasia • April 2010
• Reith, G. M. (1933). Reminiscences of the United FreeChurch General Assembly (1900 - 1929). Edinburgh,London: The Moray Press.• Wen, C. [pseud], Reith, G. M. (Ed.). (1901). TheChinese crisis from within. London: Grant Richards.[Call no.: RRARE 951.04 LIM, Microfilm no.: NL24331]ENDNOTES1<strong>Library</strong>’s bibliographic record indicates“Imperfect copy”.2It does however touch on earlyreferences to the island in Malay legendfound in the Sejarah Melayu and in theLusiad of Cameon – a Portuguese epic.3Davison’s and Ridley’s articles are foundin chapter 13, but Davison’s is an abridgedversion of the original.4Reith argued against labour on Sundaydespite the increase in wages. The matterwas being discussed at the Colonial Officeparticularly among shipping firms, docksand mariners. The Straits Times, (1891,September 21), p. 2.REFERENCES1. Buckley, C. B. (1902). An anecdotalhistory of old times in <strong>Singapore</strong>:(with portraits and illustrations) fromthe foundation of the settlement ...on February 6th, 1819 to the transferto the Colonial Office ... on April 1st,1867. <strong>Singapore</strong>: Fraser & Neave.Call no.: RRARE 959.57 BUCMicrofilm no.: NL2692. D’ Aranjo, B. E. (1890). Stranger’sguide to <strong>Singapore</strong>. <strong>Singapore</strong>:<strong>Singapore</strong> Press.Call no: RRARE 959.57 DARMicrofilm no.: NL25503. Deaths. (1947, March 26), The Times,p. 1. Retrieved December 20, 2009from InfoTrac.4. Deaths. (1948, March 1). The Times,p. 1. Retrieved December 20,2009 from Infotrac.5. Ecclesiastical intelligence. (1901,May 11). The Times, p. 10. RetrievedDecember, 20, 2009 from InfoTrac.6. Fletcher, Max E. (1958, December).The Suez Canal and world shipping,1869 – 1914. The Journal of EconomicHistory, 18(4), 556 – 573. RetrievedJanuary 20, 2010 from JSTOR.7. H. T. S. (1960, October 1). Padre’sguide to <strong>Singapore</strong> was the first ever.The Straits Times, p. 6.Microfilm no.: NL41488. Hoe, I. (1985, August 10). Fascinatingflaws. The Straits Times, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL151219. Inventory Acc 3564 – Papers of theRev George M. Reith. <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>of Scotland. Retrieved January 20,2010 from http://www.nls.uk/catalogues/online/cnmi/inventories/acc3564.pdf10. NA8646 George Murray Reith. Singleperson record details. Scottish ArchiveNetwork. Retrieved January 2, 2010from http://195.153.34.9/catalogue/person.aspx?code=NA8646&11. The new Presbyterian minister. (1896,April 25). The <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Pressand Mercantile Advertiser, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL315812. Obituary – Rev. Dr. J. Moffatt. (1944,June 29). The Times, p. 7. RetrievedDecember, 20, 2009 from InfoTrac.13. Personalia 275. (1915). The AberdeenUniversity Review, 3(7), 275. RetrievedJanuary 21, 2010 fromhttp://www.archive.org/stream/aberdeenuniversi03univuoft/aberdeenuniversi03univuoft_djvu.txt14. The Presbyterian Church. (1889,July 4). The Straits Times, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL 505415. Presbyterian Church. (1896, April 27).The <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Press andMercantile Advertiser, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL315816. Presbyterian Church – celebration of50 years of work. (1928, March 2),The Straits Times, p. 11.Microfilm no.: NL56417. Presbyterian Church <strong>Singapore</strong>. (1893,March 2). The Straits Times, p. 3.Microfilm no.: NL 505518. Reith, G. M. (1892). Handbook to<strong>Singapore</strong>: With map and a plan of theBotanic Gardens. <strong>Singapore</strong>:<strong>Singapore</strong> and Straits Print Office.Call no.: RRARE 959.57 REIMicrofilm no.: NL752219. Reith, G. M. (1897). A padre inpartibus: Being notes and impressionsof a brief holiday tour through Java, theeastern archipelago and Siam.<strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>Singapore</strong> and Straits Print. Off.Call no.: RRARE 959.8022 REIMicrofilm no.: NL582920. Reith, G. M. (1907). Handbookto <strong>Singapore</strong>. <strong>Singapore</strong>:Fraser & Neave.Microfilm no.: R 959.57 REI21. Reith, G. M., Makepeace W., Kratoska,P. (1985). Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong>.<strong>Singapore</strong>: Oxford University Press.Call no.: RSING 959.57 REIMicrofilm no.: NL2434122. Souvenir of <strong>Singapore</strong>, 1914.(1914?). [S.l.: s.n.]Call no.: RRARE 959.57 SOUMicrofilm no.: NL1634823. The Rev. G. M. Reith. (1896, February28). The <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Press andMercantile Advertiser, p. 3.Microfilm no.: NL315824. The Rev. G. M. Reith. (1896, February21). The <strong>Singapore</strong> Free Press andMercantile Advertiser, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL315825. The Rev. Mr. Reith. (1897, August 30),The Straits Times, p. 2.Microfilm no.: NL 34126. The Rev. Mr. Reith on gambling. (1891,October 19), The Straits Times, p. 3.Microfilm no.: NL 33127. The Rev. Mr. Reith - Sunday Labour.(1891, September 21), The StraitsTimes, p. 2. Microfilm no.: NL33128. The traveller’s Malay pronouncinghand-book: For the use of travelersand newcomers to <strong>Singapore</strong>. (1907).<strong>Singapore</strong>: Frazer & Neave.Call no.: RSING 499.2883421 TRAMicrofiche no.: MFC NL0001/052-05529. Turnbull, C. M. (1988). Reviewedwork(s): 1907 Handbook to <strong>Singapore</strong>by G. M. Reith. The China Quarterly,114, 301-302. Retrieved Jan 20,2010 from JSTOR.biblioasia • April 201037
38Collection HighlightsThe AsianChildren’s CollectionMulticultural Children’s LiteratureBy Panna KantilalSenior LibrarianProfessional Services<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board& Norasyikin BinteAhmad IsmailLibrarian<strong>National</strong> Reference& Special Libraries<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>The Asian Children’s Collection on Level 10 of the Lee KongChian Reference <strong>Library</strong> (LKCRL) started at a time when children’sliterature was predominantly of British/American origin.The core aim of establishing this collection of works written forchildren pertaining to Asia and its people was to present theconcept and raise the awareness and understanding of Asiancentricchildren’s literature compared with that of Anglo-Saxonchildren’s literature. Since its inception in the early 1960swhen it had fewer than 200 books, the collection has with timeevolved into a unique resource of more than 20,000 materialsfor research relating to Asian Children’s literature.The collection is targeted towards researchers interestedin the origins of Asian-oriented children’s books and the influencesand attitudes affecting the pattern and stages of their development.The target audience would include the educationist,writer, illustrator, publisher, student and librarian interestedin the use and production of children’s reading and learningmaterials from an Asian perspective and an Asian identity.This collection covers literary materials for children up to14 years of age in the four official languages – English, Malay,Chinese and Tamil – and selectively in other Asian languageswith English translations. It comprises fiction books, picturebooks, folk/fairy tales, myths and legends and select non-fictionmaterials in children’s literature (largely materials that depictthe customs, culture and mores of Asian society, such aspoetry, social beliefs, religion, etc) as well as reference materialssuch as guides, bibliographies and studies on AsianChildren’s literature.Comprising primarily children’s materials, it provides theuser with a multicultural experience and at the same time exposesthe user to the richness and variety of Asian customsand civilisations. Moreover, the materials in the Asian Children’sCollection also promote a thoughtful understanding ofthe Asian way of life and values. This is crucial since thereis usually a greater exposure to Anglo-Saxon literature whichpredominates the publishing market and which inadvertentlyprojects values, customs, traditions, way of life and culturethat are somewhat different from those found in Asia.The importance of this collection stems from the fact thatit was developed with the aim to interest researchers to delveinto the study of children’s literature with an Asian theme andsetting or with an Asian protagonist. Since the “publishing industrycategorises all books with non-white characters asmulticultural” (Hill, 1998), the Asian Children’s Collectioncan be classified as multicultural literature since it containschildren’s literature covering the following geographicalregions: Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, CentralAsia and South West Asia.Research in this field has shown multicultural literature as avehicle that encourages tolerance and understanding amongchildren (Bainbridge, 1999). This is achieved because multiculturalliterature is “literature about racial or ethnic minoritygroups that are culturally and socially different from the whiteAnglo-Saxon majority” (Norton, 1999). As Bainbridge (1999)says “multicultural literature is literature that depicts and exploresthe lives of individuals who belong to a wide range ofdiverse groups” and hence it encourages positive attitudestowards difference. “If literature is a mirror that reflects humanlife, then all children who read or are read to need to seethemselves reflected as part of humanity” (Loh, 2006).Therefore, it is important for children to read and beexposed to materials depicting their own culture and minoritycultures. This is so because “books can be a powerful toolfor promoting cultural understanding” and “reading about diverseperspectives enhances multicultural awareness” (Loh,2006) as it supplies the reader with images, ideas and models
All Rights Reserved, Corgi YearlingBooks, 2003.All Rights Reserved, Corgi YearlingBooks, 2005.All Rights Reserved, HarperCollinsChildren’s Books, 2008.that they can relate to. Moreover, it is crucial that children’sliterature reflects the reality of our pluralistic society (Higgins,2002) so that children are then better able to see themselvesand their lives reflected in the books they read (Aoki, 1992;Slapin & Seale, 1992).A number of multicultural children’s literature is about theAsian diaspora, the dispersion of people from their originalhomeland (Free Dictionary). Originally this word was used forthe dispersion of Jewish people outside their Holy Land, butnow it has taken on a broader meaning connoting issues ofsocial and cultural significance such as displacement, loss ofa shared identity, shared values and customs. Hence issuesof hybridism arise, mainly “the notion that there are no purerepresented in non-Asian settings around the world. NarinderDhamis’s Bindi Babes (2003) and Bhangra Babes (2005) areexamples of the Indian diaspora literature housed in the AsianChildren’s Collection.From the author who wrote the novel Bend It Like Beckham,Bindi Babes focuses on the life episodes of three sisters– Amber, Jazz and Geena – who get a surprise visit from an“unhappening” aunt from India. This story centres on how thesisters deal with their intrusive aunt. In Bhangra Babes, a sequelto the Bindi Babes, Amber, Jazz and Geena face anotherset of problems, but this time the trouble is at school.An example of the Chinese diaspora in children’s literaturewould be the Mo’s Mischief series, which centres on theidentities” (Clammer, 2002) and this isespecially so in post-colonial societies.Diaspora in children’s literaturewould be one topic of interest, especiallyto students and researchers of Asianliterature. Below are some highlightsof Asian diaspora – Cambodian, Chinese,Indian, Japanese, Korean,Vietnamese – in the LKCRL AsianChildren’s Collection.The Chinese and Indian diasporain children’s fiction has grown in importancesocially, culturally, politically andeconomically in recent years, especiallyin <strong>Singapore</strong>. Consequently, it has becomerelevant to see how the differentcultures have diversified and howthe Indian and Chinese characters are All Rights Reserved, Scholastic, 2005. All Rights Reserved, Delacorte Press, 2008.biblioasia • April 201039
mischievous life of aChinese boy in primaryschool called, MoShen Ma, with his fourfriends, Hippo, Penguin,Monkey and BatEars. In the third series,Pesky Monkeys,Mo goes to his grandma’shouse for thesummer holidays andteaches his grandma’spig to roller-skate.The Stone Goddess,a story on theCambodian diaspora,is a touching tale ofAll Rights Reserved, Farrar, Strausa 12-year-old Nakriand her elderand Giroux, 2008.sister’s attempts to maintain their hope as well as theirclassical dancing skills in the midst of their struggleto survive after the communist takeover Cambodia and herfamily is torn from their city life. Nakri’s family begins life anewin America after Cambodia is liberated.1001 Cranes, a story of the Japanese diaspora, is anengaging tale of a valued Japanese American custom thattransforms the life of a lost 12-yearold Japanese Americangirl, Angela Michiko. With her parents on the verge of separating,she spends the summer in Los Angeles with her grandparents,when she folds paper cranes into wedding displays,becomes involved with a young skateboarder, and learns howcomplicated relationships can be.Slant, a story about the Korean diapora, is a charming taleof 13-year-old Lauren, a Korean-American adoptee, who istired of being called “slant” and “gook,” and longs to have plasticsurgery on her eyes. However, after she convinces her father toagree to the surgery, Lauren starts to question some of her ownassumptions when she learns a long-kept secret about hermother’s death.Escape from Saigon, a story about the Vietnamesediaspora, depicts the experiences of an orphanedAmerasian boy, Long – the son of an American father anda Vietnamese mother – from his birth and early childhoodin Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), through his departurefrom Vietnam in the 1975 Operation Babylift and his subsequentlife as the adopted son of an American family in Ohio.Given the diversity of topics of interest available in theAsian children’s Collection, this treasure trove of a collectionis an important and valuable resource for the local libraryscene. The collection will continue to be developed with theaim to present some of the most excellent children’s publicationsfrom across Asia and to showcase the richness of Asianclassical stories and fables as well as attractive illustrationsfor reference and research purposes.REFERENCES1. Bainbridge, J. M., Pantaleo, S., Ellis,M. (1999). Multicultural picture books:Perspectives from Canada. The SocialStudies, 90 (4), 183-188. RetrievedDecember 23, 2009, from ProQuestdatabase.2. Clammer, J. (2002). Diaspora andidentity: The sociology of culture inSoutheast Asia. Malaysia: PelandukPublications.Call no.: RSEA 306.0959 CLA3. Dhami, N. (2003). Bindi babes.London: Corgi Yearling Books.Call no.: RAC 823.914 DHA4. Dhami, N. (2005). Bhangra babes.London: Corgi Yearling Books.Call no.: RAC 823.914 DHA5. Higgins, J. J. (2002). Multiculturalchildren’s literature: Creating andapplying an evaluation tool in responseto the needs of urban educators.Retrieved December 21, 2009, fromhttp://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/multicultural/higgins.htm6. Hill, T. J. (1998). Multicultural children’sbooks: An American fairy tale.Publishing Research Quarterly, 14 (1),36-46. Retrieved December 23, 2009,from Springerlink database.7. Hirahara, N. (2008). 1001 cranes. NewYork: Delacorte Press.Call no.: RAC 813.54 HIR8. Ho, M. (2005). The stone goddess.New York: Scholastic.Call no.: RAC 813.54 HO9. Loh, V. S. (2006). Quantity and quality:The need for culturally authentic tradebooks in Asian American young adultliterature. The ALAN Review, 34(1),44-61. Retrieved December 23, 2009,from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/v34n1/loh.pdf10. <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board. (2005).Asian renaissance: The <strong>Singapore</strong>and Southeast Asian & Asian ChildrenCollection Guide [Brochure].<strong>Singapore</strong>: <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board.11. Norton, D. E. (c2005). Multiculturalchildren’s literature: Through theeyes of many children. (2nd ed.)Upper Saddle River, N.J. PearsonPrentice Hall.Call no.: R 810.9928208693 NOR12. Warren, A. (2008). Escape fromSaigon. New York: Farrar,Straus and Giroux.Call no.: RAC 959.704308645 WAR13. Williams, L. E. (2008). Slant.Minneapolis, Minn.: Milkweed Editions.Call no.: RAC 813.6 WIL14. Yang, H. (2008). Mo’s mischief: Peskymonkeys. London: HarperCollinsChildren’s Books.Call no.: RAC 895.1352 YAN40 biblioasia • April 2010
Collection Highlights41The GeorgeHicks CollectionBy Geoff WadeVisiting Senior Research FellowInstitute of Southeast Asian StudiesIn an age when the printed word is being rapidly transformedinto a digital signal and the page into an electronic image, itis always pleasing to meet people for whom the book is stilla treasured object. While books may not necessarily still betoday what Charles William Elliot, the long-standing presidentof Harvard University, called “the most accessible and wisestof counselors,” bibliophiles generally see them as the mostaesthetic and collectable carriers of information and ideas.Those who have amassed personal libraries value theirbooks both for their content and for the beauty inherent in theirphysical production, and some collectors try to ensure that thecontents of their libraries will be available to future generationsfor decades or centuries to come by donating their collectionsto public institutions.The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> of <strong>Singapore</strong> has been fortunatethrough the years to have been the beneficiary of majorcollections created over decades by such collectors - scholarssuch as Tan Yeok Seong, Edwin Thumboo and Carl Gibson-Hill; professionals such as Koh Seow Chuan; and specialisedcollectors such as the film aficionado Ang Kok Sai.The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board (NLB) has recently received amajor gift of books from George Lyndon Hicks – economist,author, book-lover, traveller, businessman and long-time <strong>Singapore</strong>resident. A large part of his personal library has now beengiven to the people of <strong>Singapore</strong> through this donation to the<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>. The collection, comprising more than 3,000rare and contemporary volumes, is particularly valuable in itsDr N Varaprasad, Chief Executive, <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board,presenting the Distinguished Patron of <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> award toMr George Hicks on 26 February 2009.China, Japan and Southeast Asia foci, with economics, historyand culture being the areas best represented by the works.The collection reflects, naturally enough, the interests andlife journey of Mr Hicks, an Australian who has lived, studied andworked in various parts of Asia for more than half a century. It wasin the late 1950s that Mr Hicks’ connections with Asia began, firstthrough involvement with the international student movementand subsequently as an economist travelling north to conductresearch on the nationalisation of Dutch enterprises inSukarno’s Indonesia.It was there, as he trawled the second-hand book stores ofthe major cities of Java, that the beginnings of the Hicks collectionemerged. The wide range of rare Dutch works on Asia, andparticularly on the 19 th century economic history of Indonesia,which he purchased during this period and subsequently – andon the basis of which some of his own books were written –were in later years presented as a gift to the Indonesian Academyof Sciences (LIPI). This unique collection included 11,000reports of companies which had operated in the Dutch EastIndies and Indonesia. Mr Hicks was again in Indonesia duringthe tumultuous years of 1963-65 but, following the attemptedcoup of 30 September 1965, left to return to Australia tocontinue his work.Being on the first flight out of Jakarta following the attemptedcoup meant that he was, on arriving in Australia, in muchdemand for news and comment. His work on Indonesia andthe books collected allowed Mr Hicks to jointly compile withGeoffrey McNicoll an influential listing of key works on theeconomy of Indonesia: The Indonesian Economy, 1950-1965: A Bibliography (Southeast Asia Studies Program, YaleUniversity, 1967).The late 1960s saw Mr Hicks move to the Philippines topursue further studies on the background of Southeast Asianeconomic development. On the basis of this research, hepublished Trade and Growth in the Philippines: An Open DualEconomy (Cornell University Press, 1971). The studies, reportsand monographs accumulated during his stay in the PhilippineIslands were added to his growing library.Japan was the next destination in the 1970s, whereagain he pursued economic research as well as conducteda study of the Korean minority in Japan, which was subsequentlypublished as Japan’s Hidden Apartheid: Tthe KoreanMinority and the Japanese (Ashgate, 1997). A wide range ofJapan- and Korea-related books, on both economic and
The Hall of Heavenly Records:Korean AstronomicalInstruments and Clocks,1380-1780 by Joseph Needham,Lu Gwei-Djen, John H.Combridge and John S. Major.All rights reserved,Cambridge UniversityPress, 1986.The George Hicks Collectioncomprises a collectionof publications byJoseph Needham.cultural history, can thus befound in the Hicks Collection.The two decades whichthe Hicks family spent inHong Kong from the 1970sto the 1980s saw George’sbusiness interests, as wellas his scholarly interests andlibrary, expanding greatly.Many of the China-relatedbooks which were acquiredduring this sojourn are includedin the collection donatedto the NLB, as are works hedrew on in writing his frequentcontributions to theInternational Herald Tribune,the Far Eastern EconomicRe view and the Asian WallStreet Journal. The economicstudies he had conductedregionally in the previous decadesprovided Mr Hicks witha powerful context and basison which the rapid developmentof the region during this period could beanalysed and described.The Comfort Women: SexSlaves of the Japanese ImperialForces by George Hicks.All rights reserved, HeinemannAsia, 1995.After coming to residein <strong>Singapore</strong> in the 1990s,Mr Hicks continued to travel(and purchase books) widelythroughout other parts of Asia,and began to increasingly concernhimself with Japanesedenial – described as eitheramnesia or concealment – ofWord War II atrocities. Hesubsequently spent five yearsof his life researching andwriting his famous study TheComfort Women: Sex Slavesof the Japanese ImperialForces (<strong>Singapore</strong>: HeinemannAsia, 1995).Over the same period hewas also engaged in publishing,through Select Books in <strong>Singapore</strong>, a range of studies onthe Chinese in Southeast Asia prior to World War II – OverseasChinese Remittances from Southeast Asia 1910-1940 (1993),Fukuda Shozo’s With Sweat and Abacus: Economic Roles ofSoutheast Asian Chinese on the Eve of World War II (1995) andChinese Organisations in Southeast Asia in the 1930s (1995).He also published A Bibliography of Japanese Works on theOverseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, 1914-1945 (AsiaKite-flying at Hae Kwan.Image reproduced from Allom, T. (1843). China, in a series of views, displaying the scenery, architecture, and social habits of thatancient empire. London: Fisher, Son & Co.42 biblioasia • April 2010
A map of Southeast Asia.Image reproduced from Commelin, I. (ed.) (1646). Begin ende voortgangh, van de vereenighde Nederlantsche GeoctroyeerdeOost-Indische Compagnie. Amsterdam.Research Service, Hong Kong, 1992). The wide range of bookshe procured to assist in these various writing and editing projects,a large number of which are rather scarce works relatingto the Chinese communities in Southeast Asia prior to thePacific War, further enhance the value of the Hicks Collection.But it is not only Asia which has enthralled Mr Hicks throughthe last half century, and the donated collection is certainlynot solely Asia-focused. Rather, the works contained withinit also reflect Mr Hicks’ preoccupation with the EuropeanEnlightenment, and the ideologies of this key periodin world history. Issues with which we still grapple today– the role of critical thought, reason and rationality, aswell as the scientific method – were all pondered by 17 th -18 th centuries thinkers of the Enlightenment, including Galileo,Descartes, Newton and Bacon. The development of theseideas, as well as related issues on the advancement of sciencein Asia, and particularly Needham’s grand question as to whyChina was overtaken by the West in science and technologydespite its earlier lead, are thus also reflected in a range ofworks within this collection.However, the gems of the Hicks Collection are undoubtedlya range of very rare works included in the donation. Theseinclude: An English translation of Simon La Loubere’s accountof Ayutthaya, A New Historical Relation of the Kingdom of Siam(London, 1693), a copy of William Thorn’s Memoirs of theConquest of Java (London, 1815), and the original edition ofRaffles’ The History of Java (London, 1817). Also donated areMarsden’s History of Sumatra (London, 1811) and several volumesof beautiful engravings of China from the 1840s based onpaintings by Thomas Allom. Without a doubt, the pièce de résistanceof the collection is a superb example of the two-volumeBegin Ende Voortgangh, Van de Vereenighde NederlantscheGeoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie (‘The Beginning andEnding of the Dutch East India Company’), compiled by IsaacCommelin and published in Amsterdam in 1646. This has beenassessed as one of the finest examples of this work extant inthe world today, and is indeed a treasure for the NLB.The Hicks Collection is as fine as it is extensive, and theareas selected for comment above are only a very key foci ofthis outstanding donation. The books are now in the perpetualcare of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> of <strong>Singapore</strong>. The donor is pleasedthat these works provide to the people of <strong>Singapore</strong> some resourcespreviously unavailable, but at the same time also hopesthat they will help to engender, particularly among the young, alove of the book and that they will help visitors to the library, inthe words of Henry Fielding, “read in order to live.”Selected titles from the George Hicks Collection areon display at the Donors Gallery, Level 10, Lee Kong ChianReference <strong>Library</strong>. Please approach the Information Counter atLevel 11 for any queries on the collection.biblioasia • April 201043
44NewsResearch Collaboratory Client Series:“Policy Making 2010-Emergent Technologies”By Samuel SngResearch Associate IPublishing andResearch Services<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong>How will emergent technologies shape policy making? Thistheme was pertinent enough to attract more than 100 representativesfrom mostly government agencies to the inauguralResearch Collaboratory Client Series in December last yearParticipants listening with rapt attention to the speakers.at the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Building. Hosted by the Publishing andResearch Services (PRS) of the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board (NLB),this public forum showcased divergent perspectives of expertsfrom various disciplines.In her welcome speech, NLB’s Deputy Chief Executive,Ms Ngian Lek Choh, said that with the ubiquitous acceptanceof Web 2.0, policymakers and institutions can benefitfrom this environment by interchanging the role of proponentand recipient.Mr Peter Lim, former Straits Times chief editor and mediaconsultant, opened with a video from his most recentpublication to illustrate changes in social policies over theyears. Using the family planning agenda in the 1960s, MrLim described how the government had changed mindsetson marriage and children by the 1980s. Although policy-makingis not supposed to be “cast in stone”, he notedthat the changes in social policies aptly reflect our nation’sevolving social strata.As technology evolves from Web 2.0 to cloud computing,barriers have been lifted and possibilitiesseem limitless. In his keynoteaddress, Prof Paul Gandel suggestedthat such a transition presentedboth opportunities and challenges fororganisations. The acting chief informationofficer of the <strong>Singapore</strong> ManagementUniversity also explainedhow technological trends and learninghas impacted businesses in Americaand globally by using three case studiesfrom his experiences in developingprivate computing clouds, greencomputing and learning through globalengagement.Mr Nicholas Aaron Khoo, co-founderof Cybersports and Online GamingAssociation (SCOGA), revealed that<strong>Singapore</strong> boasted 1.37 million onlinegamers in 2009. With a large proportionof these online gamers being childrenand youths, SCOGA has beenusing outreach events in helping parents to bridge the digitaldivide and grapple withthe challenges that gamingposes. Some of theseoutreach programmes include:the <strong>Singapore</strong> ArcadeShowdown (November2008), the MDA MediaFiesta 2009 Gamer’ Forum,Licence2Play and <strong>National</strong>Family Celebrations 2009.In its quest to transform<strong>Singapore</strong> into a knowledge-basedeconomy, NLBhas been one of the keyMr Panicker…skills for anuncertain world.
agents of knowledge creation. Mr Samuel Sng, a research associate,showed how PRS can benefit organisations throughresearch and consultancy. In line with NLB’s role to facilitateknowledge creation, PRS would be launching the ResearchCollaboratory platform in early 2010. Aptly called “Ideapolis”,this online site provides researchers with the latest domainspecificinformation, social networking tools, a directory of researchers,project spaces and a document repository.After the recent economic crisis, corporate leaders require anew management compass to steer their organisations throughuncharted waters. Mr Ramesh Panicker, regional creativedirector of Soundview and Executive Resources (S) Pte Ltd,expounded on the “10 new leadership skills for an uncertain(2) performance measurement, and (3) striking a balance betweeninformation sharing and security.As information grows, so will the opportunity to find answersto fundamental questions. Ms Cheryl Fung from the Futures-Group (Ministry of Trade and Industry) argued how <strong>Singapore</strong>could use data to gain a competitive edge for its economy. Inthe next decade, creative economies must not only be able toprocess, comprehend and extract value from data, they mustalso be able to visualise and communicate it effectively. Shecited case studies from America and <strong>Singapore</strong> to illustrate howthese two countries were able to use data creatively to improvesociety and the economy.The day’s proceedings culminated with an insightful paneldiscussion by the speakers, moderatedby Dr Leong. Here are excerpts fromfour questions posed by the audience:Q: It appears that social data is noteasily available. This poses a problemfor social policy-making. Whatcan be done about this?Considering the amount of data thatis available on the Internet, policymakersneed to be creative when theyare searching for social data. Theycan study what people are searchingin Google to ascertain issues that areof interest to people. Unemploymentdata could also be used to gauge socialproblems in society while surveyscould be conducted to find out moreinformation about people.The speakers (From left):Ms La Marca, Prof Gandel, Ms Fung, Mr Lim and Mr Khoo during the panel discussion…insightful.world”. These attributes are: (1) maker instinct, (2) clarity, (3)dilemma flipping, (4) immersive learning ability, (5) bio-empathy,(6) constructive depolarisation, (7) quiet transparency,(8) rapid prototyping, (9) smart mob organising, and (10)commons creating.Social media has become a powerful business tool forenhancing public relations, customer service, productdevelopment, brand awareness, marketing and competitiveanalysis. Ms Daniela La Marca, co-founder and managingdirector of MediaBUZZ Pte Ltd and editor of Asian eMarketing,revealed that a recent consumer survey has shown that78% of respondents trusted peer recommendations morethan advertisements (14%). She also delved into the 5 Ws(why, what, who, where and when) of social media policy andchampioned the need for a code of ethics to regulate the useof social media.In a lively floor exchange with Dr Leong Mun Kew, DeputyChief Information Officer of NLB, the audience brainstormedand voted on the 10 most critical information needs in 2010.The top three areas identified were: (1) quality of information,Q: How big a part does CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) play inthe Asian context?CSR is a Western concept. Giving is not considered to be a “bigthing” in Asia as it is in the West. If there are enough incentivesfor giving, people might be motivated to give.Q: Does the content in social media “touch the heart”? Arepeople emotionally engaged in what they write, or is socialnetworking a shallow pursuit?Social media such as Facebook have brought out a lot ofcaring and feelings from people.Social networking is likeany other social interaction andthe conversations and connectionscan be meaningful.Q: What will be consideredthe “sexiest” jobs in the nextfive years?Games developer, new generationsocial worker, statistician,data visualiser and librarian.Dr Leong...striking a balance.Join IDEAPOLIS (ResearchCollaboratory) at ideapolis.sg.biblioasia • April 201045
46NewsLee Kong Chian Research FellowshipThree new research fellows awardedThe Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship welcomes threenew research fellows: Sharon Wong Wai Wee (Hong Kong),Tan Teng Phee (Malaysia) and Dr Noel Chia Kok Hwee(<strong>Singapore</strong>). They were awarded their fellowships by JudyNg, Deputy Director, <strong>National</strong> Reference and Special Librarieson 12 January.(From left):Ms Angie Ng Gek Tee, witness for Dr Chia; Dr Chia; Dr MahaniAwang, witness for Ms Wong; Ms Wong; Mrs KornphanatTungkeunkunt, witness for Mr Tan, and Mr Tan.Sharon Wong’s research topic is “An Overview of theCultural and Technological Interactions Between the Chineseand Mainland Southeast Asian Ceramics Industries During thePeriod 9 th to 16 th Centuries”.She says of herself:“I chose to continue my study in <strong>Singapore</strong> for more than fouryears because I believe that <strong>Singapore</strong> is a hub of SoutheastAsia. While I also realise that Hong Kong is a gateway to thesouth China region, both of these two places have providedme with the best research environments in the regions. Myresearch at the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> will focus on the cultural andtechnological interaction between the Chinese and SoutheastAsian ceramic industries from the 9th to the 16 th centuries. Oneof my favourite experiences was joining the archaeological digin Phnom Kulen in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I had the experienceof being brought closer to the daily life of Cambodians. Besideswork, I like travelling, watching movies and drama, cycling, andspending my time in bookstores and museums.”Tan Teng Phee’s research topic is “The Assassination ofHenry Gurney and the case of the Tras New Village and theMalayan emergency”.He says of himself:“Born in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia, I had lived in several differentChinese New Villages and these life experiences hadinspired me to explore the history of Chinese New Villages formy doctoral research. I commenced my PhD programme at theAsia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Western Australia,in April 2006. My doctoral thesis attempts to analyse the everydaylives of the Chinese New Villagers behind barbed wire,and how they responded to the British colonial government’scoercive policies. During the course of the Lee Kong Chian ResearchFellowship from January 2010 to July 2010, I will focuson the unique case of the Tras New Village and its links to theassassination of the High Commissioner of Malaya, Henry Gurney,in 1951. This micro-level study aims to analyse how theassassination of the high commissioner both implicated andchanged the New Villagers’ lives and circumstances in Tras,during the Malayan Emergency period.”Dr Noel Chia’s research topic is “A Survey on the Growthof Imagination in Children’s English Literature in <strong>Singapore</strong>:1965 - 2005.”Dr Chia says of himself:“I am a board-certified educational therapist registered with theAssociation of Educational Therapists, United States, as wellas a board-certified special education professional registeredwith the American Academy of Special Education Professionals.Besides, I am a registered professional counsellor withthe Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. Currently,I am an assistant professor with the Early Childhood & SpecialNeeds Education Academic Group at the <strong>National</strong> Institute ofEducation/Nanyang Technological University. I spend most ofmy free time reading and writing not only academic papers butalso stories and poems for children. Together with my daughter,Grace, I love creating imaginary tales along the line of fantasyand science fiction. I like humour and enjoy cracking jokes tomake myself look silly! I have always been passionate aboutpromoting <strong>Singapore</strong> children’s literature in English. Here Iam … on this Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship toresearch on the topic closest to my heart: imagination inchildren’s literature…”The Lee Kong Chian Research Fellowship invitesscholars, practitioners and librarians to undertake collectionrelatedresearch and publish on the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> of <strong>Singapore</strong>’sdonor and prized collections. The fellowship aims toposition the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board as the first stop for Asiancollection services. It is open to both local and foreign applicants,who should preferably have an established record ofachievement in their chosen field of research and the potentialto excel further. For information on the Lee Kong ChianResearch Fellowship, please contact the Administrator at:Email: LKCRF@nlb.gov.sgTel: 6332 3348Fax: 6333 7990
What it should have beenWe apologise for the errors in the article “A Graphic Tale in Baba Malay: Chrita Orang Yang Chari Slamat (1905)” published in Vol 5, Issue 3,October 2009.1) Page 34, right hand column, second paragraph: “Another Baba,Chew Cheng Yong, was recruited to help in verifying the accuracy ofthe translation; but little is known of him.”Not “Another Baba, Chin Cheng Yong, was recruited to help in verifyingthe accuracy of the translation; but little is known of him.”2) Page 35, left hand column, last paragraph: “W.T. Cherry hadtaken over from Shellabear in the running of the Methodist printingpress in <strong>Singapore</strong>.”Not “T.W. Cherry had taken over from Shellabear in the running of theMethodist printing press in <strong>Singapore</strong>.”
<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> <strong>Singapore</strong>www.nl.sgOperating Hours:Mon - Sun, 10am - 9pm(except public holidays)General Enquiries:TEL +65 6332 3255Reference Enquiries:EMAIL ref@nlb.gov.sgFAX +65 6332 3248SMS +65 9178 7792All rights reserved.<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board <strong>Singapore</strong> 2010Printed in April 2010<strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Board100 Victoria Street#14-01 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Library</strong> Building<strong>Singapore</strong> 188064
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