Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Singapore Ambassador to the State of Kuwait

Dr Norshahril Saat, Chairman of Malay Heritage Foundation

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. I am pleased to be here today to launch the inaugural Hari Warisan. I am encouraged to see everyone coming together for this important milestone in our arts, culture and heritage landscape, despite the challenging circumstances caused by COVID-19. Let me begin my speech in Malay.

Golongan seniman, budayawan dan warisan kita telah lama menyumbang kepada pembangunan masyarakat dan negara. Mereka adalah nadi penggerak yang telah menghidupkan identiti Singapura sebagai sebuah masyarakat majmuk yang kaya dengan rencam budaya. Mereka berperanan sebagai pengamanah dan perantara untuk menyampaikan adat, tradisi dan nilai-nilai murni yang tersemat dalam budaya masyarakat kita dari satu generasi ke generasi seterusnya.

Saya amat berbesar hati pihak Yayasan Warisan Melayu telah memberi fokus kepada generasi pelapis bijak pandai yang boleh menjadi inspirasi dan mencorak arus perkembangan seni, budaya dan warisan kita pada masa mendatang. Melalui inisiatif seperti Siri Cendekiawan Lestari, Siri Dalam Talian Wacana Warisan, dan Siri Sembang Ilmu, Yayasan Warisan Melayu telah menyediakan wadah untuk para penggiat seni belajar dari satu sama lain, bertukar-tukar fikiran, serta meluaskan jaringan kenalan mereka. Bak kata pepatah, bulat air kerana pembentung, bulat manusia kerana muafakat.

Saya mengalu-alukan inisiatif baru Hari Warisan sebagai satu acara khas untuk mengiktiraf dan meraikan sumbangan golongan para penggiat seni kita, serta memberi peluang untuk penggiat seni yang lebih muda belajar dari pengalaman golongan para penggiat seni yang lebih mapan. Selain dari itu, acara yang diadakan untuk julung-julung kalinya hari ini juga akan menyediakan wadah untuk para penggiat seni tanahair mengetahui perkembangan dan inisiatif terbaru untuk membantu mereka terus berkembang dan kekal relevan. Izinkan saya kini meneruskan ucapan saya dalam bahasa Inggeris.

Our arts, culture and heritage practitioners are important custodians of our identity and heritage. They play an essential role in strengthening the social cohesion and resilience of our multicultural nation. They help us make meaningful connections to stories, experiences and values, which help anchor us in an increasingly interconnected and complex world.

I am glad to see that the Malay Heritage Foundation, or MHF, has focused much of its effort in building thought leadership and nurturing the talent pipeline for the next generation of Malay cultural leaders and stewards. Through initiatives such as the Cendekiawan Lestari Lecture Series, Wacana Warisan Webinar Series and the Sembang Ilmu Seminar Series, the MHF has provided platforms for cultural practitioners, academics, contemporary thought leaders, and youth to share their knowledge, insights and perspectives about the community to a larger audience. This supports our cultural practitioners by developing their capabilities to shape, inspire and contribute to the ecosystem for future generations.

Hari Warisan is a special occasion to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution of our cultural practitioners. This new initiative will also provide a unique opportunity for younger personalities, whom we may not often hear from, to exchange views and insights among themselves, and with others. It offers a platform for our practitioners to exchange information about the initiatives and schemes at the government and non-government levels that support them and their work. They can share experiences and best practices, network with old partners, and explore new, potential collaborations. This will be a useful opportunity for all participants to improve their craft and enhance their relevance to the community and all Singaporeans.

This is especially timely in view of COVID-19. While the pandemic has undoubtedly posed challenges to our arts, culture and heritage, not least to the livelihoods of our practitioners, I am heartened that our cultural community has demonstrated its hallmark creativity and innovation in adopting novel digital means to present their work and engage audiences. Emerging technologies, such as virtual and augmented realities, can help showcase new forms of cultural experience and influence how we create, curate, and consume cultural content. I call on our practitioners to seize these opportunities to deepen your skills and develop professionally. Leverage technology and remain relevant in the digital world, even as we recognise the indispensability of intangible connections developed through face-to-face interactions.

Today, the MHF will also launch two new awards, the Hadiah Warisan (Heritage Prize) and Tunas Warisan (Special Mention Award). These awards acknowledge the significant contributions of leading cultural practitioners, and encourage recipients to continue contributing to the Malay arts and heritage scene in Singapore. Congratulations to the recipients, Idris Ali, whose watercolours capture and document Singapore’s street scenes and landscapes, and Shaza Ishak, a playwright and theatre practitioner.

In addition, I am heartened that youth who are actively contributing to the Malay arts, culture, and heritage sectors will be accredited with the title Teman Warisan (Friends of Heritage). This is the first time such an accolade is conferred to acknowledge the contribution and commitment of our youth. 

I congratulate the three youths who are appointed as Teman Warisan today. Anis Qurraturaini has been active in promoting traditional Malay music. Hafiz Rashid, a volunteer and docent at the museum, has made our stories come alive. Liyana Nasyita Shukarman, a former Malay dance practitioner, is deepening her knowledge of Malay heritage through her post-graduate studies to better contribute to its promotion in future. I hope that more young people will be inspired by these young ambassadors and be motivated to pick up the mantle and sustain efforts in promotion of our cultural heritage.

I thank the MHF for spearheading these efforts. I hope that each and every one of you will remain steadfast in your journey to cultivate a vibrant cultural landscape for Singapore. Allow me to end my speech with a pantun:

Naik perahu naik kereta,

Jangan dilupa basikal lama;

Warisan Melayu Warisan Kita,

Ayuh lestarikan bersama-sama.

In closing, I wish MHF and our cultural practitioners all the best in your future efforts. May you have a fruitful and meaningful day of exchanges. Thank you.