Mr Yatiman Yusof, Non-resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya

Mr Suraidi Sipan, President Angkatan Sasterawan '50

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Assalamualaikum wr wb. I am happy to join you this morning for the launch of Mr Yatiman Yusof’s memoir, “Perjalananku – Dari Desa ke Likuan Kota.” (“From the Village to the Meandering City”.)

First and foremost, let me congratulate Mr Yatiman for his dedication and perseverance in completing one of the most difficult tasks in life –  reliving the vivid memories of his past - thus giving us, Singaporeans, an opportunity to learn and appreciate his varied challenges and meaningful journeys.

Younger Singaporeans of today may not know Mr Yatiman – a man who had contributed extensively to Singapore in many fields; the arts, education, journalism, politics and the public sector.

Mr Yatiman is also a writer and a poet. He was born in a small village in Johor. He was raised and educated in Singapore, and became a teacher before embarking on his career in journalism. As an arts and social activist, Mr Yatiman was active in three major Malay organisations; Singapore Malay Teachers' Union, Perkumpulan Seni and Majlis Pusat, before entering the political arena.

Throughout his 22 years in politics, Mr Yatiman served in various capacities, including as a Member of Parliament and Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the then-Ministry of Information and the Arts. He is currently Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya, and Chairman of the Malay Language Council Board of Advisors.

His ability, grit and determination have helped to make him the successful man that he is today. May this memoir be a source of reflection and reference for us and our future generations.

Let me now continue my speech in Malay.

Singapura bertuah kerana dalam kekerdilannya, ia mampu melahirkan ramai tokoh dan pemimpin berwibawa yang gigih mencorak penakatan negara dan kemandirian anak bangsa.

Sekiranya kita menelusuri masa, kita dapat melihat bagaimana kesungguhan para pemimpin ini telah menyumbang kepada pembentukan jatidiri kita hari ini, sebagai rakyat Singapura yang bersatu-padu, sedia bergotong royong dan saling hormat menghormati walaupun berlainan bangsa dan agama; berpandangan jauh dan berkeyakinan serta punya cinta mendalam terhadap watannya.

Dalam sela-sela sejarah pembangunan Singapura pascamerdeka, Encik Yatiman merupakan diantara pemimpin penerus zaman yang gigih menyubur sikap sedemkian agar anak-anak kita mendukung prinsip kemajmukan Singapura, kekal kental semangat dan beriltizam mengharungi cabaran hari muka.

Memoir “Perjalananku – Dari Desa ke Likuan Kota” adalah satu contoh sumbangan kepada perbendaharaan sejarah negara. Pengalaman yang dilalui Encik Yatiman mungkin berbeza dengan kehidupan generasi millenia hari ini. Namun tekad, kesungguhan dan kecekalan yang ditonjolkan Encik Yatiman dalam memoirnya ini perlu dijadikan pencetus ransangan agar generasi mendatang – walaupun berbeza keadaan hidup – tidak walah tetapi teruja dan sedia mengharungi cabaran dan liku-liku yang dihadapi mereka.

Dengan ini, saya mengucapkan tahniah kepada Encik Yatiman atas penerbitan memoirnya, "Perjalananku – Dari Desa ke Likuan Kota."

Terima kasih.