CDCs will face challenges in maintaining social cohesion:
SM Goh
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 November 2007 2222
hrs
SINGAPORE : Community Development Councils (CDCs) will face greater
challenges in maintaining social cohesion as Singapore becomes
increasingly cosmopolitan.
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said this at the CDCs' 10th
anniversary dinner on Friday.
CDCs have brought different groups of people together.
But Senior Minister Goh warned that as Singapore undergoes further
changes, new challenges to community cohesion will become more
prominent.
This includes the erosion of trust between new and old immigrants
as society becomes more diverse.
Mr Goh said, "In Marine Parade, I hold a reception every year to
welcome new residents. I observed that the new residents
did not mix easily with Singaporeans. Singaporeans also tended to
leave them alone.
"If we do not make an effort to integrate the new
immigrants, there would be more 'hunkering down' and a
decline in social cohesion as more new citizens and PRs move into
our housing estates."
Senior Minister Goh said that going forward, the CDCs should
encourage more interaction between and within different groups in
society - people of different races, religion and income, for
example.
CDCs should also make an extra effort to welcome new citizens and
foreigners into the community.
Mr Goh also urged CDCs to help bridge the gap between the different
income and age groups.
However, he acknowledged that the CDCs have come a long way since
they were formed a decade ago.
This journey and the stories of the people who have helped shaped
the CDCs, are captured in a commemorative book, which was launched
at the dinner. - CNA/ms
