Progress must go hand in hand with identity and community: PM Wong

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong shaking hands with guests at the Tamils Representative Council’s 75th anniversary gala dinner.

Published Sep 19, 2026, 08:45 PM

Updated Sep 19, 2026, 08:50 PM

PM Lawrence Wong emphasised that Singapore’s progress should keep individuals connected to their identity and community, highlighting the Tamil saying "a single tree does not make a grove" to stress unity.

The Tamils Representative Council (TRC) supports Tamil Singaporeans through education, expanding bursaries for higher education and plans to aid youth with career and leadership development.

PM Wong praised TRC’s role and affirmed government support for stronger community partnerships like the Indian Engagement and Development Initiative (INEI).

SINGAPORE – Singapore’s goal is not merely to help each person go further or faster, but to ensure that progress remains rooted in one’s identity and connected to the community, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

He was speaking at the Tamils Representative Council’s (TRC) 75th anniversary celebration at The Ritz-Carlton on Sept 19.

Citing the Tamil saying thani maram thoppaagaathu, meaning “a single tree does not make a grove”, PM Wong said Singapore is stronger when its people grow together, stay connected and give back to the communities that supported them.

“When we understand our heritage, know the values we stand for and have a clear sense of who we are, we have greater confidence to engage the world around us,” he said.

The council, which was founded in 1951 to bring Singapore’s Tamil organisations under one umbrella, is a non-profit organisation that works to uplift the educational and economic status of Tamils in Singapore. It now represents 42 affiliated organisations and more than 30,000 people.

PM Wong commended the efforts of TRC and its youth wing for helping new generations of Tamil Singaporeans understand their heritage, stay connected to their community, and take pride in both their Tamil and Singaporean identities.

PM Wong pointed out that an important part of TRC’s work is its emphasis on education as a pathway to opportunity and a means of uplifting families and strengthening the community.

The council will expand the G. Kandasamy Education Trust Fund to support students pursuing higher education. Launched in 2000 to help lower-income Tamil primary school pupils, the fund provides bursaries of up to $500 to qualifying individuals and has given more than $700,000 to over 5,000 pupils since its inception.

For the expansion, TRC has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Indian Education Trust and raised $500,000. Lower-income students from the Institute of Technical Education , polytechnics and universities will be eligible for bursaries of up to $500 each.

PM Wong said TRC also hopes to support young people through career planning, internships and leadership development, reflecting Singapore’s broader approach of giving them strong foundations, agency and confidence. “TRC’s goal is very much aligned with our national objectives to give every Singaporean a chance to realize their potential and to build a better future for themselves and their families,” he said.

Beyond helping individuals fulfil their potential, the Government would continue supporting community organisations in forging stronger partnerships, PM Wong said.

One such effort is the Indian Engagement and Development Initiative (INEI), announced in March to bring the Indian community and religious organisations together and better coordinate their work. It is co- chaired by Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash.

PM Wong said INEI was taking a leaf from TRC ’s book , which showed that different organisations could retain their identities and strengths while working together to achieve more.

“I hope that the TRC will play an active role in INEI and help shape the next chapter of our Singaporean Indian community,” he said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (centre) with Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai (left) and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Dinesh Vasu Dash at the Tamils Representative Council’s 75th anniversary gala dinner on Sept 19. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (centre) with Senior Minister of State for Transport Murali Pillai (left) and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Dinesh Vasu Dash at the Tamils Representative Council’s 75th anniversary gala dinner on Sept 19.

TRC president V. Pandiyan also thanked PM Wong and other government leaders for speaking out against recent racist comments targeting Indians.

The comments followed reports that nine Singaporeans were missing in the Nepal floods. Some said that the missing Singaporeans were “not our own” and used a derogatory term for Indians.

Temasek chief executive Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara was also targeted over reports that Air India was seeking funding from shareholders including Singapore Airlines. Commenters alleged that he favoured the airline because of his ethnicity. Police have identified and interviewed five people over the comments.

Pandiyan said that the community was grateful that PM Wong and other government leaders had spoken out “firmly, publicly and directly” against racism.

He added: “Racism against one community wounds every community. When we stand together, Singapore stands stronger.”

总理黄循财在泰米尔人代表理事会成立75周年庆典晚宴上与来宾握手。

发布于 2026 年 9 月 19 日晚上 8:45

更新于2026年9月19日晚上8:50

黄循财总理强调，新加坡的发展应该让个人与其身份和社区保持联系，他引用泰米尔谚语“一棵树成不了树林”来强调团结。

泰米尔人代表理事会（TRC）通过教育支持新加坡泰米尔人，扩大高等教育助学金，并计划帮助青年进行职业和领导力发展。

黄总理赞扬了TRC的作用，并重申政府支持加强社区伙伴关系，例如印度人参与和发展倡议（INEI）。

新加坡——新加坡总理黄循财表示，新加坡的目标不仅仅是帮助每个人走得更远或更快，而是要确保进步植根于个人身份认同，并与社区紧密相连。

9月19日，他在丽思卡尔顿酒店举行的泰米尔人代表委员会（TRC）成立75周年庆典上发表了讲话。

黄循财总理引用泰米尔谚语“thani maram thoppaagaathu”（意为“一棵树成不了树林”）表示，新加坡人民团结一致、保持联系并回馈支持他们的社区，才能更加强大。

他说：“当我们了解自己的传统，知道我们所代表的价值观，并清楚地认识到自己是谁时，我们就更有信心与周围的世界互动。”

该理事会成立于1951年，旨在将新加坡的泰米尔组织联合起来，是一个致力于提升新加坡泰米尔人教育和经济地位的非营利组织。目前，它代表着42个附属组织和超过3万名成员。

黄总理赞扬了泰米尔人复兴委员会及其青年团为帮助新一代新加坡泰米尔人了解他们的文化遗产、与社区保持联系以及为他们的泰米尔人和新加坡人身份感到自豪所做的努力。

黄总理指出，真相与和解委员会工作的一个重要部分是强调教育是通往机遇的途径，是提升家庭福祉和加强社区建设的手段。

理事会将扩大G·坎达萨米教育信托基金的规模，以支持学生接受高等教育。该基金于2000年设立，旨在帮助低收入家庭的泰米尔族小学生，为符合条件的个人提供最高500美元的助学金，自成立以来已向5000多名学生发放了超过70万美元的资助。

为了扩大规模，TRC与新加坡印度教育信托基金签署了一份为期五年的谅解备忘录，并筹集了50万美元。来自工艺教育学院、理工学院和大学的低收入学生将有资格获得每人最高500美元的助学金。

黄循财总理表示，TRC也希望通过职业规划、实习和领导力发展来支持年轻人，这体现了新加坡更广泛的扶持政策，即为年轻人奠定坚实的基础，赋予他们自主权和自信。“TRC的目标与我们的国家目标高度契合，即让每一位新加坡人都有机会发挥自身潜力，并为自己和家人创造更美好的未来。”他说道。

黄循财总理表示，除了帮助个人发挥潜力外，政府还将继续支持社区组织建立更紧密的伙伴关系。

其中一项举措是印度裔社区参与和发展倡议（INEI），该倡议于今年3月宣布，旨在促进印度裔社区和宗教组织之间的合作，并更好地协调彼此的工作。该倡议由文化、社区和青年事务国务部长兼人力资源国务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什共同主持。

黄总理表示，INEI正在借鉴TRC的做法，TRC表明不同的组织可以在保持自身特色和优势的同时，共同努力取得更大的成就。

“我希望真相与和解委员会（TRC）能在新加坡印度裔社群国际联盟（INEI）中发挥积极作用，并帮助塑造新加坡印度裔社群的下一个篇章，”他说。

9月19日，总理黄循财（中）与交通部高级政务部长穆拉利·皮莱（左）及文化、社区及青年部政务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什出席泰米尔人代表理事会成立75周年庆典晚宴。（海峡时报摄影：张文杰）

9月19日，总理黄循财（中）与交通部高级政务部长穆拉利·皮莱（左）和文化、社区及青年部政务部长迪内什·瓦苏·达什在泰米尔人代表理事会成立75周年庆典晚宴上合影。

真相与和解委员会主席潘迪扬也感谢黄英贤总理和其他政府领导人公开谴责近期针对印度人的种族主义言论。

此前有报道称，九名新加坡人在尼泊尔洪灾中失踪。一些评论者声称，失踪的新加坡人“不是我们自己人”，并使用了贬义词来指代印度人。

淡马锡首席执行官迪尔汉·皮莱·桑德拉塞加拉也因有报道称印度航空正寻求包括新加坡航空在内的股东注资而成为攻击目标。有评论者指责他因种族原因偏袒印度航空。警方已就此言论对五人进行了讯问。

潘迪扬表示，社区感谢黄英贤总理和其他政府领导人“坚定、公开、直接”地谴责种族主义。

他补充道：“针对一个群体的种族歧视会伤害到所有群体。团结一致，新加坡才会更加强大。”