| Singapore | 1 Feb 2015 | Asia Samachar |
The contributions of key members of the Sikh community towards Singapore’s development over the last 50 years since gaining independence will be captured in a book in an endeavour undertaken by Young Sikh Association (Singapore) or YSA.
The book project has received national endorsement. It is funded through the SG50 Celebrations Fund – the first and only initiative, to date, from the Sikh community to receive such support from the SG50 Committee, according to a report in Tabla [AsiaOne website, Jan 30, 2015].
SG50 is a nationwide effort to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday this year. The republic gained independence when it left Malaysia in 1965, just two years after joining the federation.
“As a community, we need such documentation so that current and future generations of Singaporean Sikhs will continue to play their part at the wider level,” said Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh.
“The publication will give the community and the nation an opportunity to recognise the contributions of a minority group to Singapore’s commendable growth story and it will inevitably strengthen Singapore’s nation-building process,” according to MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.
YSA had received 150 nominations.
The report added:
To assist in the nomination process, YSA set clear criteria for shortlisting the individuals. Besides having their contributions recorded post-1965, the nominees must also have contributed at the national level or towards nation-building and must have done so in their respective fields for at least five years.
To add objectivity and professionalism to the process, an independent panel has been established to assess the nominations and make the final decision on the 50 Sikhs who will be featured in the book.
Chaired by eminent academician and Nominated Member of Parliament Professor Tan Tai Yong, who currently serves as the executive vice-president (academic affairs) at the Yale-NUS College and is director of the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) at the National University of Singapore, the panel also includes the Sikh Advisory Board in Singapore’s former chairman Surjit Singh Wasan, former Singapore Indian Development Association chief executive officer T. Raja Segar and representatives of other segments of the community. Aided by YSA’s role as a secretariat, the panel will evaluate the nominations over the next few months. – ASIA SAMACHAR (1 Feb 2015)
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outstanding Sikh is mr Mohinder Singh, advisor to LTA academy. Ex director of transport planning and research then dean of LRA academy. A man responsible for land transport
I’ll be disappointed if my friend, MP Inderjit Singh is not in the final list. He’s an outstanding political leader and an entrepreneur par excellence. His contributions to the economy and Singapore are placed on public record and have made an indelible mark on our national landscape.
Pls include my fre Baljit Singh qho’s born on 09 Aug 1965.he’s biss of his own firm Global Max Security
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