PM Goh on ethnic-based Self-help Policy

PM: Multi-racial approach needed

ETHNIC-BASED self-help groups are a success and are here to stay, but what is needed now is a more multi-racial approach by these groups, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said yesterday at the Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) volunteers' tea.

Recently, the question of whether the Government should do away with ethnic-based self-help groups was raised by some in the wake of the Association of Muslim Professionals' proposal for a collective leadership, which was rejected by the Prime Minister.

Yesterday, the PM was particularly struck by the fact that 10 per cent of Sinda's 2,000 volunteers are non-Indians.

''I am very pleased that Sinda has gone outside its own community to tap a wider pool of volunteers. This not only increases your resources, but very importantly helps to build a more cohesive multi-racial society.''

The PM said there should be more joint programmes among the various self-help groups, which would bring together students and participants of all races. He said that by building on each community's complementary strengths, the society becomes stronger overall.