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Role Model for Chinese Elite
Dr
Lim: Queen's scholar who resolved to connect with his cultural roots
Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew yesterday said Lim Boon
Keng, a prominent figure in Singapore's early history, is one model for the
elite group he is pushing to groom so that there will be Singaporeans who can
engage in-depth with a rising China.
'We need more modern day bilingualists/biculturalists
like Dr Lim Boon Keng to deepen and widen our links with China,' he said at an
international conference on national boundaries and cultural configurations.
Stressing again the need for such a core group of
Singaporeans to ride on China's growth, Mr Lee said being bilingual is not
enough. The group must also be bicultural.
'Bilingualism gets us through the front door, but it
is only through biculturalism that we can reach deep inside China and work with
them,' he said at the conference hosted by the Nanyang Technological University.
According to Mr Lee, Dr Lim is 'one historical model
of the bicultural elite that we need to replicate'.
A Queen's scholar in the second half of the 19th
century, Dr Lim was not taught Chinese but studied in Edinburgh to become a
doctor. Yet, he later became fully bilingual and bicultural.
'He realised during his stay in UK that whatever his
accomplishments, the British would always treat him as a British subject of
Chinese origin, not as their equal,' Mr Lee said. 'He resolved to connect with
his cultural roots.'
When Dr Lim returned to Singapore, he learnt Chinese
and promoted its use in teaching. He co-founded the Singapore Chinese Girls'
School to educate Straits Chinese women. He also raised money to start the King
Edward VII Medical School, which has developed into the National University of
Singapore today.
Dr Lim promoted Chinese language and Confucian studies
among Straits Chinese so that they would retain their roots. He also encouraged
them to master English in order to seize the opportunities for enterprise in
China, and boost their role as bridges between East and West. He visited China
often and helped Chinese officials attract investments from the Chinese in
South-east Asia.
'Lim Boon Keng was an outstanding example of a
bilingual and bicultural Singaporean Chinese of that era (in the late 19th
century) who contributed to both China and Singapore's development,' Mr Lee
said.
Similarly, he said, Singapore needs to build a core of
bicultural Singapore players to engage India - even though English provides a
convenient link language with that country.
'In the first half of the 21st century, China and
India will be the two largest and fastest growing economies in the world. They
will have tremendous impact on the economies of the world, including, in
particular, South-east Asia. By virtue of our position at the confluence of
great civilisations and cultures, Singapore can be a catalyst in this
development.'
But that's provided Singapore continues to have
bicultural and multicultural players who can engage these economies, Mr Lee
said. - SINGAPORE
BUSINESS TIMES
24 June 2004
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