ReTRIeVIA

Singaporeans are of different races. The main races are Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian.

Businesses in Singapore use modern equipment and computers. However, there are traditional businesses where the work is still carried out by hand.

Though Singapore is small, it is a big international centre for many kinds of businesses.

The people of Singapore enjoy a high standard of living.

Singapore is a small country. It is shown as a red dot on the map.

As a nation, Singapore has long celebrated its cultural diversity and heritage. However, we must repeatedly remind our children (and ourselves) that racial and religious harmony is not something we can take for granted.

It is important to keep in mind that our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-lingual society rests on a very fragile foundation of different beliefs, values and practices.

Hopefully, this stamp-based storybook will help our young Singaporeans, and the teachers who nurture them, to continue to strengthen and enhance our social cohesion and racial harmony as well as to learn more about the story of Singapore.

I congratulate Dr Tan Wee Kiat and his colleagues from the National Institute of Education, Singapore for producing this fine book.

Koh Boon Long
Deputy Director
National Education Branch
Ministry of Education, Singapore

Today we start with a new book. Since we celebrated our National Day not too long ago, we are all still in a patriotic mood. Hence it is appropriate that we feature a book titled “Singapore: Many Races, One People”. The authors of this book are Dr Tan Wee Kiat, Angela F L Wong and Vilma D’Rozario.

As usual, one page of the book will be published here every Monday and Thursday. With 20 pages in the book (including front and back covers), that will take us to 6th November 2008.