Nurturing younger leaders will help clans promote Chinese culture, Singapore identity: PM Wong

SINGAPORE – Clan associations should create more opportunities for the younger generation to learn and gain experience that will set them up for leadership roles in the future.

This will be a key priority for the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) and the clans to be able to continue strengthening bonds between communities, and promoting Chinese culture and values, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Oct 13.

Doing so will allow generations of Singaporeans to continue putting down their roots here and will strengthen the Singaporean identity, he said in Mandarin.

As part of efforts to nurture future clan leaders, nominations for the

Chinese Community Leadership Course

will start in December, said PM Wong.

A task force, led by SFCCA secretary-general Ng Siew Quan, is in the midst of designing the curriculum.

The leadership course was

announced by PM Wong at the 2025

National Day Rally

to foster the future leadership of the Chinese community. Around 100 participants in their 30s and 40s are expected to benefit from the course over five years.

SFCCA is a key bridge in Singapore’s multicultural and multiracial society, said PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister and patron of SFCCA.

He was speaking at SFCCA’s 40th anniversary gala dinner at the Raffles City Convention Centre. SFCCA, which has more than 250 member associations, is the apex body of Chinese clan associations in Singapore.

The geopolitical situation has become more tense, with increasing economic disparities and rapid development of technology, said PM Wong.

“The values that clan associations have always upheld are particularly important in this unpredictable era,” he said.

In the past, Singaporeans had worked together to brave hardships and challenges. These are values Singapore must hold firmly in the face of future challenges, he told some 1,000 guests, who included members of clan associations and the Chinese community.

Organisations like SFCCA are important as they help to bridge the past and future by reminding people of the path that has been travelled, while guiding Singapore forward, said PM Wong.

He also noted that the association has been actively giving back to society, including working with the Chinese Development Assistance Council to award bursaries, and with different ethnic groups to help Singaporeans of all races.

Today, clan associations here are facing new challenges, said PM Wong.

“Nowadays, many young Singaporeans are exposed to different cultures from an early age and have more platforms for communication,” he said. “They may not necessarily be interested in joining clan associations.”

He urged them to innovate, accelerate digitalisation and transform their management models to attract young members.

They must also keep pace with the times by organising more innovative activities not only to promote traditional Chinese culture, but also to facilitate community bonding in multiracial Singapore, he said.

He noted how some clan associations have formed youth clubs and organised interesting activities like charity runs and sports events to draw young participants of different races.

In his speech at the dinner, SFCCA president Thomas Chua said the Government’s support in launching the leadership course has boosted its confidence in nurturing a new generation of successors through a structured and systematic approach.

SFCCA also introduced several initiatives to support the growth and development of its member associations. These include

partnering with the Singapore University of Social Sciences

since July to launch leadership and skills development courses for clan association members. A second run will be launched at the end of November.

SFCCA will also review future plans for the

Clan of the Year Award

, which recognises clan associations for their contributions in promoting Chinese culture and fostering social cohesion, Mr Chua said.

Moving forward, SFCCA hopes to shift its focus to learning and knowledge sharing. It will also organise forums and invite award-winning clan associations to share their experiences, he added.

In recent years, the federation has also placed strong emphasis on strengthening governance and fostering leadership renewal with greater diversity. In 2024, it welcomed more young members and women into its council, he said.

SFCCA’s 40th year marks the start of a new chapter, said Mr Chua.

“We have revisited our position and refined our vision partially, evolving from ‘to be the leading organisation of the Chinese community’ to ‘an active leadership role in bridging the Chinese community and the Government’,” he said.

During the dinner, a tribute video was screened honouring SFCCA’s founding president, the late banker

Wee Cho Yaw, who died in February 2024

.

Local Chinese clan associations with more than 200 years of history were also recognised for their enduring contributions to preserving Chinese heritage and community building.

Five received a commemorative token, including Singapore’s oldest clan association, Sing Chow Chiu Kwok Thong Cho Kah Koon, which was established in 1819.

The others were Ning Yeung Wui Kuan, Ying Fo Fui Kun and Wui Chiu Fui Kun Singapore, all of which started in 1822, and Hok Tek Chi Loke Yah Teng Association, founded in 1824.

Mr Sou Fa Lee, adviser of Sing Chow Chiu Kwok Thong Cho Kah Koon, hopes that more people who share his surname Cao – which can be Cho, Tsao, Chau, Chow or Sou in English – will join the clan association in Joo Chiat.

It has 41 members aged between 30 and 90, a far cry from the 300 to 400 members when he joined in 1971.

Said the 75-year-old: “Not many want to move out of their comfort zone to volunteer their services to serve fellow clan members, or they are too busy with work and caregiving duties. Hopefully, more can step forward when they read about our clan now.”

Correction note: This article has been updated for clarity.