New non-profit group to promote culture of honour

SINGAPORE — A group of prominent Singa­poreans — including a former top civil servant and a former judge — have come together to launch a new non-profit organisation (NPO) to promote a culture of “honour and honouring” here.

Called Honour (Singapore), the NPO will embark on engagement programmes — such as talks and conferences — involving schools and youth groups, for example. It is also in discussion with the Ministry of Education to develop initiatives for schools.

A website (http://www.honour.sg) was launched yesterday to encourage the public to send in stories that 
demonstrate “honour in action”.

The group is chaired by Mr Lim Siong Guan, group president of GIC and former head of the Civil Service. Its board members include Mr Richard Magnus, a retired Senior Judge who heads the Public Transport Council, and Mr Jason Wong, chairman of Focus on the Family.

It will also be advised by a high-powered panel consisting of Far East Organization CEO Philip Ng, Lien Foundation chairman Laurence Lien, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore president Alami Musa and National University of Singapore emeritus professor Edwin Thumboo, among others.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the group’s fund-raising dinner at Fullerton Hotel — which was attended by 400 potential donors, businessmen, civil servants and school representatives, among others — Mr Lim said he got the inspiration to set up the group from conversations with his friends reflecting on Singapore’s success, in the context of the country’s golden jubilee next year.

Mr Lim noted that Singapore’s success goes beyond government policies and schemes. It came about fundamentally because “we are a people and country whose word is our honour”.

Honour and trust will also be the virtues underpinning the Republic’s success in the years to come, 
he added.

Asked whether he felt honour is increasingly scarce in society here, Mr Lim said it was not the case. The group was set up to get more people talking about the virtue for the benefit of current and future generations of Singaporeans, he added.

In a speech at the dinner, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was guest of honour, said for Singaporeans to honour one another, it entails acknowledging, accepting and respecting differences.

“How we manage differences — to ensure these do not become new fault lines that polarise our society — this will be our critical challenge in the coming years,” he added.