CLANS - Singapore
A Network of Mutual Help During the British rule in Singapore, the Chinese immigrants began to form organizations based on dialect groups, common geographical areas or similar surnames. These clans looked after the welfare of their members and helped them to settle down in Singapore. As many of the new arrivals arrived penniless and alone, the associations played an important role strengthening bonds between fellow migrants from the same village or clan, offering support, companionship, and practical help. They also provided schools, temples, burial grounds, healthcare facilities and social welfare.
Attracting Younger Members As Singapore progressed into a more developed nation, other self-help groups have been established to do carry out work similar to those of the clans associations. So in recent years, either collectively through the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (www.sfcca.org.sg) or individually, clan associations are rejuvenating their activities to attract younger members.
The SFCCA, which is an umbrella group representing over 190 Chinese clans associations, has started kindergartens and organized programmes to get the young generation to learn and appreciate the Chinese language and culture.
Major Clan AssociationsToday, Singapore has more than 300 clan associations. Some of the largest clan associations - the Hokkien Huay Kuan (http://www.c3s.org.sg/cgi-bin/urlcatch.pl/local/hokkien/default.htm), the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan (www.teochew.org.sg) , the Kwangtung Huay Kuan (http://sfcca.org.sg/kwangtungclan/) , the Hakka Huay Kuan, the Hainan Huay Kuan (http://www.sfcca.org.sg/hainan_clan/index.htm), the Sanjiang Huay Kuan (http://sfcca.org.sg/sanjiangclan/), and the Fuchow Huay Kuan (http://www.sfcca.org.sg/foochow/), have come together to form the SFCCA in January 1986.
The CollectionsFor a comprehensive listing of clan associations in Singapore, refer to www.sfcca.org.sg, http://www.ntu.edu.sg/library/overseas/chinese.htm and http://www.lib.nus.edu.sg/chz/chineseoverseas/oc_associations.html The Private Records Information System (PRISM) http://www.a2o.com.sg:8080/nas/SilverStream/Objectstore/General/pindex.htm of the Singapore History Museum has some interesting collections of Chinese clan meetings, publications and other memorabilia.
Selected Publications1.Chong, Grace Mo-Ai, The Chinese clan associations in Singapore: survival or demise? Academic Exercise, National University of Singapore, 1991 2. Goh., Li Leng, A study of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (1985-2000), Academic Exercise, National University of Singapore, 2001. 3. Goh, Jace Che Cheng, The Chinese huiguan in Singapore (1945-1959), Academic Exercise, National University of Singapore, 1988. 4. Lim, How Seng, Singapore Chinese huiguan publications: a bibliography, SFCCA, 1989.
Compiled by Yeo Ai Hoon |