National Integration Council - IMISEM

National Integration Council
  nationalintegrationcouncil.org.sg/about/national-integration-council

About NIC
Our forefathers came mainly from the Malay Peninsula, the Indonesian isles, China, the
Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka. Although Singaporeans are of different backgrounds,
we are able to build a harmonious society because we value the importance of accepting
and understanding one another. This harmony has not come about naturally and
everyone in Singapore must recognise their role in actively reaching out to each other to
preserve our social cohesion and harmony.

Against this backdrop, the National Integration Council (NIC) was set-up in April 2009 to
drive integration efforts in a comprehensive, sustainable and ground-up manner
through the partnership of the public, people and private (3P) sectors. In promoting
integration, the NIC seeks to:

     Increase awareness of the importance of integration for our continued success as a
     society and nation
     Help newcomers adapt to the Singaporean way of life, including helping them
     better understand local cultures and social norms
     Grow common spaces and provide platforms for Singaporeans and new
     immigrants to interact
     Facilitate the formation of friendships and shared experiences among
     Singaporeans and non-locals, so as to foster mutual understanding and acceptance
     through their interactions
     Foster and deepen emotional attachment and a sense of belonging to Singapore
     among new immigrants

Singapore’s approach to integration does not demand that new immigrants abandon
their own beliefs and culture. Rather, we expect them to share commonalities, values
and experiences with fellow Singaporeans so that we can all work together to achieve
our aspirations and build the best home for ourselves and our children.

Our Guiding Principles
The NIC engages in strategic partnerships and collaborations with partners from the
public, people and private sectors to develop ground-up initiatives and are guided by the
following principles when seeking to foster integration:
   1. Integration is a two way process
      Successful integration first requires the building of inter-personal relationships
      between locals and new immigrants. Both sides therefore have a role to play in
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reaching out to one another.
  2. Everyone has a role to play
     All individuals, across different spheres and levels of society, can help to deepen
     social integration in Singapore in the course of their daily lives, so that integration
     can be effective and sustained over the long term. No effort is too small or
     inadequate.
  3. Integration takes time
     Immigrants have spent their formative years in another country and may bring with
     them their own social habits, languages, beliefs and values. They will thus need
     time to learn about, and adapt to, our local norms as well as customs. Integration is
     a continual process that will bear fruit over time, if we show determination,
     patience and perseverance.

NIC Members
The National Integration Council (NIC) comprises members from the public, people and
private sectors. Chaired by the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu,
the Council meets regularly to deliberate on strategies and programmes to improve
integration outcomes. The Council members are:

Ms Grace Fu
Chairman, National Integration Council
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth

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Dr Alexius A Pereira
President, Eurasian Association

Mr Amrin Amin
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health

Mr Bruce Poh
CEO, ITE Education Services Pte Ltd
Executive Deputy Chairman, WorldSkills Singapore Council

Mr Chua Chim Kang
Head, Chinese Editorial Content, Mediacorp

                                                                                  3/10

Mr Desmond Tan Kok Ming
Chief Executive Director, People’s Association

Mr Han Kwee Juan
Managing Director and Group Head, Strategy and Planning, DBS Bank Ltd

Dr Janil Puthucheary
Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications & Information and Ministry of
Transport
Chairman, OnePeople.sg

                                                                                     4/10

Ms Jeanne Liew
Principal and CEO, Nanyang Polytechnic

Mr Jeff Cheong
President, Tribal DDB Asia

Mrs Josephine Teo
Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Home Affairs

                                                             5/10

Mr Laurence Chin
Council Member, Singapore National Employers Federation
Country Manager, Singapore, United Airlines

Prof Ling San
Provost, Nanyang Technological University

Ms Low Khah Gek
Director & Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Technical Education

                                                                       6/10

Mr Masagos Zulkifli
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources and Minister-in-charge of Muslim
Affairs

Mr Mayank Parekh
CEO, Institute for Human Resource Professionals (IHRP)

Mr Nazri Hadi Saparin
Assistant to Editor, Berita Harian

                                                                                    7/10

Mr Ng Chee Meng
Minister, Prime Minister's Office

Mr Ong Ye Kung
Minister for Education

Mr Phua Kiah Mai
Deputy Secretary-General, Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations

                                                                              8/10

Mr Piragasam Munisamy
Assistant General Secretary, Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees' Union
(SMEEU)

Ms Sabanitha Shanmugasundram
Head, Indian Audience, Mediacorp

Mr Tan Richard
General Secretary, United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries (UWEEI)

                                                                                    9/10

Dr Tan Wu Meng
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Trade and
Industry

Ms Tracey Ho
Director, Atticus Consulting Pte Ltd

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