Flood of ideas for S'pore golden jubilee bash

In just two months, over 11,000 suggestions have poured in on how to celebrate Singapore's golden jubilee next year.

These include organising potlucks with neighbours and giving 50 people hugs, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong shared in Parliament yesterday.

"We want Singaporeans to take ownership of the celebration and to play an active role," he said, adding that Singaporeans can look forward to home-grown, ground-up events at the country's 50th birthday bash.

More details on the Singapore 50 (SG50) calendar of events will be revealed next week, said Mr Wong, who is also chairman of the SG50 Programme Office.

The SG50 Celebration Fund was also set up to provide selected projects with up to $50,000 in funding.

The team has so far received more than 100 proposals, from performances and publications to charity work and volunteer projects.

This flood of ideas, said Mr Wong, is proof that Singaporeans want to invest their time and energy in the event, and are "re-affirming deeper values and beliefs that bind us as a nation".

He added that in a time when some countries are caught up in increasingly "acrimonious and divisive" politics, and negative remarks are so quickly amplified, it is all too easy to become cynical.

But the lively public response to the SG50 bash, garnered since January, is uplifting, he said.

"It should give all of us hope," he added.

"It shows that Singaporeans care deeply about one another and about our nation. It shows that we are making progress towards becoming a democracy of deeds."

asyiqins@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on May 31, 2014.
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