PM rallies Singaporeans to build, nurture a nation for the future
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveils the Botanic Gardens' UNESCO World Heritage Site plaque. Photo: Wee Teck Hian
SINGAPORE — A month after the Republic got its first-ever UNESCO World Heritage Site gong for the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the plaque for the historic inscription was unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (Aug 7).
Describing the inscription, coming in Singapore’s Golden Jubilee year as “double joy and double celebration”, Mr Lee rallied Singaporeans to build and nurture a nation that will hold promise for future generations, just as past generations had done.
Referring to the lush greenery in the Gardens — only the third Botanic Gardens in the world to be inscribed — Mr Lee said: “As the Chinese saying goes, one generation plants the trees and the later generations enjoy the shade.
“So let us in this generation continue to improve and enlarge the Gardens so that our children and our grandchildren can enjoy them. And let us in the same way, nurture and build Singapore for future generations so that we’ll have a bright future here for many years to come,” he added, citing how the Gardens is now three times larger than it was because of efforts to nurture and expand it.
Mr Lee also launched a set of commemorative stamps to mark the inscription, and named a specially-cultivated orchid dedicated to Singapore’s 50th birthday.
The stamps, which are produced by Singapore Post in partnership with the National Parks Board (NParks), features the Gardens’ well-known icons, such as the gazebo at the Bandstand and Tanglin Gate. Each stamp has a value of $1.30 and are on sale at all post offices, the Singapore Philatelic Museum and at www.stampdelight.com.
The special orchid, named Papilionanthe Singapore Golden Jubilee, traces its lineage to the Republic’s national flower Vanda Miss Joaquim, except it has slightly larger blooms, signifying “the nation’s growth from strength to strength”, said NParks.
The free-flowering orchid hybrid produces upright flower sprays, with each flower measuring about 7cm across that has mauve petals complemented with a large pinkish-purple lip and a bright orange-yellow throat streaked with red venations.
Speaking at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage today, Mr Lee also shared his personal anecdotes of how the Singapore Botanic Gardens has become a place where many Singaporeans “make and store previous memories”.
As a little boy he used to go there for outings, and later brought his wife there when he was courting her, he said. It also became his regular jogging spot for a while and where he could enjoy enjoy the calm and peace and have quiet walks with his wife Ho Ching as and when he has a free evening.
Mr Lee also reminisced about Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat — a multi-ethnic themed cultural concert first held in August 1959 at the Botanic Gardens, which was officially launched by founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. “As a little boy, I came for that,” he said.
Later in the afternoon, Mr Lee attended a concert meant to mirror Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat. The three-hour People’s Variety Show featured local artistes such as Corrinne May, Olivia Ong, Rui En and Taufik Batisah, as well as cultural performances. As at 9pm, about 25,000 people had visited the Gardens, said NParks.
One of them was Mr Heng Kok Kai, a 101-year-old former photographer whom Mr Lee had a brief chat with. His daughter, Betty, said he is a lover of classical music who used to play the violin and attend symphonies at the Gardens.
The Garden’s Jubilee Weekend celebrations continue today with a gig by local band The Sam Willows and a movie screening of Singapore Dreaming among the highlights. Tomorrow, the National Day Parade will also be telecast on the grounds.
On both days, the public can partake in a carnival featuring activities such as face painting and batik painting, childhood games such as five stones, hopscotch and chapteh, and booths offering local dishes such as nasi lemak, chicken rice and satay.
