Associations Registered for Immigrant Integration over Past 20 Years, Government Programmes and Partnerships, and Effectiveness of Integration Efforts
Ministry of Culture, Community and YouthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Dr Neo Kok Beng asking the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth about the number of associations registered specifically for immigrant integration over the past 20 years, related Government programmes, and their effectiveness. In response, Mr David Neo stated that the Government does not track associations registered specifically for this purpose, but actively welcomes and partners with organisations on integration efforts. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth supports initiatives like the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations' annual sports festival and provides grants via the Community Integration Fund for ground-up projects such as the Singapore Malayalee Association's SG60 Onam Village festival. Furthermore, the Ministry collaborates with the Singapore Business Federation under the Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals to help new professionals understand local cultural norms. He concluded that integrating new immigrants is an ongoing collective process to bring people from diverse backgrounds together and build a shared identity and belonging.
Transcript
61 Dr Neo Kok Beng asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (a) in the last 20 years, how many associations or societies were registered with the specific purpose of integrating new immigrants; (b) what are the programmes or partnerships that the relevant Government agencies have implemented to engage with them; and (c) what is the effectiveness of such programmes in the integration of new immigrants into the Singapore community.
Mr David Neo: The Government does not track the number of associations or societies that are registered with the specific purpose of integrating immigrants.
We welcome associations or societies to pursue integration efforts and have partnered with some of them in doing so. For example, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) supports the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations in its annual sports festival, which brings together participants from both traditional clan associations and immigrant associations.
MCCY's Community Integration Fund also provides grants to support Singapore-registered organisations, including associations or societies, for ground-up integration initiatives. For example, the Singapore Malayalee Association's SG60 Onam Village festival in 2025 introduced immigrants and non-Indians to Singapore's distinct multicultural heritage and provided opportunities attendees to learn about Singapore Malayalee culture, appreciate Singapore's multicultural heritage and build connections across communities.
As part of the Alliance for Action on Integration of Foreign Professionals, MCCY also works with the Singapore Business Federation to partner Trade Associations and Chambers to foster interactions between local and foreign professionals, to help new professionals better understand our local cultural norms and what it means to work in Singapore's multicultural context.
Integration of new immigrants into the Singapore community is an ongoing process where everyone has a role to play. Singapore's strength lies in our ability to bring together people from different backgrounds to build a shared sense of identity and belonging.