Speeches
Opening Speech by Minister Josephine Teo at Tamil Murasu's 90th Anniversary Dinner
6 July 2025
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam,
My Parliamentary Colleagues,
Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Chairman of SPH Media Trust,
Mr Chan Yeng Kit, CEO,
Mr Raja Segar, Editor, Tamil Murasu,
Community leaders and friends
Introduction
Good evening. Aneiverrukkum vanakkam.
Raja has given us a colourful account of Tamil Murasu’s historical journey.
Very few newspapers have lasted nine decades, and you are today one of the oldest Tamil-language newspapers in the world. You have lived through colonial rule and the Japanese Occupation, when you were forced to cease publication temporarily. Your journey was closely intertwined with Singapore’s path to independence.
In fact, there is another reason why you are somewhat of a rarity. Except for India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia, none of the countries with sizeable Tamil populations—of above 200,000—have a Tamil news publication with a daily print run.
It could be that geography makes physical distribution not viable, such as in Canada, South Africa and the UK. Or the need is less intensely felt because the Tamil population is largely transient in nature, such as in the UAE.
Closer to home, two Tamil dailies continue to be published in Malaysia. Keep in mind however they have about 2 million Tamils, or around ten times the number in Singapore.
Tamil Murasu has played an integral role in Singapore’s nation- building journey
Journalism has long been described as providing the first drafts of history. Newspapers, like Tamil Murasu, not only document events as they unfold. They also provide the initial, sometimes imperfect, records of history, which are often reinterpreted and refined by historians later.
But you did not just chronicle Singapore’s major milestones.
You provided space for the Tamil community to express their views and creativity.
You influenced and shaped developments.
This being SG60, I would like to acknowledge your role in nation-building.
One good example is Singapore’s transition from kampung-living to public housing, the biggest waves of which started in the 1960s. Many Indian families who lived in kampungs were concerned about losing their cultural and religious ties. They were used to kampung life – being part of tightly knit communities, often centred around temples and shrines. The kampungs were the only way of life they knew.
In your coverage of the issues, Tamil Murasu acknowledged the deep sense of loss some felt in leaving behind these environments. Yet, it also painted a vision of the future – of better living standards, modern infrastructure, and a shared national identity rooted in HDB towns.
Through its coverage, Tamil Murasu helped the Indian community see public housing less as displacement and loss, and more as active participation in Singapore’s modernisation and progress.
Similarly, as part of nation-building, Singapore introduced the bilingual education policy. Tamil was designated as one of the Mother Tongue Languages due to the predominance of Tamils among the Indian community.
The bilingual education policy has been instrumental in helping our citizens seize opportunities for growth by being plugged into the global economy, while staying rooted in our heritage and culture. But at the time, some quarters pitted the English-speaking elite against the vanguards of vernacular languages.
Once again, Tamil Murasu played a critical bridging role — by enabling greater understanding of the rationale for the policy, while also giving voice to the community’s concerns. Through editorials, letters to the editor and commentaries, Tamil Murasu promoted constructive dialogue that informed policy, and helped to avoid a deepening of division.
And the Government responded. Investments in Tamil language education were ramped up. Over time, pathways such as the Non-Tamil Indian Languages programme were introduced to provide greater flexibility for students whose mother tongue was not Tamil.
Importantly, Tamil Murasu walked the talk. Its student publication ‘Maanavar Murasu’, started in 1952, is still used in schools today. Many in the audience would remember growing up with Tamil Murasu – reading it in your Tamil classes and as part of school assignments.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tamil Murasu made significant contributions. You provided critical and timely public health messages to those who were only conversant in Tamil. This includes many Tamil-speaking migrant workers. You also shone a light on the service and sacrifice of unsung heroes in the Indian community – from frontline medical professionals to volunteers, and community leaders. Such stories uplifted and united; they affirmed the community’s contributions and inspired many to do more for one another.
How Tamil Murasu has evolved against the digital media landscape to serve its readers
More recently, Tamil Murasu made the General Elections relatable to young audiences. You produced a series of talk shows and short videos to reflect the aspirations of younger voters. These helped explain the elections process to first-time voters in an engaging way, helping them participate actively in our democratic process.
All this good work could not have been accomplished without a dedicated team behind Tamil Murasu. On this note, I’m delighted that we are honouring the past editors of Tamil Murasu today. From the pioneering spirit of your founder, Mr G. Sarangapany, to the tireless efforts of community leaders like Mr Chandra Das – it has always been people who kept Tamil Murasu going. To them, and every staff member—past and present—you are an integral part of TM’s journey and deserve our commendation.
Looking ahead, I encourage you to strive to stay relevant to the community, to help foster an informed and engaged citizenry.
It will not be an easy task.
There will be new waves of technological disruption and changing consumer preferences. Many Singaporeans, including seniors, will increasingly or exclusively consume news through online media. At the same time, across the globe, the proliferation of “free” news has led to fatigue and the risk of people switching off, especially our youths.
I am therefore heartened to see Tamil Murasu experimenting with new products and approaches to strengthen relations with its audiences. The youth dialogues you organise on topical issues will allow you to grow deep and meaningful connections with the next generation. Your app, launched in 2023, has gained some traction. You should be encouraged that the International News Media Association recognised your efforts with the silver prize in the Best New Digital Product category at the Global Media Awards held in New York.
The presence of vernacular mainstream media in Singapore is not by chance, but by careful policy design and consistent efforts from the paper, community and government to reflect the values of Singapore.
Perhaps the most critical challenge of all is the declining use of the language by Singaporeans. This is a challenge that confronts all our vernacular media outlets. Tamil Murasu will have to continue efforts to reach out to young readers through multiple content formats – especially on digital platforms – to grow audience engagement and keep the Tamil language alive. I am glad that Tamil Murasu are making efforts in the right direction. Your new youth brand, ‘Ilaya Thalaimurai’ is a good example of what it takes to make Tamil accessible and engaging – not just a school subject, but a living language connected to our identity, culture, and pride. I look forward to its official launch later this year.
The Government is committed to supporting Tamil Murasu so that it can continue to innovate and be a voice for Tamils in Singapore. This is why we made it a condition of funding to SPH Media Trust that vernacular media be supported and strengthened.
To conclude, over the past nine decades, Tamil Murasu has played a critical role in Singapore’s nation-building.
The Indian Singaporean community will continue to expect much from Tamil Murasu, whether it is to spotlight community events, achievements of individuals and organisations, or to uphold the values they hold dear.
Tamil Murasu’s continued presence in Singapore—together with other vernacular mainstream media outlets—is not by chance. It reflects careful policy design, strong support from the community, and your own sustained efforts to innovate. This is aligned with our nation’s deep commitment to multiculturalism. And, as long as our vernacular media, such as Tamil Murasu, continue to keep their pulse and be strong voices for the communities they serve, I am hopeful that your audiences will reciprocate with their attention.
Once again, my warmest congratulations to Tamil Murasu on 90 years of unwavering contributions as “the voice of the community”, or in Tamil, “samugathin kural”. May you continue to speak with clarity, fairness, and conviction, to inform, uplift, and unite generations of Indian Singaporeans.
Nandri, vanakkam. Thank you!