MCYS SPEECH NO: 28/2009

DATE OF ISSUE: 27/03/2009

SPEECH BY MRS YU-FOO YEE SHOON, MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENT, YOUTH AND SPORTS, AT THE OPENING OF MARRIAGE
CONVENTION 2009, 27 MARCH 2009, 9:00 AM AT SUNTEC CONVENTION CENTRE

Ms Anita Fam, Chairperson of the Marriage Central Advisory Board;

Zakiah Halim, Vice President (Malay, Indian and Community Programming),

MediaCorp Pte Ltd;

Mrs Joanna Koh-Hoe, President, Focus on the Family Singapore;

Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is my pleasure to open Marriage Convention 2009. Since its inception in

2006, the Marriage Convention has become a popular platform for couples
interested in strengthening their marriages. The Marriage Convention this year,
organised for the first time by the Marriage Central, is set to be as promising as
those held in the past, judging from the line up of speakers and the enthusiastic
participation so far.

2 Marriage Central is an initiative of the National Family Council. It is a

source of information and coordinates programmes and services that promote
marriage wellness. Marriage Central will provide resources and referrals via its
website and physical locations. Couples can look forward to a conducive and
friendly environment in which they can find out more about marriage preparation
and marriage enrichment programmes, as well as marital counseling services
that are available in Singapore.

Need to strengthen the institution of marriage

3 A strong and loving family is the greatest asset an individual can have.
While we all tend to focus on our careers, the truth is that our marriage and
family give us satisfaction that no career or other achievements can provide.
Success is increased when shared, and the burden of failure is halved when
someone is by our side.
A successful marriage is a precious legacy we leave behind for our children.

4 But statistics show that the number of divorces has increased from about
5,600 in 1998 to 7,200 in 2007. Marriages today are facing more challenges, with
competing aspirations, greater demands of work, and evolving societal
values. The concern is that couples today may increasingly see divorce as the
first option, when their marriage hits a rocky patch. While it may appear the best
option for a moment, some realize too late that there is no instant solution to
emotional problems.

5 We need to equip couples with the correct mindset and skills to see them
through the ups and downs of a marriage. Marriage is a commitment. Its success
depends on the couples’ deliberate decision to work at it, and to give and take.

6 Thankfully, despite the growing absolute number of divorces, the state of

marriages in Singapore is on the whole still healthy. Our divorce rate in 2007 at
2.02*is also lower than other countries such as the United States and South
Korea at 3.7 and 5.0 respectively. There is room for us to reinforce the institution
of marriage and encourage couples to get and remain married.

7 The uncertain economic climate we are facing today makes it all the more
important for us to support and equip married couples with the right skills and
motivation to help them grow and strengthen their relationship. As financial
pressures increase, emotional tension may mount in families. Here, I am pleased
to note that many VWOs and service providers have come on board to work with
Marriage Central to deliver services useful for married couples. Many counsellors
and Deputy Registrars of Marriage are also here today. All of you play an
important role in guiding young, and even older couples, through challenging
times. Couples themselves should also have greater awareness, and actively
seek help early.
The good news is that those who are able to weather the storm are likely to
emerge from it more resilient and deeper in love.

8 One of my dear friends, Margaret Wee, who is also a DRM, said that she
meets couples early on to talk about how it is necessary for couples to work at
their marriage. She encourages them to be honest and direct when talking with
each other, and she constantly keeps in touch with them throughout their married
lives. Individuals, such as Margaret, are natural mentors to the couples they bring
together, and our Ministry too can look into the possibility of training existing
DRMs to be counsellors in the long run.
In addition, Marriage Central will also be setting up a hotline to provide one-stop
access to information and resources on marriage-related issues in the coming
year.

9 I thank individuals such as Margaret, and all of you, for your excellent
work that you are doing and urge that you step up your outreach to more couples,
especially those not easily reached. Innovation and relevance in the type of
services and programmes you provide are key to attracting more participants
who need help to come forward.

Convention
10 The way couples communicate with each other can make or break their
marriage. And this Convention is about learning how to speak to your life partner
in a way that is honest and loving. The speakers we have this weekend are all
experts in the art of communication, negotiation and reaching a common
understanding. I am sure they will motivate many couples among us to keep their
marriages strong, loving and lasting.

Conclusion
11 This past week has been a whirlwind of activities put together by
Marriage Central. The Marriage Convention, which brings together some of the
best speakers on marriage and its challenges, is indeed a fitting conclusion to the
weeklong celebration of real love. I would like to thank Marriage Central and
MediaCorp Pte Ltd for co-organising this Convention in partnership with Focus
on the Family Singapore.

12 Let me end with this thought. 爱是一个旅程, 真 爱难求更值得我们珍惜. In

English, it means “Love is a journey, and real love is not something that
comes by easily. Hence, we should treasure it even more”

13 On that note, I wish everyone a rewarding and insightful convention.

Thank you.

*Divorce Rate is defined as the number of divorces per 1,000 resident population.
Statistics are obtained from Department of Statistics 2007.