Speech by Mr Murali Pillai SC, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport, at Curiosity Cove
16 May 2026 Posted in Speeches
Mr Arthur Ling, Chief Executive of Fei Yue,
Ms Rebecca Chew, Chairperson of the Rajah & Tann Foundation,
Friends from Fei Yue and Rajah & Tann,
and most importantly, the children and families here with us today.
Introduction
1. A very good morning to you. Today is truly a happy occasion. Every day with children and families is special. Have you heard, parents, these words – that the days are long but the years are short? The days are long when we nurture our little ones, on top of a full day of work. It is tiring, nerve-wracking, and worrying. Each day seems endless and full of anxiety
2. Then the clock turns, and we find that they have grown and we remember the moments together, of celebration and laughter, of victory and overcoming - and we think – has it been 5 years? Has it been 10 years? What a wondrous journey.
3. How short the years are – today, Fei Yue 35 years and Rajah & Tann 50 years. I congratulate you on these significant anniversaries and your long partnership.
4. I have had personal involvement in both institutions as Rebecca mentioned. For Fei Yue, I was a grassroots leader with the late Dr Ong Chit Chung, MP and advisor for Bukit Batok between 1988 and 2008 when he passed away. When Fei Yue approached Dr Ong for assistance to set up a centre in Bukit Batok in 1991, subsequently I got to know Mr Leng Chin Fai, the co-founder.
5. After 2016, when I became MP and Grassroots Adviser of Bukit Batok, I worked closely with Fei Yue, particularly its Family Service Centre. I still meet and correspond with them regularly to deal with social welfare cases involving Bukit Batok families.
a. I also had a hand in setting up the EIPIC Centre in Bukit Batok. I petitioned ECDA for the establishment of an Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children Centre, or EIPIC Centre. This led to me to secure the centre at Blk 103 Bukit Batok Central, a former NKF dialysis centre.
b. For Rajah & Tann, I joined the firm in 2004. I was there for 20 years, until I joined the Government full time. Rebecca, the R & T Foundation Chairperson, is a dear old friend of mine. I need little introduction to Rajah & Tann Foundation when it was set up some years back. I was in fact a “pro bono” partner of Rajah & Tann doing Foundation work in the past.
c. For the lawyers and staff of Rajah & Tann, it is not just about giving, it is also about receiving. It helps build a culture of respect within the firm too. Lawyers and staff find more meaning in their work, and I recall vividly an occasion where the firm provided one on one support, not unlike today, for children with physical disabilities for a visit to the Botanic Gardens.
d. So, you see now I speak of decades past. But there are today with us, many children - with decades to come. We can and will make a difference to these decades starting today.
Early intervention and families
6. Today’s outing is centred on Fei Yue’s EIPIC. The idea behind early intervention is simple, but powerful: the earlier we support children with developmental needs, the better their chances of reaching their full potential.
7. Fei Yue’s EIPIC provides not just educational support but speech and language therapy, occupational and physiotherapy, psychological services, tailored to the needs of each child.
8. But early intervention is not only about the child. It’s about the family too. Parents and caregivers play a central role in a child’s development. You are the ones who spend the most time with your children, who notice small changes, and who celebrate every milestone. When we support families – with knowledge, skills, respite, and encouragement – we are not just helping the child. We are strengthening the whole family, and in turn, the wider community.
9. Social service agencies like Fei Yue, community partners, and the legal community all play different roles, but share the same goal – to start early and make a difference to the long journey ahead.
A meaningful partnership
10. Let me say a few words about the partnership we are celebrating.
11. Fei Yue brings deep social work experience and an understanding of families’ needs while Rajah & Tann, through its Foundation, brings resources, volunteers, and a strong commitment to social impact.
12. Together, you are giving our children a meaningful and memorable day out and showing how collaborations between the social service and legal sectors can make a practical difference to families on the ground.
Strengthening resilience
13. Efforts like these fit into a bigger picture.
14. At the Ministry of Law, we often talk about access to justice. For most, they may sound distant – courts, lawyers, big cases. At its core, the idea is actually quite simple: in Singapore, we want people to feel that the rules are fair, that they will be treated fairly, and that they are not left alone when things go wrong.
15. When social service agencies, law firms and the Government work together, we create a safety net that is not just legal, and not just social, but both.
16. Strength is not only about national‑level plans. It is also social resilience - whether neighbours look out for one another, whether families are supported, and whether people trust that the systems around them will still work in difficult times.
Closing
17. As we look to the future, the external environment will remain uncertain. And what keeps Singapore strong is not just our laws or our programmes, but the village we build around every child, every family and every neighbour.
18. From my years in practice, I have seen how legal and social issues go hand in hand. A family going through legal proceedings may also be coping with caregiving responsibilities, housing issues, or employment challenges.
19. That is where the socio‑legal nexus becomes important. It is not about asking everyone to think like lawyers. It is about making sure that our social support systems and our legal system work in the same direction – justice is not a currency to be paid in court, it is a resource for everyday life - fair resolution, equal opportunity and the chance to experience days like today, days, well, I was going to say in the sun, but it’s equally okay to say in the rain, without care or without burden.
20. On that note, I wish Fei Yue and Rajah & Tann every success in the long years ahead. I look forward to seeing the positive impact that this partnership will bring to many more children and families.
21. Thank you, and I hope you all have a wonderful morning together.
Last updated on 16 May 2026