Abstract
Singapore is a multi-racial, multi-cultural, and multi-lingual society founded by modernized and cosmopolitan leaders, including those people commonly known as Straits Chinese.The main characteristics of the Straits Chinese are hybridity and ambiguity of identity.In the context of Singapore’s pluralism, however, hybridity is denied at an official level.Therefore, the contribution of the Straits Chinese to the nation building of Singapore has not attracted much attention since its independence in 1965.However, in the present age of globalization, Singaporean people, as well as scholars, have taken a fresh look at the achievements of the Straits Chinese leaders such as Dr. Lim Boon Keng, a prominent reformer of Chinese society, who was born in colonial Singapore in the late nineteenth century.In this thesis, I examine the thought and activities of Dr. Lim Boon Keng in order to show that this reevaluation provides a new direction for Singapore’s pluralism.
