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MARCH/APRIL 2015
RIDGE
"To the young and the not so old, I say, look at the horizon, follow that rainbow, go ride it."
Remembering Lee Kuan Yew
1923 - 2015 PHOTO: Mr Bob Lee
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Lee Kuan Yew’s family and former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong offer personal insights into the man who was Singapore’s best-known leader and politician, revealing a caring brother, devoted husband, loving father and an inspiring mentor
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
AS A FATHER
Photo: Courtesy of the Lee family
AS A FAMILY MAN
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Photo: Courtesy of the Lee family
At the end of the day, what I cherish most are the human relationships. With the unfailing support of my wife and partner I have lived my life to the fullest. It is the friendships I made and the close family ties I nurtured that have provided me with that sense of satisfaction at a life well lived, and have made me what I am.
Photo: Courtesy of the Lee family
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
They met at the all-boys Raffles Institution, where Kwa Geok Choo was the only girl. A gum-making venture Lee Kuan Yew started in 1944 brought them together again. The first time he asked her out was to his 21st birthday dinner. He proposed during a New Year’s Eve party at the seaside. He told her he was going to England to study law, and asked her to wait for him. She said she would, but asked if he was aware she was older than he. Lee, the eldest of five
children, was born on 16 September, 1923, Kwa, who had seven siblings, was born on 21 December, 1920. Soon after she joined him at Cambridge in 1947 on a Queen's Scholarship, they married at Stratford-on Avon, keeping it secret in case of problems with her parents and the scholarship board. When they returned in 1950, Lee asked her father for her hand. On 30 September that year, they renewed their vows and celebrated at Raffles Hotel.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
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AS A HUSBAND
“Papa was the head of two families. As the eldest son, from a young age he was effectively head of his household, helping his mother - Mak - to bring up his younger brothers and sister. He remained close to them all his life. To my uncles and aunts, he was always “Kor”, never “Harry”. Sai Sok (Suan Yew) would have him over to dinner every Christmas, and Ku Cheh (Auntie Monica) would cook him his favourite dishes, and teach his cook how to do them, almost to the same standard as hers. Papa made it a point to attend the Chinese New Year reunions of the extended Lee family every year, even till last year, to catch up with his siblings, to meet his nephews and nieces, and, later, grand-nephews and nieces." From Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s eulogy to his father at Mandai Crematorium on 29 March.
We have never allowed the other to feel abandoned and alone in any moment of crisis. Quite the contrary, we have faced all major crises in our lives together, sharing our fears and hopes, and our subsequent grief and exultation. These moments of crisis have bonded us closer together. With the years, the number of special ties which we two have shared have increased.
ON HIS MARRIAGE Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
“He was not very demonstrative, much less touchy feely, but he loved us deeply... Day to day Mama ran the household, brought us up, saw to our schooling. But Papa set the tone, tracked our progress and made the big decisions. He sent us to a Chinese school; he started us on Malay lessons with Cikgu Amin, wife is Cikgu Jamilah; he encouraged Yang and me to take up SAF Scholarships, to serve the nation; he persuaded Ling to become a doctor instead of a vet. He set us on the path to make our own marks in the world, and we are grateful... He took pride in us children. When I learned to ride a bicycle, he was there... Like all good fathers, Pa continued to be there for us, even after we grew up. When Yang and I got married, he wrote us long and thoughtful letters sharing advice on how to make our marriages successful. Precious lessons drawn from his own long and very happy marriage with Ma... When I had lymphoma, he suggested that I try meditation more seriously. He thought it would help me to fight the cancer. He found me a teacher and spoke to him personally. With a good teacher to guide me, I made better progress.” From Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s eulogies to his father, during the state funeral on 29 March.
AS A MENTOR
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
ON HIS WIFE “Her last wish she shared with me was to enjoin our children to have our ashes placed together, as we were in life... I have precious memories of our 63 years together. Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life. She devoted herself to me and our children. She was always there when I needed her. She has lived a life full of warmth and meaning. I should find solace in her 89 years of life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief.” From his eulogy to his wife at her funeral on 6 October, 2010
“My tears welled up as I received the sad news. Mr Lee Kuan Yew has completed his life’s journey. But it was a journey devoted to the making of Singapore. He has bequeathed a monumental legacy to Singaporeans – a safe, secure, harmonious and prosperous independent Singapore, our homeland. He was a selfless leader. He shared his experience, knowledge, ideas and life with us. He was my leader, mentor, inspiration, the man I looked up to most. He made me a proud Singaporean. Now he is gone. I mourn but he lives on in my heart. On behalf of Marine Parade residents, I offer our profound condolences to PM Lee Hsien Loong and his family.” From Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s Facebook account, MParader
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For 10 gruelling months in 1962 and 1963, Lee Kuan Yew visited every corner of Singapore, including the Southern Islands, to meet his people and find out their situation and concerns. These photos track his tours in the South West and are a record of two major developments there in 1965
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
The beat of kompangs resounded through the air during Mr Lee’s tour of Chua Chu Kang in May 1963, when he was welcomed by Malay musical troupes. Along the way, he was approached with numerous requests for water and electricity supplies, and drains, as well entry visas for relatives from China. He said the last was unlikely but soon provided the first three.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
In November 1962, Mr Lee promised that building a school in Jurong was a top priority. Four months later, he laid the foundation stone of the $217,000 Jurong Secondary School. It was the first rural-type integrated secondary school in the division and was followed by a number of such educational institutions on the island.
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Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
In October 1965, Mr Lee declared open the $60 million first phase of the Pasir Panjang “B” power station, making electricity available to the area at a snap of a switch. He described it as “a triumph of principles and ideas”, and a result of planning and the assessment of future needs. Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
The tide had gone down when Mr Lee was ready to leave Pulau Seraya, one of eight Southern Islands he visited in April 1963. So he waded through the muddy water to reach his boat and return to the mainland. He noted: “Life in the islands is no picnic,” citing the residents’ lack of fresh water, electricity and “the good things of life”.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
Villagers poured out from their kampong homes into the dirt lanes, waving flags, when Mr Lee toured then rural Chua Chu Kang on a sunny day in May 1963. He donned a scarf, Hindu fashion, at one point along the way, explaining: “Every community likes to see their leaders in their own image.”
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
“I have come to see how you all live and what problems you are faced with. I shall try to solve them. Governments now must be close to the people, close to the community.” With that promise, Mr Lee set off on a 10-hour tour of farms, schools and fishing villages in Jurong in November 1962. He was greeted warmly all the way. Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
The visit to the Jurong industrial area in May 1965 was scheduled, but the announcement at the end of it was a surprise: Mr Lee promised that an Eton-style boarding school to train future leaders would be built there. It would be for the cream of the state’s students from the various language streams. Admission would be based on ability and performance. It would open in 1966 and the education there would be free.
There were stops at schools during that November 1962 day, when Mr Lee announced the area would get a new school, veterinary centre and community centre. A number of the stops were unscheduled, like the one where nine-year-old Tan Tien Peow got to speak to his Prime Minister. He was among hundreds of children lining Jurong Road.
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One of Lee Kuan Yew’s first tasks as the Prime Minister of a newly-independent country was to set the direction it would take. BRIDGE looks at his hopes and dreams for his nation Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
HOMES FOR ALL
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Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
My primary preoccupation was to give every citizen a stake in the country and its future.
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CLEAN GOVERNMENT
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We made sure from the day we took office in June 1959 that every dollar in revenue would be properly accounted for and would reach the beneficiaries at the grassroots as one dollar, without being siphoned off along the way.
After independence, I searched for some dramatic way to distinguish Singapore from other Third World countries and settled for a clean and green Singapore. Greening is the most cost-effective project I have launched.
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Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
Source: Shin Min Daily News © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
But if we were monolingual in our mother tongues, we would not make a living. Becoming monolingual in English would have been a setback. We would have lost our cultural identity, that quiet confidence about ourselves and our place in the world.
GREEN SINGAPORE
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Source: Lianhe Zaobao © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission
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MULTIRACIAL SOCIETY Here we make the model multiracial society. This is not a country that belongs to any single community – it belongs to all of us.
BILINGUAL NATION
MERITOCRACY
If you want Singapore to succeed…you must have a system that enables the best man and the most suitable to go into the job that needs them…
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Source: Shin Min Daily News © Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission.
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WHAT’SINSIDE
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02 SPECIAL TRIBUTE Remembering Lee Kuan Yew in the South West
BRIDGE A bi-monthly publication of the South West Community Development Council (CDC) EDITORIAL TEAM Ms Dulcie Eng, Ms Adriana Tan Ms Lim Yee Leng, Ms Nurul Ab Rahman and Ms Ellie Poh EDITORIAL AND DESIGN Focus Publishing Limited PRINTER Times Printers South West District: Ayer Rajah, Boon Lay, Bukit Batok, Bukit Batok East, Bukit Gombak, Chua Chu Kang, Clementi, Hong Kah North, Jurong Central, Jurong Spring, Keat Hong, Nanyang, Pioneer, Taman Jurong, Telok Blangah, West Coast, Yew Tee and Yuhua.
10 A WORD FROM YEN LING Let’s continue green legacy in SW
12 ON THE GROUND 50,000 old bulbs needed!
15 South West youth got talent!
AWORDFROMYENLING
MARCH/APRIL 2015
Let's continue green legacy in SW Dear friends, Many of us will remember March 2015 as the time when we bade farewell to our founding Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew. It was as if we lost a part of Singapore, for he was synonymous with our nation. His passion and vision drove Singapore to become what it is today. His dreams of Singaporeans owning their homes, building a multiracial society and living in a garden city, have been realised in one generation, and are a tribute
16 COMMUNITY A night at the museum
18 MAKAN Foodie paradise at Yuhua
to his achievements and a foundation we will always be grateful for. Indeed, his legacy will continue. In our lush South West District, we bear the hallmarks of his life-long efforts to keep Singapore clean and green. Let’s carry on his wishes for Singapore by making the South West District an attractive green urban oasis. To mark SG50, we have launched a new initiative called the “Recycle-A-Bulb Challenge @ South West”. For every used bulb collected from the public, a low-income household will be given an energy-efficient
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior permission from the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that information is correct and upto-date at time of printing.
replacement bulb for their home. Through this exercise,
adalah tokoh bermakna untuk negara ini. Semangat dan pandangan jauhnya telah memacu Singapura menjadi apa yang dikecapinya hari ini. Impiannya untuk warga Singapura memiliki rumah, membangunkan sebuah masyarakat berbilang bangsa yang mendiami sebuah negara taman, telah dicapai dalam satu generasi. Ia merupakan satu penghargaan terhadap pencapaiannya dan merupakan satu asas yang akan kita hargai. Sememangnya, legasi beliau akan kekal. Di Kawasan Barat Daya yang
Sebagai meraikan SG50, kami telah melancarkan satu daya usaha baru yang dinamakan sebagai “Cabaran Mengitar Sebuah Bal Lampu @ Barat Daya”. Untuk setiap bal lampu terpakai yang didapatkan dari orang ramai, sebuah keluarga berpendapatan rendah akan diberikan bal lampu pengganti yang jimat tenaga untuk rumah mereka. Menerusi usaha ini, kami harap dapat membantu seramai 12,500 keluarga dalam mengurangkan bil elektrik mereka. Kami memerlukan usaha bersama anda untuk membangun dan meluaskan kebersihan dan kehijauan Singapura. Kami mengalu-alukan penduduk, pelajar dan masyarakat dan sukarelawan korporat untuk menyertai kami dalam membangunkan sebuah Kawasan Barat
hayat mendiang dalam mengekalkan sebuah Singapura yang bersih dan
Daya yang berkekalan, sedang kita terus menghidupkan harapan dan impian
menghijau.
perdana menteri pengasas kita agar Bandar dalam Taman ini dapat dinikmati
volunteers to join us in building a sustainable South West District, as we continue to live our founding Prime Minister's hopes and dreams for this City in a Garden for many generations to come.
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22 SNAPSHOTS
seakan-akan kita kehilangan sebahagian daripada Singapura, kerana Encik Lee
Kawasan Barat Daya sebuah wahah di tengah-tengah bandar menghijau.
menghijau, kita menyaksikan bukti usaha-usaha yang dilakukan sepanjang
students and community and corporate
20 DISCOVERY The days we ran wild
Ramai daripada kita akan mengingati Mac 2015 di mana kita memberi lambaian terakhir kepada Perdana Menteri pertama, Encik Lee Kuan Yew. Ia
electricity bills. our clean and green Singapore. We welcome residents,
For advertising enquiries, please email southwest_cdc@ pa.gov.sg
Rakan-rakan sekelian,
we hope to help up to 12,500 families trim their We need your collective effort to grow and expand
Contributors’ comments and opinions are their own and do not represent those of the South West CDC.
NOTICE OF CORRECTION We would like to bring to your notice an error in the January/February 2015 issue page 13, in “Chauffeurs For Free”. The service “Care on Wheels” is currently available only for Keat Hong residents. Should there be any enquires, kindly contact Mr Teo at 86852266 during office hours.
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Low Yen Ling Mayor of South West District
Marilah kita meneruskan usahanya untuk Singapura dengan menjadikan
untuk generasi mendatang.
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ONTHEGROUND
ONTHEGROUND
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MARCH/APRIL 2015
50,000 old bulbs needed! The South West District celebrated its 10th ‘ECo Day Out’ with new green challenges and recycling records
174 Olympic-size swimming pools
42 recycling stations
can be filled with the 10 years of thrash collection
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new initiative launched by the South West Community Development Council (CDC) is going beyond raising residents’ awareness of environmental concerns to also help the needy trim their electricity bills. Under this fiveyear “Recycle-A-Bulb Challenge @ South West”, the community has been set a target of 50,000 old or used light bulbs by 2020. For each one received, a low-income household will be given an energy-efficient replacement for the home. The aim is to help about 2,500 different families each year save around $3.7 million, or $1 per bulb each month. The savings from using one such bulb is about $50 over an average lifespan of four years for a typical bulb. The old bulbs will be turned into glass bricks and used to create an art piece to mark Singapore’s 50th birthday. Five organisations have pledged to participate in the challenge – DBS Bank Limited, ITE College West, Keppel Land Limited, Sentosa Development Corporation and Singapore Post. Keppel Land has promised more than 3,000 bulbs, from its commercial buildings islandwide. The challenge was launched by Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the “ECo (Environment and Community) Day Out 2015”, the district’s annual flagship environment event, on 1 February at the Hong Kah North Community Club. The programme marks the 10th anniversary
across the South West District
652,800 kg
10 years
– the weight of
of recycling
the total amount of recyclables collected since 2006
Mayor Low (in black and electric green top), Hong Kah North Grassroots Adviser Amy Khor (in red in the foreground) and Minister Balakrishnan (in blue shirt), at "ECo Day Out" help weigh the cardboard collected over the previous week.
of “ECo Day Out” and is part of the district’s SG50 celebrations. South West District Mayor Low Yen Ling said: “We hope that besides lightening the load of our needy families, this will also help our residents
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adopt energy-efficient ethics.” She revealed that the CDC intends to collect electronic waste for reuse. The CDC added bulbs to its list of recyclable items last year. Global Lamp Recyclers Private Limited
Exchange time: Residents choose their free gifts for the recycled items they had brought in.
crushes them and sells the materials to various industries to re-use. Ms Low also highlighted the district’s major recycling initiatives over the last decade. One is the “Trash-forGroceries” programme, which is part of “Clean Up South West!” This event on 25 January saw another record collection of recyclables, and more participants, many of whom were young. One of them was undergraduate Jason Lim, 23, who brought 10 old bulbs. “Every little bit helps,” he said. The challenges now, the Mayor noted, are sustaining the district’s recycling activities and ensuring the green message gets across to
the younger generation. About 1,500 residents turned up, mostly to collect rice and drinks given out for the items they had brought. Schools and corporate partners also exhibited their efforts to save the environment. ITE College West demonstrated a new online marketplace to help reduce e-waste. Here, people can swap working second-hand electronic items instead of discarding them. At the event, Fuhua Primary School and Singapore Polytechnic were presented with ECo Awards for their green efforts; the school for the first time and the polytechnic for the second. Seven Public Health Awards were given out.
ERSth WINN u 0th So
1 of the District s e W t Health Public rds Awa
“A Litter-Free Environment” Award
“Clean, Dry & Sparkling Public Toilets“ Award
“A Community That Does Not Spread Bugs” Award
CATEGORIES
WINNER
Most “Litter-Free” Estate
Bukit Batok Zone 7 RC (Bukit Batok East Division)
Highest Level of Ownership
Pioneer Division
Shopping Malls
JEM (Yuhua Division)
Hawker Centres
Yuhua Village Market & Food Centre (Yuhua Division)
Coffeeshops
Block 373 Bukit Batok Street 31 Coffee Shop (Bukit Gombak Division)
Highest Level of Ownership
Boon Lay Division
Most Dengue Free
Bukit Batok Division
RECYCLING:
Bonding community and building a sustainable environment In a corner of Madam Tham Suet Lan’s flat sits a handful of bags, each with different contents – cardboard, paper, cans and glass. Every week, she deposits these at recycling bins near her Bukit Batok home. “It isn’t much of a chore once you get used to it,” said the 54-yearold mother of two, whose family reduces wastage wherever possible. They are not the only ones. Thousands of residents took part in the South West District’s week-long annual “Clean Up South West!” this year, setting new records. In 2014, it stood at about 20,000 residents, roughly four times the number a decade ago. The total amount of recyclables they brought also increased. Last year, it was 75.1 tonnes; this year, it is 102.29 tonnes. When this “Trash-forGroceries” effort started in 2006, 33 tonnes were collected. The South West Community Development Council (CDC) estimated that what has been gathered over the 10 years should fill 174 Olympicsize swimming pools. Under the programme, residents get 1 kg of rice for every 3 kg of clothes, and a packet drink for every 3 kg of newspapers. The number of collection points at community and Residents’ Committee centres where the unwanted items can be left has grown to over 40. Defence research agency DSO National Laboratories, and Keppel Land Limited, Keppel Group’s property arm, have set up collection points at their buildings too, and pledged to give the groceries they receive in exchange for the recyclables to the district’s vulnerable and elderly.
It was not just about recycling at the weeklong “Clean Up South West!”, which began on 25 January. About 90 volunteers combed estates to give feedback on areas that need cleaning up to launch the “ExxonMobil Bright Spots Challenge @ South West”. The CDC hopes to mobilise 15,000 students and add another 200 “bright spots” to the 300 in existence. The oil multinational pledged $1 for each volunteer. The money will be used to defray expenses for needy students at 30 schools. Volunteers will use new mobile application OneService, which debuted that day, to give their feedback to government agencies. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Grace Fu said her Municipal Services Office has been receiving about 1,000 reports a week, mostly on cleanliness. In his speech at “ECo (Environment and Community) Day Out” on 1 February, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan reminded that a place’s cleanliness reflects what Singaporeans think of themselves, their respect for their neighbours and concern for their neighbourhood. He explained: “Our homes do not stop at the door. The common corridors, the community clubs, the streets, the gardens and the parks – all those are part of our ‘home’. If we do not mess up our own homes, then surely our streets, our parks, our gardens, must not be messed up.” In 2014, he added, 19,000 tickets were issued for littering, double the number in 2013, partly due to greater enforcement efforts.
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ONTHEGROUND
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BRIDGE finds out how Fuhua Primary School and Singapore Polytechnic look out for the environment
Used plastic bottles can be seen all over Fuhua Primary School. These are filled with plants, strung together and suspended, so they form walls of green. They are not the only pieces of ‘’rubbish’’ that it collects and re-uses. Car tyres, damaged classroom chairs, bowling balls and PE equipment are part of the “décor’’ in its garden. The school began introducing its green plans in 2009. It injects a fun factor into its activities. For instance, those who man the stalls at its monthly bazaar of secondhand items donated by the staff are known as “young towkays” for the day. The proceeds from the sales go to its needy pupils. Its 1,500 pupils are encouraged to bring used plastic bottles from home, which are used in lessons on the environment and its “Programme for Active
Learning”, as well as make decorative pieces and selfwatering planters. The school said that using the bottles has at least five benefits. Regular workshops are held to teach the children how to make their own mini terrariums and more. It has its own “Economic Drive” committee too, to educate the pupils on the importance of resource conservation. Twice a year, there is a “No Cleaners” week. Fuhua’s efforts are not restricted to its Jurong East grounds. It also spreads the green message to
kindergartens and voluntary welfare organisations. “By working with community partners, the pupils learn empathy and our staff get to help the public,” said its spokesperson.
SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC
A walk through the Singapore Polytechnic’s grounds in Dover Road reveals why it bills itself as a “campus in a garden”. Its sprawling 38 ha site is home to more than 2,000 trees, and various flora and fauna. There is an official pledge
During "No Cleaners Week'', the pupils at Fuhua Primary have to buckle down to cleaning the school themselves.
got talent! South West youth
Green approaches FUHUA PRIMARY SCHOOL
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which has staff and students promising to Green our campus, Reduce, reuse and recycle, Educate ourselves on green issues, Encourage others to do likewise, and Nurture a love for our environment. Among its eco-friendly initiatives are a car-free day and an annual carbon footprint challenge. Currently the polytechnic has 10 gardens on it’s vicinity. Staff from the 10 schools manage their respective gardens around the campus. An 11th
Staff and students tend the gardens at Singapore Polytechnic. There are 11 gardens altogether.
is tended by the students’ environment club. “With our open-air connectors, green spaces and pockets of nature rich in biodiversity, we can proudly say we offer an ideal environment for our staff and students to work, learn and play,” said Mr Tan Yew Meng, Chairman of the polytechnic’s “Go Green” committee, which spearheads the activities. These efforts have been recognised: It was the first polytechnic to win the President’s Award for the Environment. That was in 2010. In 2011, it was presented with the Green Mark Platinum Award. For its 60th anniversary it brought out a pictorial book, “Campus in a Garden”, showcasing the flowers, insects and animals in its grounds and documenting how it observes Earth Hour. It does environmentrelated research too, and came up with a paint that can absorb solar heat. This was put on the market in 2013.
Helping teens develop their creative side
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student sticks the school bully’s cellphone to his desk with glue. When the bully pounces on the wrong person for the deed, a classmate of a different race tries to help the victim, and gets beaten up too. Asked why he got involved, the Good Samaritan explained: “We stand as one.” His reason is also the title of the winning video for the “South West Youth Media Champions” programme. This programme is part of the “WeCare @ South West” programme, which aims to strengthen the social safety net for the needy and vulnerable, supported by electronics equipment supplier Serial Systems Ltd and Zhi Zhen Tan Dao Xue Hui (Singapore). In the month-long project, 114 teens, aged 14 to 16, were given lessons in videography, script writing, editing and presentation, and required to apply what they had learnt. As part of the programme, they were required to produce a three-minute video to mark Singapore’s 50th birthday. They had two weeks to realise it. The winning five-man team from Bukit Panjang Government High School, who conceived, acted out and filmed the show, chose to highlight the relationship between the different races here. Coincidentally, the two runner-up videos focused on the same subject of racial harmony. Second-placed Kranji Secondary School’s ‘Racial Cohesion’ portrayed youth of different races helping each other to resolve conflicts, while Shuqun Secondary School’s ‘A Dot that Brings Out Success’, which came in third, shows how, through cooperation, people overcame hurdles, such as losing their jobs. The project had been a real eye-opener for everyone in his team, said Choo
The five-man team from Bukit Panjang Government High School, who made the winning video get to intern at Fox International Channels.
After accepting the microphone from co-compere Tan Jia Yi, BG (Ret) Lowrence Chia said that he was impressed by the talent the videos displayed.
Kwang Zhee, who helped make the winning video. The 16-year-old added: “We got to know the issues faced by residents and other teenagers, and that has made us more aware of the society we live in.” Their efforts were judged by a five-man panel. At the prize presentation ceremony on 22 January,
Ms Angeline Poh, Assistant Chief Executive Officer (Industry Group) of the Singapore Media Development Authority and one of the judges, said that she was impressed by the quality of the production and storytelling of the submissions by the six participating schools. Another judge, Brigadier
General (Ret) Lowrence Chia, the Executive Director of Singapore Discovery Centre, exclaimed: “Youth of South West CDC: You got talent.” The teams have won internships and attachments at Fox International Channels, which runs Fox Sports Academy. This academy gives students a chance to experience behind
the scene jobs and working with Fox sports presenters. Each winning member also received a bursary of between $250 and $500 and two movie tickets. Tan Jia Yi, 15, and Remus Ong, who are both from Shuqun Secondary School, put their newlyacquired public speaking skills to good use as a cocompere at the prize-giving at the Singapore Discovery Centre. In her speech at the event, Ms Low Yen Ling, the Mayor of the South West District, said: “Seeing Singapore through the eyes of our youth gives us a keener sense of what’s in their hearts, their concerns, values and aspirations. “Besides imparting new skills, it is all the more important that those with less privileged backgrounds gain a platform for their voices and views. This is part of our path to an inclusive Singapore that sets the foundation for our next 50 years.”
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A night at the museum MARCH/APRIL 2015
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Games with families, neighbours and new friends, as well as handicraft lessons, filled the weekend during the "staycation".
T
here were no swanky hotel rooms, attached bathrooms or a pool, trimmings which have become standard aspects of a “staycation”. In fact, there was no plush hotel involved at all for the 60 people taking a weekend break last December. Instead, they spent the night sleeping on the floor in tents pitched at the Glass Hall of the Singapore Art Museum! The occasion was Taman Jurong’s annual “FAMFiesta”, an event that aims to give families a reason to spend time with each other, as well as hone the leadership qualities of students. It was organised by the division’s Family Life Champion (FLC) and Chairman of the Taman Jurong Zone D Residents’ Committee,
Mr Roland Choo, 48, and students from River Valley High School. Together, they planned and led the activities for the participants. Part of an FLC’s role is to support and promote family life in the community, and Mr Choo has run all the FAMFiestas, which started in 2011, with various groups of students from the same school. At this one, the children and their parents toured the museum, which had four on-going exhibitions at that time, including one of local artists’ works and another featuring photographs from Germany, Japan and Southeast Asia. The families also got to visit the Gardens by the Bay. They played games which required them to work together as a family,
and learnt crafting. One such activity required them to create their own art pieces after viewing the museum’s. Previous FAMFiestas, said Mr Choo, had included talks on parenting and how children can appreciate their parents. But these were dropped this time in favour of games, for a more “hands-on method of working together as a family”. The families were also taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic First Aid. Taman Jurong Community Club Assistant Constituency Manager Ravindran Kathergamathamby, 53, said that it was important that families be more aware of how to “handle simple crisis situations and also be able to perform basic care in cases of real crisis”.
It was their first time at the museum for most participants. Explaining the choice of venue, Mr Choo said: “The goal of appreciating contemporary art is to help them think, and look at things from a different perspective.” In the evening, a video montage of the camp was shown and the participants read out their letters of appreciation to members of their family and danced. The event was supported by the South West Community Development Council and the People’s Association. Each family paid $5 to participate. Madam Farah Hanisah, 30, who brought three of her sons aged seven to 10 years old to the staycation, said the camp was a new experience. “The idea of camping for us used to be that it is
held in a jungle area. This was indoors, safe and very refreshing.” “We’ve never been to the museum before, so it was fun to learn more about the place,” the logistics officer added. Her husband did not attend, as he had stayed home to look after their four-month-old baby boy. She added: “It’s also good because now we have more ideas… we always don’t know what to do on weekends as a family. Previously, we would just stay at home, go to the pool or to the zoo. Now, we know that the museum is another interesting place that we can visit. “The kids got to make new friends and worked with neighbours’ kids in the games as well. They learnt about team work. I feel that was an important lesson for them.”
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MAKAN
MAKAN
Foodie paradise at yuhua
MARCH/APRIL 2015
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MARCH/APRIL 2015
BRIDGE highlights gems, including two stalls selling two different laksa dishes, at a hawker centre in the division
Simei Penang Laksa Specialty Address: #01-199 Open: 9 am to 3 pm Closed: Monday and Tuesday Cost: Penang laksa $3 to $3.50 Penang fried kway teow $3.50 to $5 Madam Karney Ngai Ching Kwan, PBM, 65 Chairperson of Yuhua Constituency St 31 Shop-Proprietors and Hawkers Association
It is 8.30 am and three people are already standing in line at this stall, waiting for it to open. Their presence affirms that Mr Koh Kai Huat made the right decision in 1995, when, at the urging of his Malaysian customers, he switched from selling fishball noodles, bak chor mee and local laksa to
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hortly after she opened her beauty salon in 1984, Madam Karney Ngai was roped in by the Yuhua Constituency St 31 ShopProprietors and Hawkers Association to help out in a project for its members. More than 30 years later, she is still at it, not just in that group, which she now chairs, but in several other grassroots organisations as well. She is currently on the Yuhua Community Club Women’s Executive Committee (WEC), the Yuhua Citizens’ Consultative Committee and the Yuhua Community Club Management Committee, and is the Honorary President and Liaison Officer for The Federation of Merchants’ Association, Singapore. “I can’t sit still,” confessed the 65-year-old, who can organise up to 80 events in a year, from award ceremonies to walks to business courses. One of the most recent was the WEC’s International Women’s Day carnival on 8 March. “Luckily, I have an understanding husband and obedient children, and a supportive staff at my salon,” said the mother of four and grandmother of five, who came here from Hong Kong in 1971. Most of her meals are taken at the Yuhua Food Centre, located at Block 347, Jurong East Street 31, a stone’s throw from her salon, which she lives above. Her favourite dish is , which she has at least a couple of times a week. Of the two versions, she prefers the Penang variety.
offering the Penang versions of laksa and fried kway teow. It was a while before the former pushcart seller came up with the right sourish taste for his laksa, but his experimenting paid off. He makes his own paste of haekor (prawn paste), tamarind juice, red onions and other ingredients every day. “You need to be very accurate when it comes to the amounts and the sequence you put the ingredients in,” said Mr Koh, who began working at hawker stalls at the age of 12. Asked who will take over from him, the 67-year-old smiled: “I’m waiting for someone who’s really interested. Then I’ll show him how to cook great food!” He also offers a healthier version of his dishes, where he uses wholegrain noodles and vegetable oil.
Jing Jing Fried Carrot Cake Address: #01-208 Open: Daily Closed: Chinese New Year period Cost: Fried carrot cake (available 6.30 am to 5 pm) $2.50 to $5 Fried oyster omelette, fried Hokkien prawn mee (available 2 pm to 7 pm) $3 to $8
Lai Heng Handmade Teochew Kueh
Famous Sungei Road Trishaw Laksa Address: #01-207 Open: 7.30 am to 2.30 pm Closed: Every Monday Cost: Laksa $3 to $3.50 Mee siam and mee rebus $2.50 to $3
Address: #01-218 Open: 6.30 am to 2 pm Closed: Lunar New Year Cost: Perng kueh $0.80 to $0.90 Soon kueh $0.60 to $0.70 Chinese chives/ cabbage $0.60 to $0.70
A photograph at this stall gives an idea of its history. It shows the old Sungei Road hawkers nearly 60 years ago. Twelve years back, the son of that road-side stall’s owner, Mr William Tay, was selling the franchise for his dad’s secret laksa recipe. At that time, Mr Cheong Chee Pang, was looking for a new business, as his 20-year-old renovation company had been badly affected by the worldwide financial crisis.
For six years Mr Goh Mok Lai sold noodles. It took the constant pleading of customers before he returned to his roots – selling the savoury Teochew snacks his father was known for. His dad had learnt the traditional method of making the perng kueh (glutinous rice cake) and soon kueh (turnip cake) from his in-laws in the 1970s. Soon, he had a roaring business, first in Zhenghua and, from 1984, at Yuhua market. But when he died in 1995, his son took a different tack. Until 2001. The 43-year-old keeps to
It was a fortuitous meeting. Mr Cheong opened at Yuhua market in 2003. His laksa is his most popular dish. Customers love his basic paste and chilli, and many have bought these to take abroad. While the recipe for the paste
cake is the chilli, a blend of chilli paste, shrimps, shallots, garlic and belacan, which the 46-yearold spends 90 minutes frying. He listens to customers’ feedback. “It’s a good way to improve my dishes,” he explained.
Mr Jacky Ng may be a new face at the Yuhua hawker centre, but is an old hand at delivering the goods, literally – he used to be a delivery Driver. He turned to hawking eight years ago. “One of my uncles, who was a hawker for 30 years, taught me how to cook my three dishes as I was interested in food. I’ve never looked back since,” said the avid Cook and foodie. He had a stall at Jalan Bahar, but moved when the rents there rose. His biggest seller depends on the time of the day. In the earlier part, it is his carrot cake; after 2 pm, his fried Hokkien prawn mee and oyster omelette have the edge. The standout item in his carrot
has not changed, he has tweaked that for the chilli, to enhance its spiciness. The 59-year-old has also finetuned the recipes for the gravy of both his mee rebus and his mee siam, which he also learnt how to cook from Mr Tay.
tried and true practices, frying the rice, peanuts, tiny shrimp and shredded turnip separately for almost an hour, then wrapping the fillings of his two hottest items in their respective thin glutinous skins, before steaming them. But he has made one change to his dad’s perng kueh recipe – he adds celery for crunchiness. Every day, he sells about 300 pieces of this snack and about 700 of the soon kueh, which are prepared on site. “My kuehs are served piping hot,” he pointed out. “This is what brings the customers back.”
Xing Yun Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice
Address: #01-202 Open: 6.30 am to 2 pm Closed: Every Tuesday Cost: $2.50 to $5 It took eight years for Madam Ivy Lim to learn how to cook chicken rice! During that period, she was apprenticed to a hawker at Yuhua market. She bought over his stall when he retired 17 years ago. “You need to put your heart and soul into the cooking if you want yummy chicken rice,” explained the 52-year-old. The former Taxi-Driver is very particular about every ingredient that goes into the dish, scrutinising the types of rice, the chicken (any fowl with blue-black marks is rejected), and everything else. She is as fussy about the preparation. For instance, she uses two types of rice, which she fries with garlic, before boiling it. The chilli gets even more attention. As her version does not have any vinegar, which prolongs its shelf-life, it is prepared every two days.
Hua Xing Bak Kut Teh Address: #01-171/172 Open: 8.30 am to 2.30 pm Closed: Monday Cost: Bak kut teh $5 to $8 Assam fish $4 upwards Steamed fish $20 upwards The signature fragrance of bak kut teh herbs and spices wafts tantalisingly from this stall, once known for its braised duck. “My father, who started this family business 31 years ago, found it a hassle to prepare the ducks and decided to change to pork rib soup, which he liked very much,” explained Stallholder Phua Swan Yeow. The 39-year-old has kept faithfully to his dad’s recipe since taking over 15 years ago, and uses only the best cuts of fresh pork from Indonesia and chilled pork from Australia. Mr Steve Chan, 42, an Auditor and a regular, comes for the prime rib. “It may be slightly more expensive, but the meat is more tender.” Three months ago, Mr Phua began also selling steamed fish and assam fish dishes, after customers asked him to provide an alternative.
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DISCOVERY
DISCOVERY
The days we ran wild
MARCH/APRIL 2015
Hunting birds with a rifle, catching spiders, spinning tops and learning how to ride a horse on one’s own – activities alien to children nowadays – were part of Mr Toh San Peng’s childhood in Lam Hoe village, where he lived for 39 years. The place is one of three villages in Lim Chu Kang. “In the 1950s and 1960s, we villagers were outdoors most of the time, either working on the family farm
or playing,” recounted the son of livestock and vegetable farmers. “Nowadays, life is far more sedentary and stressful.” Part of his home at Neo Tiew Lane used to sit on the land between the clubhouse and the first hole of what is now the Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course. This is next to Kranji Reservoir and a stone’s throw from the Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve. The Lim Chu Kang area was established in the early 20th century by Chinese immigrant Neo Tiew, who was responsible for legal and ceremonial affairs there. It is derived from the Teochew word
Shooting birds and riding horses were part of Mr Toh’s growing-up years in a village in Lim Chu Kang. His family’s farmland is now occupied by the Kranji Sanctuary Golf Course, which is part of the National Service Resort and Country Club.
“kangchu”, which means “owner of the river”. It was also the term used in the region from the 1800s for the system of land ownership. At the time, the banks of the Sungei Kranji, which flows through the area, were covered with pepper, gambier, coconut and rubber plantations. Now, 62 modern farms growing vegetables and fruits, or rearing frogs, fish or goats, have replaced them. The vegetable farms use hydroponics and aquaponics to grow crops.
24/7 WORK
Mr Toh, who is the eldest of 14 children, started learning how to breed and rear chickens when he was eight years old. His and his siblings’ families owned three farms – one for egglaying hens, another for broiler chickens and the
MARCH/APRIL 2015
BY KONG YEN LIN
Two former residents of Lim Chu Kang recall growing up in the farming belt of Singapore
FARMING IN HIS BLOOD
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last for producing and processing animal feed. In the 1960s to the 1980s, he also managed a 50 ha prawn farm, in which relatives and neighbours had a share. This was near Sungei Buloh. “Farming is very hard work, especially if you deal with live animals,” said the 67-year-old. “It’s almost a 24/7 job making sure the chickens are healthy, and running all the other related operations, such as sales and logistics. Yet, I cannot imagine my life without farming.” He and his family had to give up their farms in 1987, a period of rapid industrial development in Singapore, when the amount of land given to agricultural use was cut back. Along with most residents of Lim Chu Kang, he was resettled in a HDB flat. The villagers got homes in Bukit Batok, Bukit Panjang, Woodlands, Jurong and Zheng Hua. The retiree has put the idea of farming here behind him as his two children, one a university undergraduate and the other a sales executive, have no interest in it too. These days, he stays active by serving as the chairman of a selfhelp group, the Thong Lam Friendly Association, made up largely of onetime Lim Chu Kang residents. It organises activities for senior citizens and provides financial assistance for needy residents. He also rides and golfs.
Classrooms used to be in short supply when Mr Yoong was schooling, and he used to have his lessons on a stage used by Chinese opera troupes.
CLASSROOM ON A STAGE
Retired news photographer Yoong Choon Hwa’s classroom used to be a stage used by Chinese opera troupes. “There were not enough classrooms for the children in my school,” explained the former pupil of Kay Way Chinese Primary School, which is now closed. “On the days when there were performances, we’d get a three- to four-day break!” His school was a short walk from his home in Ama Keng village, his home from 1950 to 1975. It is about 4 km away from Lam Hoe village.
In between the two, was Thong Hoe village. Each had about 100 households, where homes were made of wood with a zinc or attap roof. The villages were linked to each other by short bridges, which now serve as boundary markers. He and Mr Toh got to know each other in their teens, when they played the dizi, a Chinese flute made of bamboo, in the Lam Hoe Youth Organisation Chinese Orchestra. His parents grew vegetables, and he helped them weed and fertilise every day after school.
Sunnyville Home for the elderly occupies one of the last two buildings that still stand more than 50 years later.
In the 1950s, he recalled, they would get their water from a well or community stand-pipe, and used kerosene lamps to light their homes. Just one telephone served the entire village then. “We seldom had social gatherings. Most children helped with the chores or farmed after school. If there was a need to communicate, we wrote letters,” said the 64-yearold father of two. One building stood out in his village – the Ama Keng Chinese Temple, built in 1900. It drew large crowds, who came to worship Ma Zhu, the Chinese goddess of the sea. It was demolished in the late 1980s. Now, just two buildings from his past remain – Ama Keng School and a clinic for women and children. The school, built in 1971, is now a dormitory for foreign workers, while the clinic has been converted into Sunnyville Home, for the elderly. “Thankfully I took many photos of the past. These keepsakes are very precious to me,” he said.
Cows and ducks used to be reared in Lim Chu Kang, and cocoa was among the crops grown there. They have since been replaced by modern farms, which use technology.
From farms to rustic get-away
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im Chu Kang today refers to an area of about 18 sq km in the north-west, bounded by the Johor Straits, the Kranji Reservoir and Singapore’s western water catchment. In the 1970s, a dam, about 975 m long and 21 m wide at its top, was built across the mouth of the Sungei Kranji to form the Kranji Reservoir. Singapore’s last cemetery, Choa Chu Kang, lies to the south. About five minutes’ drive away, are Tengah Air Base and a handful of Singapore Armed Forces camps. Further down Turut Track, which is off Neo Tiew Road, is a BBC transmitting station and a field of wireless transmitting towers built in the 1970s. Fifty years ago, Lim Chu Kang was largely covered with forest and plantations. It is still very
rural and one rarely sees a soul on the roads – except on weekends, as the area is now a rustic getaway for urbanites.
NO MORE FARMS AFTER 2020
The nearest blocks of HDB flats are about 12 km away, on the fringes of the district, at Choa Chu Kang Road. Just three public buses ply the area, so to explore the district, private transportation is a must. Besides producing food, Lim Chu Kang’s farms have branched into agrotourism: D’Kranji Farm Resort (10, Neo Tiew Lane 2) offers stays at about $200 a night; Bollywood Veggies (100, Neo Tiew Road), has a restaurant serving meals of fresh vegetables and fruit; and Hay Dairies (3, Lim Chu Kang Lane 4), is where visitors can watch goats milking demostrations and
drink fresh goat's milk. Perhaps the most significant natural attraction in the area is the Sungei Buloh Nature Park, at 301 Neo Tiew Crescent. The 87 ha site, which was opened to the public in 1993, is the first mangrove park and wild bird reserve set up in Singapore. As it lies along the East Asian Flyway, a migratory route for birds journeying between Siberia and Australia in winter, a wide variety of the feathered creatures can be seen here, where they stop over, between September and April. “Nowadays people spend lots of money to experience rustic life in farms overseas. But in the past, staying on a farm with fresh air, lots of space and nature all around was everyday life,” said one-time resident Yoong Choon Hwa.
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SNAPSHOTS in the district
SNAPSHOTS in the district
MARCH/APRIL 2015
Madam Halimah Yacob (Bukit Batok East)
Mr Arthur Fong (Clementi)
Adviser to Clementi Grassroots Organisations Arthur Fong took to the stage and joined grassroots leaders, students, residents and well-known xinyao artistes to perform familiar tunes, among them “Count On Me Singapore” and “We Are Singapore”, together with guestof-honour Lim Hng Kiang, the Minister for Trade and Industry. The “Here’s Where I Belong” concert, held at the Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre on 31 January, was the highlight of the community’s SG50 celebrations.
How many people can squeeze into a selfie? The question arose in this snapshot which Adviser to Jurong Spring Grassroots Organisations Desmond Lee, who is also Minister of State for National Development, obliges at the “Starry Christmas” on 20 December last year. The event, held at the Jurong Spring Community Club, drew an 1,800-strong crowd. Families and friends from different races came together to soak up the Christmas spirit.
Mr Desmond Lee (Jurong Spring)
Mr Cedric Foo (Pioneer)
Mr Lawrence Wong (Boon Lay)
Ms Low Yen Ling (Bukit Gombak)
Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah North)
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Keat Hong)
Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (Taman Jurong)
Mr Alex Yam (Yew Tee)
Mr Lim Hng Kiang (Telok Blangah)
Ms Grace Fu (Yuhua)
Smile! And so the children did for their “wefie” with Adviser to Boon Lay Grassroots Organisations Lawrence Wong, who is also the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and the Second Minister for Communications and Information. The occasion was the “Boon Lay Edusave Awards Presentation Ceremony 2015”, held over three days on 17, 18 and 25 January at River Valley High School and Boon Lay Committee Club. Edusave Merit Bursaries, Good Progress Awards, Edusave Character Awards and more were given out.
Mr David Ong, BBM (Bukit Batok)
Adviser to Bukit Batok Grassroots Organisations David Ong BBM joined over 3,500 residents for the festivities at “Christmas Cheers 2014” on 20 December last year. The evening event, held at Bukit Batok Sports Hub, was made memorable by a line-up of entertaining performances, delicious food and fun activities.
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MARCH/APRIL 2015
Ms Foo Mee Har (Ayer Rajah)
Ayer Rajah residents took a 1 km walk in the park on 18 January with Foo Mee Har, Adviser to Ayer Rajah Grassroots Organisations. The Mass Brisk Walk, held at West Coast Park, was organised by the Ayer Rajah Community Sports Club to encourage exercising and getting to know each other.
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Students and their parents had the opportunity to speak to Adviser to Bukit Batok East Grassroots Organisations and Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob at the “Edusave Awards Presentation Ceremonies 2015”. Several sessions were held at the Bukit Batok East Community Club and Residents’ Committee Centres in early January to promote greater interaction among the residents.
Adviser to Bukit Batok Grassroots Organisation Low Yen Ling, who is also the Mayor for the South West District and Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth and for Social and Family Development, offered encouragement to a student at the “Edusave Awards Presentation Ceremony”. There were five sessions, on 11, 17, 18, 24 and 25 January, at Hillgrove Secondary School. More than 4,000 residents turned up, including the recipients and members of their families.
Mr Gan Kim Yong (Chua Chu Kang)
Nostalgia was the name of the game at the “Mi Casa Kampung Night” on 10 January, when some 300 residents were joined by Adviser to Chua Chu Kang Grassroots Organisations and Health Minister Gan Kim Yong. Besides a spread of local food, traditional games like hopscotch, five stones and rope skipping were played at the event held at the Mi Casa Condominium.
Nimble fingers were needed, but that did not stop Adviser to Hong Kah North Grassroots Organisations Amy Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower, buckling down with 1,000 Westwood Secondary School students in making more than 15,000 friendship bands on 16 October last year. The event was held to raise money for the Hong Kah North Pioneer Generation Fund, which will be used to assist vulnerable pioneers in the Hong Kah North constituency and more through programmes which enable them to keep active and to socialise.
Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong Central)
Adviser to Jurong Central Grassroots Organisations Ang Wei Neng meeting the volunteer doctor and resident at Jurong Central’s Project Big Heart – free chronic disease community clinic for residents holding CHAS or PG Cards. About 200 residents will receive free consultation and medicine during each session.
Students and parents were delighted to meet Adviser to Keat Hong Grassroots Organisations Zaqy Mohamad at the “Keat Hong Edusave Awards Presentation Ceremony 2015” on 25 January. The two sessions held at Bukit Panjang Government High School were attended by some 2,500 residents. A total of 1,450 awards were presented.
Mr Alvin Yeo (Nanyang)
Let the countdown to Singapore’s 50th birthday begin! Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Adviser to Nanyang Grassroots Organisations Alvin Yeo, together with other Grassroots Advisers from Chua Chu Kang GRC launched the SG50 Countdown Tower and the Nanyang division’s SG50 celebrations on 18 January. The event, held in front of Block 837 at Jurong West Street 81 was witnessed by more than 1,000 residents.
Some 500 residents and Adviser to Pioneer Grassroots Organisations Cedric Foo, took a trip around the world at the hard court of Block 640, at Jurong West Street 61. Here, booths showcasing the cultures of different countries were put up as part of the Pioneer Zone 11 Residents’ Committee’s 15th anniversary celebration on 8 November last year. Residents were also entertained with multi-cultural performances and stage games.
It’s okay, he will not bite, assured Adviser to Taman Jurong Grassroots Organisations Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance. He was at the 1 February eye-dotting ceremony for the 50 lions performing at this year’s Chingay Parade. This traditional blessing ceremony before any lion dance performance can take place was witnessed by an 1,000-strong crowd and the performers were made up of Taman Jurong residents and students of different races.
Adviser to Telok Blangah Grassroots Organisations and Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang ushered in 2015 with 1,000 residents on 1 January with a morning walk. In conjunction with the country’s SG50 celebrations, a torch was also passed among residents of different age groups, to symbolise Singapore’s progress over the last half a century. Performances and workouts – Kpop X fitness, silat, taekwondo and wushu – awaited residents at the end of the walk.
Mr S Iswaran (West Coast)
Adviser to West Coast Grassroots Organisations S Iswaran, who is a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, as well as Second Minister for Home Affairs and for Trade and Industry, posed for this group picture at the “West Coast Mazda Run 2015” on 4 January. More than 2,500 residents took part in the community event, which comprised a 1.2 km family fun run and a 6 km jog for individuals, along a scenic route in West Coast Park.
Adviser to Yew Tee Grassroots Organisations Alex Yam gave the thumbs up to the Yew Tee Community Club (CC) “Open House” on 17 January. Throughout the day, more than 5,000 residents came by to have a look around their newly-upgraded CC, which now has a refurbished kitchen, a new seminar room and a sheltered basketball court, as well as a Pioneer Generation Office. A host of family-oriented activities were held, including a fancy dress competition, an ang pow handicraft class, cooking demonstrations and a walk-a-jog.
It was one for the album with Adviser to Yuhua Grassroots Organisations Grace Fu, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Yuhua Citizens’ Consultative Committee’s “Excellence in Education Programme cum Edusave Awards Presentation Ceremony”. Sessions were held on 31 January, and 7 and 8 February at the Science Centre Singapore. More than 800 student awards were given out. The recipients and their families also got to visit the exhibits at the venue after the presentation.
Source: The New Paper Š Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Reprinted with permission