By Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 1 Jun 2015
MADAM Wong Choi Ow has had to use a wheelchair to get around since a pelvic operation last year, but this did not stop the sprightly 81-year-old from joining a community event in Marina Bay yesterday with 5,000 Singaporeans of all races and from all walks of life.
MADAM Wong Choi Ow has had to use a wheelchair to get around since a pelvic operation last year, but this did not stop the sprightly 81-year-old from joining a community event in Marina Bay yesterday with 5,000 Singaporeans of all races and from all walks of life.
She was assisted by South East Community Development Council (CDC) volunteer Monica Ma, 66. The duo had become fast friends through its Neighbours For Active Living programme, which matches volunteers with elderly residents to build a close-knit community.
The event yesterday morning was organised by all five CDCs and aimed to highlight the strength of such community bonds as Singapore celebrates its golden jubilee. It was attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the mayors of all five districts and MPs, who also joined in a 2.5km walk around the bay.
50 years ago, the Marina Bay area was just water. There was no Marina Bay Sands, no Barrage, not even the Merlion!...
Posted by Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday, May 31, 2015
The event yesterday morning was organised by all five CDCs and aimed to highlight the strength of such community bonds as Singapore celebrates its golden jubilee. It was attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the mayors of all five districts and MPs, who also joined in a 2.5km walk around the bay.
South East District Mayor Maliki Osman said a cohesive community has been important to Singapore, adding: "It is even more critical today, given recent developments of terrorist threats."
Such cohesion includes a level of trust and understanding in a multiracial society, added Dr Maliki, who is also Minister of State for Defence and National Development.
"We may be different in some respects but we are the same, we are all Singaporeans," he told reporters. "CDCs have a more critical role to bring people together, deepen that understanding and enhance appreciation (of one another) so that we can move forward and weather any possible storm that may come."
His comments come as government leaders stressed the importance of safeguarding racial harmony in the face of the global terror threat, and as the Home Affairs Ministry said last week that a 19-year-old self-radicalised Singaporean had been detained for planning to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group in Syria and to carry out attacks here.
Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua told reporters that she foresees CDCs playing a greater role as the "glue" between people, with "society developing a different complexion with non-traditional family definitions".
She also hopes CDCs can be the bridge between residents and policymakers, by reflecting emerging needs on the ground.
Speaking to participants briefly, PM Lee called on them to look back on the nation's progress since 1965 as they passed by key landmarks of today's Singapore on their walk around the bay.
"Fifty years ago, this was water. Around Marina Bay, there was no Marina South, no Gardens by the Bay, no Marina Bay Sands, no Floating Platform," he said. "Now we have all these, let's enjoy it, let's work to make it better."
This morning, the Floating Platform and iconic Jubilee Bridge swelled up unusually with a 5,000-strong community parade...
Posted by Central Singapore Community Development Council on Sunday, May 31, 2015
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