Sengkang is a new and fast developing estate. Residents started to shift in since mid 1997. They are moving in at about 1000 households per month. Currently, there are about 20,000 households in Sengkang.

It will eventually house more than 95,000 families over a land area twice the size of Ang Mo Kio New Town.

The grassroots organisations in Sengkang are facing a challenging task in serving the local community. I commend the grassroots leaders for putting in much effort to reach out to the residents to promote community bonding. The grassroots organisations include the 7 Residents Committees which have been formed in Sengkang Estate. Others are in the pipeline to serve the new neighbourhoods.

Under the umbrella of the Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San CDC, our RCs have played a pivotal role in forming the Neighbourhood Watch Zones (NWZs) to enhance the security of the estate. They have also implemented Safety Drive Zones under the Community Safety and Security Programme.

The Neighbourhood Watch Zone (NWZ) scheme was launched by the Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San CDC in March last year. Since then, all our RCs have embarked on the scheme, with a total of 61 NWZs formed.

They have brought about a higher level of awareness and alertness among the residents to combat crime through mutual help.

Similarly the Community Safety and Security Programme was launched by the Ang Mo Kio-Cheng San CDC in March last year.

Since then, we have been working closely with the police to implement the programme. Almost all the RCs and Neighbourhood Committees in our CDC have implemented initiatives such as the Safety Drive Zones.

The Scheme aims to draw the community into looking after the safety of its members through self-help. Volunteers are engaged as community wardens to monitor the use of roads near schools at the Safe Drive Zones. By helping to look out for one another’s children and other road users, we are enhancing road safety and community bonding.

The Safe Drive Zone Scheme started in March 1999, with two schools taking up the project. Today, we have 6 schools in our CDC which have appointed a total of 86 community wardens under the scheme.

The Neighbourhood Watch and Safe Drive Schemes help to make Singapore our Best Home. The Scheme has enabled residents to contribute towards making their neighbourhood a better place to live in and building a caring community with a stronger community spirit.

It gives residents greater participation in ensuring safety and security in their neighbourhood. Singaporeans already live in one of the safest countries in the world. These Schemes will make it even safer.

I commend the Community Wardens for stepping forward to serve your community. I am certain that you will set high standards of performance to serve as models for other parents and residents to follow.

The certificate presentation is in recognition of your contributions to our community.

Let’s all work together to make the Schemes a distinctive feature of Cheng San GRC.

Thank you.