Parliamentary Colleagues

Community leaders

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am happy to be with you this afternoon to launch our "Bukit Timah Times", jointly published by the Bukit Timah Community Development Council (CDC) and the Singapore Gazette.

2 The Bukit Timah Community Development Council, formed in 13 December 1997, was given the task to build a cohesive, compassionate and harmonious community. Since then, the CDC has set out to develop a comprehensive social and health delivery systems. In its almost three years of establishment, the CDC has achieved many of its goals. It has set up or funded many social institutions such as the students’ care centres, retirees’ centre, study centres and information technology training centres. It has also carried out many health-related projects for the benefits of many residents. These projects included the Women Health Seminar, Health Fairs and the Health Guide Book. In addition, the CDC has also organised many educational and sports activities to promote closer community bonding.

3 Today’s launch of the "Bukit Timah Times" marks another very important milestone of the Bukit Timah CDC. It represents the CDC’s effort to come out with its own community newspaper to link up the seven constituencies and divisions within the Bukit Timah CDC district. These are the Ayer Rajah and Chua Chu Kang constituencies, Bukit Batok, Bukit Timah, Jurong, Ulu Padan and Yuhua Divisions of the Bukit Timah GRC.

4 Starting from December next month, the first issue of the "Bukit Timah Times" newspaper will be hand-delivered monthly, door-to-door and free-of-charge to about 100,000 households or 320,000 residents within our CDC district. Every household in the Bukit Timah CDC district will get one. Look out for yours.

5 The CDC publishes "Bukit Timah CDC Times" as another service to the residents. Today we have more newspapers to read, but they do not tell us what is happening in our own neighbourhood. Our community newspaper will indeed act as an important communication vehicle to reach out to the residents in the Bukit Timah CDC district. Through this newspaper, the CDC aims to promote more effective community bonding. I encourage you to read this "Bukit Timah Times" and to turn to them often for various services and activities of the CDC and the seven wards within the CDC district. The newspaper will also cover news and people within the community, as well as good local shopping and eating places.

6 The ultimate aim is to enable our residents to be more informed on what is happening in our CDC district. Our residents can then participate in and contribute to many community activities and programmes of the CDC and those organised by the grassroots organisations of our seven constituencies and divisions. When this monthly CDC newspaper is getting established as one of the must-read newspaper media, this will strengthen the role of the CDC to reach out to its residents.

7 As the "Bukit Timah Times" is your community newspaper. I will also like to encourage you to give the Bukit Timah CDC your constructive feedback on how they can further improve it. You may contribute articles that are of interest to all residents. With your inputs, this will make this newspaper an even more interesting and worthwhile reading newspaper.

8 In the coming year, the Bukit Timah CDC will be performing a much greater role. The CDC will be the local administrator of the delegated social services from the Ministry of Community Development and Sports. These additional roles include Public Assistance Scheme, Referrals for Admission to Nursing Homes and Sheltered Homes, the Small Families Improvement Scheme, Fee Assistance for Student Care, Rental and Utilities Assistance Scheme, Short Term Interim Financial Scheme and Development of Community Facilities such as the Family Service Centres and Student Care Centres. The "Bukit Timah Times" will also become a very important medium to publicise and explain such roles that the CDC is entrusted with. People need to know where help is available.

9 Finally, I like to stress that it is difficult for the CDC to promote effective community bonding without the active participation and involvement of the residents within the community. Each of us can make a difference by participating fully in some aspect of the life of our community. Therefore, I like to take this opportunity to urge you to come forward to contribute to your service to your community. Your active participation and involvement are very much needed to build a cohesive, civic-pride and compassionate community. Let's work together to make our CDC district an even better place to live.

10 Thank you and I wish the "Bukit Timah Times" every success in its continuous effort to reach out to the residents.

_______________________________________