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Synopsis :

At a ceremony to present accreditation cards to members of Residents' Committees (RC) and the Community Centre Management Committee, Member of Parliament for Macpherson Chua Sian Chin says that he has great pleasure in officially inaugurating the sixth and last RC that will take charge of Zone F in Macpherson which comprises four and five room flats. This is also the first year of successful operation of the RC scheme in five other zones. Macpherson now has a newer and bigger community centre. Its grassroots organisations are in close contact with residents through the RCs which have representatives from almost every block. The RCs  have brought social change in community relations in Housing Board estates. There is greater interaction among neighbours who were previously strangers to each other.  He hopes that RC schemes will help to solve the problems of high rise living. These schemes can promote community cohesiveness through tea parties and excursions. RCs should embark on long term projects that will bind residents together. An example is the  Neighbourhood Watch Scheme. This pilot project will be extended to every block in the constituency. Besides crime and vandalism, there are other hazards like fire and armed conflicts. Hence the need to build up civil defence capabilities among civilian groups.The RCs will be given a new civil defence role. In Japan, housewives and other women's groups are taught how to fight fires. Learning from this example, civilians in Singapore can be taught to evacuate, render first aid and carry out rescue work in disaster situations. They can also help to ensure order and less panic in less serious situations.