Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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SPEECH BY DR. TONY TAN KENG YAM, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR DEFENCE AT THE SEMBAWANG-HONG KAH CDC DAY ON SUNDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 1998 AT 11.30AM AT HONG KAH WEST COMMUNITY CLUB, 8 JURONG WEST STREET 52

Grassroots Leaders,

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am pleased to join you this morning to celebrate the first Sembawang-Hong Kah CDC Day. This inaugural event is also being held at Nee Soon and Woodlands estates right now. I understand that a key objective of this event is to introduce residents to the CDC.

Sembawang-Hong Kah is the largest among the nine CDC districts. It spans an area of 175 square kilometers, covering a quarter of Singapore, and serves about 20% of our population. Hence, there are many challenges ahead for the CDC in promoting cohesion and bonding among the residents of this big community. The CDC will only succeed if it has the support of the residents.

Singapore is a multiracial, small city state. Maintaining domestic harmony is vital to our survival and prosperity. There are many aspects of domestic harmony. I will single out only two, which are more relevant to the CDC context.

The first is racial harmony. We adopt an open, fair and pragmatic approach in dealing with racial and religious issues. We all understand the importance of racial harmony. We have learnt to accept and respect the differences of our ethnic groups. We treasure and will continue to work conscientiously to ensure good relationship among the races.

Second: social cohesion, which is vital to our long-term survival. Since independence, we have enjoyed almost uninterrupted good economic growth. We practise meritocracy. We reward a person based on his ability, not his race or social origin. However, we have to accept the fact that not everyone can keep pace with competition and changes equally well. Some will move ahead much faster than others. If we are not careful, our society will become stratified. There will be envy and jealousy. Social cohesion and political stability will be threatened.

Racial harmony and social cohesion should never be taken for granted. Every effort must be made to preserve them. This challenge is not the Government’s alone. It is a collective challenge for all Singaporeans.

On its part, the Government has taken concrete steps such as implementing the HDB upgrading programme and Edusave Scheme to help level up society and provide equal opportunities for all. However, there is a limit to what Government can do. Successful Singaporeans, whether in HDB estates or in private estates, should feel some responsibility to return to society what society has given them and, in the process, help fellow Singaporeans to catch up. Community Development Councils are viable mechanisms whereby more successful Singaporeans can come forward to serve the community. CDCs will work with community, civic, grassroots and voluntary welfare organizations to initiate more community-based projects and programmes to promote a more vibrant Singapore and bond Singaporeans more closely together.

This morning will see the opening of the Sembawang-Hong Kah Diabetes Education and Care Centre, the first facility-based project by the Sembawang-Hong Kah CDC. It is a joint effort of the Diabetic Society of Singapore, Ministry of Health and the Sembawang-Hong Kah CDC. The Centre will provide residents with important services such as diabetes screening, glycated haemoglobin testing, diabetic retinal photgraphy, podiatric foot care as well as diabetes health education. These services, provided by specially trained diabetes care nurses, will allow for the early detection of diabetes in residents as well as the regular monitoring of diabetes, good control of the disease and prevention of serious complications in diabetics.

Over the next few months, the Sembawang-Hong Kah CDC will announce more projects and services for residents. These will include before and after school and family service centres, sports events, community self-help projects to promote good neighbourliness and social cohesion and community service projects involving the young. I urge you to give the CDC your full support by volunteering your services and participating in these projects and activities. Together, we can make Sembawang-Hong Kah and Singapore the best home for ourselves.

Finally, let me commend councillors and grassroots leaders in all 14 wards for leading by example. The CCCs are today making a collective donation of $280,000 to the CDC. Also, many grassroots leaders have signed up as regular GIRO contributors to the CDC. This is a most commendable effort which I hope all Singaporeans will follow.

Thank you.