Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts
36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.
Tel: 3757794/5
___________________________________________________
SPEECH BY MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI
MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
AT THE OPENING OF MORAL WELFARE HOME
301 HENDERSON ROAD
SATURDAY, 18 JUL 98 AT 2.30 PM
Good afternoon
Mr Lee Kim Siang, Chairman, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society
Ladies and gentlemen
I am very happy to be here to officiate at the opening of the Moral Welfare Home this afternoon.
2 When Woodlands Home for the Aged was closed in Jun 97, it was like the closing of a chapter in the history of Singapore. Woodlands Home had played an important part in caring for many of our migrant population who had left their homeland without their families to come and help build Singapore. The Home took care of them and gave them a decent life in their last days when there was no one else to look after them.
3 The closure of Woodlands Home was necessary so as to make way for the redevelopment of that part of Singapore. However, the Government’s services for destitute continued and even improved. Four other smaller, but modern homes were built to replace Woodlands Home at a cost of $46 million. I have had the pleasure of opening three of them over the last 12 months. The Moral Welfare Home is the final one to be opened today.1 Likewise the other three homes, this facility is also located within a housing estate so that its residents can feel that they are a part of the community.
4 This home was built at a cost of $12.5m. Together with the other three homes, it was completed in 1997 and is run by a voluntary organisation engaged by my Ministry. The Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society is the Ministry’s managing agent for this home. Unlike the other homes, the Moral Welfare Home takes in disabled destitute persons and has been designed with this purpose in mind. It has ramps to all levels, grab bars and other features for the handicapped. It also has a physiotherapy hall.
5 It is not an easy task to look after the elderly who are also disabled. They need a lot more attention and patience. I commend the Society for taking on this heavy responsibility.
6 I am very happy to note that together with another two of our homes – the Bukit Batok Home for the Aged and Christalite Methodist Home, the Moral Welfare Home was also conferred the Construction and Industry Development Board’s 1997 Best Buildable Design Award
1
Christalite Methodist Home was opened on 26.7.97; Jamiyah Home for
the Aged on 20.1.98 and Bukit Batok Home for the Aged on 15.2.98.
(Institutional Buildings Category). Jamiyah Home for the Aged, the fourth home, did not enter the contest. Let me congratulate all the three homes and thank the architects of PWD who had worked closely in the planning and design of these homes together with my officers and the Managing Agents.
7 Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society has an excellent track record of providing services to the community. It has worked closely with my Ministry and is every-ready to come forward to offer its assistance and services, even to help the Government pilot and develop new services. Some of the initiatives that the Society has to its credit include the setting up of the Moral Home for Disabled Adults at Chai Chee, family service centres at MacPherson and Tiong Bahru, and senior activity centres at MacPherson, Telok Blangah and Toa Payoh.
8 And indeed, the high quality service provided by Thye Hua Kwan in this Home is there for all to see. Within a short period of 12 months since the more than 100 residents were transferred here from Woodlands Home, the Moral Welfare Home had put in place a physiotherapy programme, run by a physiotherapist to help its disabled residents to be more independent.
9 I am also pleased that Jagoh Primary School has officially adopted the Home for its community service programme. Students from other educational institutions, such as Hwa Chong Junior College and NUS have also been visiting the Home regularly to do voluntary work. This has added vibrancy to the Home, and ensured that the residents feel a part of the local community.
10 I hope more schools and organisations will offer their voluntary services to homes and other social service agencies. During the present economic slowdown, we should all the more be helping those less fortunate than ourselves to cope. If more could come forward to volunteer their time, talents and expertise, then we will be nearer to our objective of making our society more caring and cohesive.
11 Let me close by thanking the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society for
taking on the challenge to manage this Home. I am confident that you
will continue to discharge your responsibility in the most capable and
professional way as you have always done before. It now gives me great
pleasure to declare the Moral Welfare Home open. Thank you.