More S’poreans should step forward to help community: Chan Chun Sing

It takes a community to build a community, and more Singaporeans should step forward to help one another to build an inclusive society.

Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Chan Chun Sing made this point during a ministerial community visit to Punggol South today.

After spending some three hours interacting with residents in the area, Mr Chan said he was impressed by the residents’ efforts to help one another.

For example, he observed how senior citizens enjoyed subsidised breakfast under the “Community Breakfast” project, where participating coffeeshops offer discounts to those aged 50 and above.

Mr Chan lauded efforts like this, where the community chips in with their own resources to help the less fortunate.

He added that while this is prevalent in other communities, more can be done.

“There might be communities that require a bit more understanding of the issues involved so it’s a constant work in progress.

“I don’t think there will always be a point where we would claim that we have arrived but it’s good to see efforts like that and I’m quietly confident by and large, the majority of Singaporeans understands the challenges we are grappling with,” he shared.

During his walkabout, Mr Chan also visited the Rivervale Condominium in Punggol.

He interacted with members of the condominium’s management committee, some of whom are grassroots leaders.

Mr Chan encouraged residents of Rivervale Condominium to reach out to other communities in the area and work closely with grassroots organisations.

He said he was encouraged to note that residents there have no issue living near the Grace Lodge nursing home, which is just across the road.

The nursing home is located within the Singapore Buddhist Welfare Services building.

During the hour-long dialogue session with residents, Mr Chan also fielded questions on estate upgrading and government subsidies for the needy.

Responding to a resident’s question on the government’s engagement with Singaporeans, Mr Chan said although there’s greater engagement, the issue now is how to manage the public’s expectations.

He noted that the public has a higher expectation of the government and how it deals with issues raised by Singaporeans.

He added that there has to be some give and take in the engagement process.

This article was first published in TODAY