MCI (P) 004/03/2016 Circulation 110,500 Copies Vibes 50 | Jul - Sep 2016 Vibes is reconnecting with the past! In our 50th issue, we find out what some of the residents we’ve featured before, are up to now. Show 08 YOUTH FOR YOUTH THE EDITORIAL COMMITTEE 11 15 ADVISER Mr Zainal Sapari CHAIRMAN Raymond Lye, BBM VICE-CHAIRMAN Steven Lam, BBM MEMBERS Mohd Anuar Bin Md Yusop, PBM Singapuri Mukesh Balwantram RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS Haja Nizamudeen, PBM HARMONY STREET PARADE Patrick Pang Zhiwei SG51 @ PUNGGOL DAMAI Lam Lee Choo SECRETARY Regina Ang Melody Yeung EDITORIAL CONSULTANT Design Fusion Pte Ltd PRINTER Times Printers Pte Ltd PASIR RIS OFFICE Blk 577, Pasir Ris Street 53 #01-88 Singapore 510577 Tel: 6585 4938 Fax: 6585 4937 Email: [email protected] PUNGGOL OFFICE RUN, PUNGGOL EAST RUN Blk 603 Punggol Road #01-01 16 Singapore 820603 Tel: 6590 9500 Fax: 6659 8263 Email: [email protected] Share RIVERVALE OFFICE It’s Vibes 50th issue and we’re commemorating it in a very special way! To move Blk 156A Rivervale Crescent #01-01 forward, we go back in time to revisit the people and places of our town that have Singapore 541156 Tel: 6489 0520 Fax: 6385 7120 grown and changed along with us. Inside, we feature a family who has been on the Email: [email protected] cover of Vibes a cool 15 years ago. Wait till you see their ‘Then & Now’ picture! SENGKANG OFFICE But more importantly, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making Vibes one Blk 266 Compassvale Bow #01-06 of the most well-received community newsletters. Thank you for reading, for writing Singapore 540266 Tel: 6489 0520 Fax: 6385 0930 in, and for giving us your support the last 19 years. We’ll continue to Email: [email protected] put out interesting and inspiring stories for your reading pleasure. Here’s to the next 50 issues! For Feedback on Vibes, email us at: [email protected] Patrick Pang Zhiiwei Member Visit our website at www.prpg-tc.org.sg 02 vibes Hearttoheart SHOW SINGAPORE THE LOVE! Pasir Ris-Punggol residents celebrated Singapore’s 51st birthday with bubbling fervour and enthusiasm in August by participating in their division’s National Day Observance Ceremony and the joint National Day Dinner! The observance ceremonies were held SG51 @ PUNGGOL DAMAI in the morning of August 9 for Singaporeans from all walks of life to come together and share their joy, pride and loyalty to the nation. People sang songs, watched uniformed groups march proudly in a show of unity, and took part in an array of creative fringe activities. The GRC’s National Day Dinner, held three days before National Day, had more than 3000 residents in attendance that made up a lively sea of red and white. GRC WHAT & WHERE: National Day Observance Ceremonies & National Day Dinner at All Divisions WHO: WHO: MPs of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC – Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Mr Teo Chee Hean; Acting Minister for Education (Schools) & Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport Mr Ng Chee Meng; Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower & Mayor of North East District Mr Teo Ser Luck; Deputy Speaker for Parliament Mr Charles Chong; Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Education Dr Janil Puthucheary; Mr Zainal Sapari; Ms Sun Xueling WHEN: 6 – 9 Aug 2016 vibes 03 Hearttoheart Header Photo by Masjid Al Mawaddah HARI RAYA @ PASIR RIS - PUNGGOL Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all our Muslim residents! Leading up to the end of Ramadan, Pasir Ris-Punggol organised numerous community Iftar sessions, and later marked the end of the holy month with festive celebrations held around the GRC. The boisterous events saw the attendance of many residents who arrived dressed to the nines in their baju kurungs. Together with their family and friends, they enjoyed the variety of performances put up by local singers and musical groups, and also indulged in food, games and lucky draws. GRC WHAT & WHERE: Hari Raya Celebrations at All Divisions WHO: MPs – DPM Teo Chee Hean; Mr Ng Chee Meng; Mr Teo Ser Luck; Mr Charles Chong; Dr Janil Puthucheary; Mr Zainal Sapari; Ms Sun Xueling WHEN: 31 July 2016 04 vibes Header Photo by Masjid Al Mawaddah Classrooms and learning corners MapleBear-ADA4-FA(Revised)-8Aug Path.indd 1 8/8/16 4:57 PM Hearttoheart Congratulations to Our 2016 National Day Award Recipients Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council would like to congratulate our community leaders who have won the National Day Award. (From left to right) Mr Choo Guan Ann, PBM Mr Andrew Lim Hong Wan, PBM Mr Lim Chee Siong, PBM Mr Albert Lim Swee Keng, PBM Mr John Ho Yip Cheng, PBM Mdm Glynis Lee Huang Kew, PBM Dr Doreen Tan Nee Moi, PBM Mr Haja Nizamudeen, PBM Mr Subramaniam s/o Sadasivam, PBM Mr Albert Koh Tiong Wah, BBM Mr Charlie Cheong Wing Tim, BBM Mr Alvin Tan Chee Tiong, PBM Mr Goh Hock Kwee, PBM (Not pictured) The late Mr Jasmond Ong Chee Keong, PBM 06 vibes Hearttoheart United Against Zika With the number of Zika cases on the rise, Pasir Ris West responded to the growing issue by organising a walkabout to raise awareness on the mosquito-borne disease. Led by DPM Teo and supported by Pasir Ris West C2E, Pasir Ris Meridian RC, Atlantis RC and WhiteWater NC, the group went around Pasir Ris West Plaza to provide residents with more information on the virus and how they can help fight it. Shop owners are also stepping up and helping to raise awareness by distributing flyers to their customers. DPM Teo also said that the most important thing right now is for Singaporeans to work together, and to deal with the situation by eradicating the Aedes mosquito and their breeding grounds. PASIR RIS WEST WHAT & WHERE: Community Against Zika Walkabout at Pasir Ris West Plaza WHO: MP – DPM Teo Chee Hean WHEN: 3 Sept 2016 vibes 07 Hearttoheart YOUTH FOR YOUTH It’s the time of the year for community arts in Singapore to take the spotlight again! The annual PAssionArts Festival returns with the theme “Towards a Brighter Singapore” with aims of bringing people of different backgrounds together through the co-creation of art. Residents got to experience arts and culture at their doorstep on 13 August at the Sengkang Central PassionArts Festival 2016. Propelling the sub theme “Future of Us”, the event served as a platform for the youth to shine through their stage performances. Leading the way to a more vibrant arts scene were also students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) who conducted a series of art workshops and curated a Fine Arts Exhibition for the event. Through them, residents had the opportunity to try their hand at various art techniques and bring home SENGKANG CENTRAL WHAT & WHERE: valued pieces of their works. Sengkang Central CACC PassionArts Festival 2016 at Sengkang CC WHEN: 13 Aug 2016 08 vibes Hearttoheart Waterway Terraces I Welcome Party Residents of Waterway Terraces I took the opportunity to get acquainted with their neighbours at their block’s welcome party in August. Organised by the Housing Development Board and Punggol West Constituency Office, the event provided them the chance to make new friends through activities such as the ‘Friends Next Door’ Children’s Colouring contest and the ‘Waterway Terraces I Fun Quest’. PUNGGOL WEST WHAT & WHERE: Welcome Party at Waterway Terraces I WHO: MP – Ms Sun Xueling WHEN: 13 Aug 2016 vibes 09 Hearttoheart A STEP CLOSER to a Rejuvenated Neighbourhood A follow-up to the Public Consultation Exercise conducted in February 2016, the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP): Consensus Gathering for Blocks 440-461 Pasir Ris Drive 4-6 took place in July for residents to cast their vote in favour of or against the proposed upgrading works. Featuring a total of 16 upgrades/ additions, some of the highlights include a new 3-Generation garden and a landscaped path with seats. The upgrading proposal is a product of collective feedback residents provided at the Consultation Exercise previously; each feedback was analysed by the architects and incorporated whenever feasible. Mr Zainal Sapari was present to remind residents that the project is fully funded by the government, and advised them to take this opportunity to enhance their neighbourhood and living environment. PASIR RIS EAST WHAT & WHERE: NRP Consensus Gathering at Blk 440 Pasir Ris Dr 4 WHO: MP - Mr Zainal Sapari WHEN: 17 July 2016 All proposals are subjected to clearances from various statutory authorities and approval of funds. 10 vibes Hearttoheart Racial and Religious Harmony Street Parade More than 10,000 residents came out to celebrate inclusivity and diversity at Punggol North’s 12th annual Racial & Religious Harmony Street Parade & Family Carnival. Every year, the parade reminds us that Singapore has come a long way since the devastating 1960s racial riots, and continuous efforts must be made in preserving our unity and social harmony. On that day, contingents from different interest groups, clubs and associations took the streets to put up colourful and energetic performances for the crowd to marvel at. Hosted by Mr Ng Chee Meng, he was joined by Mr Charles Chong, Mr Zainal Sapari and DPM Teo who urged all residents during his address to always focus on what unites us as Singaporeans, rather than be drawn apart by what makes us different. PUNGGOL NORTH WHAT & WHERE: Punggol North Racial and Religious Harmony Street Parade at Blk 173 Punggol Field WHO: MPs – DPM Teo Chee Hean; Mr Ng Chee Meng; Mr Charles Chong; Mr Zainal Sapari WHEN: 17 Jul 2016 vibes 11 Hearttoheart are They Now? Where The Rahman Family 15 years ago, the Rahmans caught our attention with their large family of seven.