Planting seeds of kindness - Sembawang nee soon Town Council
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Sembawang nee soon Town Council december 2012
MICA (P) 135/08/2012
Being kind to your
precinct by picking
up litter p 6-7
planting seeds
of kindness
Being kind to the Saying thank you to our
world by planting cleaners p 4-5
trees p 6-7
2 heart talk december 2012
A A
re we kind? Most of us take pause dakah kita baik hati? Kebanyakan Bersih dan Hijau – di merata bandar kepada mereka dan blok-blok kita.
at that question. We would like to kita henti sejenak memikirkan kita, beratus-ratus pokok telah ditanam. Di 10 kawasan undi dalam GRC
say yes, but have we really done pertanyaan itu. Kita ingin berkata Pokok-pokok ini berbudi baik kepada Sembawang dan GRC Nee Soon, para
kind things? We start thinking about ya, tetapi adakah kita telah benar-benar kita semua, dengan memberi teduhan, penduduk, pelajar dan pemimpin akar
whether we’ve donated to charities, berbudi baik kepada orang lain? Kita kehijauan dan udara segar. umbi telah menjadi duta anti-sepah
what volunteer work we’ve done, or the mula memikirkan sama ada kita telah Di kempen-kempen tanam pokok, sampah. Mereka menunjukkan budi
strangers we’ve helped. menderma kepada badan amal, apakah kita telah juga memberi pengiktirafan baik mereka dengan mengutip sampah
The truth is, kindness is much kerja sukarela yang kita telah buat, atau kepada para pekerja pembersihan di blok-blok, presint-presint dan pusat-
simpler than that, and you’ll find the bulk orang yang tidak dikenali yang kita telah kita dengan anugerah. Mereka banyak pusat kejiranan. Mereka sebarkan mesej,
of our kindness in the simple, everyday bantu. berbudi baik kepada kita dengan “Jangan buang sampah sembarangan –
things we do. We have just planted Hakikatnya, kebaikan hati adalah memastikan rumah kita bersih dan berbudi baik kepada dunia di sekeliling
trees in conjunction with Clean and lebih mudah daripada itu, dan anda cantik. Dan setiap kali kita membuang anda dan dunia akan berbudi baik kepada
Green Singapore – all across our town, akan mendapati bahawa kebanyakan sampah ke dalam tong sampah dan anda!”
hundreds of trees have been planted. amalan budi baik kita adalah perbuatan- tidak membuangnya sembarangan, atau Saya mengucapkan Selamat Tahun
These trees are a kindness to all of us, perbuatan mudah yang kita lakukan memasukkan bahan sisa kita ke dalam Baru kepada anda!
providing shade, greenery and fresh air. setiap hari. Kita baru sahaja menanam beg plastik sebelum membuangnya ke Hawazi Daipi
At our tree plantings, we also pokok sempena kempen Singapura Yang dalam corong sampah, kita berbudi baik
recognized our best cleaners with awards.
They do us a great kindness by keeping
our homes clean and beautiful. And
every time we put rubbish in the bin
instead of littering, or bag our household
¿ ¡õ ¸É¢×Á¢ì¸Å÷¸Ç¡? þó¾ì
§¸ûÅ¢ìÌô À¾¢ÄÇ¢ìÌõ
ÓýÉ÷ ¿õÁ¢ø ¦ÀÕõÀ¡§Ä¡÷
ºüÚò ¾Âí̧šõ. ¬õ ±ý§È
¿¼ÅÊ쨸¸Ç¢ø þÕôÀ¨¾ ¿£í¸û
¸¡½Ä¡õ. àö¨Á¡É, ÀͨÁ¡É
º¢í¸ôâ÷ ±Ûõ þÂì¸ò¾¢ý
¦¾¡¼÷À¢ø ¿¡õ þô§À¡Ð¾¡ý
¦¾¡ðʸǢø §À¡Îõ§À¡Ðõ,
«øÄÐ ¿ÁРţðÎì Ìô¨À¸¨Ç
Å£ðÎìÌô¨Àò ¦¾¡ðÊìÌû þΞüÌ
ÓýÉḠ«Åü¨È ¨À¸Ç¢ø §À¡ðÎì
waste before putting it down the chute, ¿¡õ À¾¢ø ¦º¡øÄ Å¢Õõҧšõ, ÁÃí¸¨Ç ¿ð§¼¡õ. ¿ÁÐ ¿¸Ãò¨¾î ¸ðÎõ§À¡Ðõ ¿¡õ «Å÷¸ÙìÌõ
we do them and our blocks a kindness. ¬É¡ø ¯ñ¨Á¢ø ¿¡õ ¸É¢×Á¢ì¸ ÍüÈ¢ áüÚì¸½ì¸¡É ÁÃí¸û ¿ÁРҧǡì̸ÙìÌõ ¸É¢¨Åì
Across the 10 divisions in ¦ºÂø¸¨Çî ¦ºö¾¢Õ츢§È¡Á¡? ¿¼ôÀðÎûÇÉ. þó¾ ÁÃí¸Ùõ ´Õ ¸¡ðθ¢§È¡õ.
¿¡õ «È¿¢ÚÅÉí¸ÙìÌ Å¨¸Â¢ø ¸É¢×Á¢ì¸¨Å¾¡ý, «¨Å ¦ºõÀÅ¡í ÁüÚõ ¿£ Ýý
Sembawang and Nee Soon GRCs,
¿ý¦¸¡¨¼ «Ç¢ò¾¢Õ츢§È¡Á¡, ¿ÁìÌ ¿¢Æø, ÀͨÁ ÁüÚõ Òò¾õÒ¾¢Â ÌØò¦¾¡Ì¾¢¸Ç¢ø þÕìÌõ 10
residents, students and grassroots leaders ±ò¾¨¸Â ¦¾¡ñÞÆ¢Âô À½¢¨Âî ¸¡ü¨È ÅÆí̸¢ýÈÉ. À¢Ã¢×¸Ç¢ø ¯ûÇ ÌÊ¢ÕôÀ¡Ç÷¸û,
have become anti-littering ambassadors. ¦ºö¾¢Õ츢§È¡õ, «øÄÐ ¿ÁÐ ÁÃõ ¿Îõ Á¡½Å÷¸û, «Êò¾Çò ¾¨ÄÅ÷¸û
They show their kindness by picking ÓýÀ¢ý «È¢Â¡¾Å÷¸ÙìÌ ¿¡õ ¿¢¸ú¢ý§À¡Ð, Å¢Õиû ÅÆí¸¢ ¬¸¢§Â¡÷ Ìô¨À §À¡ÎžüÌ ±¾¢Ã¡É
up litter in the blocks, precincts and ¯¾Å¢Â¢Õ츢§È¡Á¡ ±É ¿¡õ º¢ó¾¢ì¸ò ¿ÁÐ º¢Èó¾ ÐôÒÃÅ¡Ç÷¸¨ÇÔõ à¾÷¸Ç¡¸ ¬¸¢ÔûÇÉ÷. «Å÷¸û
neighbourhood centres. They spread the ¦¾¡¼í̧šõ. ¿¡õ «í¸£¸Ã¢ò§¾¡õ. ¿ÁÐ ¾í¸û ¸É¢¨Å, ҧǡì̸Ǣø,
message, “Don’t litter – be kind to the ¯ñ¨Á ±ýɦÅýÈ¡ø, ¸É¢× þøÄí¸¨Çî Íò¾Á¡¸×õ ÅÇ¡¸í¸Ç¢ø, «ì¸õÀì¸ ¨ÁÂí¸Ç¢ø
world around you and the world will be ±ýÀÐ «¨¾Å¢¼ ±Ç¢¨Á¡ÉÐ, «Æ¸¡¸¸×õ ¨Åò¾¢ÕôÀ¾ý ãÄõ ¸¢¼ìÌõ Ìô¨À¸¨Ç ±ÎôÀ¾ý ãÄõ
¿ÁÐ ¦ÀÕõÀ¡ý¨ÁÂ¡É ¸É¢×î «Å÷¸û ¿ÁìÌô ¦ÀÕõ ¸É¢¨Åì ¸¡ðθ¢ýÈÉ÷. “Ìô¨À §À¡¼¡¾£÷¸û
kind to you!”
¦ºÂø ±ýÀÐ ±Ç¢¨Á¡É, ¸¡ðθ¢ýÈÉ÷. Ìô¨À¸¨Çì ¸ñ¼ - ¯í¸¨Çî ÍüÈ¢ÔûÇ ¯Ä¸¢üÌì
Wishing you a Merry Christmas ¿¡õ «ýÈ¡¼õ §Áü¦¸¡ûÙõ þ¼í¸Ç¢ø §À¡¼¡Áø Ìô¨Àò ¸É¢Å¡¸ þÕí¸û, ¯Ä¸õ ¯í¸Ç¢¼õ
and Happy New Year! ¸É¢Å¡¸ þÕìÌõ” ±ýÈ ¦ºö¾¢¨Â
Hawazi Daipi «Å÷¸û ÀÃôÒ¸¢È¡÷¸û.
¯í¸ÙìÌ ¸¢È¢ŠÐÁŠ ÁüÚõ
Òò¾¡ñÎ Å¡úòиû!
们是否有善心？这个问 Å¡…¢ ¨¼ôÀ¢
题常使大多数人感到犹
豫不决，但我们的答案
是肯定的。可是，我们到底曾不曾
做过善事？我们会开始想，自己曾
不曾捐助慈善机构、曾做过什么义
务工作或帮助过哪些陌生人？
事实上，善心比前面所说的
简单得多。我们日常生活中的所作
所为，有些虽然简单，但大体上都
有善心的表现。最近为配合我国的
清洁绿化周，我们的市镇种植了数
百棵树苗。这些树苗都代表着我们
的善举，日后它们将给我们带来树
荫、增添绿意和提供新鲜空气。
在植树的当儿，我们也不忘奖
赏我们的最佳清洁工人，肯定他们
的表现。他们任劳任怨，维持我们
的家园清洁美丽。这就是对我们的
一项伟大善举。而我们每次把垃圾
丢进垃圾桶或先把家中废物装袋才
丢进垃圾槽，都是对各座居民的善
行表现。
在三巴旺和义顺集选区里的
10个分区中，居民、学生和基层
领袖已成为反乱抛垃圾的大使。
他们在各座组屋、各个邻里和邻区
中心拾起垃圾，以表示他们的善
心。他们正在散播“请不要乱抛
垃圾 – 善待世界，世界定会善待
你”的信息！
恭祝大家圣诞快乐，新年进
步！
december 2012 heart talk 3
The kindest neighbours
live in the Happiest
Block Contest. Talk to residents of Blocks
Below are the results of the Happiest
those winning blocks and they’ll
usually tell you what nice neighbours they have!
T
alk to the RC Chairmen, the men a similar lesson in
and women who led the efforts the Army, “You see
to keep their neighbourhoods it. You do it. It’s a
safe and clean, and you’ll hear the discipline.”
same. “The residents are the reason we She was amazed
won,” said Mr Eddie Tan, Chairman of how few people saw
Zone 2 RC whose 701B block won a litter as a danger. “But Ms Poly Ang
prize in Chong Pang. you step on a wet plastic bag and you
“We went house to house, can fall and really injure yourself.”
talking to them,” he said. Corridor Mr Frankie Ng, Chairman of
obstructions were Zone 1 RC in Woodgrove, said they
always a problem, but went around the blocks and told their
many residents like residents about the Happiest Block
to have a few plants Contest. “They were
by the door. “We just very co-operative.
asked them to keep it And we had no idea
to a minimum!” there was a cash prize
Mr Eddie Tan
Mr Derek then.” What will they
Lua, Chairman of Canberra Zone do with the $1,100
2 RC, said his residents were very won by block 512?
Mr Frankie Ng
helpful and give his committee lots of “We’re going to throw
useful feedback. “Some come down a party. And with the rest of the prize,
to the RC, some we’ll give the cleaners tokens of our
email us, and some appreciation!”
just approach us Mr Lim Seng Min, Chairman
while we’re on our of the J Zone RC in Sembawang had
walkabouts.” an even bigger winner with his 788E
He had special block – a total of $1,300. “The whole
praise for the zone will share the divisional prize.
Mr Derek Lua
neighbours who had With the GRC prize we’re buying
joined the RC’s Environment Watch chocolates for every
Group, Litter Free Ambassadors and unit in the block!
Citizens On Patrol. “The most
Ms Poly Ang, Chairman of Zone important reason
6 RC in Nee Soon East, praised the for our win was the
kampung spirit shown by her senior partnership of the
residents. They pick up litter when residents and the
Mr Lim Seng Min Block 326 Yishub Ring Road
they see it, she said. She had learnt efforts they made.”
Block 703 Woodlands Drive 40
Results at the divisional level
RC RC RC
Division GOLD Zone SILVER Zone BRONZE Zone
Results at the GRC level
1 Woodlands Blk 703 Woodlands Dr 40 10 Blk 616 Woodlands Ave 4 7 Blk 836 Woodlands St. 83 1
Sembawang
2 Sembawang Blk 788E Woodlands Cr J Blk 504A Montreal Drive K Blk 510B Wellington Circle B
GRC
3 Woodgrove Blk 512 Woodlands Dr 14 1 Blk 894B Woodlands Dr 50 5 Blk 102 Woodlands St 13 2
Admiralty Blk 688E Woodlands Dr 75 6 Blk 684B Woodlands Dr 73 5 Blk 528 Woodlands Dr 14 2
Marsiling Blk 331 Woodlands Ave 1 6 Blk 170 Woodlands St 11 5 Blk 142, Marsiling Rd 3
Blk 398, Yishun Ring Rd 9
1 Nee Soon East Blk 326 Yishun Ring Rd 7 Blk 236 Yishun Ring Rd 6 Blk 221, Yishun St 21 2
Nee Soon
2 Nee Soon Central Blk 935 Yishun Central 1 8 Blk 636 Yishun Street 61 6 Blk 366 Yishun Ring Rd 9
GRC
3 Canberra Blk 357 Admiralty Drive 2 Blk 472 Sembawang Drive 3 Blk 417 Canberra Road 6
Chong Pang Blk 352C Canberra Rd 8 Blk 307 Canberra Rd 7 Blk 701B Yishun Ave 5 2
Nee Soon South Blk 724 Yishun St. 71 A Blk 802 Yishun Ring Rd C Blk 877 Yishun St. 81 F
4 heart talk december 2012
Mr Md Abdul Hai Sujon Mdm Cheng Ah Kim Mr Delowar Hossen Salam Mallik Mr Gwee Kim Huat Mdm Mislama Bte Ahmat Mr Abdul Karim Bin Maideen
Md Abdur Rob Blks 723, 724 Yishun Street 71 Blks 144, 147, 153 and 166 Blks 665, 668 and 669 Blks 762 and 763 Blks 749 and 750 Woodlands
Blks 232, 233 Yishun Street 21 Woodlands Street 13 Woodlands Ring Road Woodlands Ave 6 Circle, Woodlands Avenue 4
Mr Yoh Eng Chuan Mr Abdullah Bin Othman Mdm Krishnan Jumulla Mr Ho Teng Siang Mr Wang Xing Jun Mr Lum Kling
Gardens near Blk 685 Blks 800, 801 and 802 Blks 139 and 141 Marsiling Blks 860, 861 and 859A Carpark for Blks 635 to 641 Road Sweeper for Blks 731 to 774
Woodlands Drive 73 Yishun Ring Road Rise/Road Woodlands Street 83 Yishun Street 61 Yishun Street 72/Avenue 3/ Avenue 5
Mr Baba Mohamed Mr Mahmud Khan Bin Md Rasid Mdm Tan Ngeok Moi Mdm Tan Kiam Yia Mdm Sim Kim Lian Mr Kee Leng Mong
Blks 466A and 466B Blks 509A and 516A Woodlands Drive Blks 821, 822 and 823 Blk 118 Marsiling Rise Blk 122 Yishun Street 11 Blks 683A, 683B and 683D
Sembawang Drive 14 and open space from 509 to 516 Yishun Street 81 Woodlands Drive 62
Mr Abdul Rashid Bin Mohd Mr Cho Wing Chow Mr Poh Ah Lai Mdm Tok Suat Hah Ms Wong Foong Lan Mr Abdullah Bin Jusoh
Supervisor for Blks 925 to 935 Blks 744-747 Woodlands Circle Blk 935 Yishun Town Garden Blks 351, 350A and 355A Blk 467A Admiralty Drive Blks 418 and 419
Yishun Central Yishun Avenue 11 Woodlands Street 41
Saying ‘Thanks’ to
some of the best
cleaners in Town
Mr Xu Baozhu
Blks 132,133,135 and 136
Marsiling Rise/Road
O
Based on their performance, as ne of these cleaners, Mdm Tan Ngeok Mr Cho Wing Chow obviously agrees. He
judged by the contractors who Moi, was not only recognized by grassroots was awarded $300 this year and got a similar award
leaders in the division where she lives and for splendid service last year.
employ them, and feedback from works, she was also recognized by the NEA as one All these award-winners earned their prize-
residents and the Town Council, of the best cleaners in the NorthWest. money by doing that little bit extra to keep their
each of these conservancy workers The cleaner who won that award last year, blocks sparkling and their residents happy. Of
was given a $300 cash award at the Mdm Rohana Wong, did not get an award this year course, they are not the only conservancy workers
– but her husband, Mr Baba, did. Their son is also who deserve a big “Thank You”, but the Town
Clean and Green Singapore events a cleaner. “We all think cleaning is a very good job Council can’t really afford to give more awards.
held in our Town recently. to have.” she said. So they are improving salaries. See next page.
december 2012 heart talk 5
A kinder
pay scale
Many of the men and women who
Mdm Chong Lian Tai
Blk 121 Yishun Street 11
Mdm Rohaya Bte Alwi
Blks 581, 582 and 583
Mr Mohammed Hanif
Mohammed Abdus Sattar
Mdm Poh Lay Gek
Blks 788, 789 Yishun Avenue 2 keep our Town clean are among the
Woodlands Drive 16 Blks 227-242 Yishun Street 21
estimated 10,000 local cleaners in
Singapore who will benefit from
a new progressive wage structure
proposed by the Tripartite Cluster
of Cleaners (TCC).
T
he pay scheme proposes a minimum wage
of $1,200 for general conservancy cleaners,
$1,400 for machine operators, refuse
collectors and multi-skilled cleaners, $1,600 for
Mdm Suminah Bte Abdul Sunip Ms Tan Teng Teng Mr Ong Tiong Hong Mdm Misliya bte Asmawi
Blks 336, 337 and 338 Blks 356A and 360A Open space at Blks 554, 555 and 554A
supervisors and mechanical drivers, and $1,700 for
Sembawang Crescent Admiralty Drive Mandai Tekong Park Woodlands Drive 53 truck drivers.
The TTC believes this wage ladder will
let cleaners see how they can earn higher pay
by upgrading their skills and becoming more
productive. At the same time, their employers –
the cleaning contractors – will want to encourage
training, improve their processes and invest in
technology to increase productivity.
Cleaning contractors are expected to
adapt to the scheme over the next few years.
There are many ways they can get government
Mdm Madhavan Sarala Mr Tan Yew Nam Mdm Hajarrah Bibi Abdul Rahman Mdm Oh Ah Moy
Blks 831, 836 Woodlands St 83 Blks 844, 844A and 846 Blks 738 and 739 Blks 504A and 504B
funding to help with training, modernization and
Woodlands Street 82/Avenue 4 Woodlands Circle Montreal Drive accreditation but, bound by fixed price contracts,
most find it difficult to give their workers a raise,
no matter how strong the case for it.
To encourage them to give well-deserved
raises, our Town Council made the news recently
with an offer to co-fund such raises. The move also
helps to show the Council’s appreciation to the
cleaners who contribute so much to the cleanliness
of our Town.
Now whenever a local cleaner of good
performance, earning at least $1,000 a month, is
Mr Kawsar Sheik Md Badshah Sheik Mr Wong Ewe Tee Mr Hayari Bin Kadir Mr Tong Seng Fui
Blks 350C, 352C and 351 Blks 530, 531 and 532 Blks 231 and 234 Blk 419 Canberra Road given a raise of $100, the Council will bear $20
Sembawang Drive Woodlands Drive 43 Yishun Street 21 while the contractor pays $80.
The Council also encouraged its
...and the NEA T
hey both work in our Town and they tied for contractors to mechanize to improve
the honour of being the best in the North West. productivity. and cleaners’ wages.
named these Mdm Tan Ngeok Moi was also awarded for
being one of the best cleaners in Woodlands division.
An example is Nassin. As a kitchen
cleaner he earned a basic salary of
two ladies as
Mdm Lew Bee Eng is living proof that hard $800. Recently he joined one of the
work can keep you happy and healthy. She is now Council’s cleaning contractors and
the Best in the
74 years old and she has three children and three spent three days learning how
grandchildren! to operate a machine. He now
She retired from her job as a housekeeper in the draws a salary of $1,300!
North West Thomson Medical Centre ten years ago. But she really
likes cleaning (she says she likes mopping most!) so
straightaway she went to work for Ban Chuan, one of
the Town Council’s conservancy contractors
Mdm Tan lives lives next to the blocks she
cares for, which is good – because caring for her Machines can
raise a cleaner’s
handicapped daughter takes the rest of her time. productivity
When we asked her what part of her job she enjoyed – and his
the most, she quickly answered, “The void decks!” wages!
because there she can chit chat with the residents.
They obviously think highly of her because when
we asked “What could the residents do to help you
Mdm Lew Bee Eng Mdm Tan Ngeok Moi
Blks 471 and 472 Blks 821, 822 and 823
with your job?” she answered: “Nothing. They are
Sembawang Way Yishun Street 81 already helping me!”
6 heart talk december 2012
Clean
Keeping our homes
A
ll across our Town this November, we
decided to take Clean and Green at face value.
Working together, we took up arms against
litter. Equipped with good old-fashioned bags,
buckets and brooms, we swept across markets, void
decks and fields together with our grassroots leaders
and MPs. Litter is our problem. Let’s stop it together.
We had extra
good news at
our tree planting
in Marsiling on
10 November
– the NRP was
coming to our
neighbourhood!
Mr Hawazi Daipi
came to give us
the good news,
and together, we
planted trees to
mark the occasion.
Sembawang
As a great start to Clean and Green Singapore
in Sembawang, dozens of us gathered at Block
501A Wellington Circle on 4 November to pick
up litter all over the estate, before we were joined
by Mr Khaw Boon Wan for tree planting.
Marsiling
A team of young, cleaning
vigilantes scoured
Woodlands Drive 42 on
17 November, before our
tree planting. They still
had plenty of energy left
afterwards, as you can see!
Woodlands
Admiralty
Paying special attention
to our new playground in
Admiralty, we cleaned all
around it at Woodlands Drive 52
on 17 November, before greening it with
new trees.
Woodgrove
Woodgrove came alive on 4 November in all kinds of clean and green ways.
From recycling to picking up litter and block washing to home gardening,
we had little get-togethers all across our town. Mr Ong Teng Koon joined all
seven of our parties!
december 2012 heart talk 7
Chong Pang
Canberra
With a mind to teach our kids in Canberra
to do the right thing; boy scouts and kids,
some no taller than your knee, came and
joined us to pick up litter at Sembawang
Drive on 18 November. Then we all Nee Soon
TRANSplanted some trees from
the Jelutung hardcourt, soon South
to be the site of an Executive
Condominium. Breaking it down to stay After tree planting, young and
focused, dozens of us in Nee old in Chong Pang worked
Soon South swept through together on 25 November at
the neighbourhood centre Block 701 Yishun Avenue 5.
of Yishun Ring Road Gran would hold the trashbag
on 13 October, leaving while the kids scampered into
a sparkly clean trail in impossible corners to reach litter.
our wake, before planting Our youths worked too – and
trees to declare our N8 looked pretty cool doing it! All
Nee Soon Central park a smoke-free zone on
18 November.
proudly wore their new Litter Free
Ambassador tees.
The big bird-singing field next to
Block 760 Yishun Street 72 was never
cleaner than on 17 November. Scores
of us combed it, and all around the
blocks for litter, before gathering once
more for tree planting. Between those,
a good breakfast and a fun quiz by the
MC, it was indeed a good morning.
Nee Soon East
Planting at Yishun Street 21 on 4
November was something special
for us in Nee Soon East. The
new trees were right next to our
shopping, and will be enjoyed by
all of us!
O
ur Minister Mentor Lee made the decision for
Singapore to be green, many moons ago. Each year,
we’ve been keeping that pledge together, and over the
month of November, we added almost a hundred new trees
to our town. They’ll grow just as we will as a community –
stronger and brighter, with deeper roots.
Planting our town
Green
8 heart talk december 2012
Aiding
Active
Ageing
O
ver the weekends of 4 and 11 November, the
Nee Soon and Sembawang GRCs held Active
Ageing carnivals to bring the message of living
actively, healthily and heartily to seniors all across
our town.
The Nee Soon carnival, held next to the Yishun
Polyclinic, saw over a thousand seniors exercising
and walking together.
At the Sembawang carnival (below), held at the
Mega Sports Park, there were stage shows, health
screenings and demonstrations of healthy cooking.
The Free Loan of Wheelchairs scheme was also
launched that day – all 35 RCs in Sembawang will
operate five days a week, and all you need to do to
borrow a wheelchair is ask.
Our Active Ageing carnivals were big hits – and
truth be told, even though they were geared for our
seniors, the rest of us enjoyed them too!
december 2012 heart talk 9
The Kuna family thought the
proposed Community Plaza
between Blocks 123 and 131
would be a nice place for both
young and old – and a great place
Magical
to sit and read the news.
NRP for Blks 101-143 in Woodlands
ACE T
here was plenty going on at the These are just some of the things for
foot of Block 123 Marsiling our neighbourhood in the proposed
Rise on the afternoon of upgrading programme. All paid for by
10 November. Great stage shows. the government. All we had to do was
Games. Popcorn to eat and balloon vote in favour of it.
I
t wasn’t quite Hogwarts, nor was there a sculptures with which little boys Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Ong
yellow brick road, but ACE the Place CC fenced. The big, big news, however, Teng Koon were glad to share our
was infused with magic on its magic-themed was the Neighbourhood Renewal happiness with the news, and officiated
open house in July. We had contests for the best- Mdm Haty came to cast her vote Programme we were being offered. at the opening of the NRP exhibition.
dressed magicians, learned magic tricks, and of in favour of the NRP. “I think all Community Plazas. More And as we examined the exhibition
the upgrades are good. I want to
course, enjoyed a series of spectacular magical find out what’s going to happen barrier-free access. Barbecue corners. together, we had the very funny Mark
performances together. right here – I live in this block!” Even a new slip road for easier traffic. Lee to entertain us!
The Great
North Run
G
etting up and going is no problem for us in Nee
Soon GRC. Even if it means getting up at 6am.
By 7am on 21 October, it seemed there were
thousands of us gathered outside the Yishun Stadium
for the PAssion North Run.
All our MPs were there to flag us off and cheer
us on – and later, after the run, they joined us in
dancing it up Gangnam Style! There were 8km
competitions divided into four catergories, and a 4km
fun run for those of us who preferred a brisk stroll in
the morning sun.
We also had photographers all along the
route – they were shooting to enter the concurrent
photography competition. All enjoyed a morning of
fast-paced fun.
10 heart talk december 2012
thanks to
the new
860 bus
service
An 860 at Khatib MRT. It’s the first service to be launched under a $1.1 billion plan to improve Singapore’s bus services.
The new service 860 loops from Yishun MRT station along the
eastern section of Yishun Ring Road to Khatib MRT station. After lobbying for better bus services, the Nee Soon MPs were happy to launch Service 860 on 21 October.
T
he new bus route will give residents,
especially those staying in the new HDB flats Soon East Community Centre, Yishun Swimming The purchase and operation of 550 of these
along Yishun Ring Road, a faster connection Complex and several schools. buses will be funded by the government at a cost of
to the MRT. It will also make it easier to get to the The six new buses used on service 860 are about $1.1 billion.
Yishun Bus Interchange, where you can transfer to funded by the government as part of a programme More than 50 bus services will be improved
other bus services to get where you want to go. to improve the bus network while the MRT is and four more new routes will be introduced by
With an 860 bus running every 10 minutes being built up. Over the next five years, 800 new the end of this year. Many of the improved bus
in peak hours and 13 minutes in off-peak hours, it buses will go on the roads to reduce crowding, services are in our Town, including 169, 171, 858,
Getting there
will be much easier to get to amenities such as Nee improve frequency, and add about 40 new routes. 960, 964, 965, 966, and 969.
orthThomson
Station Line – Woodlands Station
Thomson Line – Lentor Station
is
Woodlands North
The Woodlands North station next to Republic
WoodlandsPolytechnic will be an interchange connecting with the
proposed RTS line between Singapore and Johor.
Woodlands North
Woodlands
Causeway
Point thanks
Woodlands South Woodlands to the new
Thomson Line
Civic Centre
th Station
Republic
Polytechnic
Three Woodlands stations on the
Springleaf The Woodlands station will be an interchange connecting
with the North South line next to Causeway Point.
Thomson Line (TSL) will open in
2019, the rest ofThomson
the line by 2021.
Lentor currently the nearest MRT station for the Grove
Springleaf area. “The complaint is that it is Line and the future Downtown Line. It will cost
These station names may change.
Christ Church so near and yet so far – because there is no around S$18 billion and serve a daily ridership of
Secondary School direct bus service!” she said. With a TSL station, 400,000.
The Woodlands South station will be
built under Woodlands Ave 1 in front there will be no need for a direct bus service. Commuters can look forward to cutting
of Christ Church Secondary School. The other three stations in our Town will be journey times by up to 50% on this four-car,
in Woodlands. With construction starting next underground system. For instance, a studentThe goingCalrose
T
he original plan was to open the line in 2018, Causeway Point year, these three stations willWoodlands
open forCivic
business
Centrein from Sin Ming to Republic Polytechnic will have
but this is not possible
Republicnow that it will be
Polytechnic 2019. Stations from Springleaf to Caldecott will be his journey cut from 50 minutes to 25 minutes.
3km longer for a total of 30 km and have four ready in 2020. The final 13 stations, from Mount And Springleaf residents will be able to get to
more stations for a total of 22. Pleasant to Gardens by the Bay, will open in 2021. Great World City in 35 minutes, instead of the
One of the four additional stations is The sixth MRT line, the TSL will have six current 60.
Springleaf in Nee Soon south division. interchange stations, linking with the East-West For additional information, you can call the
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah said that Khatib was Line, North-South Line, North-East Line, Circle LTA Hotline: 1800 2255 582.december 2012 heart talk 11
The route of service 860
The bus stops of service 860
59169 – Between Blks 201/202 Yishun Central
59179 – Blk 241 Yishun Avenue 9
59389 – Opp Blk 314 Yishun Ring Road
59399 – Opp Blk 367 Yishun Ring Road Recently completed, two high/low covered walkways between
59409 – Evangel Family Church Blocks 114, 115C, 115A and 107 Yishun Ring Road.
59419 – Blk 413 Ylshun Ring Road
59639 – Between Blks 445/449 Yishun Ring Road
59579 – Northbrooks Sec Sch
59439 – Blk 859 Yishun Ring Road thanks to new
59429 – Blk 846 Yishun Ring Road
59569 – Opp Blk 798 Yishun Ring Road (Khatib) precinct markers
59329 – Naval Base Sec Sch It’s good to know when you’ve got to where you’re going. The new
precinct marker at Montreal Spring gives you a cheery “welcome”.
59331 – Blk 773 Yishun Avenue 3
59059 – Blk 608 Yishun Avenue 2
59421 – Blk 624 Yishun Ring Road
59431 – Blk 630 Yishun Ring Road
59571 – Opp Northbrooks Sec Sch (New) The big red high/low covered linkway between Blks 229 and 232 Yishun Street 21.
59631 – Opp Blk 445 Yishun Ring Road (New)
thanks to many
59411 – Blk 356 Yishun Ring Road
59401 – Blk 358 Yishun Ring Road
59391 – Blk 367 Yishun Ring Road
59381 – Blk 314 Yishun Ring Road
59171 – Blk 309 Yishun Avenue 9 new covered
59161 – Opp Blk 201 Yishun Central
linkways
getting easier
59072 – Northpoint Shopping Centre (Yishun)
even better bicycle racks!
W
New linkway between Blocks 203 and 205 on Yishun Street 21.
hile other agencies improve connectivity in our These new bicycle racks installed in Nee Soon have an extra lockable
Town with better bus and train services, the feature suggested by cyclists in our Town.
Town Council continues to make it easier for
you to get where you want to go ... on foot or by bicycle.
Recently the Council completed a long covered
linkway (below) to a service 860 bus stop, several high/
low linkways and some smaller projects that may make a
real difference to the lives of some residents (right).
A new covered walkway that takes you from Block 386 to the bus stop on Yishun Ring Road.12 heart talk december 2012
Financial Report FY 11/12
1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012
Where did the Town’s money come from? Most of the Town Council’s
usable income came directly from
residents in the form of Service and
S&CC$76,985,000
S&CC $76,985,000 Conservancy Charges (S&CC).
H
Government
Government Grants
Grants $20,309,000
$20,309,000 owever, 2011 was an election year and by law
any surplus accumulated in the preceding years
Other Income $11,790,000 must be transferred to the Sinking Fund. The
Other Income $11,790,000
surplus accumulated was more than $20m.
From Accumulated Surplus $20,383,000 While residents bore most of the cost for
From Accumulated Surplus $20,383,000 running the Town, grants from the Government
contributed a quarter of the Town’s usable income.
Total: $129,467,000 The remaining 10% came from the various
fees charged by the Council for maintaining HDB
carparks, TOLs, the use of void decks and so on.
What did the Town spend it on? With a income of $129,467,000 and
Water & Electricity $24,204,000 total expenses of $126,586,000, the
Water & Electricity $24,204,000 Town achieved a modest operating
Management & Admin Charges $13,404,000 surplus of $2,881,000 for the year.
Management & Admin Charges $13,404,000
N
early half of the Council’s expenditure last year
Cleaning
Cleaning Works
Works $12,768,000
$12,768,000 was the transfer of $52 million to the Sinking
Fund to meet future cyclical maintenance and
LiftLift Maintenance
Maintenance $8,445,000
$8,445,000 replacement needs.
Water and electricity remained the top expense
Maintenance & Other WorksWorks
$8,745,000 item, though many green measures taken by the
Maintenance & Other $8,745,000 Council (see story on opposite page) kept these costs
in check.
Transfer to Town Improvement Fund $6,837,000
Transfer to Town Improvement Fund $6,837,000 Careful budgeting allowed the Council to
transfer nearly $7 million to the Town Improvement
Transfer to Sinking Fund $52,183.000 Fund and still retain a surplus of nearly $3 million on
Transfer to Sinking Fund $52,183.000 the year’s operations.
Total: $126,586,000
How much of the Sinking Fund was spent? The Town transferred $63,077,000
Lift Upgrading Programme $12,195,000
(including that accumulated surplus)
Lift Upgrading Programme $12,195,000 to the Fund last year and earned
Redecoration & Repainting $6,386,000
a further $3,235,000 return on
Redecoration & Repainting $6,386,000 investments.
Pumps, Pipes & Tanks $3,571,000
T
Pumps, Pipes & Tanks $3,571,000 hat gave the Fund a total income of $66,312,000
Reroofing Works $2,244,000 for the financial year, 1 April 2011 to 31 March
Reroofing Works $2,244,000 2012.
Scan this code to
Electrical Wiring $294,000 download the full Annual
Electrical Wiring $294,000
Report from our website.
Taxes
Taxes & Admin
& Admin Charges
Charges $3,495,000
$3,495,000
Total: $28,184,000december 2012 heart talk 13
More light
for less
power!
A typical block sign illuminated by LEDs.
Since 2008, the Town Council has
been saving money by putting LEDs
in block signs. Now they are saving
even more by putting LEDs in all
the common areas of the block.
L
ight Emitting Diodes (LEDs) last far longer
than fluorescents and give more light for
every unit of electricity they burn.
The Council has installed over 76,000 of
these lamps in the common areas of 426 blocks in
our Town. They should save about $1.5 million on
electricity bills over the next five years.
Actually the lamps should save almost
$900,000 per year. But they are far more expensive
than the fluorescent lamps they replace and 65% of
the savings goes to the cost of installing them.
The Town Council installed the LED lights
to replace PLC and T8 fluorescent lights that had
reached the end of their useful life.
LEDs use about half the electricity used by
the fluorescent lamps they replace. They also last
up to three times as long, lowering maintenance
costs while they cut electricity costs.
Motion detectors add to savings
To lower electricity costs even further, the Council
has fitted motion detectors to the LEDs installed
on staircases.
These staircase lamps brighten – instantly –
the moment you approach the stairs. When no one
is on the staircase, the LEDs dim down, using only
30% of the electricity. Saving 70% of the energy
required to light empty staircases will really help
keep your S&CC in check.
Visit one of the blocks fitted with the new
LED lamps and you will be struck by how bright
things are – actually brighter than they were under
the old fluorescents.
The Council will install LEDs in more blocks
in our Town in the coming years.
The Council has fitted LED lights on staircases with two motion sensors
that switch them to full brightness whenever you approach the stairs. The
rest of the time (most of the time!) the LEDs operate on one-third power.14 heart talk december 2012
Although it takes more work to set up, this safety harness system allows ease Gloves, boots and straps were on display for hands-on testing.
of movement while keeping things safe.
Exhibits pointed out safety hazards often overlooked in the workplace. Both supervisors and workers learned how to work safely at height. Mr Hawazi Daipi spoke about the importance of safety and taking
precautions, and also tried out some of the safety equipment.
N
o one thinks they will fall. And that’s exactly fell to their deaths in 2011 alone, accounting for
what happens before every accidental fall. some 40% of total fatalities.
What comes after could be bruises from a fall
at home, to the death of a breadwinner when a worker
At ground level, the best thing possible to
prevent injury is not climbing to the top of the
How you can help
falls off the roof. Always tragic. Always preventable.
A job well done is a job done safely. To bring
ladder. The top two rungs of ladders should be
removed. At heights, the best thing possible is – not
•
• If you see work being carried out unsafely,
report it at once. (You can call the Town
home that message, the Town Council organized to go to heights. All preparatory work should be Council at 6368 3100 or the Ministry of
a Safe Work at Heights workshop on 3 October at done on the ground. While working at heights, all Manpower at 6317 1111.)
the Fuchun CC. Some 250 workers and contractors
came together to learn from experts from the
open sides should be barricaded, and both travel
restraint and fall arrest systems should be in place.
•
• Don’t ignore a blocked corridor. That
abandoned sofa could start a fire. And you
Ministry of Manpower, at the first Safe Community While the workers and employers learned plenty can’t escape a fire if the corridor is blocked!
effort by a Town Council. at the workshop, we can do our part too. It starts with (The Town Council will clear bulky items if
To start the workshop, Mr Hawazi Daipi spoke kindness, and caring for those around you. If you see you phone 6368 3100)
about the need for safety. Whether at home or at the
workplace, a safe community is one that cares, and
something that could be dangerous – speak out. A
loose rivet on a playground slide could badly cut a
•
• Remember that practically anything that
falls from a height becomes killer litter on
actively identifies and minimizes risks. Working at child at play. Working as extra eyes for safety, we can the way down.
Heights gets a special emphasis, because 26 workers keep our Town hazard-free. •
• Check your flat – and your block – for
Be kind -
mosquito breeding. Dengue fever is painful at
best, and can be fatal to the young and elderly.
keep
safety in
mind!december 2012 heart talk 15
Be inspired –
Meet our bladerunner
We met Md Shariff Abdullah in the first week of
Ramadan and found he doesn’t break his training
schedule just because he’s fasting. This man is not
just super-fit, he has a mind as tough and resilient
as the spring that is his left running foot.
H
e never had a left foot. He was born without it. He has two careers: as a motivational speaker
But the problem didn’t stop there: his mother and as an athlete. He’s very professional about his
left his father shortly after he was born. running. Ask him about his next race, and he’ll start
“In those days, I was called a cripple, and the giving you dates and distances that stretch into next
kids would throw stones at me. It’s very different year. And he plans to climb Everest in 2015. “I have
today.” He got shunted from one foster family to to hike up seven mountains to train for that!”
another, from one school to another. “I was like a He sets himself a tough schedule, doing most of
football, kicked from here to there all the time.” his training in Yishun. “You can do the uphill and the
He quit school at Primary 8 to be a golf caddy, downhill here. You need that practice for marathons.”
$12 for 18 holes. But no matter He said he tries to time his
how much money he took home, The Schedule Friday morning runs so that he’ll pass
he lived with a constant, “Not Monday ............. run 10 km Khatib Camp as the NS men come
Tuesday.............. exercise lower body in gym
enough money!” Wednesday......... run 15 to 20 km
out for their training run. “To inspire
So he ran away at 16 and Thursday............ exercise upper body in gym them to try a little harder!”
got a job as a cleaner at Changi Friday................. run 10 km Talk to Shariff and you realize
Saturday am: .. running drills
airport. He held that job for pm: .. swimming pool aerobics there is not much difference between
years, working his way up to Sunday................ rest day. his two jobs. He runs to inspire
supervisor. He always wore long people. And when he gives a talk, it’s
trousers, and never admitted he was missing a foot. the same. He tells you what he has learned from the
“Before they developed artificial feet, you had bad patches in his life.
to manage with a wooden ‘peg’. The artificial foot Happily married with three teenage daughters,
made a tremendous difference for us. We don’t look he hit an extremely bad patch just four years ago. He
different with shoes on both feet.” had to have another five inches cut from his left leg!
He never had to admit to being disabled until After the operation, “I went to YouTube to find
his NS medical, when they insisted he take his out how to kill myself, but ended up watching videos
trousers off. ‘Not fit for service’ – he regrets that to of Oscar Pistorius – the bladerunner who qualified
this day. But he thinks he’s found another way to for the Olympics. I thought if he can do it, I can.
proudly serve his country. “You must have courage. And a strong mindset.”
It’s not simply unkind
Illegal parking is dangerous
One driver parked his car on this service road, clearly marked with the solid white “No Parking” line, and two other drivers soon followed his lead. Six cars were parked here, blocking taxis, deliveries ...and fire engines!
R
ecently, a resident wrote to both For one thing, his parking may forces him to the wrong side of the road.
the HDB and the Town Council make life more convenient for his family, The man who wrote the letter should arrange
complaining that his carpark but it makes life for his neighbours very his outings so that he can drop off or pick up his
was too far away and he had been given inconvenient, especially if he family and things at the entrance to
three parking tickets in three months for parks in the only place where his block on his way to, or from, that
parking on the service road. they can stop to do their distant carpark.
He said that he parked there while loading or unloading. No one should park illegally. It’s
loading or unloading, and he had two But worse, a parked a breakdown in social discipline. If one
small children and a pregnant wife which car on a narrow service road person does it, soon everyone will. And
made things extra difficult. is a hazard. Not just for fire your block will become a fire-trap.
While we sympathize with him – engines and other big vehicles, You can call the HDB’s
because we would love to have a carpark but for everyone using the enforcement hotline at 1800-2721409
beside the front door and we would hate to have a road, trying to cross it, or playing near it. to report illegal parking of vehicles at a
$50 fine – we also know illegal parking must end. A parked car blocks a driver’s vision and car park or on a service road.What? When? Where?
Admiralty: These events subject to change. For more information, please contact the CC at 6891 3430
Year End Thank You and Christmas Party Sunday, 22 December, 7.00-10pm Block 682 Link Hall, Woodlands Dr 73
Education Merit Bursaries Presentation Saturday, 12 January, 8am-5pm Innova Junior College
Chinese New Year Celebrations Saturday, 16 February, 7-10pm Admiralty Sportspark
Canberra: For more information, please contact the CC at 6755 6369
YEC Monthly Movie Screening Every last Saturday of the month The Jelutung CC, Theatrette
Nee Soon GRC Countdown Monday, 31 December, 8pm-12mn Opposite Khatib MRT
Chong Pang: For more information, please contact the CC at 6758 8258
CC SCEC Countdown Dinner Monday, 31 December, 7.30pm-12.30am Chong Pang CC Hall
Chinese New Year Celebration Friday, 1 February, 7-10pm Blk 108 Yishun Ring Road Zone 1 RC Centre
Dodgeball Clinic Wednesday, 20 February, 5-930pm Chong Pang CC HallCentre
Marsiling: For more information, please contact the CC at 6269 6768
Edusave Awards Presentation Saturday, 29 December, 8.30am Marsiling Secondary School
Welcome New Year Saturday, 1 January, 4pm Marsiling CC
Chinese New Year Temple Tour Sunday, 16 February, 10am Lunch at Marsiling CC
Sembawang: These events subject to change. For more information, please contact the CC at 6758 4183
Official Opening of Woodlands West NPC Saturday, 12 January, 4-5.30pm Old Si Ling Primary School (in Marsiling)
Sembawang Lunar New Year Dinner Saturday, 16 February, 7pm Sembawang CC
Woodgrove: For more information, please contact the CO at 6366 9010
Sembawang GRC Countdown - Hypesteria Monday, 31 December, 8pm-12mn Open Field beside Woodlands Civic Centre
Chinese New Year Celebration February, TBC TBC
Woodlands: For more information, please contact the CC at 6368 9938
Sembawang GRC Countdown - Hypesteria Monday, 31 December, 8pm-12mn Open Field beside Woodlands Civic Centre
Nee Soon Central: For more information, please contact the CC at 6752 7687
Hong Bao Presentation to Seniors Sunday, 27 January 9am-12noon Next to Yishun MRT
Lunar New Year Light Up Ceremony Friday, 1 February, 7.30-10.30pm Next to Yishun MRT
Nee Soon East: For more information, please contact the CC at 6257 0446
Christmas Party Sunday, 23 December, 6.30pm Nee Soon East N2 Courtyard
Chap Goh Meh Roadshow Saturday, 23 February, 7pm Nee Soon East Sportspark Heart Talk is published quarterly by
Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council.
Lunar New Year Dinner Sunday, 24 February, 7pm Nee Soon East Sportspark
Nee Soon South: For more information, please contact the CC at : 6753 3121
Offices:
Woodlands Blk 306A Woodlands St 31,
Shine on 2012: GRC Countdown Party Monday, 31 December, 7.30pm-12.30am Field in front of Blk 838, Yishun St 81 #02-00, S731306 Tel: 6368 3100
Yishun Blk 290 Yishun St 22,
Dance Fit Night Saturday, 19 January, 4-10pm Nee Soon South MPH S760290 Tel: 6758 0129
Nee Soon Central Blk 751 Yishun St 72,
#01-186, S760751 Tel: 6257 2722
Nee Soon South Blk 845 Yishun St 81,
Congratulations to 1st Mr Shahadan Bin Salim 2nd Ms Ong Kwee Tee 3rd Ms Lim Lay Lay #02-00, S760845 Tel: 6758 4922
Woodlands Collection Centre, Blk 900
South Woodlands Drive, #02-02, S730900
the winners in the Consolation prizes Mr Leonard Leow@ Saw Loar Nar, Email: feedback@snstc.org.sg
Ms Chendra Dewi Gumulya, Ms Chang Yit Kwee, Ms Chua Ley Wah,
last contest: Ms Arfah Binte Ismail, Mr Brijesh Ashok Vora, Mr Tan Lee Yeong (Chen Lirong).
Facebook: Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council
iPhone App: iShare@Sembawang-Nee Soon
SMS/MMS: 9110 9877
Enter the “Be kind to our world” contest Publication Committee
Advisor:
T
Mr Hawazi Daipi.
o win in this easy contest, just write three ways Chairman:
you could show kindness to our environment. My Name______________________________ Mr Soh Tze Churn, Jack, BBM.
For example, you could write, “By holding onto Co-Chairman:
My NRIC No ____________ Male/Female
my litter until I can bin it.” Entries will be judged on Mr Gopala Krishnan, JP, BBM.
neatness, clarity and originality. The decisions of the My Address_____________________________ Members: Mr Chong Wei Hian, Thomas;
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judges will be final. Your entry must be on this form and Ms Loh Ai Pheng, Adalene, PBM;
must reach: The PR Manager, _____________________________________ Hj Mahmud bin Hj Ali, PBM;
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