People's Association 50th Anniversary Roadshow, 25 September 2010

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC celebrated the 50th year of the formation of the People's Association with a roadshow at Toa Payoh HDB Hub on Saturday, 25 September 2010. The event was graced by the five Members of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. The Guest of Honour was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Wong Kan Seng and the Special Guests were Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Mayor Zainudin Nordin, Ms Josephine Teo and last but not least, Mr Hri Kumar.

At the event, different cultural and martial arts performances were put up and the public was treated to a photo exhibit that traced the humble beginning and gradual evolution in the role of the People's Association over the decades. MPs and senior grassroots leaders reminisced and shared their common memories and laughters recalling their their early days at the ground and serving the community.

BEZ6 BLOCK 156 HOUSE VISIT, 23 SEPTEMBER 2010

Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, visited Block 156 at BEZ5 on 23 September 2010. Residents were pleasantly surprised by the visit and eagerly welcomed DPM Wong into their homes. Many residents expressed their views when DPM Wong invited them to give feedbacks and suggestions on how to improve their living environment. Residents are excited and look forward to the new facilities brought about by the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme. They were also curious whether the PUB's Active-Beautiful-Clean Waters (ABC) programme would be extended to the canal near Bishan East Zone 6.

The visit was hosted by Bishan East Zone 6 RC Chairman Miss Lee Ker Hwa, PBM and her fellow grassroots leaders, accompanied by officers representing the HDB, Town Council, Police, NEA and LTA.

BEZ5 Block 135 House Visit, 16 September 2010

Forging ahead with the bi-monthly block visits, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, visited Block 135 at BEZ5 on 16 September 2010. Residents warmly welcomed DPM Wong into their homes and took the opportunity to express their views and bring up issues related to their living environment. Residents are excited and look forward to the convenience to be brought about by the coming lift upgrading.

The visit was hosted by Bishan East Zone 5 RC Acting Chairman Mr Don Mun Chee Kin and his fellow grassroots leaders, accompanied by officers representing the HDB, Town Council, Police, NEA and LTA.

TOA PAYOH EAST ZONE 4 RC BLOCK PARTY – GARDEN FIESTA AND TOA PAYOH EAST ZONE 5 RC BLOCK PARTY – RACIAL HARMONY ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2010

Toa Payoh East Zone 4 RC organised a block party called Garden Fiesta for their residents on Saturday, 18 September 2010. This block party also celebrates the Mid-Autumn festival. Mr Seger Venu, Chairman of Zone 4 RC hosted the visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs and Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Wong Kan Seng.

Although the main celebration of the block party was for the Mid-Autumn, there were a good number of non-Chinese residents coming forward to participate. The children were treated to a series of magic shows which they were clearly very impressed and happy by the performance. Before the arrival of DPM Wong, the residents were enthusiastically rehearsing with the emcee on their welcome for DPM Wong before his arrival.

DPM Wong was invited to watch a short segment of the magic show before he was invited by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to mingle with the residents and residents were waiting in line to take photo with DPM Wong.

On the same evening, Toa Payoh East Zone 5 RC organised a Racial Harmony block party for their residents on Saturday, 18 September 2010. Mr Joseph Lau, PBM, Chairman of Zone 5 RC hosted the visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs and Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Wong Kan Seng.

The residents were treated to performance by the various ethnic groups. Upon the arrival of DPM Wong, the RC Chairman brought DPM Wong to the various table to interact with the residents, eager residents were waiting in line for their photo opportunity with DPM Wong. DPM Wong also had a brief chat with two of the RC members who had recently become Singapore new citizens.

TOA PAYOH EAST ZONE 2 RC 30th ANNIVERSARY DINNER ON 18 SEPTEMBER 2010

The Toa Payoh East Zone 2 RC organized their 30th Anniversary Dinner for their residents and former grassroots leaders who had served in the community since the Residents’ Association (RA) days on Saturday, 18 September 2010. The RC Chairman, Mr Benny Soh, PBM hosted the visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs and Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Wong Kan Seng.

Residents and grassroots leaders had arrived earlier to walk through the ‘hall of fame’, a show case of the RA/RC 30 years of achievements.

DPM Wong was invited to join in the seat down dinner and was later invited by the Chairman to mingle with residents at each table so that the residents could offer a toast to him. Before departing, DPM Wong had the opportunity to visit the ‘hall of fame'.

BISHAN EAST MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL CELEBRATION

This year, close to 3000 residents and friends of Bishan East celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival at the open field beside the Bishan East Circle Line MRT station. On the Sunday evening of 19 September, Bishan East CCC and GROs organised the annual event to usher in the traditional custom of remembering Hou Yi and Chang Er for their undying love and committment to each other. On a more serious note, according to a widespread folk tale, the Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates an uprising in China against the Mongol rulers of the Yuan Dynasty (1280–1368) in the 14th century.

The special guest of honour for the event was Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. During the event, DPM Wong gave away plaques to congratulate Mr Daryl Sim Jia Jun for winning Singapore first Youth Olympic Games Medal ( Bronze Medal in Taekwondo). The second plaque recipient was Mr Rainer Ng who won Singapore's first silver medal for the Youth Olympic Games.(Silver Medal in Swimming) where he clocked a a time of 26.45s to finish second in the men's 50m backstroke final. At the same event, DPM gave out 57 bursary awards to ITE and polytechnic students who did well academically.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC-Potong Pasir SMC Citizenship Ceremony 2010

On Saturday, 18 September 2010, 150 new Singapore citizens received their citizenship certificates from Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
DPM Wong also oversees the Population and Talent Division in the Prime Minister's Office.

In his speech to the new citizens who resides in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC, DPM Wong encouraged them to integrate into the Singapore society and make an effort to understand and appreciate the cultural differences among our various ethnic groups. Learning English would be a good start as it is Singapore's working language. New citizens are encouraged to participate in grassroots events or become grassroots leaders to learn more about and give back to the community.

Mr Steven Lee, an accountant from Malaysia, lives at Toa Payoh Central with his wife and daughter. After living and working for 20 years in Singapore, Mr Lee decided to become a Singapore citizen and it was a natural choice as Singapore offers a stable and safe environment to bring up his family. Mdm Palma Catherine, a finance manager who came from the Philippines, shares the same views. She is attracted to the efficiency of the government and the high quality of public education.

..The Bisha East Blog Team..