New citizens urged to be active community members

Clivebenss SG · 2011-03-07T22:12:18+00:00

I think we need to reexamine the spokeman for PA (Grassroot Organization) Are the activities conducted by PA really grows in number? Or just the Constituency...

Clivebenss SG

By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 08 January 2011 2252 hrs

SINGAPORE: Some 128 Bukit Batok and Bukit Batok East residents received their Singapore citizenship certificates at the Bukit Batok Community Club on Saturday.

At the ceremony, deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA) Lim Boon Heng urged new Singaporeans to get more involved in the community.

Heeding Mr Lim's call is one couple who became Singaporeans in March 2009. The couple, who came from Myanmar, organised the Bukit Batok Water Festival in April last year. A month later, they also hosted a floor party for about 20 families.

"If you're willing to participate....there are so many festivals. So, the first step is you have to come out to the community, to join the event, then we can meet each other," said Chan Leng Leng, who is Bukit Batok Zone 3 Residents' Committee's auditor.

To facilitate the involvement of new citizens in the community, the PA has introduced a new framework.

Explaining the Strategic Continuous Engagement Framework, PA's chief executive director Yam Ah Mee said it will operate on four levels of engaging new citizens, from social interaction to developing a sense of belonging to the country.

Mr Yam said: "With this systematic approach, we hope to reach out to them more (and) at a much earlier stage."

Mr Lim also highlighted the role of the PA's 800 Integration and Naturalisation Champions. They are grassroots leaders who reach out to new residents by visiting them and inviting them to floor parties.

Among the 128 new citizens at Saturday's event was Jeannette Ho.

Previously a Malaysian, the mother of three said it was a natural progression to become a Singaporean, having already been here for 17 years.

"I come from a mixed marriage. My kids and all, we were so welcome and so well-accepted in Singapore," she said.

".....the meritocracy of the system, and how friendly everybody is (in Singapore), it's a safe, secure, wonderful place to have a family," she added.

- CNA

Fcukpap SG

one day we will have the very first foreigner minister – a PRC Singapore Minister or Ambassador – he may be commissioned to manage China-Sg trade relations….

Junyang700 SG

one day we will have the very first foreigner minister – a PRC Singapore Minister or Ambassador – he may be commissioned to manage China-Sg trade relations….

maybe the next erection lor.

badminton lover SG

They should join more community activity to be part of Singapore family.

http://badmintonclip.blogspot.com/

Ä«Õß:¸ïÀë SG

one day we will have the very first foreigner minister – a PRC Singapore Minister or Ambassador – he may be commissioned to manage China-Sg trade relations….

maybe a myanmar president........?

likeyou SG

Mostly they will keep to themselves and will not mix with the locals.

Clivebenss SG

Mostly they will keep to themselves and will not mix with the locals.

they don't mixed well even among themselves.

Shazamnick SG

good nite

Askingyouto SG

With so much floor traps around, I think they would need a map to find where the "real" community is.

Yohoo, I'm hereeeeeeeeeeeee.........

Ar biopak SG

Quite amaze to see the article in GRASSROOT CoNNect (A monthly newsletter to grassroot leaders) that the STATISTIC in the increase of Grassroot leaders over a year period. They wrote 3000- 4000 grassroot leaders being confirmed in a short time.

They indicate the number of participants involved in community events have increases. Frankly I felt all this statistic numbers are balloon and have no reliable figures to support.

Q1: Have our MP Advisors really signed/approved so many new grassroot leaders in his/her own constituency within 2years? There are 84 constituency and 4000 divide by 84, each constituency should have about 48 new members recruited in each constituency. I doubt so, being a GRL i DONT SEE so many new faces in my own ward. Could the 3000-4000 means that some GRL wearing multiple hats??? Even so it shouldnt be these qty.

Q2: Have our MP Advisors always see the same faces of residents participating in a community event? Brisk Walk/Block Parties/Floor Parties? I felt at times the Constituency Officer just want to make their report nice and balloon the number of participants. Make a comparison of past community events and now do you find that majority of people are heading towards commercial events (Eg SAFRA/ StandChart/ NIKE Walk etc....) Certainly the branding of the commercial one attracts better than the HEARTLAND one. Frankly PA activities are losing it's appeal to the younger one now. Most will head for the big masses.

Being in the grassroot movement for sometime, I find those sitting on top should WAKE UP THEIR IDEAS, not just make reports to look nice on paper. Certainly with the STARS grading system it make everyone write extra more in their minutes.

Go and check around, is the sub group or activities or memberships.tally with the report? Out of 100% how many are the pillar of the grassroot organization? Most of the time are the PA Staff that is working not the GRL. GRL just facilitating what PA want.

Herzog_Zwei SG

They indicate the number of participants involved in community events have increases. Frankly I felt all this statistic numbers are balloon and have no reliable figures to support.

Sad but true... When the real grassroot people come and do work, always kanna shoot down by PA people.

Sgforum2011 SG

Are you paid ?

Itedino SG

Useless. ahah bo lang bo teenager want to be pap members? that like they feel trouble is brewing.

Clivebenss SG

they very selective only for the rich and shameless.

Cute Dolphin SG

By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 08 January 2011 2252 hrs

These people will tend to vote for the PAP.

They will impact the upcoming general election.

Clivebenss SG

These people will tend to vote for the PAP.

They will impact the upcoming general election.

where the wind blows..

Cute Dolphin SG

where the wind blows..

haha lol.

Fcukpap SG

the old locals are discarded....newbies are welcomed with redder carrots...

the engagement is on the new....those meritorious past is buried with memories and a word of thanks...

how does an old soldier feel after fighting so hard with unlimited liabilities to sustain the army foundation without the well deserved compensation, and endure the rising women charter in their favour, and a bleak retirement possibility?

what harder truths could there be?

Clivebenss SG

the old locals are discarded....newbies are welcomed with redder carrots...

the engagement is on the new....those meritorious past is buried with memories and a word of thanks...

what harder truths could there be?

Boxer.

gUms SG

Organising a Party for your Own community? And for a malaysian i dont think there is any different in being a Singaporean, Same culture and same way of speaking, So of cos its not hard to be part of this System.