Ministers give out goodies and mingle with residents at grassroots events
By
Nicholas Yong
and
Teh Joo Lin
SM Goh distributing hongbao and festive goodies at an event in Marine Parade yesterday, where he mingled freely with residents. He said Singaporeans are generally 'quite appreciative' of the work done by MPs. -- PHOTO: NP
ONE week after Member of Parliament Seng Han Thong was set on fire during an attack in his constituency, it was business as usual for ministers at community events yesterday.
BEING APPROACHABLE
'We would hate it if we have to look over our shoulder all the time... There's always a risk, unless you are totally surrounded by security. I would not want them to be surrounding me. Then I'm not approachable.' SM Goh, when asked if he was concerned about his personal safety
There were no visible signs of enhanced security as Cabinet ministers gave out goodies and met residents from Sembawang to Bedok.
Constituents mingled freely with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong at an event in Marine Parade, where hongbao and gifts worth more than $10,000 were given out. SM Goh said life should go on as normal for MPs. 'We would hate it if we have to look over our shoulder all the time.'
When asked if he was concerned about his personal safety, he said: 'There's always a risk, unless you are totally surrounded by security. I would not want them to be surrounding me. Then I'm not approachable.'
SM Goh said that sometimes, people he recognised may approach him with a bottle of mineral water, but his security officers might not recognise them. He noted that Singaporeans are generally 'quite appreciative' of the work done by MPs.
Mr Seng, who was attacked at a community event, is currently recovering at the Singapore General Hospital from burns to about 15 per cent of his body.
Of the five ministers out at community events yesterday, most were with their usual number of security officers. And members of the public were allowed to get close to the ministers.
Law Minister and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said most people are 'genuine and honest, whether they agree with policies or not'.
'Even if we're unable to help them, most people don't go around hurting others,' he said. 'Just because one man has done this totally atrocious act, we can't cut ourselves from the ground.'
He was giving out red packets to more than 1,300 needy senior citizens at the Chong Pang Community Club. About $56,000 worth of red packets were handed out to the elderly.
Mr Shanmugam, an MP for Sembawang GRC, said the annual presentation was 'particularly important this year'. Given the economic downturn, he noted that some people might lose their jobs for reasons beyond their control.
'It's not going to be easy. It's going to be tough. But people have to do their best and the Government can help in some way,' he said, adding that they could try to equip themselves with new skills to secure jobs in other fields.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, also an MP for Sembawang GRC, expressed confidence that the coming Budget would include measures to protect jobs. Still, he said the first six months of this year might be 'difficult'. He was speaking at the Sembawang Community Club Open House, where annual Edusave bursaries and scholarships amounting to almost $400,000 were handed out to about 1,500 students.
At the Bedok Community Club, where 50 needy residents received $6,000 in cash and gifts from Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar, many residents were concerned about rising food prices. 'With the economic downturn, we can expect more, worsening cases, as well as sudden and urgent requests for financial assistance,' he said.
Later that evening, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and grassroots leaders from Pasir Ris West distributed about $8,000 worth of vouchers and provisions to 20 needy families.
