Even as Singapore continues its year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations, Bukit Timah residents yesterday marked their constituency's 60th anniversary with a carnival.

"You might wonder why Bukit Timah is celebrating its 60th anniversary when it is only SG50," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the crowd at the event.

"It is because Bukit Timah was first formed as a constituency for the 1955 Legislative Assembly elections, before Singapore became independent, before we achieved self-governance," said Mr Lee, who was guest of honour at the event organised by Bukit Timah Grassroots Organisations.

Speaking to some 1,500 guests at Bukit Timah Community Club, he noted that the constituency had evolved from an area of kampungs, vegetable and pig farms as well as factories to a place which 42,000 residents now call home.

Efforts have been made to upgrade the place, Mr Lee said.

For instance, residents can look forward to the opening of the Downtown Line 2 next month. "I hope to take a ride from Beauty World down to Marina," he said to applause.

Three books celebrating the area's heritage, and the Bukit Timah Eldercare Project were launched at the event. Under the project, motion detectors will be installed in the homes of elderly residents who live alone, so as to alert caregivers in the event of prolonged inactivity.

Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Finance Sim Ann, who is an MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, was present at the event.

On her birthday wish for the constituency, Ms Sim said: "I hope we remain united and strong as a constituency, as a community, and that we continue to celebrate what is unique about Bukit Timah and Singapore."