Jalan Kayu residents get extra items in SG Funpacks

Residents in Jalan Kayu yesterday were among the first to get their hands on the SG Funpacks, which came with three additional items customised specially for them.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong kicked off the distribution of some 1.2 million SG Funpacks at the new Buangkok Sports Park.

The 105 households in Jalan Kayu who received the funpacks found nostalgic postcards depicting sights of old Jalan Kayu, a state flag and a water-saving thimble, on top of the other goodies. ''The thimble is a way to remind one another that we must not take our resources for granted... We must continue this prudence in taking care of our resources,'' said Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Intan Azura Mokhtar.

The funpack is given to every Singaporean and permanent resident household to celebrate the country's 50th birthday this year.

Yesterday, Mr Lee also opened the Buangkok Sports Park, built at a cost of about $1 million. Its facilities include tennis, futsal, petanque and sepak takraw courts, a skate park and a fitness corner.

''I wish I was 18 again,'' said resident Ananda Kumar, 53, adding: ''When I was growing up, we never had facilities like these. We've got everything here, and kids, instead of spending their time in shopping centres,nowcancomehere.''

Dr Intan said the sports park was built after feedback from residents that they wanted more amenities, and to meet the needs of younger families living there.

Needy families with young children will also get help from the Cordlife-Jalan Kayu Pre-School Headstart Fund launched yesterday, to help pay for enrolment at anchor operator pre-schools.

Mr Lee also gave out grocery bags and vouchers to 100 needy residents, and broke fast with 1,000 residents.

Wong Siew Ying

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