Govt committed to improving lives of every S’porean, whichever ward they live in: SM Lee

SINGAPORE – When plans for the newly opened Buangkok Community Club (CC) were first unveiled, Buangkok was still in a government constituency, said Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the official opening of the CC, which was attended by more than 2,000 residents.

“But even after Sengkang GRC changed hands in the last general election, we proceeded with the CC’s construction work, because the Government is committed to improving the lives of every Singaporean, whichever ward you may be living in,” he added.

SM Lee was speaking on July 28 at the new CC in Buangkok, which was previously part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC under the ruling People’s Action Party. 

The ward became part of the newly created Sengkang GRC in the 2020 General Election, which the Workers’ Party won with 52.13 per cent of the vote against a 47.87 per cent share for the PAP.

SM Lee said: “At the end of the day, the objective is to make sure that the people of Singapore are well served, and that residents in every ward feel a sense of belonging and kinship to the wider community around them.”

Built on a 3.7ha site next to Buangkok MRT station, the new CC was initially due for completion in 2022, but was delayed as a result of Covid-19’s impact on the construction industry.

The 5,000 sq m CC is an integrated project co-located in Sengkang Grand Mall, which already has retail, food and beverage outlets, as well as Buangkok Hawker Centre.

Besides facilities such as badminton courts, culinary studios, dance studios, multi-purpose rooms and function halls, the CC also has a 210 sq m Lifestyle Centre – a flexible, multi-use space with sound-proofed work pods, study areas and a mini amphitheatre.

In his address, SM Lee said that back in the 1950s, CCs were much smaller and provided just simple amenities such as sports facilities and classrooms for night classes.

There would also be just one television set that people would gather around to watch shows, as few families could afford their own TV then, he added.

But while CCs have changed tremendously over the years, their overriding social purpose has not changed, he stressed.

They play a crucial community-building role in Singapore by providing a common space for people from all walks of life to interact and bond, and also allow the Government to reach out to Singaporeans, to better understand and respond to their needs and to convey important national messages, he said.

“It is to provide a shared space for all ages and all races to get together, to deepen our sense of community and belonging – our kampung spirit – and to provide an avenue for the Government to reach out to the people, and vice versa to connect us closer together,” he added.

“This applies across the country – regardless of who the MP is, regardless if it’s a government or an opposition ward.”

Also present at the official opening were advisers to Sengkang GRC grassroots organisations, namely Dr Lam Pin Min, branch chair of Sengkang West, as well as PAP new faces, Associate Professor Elmie Nekmat and Ms Theodora Lai.

SM Lee added that he has every confidence in the grassroots advisers to continue to do their best in carrying out their duties, just as their predecessors Gan Thiam Poh, Teo Ser Luck and Koh Juay Meng did. “They will have the Government’s full backing,” he said.

Among the residents at the event were Mr Vincent Goh, 41, a human resources professional at a bank, and his wife Fiona Lai, 40, a teacher, who were observing a trial gymnastics class for their five-year-old daughter.

The couple, who have lived in Buangkok for 10 years, said they appreciate that the mall, hawker centre and CC can all be found in one place.

“We can tell the difference... In the past, there weren’t this many facilities, and it all developed quickly,” said Ms Lai. The couple are already frequenting the CC at least twice a week to attend muay thai classes, as well as to pick up food from the hawker centre.

Ms Brina Tham, a medical professional, and her four-year-old son Marshall Leong were colouring in one of the CC’s new activity rooms when they were visited by SM Lee and Dr Lam, who were taking a tour of the facilities.

Ms Tham, who moved to Sengkang 10 months ago from Hougang, said that the facilities are a step up from those in older CCs.

“There are quite a lot of courses (to book) online, and they get filled up quite quickly as well,” she added.