'Smart' HomeTeamNS Khatib clubhouse opens with indoor adventure hub, themed playground
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SINGAPORE - A new five-storey, 21,000 sq m clubhouse for Home Team national servicemen and the public officially opened on Saturday (April 10).
HomeTeamNS Khatib features an indoor adventure hub with slides, obstacle courses and climbing facilities, a Peranakan-themed indoor playground, and an indoor airsoft arena for player-versus-player competitive team shooting games.
Dubbed Singapore's first "smart" clubhouse, it counts self-help kiosks, real-time visitor tracking and the use of a mobile app as among the ways it is digitalising its operations.
The app allows members to book facilities remotely and check the capacity of facilities in real time, and provides contactless access via QR code scanning, said HomeTeamNS, which operates clubhouses for NSmen and their families and has more than 200,000 members.
The app is used by members in place of physical membership cards, helping to reduce administrative workload.
HomeTeamNS chief executive Agnes Eu said digitalisation will help enhance the HomeTeamNS experience for NSmen.
"Through back-end integration, we are able to analyse the data gathered to better understand their preferences and thereafter, improve the way we engage them," she said.
Attending the opening event on Saturday, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, who is chairman of the HomeTeamNS board of governors, said HomeTeamNS Khatib is the first of the modern, new-look Home Team clubhouses.
"We wanted the best in design, facilities and technology. We appreciate our national servicemen who have given a lot to ensure the safety and security of Singapore," he said.
As part of initiatives to build a stronger NS community, Mr Shanmugam said NSmen will be able to use HomeTeamNS gyms for their NS Fitness Improvement Training (FIT) from May.
A mobile app is also being piloted to streamline registration, attendance taking and performance tracking for fitness training sessions, he added.
<p>CMG20200929-NeohKL01 梁麒麟/岛国掠影/ HomeTeamNS Debuts Singapore’s First Smart Clubhouse in Khatib [HomeTeamNS Khatib, 2 Yishun Walk] （土生华人主题的儿童游乐中心。）</p> <p>图： 梁麒麟；文：王彦燕</p> <p>卡迪的内政团队战备人员协会（HomeTeamNS）俱乐部已向公众开放。娘惹主题室内游乐场T-Play除了设有龙头游乐场，也展出中华木雕壁橱、玻璃吊灯、英式地砖和中式大理石木桌椅等。这些摆设除了反映早期社会西洋风气已渗入，也显示峇峇娘惹对生活素质的讲究。</p> <p>峇峇娘惹，或土生华人的历史可回溯到郑和远涉重洋将第一批中国人带至马六甲海峡经商算起。古早华人移民与当地原住民通婚而繁衍的后裔，男性称为峇峇（Baba），女性则称为娘惹（Nyonya）。土生华人逐步形成了如今独树一帜的娘惹文化。</p> <p>随着时间推移，娘惹文化已日渐式微。我们或许听过峇峇娘惹，也说得出一些娘惹食品名称或习俗，但不一定对峇峇娘惹的生活方式，以及土生华人作为社会一部分如何历经时代变迁有更深入的了解。这些都是难能可贵的社会文化资产，我们除了要尽力维护，更要让下一代倍加珍惜。</p> <p/> <p/>
PHOTO: CMG
Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, president of HomeTeamNS, said there has been a marked increase in membership sign-ups and renewals among members living in the north, from October last year to March this year. This is compared with the same period a year ago, he added.
"The opening of Khatib clubhouse has been very well received by our members, scoring well above the industry norm in customer satisfaction."
About 500,000 visitors have been to HomeTeamNS Khatib since August last year as Covid-19 safety measures were gradually relaxed.
The clubhouse is home to Adventure HQ, an indoor hub complete with mid-air aerial installations such as a roll glider, rock climbing walls, sensory adventure trails and rope courses.
<p>Adventure HQ室内探险游乐场位于卡迪内政团队战备人员协会（HomeTeamNS Khatib），访客可在那里体验众多刺激项目，如滑梯、洞穴、攀岩、速降等。</p>
PHOTO: ST
Energy-efficient features include charging stations for electric cars and smart lighting controls. About 1,370 sq m of solar photovoltaic panels are housed on the rooftop, while a rainwater-harvesting system will help with water conservation.
It also has the first eMart located outside of the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force premises where servicemen can purchase personal equipment and other items, as well as a range of food and beverage outlets and recreational facilities, including a 1,500 sq m gym.
The Khatib clubhouse is the fifth Home Team NS clubhouse to open in Singapore. There are four other locations in Balestier, Bukit Batok, Chinatown and Tampines.
Another clubhouse at Bedok Reservoir Park is slated to open at the end of 2022, while the HomeTeamNS Tengah Clubhouse will be completed between 2030 and 2035 and will replace the current Bukit Batok Clubhouse.
