Unite and work together to build Tengah into a vibrant, beautiful town: PM Wong
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PM Lawrence Wong with residents at the official opening of Tengah Community Club on March 22.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
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SINGAPORE – The new estate of Tengah is starting to take shape and will be a vibrant town in a few years, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, as he urged residents to unite and work with the grassroots and Government to build a better home for themselves and their children.
Speaking at a March 22 ceremony to officially open Tengah Community Club, PM Wong said he spoke to a Tengah resident recently, who had said the town was like “the Punggol of the west”.
“If you have been to Punggol decades ago, people will say Punggol was very ulu (“remote” in Malay) and far away. Nobody wants to go. But today, you look at Punggol, it is a beautiful town, connected, vibrant, a lot of facilities there,” PM Wong said.
“Likewise now here in Tengah; today, you can see things already starting to take shape. In another few years’ time, I’m sure this will be even better. It will be like Punggol, if not better than Punggol.”
He called on Tengah’s residents to help build the community bonds that make estates like Punggol special, encouraging them to partner with the grassroots and volunteers, take part in activities, get to know their neighbours and serve the community in different ways.
“When you do that, you develop a special bond with your estate, with your community. You develop a stronger sense of identity and thrive as Tengah residents,” he said.
PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, pointed out that this solidarity and unity with one another will be even more important as Singapore charts a new way forward through what is a more turbulent and challenging world.
“It’s becoming a more dangerous world, but Singapore can navigate these challenges because we are strong and united as one Team Singapore,” he said.
“So we must continue to strengthen this partnership, working together as one people, and the Government will certainly do our part to support all of you and to work together with all Singaporeans. We will address the concerns you have, whether it’s in cost of living or in other areas.”
Also at the event were Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs Gan Kim Yong, who is Deputy Prime Minister; Low Yen Ling, who is Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth; Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Don Wee.
Hong Kah North MP Amy Khor, who oversees the Tengah estate, was also present.
People’s Action Party new face, entrepreneur Chua Wei-Shan, was spotted at the event.
Electoral boundaries in the area have shifted ahead of the upcoming general election. Ms Low’s Bukit Gombak ward has been carved out of Chua Chu Kang GRC
Parts of Dr Khor’s Hong Kah North SMC, and Yuhua SMC, currently helmed by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, have been merged into a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
After the ceremony, PM Wong and Dr Khor, who is also Senior Minister of State for Transport and Sustainability and the Environment, went on a walkabout at the newly opened Bukit Batok West Hawker Centre, causing a stir among residents who were there for breakfast.
Later, Ms Fu joined them for house visits at Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok, a block of community care apartments.
Ms Fu had on a March 20 podcast interview with The Straits Times .
Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok lies within the boundaries of the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
Asked about whether she plans to continue serving in Hong Kah North, Dr Khor said it is up to PM Wong to announce the “best man or woman” for each constituency.
“Whether I will be fielded in the upcoming election and where I will stand is a decision that the Prime Minister, who is also the secretary-general for the PAP, will have to make,” she said, adding that this will be announced in due course.
In the meantime, Dr Khor said she will continue to serve residents, pointing out that she has been working closely with the Land Transport Authority to improve connectivity to Tengah.
She said more bus services have been rolled out
The Tengah Community Club was officially opened on March 22.
ST PHOTO: TARYN NG
Among the residents soaking in the festivities at the new Tengah Community Club was Mr Eric Chua, 43, who was there with his neighbours.
The tourist guide has lived alone at the Plantation Grange development for 1½ years, and was one of the earlier residents to move into Tengah.
Mr Chua said the estate has changed a lot, especially with the opening of the Plantation Plaza mall, which is next to the new community club.
“I wanted to just come and see because this is my town... I’m interested in chess so I wanted to see if there were other like-minded residents too.”
