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The very best type of kaypoh
WITH his towering height of two metres and curly blonde hair, it is hard not to notice Dr Ori Sasson, 39.
And he stands out even more when he turns up at what seems like the most unexpected place: a Meet-the-People session in Pasir Ris West.
For the past three years, the new citizen, who is originally from Israel, has been volunteering at the weekly Meet-the-People session.
Speaking with a slight Singlish accent and often using colloquial expressions such as 'aiyah' and 'paiseh' in conversation, he talks to residents and helps them draft letters to their MP.
He has handled all kinds of requests, from appealing for traffic summonses to be waived to getting approval for HDB home loans.
Dr Sasson, who owns an IT firm and is also the director of a children's therapy centre, moved here with his Israeli wife in 2002.
He said a stable government where 'the interest of the state is taken care of', a low crime rate and economic opportunities count as reasons why he chose to make his home here.
He took up permanent residency in 2004 and became a Singapore citizen three years ago. He has a three-year-old son and a four-month-old baby boy.
He said his desire to find out about the 'different sides of life in Singapore' and 'create social connections' led him to start volunteering.
As a councillor with the North East Community Development Council, he helps to plan job fairs and activities aimed at helping the needy.
On top of that, he is vice-chairman of the People's Action Party's policy forum, a platform that allows rank-and-file members to engage government leaders on policy issues.
To be able to help residents, he had to familiarise himself with how things worked in Singapore, from the various assistance schemes to housing schemes.
'It probably took me about three months to reach a level where I can confidently sit in front of a resident and help write a letter on his or her behalf,' he said.
Although residents were at first often shy about approaching him because of the language barrier - he speaks just a bit of Hokkien, Mandarin and Malay - Dr Sasson said they warmed up to him after a while.
'If I've helped them before, sometimes they come back and ask for the same person again,' he said.
Dr Sasson acknowledges that some foreigners may be apathetic to being involved in the local community, especially because they are busy with their daily lives.
'For me, it was curiosity and being kaypoh.'
WITH his towering height of two metres and curly blonde hair, it is hard not to notice Dr Ori Sasson, 39.
And he stands out even more when he turns up at what seems like the most unexpected place: a Meet-the-People session in Pasir Ris West.
For the past three years, the new citizen, who is originally from Israel, has been volunteering at the weekly Meet-the-People session.
Speaking with a slight Singlish accent and often using colloquial expressions such as 'aiyah' and 'paiseh' in conversation, he talks to residents and helps them draft letters to their MP.
He has handled all kinds of requests, from appealing for traffic summonses to be waived to getting approval for HDB home loans.
Dr Sasson, who owns an IT firm and is also the director of a children's therapy centre, moved here with his Israeli wife in 2002.
He said a stable government where 'the interest of the state is taken care of', a low crime rate and economic opportunities count as reasons why he chose to make his home here.
He took up permanent residency in 2004 and became a Singapore citizen three years ago. He has a three-year-old son and a four-month-old baby boy.
He said his desire to find out about the 'different sides of life in Singapore' and 'create social connections' led him to start volunteering.
As a councillor with the North East Community Development Council, he helps to plan job fairs and activities aimed at helping the needy.
On top of that, he is vice-chairman of the People's Action Party's policy forum, a platform that allows rank-and-file members to engage government leaders on policy issues.
To be able to help residents, he had to familiarise himself with how things worked in Singapore, from the various assistance schemes to housing schemes.
'It probably took me about three months to reach a level where I can confidently sit in front of a resident and help write a letter on his or her behalf,' he said.
Although residents were at first often shy about approaching him because of the language barrier - he speaks just a bit of Hokkien, Mandarin and Malay - Dr Sasson said they warmed up to him after a while.
'If I've helped them before, sometimes they come back and ask for the same person again,' he said.
Dr Sasson acknowledges that some foreigners may be apathetic to being involved in the local community, especially because they are busy with their daily lives.
'For me, it was curiosity and being kaypoh.'
