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New citizens urged to be active community members
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 08 January 2011 2252 hrs
Chan Leng Leng (L)
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Chan Leng Leng (L)
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New citizens urged to be active community members
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SINGAPORE: 128 Bukit Batok and Bukit Batok East residents received their Singapore citizenship certificates at the Bukit Batok Community Club on Saturday.
At the ceremony, deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA) Lim Boon Heng urged new Singaporeans to get more involved in the community.
Heeding Mr Lim's call is one couple who became Singaporeans in March 2009. The couple, who came from Myanmar, organised the Bukit Batok Water Festival in April last year. A month later, they also hosted a floor party for about 20 families.
"If you're willing to participate....there are so many festivals. So, the first step is you have to come out to the community, to join the event, then we can meet each other," said Chan Leng Leng, who is Bukit Batok Zone 3 Residents' Committee's auditor.
To facilitate the involvement of new citizens in the community, the PA has introduced a new framework.
Explaining the Strategic Continuous Engagement Framework, PA's chief executive director Yam Ah Mee said it will operate on four levels of engaging new citizens, from social interaction to developing a sense of belonging to the country.
Mr Yam said: "With this systematic approach, we hope to reach out to them more (and) at a much earlier stage."
Mr Lim also highlighted the role of the PA's 800 Integration and Naturalisation Champions. They are grassroots leaders who reach out to new residents by visiting them and inviting them to floor parties.
Among the 128 new citizens at Saturday's event was Jeannette Ho.
Previously a Malaysian, the mother of three said it was a natural progression to become a Singaporean, having already been here for 17 years.
"I come from a mixed marriage. My kids and all, we were so welcome and so well-accepted in Singapore," she said.
".....the meritocracy of the system, and how friendly everybody is (in Singapore), it's a safe, secure, wonderful place to have a family," she added.
- CNA/ir
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1103503/1/.html
Home ›
Singapore News
New citizens urged to be active community members
By Monica Kotwani | Posted: 08 January 2011 2252 hrs
Chan Leng Leng (L)
Photos 1 of 1
Chan Leng Leng (L)
Video
New citizens urged to be active community members
Twitter Messenger
SINGAPORE: 128 Bukit Batok and Bukit Batok East residents received their Singapore citizenship certificates at the Bukit Batok Community Club on Saturday.
At the ceremony, deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA) Lim Boon Heng urged new Singaporeans to get more involved in the community.
Heeding Mr Lim's call is one couple who became Singaporeans in March 2009. The couple, who came from Myanmar, organised the Bukit Batok Water Festival in April last year. A month later, they also hosted a floor party for about 20 families.
"If you're willing to participate....there are so many festivals. So, the first step is you have to come out to the community, to join the event, then we can meet each other," said Chan Leng Leng, who is Bukit Batok Zone 3 Residents' Committee's auditor.
To facilitate the involvement of new citizens in the community, the PA has introduced a new framework.
Explaining the Strategic Continuous Engagement Framework, PA's chief executive director Yam Ah Mee said it will operate on four levels of engaging new citizens, from social interaction to developing a sense of belonging to the country.
Mr Yam said: "With this systematic approach, we hope to reach out to them more (and) at a much earlier stage."
Mr Lim also highlighted the role of the PA's 800 Integration and Naturalisation Champions. They are grassroots leaders who reach out to new residents by visiting them and inviting them to floor parties.
Among the 128 new citizens at Saturday's event was Jeannette Ho.
Previously a Malaysian, the mother of three said it was a natural progression to become a Singaporean, having already been here for 17 years.
"I come from a mixed marriage. My kids and all, we were so welcome and so well-accepted in Singapore," she said.
".....the meritocracy of the system, and how friendly everybody is (in Singapore), it's a safe, secure, wonderful place to have a family," she added.
- CNA/ir
