- Joined
- Aug 6, 2008
- Messages
- 1,727
- Points
- 0
New citizens pitch in to welcome peers
my paper
Mon, Mar 21, 2011
Above: Mr Tan Chee Chai, wife Wong Pih Lian, and children (from left) Tan Wei Han, Tan Jia Yee, Tan Wei En and Tan Wei Jun were all smiles after yesterday's ceremony at Singapore Polytechnic, where 330 new citizens received their pink ICs.
By Gerrard Lai
UNDERSTANDING colloquial expressions was the least of Mr Meiwin Fu's worries when he moved here from Indonesia six years ago to find work.
The 31-year-old software engineer said: "Singlish was, in fact, easier for me to understand than American or British English, because it is spoken much slower."
He was one of 330 new citizens under West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) who received their Singapore identity cards (ICs) during a ceremony at Singapore Polytechnic yesterday.
Mr Arthur Fong, a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC, presented them with their pink ICs.
New Singaporeans whom my paper spoke to cited similar reasons for wanting to become citizens: The high standard of living and safe environment.
Mr Tan Chee Chai, 49, who came from Malaysia, and Madam Bi Xiao Qiong, 47, who was from China, singled out education for their children as the top draw.
Yesterday's ceremony - the 15th such event for new citizens under West Coast GRC - was organised by a team of 30 guided by the Clementi Integration and Naturalisation Champion committee. More than two thirds of the team comprised new Singapore citizens from countries like India, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia.
One team member, sales consultant Na Sin An, 34, obtained his pink IC just two months ago, after living here for over a decade.
Said the former Indonesian: "I've gone through the ceremony before, and gave my input and feedback to improve the ceremony process."
For instance, new citizens wore various coloured tags for the first time, to distinguish which wards they are from.
Mr Fong said the organisation of the ceremony depicted "active citizenry" and was a "very encouraging" sight.
He believed that this "adds to social capital", as committee members worked together with residents of other zones in the GRC.
He explained: "Working together will actually bring about more understanding.
"From here, they may immerse themselves in more activities for the community."
my paper
Mon, Mar 21, 2011
Above: Mr Tan Chee Chai, wife Wong Pih Lian, and children (from left) Tan Wei Han, Tan Jia Yee, Tan Wei En and Tan Wei Jun were all smiles after yesterday's ceremony at Singapore Polytechnic, where 330 new citizens received their pink ICs.
By Gerrard Lai
UNDERSTANDING colloquial expressions was the least of Mr Meiwin Fu's worries when he moved here from Indonesia six years ago to find work.
The 31-year-old software engineer said: "Singlish was, in fact, easier for me to understand than American or British English, because it is spoken much slower."
He was one of 330 new citizens under West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) who received their Singapore identity cards (ICs) during a ceremony at Singapore Polytechnic yesterday.
Mr Arthur Fong, a Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC, presented them with their pink ICs.
New Singaporeans whom my paper spoke to cited similar reasons for wanting to become citizens: The high standard of living and safe environment.
Mr Tan Chee Chai, 49, who came from Malaysia, and Madam Bi Xiao Qiong, 47, who was from China, singled out education for their children as the top draw.
Yesterday's ceremony - the 15th such event for new citizens under West Coast GRC - was organised by a team of 30 guided by the Clementi Integration and Naturalisation Champion committee. More than two thirds of the team comprised new Singapore citizens from countries like India, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia.
One team member, sales consultant Na Sin An, 34, obtained his pink IC just two months ago, after living here for over a decade.
Said the former Indonesian: "I've gone through the ceremony before, and gave my input and feedback to improve the ceremony process."
For instance, new citizens wore various coloured tags for the first time, to distinguish which wards they are from.
Mr Fong said the organisation of the ceremony depicted "active citizenry" and was a "very encouraging" sight.
He believed that this "adds to social capital", as committee members worked together with residents of other zones in the GRC.
He explained: "Working together will actually bring about more understanding.
"From here, they may immerse themselves in more activities for the community."
