- Joined
- Oct 30, 2014
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https://www.facebook.com/notes/tan-chuan-jin/my-residents/3024737037569051/
With the ongoing COVID-19 Circuit Breaker in place, all of us need to stay home. So STAY HOME!
But we do know that there are those who need to carry on working where permitted. Where should Members of Parliament be? Safely at home like most people? Or do they have a role out there on the ground? It's actually a great opportunity to ask ourselves of an MP’s role and responsibility.
MPs are elected by our citizen residents to be their representatives as lawmakers. We take on the views and perspectives, concerns and aspirations of our residents and contribute to the formulation of policies, debate them in Parliament and finally translate them into laws that affect the lives of all Singaporeans. We then explain and also help residents navigate their way forward. Feedback from the ground will help Government adjust and modify the laws as needed.
To do this well, we need to remain meaningfully engaged. For this reason, I very much cherish my role on the ground as the MP of Kembangan-Chai Chee and as the anchor for Marine Parade GRC. Staying connected allows me to gather a sense of the concerns and issues of the various segments in our community. And it is so very varied! There are the views of the old and the young, those from different housing types, the different races and religion, those married and unmarried, those with children or no children, stall holders, shopkeepers, executives, managers etc etc. The list goes on. And even within each group, it is not homogenous at all! So when people talk about being in touch with the ground, I often ask, “which ground?” When we do not necessarily subscribe to a view, it does not mean we are out of touch. It is one view amongst many diverse ones out there. And for me as Speaker, there is the broader community that I also engage in person and online, through my work in the giving and social sector, in the sports fraternity, the continued engagement with the nature and heritage space as well as just engaging all manner of groups on different occasions.
I have always found this invaluable in the formulation of policies in the Ministries when I was there, and I continue to do so now in terms of inputs to the ministries and to facilitate the debate in Parliament.
However, these inputs one gather do not just feed into the national strategic level. In the community, the feedback and concerns get translated into solutions on the ground as we work the municipal and social issues. As the leader on the ground, I mobilise resources and also organise the agencies, community partners and also residents to explore if we can collaborate better for our people. From day one, I was interested to see how we can build and nurture a community…to develop the kampung spirit where there is a sense beyond self. These connections do not just magically happen, especially now when we have so many more options beyond the local community. There are things that we can do to bring people together via activities and even volunteering efforts, and help nurture it where we can.
I am interested in doing preventive work so that we can deal with all manner of social issues early. The ground is where the last mile is. Whether it is with vulnerable elderly, lower income children, individuals with mental health issues, families with special needs…there is a wide range of help needed by our families. Agencies can never fully address it without us in the community being involved. I believe in this strongly even when I was in MSF. Which is why I helped to set up SGCares to enable and nurture more volunteering within the community. It is also a virtuous cycle because apart from helping those who need help, I believe it changes the volunteers themselves. When they change, our community changes. And when our community changes, we begin to build a better Singapore.
I know that some say ‘I did not elect a municipal manager or a social worker…I much rather see them raise issues in Parliament’. I value my community roles as much as I value my role at the Parliamentary level. It is totally complementary and should coexist. I doubt if I can play one role well without the other. To me, one cannot be a good Parliamentarian if one is not a good ground MP. After all, it’s on the ground that one begins to understand what the issues are and where the proverbial rubber hits the road.
What does it translate to in terms of what I do on the ground? In a typical week, I try and carry out house visits about twice a week if possible. I have our weekly Meet-the-People or MPS sessions on Mondays. My community team organizes community activities of every shape and size to cater to different groups and profile through the week. In the main, it is about bringing people together. On the social front, working with Willing Hearts, we have lunch distribution every single day of the year. We also provide breakfast to those who need that extra help. We work with Food from the Heart for weekly distribution of groceries, bread, eggs etc. This is complemented by a related effort during the MPS, where we provide other items like rice, adult diapers, vouchers…all drawn from donations from merchants and supporters. We have a fairly intensive outreach effort for our younger children from lower income families, helping them with reading, schoolwork and befriending. We have teams working with those with mental health issues especially hoarding. We have social teams who visit and follow up with residents, as well as a younger mobile MPS team that helps me with additional visits to see if we can pick up other concerns. The list goes on.
Eternally grateful to our fellow Singaporeans who journey with me to look after our residents.
This are my residents and they are my responsibility. In this time of COVID, I have had to adjust the way we outreach and connect but my responsibility did not change. I have adjusted and have reduced some of these traditional activities. For example, I have paused my house visits as well as changed the form of our MPS. My community activities are suspended. I outreach through letters posted on the notice boards because not everyone is online. My team and I try and call those whom we know are isolated and vulnerable. We tap on our networks to pick up any concerns e.g. via our grassroots, the hawkers and shopkeepers who can flag up to us when they hear of issues.
But these modes do not cover all the gaps. My role is not unlike my agency and town council colleagues, and some volunteers who are out there. Being on the ground, selectively and where needed, remains important because not everyone is online. Having a sense of the ground in this COVID time is important because it helps inform the policy making and its adjustments. My stall holders expressed concern about where they could sit and rest and were very anxious about being penalised. Visiting my market like that at Geylang Serai enabled me to also work with NEA to adjust its layout and practices so that it can be better for residents while adhering to the desired saftey measures. My vulnerable residents continue to need our help for groceries and meals and to just touch base with them in person on their health and other worries.
As a leader, it is always about where you are most effective. Sometimes its in the rear to push others along and cheer on those lagging behind, sometimes it is by the side to encourage by just being there shoulder to shoulder, and often its at the front to lead by example and to lead the way. We can do it in different and virtual ways, but our physical presence, suitably garbed and safely distanced, remains an important option at times.
I have been on the ground since I became an MP after the General Election in 2011. I am puzzled that some consider this presence campaigning. Perhaps because for some it is only done near the elections? I don't consider it so because it as my responsibility. But if for some reason it is defined as political campaigning, then I guess I am exceedingly guilty as I have been doing this non-stop since May 2011!
I recently shared this in Parliament,
“…even as we safe-distance ourselves, we need to be nationally closer, to be of one heart and one mind in dealing with the challenges at hand. We also need to be socially closer to our citizens, to hear and speak their voices here, to provide them comfort, hope and confidence.”
I do this because these are my residents.
With the ongoing COVID-19 Circuit Breaker in place, all of us need to stay home. So STAY HOME!
But we do know that there are those who need to carry on working where permitted. Where should Members of Parliament be? Safely at home like most people? Or do they have a role out there on the ground? It's actually a great opportunity to ask ourselves of an MP’s role and responsibility. MPs are elected by our citizen residents to be their representatives as lawmakers. We take on the views and perspectives, concerns and aspirations of our residents and contribute to the formulation of policies, debate them in Parliament and finally translate them into laws that affect the lives of all Singaporeans. We then explain and also help residents navigate their way forward. Feedback from the ground will help Government adjust and modify the laws as needed.
To do this well, we need to remain meaningfully engaged. For this reason, I very much cherish my role on the ground as the MP of Kembangan-Chai Chee and as the anchor for Marine Parade GRC. Staying connected allows me to gather a sense of the concerns and issues of the various segments in our community. And it is so very varied! There are the views of the old and the young, those from different housing types, the different races and religion, those married and unmarried, those with children or no children, stall holders, shopkeepers, executives, managers etc etc. The list goes on. And even within each group, it is not homogenous at all! So when people talk about being in touch with the ground, I often ask, “which ground?” When we do not necessarily subscribe to a view, it does not mean we are out of touch. It is one view amongst many diverse ones out there. And for me as Speaker, there is the broader community that I also engage in person and online, through my work in the giving and social sector, in the sports fraternity, the continued engagement with the nature and heritage space as well as just engaging all manner of groups on different occasions.
I have always found this invaluable in the formulation of policies in the Ministries when I was there, and I continue to do so now in terms of inputs to the ministries and to facilitate the debate in Parliament.
However, these inputs one gather do not just feed into the national strategic level. In the community, the feedback and concerns get translated into solutions on the ground as we work the municipal and social issues. As the leader on the ground, I mobilise resources and also organise the agencies, community partners and also residents to explore if we can collaborate better for our people. From day one, I was interested to see how we can build and nurture a community…to develop the kampung spirit where there is a sense beyond self. These connections do not just magically happen, especially now when we have so many more options beyond the local community. There are things that we can do to bring people together via activities and even volunteering efforts, and help nurture it where we can.
I am interested in doing preventive work so that we can deal with all manner of social issues early. The ground is where the last mile is. Whether it is with vulnerable elderly, lower income children, individuals with mental health issues, families with special needs…there is a wide range of help needed by our families. Agencies can never fully address it without us in the community being involved. I believe in this strongly even when I was in MSF. Which is why I helped to set up SGCares to enable and nurture more volunteering within the community. It is also a virtuous cycle because apart from helping those who need help, I believe it changes the volunteers themselves. When they change, our community changes. And when our community changes, we begin to build a better Singapore.
I know that some say ‘I did not elect a municipal manager or a social worker…I much rather see them raise issues in Parliament’. I value my community roles as much as I value my role at the Parliamentary level. It is totally complementary and should coexist. I doubt if I can play one role well without the other. To me, one cannot be a good Parliamentarian if one is not a good ground MP. After all, it’s on the ground that one begins to understand what the issues are and where the proverbial rubber hits the road.
What does it translate to in terms of what I do on the ground? In a typical week, I try and carry out house visits about twice a week if possible. I have our weekly Meet-the-People or MPS sessions on Mondays. My community team organizes community activities of every shape and size to cater to different groups and profile through the week. In the main, it is about bringing people together. On the social front, working with Willing Hearts, we have lunch distribution every single day of the year. We also provide breakfast to those who need that extra help. We work with Food from the Heart for weekly distribution of groceries, bread, eggs etc. This is complemented by a related effort during the MPS, where we provide other items like rice, adult diapers, vouchers…all drawn from donations from merchants and supporters. We have a fairly intensive outreach effort for our younger children from lower income families, helping them with reading, schoolwork and befriending. We have teams working with those with mental health issues especially hoarding. We have social teams who visit and follow up with residents, as well as a younger mobile MPS team that helps me with additional visits to see if we can pick up other concerns. The list goes on.
Eternally grateful to our fellow Singaporeans who journey with me to look after our residents.
This are my residents and they are my responsibility. In this time of COVID, I have had to adjust the way we outreach and connect but my responsibility did not change. I have adjusted and have reduced some of these traditional activities. For example, I have paused my house visits as well as changed the form of our MPS. My community activities are suspended. I outreach through letters posted on the notice boards because not everyone is online. My team and I try and call those whom we know are isolated and vulnerable. We tap on our networks to pick up any concerns e.g. via our grassroots, the hawkers and shopkeepers who can flag up to us when they hear of issues.
But these modes do not cover all the gaps. My role is not unlike my agency and town council colleagues, and some volunteers who are out there. Being on the ground, selectively and where needed, remains important because not everyone is online. Having a sense of the ground in this COVID time is important because it helps inform the policy making and its adjustments. My stall holders expressed concern about where they could sit and rest and were very anxious about being penalised. Visiting my market like that at Geylang Serai enabled me to also work with NEA to adjust its layout and practices so that it can be better for residents while adhering to the desired saftey measures. My vulnerable residents continue to need our help for groceries and meals and to just touch base with them in person on their health and other worries.
As a leader, it is always about where you are most effective. Sometimes its in the rear to push others along and cheer on those lagging behind, sometimes it is by the side to encourage by just being there shoulder to shoulder, and often its at the front to lead by example and to lead the way. We can do it in different and virtual ways, but our physical presence, suitably garbed and safely distanced, remains an important option at times.
I have been on the ground since I became an MP after the General Election in 2011. I am puzzled that some consider this presence campaigning. Perhaps because for some it is only done near the elections? I don't consider it so because it as my responsibility. But if for some reason it is defined as political campaigning, then I guess I am exceedingly guilty as I have been doing this non-stop since May 2011!
I recently shared this in Parliament,
“…even as we safe-distance ourselves, we need to be nationally closer, to be of one heart and one mind in dealing with the challenges at hand. We also need to be socially closer to our citizens, to hear and speak their voices here, to provide them comfort, hope and confidence.”
I do this because these are my residents.
