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Speech by Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, SMS for Foreign Affairs, at Launch of Kampung SpiritDate : 14 July 2007
Synopsis: Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed said “We should, as a community, develop a similar spirit of unity and trust amongst our residents, which will, in turn, strengthen the community’s social fabric and resilience. A community that is united in spirit and with a purpose to build a safe and secure home will be an effective force to deal with safety and security challenges at the neighbourhood level.” SPEECH BY MR ZAINUL ABIDIN RASHEED, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MAYOR, NORTH EAST CDC DISTRICT AND MP FOR ALJUNIED GRC (EUNOS), AT LAUNCH OF KAMPUNG SPIRIT @ EUNOS CUM APPOINTMENT CEREMONY OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CHAMPIONS (CEC) ON SATURDAY, 14 JULY 2007 @ 5.00 PM, AT EUNOS COMMUNITY CLUB ========================================================= Deputy Asst Commissioner Lim Kok Thai, Commander Bedok Police Division Lieutenant Colonel Anwar Abdullah, Commander 2nd Civil Defence Division Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen Good evening It is indeed my honour to be invited here today to launch the Kampung Spirit@Eunos event that is jointly organised by the Home Team Eastern Sector (HTES) and Eunos Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC). 2 The Kampung Spirit@Eunos event is more than just merely a trip down memory lane. It recognises the importance of a good relationship between the community, the Home Team agencies and Community Engagement Partners. As many of you are aware, the key objective of this programme is to promote a greater neighbourhood spirit which was evident amongst people who live in a kampung. In such a community, neighbours know and trust one another. They live harmoniously together during peace time and display true communal spirit and unity by extending help to all, regardless of race or religion, in times of crisis. We should, as a community, develop a similar spirit of unity and trust amongst our residents, which will, in turn, strengthen the community’s social fabric and resilience. A community that is united in spirit and with a purpose to build a safe and secure home will be an effective force to deal with safety and security challenges at the neighbourhood level. 3 The theme “Kampung Spirit@Eunos – A Caring Neighbourhood” thus encapsulates our approach towards community engagement amongst Eunos residents. Programmes such as ‘ Know Your Neighbour’ identify the crucial role that social cohesion plays in strengthening ties within our community. Building social cohesion with our neighbours and friends is not that difficult to begin with. At times, all it takes is a simple “hello” and exchange of contact details with your neighbours to turn strangers into friends and allies in keeping crime & terrorism at bay. Although the Police have always responded promptly when called upon, they cannot be any faster than your neighbour, who lives near you. Trust and reliance between neighbours is absolutely crucial in a multi-racial city like ours, where we live in close proximity with each other. 4 Social cohesion can also be promoted through community social activities. Don’t just stay behind the closed doors of your home – step out and get to know your neighbours. Organise get-togethers or interest groups and urge your fellow residents to join in. This is the true essence of the kampung spirit – the “gotong royong” spirit of helping one another amongst neighbours. We have been doing many of these activities but only with our families, relatives and closer friends. When we make an effort to know our neighbours better, then can we eventually become a close-knit community – able to keep a look out against crime in our neighbourhood. 5 Today is also a special occasion whereby we will officially appoint members of the community who have volunteered their time and expertise with several community groups that are focused on the building of social cohesion in Eunos. The Eunos Community Engagement (CE) Champions provide continuity and a smooth transition from peace time to responding to crisis situations by initiating bonding, emergency preparedness and self-help activities together with other community groups such as Residents’ Committees, schools and foreign nationals. I thank the Eunos CE Champions for your commitment and hard work that you have put in to keep your communities safe and secure 6 Five highly respected elders from various ethnic and religious groups will also be appointed as members of the Eunos Council of Elders. They will be resource persons on issues relating to inter-racial & religious affairs, and tasked with the role of providing advice to the MP himself (who is the Advisor for Eunos) as well as the Eunos CCC. They can even assist to reach out to the community during a crisis. As assets of the community, they are respected veterans, whose experiences and knowledge are appreciated and valued. 7 Today we will also see community members appointed to serve in the Eunos Inter-Racial Confidence Circle (IRCC). Comprising leaders of different races and religions, whose vision is to provide social and community services whilst maintaining faith with religious harmony and principles, Eunos IRCC will also formulate strategies and initiatives to promote greater knowledge and deepen the understanding amongst the various ethnic and religious communities in Eunos. 8 In building a resilient neighbourhood, a group of selected foreign nationals residing in dormitories in Eunos will also be appointed as ‘change agents’. They serve as a link, bridging the cultural differences between the community and foreign nationals living in our midst. Known as the Foreign Nationals Safety and Security Champions, they will be trained in crime prevention, fire safety, and local social etiquette. With the sharing of such knowledge with their fellow countrymen, this helps them to better appreciate the local culture. In turn, residents will develop a better understanding of the foreign community that lives and works in their midst. 9 In a multi-racial multi-cultural society like ours, a terrorist incident or social crisis can create communal mistrust and suspicion. It can threaten to unravel the social cohesion which took us many years to build. If this were to happen, it will take a long time for us to heal. Kampung Spirit@Eunos is a step in the right direction to strengthen community bonds with each other. We must strengthen the social glue existing today to ensure we do not break loose under duress. 10. With the formation of committees such as Eunos CEC and Eunos IRCC and other community bonding initiatives, we hope you will be able to leverage on these platforms to meet, interact and initiate more activities to continue building a community that is resilient and prepared. This kampung gotong royong spirit will yield the good fruits of unity, friendship and trust and I am sure, will stand you in good stead as you confront social challenges confidently and cohesively. Finally, I would like to extend my appreciation to the organisers, the exhibitors and all participants for their enthusiasm and support for this event. 11 I wish you an enjoyable evening. Thank you. Please click on the link below to view a copy of Eunos Constituency's Declaration of Support towards the Community Engagement Programme Please click on the link below to view the booklet "Strengthening the Bonds of Eunos Community". This booklet features the Declaration on Religious Harmony, as well as teachings and sayings from across religions that promotes a caring neighbourhood. |
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