Speech by PA Deputy Chairman, Mr Edwin Tong at the Braddell Heights Community Club Reopening

Speech by PA Deputy Chairman, Mr Edwin Tong at the Braddell Heights Community Club Official Reopening

Welcome Greetings

Grassroots Adviser Speaker Seah Kian Peng,

Distinguished guests,

and our dear residents of Braddell Heights

1.            Good morning and a very warm welcome to the grand opening of the upgraded Braddell Heights Community Club.

2.            Braddell Heights has been a stronghold of community bonding since 1976 – nearly five decades of shared memories, friendships, and purpose.

3.            This did not happen by chance. It is the result of the tireless dedication from our grassroots volunteers who have worked passionately to bring people together.

4.            Thanks to many dedicated individuals:

a.    Mr Lee Tee Loon, BBM (Chairman, Braddell Heights CCC)

b.    Mr Raymond Chan, PBM (Chairman, Braddell Heights CCMC)

c.    Mr Loo Chin Nong, BBM (Honorary Chairman, Braddell Heights CCMC)

d.    Mdm Chris Chu, PBM (Organising Chairman, BHCC Official Reopening)

e.    And, my old friend, GRA and Speaker of Parliament Mr Seah Kian Peng.

5.            Together with the grassroots team and PA staff, their leadership has been instrumental in making this vision a reality.

Community Clubs: Pillars of Singapore's Social Fabric

6.            CCs have been central to Singapore's social landscape for over 70 years.

(a)           They were first established in the 1950s to foster social cohesion and nation-building.

(b)           In the early days, at home, there was no TV, no newspaper and no ping pong table.

(c)            So you had to come to the CC for TV, read the papers and have some sporting and social interaction.

(d)           Today, it’s very different.

(e)           Everybody has a TV – most people. Many have mobile phones and they don’t use TV anymore. People spend more time online.

(f)             So, the fundamental paradigm has changed very much.

(g)           PA has to continually adapt and innovate to respond to an evolving society and new challenges.

Community Clubs Today: Evolving to Meet Changing Needs

7.            And we have done so.

(a)           Our CCs continue to play a crucial role in achieving PA’s mission of connecting Government to people; people to people and bring residents together, regardless of race, language or religion.

(b)           Our CCs continue to be the centre of gravity for major community events and activities.

(c)           We offer a wide range of programmes catering to diverse interests and age groups.

(d)           To cater to the growing and diverse needs of residents, PA has also expanded our range of community facilities with different models of CCs that take into account local needs.

 

8.            Today, we have a network of 110 community clubs, 4 integrated community hubs, 7 PAssion Wave outlets and 754 Residents’ Committee / Residents’ Network Centres.

(a)           By 2026, all our RN centres will be retrofitted with smart devices – e.g. Smart door access for residents to enter conveniently to use the community spaces to study, work and play.

(b)           Another is digital display panels installed outside all smart RN centres - residents will be able to see the latest, up to date community news and activities in the neighbourhood! 

(c)           And the latest CC model is the CC in a mall e.g. Bidadari and Buangkok CC, where the CC is integrated within a shopping mall, bringing community spaces closer to where people live, work and play.

(d)           We have some new CCs, Mountbatten CC and Tengah CC.

(e)           We have to think of our facilities well, and that’s why we continue to upgrade our CCs, continue to redevelop, refresh our CCs for our residents.

(f)            Upgraded many existing CCs like Tampines North CC and the CC we are at now – Braddell Heights CC.

 

Managing Facilities to Drive Social Cohesion

9.            We must also think of different and innovative ways to engage residents.

10.        Our facilities need to evolve in tandem with how lifestyles of residents have changed over the years.

11.         When popular interests such as water sports, sustainability programmes `and more recently, drone flying are identified as part of a growing and enduring trend, we marshalled our resources rapidly into redeveloping our infrastructure.

12.         Vibrant community spaces that address the new needs of our residents are created. I am heartened to share that these refreshed spaces have witnessed higher footfall, and heightened community bonding.

Putting Users First, Reconfiguring Spaces for More Flexibility

 

13.        Recently, we launched “Sparks” where a CC have a dedicated collaborative space for residents, volunteers and partners to curate projects that address community’s needs.

(a)          We have 10 CCMCs to step forward to think about this as a pilot to looks at flexible spaces, fit for user needs and not the other way round.

14.        Sometimes we think of our CCs as a space – a dance studio, can only do dance. And a cooking studio is only for cooking classes.

(a)          But what if we thought about it the other way round?

(b)          Who are the users and users’ needs should come first, then we think how we can reconfigure the spaces.

15.        So, this initiative – “Sparks” is to think about the flexibility and innovation behind spaces.

(a)          This initiative has sparked community participation in thinking out of the box of how we use our common spaces.

Transforming Braddell Heights CC

 

16.        At Braddell Heights CC, we have expanded the space to over 6,000 square metres.

(a)          A bigger multi-purpose hall, a sheltered outdoor fitness area, as well as dedicated rooms for music, dance, karaoke and the arts. Something for everyone.

17.        The other major attraction of the CCs, is the heartware.

18.        In Braddell Heights, the youths are organising their own micro-communities.

(a)          They’ve formed a cheerleading team known as Braddell Heights Team Xtreme Cheerleading.

(b)          And they’re not just involved in cheerleading. Members like Austin Yue are familiar sights, helping out at Braddell Heights events.

(c)          The cheerleading group also helped to clean and declutter seniors’ homes in Braddell Heights.

(d)          We hope more youths like Austin can step forward and be involved in bettering the lives of Braddell Heights residents!

(e)          The CC will continue to offer other youth related activities, hoping to attract even more youths to the CC.

Conclusion

19.        The upgraded Braddell Heights CC is more than a new building.

(a)         It’s the start of a new chapter. For the micro-communities that have long thrived here, and the many more who will start using the CC as a hub.

20.        These micro-communities will strengthen bonds in the community, and help us to build a “We First” society, where each of us must continue to do our part to care, to contribute and to look out for one another to strengthen our Singapore spirit, and we have to do more to encourage Singaporeans to step forward.  

21.        Once again, kudos to the local grassroots leaders and community for building a strong and inclusive community here. Let this opening be the start of even more beautiful memories together!