East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone Happy Pongal.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
பொங்கலோ பொங்கல்! Happy Pongal!
May your harvest be joyful, bountiful, and prosperous this year!
Pongal will be celebrated over four days from 14 to 17 January. The Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) has organised many activities this coming weekend — from traditional performances and cooking demonstrations to Pongal pot painting workshops and a Kranji farm tour, there’s plenty to learn and enjoy!
Check out IHC’s website for more details, and to register for activities: https://www.indianheritage.gov.sg/.../pongal-open-house-2024
(MCI Photo by Timothy David)

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks good neighbours.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
“远亲不如近邻，远水救不了近火“. In times of need, a neighbour is dearer than a faraway relative.
Such is the spirit of neighbourliness in Bedok that when two separate fires broke out a few months ago, neighbours who detected the fires sprung into action by alerting the Singapore Civil Defence Force, then helped to put out the fires. Thanks to their quick thinking and selflessness, the fires were contained quickly and did not cause structural damage to the buildings. To recognise their public spiritedness, I presented them with the Bedok Good Neighbours Award last weekend!
Thank you to our good neighbours for strengthening bonds within our community, and building a #CaringEastCoast.

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates the 2024 National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) recipients.

Heng Swee Keat is with Tharman Shanmugaratnam.​

2 d ·
Congratulations to the 2024 National Youth Achievement Award (NYAA) recipients who received their Gold Awards from President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at ITE College East!
This year’s Gold Award recipients come from a range of backgrounds, with a common passion of making a positive impact on society. From serving migrant workers and persons with disability, to initiating environmental and sustainability projects, these service learning and community leadership opportunities enabled our youth to grow, stretch and serve.
I hope that our recipients will build on the skills and relationships that you have gained through your NYAA journey, to continue serving with heart and become the changemakers of tomorrow!

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks staff and volunteers.

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Sometimes, life is unpredictable. When I suffered a stroke seven years ago, it was very difficult for my family as they had to make decisions, including many critical ones, on my behalf.
Hence, I was glad to see many residents, especially seniors, at the “Plan Today” roadshow at HeartbeatBedok on Saturday. Pre-planning, especially doing up your Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Planning (ACP), enables us to state our preferences clearly and guide our loved ones in decision-making on our behalf. An LPA allows decisions to be made by someone you trust when you are unable to do so yourself, while an ACP empowers you to state how you would like to be cared for.
Our agencies – MSF Singapore, Ministry of Health, Singapore, PSD Singapore and Agency for Integrated Care - AIC Singapore – work closely to support Singaporeans in pre-planning. At last weekend’s roadshow, there were talks and information booths, as well as mobile clinics that provided pro-bono LPA certification and ACP facilitation sessions for eligible seniors.
Thank you to all the staff and volunteers for sharing about this important topic with our residents. I encourage everyone, regardless of age, to view pre-planning matters with an open mind and have your LPA and ACP done, to give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind. Find out more: www.giftofcertainty.gov.sg/
#CaringEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK had a wonderful time.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
"A ladder is also a bridge; a ladder is rooted to the ground, raise you up and takes you down”.
These are the wise words of 81-year-old Mr Lee, who used to build kampung houses in the 1960s and recently built a ladder installation for artist Angie Seah’s first solo exhibition titled “a room of one’s own” (and then it got legs).
Mr Lee is currently with non-profit organisation Ground-Up Initiative (GUI) and is one of the many seniors that Angie has collaborated with through her art initiatives. She has conducted art therapy sessions for seniors at CC and Assisi Hospice, and also did some collaborative art installations in Bedok last year, which was when I first learnt of her work! . Here is an interesting documentation of her work: https://toliveforever.me/
I had a wonderful time meeting some of the seniors that Angie has collaborated with at the exhibition. It is heartening to see how art uplifts the human spirit, fosters inclusion and brings joy.
The exhibition runs until 8 February at starch, an artist-run space — do make a visit if you can: http://www.artweek.sg/.../a-room-of-ones-own-and-then-it....

 

[jw5]

HSK was glad to see our little ones exploring their interests and engaging in self-learning.

Heng Swee Keat is at Bedok Community Centre.​

3 d ·
A spirited performance by Jace, a 10-year old self-taught pianist and Bedok resident!

Glad to see our little ones exploring their interests and engaging in self-learning. Hope this inspires you to pick up something new and enjoy the learning journey too!

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes the SingHealth and SUTD teams success.

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
It is good that Singaporeans are living longer. As lifespans grow, we must also increase our ‘healthspans’ – where we stay healthy, active and engaged with our family, friends and neighbours even as we age.
Happy to see SingHealth and SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design combining their respective expertise in healthcare, and design and technology to explore how we can design our neighbourhoods to enable us to stay active and engaged. Building on a decade of fruitful collaborations, the two institutions signed a Collaborative Agreement earlier this week to expand their partnership in this area.
They aim to come up with innovations to help our seniors monitor and manage their health, promote healthy living and social bonding, and enable them to age well within their homes and communities. Successful co-innovations piloted in this part of Singapore can be scaled up to other parts of Singapore and even beyond.
I wish the SingHealth and SUTD teams success and look forward to our residents in East Coast and Singapore benefiting from your joint innovations in the years ahead!

 

[jw5]

HSK wants to contribute to a green and more sustainable future!

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
Spring cleaning for the New Year and looking to give your pre-loved textile items a new lease of life? You can recycle clothes, bags, shoes or textile household items in a clean and dry condition at the East Coast Town Council Textile Recycling Bins. These large yellow bins are conveniently located across 18 locations in East Coast. I encourage our residents to make good use of them and contribute to a green and more sustainable future!
Read more in our latest East Coast e-newsletter: https://ectc.org.sg/e-newsletter/09/
#GreenEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK met Bedok resident Mdm Yeo.

Heng Swee Keat​

3 d ·
Meet Bedok resident Mdm Yeo, who embraces new technologies and is on top of the latest digital tips and tricks!
At a recent community getai event in Bedok, Mdm Yeo and other seniors got tips on redeeming CDC vouchers on their phones, and how to avoid scams. Mdm Yeo, who is a member of Bedok Sunflower RC, told me that she plans to share what she has learnt with her neighbours. Kudos to her and our seniors for picking up new skills and generously sharing their knowledge!
Thanks to POSB and DBS Foundation for running digital literacy workshops for our East Coast residents!
#VibrantEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes all who celebrate a meaningful and blessed Thaipusam!

Heng Swee Keat​

9 h ·
Today is Thaipusam, which falls on the full-moon day in the Tamil month of Thai.
The festival is best known for the colourful chariot procession dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Murugan. Devotees give thanks and seek blessings, with some carrying the kavadi – which means ‘sacrifice at every step’ in Tamil – and piercing their tongues as rites of devotion.
I wish all who celebrate a meaningful and blessed Thaipusam!
(MCI Photo by Timothy David)

 

[jw5]

HSK joined fellow East Coast Advisers at Bedok Blk 85 market and hawker centre.

Heng Swee Keat is with Jessica Tan Soon Neo and
2 others
.​

5 d ·
Joined fellow East Coast Advisers at Bedok Blk 85 market and hawker centre yesterday to catch up with our residents and hawkers!
The wet weather did not dampen our spirits. With Chinese New Year just round the corner, many were shopping for festive decorations and goodies, and our stall owners were happy with the brisk business! Also delighted to see residents spending quality time with family and friends over breakfast. Have a good weekend everyone!
#VibrantEastCoast
We Love Bedok
East Coast Buzz

 

[jw5]

HSK encourages everyone to take a stroll.

Heng Swee Keat​

4 d ·
Light to Night Singapore is back to brighten up the Civic District with dazzling art installations that illuminate the night.

Now in its 8th edition, this year’s theme "Reimagine" comes to life beautifully through the creative expressions of talented artists from Singapore and across the region. Nice to see so many people exploring the interactive art installations and chatting with the artists during my visit last weekend.
The festival runs daily till 8 February 2024. I encourage everyone to take a stroll through our Civic District and immerse yourself in the vibrant tapestry of art, culture, and creativity! Find out more information here: https://www.nationalgallery.sg/lighttonight2024/

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy to meet residents from Riviera Residences.

Heng Swee Keat​

3 d ·
Happy to meet residents from Riviera Residences over the weekend. We chatted about the upcoming developments around East Coast, including the “Long Island” project that would strengthen our water and coastal resilience to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Residents are eagerly awaiting the opening of the Bayshore MRT Station on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) in the coming months. This will provide greater convenience and shorten daily commutes. I am happy to hear that many residents intend to take the MRT to work and school instead of driving - a great way to reduce our carbon footprint and care for the environment!
My thanks to representatives from Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving for joining us and sharing updates with the residents.

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy to join fellow East Coast adviser Tan Kiat How at the Block 216 Bedok food centre and market.

Heng Swee Keat is with Tan Kiat How.​

2 d ·
Happy to join fellow East Coast adviser Tan Kiat How at the Block 216 Bedok food centre and market yesterday to distribute CNY goodie bags and share festive cheer with our residents.

Wonderful to see so many residents enjoying a hearty breakfast after their morning exercise with friends and neighbours!
The DBS/POSB team was also there to teach our seniors and residents about digital payment methods, how to send and receive e-gifts, and how to protect themselves from scams, especially during the upcoming festive period. Thank you for upskilling our East Coast community!
#VibrantEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks generous donors and co-organiser Heartwarmers Volunteer.

Heng Swee Keat is with Eric Chua and
4 others
.​

2 d ·
Spreading kindness and sharing festive joy ahead of Chinese New Year, through “bags of blessings”!
Happy to launch the Community Chest Singapore’s annual 福袋 (Fú Dài) event yesterday, together with Masagos Zulkifli and other grassroots advisers.
A big thank you to the generous donors and co-organiser Heartwarmers Volunteer for raising over $4 million and preparing more than 8,000 festive bags for residents all across Singapore!
I distributed these 福袋 to some of my Bedok residents earlier today. Glad that many of them find the items in the bags useful and nutritious.
Let us usher in the Year of the Dragon with good deeds and good health

 

[jw5]

HSK had a wonderful weekend.

Heng Swee Keat​

1 d ·
Had a wonderful weekend distributing mandarin oranges and red packets to residents and stall owners at the Blk 16 and 58 Bedok markets and nearby shophouses.
Happy to see everyone in a festive mood, enjoying their breakfast and shopping for CNY goodies. Many residents told me that they were looking forward to hosting relatives and friends over the CNY long weekend!
Thank you to the Merchants’ Association representatives from both markets and grassroots leaders for working tirelessly behind the scenes to bring cheer to our residents and stall owners!
#VibrantEastCoast
We Love Bedok
East Coast Buzz

 

[k1976]

 

[jw5]

HSK wishes everyone a prosperous and healthy Year of the Dragon! 祝大家龙舞新春，福寿双全!

Heng Swee Keat updated his cover photo.​

2 d ·
Wishing everyone a prosperous and healthy Year of the Dragon! 祝大家龙舞新春，福寿双全！
(MCI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK was delighted to join Singtel at the launch of Nxera – its next generation of green, sustainable, hyperconnected data centres.

Heng Swee Keat​

2 d ·
Digitalisation has enhanced many aspects of our daily lives and enabled industries to unlock new frontiers through the use of technologies such as blockchain, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT).
While these technologies can help industries and companies improve resource efficiency, they also generate significant energy consumption and carbon impact. Digital sustainability is a must, so that we can harness the potential of both digitalisation and decarbonisation.
I was delighted to join Singtel at the launch of Nxera – its next generation of green, sustainable, hyperconnected data centres. Nxera takes an ecosystem approach of collaborating with partners such as sustainable energy companies and our institutes of higher learning, to operate resource-efficient data centres that can power Singapore’s AI ambition and unlock our region’s digital potential, while also developing AI-proficient talent.
Congratulations to Singtel and your partners; I look forward to more companies leaning forward to push the boundaries and set the standards for digital sustainability!

 

[jw5]

HSK was saddened by the passing of UOB’s Chairman Emeritus Mr Wee Cho Yaw.

Heng Swee Keat​

21 h ·
Saddened by the passing of UOB’s Chairman Emeritus Mr Wee Cho Yaw. Mr Wee was one of Singapore’s most successful businessmen, having grown the local bank into a regional finance powerhouse with footprint in 19 countries and territories today.
Mr Wee was passionate about uplifting other businesses, particularly the local SMEs, and served as President of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI). As the founding president of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clans Associations, he rallied the Chinese community to support and uplift one another, including through the CDAC, which was established during his tenure. Mr Wee led by example as a committed philanthropist who contributed to numerous charitable causes.
In my interactions with Mr Wee over the years, I have always admired and learnt from his drive and business acumen, as well as his commitment to serving the community. I offer my deepest condolences to Mr Wee’s family and his loved ones.
(With Mr Wee at the SG50 Outstanding Chinese Business Pioneers Awards Ceremony and Dinner in 2015. / MCI Photo)