East Coast Plan unveiled

[jw5]

HSK congratulates Yip Pin Xiu again.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Congratulations again to Yip Pin Xiu for winning her second gold medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games!
She has defended her 50m Backstroke S2 title, a repeat of her victory in the pool just days earlier when she won her third consecutive gold medal in the 100m Backstroke S2.
Pin Xiu is Singapore’s most decorated Paralympian and an inspiration to all. I join fellow Singaporeans in celebrating her remarkable achievements!
Our Team Singapore Paralympians will be competing in more events. All the best!
Singapore National Paralympic Council
Sport Singapore
#OneTeamSG
(SportSG Photo by Eng Chin An)

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks Bedok Youth Network and Friendzonesg.

Heng Swee Keat​

26m ·
What does the Singaporean dream mean to our youths?
This is an important question, which guides how we must steward Singapore for our future generations.
At the “Our Singaporean Dream” dialogue with youths at Bedok CC yesterday, we covered a wide range of topics that our youth held dear to their hearts, including education, support for families, and how technology will change their school and work experiences.
I was heartened that our youth had many good ideas to make our community spaces more green and vibrant, and also how they could navigate working life.
My thanks to Bedok Youth Network and Friendzonesg for organising this meaningful session. Glad to see our youths making an effort to stay connected and building strong ties within the community.
Follow Bedok Youth Network to join us for future sessions, or sign up for our internship programmes!

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks the staff of various agencies.

Heng Swee Keat

is at 新加坡福建会馆 Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.​

· Singapore ·
Our Lucky Oak RN & Bedok SCEC volunteers put together a wonderful getai event for Bedok residents on the premises of 新加坡福建会馆 Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan last Saturday night.
Getai (歌台) performances during the Hungry Ghost month date back many decades. In more recent times, they have become an important part of our vibrant cultural scene that is enjoyed by all, especially our seniors.
The emcee, YangguangKele阳光可乐 did a great job to keep the energy high, while the various talented performers entertained and engaged the crowd very well. It was great to see many seniors gamely showing off their dance moves in front of the stage, and many more clapping along with glee.
My thanks also to the staff of various agencies such as Healthier SG, National Kidney Foundation, and SG Digital Office for sharing useful

 

[jw5]

HSK congratulates Jeralyn Tan.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Congratulations to Jeralyn Tan for clinching a silver medal at the Boccia Women’s Individual BCI category at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games!
It is a remarkable achievement for debutant Jeralyn and her coach Yurnita Omar. Jeralyn kept her nerve and performed consistently from the preliminary rounds to the finals.
Let’s continue to cheer our Team Singapore Paralympians on!

Singapore National Paralympic Council (SNPC)
Sport Singapore
#OneTeamSG
(SNPC Photo by Eng Chin An)

 

[k1976]

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks the organizers.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
The Singapore Night Festival is back with many interesting exhibits that explore this year’s theme of play and childhood.
I encourage everyone to come and interact with the fun and vibrant installations, like the amusement park rides and old school games and performances.
My thanks to organisers, including the National Heritage Board, partners, artists and performers for celebrating Singapore’s art and culture through this annual event.
The Festival is on till this Saturday, 7 September, and general admission is free. Head over to Bras Basah.Bugis district to explore the various sites. Find out more here: https://www.nightfestival.gov.sg
#SGNightFest

 

[jw5]

HSK hopes that the US and China could work together on common interests and to solve global challenges, even as they compete.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Joined the “Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 Conversations” yesterday as part of the Asia Future Summit to discuss the future of US-China relations and its impact on global development and stability.
The dialogue topic “US Election and the Future of US-China Relations” is most timely, with the US elections just weeks away. It is important, especially during this sensitive period, to put in place the proper guardrails to prevent economic competition from spiralling into an accidental conflict. It is encouraging that leaders from the US and China have maintained high-level dialogues in recent months to keep the channel of communication open, including in China last week.
In the longer term, I hope that the US and China could work together on common interests and to solve global challenges, even as they compete. For example, as world leaders in science and technology, US and China can come together to lead global efforts to deal with challenges such as preparing for the next global pandemic, climate change and the rapidly ageing population in advanced economies.
This mutual understanding and trust will not only benefit their peoples, but also the global community and the planet. Singapore is committed to supporting this endeavour.
很高兴出席昨天的亚洲前瞻峰会之《联合早报》座谈会，讨论 美国选举对中美关系未来发展的影响。中美关系是一个攸关国际局势稳定的重要课题。
随着美国选举进入倒数阶段，中美短期要筑好护栏，管控局势失控的风险。中美领导人这一年来多次的会面和对话，不仅为双方保持了沟通的重要渠道，也为日后战略合作铺路。
长期而言，中美两国仍然有必要寻求，在互惠互利的基础上，建立战略合作关系，推动双方还有全球和平发展。作为大国，中国和美国也有领导各国应对全球性挑战的责任。无论是在应对下一场大流行病、还是气候变化、发达国家人口老龄化等问题，中美都能扮演积极和重要的角色。
我期望，中美两国都能务实地把目光放在更长远的利益和事项上，建立起互信，实质地促进战略合作，为双边人民谋福祉，让全球人民受益。而世界各国，也应该支持中美加强合作。新加坡也会为支持中美合作，尽一份绵力。

 

[jw5]

HSK wants to bring back good practices and tackle littering issues.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Bedok residents collected 19.5kg of trash around the estate in just an hour during the “Clean Sweep!” initiative last weekend!
It was heartening to see our community, especially the younger generation stepping up to keep our homes clean.
Items that were picked up included cigarette butts, plastic bags, and tissue papers. While most residents are mindful, all it takes is a few careless actions to mar our common spaces.
Keeping our estate clean starts with everyone. Let us resolve to bring back good practices and tackle littering issues.
Let’s continue to take pride in our surroundings and work together to keep Singapore clean and green. Thanks to Bedok Bougainvillea RC for organising this activity in collaboration with the Public Hygiene Council.

 

[jw5]

HSK was delighted to speak at the inaugural Singapore-India Forum.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Singapore’s wide-ranging partnership with India has enabled growth and development on both sides. As economic integration and connectivity in Asia have deepened over the past three decades, our trade and investment flows with India and the region have grown significantly. This has created good opportunities for Singapore businesses and good jobs for our people.
Delighted to speak at the inaugural Singapore-India Forum earlier today organised by the Institute of South Asian Studies - NUS, the Singapore India Partnership Foundation and the Singapore Business Federation. As we look to the future, businesses and institutions from Singapore, ASEAN and India must tap on technology and innovation to explore new opportunities for collaboration. People across the region must also better understand and harness Asia’s diversity as a strength. This will help us meet our developmental aspirations as growth becomes more complex.
By a happy coincidence, the Forum took place on the same day as PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Singapore. I was happy to catch up with PM Modi, together with SM Lee Hsien Loong and other Cabinet colleagues, over lunch. We had a good discussion on new areas for bilateral and regional collaboration, building on the strong foundation we have built.
2025 will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Singapore and India. During PM Modi’s visit, we agreed to elevate ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and deepen cooperation in areas like digital technologies, healthcare, semiconductor supply chains and skills development. As a Global-Asia node, Singapore looks forward to working with India and other like-minded partners from around the world to shape a brighter and more resilient future for all.

 

[jw5]

HSK was inspired.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Inspired by the Art of Play, this year’s Singapore Night Festival is designed to help us relive the magic of childhood, play, and creativity, while creating new memories with our loved ones.
Happy to join my Bedok residents on a group visit. We had fun folding and tossing paper aeroplanes at First Flight, dashing down the rainbow light-ups at Stamford Walkway, and feasting our eyes on the spectacular projection mapping at Chijmes, amongst other activities. We also had an impromptu birthday celebration for 89-year-old Mdm Ah Lin while outside the Peranakan Museum!
The festival ends tomorrow and general admission is free. So what better way to support our local arts scene by planning a fun night out with family and friends, and creating many happy memories!
Visit www.nightfestival.gov.sg or visit go.gov.sg/snfnightwalk for more information ahead of your visit!

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy.

Heng Swee Keat​

6 September at 18:03 ·
Glad to spend time with Bedok residents to learn new skills on strengthening the resilience of our families and community last weekend.
Fire safety and first aid skills are important in the event of fires, incidents of cardiac arrest and other emergencies. We can all play our parts and keep those around us safe.
Happy to see our younger residents learning how to check for breathing and pulse, wrapping bandages and using the fire extinguisher! I encourage everyone to pick up these essential life-saving skills — it is never too old or young to learn!
My thanks to Singapore Civil Defence Force, Bedok C2E and volunteers for organising this Safety & Security Day for our residents.

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks Dr Daniel Tan and the Siglap Harmony Circle.

Heng Swee Keat

is with Dr Maliki Osman and Mohammad Khalid Rafi.​

·
When racial riots broke out in the 1960s, I was a young child living in a Chinese kampung, and Malays were living in an adjacent kampung. It was a scary experience, and tensions were high for many week. But when my family moved to a HDB flat when we were resettled, we were living in the same block, using the same common lifts with other races. It was a big change, and a significant improvement. In schools, later in NS and in my days in the Police, different races studied and served together.
Our founding leaders, especially Mr Lee Kuan Yew, had a deep conviction of building a multi-racial, multi-religious nation. This is well encapsulated in the National Pledge written by another of our founding leaders, Mr S. Rajaratnam – “we pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion.”
Today, Singapore is known for our multi-racial, multi-religious harmony, despite being a nation with a diverse racial make-up and religious beliefs. This is not the same for many parts of the world, where societies are torn apart by tensions arising from racial and religious differences.
So while we have achieved progress, we must never take harmony for granted. We must continue to deepen understanding and appreciation of our diversity, and turn these into strengths.
At the East Coast GRC Harmony Circles' Interfaith Dialogue over the weekend, I joined our volunteers in our Harmony Circles to learn from the sharing by Ustaz Khalid Mohd Rafi and Venerable Dr. K. Gunaratana Venerable on Islam and Buddhism, and to engage in a dialogue after that.
I thank Dr Daniel Tan and the Siglap Harmony Circle for organising this, and all our volunteers serving in our Harmony Circles for your efforts in building bridges in our communities. Let us spread understanding to more people and build friendships across races and religions. Let us learn more about Singapore’s rich multi-cultural heritage and practices, and harness these into strengths.

 

[jw5]

HSK enjoyed another round of house visits.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Enjoyed another round of house visits this week!
It’s always wonderful to catch up with residents, and hear from them about the neighbourhood – many of them detail the changes in Bedok over the years fondly.
Some residents also introduced their feathered and feline friends to me – who are all part of our Bedok community too!

 

[jw5]

HSK encourages blood donation.

Heng Swee Keat

is at Bedok Community Centre.​

·
Glad that the rain did not deter donors from our quarterly Blood Donation Drive at Bedok CC!
From regular donors like CK and Zhi Hong, who have lost count of the number of times they have donated blood, to first-time donors like preschool teacher Ms Li, every donation matters. Thank you for your meaningful contribution.
Donated blood has a short shelf life – 6 weeks for red cells and 5 days for platelets. We therefore need a regular stream of donations to meet the daily transfusion needs of 400 units of blood. Each donation can save up to 3 lives. Learn more about how donated blood can save lives through the “Journey of Blood” microsite on giveblood.sg – including a very interesting section on common myths of blood donation.
The next donation drive at Bedok will be on Sunday, 8 December 2024 – you can keep a lookout for updates on Bedok C2E. Alternatively, you can walk into any Bloodbank or other community blood drives to donate blood and save lives.
#SaveLivesMovement2024
#CaringEastCoast

 

[jw5]

HSK looks forward to the completed solutions.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Science, technology, and innovation will reshape our lives and economies in very profound ways. So it is critical for us, especially our young ones, to develop a deep curiosity to ask “WHY”, a strong foundation in scientific literacy, and the skills to work collaboratively to identify important problems and develop solutions for them.
A few months ago, SUTD Singapore University of Technology & Design President Prof KK Phoon, Science Centre Board Chief Executive Dr Lim Tit Meng, and I discussed how we could create a fun programme for our students to play with and explore scientific concepts.
This led to the launch of STEAMunity — a fusion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and Community. This programme brings students together to apply the STEAM concepts which they learn in class, to tackle real-world challenges in the community.
Over the last 10 weeks, over 200 students from various secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics worked on projects covering areas of public health, ageing, and environment protection. The students did an excellent job to define the community-based problems, develop solutions, and present their prototypes at the launch event yesterday!
I look forward to the completed solutions by the first run of STEAMunity teams early next year. The second run of STEAMunity will also kick off in November this year, and include Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic.
To our students — stay curious and unafraid of setbacks, so that we can build a better Singapore and world through STEAM.

 

[jw5]

HSK wants you to check this out.

Heng Swee Keat

updated his cover photo.​

10 September at 18:13 ·
It’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), a time for family and friends to gather and celebrate the full moon. If you are looking to take part in the festivities, check out this Dragon Playground and other nostalgic displays, workshops and cultural performances at Gardens by the Bay, or the several fun activities organised by the RCs and People's Association across the island!
(MDDI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK was happy to join His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah’s call on PM Lawrence Wong at the Istana.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Happy to join His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah’s call on PM Lawrence Wong at the Istana earlier today. His Royal Highness is in Singapore for the 10th Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders’ Programme, which he co-chairs with PM.
During the call, PM and His Royal Highness reflected on the 40 years of friendship and cooperation between Singapore and Brunei. They reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to deepening collaborations, including in areas like food security and defence, for the benefit of our peoples.
I last met His Royal Highness in July when I represented Singapore at the 78th birthday celebrations of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzadin Waddaulah. I was glad to have the opportunity to meet him again during his visit to Singapore. We look forward to working with our Bruneian friends to take bilateral ties to new heights in the years ahead!
(MDDI Photo by Lim Sin Thai)

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks Team Singapore athletes.

Heng Swee Keat​

7h ·
Thank you to our Team Singapore athletes for giving it your all at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and inspiring us with your determination and resilience!

Congratulations on all your achievements! Glad to see an excellent turnout as Singaporeans lined the streets to cheer you on.
Keep it up!
#OneTeamSG
Sport Singapore
Singapore National Paralympic Council

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks the team at Kampung Senang.

Heng Swee Keat​

·
Kampung Senang轻安村 Charity & Education Foundation turns 25 years old — my heartiest congratulations!
The name “Kampung Senang” means Village of Inner Peace, echoing their vision for a world where harmony, beauty, and unity prevail. Since their founding in 1999, I have witnessed their contributions to the community.
Mdm Joyce Lye, Founder and President Emeritus of Kampung Senang, together with her team, have remained committed to their cause all these years — from setting up the Mobility Aids Services & Training Centre and providing wheelchair services for our seniors with mobility issues, to organising the Green and Healthy Festival which raises awareness of healthy living and environmental sustainability.
I thank the team at Kampung Senang for your hard and heart work in building a compassionate and caring Singapore.
You can find out more about their initiatives and lend your support to their cause at kampungsenang.org.

 

[jw5]

HSK thanks volunteers.

Heng Swee Keat

is at 新加坡福建会馆 Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan.​

11h · Singapore ·
中秋节快乐！
Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for families, friends and neighbours to gather under the full moon to enjoy mooncakes and tea.
Glad to join Bedok residents across generations at the 新加坡福建会馆 Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for an evening of fun activities, colourful lanterns, and beautiful song and dance performances. Many residents told me that they were eagerly anticipating the event because they enjoyed last year's celebrations!
My thanks to our volunteers for organising the event and fringe activities, as well as the T'ang Quartet and Maggi Lu, students from Temasek Secondary School, Golden Microphone Language Centre, and Martial House 武术之家 who entertained the crowd with their performances.
Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

中秋节是个花好月圆，与亲友团聚的日子。祝愿大家度过一个美好的中秋节！