Singapore, February 8, 2010
MORE than 100 residents from two new rental blocks in Sembawang – Blocks 512 and 513 Wellington Circle – enjoyed a free mass breakfast yesterday to mark the official opening of a new residents’ committee, the Sembawang Zone “B” Residents’ Committee (RC), which is just a five-minute walk away from the two rental blocks which are under its charge.
The nasi lemak breakfast was organised to give the residents, who started moving in only late last year, a chance to get to know their grassroots leaders better, said Mr Abdul Wahab Zainoden, the RC’s chairman.
In conjunction with Chinese New Year this weekend, 51 needy households from the rental blocks each received a hamper containing groceries worth about $20 and two Mandarin oranges from Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who is an adviser to Sembawang’s grassroots organisations.
Mr Khaw also made house visits to households in four blocks in the estate, blocks 508A, 508B, 508C and 512.
For single mother Kathijah Hassan, 56, a cleaner, the gifts were “a wonderful surprise and really made my day”.
She added that the 5kg pack of rice included will “feed my son and me for a month”.
Student Lim Meiyi, 12, said: “It’s my first Chinese New Year here, and getting the hamper and the oranges made me feel very excited about the celebrations.”
Mr Abdul said that he was heartened by the happy faces of the residents.
His job is to try his best to provide what the residents need, and “it’s not easy, but I like knowing that I’m making a difference”, he said.
