Creating a Sense of Home: Prime Minister Wong’s Vision for Punggol

Hardware facilities alone are not enough to create a beautiful home. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized the importance of emotional connections and community involvement in shaping the perfect living environment.

Emotional Connection: The Key to Feeling at Home

Prime Minister Wong officiated at the opening of One Punggol, an integrated community centre, on Sunday afternoon. In his speech, he highlighted that Singapore’s unique charm lies in the emotional connections we establish with the people around us and the experiences we share.

“At the end of the day, what makes us feel at home is not the hardware and infrastructure, but the emotional connection we have with each other.”

Community-Led Initiatives: Shaping the Town of Punggol

Prime Minister Wong encouraged Punggol residents to share their ideas and participate in shaping the town. The linear park next to the Punggol Integrated Community Centre is a prime example of community-led initiatives. Originally an underutilized walkway, grassroots leaders collected opinions from residents before transforming it into a green park with fitness corners and recreational facilities.

About 30 residents have signed up to participate in the vegetable planting activity on the community centre’s rooftop garden. The harvested vegetables will be donated to Fo Guang Shan Singapore to support disadvantaged families.

Nation-Building through Unity and Harmony

Prime Minister Wong emphasized that the same principle applies to nation-building. Singapore has entered a new phase of nation-building, and its success depends on the unity and harmony of its people.

Lending a Helping Hand to Those in Need

Prime Minister Wong reiterated the importance of lending a hand to Singaporeans in need. “We are all in this together, and we are only truly successful when we all succeed together.”

Punggol Integrated Community Centre: A Hub for Community Activities

The Punggol Integrated Community Centre is located next to the Sam Kee LRT station and is connected to the nearby Punggol MRT station and Waterway Point through a linear park. The centre features a range of facilities, including a library, a community club, a blood donation station, and a dialysis centre.

Accessibility and Inclusivity

The community centre is designed with accessibility and inclusivity in mind. The Singapore Wheelchair Basketball Association will move its training activities to the centre, which features outdoor and indoor basketball courts, a storage room for team members, and approximately 20 special wheelchairs for playing.

Resident Wang Jinhua looks forward to meeting the children from the preschool centre on Wednesdays to sing, play games, and do other activities together. The community centre’s design facilitates communication and exchanges among residents of different age groups.