Wong Sun Kwong and Sharlyn Chi Xiao Yin
Wong Sun Kwong:
From changing my address at the Moulmein CC in 1970, that was how I began my journey in community work. At that time, PA was forming the youth movement. The staff asked me if I’m interested, I said I will give it a try. After a few months, the staff informed me that the Moulmein Youth Sub-committee will be formed and I am appointed as the chairman of the pro-tem committee. I was shocked because I do not have any experience.
The youth movement is to organise meaningful activities for the youth. We sued to organise games and outings. We have Inter- and Intra-Constituency competitions. The jerseys and t-shorts we used were silkscreen printed by our youth members. In 1974, we hosted Australian youth delegates and helped a BBQ at Changi Road to interact with them.
My biggest project I organised for my committee was a variety show called Galaxy Night in June 1973 at the then National Theatre. A souvenir message was published for the occasion to raise funds for all youth movement activities. All members were very hard working, from house to house to sell tickets every night. We invited the popular duo, Wong Sa and Ya Fong and some popular RTS singers. Our MP Mr Lawrence Sia was the guest-of-honour. We menaged to raise about $30,000 for for this event.
When I was appointed the vice chairman of the PA Regional Youth Council, I was told to organise some event to raise funds for the homes. In 1975 we organised a Welfare Carnival at People’s Park Complex. We raised about $20,000 for 10 charitable organisations. In 1976, we organised an Easter Carnival at Specialist Centre to raise funds for the Carnival activities.
In 2005, the Heritage Board proposed to have a Balestier Heritage Trial. I was appointed to take charge of the project, I put up some prominent sites. Finally, the following were shortlisted.
Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple along Balestier
Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Kallang Tai Gin Lane
Sasanaramsi Burmese Temple along Jalan Rajah
Jalan Ampas Shaw Movie Studio along Jalan Ampas
A short story was written about the place. I proposed to erect a stand in front of these sites with the background history of the site.
Those days before the GE campaign, I have to go around the constituency to recce the prominent locations and lamp posts to put up our posters and banners. We will put up the posters at the lamppost with a lorry and a ladder. We will climb the ladder which will be in the lorry to tie our posters on the lamp posts. All these are done by party activists in the night as there is less traffic. Those days, our constituency have many kampongs. The worst kampong was Lor Sinaran and kampong Chia Heng (the present TTSH site). There are a lot of dogs and thugs. We have to act like bodyguards to protect the candidate.
Sharlyn Chi Xiao Yin:
An early morning in July 2005, I arrived in Singapore for the first time. When the sliding doors opened at Changi Airport, the tropical smell and humid air hit my face. This was completely fresh to me, a young girl, from the Ice City in China.
Day after day, I was focusing on my study and work life here. And this place became my second home. In August 2011, after GE2011, I sent a feedback on environment issue via Facebook Messenger to team Whampoa. To my surprise, they replied me promptly and took action quickly. I was impressed by them.
Thereafter, I was invited by a Party Activist to observe and volunteer a the Meet-the-People’s Session, as well as joining the Youth Executive Committee at Whampoa CC. From there, I started to know about PA and PAP and learning to be a Grassroots leader and a party volunteer.
As a naturalised citizen, I tried my best to integrate into the community. After joining the YEC and took part in their activities, I found the importance and meaning as a GRL. Thus, I decided to join Women’s Executive Committee at Tanglin CC and Tekka Residents Committee to engage more residents.
Over the years, I made many friends and helped many residents, although it makes me busy but the satisfaction and proud (to be a GRL and Singaporean) wouldn’t be replaced by anything else.
