Community clubs serve communities rather than committees within the CC. So, says Masagos Zulkifli, Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC.
Mr Masagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, told Petir that when he became an MP in 2006, he wanted his team to understand that. This belief was put to the test when his grassroots team began constructing the new Tampines West Community Club in 2010.
The aim was to first bring the community in and then get them involved in the CC’s programmes.
He said: “The community club fits the functions of the committees, but we failed to consider what the community wants. I challenged them, asking ‘Why don’t we consult the community? If the community club was so beneficial and well used, how many of them have visited it? When we inquired, only around 15 per cent had been to the CC. Nobody wanted to go to the CC. The same people keep attending.”
Acknowledging difficulties in getting his idea across, Mr Masagos enlisted friends with experience in operating shopping malls to advise on the design of the new CC.
“One of the most important things they advised us to do: the ground floor must remain open 24 hours. People can come through, making it a place where families can hang out. Nonessential operations go upstairs,” he said. “The idea is to bring people in and then bring them up to the programmes.”
Mr Masagos said that the team encountered an issue: the conference room was on the ground floor and two sizeable committees used the space twice a month for meetings. However, he persuaded the team to give up the space for potential food and beverages outlets.
“I told them that instead of me having an office, I’ll convert that into a lounge that everyone can use. But the committees must give up the conference room, and we meet in a classroom instead,” Mr Masagos said. The team agreed.
Tampines West CC was built in 2013. It now has a 24-hour fast food joint, food and beverage outlets, and a gym. There is also a playground in front. The community club has been transformed into a vibrant place where people gather, he noted. Residents also learn about and get information on event happenings at the club.
“The same concept was applied to One Tampines Hub, which became a larger version of Tampines West CC. We are now considering what Tampines West CC 3.0 will look like,” he said.
“Essentially, it is about bringing the community together in a place where they feel comfortable with friends and family, a familiar place to hang out. At the same time, we do not compete with local businesses. We and the merchants are simply part of one big neighbourhood.”
The Community Club uses some of its revenue to fund programmes for residents. As Mr Masagos pointed out: “No one goes to Tampines West CC to feel poor. In other words, there are free things that residents can enjoy.” In August, Tampines West CC held its annual National Day carnival which attracted 5,000 people. The carnival has been held for the past 11 years.
He said, “It’s not just about bringing the community to the CC, but also about bringing activities out to the community. This carnival is an event our residents look forward to every year.”
Masagos emphasises the importance of connecting persons with disabilities to the community
Since last August, residents with disabilities in Tampines and Bedok along with their caregivers have been able to enjoy community activities and learn skills at the newly opened Enabling Services Hub (ESH@Tampines) at the Tampines West Community Club.
ESH@Tampines, the first of its kind, aims to bring social services, employment, and other activities closer to those with disabilities. It provides support and training for caregivers, helps build peer networks, and offers respite care.
Mr Masagos said: “Currently, people with disabilities are either in centres away from the community or in workshops. We want to draw them out. Additionally, caregivers should not feel embarrassed about their family members being disabled. To truly be inclusive, persons with disabilities must be socially connected to the community.”
His grassroots team finds every opportunity to work together with partners to better serve the community, he added.
“We tell schools, senior activity centres, family service centres that our spaces are open for them. We can discuss the programmes we can work on together. We can even sponsor low-income individuals to come to events. Everyone is part of the community.”
