IT IS the wettest January ever for Singapore. Huge, record-setting storms have buffeted our little red dot for the past several days. These storms have uprooted trees, flooded roads and disrupted people’s weekend plans.
But PAP MPs are going around their neighbourhoods tirelessly during this long period of wet weather, making sure everything is alright for their residents.
Here is what some of them did.
Early warnings in West Coast, Yuhua and Marine Parade
MP Rachel Ong (West Coast GRC) and Grace Fu (Yuhua SMC) alerted their wards early, posting on Facebook about the coming storm.
“Flash floods may occur this weekend, when a monsoon surge is forecast to hit Singapore,” posted MP Ong (8 Jan).
“There might be intense downpours between 10 Jan to 13 Jan, leading to flash floods” posted MP Fu (9 Jan), who is also Minister for Sustainability and the Environment. “Don’t drive or walk through water above kerb or ankle height.”
MP Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade GRC) quickly informed his residents that a big tree had fallen at Kampong Park @ Serangoon, next to Nanyang Junior College (10 Jan). He also mentioned that teams from the local Town Council, the police and the Singapore Civil Defence were on the scene, making sure everyone stayed safe.
Source: Grace Fu, Rachel Ong, Seah Kian Peng / Facebook
Supporting hawkers in Marine Parade and Mountbatten
Our Marine Parade Cluster and Mountbatten MPs had planned support for the hawkers and merchants in their wards. The storm did not stop them.
In Marine Parade, GRC MPs Fahmi Aliman, Tan See Leng and Edwin Tong, as well as MacPherson MP Tin Pei Ling spent a rainy Sunday afternoon (12 Jan) at the newly-rejuvenated Geylang Serai market.
Source: Edwin Tong, Tan See Leng / Facebook
“Despite the monsoon downpours, it was buzzing and bustling, a real hive of activity,” said MP Tong, who is also Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.
“Had a very yummy lunch at the Community Lunch organised by Pasir Geylang Serai Merchants’ Association. Thank you for having me!” said MP Tan, who is also the Minister for Manpower.
Source: Lim Biow Chuan / Facebook
Right across the Geylang River, MP Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten SMC) held an early Bai Nian for the hawkers at Kallang Estate Market. He distributed festive oranges and listened to their concerns — and to the concerns of Mountbatten diners as well.
“Delighted to catch up with the hawkers,” said MP Lim (12 Jan) after his rainswept outing.
Estate check-ins and keeping an outing appointment in Chua Chu Kang and Pasir Ris-Punggol
In Chua Chu Kang GRC, MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim made sure that the waterlogged lifts in his Keat Hong ward’s Chua Chu Kang Avenue 4 resumed functioning.
“The safety of our residents is my priority. Rest assured that our Chua Chu Kang Town Council is working closely with the contractors to restore the use of the lifts soonest possible,” he posted on Facebook (10 Jan). “Meanwhile, residents can use Lift C, which is in function.”
“[UPDATE: Our lifts are back in operation!],” he added soon afterwards. “Thank you to the Town Council team for working through the weekend, and getting the lifts up and running again.”
Source: Sun Xueling / Facebook
Over in Pasir Ris-Punggol, Punggol West ward MP Sun Xueling spent her weekend walking around Punggol Sapphirald. She was on a mission to find out where rainwater was especially problematic for her residents.
“We have recently created a new drain opening at the bottom of the ramp at Block 266C leading to the LRT station so that water coming down the ramp and from the sides can be drained away,” she said (12 Jan) about new improvements for the ward.
“It seems to be working as the ground is dry and there is a lot of sediment left by the side of the drain,” added MP Sun, who is also Minister of State for Social and Family Development.
Elsewhere in the GRC, Pasir Ris East ward MP Sharael Taha would not let the Saturday storm keep him from a long-awaited appointment: Spending quality time with boys from the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home.
Source: Sharael Taha / Facebook.
“Together, we turned the challenge into a beautiful moment of teamwork, building a makeshift BBQ pit and sharing laughter along the way,” he said (11 Jan).
“The joy on the boys’ faces as they played indoor games and savored the BBQ and buffet spread was priceless. It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of connection and care in building a stronger, more compassionate community,” he added.
Always connecting with residents in Pasir-Ris-Punggol
There were other Pasir Ris-Punggol residents who needed help that week, rain or not.
And fellow Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Teo Chee Hean, who is also Senior Minister, was there for his Pasir Ris East residents.
“It’s been raining all night. Many thanks to our volunteers for coming to attend to our residents at MPS @Blk738,” he said at midnight on Friday (10 Jan) while the storm intensified. “After that we discussed the new anti-scam law, and workplace fairness law.”
MP Teo has served his residents with this same dedication for the past 28 years — since 1997!
Source: Teo Chee Hean / Facebook
In this age of climate change, more severe monsoons will be a fact of life. There is no doubt PAP MPs will be out and about as usual in those times. They will be there, helping solve problems for their residents and keeping daily life in their constituencies safe and free of disruptions.
