EVERY THIRD Saturday of the month, Tampines North residents gather at the local Happy Hawkers coffeeshop. There, over kopi, they chat for two hours with their neighbours and their MP Baey Yam Keng (Tampines GRC) about any national and neighbourhood issues they might want to raise.
Past topics from these KopiTalk sessions (running since 2011) include how the Budget helps residents, whether Tampines North will have a Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and how best to beautify the neighbourhood.
“It’s about discussion and buy-in,” said MP Baey when Petir interviewed him. “For example, we can ask: ‘What do you think if we create a community garden here?’ And then people say, ‘Yeah, I like it. Because I can grow this and this.’.”
“But then other people say ‘I don’t want people hanging around in front of my flat!’. Say that it’s noisy. There’s all their different opinions,” he added.
“So we need this kind of regular session where people can come. Listen to other people’s point of view. Contribute. And then we can — hopefully! — come to a common consensus.”
A platform for any resident to speak up
Source: Baey Yam Keng / Facebook
MP Baey’s KopiTalk sessions are informal, chatty affairs. His role is to explain policies and moderate the discussion. Any resident is free to take the microphone, and voice his or her perspective.
“Whoever has things to raise, you just pick up the mic and you speak,” said MP Baey. “And it’s a conversation. People get to hear whatever anyone says. Then they can chip in their thoughts.”
“I found this coffeeshop in 2011, when I first came to Tampines North,” said MP Baey. It struck him as a place for everyone to come and, importantly, feel at ease.
“They don’t need to feel like going to a community centre or a room — or even a conference room — to discuss,” he continued. “They might not want to step into that enclosed space.”
“But a coffeeshop — everyone can be there! It’s very inclusive.”
In fact, MP Baey rarely sets the agenda for these anything-goes two-hour community conversations. Even when he does, he soon guides the session back towards open mic time together with Tampines North residents.
“For example, we’ll cover Budget because it’s Budget. I’ll explain what SG60 is. What vouchers people will get,” he shared.
“Then after a while, I ask ‘Ány questions?’ Then the residents’ll ask — a lot about municipal issues. ‘Why the road like that?’ ‘Why my neighbour like that?’ ‘When my HIP coming?’,” he continued.
“So I explain how the authorities will handle it; what are the things they need to take care of. And the principles of how and why things are done.”
Balancing needs, building understanding
Source: Baey Yam Keng / Facebook
MP Baey takes this consultative approach to his work with the different Ministries.
He recently proposed ways to protect pedestrians from Personal Mobility Aid (PMA) users misusing public paths, for example. This while making sure that genuine PMA users can still safely use their vehicles for daily needs.
For example, the maximum speed for PMAs on public paths will be reduced to 6 km/h, the same speed as a brisk walker. Mobility scooter riders will also require a doctor’s certificate.
Meanwhile, the authorities will automatically recognise legitimate users like people with disabilities as genuine PMA users.
MP Baey made these proposals as leader of the Ministry of Transport’s Active Mobility Advisory Panel. This Panel includes representatives from the cycling community, the Land Transport Authority (LTA), caregivers and youth and senior networks, and takes their views into consideration.
The Government accepted these proposals, which will take effect during the first quarter of 2026.
“It’s actually very reflective of Government work,” said MP Baey. “When we do policies, we have to think about different perspectives. How would this rule affect different people? People who need the device. People who abuse it. The general public affected by it. All angles.”
“That’s why it’s important to explain policy,” he continued. “There’s the need to strike a very fine balance when we have to manage different interests.”
“Even just one hour in Tampines neighborhood, got five different opinions already,” he chuckled.
“So when there’s a conversation, at least people can have an understanding [of different opinions]” he added.
If you live in Tampines North, then, do drop by KopiTalk. You can be part of how MP Baey and your fellow residents are building ties, and making Tampines Our Best Home.
