Latest news with #MPSes
Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly
Apart from being a health peer, this polytechnic graduate is also a grassroots leader who makes meaningful use of his time to help the community As a Health Peer volunteer with the National University Health System, Mr Donavan Tan (right) was paired with Madam Chiang Kam Yoke to encourage her to adopt healthier eating habits. Once a month, 88-year-old Madam Chiang Kam Yoke meets a young man at a coffeeshop in Jurong West for an hour of happy conversation over her kopi siu dai. The young man is 20-year-old Donavan Tan, and though they were once strangers, both Mr Tan and Madam Chiang now share a precious bond, honed through a volunteering opportunity. As a Health Peer volunteer with the National University Health System (NUHS), Mr Tan was paired with Madam Chiang in July last year as she was identified to be at risk of developing diabetes. His job? To offer peer support and encourage her to adopt healthier eating habits. Watch to learn why Mr Donavan Tan chooses to spend his time volunteering and engaging seniors like Madam Chiang. During their monthly meet-ups at the coffeeshop, they would spend time catching up, with Madam Chiang updating him about her recent day-to-day activities and the courses she signed up for to keep occupied. Mr Tan would also take the opportunity to stress to her the need for a healthy diet and to show care and concern for his friend. 'I would ask her if she's been able to walk properly,' he says, noting that Madam Chiang has weak knees due to wear and tear. Once strangers, Mr Tan and Madam Chiang now have a unique but enduring friendship. PHOTO: SPH MEDIA During Chinese New Year, the two also exchanged red packets. 'We even 'bai nian' at the coffeeshop,' laughs Mr Tan, referring to the tradition of exchanging New Year greetings with Mandarin oranges. Serendipitously, what started as a three-month volunteering stint has now turned their relationship into a heartwarming friendship. Mr Tan catches up with Madam Chiang once a month and occasionally buys her a 'cheat meal' of prata to lift her spirits. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONAVAN TAN From participant to practitioner Supporting Madam Chiang as a health peer is not Mr Tan's only volunteering stint. He also helps out at the NUHS community health screenings, while supporting the wider community through his work as a grassroots leader with the People's Association, and also at his constituency's weekly Meet-the-People Sessions (MPSes). When he found out NTUC Learning Hub was providing basic care support training, he signed up for that as well and was deployed to NTUC Jurong West nursing home where he assisted nurses in providing patient care. Interestingly enough, Mr Tan, who has recently been enlisted for National Service, describes the start of his volunteering journey as 'accidental'. SGShare: How more S'poreans can help the vulnerable Singaporeans now have a new platform to help fellow Singaporeans in need . To mark SG60, Community Chest's regular giving programme, Share, has been rebranded as SGShare to rally more to give regularly and support critical social service programmes. Starting this year, donations will be matched by the Singapore Government under the SG Gives matching grant, with up to $250 million available. Every dollar donated will help vulnerable communities, offering them opportunities to pursue their goals regardless of background. Here is a simple illustration of how your SGShare contribution can go a long way. In 2022, during his first semester break at Singapore Polytechnic, Mr Tan wanted to use his time more meaningfully. This came up while chatting with his secondary school teacher, who suggested he try helping out at the MPS – and so he did. 'I just walked in one random Monday and told them I want to volunteer,' he recalls. At these sessions, he meets people from all walks of life. What really tugged at his heartstrings were the elderly, especially those with health issues – interactions that deepened his interest in the medical sector and spurred him to volunteer with NUHS. Says the biomedical science diploma graduate: 'Volunteering provides me with a platform to help others; to uplift them, and to support them in improving their circumstances.' As a grassroots leader, Mr Tan (far right) also helps to promote various causes like racial and religious harmony. PHOTO: COURTESY OF DONAVAN TAN Meeting others who did not have the same access to healthcare as he did also pushed him to pursue further studies in medicine at the National University of Singapore. 'I want to serve, but from a medical standpoint,' says Mr Tan. 'Being a doctor is also about diagnosing and treating their non-medical needs for holistic care. Volunteering has also taught me a lot about how to interact with individuals of diverse age groups, racial groups and socioeconomic groups.' Mr Tan shares that individuals can always volunteer without feeling the pressure to commit long term. 'Whether you are comfortable talking to people, or prefer working in the background, there are roles for everyone.' Inspired to uplift others like Mr Tan does? This SG60, give back to our community in your own way. Visit and help build a more caring, inclusive Singapore. Celebrating SG60 with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Straits Times
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: High spirits, hoarse voices as new MPs hit the ground running at Meet-the-People Sessions
East Coast GRC MP Hazlina Abdul Halim (left) at her first Meet-the-People session at Lucky Haven senior activity centre on May 5. ST PHOTO: SHERMAINE ANG GE2025: High spirits, hoarse voices as new MPs hit the ground running at Meet-the-People Sessions SINGAPORE - After nine days of marathon campaigning for the 2025 General Election, seasoned MPs and newly elected ones alike hit the ground running at Meet-the-People Sessions (MPSes) around Singapore on May 5. The Straits Times spoke to 10 MPs from both the PAP and WP, who offered a glimpse into the issues residents raised to them, and what they were doing to help. In Chua Chu Kang GRC's Brickland ward, Mr Jeffrey Siow kicked off his first MPS 30 minutes ahead of the 8pm start time, having expected more residents to show up after an extended break. MPSes had been suspended since the Writ of Election was issued on April 15. By 10pm, Mr Siow estimated he had spoken to around 30 residents, who raised issues ranging from senior care to immigration. Among those seeking his help was a non-Singaporean divorcee with three Singaporean children who sought help to extend her employment pass, so she could keep working in Singapore. 'The husband, who is supposed to help her, is not supporting her, so what can she do since her (work) pass is expiring?' said Mr Siow. '(We have to) handle these sorts of issues, often those that do not completely fit the mould.' Other residents sought help with senior care, including one who needed assistance for an elderly relative whose usual caregivers were unavailable. Such issues will become more prevalent with Singapore's ageing population, and he expects to bring them up in Parliament in his new role as MP, Mr Siow said. Mr Siow, who was formerly permanent secretary at the trade and industry and manpower ministries, said: 'We need to think about where we want to draw the line on policies and think about whether the line needs to be shifted as there are more of these cases coming up.' In East Coast GRC, Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash tapped his experience as former head of the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to refer one resident to an active ageing centre. The woman had wanted to help her elderly mother, who was recovering from a fall at home, stay socially connected. 'That's where I think we can try to help, by connecting (residents) to the right agencies for support,' Mr Dinesh said. Both he and his East Coast GRC counterpart, Madam Hazlina Abdul Halim, were hoarse by the end of the night. Madam Hazlina had pulled double duty with two back-to-back MPSes – one in Siglap and the other in Fengshan. In preparation for her first MPS, she had understudied former East Coast GRC MPs Cheryl Chan and Maliki Osman, as well as Ms Tin Pei Ling, who is currently an MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC. Of this experience drafting appeals for residents, Madam Hazlina said: '(It) has really helped me to understand how agencies work in how you advocate for residents.' Other newly elected MPs were no stranger to conducting MPSes . One of these was WP MP Kenneth Tiong, who has been volunteering at the party's MPSes since 2023, before coordinating the Serangoon MPS from 2025. The ward was left vacant when Mr Leon Perera stepped down in July 2023. 'MPS is the foundation of a big majority of the policy stuff that we do, so it's always good to do (them),' said Mr Tiong, who saw about 10 residents with issues ranging from scams to municipal issues. He hopes to bring up issues such as making sure Singaporeans have a strong social safety net, and that families have strong foundations. WP Aljunied MP Kenneth Tiong greets and listens to his residents at his Meet-the-People session at 146 Serangoon North Ave 1 on May 5. ST PHOTO: HESTER TAN In the west, Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC MP Lee Hong Chuang is also familiar with how MPSes work. He has held similar sessions to meet residents since 2015, when he was the PAP's Hougang branch chairman. He was also the losing PAP candidate for Hougang SMC in the 2015 and 2020 elections. The newly minted MP, who has taken over former MP Amy Khor's Hong Kah North ward, said he intends to meet every resident who attends his MPS personally, and to understand their circumstances. 'My style is, when I walk around the area, I will pick up cases. Those are the people who may not even walk into your MPS, but they need help,' he said. Another seasoned hand, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, made his debut in Punggol GRC's new Punggol Northshore ward, where a crowd had gathered for face time with the 'Task Force Man'. During the campaign, DPM Gan – who was given the moniker by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for being on several task forces – had promised Northshore residents to address problems in the ward. He told reporters that residents raised issues such as poor phone connectivity in certain areas, which his team will work with the Infocomm Media Development Authority to tackle. DPM Gan, who is also Minister for Trade and Industry, wore a mask and had a sore throat, which he attributed to the many engagements he had after the election. 'After the campaign... I had to attend to some of the urgent meetings, so therefore I've been talking the whole day. And tonight, I talked the whole night,' he said. Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Punggol GRC Gan Kim Yong taking a group photo with volunteers after his Meet-the-People session at 402 Northshore Drive on May 5. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM He wrapped up the session only at 11pm, after seeing around 70 residents. Over in the east, Tampines GRC's two new faces – Dr Charlene Chen and Mr David Neo – were seen at the Tampines East MPS, which Dr Chen has been helming for about a year. Mr Baey Yam Keng, who has served in Tampines since 2011, said Mr Neo, a former army chief, will tag along with other members before potentially helming a new division that has yet to be demarcated. The constituency may see a new Tampines Boulevard ward that will mostly comprise new Build-To-Order HDB estates north of Tampines Avenue 9. Mr Baey added that residents can expect an announcement on the new ward and MPS location by the end of May. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
