NSP Unity Day on 17 May 2015

The National Solidarity Party (NSP) has been actively walking the ground on its outreach programmes. Most of the time when members meet, it's usually about reaching out to the people and promoting the party's initiatives. Members rarely had the chance to sit back and really get to know each other more and there was a need to look into this.

Today, we had our first ever NSP Unity Day. It was organized not only to show appreciation for our Malay Bureau but also to stress the importance of unity amongst members. To promote greater unity, members needed to improve on their understanding of each other. It has often been said: "United We Stand, Divided We Fall". Nothing could be further from this truth. 

I delivered a short speech on the purpose of NSP Unity Day. Everyone listened intently. Before lunch began, the facilitator invited the members to each blow a balloon. A long queue was then formed with the members separated front to back by their inflated balloons. The queue then started to move towards the Malay buffet lunch spread in the hallway. No one was allowed to touch their balloons with their hands and the result was impressive. Not a single balloon was displaced. Having accomplished this first act of unity, lunch began.

The Malay buffet was kindly sponsored by two good friends of mine, namely Mr. Elson Soh and Mr. Jacky Goh. Members enjoyed the lunch spread and thereafter engaged in quizzes and rapport-building games. The party's Asst. Treasurer facilitated this segment well and got the members psyched up for a game that tested their communication skills. The Sender & Receiver game required members to pair up. One gave oral instructions to the other to reproduce a drawing given to the first member. The reproductions were analyzed and several different styles of communications were revealed. 

The members were also quizzed on the identities of inspirational personalities who had repeatedly encountered failures in their lives but persevered to achieve great success. Most knew the right answers. Door gifts and prizes were given at this special event, all of which were kindly sponsored by: Maggie Thai & Chinese Restaurant, Bridal Concept, House of Seafood, Australian Natural Volcanic Spring Water.

The event closed after an open feedback from each member. Everyone supported the aim of NSP Unity Day and were inspired by the words and feelings expressed. All wished that there will be more such events to promote stronger camaraderie. Indeed, a members' retreat has been lined up for members to engage in self-analysis and critical thinking.

My Walkabout in CCK

NSP's outreach activity in Teck Whye last Sunday is a regular affair for the party.

Teck Whye is one of 7 neighbourhoods in Choa Chu Kang and the first block of flats in Teck Whye were built in 1980. If you are making your way into Teck Whye Lane to visit the market place there, be ready for the traffic jam along Jalan Teck Whye.

The coffeeshop at Blk 143 was bustling with people taking their Sunday morning breakfast and the human traffic flowed non-stop. The orange outfit of our members stood out from a distance as they dispersed to mingle with the crowd. NSP had come to greet the residents again and to promote the party organ, called The North Star.

I met lots of interesting people. Not all of them were residents of CCK. Some came to meet friends for their regular Sunday breakfast. Others came because of the food. There were people who were absolutely friendly when approached and  there were those who were shy and reserved. Generally, they were all typically polite. When I smiled and introduced myself, they returned a smile and shook hands with me. Some who were more outfront asked questions about the general elections.

There are a few who were clearly waiting to speak out. Generally, they were concerned about the costs of living and their stressful lives. There were some people who eyed our members with great reservation and were indifferent to the activity around them. Singaporeans, by and large, are beginning to get used to seeing political party members making their rounds in markets and hawker centres. In fact, if these party members are not seen to be doing so, their commitment could be viewed with suspicion.

After the walkabout, we sat down to fill out tummies. At this coffeeshop, I found a stall that sells an unusual black sauce version of prawn noodles. It tasted different and was good. At $4.50 per bowl, it was rather pricey. A nonya kueh stall at the corner sells a potpurri of delucious local pastries and curry puffs. I bought a packet consisting of 7 pieces of tapioca kueh for $3.50. That works out to 50 cents apiece.

Walking and interacting with residents provide party members with a better perspective of the real issues that are close to the hearts of the common folks. Politics is really about people and no politician worth his salt can claim to truly understand the people if they do not take the trouble to meet the people and speak with them.

Precious memories of old Singapore

It's one of those places which holds the precious memories of old Singapore and yet will be slated for demolition soon. Dakota Crescent has rental flats built during Lim Yew Hock's time and it has a quiet and serene surrounding with the Geylang river flowing through it. I met some really interesting residents there who kept me for some time. I had a very late lunch in Eunos together with my team of volunteers from Project Awareness.

Mdm Abi sells mee rebus at Blk 21 Old Airport Road. I was about to order her mee rebus but it was all sold out evev though it was only 10.30 am. She said it was her birthday and there had been a long queue at her stall and almost everything has been sold out. But she treated me to one last piece of what she calls her new "product" - a rice cake with shrimp and coconut gratings. 

She is 94 and lives on the 7th (highest) floor in her block, Old Granny Tan is from the Hing Hwa dialect group and was amongst the first people to move into the flats more than 50 years ago. She prefers to live independently by herself although she is the matriach of a 5-generational family. She insists on serving drinks and told us her legs are getting weaker and the lift breaks down often. She recalls an incident when her great grandchild was trapped in the life with his parents and cried. She loves where she lives and says she can't bear to move out.

She smiled and waved to me when she saw me behind the volunteers. She said she has been looking forward to seeing me and invites me into her flat which was located on the ground floor. However, she could not unlock her front door and so opened the back door to let me in. Just then, Annie, volunteer from the Lions Befriender came visiting and everyone gathered inside Grandma Tan's flat for a good chat like some old friends.

Grandma Tan is a sprightly 83 year-old who would laugh heartily at every joke until she coughs. She speaks Mandarin and lives alone. She spoke of how she loves the surroundings in Dakota Crescent. Many of her neighbours have moved out but Grandma Tan is happy to stay put. Although Annie has been visiting almost every Saturday, Grandma Tan enjoyed our company and wanted us to come visit her often. She likes food that is on the spicy and sour side and loves to drink coffee. And the volunteers from Project Awareness will soon be supplying her some of her favourite rations.

Old Master Wong is 83. He lives with his 75 year-old wife and has a son who runs a successful spare parts business. Old Master Wong's father ran a Chinese martial arts school and he himself is a trained pugilist. Although slightly hard of hearing because of his age, he was eager to talk about his experiences and to demonstrate his martial arts skills. And we soon found out that he has been a Chinese chiropractor since the age of 18. He used to have patients queueing up to see him in his heydays and now, he still sees about 10 patients a day. Noting that I had been busy visiting the neighbourhood, Master Wong kindly offered to give me a back and shoulder massage. 

It was another long day. Every home that I stepped into was like a new chapter in a book. And there are endless chapters to read and try to understand.