ADDENDA TO PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY, 7TH JUNE, 1990 MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

MR WONG KAN SENG Minister for Community Development

Singaporeans now look forward to a better quality of life. MCD will, with community participation, promote programmes to help the family and foster a cohesive, culturally vibrant and robust society.

Helping the Family

We will encourage community organisations to set up Family Service Centres in housing estates, in order to help families to cope with their responsibilities and be socially independent.

We will support voluntary welfare organisations with basic infrastructure and financial assistance, and help them to provide welfare services to the needy.

To help the aged remain physically, socially and mentally active, we will promote community-based services, and assist families to look after the aged in their own homes. We will upgrade senior citizens' clubs into activity centres to create more social and recreational opportunities for senior citizens.

We are encouraging child care centres to be set up in housing estates and workplaces. We will train more personnel to meet the expanding demands for child care.

Building Community Cohesion

Community cohesion is important for social defence. MCD will create more opportunities for individuals, families, grassroots and community organisations to play active roles in building a cohesive society. We will strengthen the network of grassroots organisations, to improve rapport between the people and the government. These organisations will organise more family centred activites, and also reach out to residents of private estates and condominiums.

Public education programmes and community activities will promote family and community values, inter-ethnic understanding and cross-cultural appreciation.

The Feedback Unit has developed into an effective and credible channel for two-way communication between the people and the Government. The general public and the grassroots organisations are writing to it in larger numbers. The Unit publishes "Perspective", a regular newsletter to help Singaporeans understand major Government policies and proposals. We will continue to use the Feedback Unit as an instrument for consensus building.

Improving Quality of Life

We will set up a National Arts Council to spearhead the development and provision of cultural programmes and facilities, raise the standards of our artistes and provide a fuller arts calendar.

We will build an Arts Complex, and possibly develop new museum galleries, to provide better facilities for the arts. Over the next five years, we will erect a new National Library building and three more branch libraries in Yishun, Tampines and Hougang. We will build five new sports stadia, four swimming complexes and four sports halls for new housing estates as part of our continuing "Sports for All" policy.

The People's Association will redevelop the Outward Bound School into a modern adventure centre for youths.

Malay/Muslim Matters

The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) will help in community efforts to eradicate drug addiction among Muslim youths. More Religious Counsellors will be recruited to counsel Muslim drug addicts.

The Government will continue to work with Malay/Muslim organisations, especially Yayasan MENDAKI, to improve the educational, economic and socio-cultural status of the Malay/Muslim community.