Latest news with #BukitGombakSMC
Straits Times
25-05-2025
- Straits Times
CCK, Bukit Gombak residents try firefighting, first aid to enhance resilience during emergencies
Residents trying to put out a fire at Chua Chu Kang GRC and Bukit Gombak SMC's Community Resilience Day event on May 25. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG SINGAPORE – As residents living near community sports facility The Arena @ Keat Hong were heading to breakfast or their Sunday grocery shopping on May 25, a 'scuffle' broke out between two men. The altercation left one person with an injured arm, while the other started to go into cardiac arrest. But before the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the police could arrive on the scene, two civilian responders from the People's Association Community Emergency Response Team (PA CERT ) swooped in to help after spotting the commotion. One of the PA CERT responders provided first aid to the man with the injured arm, while the other performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the other party. Another two civilian responders, who were alerted to the incident via SCDF's myResponder app, located the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) and applied it to the man. The incident was part of a simulation at Chua Chu Kang GRC and Bukit Gombak SMC's Community Resilience Day event on May 25 that showed how civilians can work together with uniformed personnel in responding to emergencies. PA CERT members are trained in performing CPR and using AEDs. Formed in 2004, PA CERT is a group of volunteers under the PA Community Emergency and Engagement Committees that seeks to raise crisis preparedness in the community, respond to emergencies and help the community in the recovery process. Looking out for one another and being vigilant is a responsibility that must be shared by everyone in the community, said Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng at the event. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng performing CPR on a mannequin at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Dr Tan was joined by other Chua Chu Kang GRC MPs, which includes Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim – both newly minted political office-holders – and Dr Choo Pei Ling. 'Anytime someone collapses, whether it's because of a cardiac arrest, because of a stroke, the brain needs oxygen, and you only have about four minutes to respond before the brain suffers damage because of the lack of oxygen,' said Dr Tan. Making reference to the simulation, he added: 'As you can see from our first responders, how they very quickly assess the person who is lying down, and they started CPR almost immediately, that is crucial, because then it ensures that the blood continues to be pumped to the brain.' (From right) Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Choo Pei Ling and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG At the event, some 1,500 residents not only tried performing basic first aid and CPR, but also experienced putting out a fire at a booth at The Arena by the SCDF that drew a long queue of enthusiastic children. Another favourite was a booth by the Republic of Singapore Air Force that featured interactive simulators. Mr Leow Foo Kay, 51, said he took his seven-year-old son, who dreams of being a pilot, to the event to show him different ways of contributing to the community. 'I hope that events like these will inspire him to pick up lifesaving skills to help others in the future,' said Mr Leow, who works in finance. Children dressed up as police officers and firefighters at the Community Resilience Day event. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG Wong Yang is a journalist at The Straits Times, covering housing, property, land use and community stories. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP's Low Yen Ling wins Bukit Gombak SMC with 75.83% of votes over PSP's Harish Pillay, Singapore News
Results for Bukit Gombak SMC in GE2025 Low Yen Ling (PAP) 75.83% Harish Pillay (PSP) 24.17% The People's Action Party (PAP) has won Bukit Gombak SMC against the Progress Singapore Party (PSP). PAP's Low Yen Ling received 17,826 votes while PSP's Harish Pillay received 5,682 votes. 298 votes were rejected. Bukit Gombak SMC is among the newly formed constituencies, and is being contested for the first time in GE2025. Low has been MP for the Bukit Gombak ward of Chua Chu Kang GRC since she entered politics in 2011. Pillay was part of the PSP team which contested Tanjong Pagar GRC in GE2020. Clash among volunteers Volunteers from the two political parties had accused each other of harassment during walkabouts in Bukit Gombak earlier this year, with both sides giving different accounts of the incident. During a rally on May 1, PSP's Hazel Poa called for the findings of the police investigation on the matter to be made public. She said: "It is only fair that the results must be released before voters go to the ballot in two days time. PSP has nothing to hide, does PAP?" [[nid:713350]] Bukit Gombak SMC has 26,427 electors. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here.
Straits Times
26-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
GE2025: PSP calls for affordable housing, more healthcare funding and caregiver support at rally
PSP party chairman Tan Cheng Bock (centre) arrives at the rally for Bukit Gombak SMC at Bukit Gombak Stadium on April 26 ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH GE2025: PSP calls for affordable housing, more healthcare funding and caregiver support at rally Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE – Affordable housing, as well as more healthcare funding and caregiver support were among the proposals championed by the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) during their rally at Bukit Gombak Stadium on April 26. The candidates also touched on issues such as the high cost of living and implementing a minimum wage. The party's secretary-general Leong Mun Wai said that Singaporeans should only be required to cover the construction cost when buying a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, instead of the cost of land. If this proposal is implemented, Singaporeans would only have to pay up to $150,000 for a flat, instead of $500,000, said Mr Leong, a candidate for West Coast-Jurong West GRC. He added that home owners would only be required to cover the land cost if they resell their flat for a profit. Earlier in the evening, Mr Sumarleki Amjah, 53, shared in both English and Malay another key proposal in the party manifesto – that MediShield Life be fully funded by the Government. MediShield Life is Singapore's national insurance scheme, providing basic protection against large medical bills. Mr Sumarleki, who is also part of the West Coast-Jurong West slate, added that there should be more flexibility in the use of MediSave. For instance, citizens should be able to use the fund to pay for dental services such as canal treatments and dentures. The party estimated that these premiums would cost the Government an additional $2 to $3 billion a year based on their manifesto, which Mr Sumarleki said would be 'money well spent'. Bukit Gombak SMC candidate Harish Pillay, 65, proposed that caregivers of children aged seven and below be paid $1,250 monthly while Mr S. Nallakaruppan, 60, a candidate for Chua Chu Kang GRC, reiterated calls to lower the GST to seven per cent. Ms Wendy Low, 48, said education policies need a revamp, and said that students should be offered a choice to bypass the PSLE. This would allow students to be creative and innovate, and be ready to deal with disruptions posed by artificial intelligence, said Ms Low, a Chua Chu Kang GRC candidate. While the audience spent most of their evening listening to policy proposals and occasional jabs at the ruling party, they also caught glimpses of emotion. The stadium's atmosphere lightened when party chairman Tan Cheng Bock arrived midway through the rally, and the crowd wished him happy birthday with a cheer. He turned 85 on April 26. Chua Chu Kang GRC candidate Lawrence Pek, 55, grew visibly emotional when speaking about his two children, who were in the audience. Joining an opposition party – which he described as a road less travelled – has led to many sacrifices, but his son and daughter have been steadfast with their support, said Mr Pek, who was the secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) from 2020 to 2023. He said in a rousing Hokkien speech: 'You have seen Mun Wai and Hazel, four years in Parliament, getting scolded and told off by people, right?' Dr Tan also acknowledged the trying time NCMPs Hazel Poa and Mr Leong have had in Parliament, and said he was proud of their growth. Both Dr Tan and Ms Poa called for Singaporeans to vote for more checks and balances in the form of opposition candidates. Ms Hazel Poa, West Coast-Jurong West GRC candidate, said that incidents such as the Income-Allianz deal have eroded trust in the ruling party. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Dr Tan, a former PAP MP, added that issues of competency, honesty, transparency and accountability were among the reasons he left the ruling party. Ms Poa said incidents such as the SimplyGo saga, Income-Allianz deal and former Keppel executives being let off with warnings after bribery allegations, as well as DPM Gan Kim Yong moving to contest Punggol GRC instead of Chua Chu Kang GRC at the last minute, have damaged trust in the ruling party. Ms Poa said: 'A stronger opposition will make (PAP) think through their policies more thoroughly before implementation, and make them dirty their hands to drill into the details so that they understand what you face.' 'For if they do not, we would be there to point out their mistakes, and trust me, they don't like that.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
