SINGAPORE : Comedienne and actress Irene Ang, best known for her role as Rosie Phua in Channel 5 sitcom “Phua Chu Kang”, has joined Singapore's National Heritage Board (NHB).
Ang, 40, is among eight new members joining the NHB board which aims to promote public awareness of the arts, culture and heritage. Existing members include singer/playwright Dick Lee and MediaCorp artiste Qi Yu Wu.
“I am truly honoured and ecstatic to be given this privilege to contribute to my country. It is like the National Service I never did,” said Ang.
Ang was initially surprised when approached by NHB as a candidate but was persuaded that her unique ability to communicate with heartlanders would be invaluable in helping them nurture a love for heritage.
The CEO of local talent management company Fly Entertainment, joked that though she is “not a very cultured person”, she hopes to use her celebrity status and Fly contacts to support Singapore’s effort to keep our heritage alive.
“Personally, I enjoy collecting old stuff when I travel and I am very sentimental - I want to show people that the arts and heritage is not as atas (high-brow) as many think,” Ang said in a statement.
“I believe that it is only through learning about our past, that we can appreciate our present and prepare for our future. I want to do my best to spread this message to as many people as possible.”
Ang will serve the board for a term of two years as part of the Media and Publicity Committee.
- CNA/il