Bishan-Toa Payoh residents commemorate first anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s passing
Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat at the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Citizenship Ceremony on March 19, 2016. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Toa Payoh grassroots leaders and residents commemorated the first anniversary of Singapore's founding Prime Minister’s passing with the launch of an exhibition chronicling the Toa Payoh story – from “Big swamp” to “Beautiful Homes”.
The commemorative exhibition held at the Toa Payoh Central Community Club showcases Toa Payoh's transformation from a swampland to become the nation's second oldest satellite town, after Queenstown. It also showcases the late Mr Lee's visits to Toa Payoh, including when the National Day Parade was held at Toa Payoh Sports Complex in 1975.
Between 1975 and 1983, the parades alternated between a centralised location — like the Padang or National Stadium — and decentralised locations like Haig Road, Farrer Park and Redhill.
Speaking at the event on Saturday (March 19), Minister of State for Health Chee Hong Tat noted that while the exhibition focuses on Toa Payoh, "it also tells the story of Singapore and Singaporeans".
He said: "It is a story of transformation, of progress, of how we can always have a better future if we believe and work together with one another."
Mr Chee, who is also the grassroots adviser to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Grassroots Organisations, also counted himself as "among those who are more familiar with what Mr Lee had done". He served as the late Mr Lee's principal private secretary from 2008 until 2011 when the latter was Minister Mentor.
"I also saw first-hand Mr Lee's deep commitment to Singapore and Singaporeans on many occasions," he added.
Defence minister Dr Ng Eng Hen and Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Saktiandi Supaat were also present at the event and mingled with the residents viewing the exhibition panels. About 1,000 visitors toured the exhibit on Saturday (March 19).
The exhibition will run until March 27 at Toa Payoh Central Community Club from 9am to 9pm.
Saturday’s launch of the commemorative exhibition was held in conjunction with the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Citizenship Ceremony, which welcomed 235 new citizens.
During the citizenship ceremony, new citizens and guests also took part in singing popular community songs like Home and One United People. They also watched two videos — one about a little boy's love for his country, and the other, about Singapore's progress and milestones.
