Speech by MOS Desmond Lee at Ubin Day 2015
Jun 13, 2015
Good afternoon. I am very happy to be here with all of you. I am also very delighted that Minister Khaw is able to join us today, to show support for the Ubin Project. On behalf of the organisers of Ubin Day, welcome Minister!
Ubin Day is a physical manifestation of just what is possible when community groups and agencies put their minds together, come together, and work together,
If you recall, our last Ubin Day was held in November of last year, seven months ago, in fact, the last day of November. In January this year, when a number of community groups involved in the last Ubin Day and I got together informally for a meal, Ria and Sumita - who put together the last event - they told me that they wanted to hold the next Ubin Day in June this year. And this time, they wanted to do it over an entire weekend! In my heart, I was saying “wow, these are super hard core, passionate and dedicated volunteers!” And in fact, everyone at dinner had already signed up by the time dessert was over.
And so we have Ubin Day over a weekend this time, put together by Ria as well as Mee Lin. Sumita is away, but her Facebook page is still actively promoting this Ubin Day; she and her volunteers are cheering us on even though she is miles and miles away with school work. With the help of more than 20 community groups - all of you here - and over 400 volunteers, supported by agencies such as NParks, URA and NHB. Because of the diversity of our partners who care for Ubin, there is something for everybody this weekend: kayaking, nature photography, cycling tours and clinics, kampong and temple tours, reforestation work, star gazing, heritage talks, artist clinics, mangrove restoration, yoga, and many many more. This year’s Ubin Day is also being celebrated in conjunction with Siglap Day, with more than 1,000 Siglap residents, joining us today.
One of the special things about Pulau Ubin, if you agree with me, is that it still has a kampong. If you take the time to speak to some of the people who live here, you will discern a warm, charming and sincere kampong spirit, of gotong royong, and a deep care for each other and a respect for the land.
This sense of neighbourliness and mutual care and concern for the island is what we hope to share with our visitors, so that the island will remain a special place for all of us. The Friends of Ubin Network, or FUN, has therefore come up with a code of conduct for the island. Called “The Ubin Way”, it is a simple and meaningful pledge that asks visitors to explore the island in the following ways:
1. Relive and experience the kampong lifestyle.
2. Appreciate and conserve our cultural heritage.
3. Discover and cherish the diversity of nature.
4. Respect one another and bond with the community.
5. Care for Ubin, and be considerate towards its environment.
Apart from the Ubin Way, we will also be sensitively enhancing the island’s environment for the enjoyment of all, regardless of age or interest. As most of you would know, we launched The Ubin Project at the beginning of last year to gather public feedback and work with the community to preserve and sensitively enhance the island, so that Pulau Ubin remains an enjoyable rustic destination for all. After almost a year of extensive consultations and hearing from many many Singaporeans, we announced, at the last Ubin Day, several programmes and initiatives on how we will preserve and enhance Ubin to keep it for many more generations of Singaporeans.
I am very happy to update that we are on track for these programmes and initiatives, and you can learn more about them at The Ubin Project booth over there, or just approach any of the FUN members - who are walking around - or me if you wish to understand more about what we have done or what we are about to do. It would be even better if you can volunteer your time and services to help us realise these initiatives.
Just like how trees need time to take root and grow, these initiatives are long-term and require dedicated effort. Let us all work together to keep Ubin’s rustic lifestyle and cultural heritage for all Singaporeans.
Once again, a very big thank you to the many, many volunteers, I know some of you came yesterday and stayed overnight – I saw photographs of you cutting watermelons, putting up the decorations, cooking and preparing the various booths and are even prepared to stay overnight. I thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Together, we make this island a green destination for all Singaporeans. Thank you, thank you all very much.