SINGAPORE – Residents of Eng Kong and Chee Soon estate welcomed the Chinese New Year street light-up at Eng Kong Garden Playground on Saturday (Jan 15).
The street decorations are fully sponsored by the area residents and community partners such as Certis Corporate University and Eng Kong Terrace businesses.
Adviser to Bukit Timah Grassroots Organisations and Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Development Ms Sim Ann attended the event.
Dr Kenneth Tan, a representative of Certis Corporate University and Eng Kong, Cheng Soon Neighbourhood Committee Chairman Ms Gan Giok Em (Annie), were also present.
Residents at the event were reminded to keep to groups of no more than five and maintain a one-metre distance.
The lanterns along the streets at Eng Kong Garden Playground, Eng Kong Terrace Coffeeshops, parts of Upper Toh Tuck Terrace and parts of Lorong Kismis will remain until February 15.
Mr Goh Soon Hong, a resident who has been living in the Eng Kong and Chee Soon estate for 11 years, hopes that the Chinese New Year street lights will become a yearly event.
“The playground has been a bit quiet since Covid-19 started, but with the lights the residents have become more excited; they have another reason to come to the playground,” said the 50-year-old who works in a bank.
Ms Sim told the Straits Times the Chinese New Year street-light initiative was important forresidents to feel festive joy amid the pandemic.
She added: “An initiative like this speaks volumes about the spirit of solidarity as well as neighbourliness, and it is to be encouraged.”
