By: Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, Parliamentary Secretary For Health And Community Development, Youth And Sports
11 September 2004, 2.00pm at IMM Carpark
Benjamin Chan
Executive Director
Yong-en Care Centre
MediaCorp Capital Radio 95.8FM
Participants
Sponsors
Ladies and Gentlemen
Good morning.
I am happy to be here today to see so many people rolling up their sleeves for a charitable cause - a continuous 36-hour marathon car wash that attempts to raise money for the needy in Chinatown and at the same time to achieve a Guinness Record.
It is indeed commendable that Yong-en Care Centre and MediaCorp Capital Radio 95.8FM have joined hands to rally nation-wide support for this charity event to help the elderly, young, individuals and families with needs in Chinatown.
Yong-en Care Centre serves some 400 elderly residents in Chinatown and its nearby estates, through its Preventive Health Care and dementia day care services. The Centre also reaches out to more than 1,000 students and the community kids through the schools and centre-based activities.
MediaCorp Capital Radio 95.8FM has been organising annual charity car wash events since 2003. Their DJs, MediaCorp's artistes and staff are also here today to support Yong-en Care Centre, their adopted charity, and to participate in the marathon car wash.
There are also many of you who have made the special effort to bring your cars here to be washed. I must congratulate you for doing your part for the community.
And to the youths out here today, I want to say something. You will be washing car after car for two days, not only because you are attempting the Guinness Record feat but because you are also listening to your own heartbeat.
Please don't stop at car washing or breaking the record. I urge the youths to continue to come forward to contribute. As you are aware, my Ministry is gathering ideas from youth in a six-week consultation. There are barely two weeks left for you to contribute to this process. Tell us your ideas and your vision to change our social landscape or to create a better Singapore. Tell us how you can lead or what we can achieve together by emailing us at creating_our_future@mcys.gov.sg.
As a Chinese saying goes 取之社会，用之社会 qu zhi she hui, yong zhi xhe hui (direct translation: take from society, give back to society). The community is ours to belong, and the future is yours to behold. So, as we progress together as a nation, let us also challenge ourselves to be a community who aim to reach out to more people, touch more hearts, and find many more causes to champion.
May I wish all of you success and fun in this marathon effort. Thank you for inviting me here and I shall be joining you in your car washing.