Singapore Government Media Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
140 Hill Street #02-02 MITA Building, Singapore 179369.
Tel: 837 9666
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SPEECH BY MR WONG KAN SENG, MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AT MINISTER’S APPRECIATION DINNER FOR MHA COUNCILS, BOARDS & COMMITTEES ON FRIDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2000, 7.30PM AT STAMFORD BALLROOM, WESTIN STAMFORD
Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,
We gather again, as we do every year, to thank and honour you, for selflessly serving in our various councils, boards and committees.
MHA’s Councils/Boards/Committees
All of you play a vital role in helping the Home Team achieve our vision of building a safe and secure best home for Singaporeans. Members of the National Crime Prevention Council, for example, help the Police develop and disseminate crime prevention messages to the public and the business community. The National Council Against Drug Abuse has not only continued with its relentless anti-drug publicity through its successful and long-running Partnership for a Drug Free Singapore programme, it has also produced several innovative and engaging publications to convey the message, including a soon-to-be-launched compilation of drug abuse true stories. In the recent tremor incident, the Civil Defence Co-ordinating Committees helped SCDF reassure residents that there was nothing to fear. Similarly, the National Fire Prevention Council continues to work with the SCDF to propagate fire safety awareness to the community at large, through its many varied and interesting programmes and activities.
The Citizenship Committee of Inquiry provides an avenue of appeal for any Singaporean who is deprived of citizenship. The Criminal Law Advisory (Hearing) Committees examine the evidence, as well as hear written and oral representations of persons dealt with under Criminal Law to ensure that innocent persons are not wrongly detained. The Criminal Law Advisory (Review) Committee and Criminal Law Review Board review annually the detainees' suitability for release from detention. These are some examples. Members of other councils, boards and committees work as hard to help keep Singapore safe and secure.
Indeed, the work of the various Councils, Boards and Committees are forerunners of ‘Active Citizenship’, one of the key ideas of the Singapore 21 vision. Your contributions to the work of MHA agencies have contributed a robust Home Team.
Award Recipients
Tonight, we show our appreciation to the award recipients, 15 of you for 5 years’ of service, 12 for 10 years’ of service and 8 for 15 years’ of service. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Lim Teck Hui, Chairman of the Criminal Law Review Board, for 30 years of dedicated voluntary service.
The Home Team also thanks each and every one of you for coming forward to serve the community. As our key community partners, you have made immense contributions in helping us keep Singapore safe and secure.
Thank you, and I look forward to your continued support.