MND National Day Awards Investiture 2009
As 2009 draws to a close, many public agencies would begin to review the year, and also honour some of the dedicated officers who, like the artisans of a elegant tapestry, work together closely to further the mission of serving the public and the country.
On 18 November 2009, personnel from across the MND Family joined hands in a celebration of their hard work and achievement over the years at the MND National Day Investiture Awards. At the annual ceremony, held this year at the HDB Hub, MND Family officers were honoured for their excellent performance in their respective fields.
At the ceremony, Minister for National Development Mr Mah Bow Tan presented a total of 150 awards, comprising 9 Commendation Medals, 28 Efficiency Medals, and 113 Long Service Medals. The smiles and the beaming pride on the faces of the award winners and their families were evident as each of them walked proudly onstage to receive their awards from Minister Mah.
Mariani Ahmad from the Ministry of National Development Headquarters shared her heartfelt emotions. “The experience and challenges I encountered over the years in MND have contributed good learning points for my future years ahead. I am glad to be able to receive this award and it is indeed a wonderful moment in my career. MND is like a second home to me,” she said.
After a lively dance performance from the NUS dance ensemble, marking the end of the ceremony, guests adjourned to the outer hall for a well-deserved feast and also to catch up with friends and colleagues. The atmosphere was warm and convivial, as MND Family officers congratulated each other and posed for group photos. Both Mr Soon Fork Kee and Mr Tan Beng Hun embodied the MND Family spirit as they thanked their colleagues from BCA for the support and encouragement they received. Both shared that their work gave them a huge sense of fulfillment, especially when members of the public show appreciation as well.
In this article, let MND Link bring you exciting insights into the work of some of the award-winning professionals who make us proud!
Maniam s/o Murugiah (NParks) is a veteran of NParks, having started work in 1972. As Head/Prosecution & Investigation, Mr Maniam leads and formulates strategies and guidelines in ensuring the efficient and smooth functioning of the Prosecution and Investigation Unit. His job includes overseeing the counter service and collection of composition fees.
In view of his outstanding leadership abilities, he was tasked to transform the management of the team of tactical rangers in NParks. These tactical rangers perform enforcement actions to encourage the public to take on socially responsible behaviour when using the open green recreation spaces. Most notably, Mr Maniam also led the ranger team in providing effective surveillance support at the Speakers' Corner at Hong Lim Park.
Mr Maniam shares with MND Link his insights into managing the tactical rangers team.
“In managing the tactical rangers, we have to train them to face expected and unexpected challenges. When we started to manage discipline and order in Speakers’ Corner, we took heed of the need to be politically sensitive and calm. We have faced uncooperative offenders who refuse to produce their particulars when we ask for them, but we take note to be polite and firm always.
I remember one incident where there was an application to undertake a demonstration related to the usage of the Tamil language. Approval was not given by the authorities, but we had been given indications that it would take place nonetheless. We went to the suspected site and spoke calmly to some men who were loitering around. They understood and left the area peacefully. Hence, through tactfulness and careful action, we managed to defuse a potentially explosive situation.”
Ms Luk Seow Cheng is a senior scientist who is dedicated to her job to ensure that food imported into Singapore is safe for national consumption. In her 26 years with the Pesticide Residue Branch, Seow Cheng has helped to improve the analytical competence of the PRB as the National Reference Center (NRL) for Pesticide Reside Analysis in Food. The PRB is also recognized regionally for its competence in this field. Ms Luk is the key analyst tasked developing methods of analysis for newly emerging pesticides. She played a key role in the analysis of melamine in food, arising from melamine contamination incident in milk and milk products of China origin. The PRB was instrumental to the analyses of more than 4,500 samples in the three-month surge in testing during the last quarter of 2008, with most results released within 48 hours.
Ms Luk looks back at one of her most rewarding and challenging experiences in AVA.
“In 1987, when we only had 2 people in the lab, there was one incident whereby vegetables were found to contain a high level of pesticide, and subsequently, we had to screen almost 100 samples every day. During that period, scientific analysis was relatively backward and thus the processing of the chemicals and testing procedures were quite labour-intensive. That incident was really challenging and unforgettable.”
Ms Linda Lui began her career in URA in June 1996. An architect by training, she was first attached to the Conservation Department of the Conservation & Urban Design Group, before being deployed to its Urban Planning Department. Linda is now part of the Marina Bay project team, which is responsible for the master planning and urban design work for the Marina Bay, the focus of development in our city centre. Marina Bay is Singapore's most ambitious project to date.
Besides the Marina Bay project, Linda recounts to MND Link her other memorable experiences working with her URA colleagues.
“Some of the most memorable experiences and challenges include being part of the team that worked on the Integrated Resorts project, where I was given the opportunity to work on the preparation of the Request for Proposal (RFP) and being part of the whole evaluation process where the Accepted Proposal was finally selected for the site at Marina Bay. It was an intense and very rewarding experience as we gained many insights from our interactions with the prospective Proposers as well as from our panel of international experts in the evaluation of the design submissions.
Another memorable experience would definitely be the opportunity to be part of the team working on the APEC Leaders’ Spouses’ visit at the Singapore Flyer, which was held recently. The preparation work leading up to the event was challenging as there were several last minute changes but with great teamwork and the URA SPIRIT, we managed to pull it off and the event was a success!”
Ms Amanda Go Pei Sng joined HDB in June 1998 as a Planner in the Research & Planning Department (RPD). Since then, she has served as the Town Coordinator for several HDB towns, such as Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Jurong East, and Hougang, carrying out comprehensive town planning and coordination of facility provisions.
As the Head of Planning Unit 4 in RPD currently, Ms Go leads a team of planners in carrying out comprehensive town planning, rejuvenation studies of HDB towns, co-ordination of consultations on road, rail proposals, and industrial land stock island-wide.
Amanda tells MND Link a little-known fact about HDB town planning and notes that she enjoys the challenge of working with the public on the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) project.
“Many Singaporeans are unaware of the nature of town planning work. What they usually see are the finished products of built forms and facilities. But they might not know that to reach the final form, a lot of planning is required beforehand. These would include planning the locations of the various land uses and how various land uses have specific guidelines. For example, some land uses can co-exist and others cannot.”
“At the launch of the Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) in 2007, we arranged many public engagement exercises. It was through these public engagement exercises that we can meet the public (including residents, students, private architectural firms) across various platforms. This connection with the public is novel to us, as we as planners not only formulate the new proposals now, we also work to gain support from the public for our proposals. The whole experience was definitely a worthy challenge.”