Lessons from campus life : Why we need to go beyond textbooks, keep an open mind and prepare for an unpredictable future
The NUS Students’ Union invited me to the Union Forum on 17 August 2012 to share my reflections on life as an undergraduate.
This following is an edited transcript of an off-the-cuff speech. Razor TV video available
Mr Ang Yu Qian, President of the National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU)
Mr Soh Yi Da, President of the National University of Singapore Students’ Political Association (NUSPA)
Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is not possible to predict the future. But we must evolve, and cope with the consequences of future megatrends, e.g. climate change, extreme storms, extended droughts, water scarcity, land scarcity, energy costs, resource scarcity and food production
PUB recently announced new measures to increase flood protection at upstream areas of the Stamford Canal catchment area, including Orchard Road.The new measures include the construction of a new diversion canal to divert stormwater from about 240 hectares, or 38%, of the Stamford Canal catchment to Singapore River. Complementing the diversion canal is a detention tank which will be built to capture excess stormwater from the existing drains along Holland Road. These measures will enhance drainage capacity for this upstream area and protect it against potentially more intense storms in the future.
If we are to create a world of peace, love and harmony, we have to start by discovering ourselves
Hindi Centres 2012 Concert
Excerpts of a speech delivered on 22 July 2012 to commemorate the Hindi Centres Day.
Mr Vijay Kumar Rai, President of the Hindi Society Singapore; Members of the Management Committee of the Hindi Society and Hindi Centres,
We are here today to celebrate 23 years of really heartfelt volunteerism. I see many of you in this room that I recognise, and was also introduced to Mrs Sharma, whom I understand has been a teacher in the Hindi Centre since it started in August 1990.
Build the most beautiful city you can; plant as many trees as you can; invest in the latest technology; conserve water, energy and resources; and find honest, competent and visionary leadership
I spoke at the Opening Plenary of the Singapore International Water Week 2012, World Cities Summit and CleanEnviro Summit. Professor Tommy Koh, who was the moderator, asked:
“Minister, my question to you is two-fold. First, this plenary brings together our colleagues from water, city and the environment. What is the common thread that ties the three together, and what are some lessons learned that you would like to share with us?”
Gardens by the Bay
Rio+20: Future cities and national urban policies – The paradox of building a city in a garden is that we actually have to be very high-rise, highly urbanised, highly compact and very dense
Excerpts from speech delivered at UN Habitat Meeting in Rio de Janeiro 21 June 2012.
The moderator asked, “What does even perfect Singapore still confront that other cities can learn?”
Let me put things in perspective. The distance from this conference hall to Copacabana Beach is 30 km. That is the entire size of Singapore from east to west. The population of Singapore is the population of Norway – 5 million – squeezed into land between RioCentro (Convention Centre) and Copacabana beach. But 47% of the land is still covered by trees, either virgin jungle or trees that we have planted.
Design competition for new Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre
NTUC Foodfare to be appointed manager of the new Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre.
NEA-SIA Design Competition For BPHC
A design competition co-organised by NEA and the Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) will be launched on 11 June for the design of the upcoming BPHC. NEA is seeking innovative new ideas from architects that address the local identity and context. In particular, special consideration will be placed on designs that are attractive, practical, cost effective, environmentally sustainable and promote social bonding.
Singapore’s water industry doubles to 100 companies
Excerpts from press release by PUB, EDB, IE Singapore & Spring
Since being identified as a strategic growth industry in 2006, Singapore’s water sector has experienced rapid growth, with the total number of companies doubling from 50 to about 100. Over the same period, Singapore-based water companies also secured over 100 international projects worth close to S$9 billion.
Industry Update and Strategies
Singapore’s water industry continued its growth momentum in 2011 with investments which will add S$130 million of annual value-add and generate 460 jobs when fully realised.
Lim Hock Siew (1931-2012) – a fiercely independent unbending tenacious political fighter all his life
I remember meeting him 24 years ago at a party hosted by my mentor Professor. Arthur Lim. They were classmates in medical school and life long friends.
He introduced himself as “I am Lim Hock Siew, and just came out of prison a few years ago!”
We had a good chat and he freely shared his life experiences. I was struck by the absence of bitterness despite all his sacrifices. I think he knew in his heart that he was a patriot, and was proud that he never gave in.
Why and how we must remain an open city
This is an excerpt of a speech I gave in Parliament in 2009. This issue remains ‘live’. We must acknowledge the valid concerns of Singaporeans about the pace of immigration and whether our infrastructure development has kept pace. We must reaffirm that Singaporean will always come first. We need an open constructive discussion about this and other sensitive issues. But we can do so in a civil and constructive tone.