"If it's within my means, I will help as much as I can": Recipient of Good Neighbour Award

A resident of Jurong West Street 93, Block 889A was given the Good Neighbour Award in recognition of his contributions towards the neighbourhood and embodiment of the ‘kampung spirit’.

The 39-year-old father of three had moved into the block in 2008, and in the nine years that followed, forged a deep bond with his neighbours, reports Lianhe Wanbao via Lianhe Zaobao. 

For example, as an engineer, he would help neighbours to fix their light bulbs and appliances for free. 

When reporters asked him what entails a ‘good neighbour’, he replied that there really wasn’t much to it, just treating others with sincerity. 

He said that he had lived in a kampung at Jurong before he was seven years old, and back then, the entire village was composed of relatives.

Hence to him, his neighbours were his relatives.

He said:

“Our doors were all kept open and we welcomed all friends or relatives.

“No matter what problems anyone faced, everyone would lend a hand.”

He added that even though his neighbours were not longer relatives after moving into a flat, his parents kept the spirit of ‘treating neighbours as relatives’ very much alive. 

He continued:

“Whether it was looking after the neighbours’ kids or looking after their houses while our neighbours were overseas, we all chipped in to help out.

“The kampung spirit is well and alive in the neighbourhood.”

Under his parents’ teachings, he started building a last friendship with his neighbours when he moved into his new apartment nine years ago, frequently volunteering as their handyman, and coming to their rescue when neighbour bumped into problems which required technical assistance.

The jovial man added:

“As long as we greet our neighbours with a smile and communicate with everyone openly, we will be able to find someone who requires our help.

“If it’s within my means, I will help as much as I can.

“We don’t have to be so calculating about everything.”