Singapore names its first Friendly Street

August 17, 2019

Jalan Bintang Tiga Friendly Street

Singapore, 17 August 2019 – The Singapore Kindness Movement (SKM) announced today that special identity motifs (IM) will be affixed to private estate street signs which recognises the neighbourhood as a “Friendly Street”. Jalan Bintang Tiga, was unveiled as the first street in Singapore to have received the new IM and was crowned the “Friendly Street”.

The Friendly Street IM was unveiled by Mr. Edwin Tong, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law & Ministry of Health, and Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, Dr. William Wan, General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement as well as Mr. James Suresh, organiser of the annual Jalan Bintang Tiga “Let’s Makan” Party. The Friendly Street IM recognises the neighbourhood’s initiatives to foster close neighbourly relations. It also serves as a reminder and encouragement to residents to continue displaying kind and courteous behaviour for years to come.

“Through the naming of Singapore’s first friendly street, we hope to encourage neighbourliness among all Singaporeans by showcasing Jalan Bintang Tiga as an outstanding example. We believe that when we connect with our neighbours, we can eradicate prejudices and become friends with one another. We hope that other neighbourhoods will also participate through acts of neighbourliness and for private estates, to join the nationwide call to become the next friendly street,” said Dr. William Wan, General Secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement.

The commissioning of the first “Friendly Street” paves the way for an inter-hood competition where other private estates in Singapore can compete for the title of Singapore’s next “Friendly Street”.

Interested private estate neighbourhood communities can visit and sign up via the HoodChampions webpage (www.hoodchampions.sg) to find out more about how they can be Singapore’s next “Friendly Street”. HoodChampions is a platform that connects residents within the neighbourhood that allows them to meet up, organise activities or even take part in friendly inter-hood or intra-hood competitions.

The presentation of Jalan Bintang Tiga as Singapore’s first “Friendly Street” took place prior to its annual neighbourhood “Let’s Makan” Party, organised by local best-selling author of Mr. Kiasu, Mr. James Suresh and his committee of neighbours.

Following the unveiling of the Friendly Street IM, residents gathered for an evening of festivity to re-live the “Kampung Spirit” and foster closer neighbourly ties. The residents enjoyed local delicacies contributed by residents and food outlets from around the neighbourhood. Activities were also organised for children including a treasure hunt, relay games, and a piñata.

“It warms my heart to see that the kampung spirit is very much alive in this neighbourhood. Even simple acts like coming together for a meal can go a long way in building friendly neighbourly relations. I hope that more Singaporeans can be greater and take the initiative to get to know their neighbours better,” commented Dr. Wan.

Since 2013, the Singapore Kindness Movement has supported the “Let’s Makan” Party, holding it up as an example of a gracious neighbourhood made possible by the ownership and spontaneous initiative of the residents themselves. In 2018, Mr. James Suresh was inducted into the Kindred Spirit Circle as a Voice of Loving Kindness for being a kindness advocate in promoting neighbourliness.


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