On October 20, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Mr Lee Hsien Loong graces SSA Headquarters for non-governmental humanitarian organization Mercy Relief (MR)’s Fifth Stakeholders’ meeting. This event commemorates MR’s five years of regional humanitarian work since PM Lee launched the people-initiated NGO in September 2003. Amongst the 300 guests present was Mercy Relief Advisor, Speaker of Parliament Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Ambassadors from Cambodia and Myanmar, religious leaders from the Inter-Religious Organization, grassroots leaders and volunteers. MR’s various foreign partners from Indonesia, China and Myanmar, and representatives of the 17 countries that MR has worked in were also represented at the dinner function.
In the opening address, Mercy Relief Chairman Mr TK Udairam paid tribute to three outstanding partners from religious sector which includes SSA, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) and the Catholic Archdiocese. He said, “SSA is an institutional partner of Mercy Relief since we were launched in September 2003. SSA has supported Mercy Relief in so many ways. In championing the intentions and contributions of our stakeholders, SSA has given us their unconditional and unyielding support.” He further added that, “SSA has worked with Mercy Relief to organize youth expeditions to help communities in Cambodia, the Philippines and Indonesia.” The Youth Expedition Project was also launched in year 2000 by PM Lee.
In his speech, PM Lee also “encourage youths to do international volunteerism work as a good way to build resilience and nurture a strong sense of community and service.”
One of the highlights of the event was the launch of MR’s two field offices in China and Indonesia by PM Lee and Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi respectively. These new offices reflect MR’s commitment to expand its efforts in international development work in rural areas, focusing on basic education, healthcare, water, sanitation and sustainable livelihood.
Besides the melodious tunes from local acapella group Budak Pantai and MR’s Goodwill Ambassador for Indonesia, Asian Idol Hady Mirza, SSA Soka Chorus also performed at the event.
The event sponsored by Hyperbaric and Occupational Medicine Pte Ltd (HOM) was reported on that night’s English and Mandarin news, and published on October 21’s The Straits Times and Lianhe Zaobao.
[About Mercy Relief
Mercy Relief is a charitable non-governmental organization that strives to extend its services to all regardless of country, culture or creed in response to natural or man-made disasters. It was officially launched by then-Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on 19 September 2003. SSA Chairman Ong Bon Chai is presently the Deputy Chairman of the Mercy Relief Board.]
