Good Morning Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen.
1. I am very happy to officiate this morning’s Topping-Out Ceremony for the AMK Hub. This project is jointly developed by the Singapore Labour Foundation, NTUC Income and NTUC FairPrice. Ang Mo Kio residents have waited patiently in eager anticipation for the development of this new 7-level shopping mall and integrated bus interchange. At the same time, the AMK Hub development is in line with an exciting phase for the Labour Movement as well. Let me explain.
Labour Movement 2011
2. In August this year, the Labour Movement announced its Labour Movement 2011 or LM 2011 vision for the next five years, which is to be a ‘Labour Movement for All, All for Labour Movement’. In other words, it will be a Labour Movement working together to serve all workers, from low-income contract workers to executives, of all nationalities and of all ages. This is an exciting vision where all within the NTUC family - our unions and cooperatives - to take a holistic approach in improving the lives of our workers and their families. We will work with our tripartite partners.
3. Thus, the AMK Hub development is in line with the spirit of LM 2011. The Singapore Labour Foundation, NTUC cooperatives and NTUC Club, and other partners have come together under one roof to serve residents in Ang Mo Kio and the region. Let me elaborate.
One-Stop Retail and Entertainment Complex
4. Ang Mo Kio residents of all ages will soon have a new one-stop retail and entertainment experience right at their doorstep. Anchor tenant, NTUC FairPrice’s first-ever hypermarket of 77,000 square feet will offer residents a wide array of value-for-money home essentials, fresh groceries, choice food products and other daily necessities. This is good news for both home-makers and those busy at work as they will be able to fulfil their household shopping needs easily.
5. Additionally, NTUC Income, NTUC Foodfare, NTUC Childcare, NTUC ElderCare and NTUC Healthcare will also provide a wide range of services and products that residents, both young and old, would find useful, at affordable prices. To the residents, this will translate into greater convenience, time and cost savings.
6. NTUC Healthcare’s Unity pharmacy will be incorporating a new Unity Lifestyle Hub concept here, offering full pharmacy dispensing service, patient counseling and general medicines for common ailments. As a specialty centre in AMK Hub, Unity will showcase organic food, a comprehensive range of vitamins and health supplements, a good display of rehabilitation equipment and home nursing supplies for our elderly residents.
7. To cater to the needs of our active seniors, NTUC Eldercare will be setting up a lounge in the AMK Hub as a meeting place for the elderly to socialize, to network and to organize activities for themselves. We hope that it will spring off many new activities and interest groups.
8. For the younger residents, NTUC Club will be offering an Integrated Entertainment Centre. It includes club facilities, a games arcade and an 8-screen cineplex featuring the latest movies in town for the whole family.
An Exciting and Balanced Trade Mix
9. Besides NTUC-related tenants, the AMK Hub aims to provide an exciting variety of fashion and apparel stores, beauty care services, a good selection of cafes and eateries for residents and shoppers, quality merchandise for the younger generation, and self enrichment and improvement courses for all.
10. There is indeed something for everyone! But there is more.
Rejuvenation of Ang Mo Kio Town Centre
11. At the township level, the AMK Hub will complement the rejuvenation of Ang Mo Kio Town Centre. Together with the estate’s upgraded flats, beautified parks and modern amenities like spacious walkways, and new and exciting storefronts, AMK Hub would please and pamper residents with its extensive range of offerings.
12. By having a seamless linkage with the upcoming air-conditioned bus interchange and the underpass to the Ang Mo Kio Mass Rapid Transport station, the one-stop AMK Hub will also provide greater convenience and accessibility to the contemporary family needs of residents within and beyond Ang Mo Kio.
13. With a wide population catchment of about 780,000 covering residents from Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Hougang, Serangoon and Toa Payoh housing estates, I am sure AMK Hub will be a buzzing focal point for the young, young-at-heart and the mature in the years to come. At the same time, it will also add to the vibrancy and vitality of the Ang Mo Kio Town Centre and the businesses here.
14. In conclusion, I congratulate SLF, NTUC Income and NTUC FairPrice on this occasion of its Topping-Out for the AMK Hub. I look forward to celebrating with Ang Mo Kio residents and you on the opening of the AMK Hub and bus interchange in 2007.
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For media queries, please contact:
Goy Kae Lip
Consultant
Corporate Communications Department
National Trades Union Congress
DID 6213 8184
HP 9792 0650
Email goykl@ntuc.org.sg
