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Minister Chee Hong Tat Launches Changi Delights Card and Announces New Community Hub in Pasir Ris-Changi
On Saturday, 13 June, Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat visited the Changi ward of Pasir Ris‑Changi GRC to launch a new community initiative and to receive an update on a forthcoming community hub.
During the visit, the minister witnessed the unveiling of the Changi Delights Card, a programme that offers residents of the Pasir Ris‑Changi area discounts ranging from 5 % to 50 % at 27 participating neighbourhood businesses. The participating merchants include beauty salons, eateries, laundries and pet‑grooming services, and the card is expected to expand as more merchants join in the coming months.
Pasir Ris‑Changi GRC Member of Parliament Valerie Lee explained that the card was born from conversations with residents and local business owners who expressed a need for more affordable goods and services and for increased footfall to support their businesses. Lee said the programme should become a permanent feature that benefits both residents and merchants.
The minister also received a briefing on a new community hub that will be located between Jalan Batalong and Flora Road. The hub, described as roughly the size of two basketball courts, is part of the estate’s upgrading programme and is slated for completion in 2027. Lee noted that the site was chosen because residents of the surrounding condominiums and landed estates have limited access to communal space.
Planning for the hub is still underway, but the project will be guided by resident feedback, including the types of activities and programmes that residents and grassroots volunteers wish to see. Once completed, the hub will serve as a gathering point for community events and programmes.
Chee emphasized that the partnership between the government and local communities is essential for creating better outcomes. He said that placemaking—defined as the proactive management of spaces through infrastructure improvements, event organising and engagement—requires close collaboration. “Whether it is to improve local infrastructure, facilities, place‑making, and activities, or to address cost‑of‑living concerns, this requires us to work closely,” the minister said.
The minister highlighted that the government’s role is to provide sound policies, but that local communities can also contribute in ways that the government alone cannot. He described the partnership as a “We First” society, where government, businesses, community groups and residents jointly produce positive outcomes.
The launch of the Changi Delights Card and the announcement of the new community hub illustrate the ministry’s focus on placemaking and community engagement in the eastern region of Singapore. The card’s rollout will begin immediately, with residents able to register online and receive their membership cards within one to two weeks.
The community hub project will continue to be developed in consultation with residents, and the government will monitor the card’s uptake and the hub’s progress as part of its broader town‑upgrading strategy.
The Changi Delights Card is available to all residents of the Pasir Ris‑Changi area, and the community hub is expected to open in 2027, providing a new space for residents to participate in local events and programmes.
The initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing local infrastructure and community life through collaborative efforts between government and residents.
During the visit, the minister witnessed the unveiling of the Changi Delights Card, a programme that offers residents of the Pasir Ris‑Changi area discounts ranging from 5 % to 50 % at 27 participating neighbourhood businesses. The participating merchants include beauty salons, eateries, laundries and pet‑grooming services, and the card is expected to expand as more merchants join in the coming months.
Pasir Ris‑Changi GRC Member of Parliament Valerie Lee explained that the card was born from conversations with residents and local business owners who expressed a need for more affordable goods and services and for increased footfall to support their businesses. Lee said the programme should become a permanent feature that benefits both residents and merchants.
The minister also received a briefing on a new community hub that will be located between Jalan Batalong and Flora Road. The hub, described as roughly the size of two basketball courts, is part of the estate’s upgrading programme and is slated for completion in 2027. Lee noted that the site was chosen because residents of the surrounding condominiums and landed estates have limited access to communal space.
Planning for the hub is still underway, but the project will be guided by resident feedback, including the types of activities and programmes that residents and grassroots volunteers wish to see. Once completed, the hub will serve as a gathering point for community events and programmes.
Chee emphasized that the partnership between the government and local communities is essential for creating better outcomes. He said that placemaking—defined as the proactive management of spaces through infrastructure improvements, event organising and engagement—requires close collaboration. “Whether it is to improve local infrastructure, facilities, place‑making, and activities, or to address cost‑of‑living concerns, this requires us to work closely,” the minister said.
The minister highlighted that the government’s role is to provide sound policies, but that local communities can also contribute in ways that the government alone cannot. He described the partnership as a “We First” society, where government, businesses, community groups and residents jointly produce positive outcomes.
The launch of the Changi Delights Card and the announcement of the new community hub illustrate the ministry’s focus on placemaking and community engagement in the eastern region of Singapore. The card’s rollout will begin immediately, with residents able to register online and receive their membership cards within one to two weeks.
The community hub project will continue to be developed in consultation with residents, and the government will monitor the card’s uptake and the hub’s progress as part of its broader town‑upgrading strategy.
The Changi Delights Card is available to all residents of the Pasir Ris‑Changi area, and the community hub is expected to open in 2027, providing a new space for residents to participate in local events and programmes.
The initiative reflects the ministry’s commitment to enhancing local infrastructure and community life through collaborative efforts between government and residents.
