Speech | Welcome Address at REDAS 65th Anniversary Dinner by Mr Tan Swee Yiow | 15 Nov 2024
REDAS 65TH ANNIVERSARY SAPPHIRE CELEBRATION
15 NOVEMBER 2024; 730PM TO 10PM
LEVEL 3 CASSIA BALLROOM, MARINA BAY SANDS
WELCOME SPEECH BY
MR TAN SWEE YIOW, PRESIDENT OF REDAS
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore
Ms Jane Ittogi,
Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development
Patron Mr Chua Thian Poh
Past Presidents of REDAS,
Fellow Members,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Good evening and a warm welcome to REDAS 65th Anniversary Dinner.
My heartfelt thanks to President Tharman for honoring us with his presence today, and to all of you for joining us in this special occasion.
The Past: Building a Nation
Turning 65 may mean receiving CPF retirement payouts for some. But at REDAS, we believe we are 65 years young, with much more to achieve.
Founded as the Singapore Land and Housing Developers’ Association in 1959, just, before Singapore’s independence, REDAS was formed by a group of visionary developers, like Mr Lee Kim Tah, Mr Lee Chin Chuan and Mr Tay Beng Swee, to raise standards and promote industry interests. These pioneers helped to lay the foundation for Singapore’s growth.
Real Estate is central to nation building, not only shaping the physical landscape, but driving social progress and creating jobs. Last year, our industry contributed nearly SGD 20 billion to Singapore’s GDP, and employed 16% of the workforce, around 602,000 jobs.
From early skyscrapers to iconic projects like Golden Mile Complex, OCBC Centre, Raffles City, The Fullerton Hotel, and South Beach, our industry has consistently shaped Singapore’s skyline to meet the city’s growing needs. Developments like Marina Bay and Jewel Changi Airport are prime examples of how we’ve helped Singapore to become a global financial hub and top destination.
The Present: Shaping a Modern, Sustainable, Inclusive & Digitalised City
Over time, our contributions have grown beyond the physical. In recent years, REDAS members have extended their vision into areas of sustainability, innovation, digitalisation, and inclusiveness. From landmark eco-friendly designs to world record breaking green spaces, our projects have gained international recognition, setting new standards and reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to responsible and forward-thinking development.
These achievements reflect the vision, resilience, and adaptability of our members, ensuring that we remain leaders in urban development on the global stage. I am proud to say that the quality of Singapore’s developments stands proudly among the best in the world, shoulder to shoulder among other global cities.
Recognising Our Leaders: REDAS Lifetime Achievement Award
As we reflect on our journey, we must honour the leaders who have shaped this industry. The REDAS Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour we bestow upon individuals who have made lasting contributions to the community, environment, and REDAS itself.
This year, we are honoured to recognize Mr. Chia Ngiang Hong, a key pillar of REDAS since 1989, with the REDAS Lifetime Achievement Award. He joins an esteemed group of leaders, including Patron Mr. Kwek Leng Beng, Patron Mr. Kwee Liong Keng, Past President Mr. Daniel Teo, Patron Mr. Philip Ng, and Past President Mr. Edmund Cheng, each of whom has made enduring contributions to our community and industry.
Mr. Daniel Teo was one of the founding members of the National Arts Council, while both Mr. Kwee Liong Keng and Mr. Edmund Cheng made significant impacts in the arts, notably as Chairmen of the Singapore Art Museum. In academia, Mr. Philip Ng played a pivotal role as the first Chairman of Singapore’s fourth university, SUTD. Last year, Mr. Kwek Leng Beng further demonstrated his commitment to education by donating an endowed gift of S$24 million to the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Together, these visionary leaders have shaped Singapore’s built environment, contributed to public service, and continue to inspire future generations.
Continuing Public-Private Partnerships
Over the years, REDAS has been advocating for a resilient industry and looking out for homeowners. As part of our advocacy for a stable market, REDAS has championed initiatives such as establishing developer project accounts, creating a conciliation panel for dispute resolution, and ensuring that detailed specifications are included in Sales and Purchase agreements.
Today, we’re tackling new challenges like tech disruption, climate change, and an ageing population. REDAS will continue to work closely with the government to address these issues by encouraging collaboration and driving innovation, so our industry can stay ready to meet Singapore’s needs.
One way we’re making this happen is through our partnership with SG Enable and the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) to enhance Barrier-Free Accessibility to most parts of Singapore. This partnership aims to enhance Singapore’s built environment to be inclusive for everyone.
Another exciting step forward is the RAPID Dashboard, which REDAS designed to support the Built Environment Industry Transformation Map by BCA. RAPID uses realtime data to keep projects on track and running efficiently, showing our commitment to digitalizing and raising industry standards. To date, we have about 20 pilot projects onboard with this.
Continuing Our Commitment to the Community
Aligned with this commitment, our members have been actively enhancing social wellness and uplifting the quality of life in our communities. By integrating greenery and wellness elements into commercial spaces, such as rooftop gardens, last-mile connectivity options, community-friendly features, and co-working spaces, developers are creating vibrant, accessible places that bring people together and enrich daily experiences.
Beyond urban development, REDAS has always been dedicated to supporting the community. I am proud to share that, as part of our 65th anniversary, with strong support from members like CapitaLand, we raised S$235,000 to support the President’s Challenge. I’m happy to say that REDAS will be topping up S$65,000 to reach a total of S$300,000.
This reflects REDAS’ long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility, which includes initiatives like KidSTART, ComLink, and the REDAS Solidarity Project Fund, which provided support to migrant workers and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Future: A Continued Partner in Nation-Building
Looking ahead, REDAS remains committed to supporting Singapore’s ongoing transformation. We see great potential in ground-up masterplanned developments, where early involvement from developers can significantly improve planning and execution to meet the both market and community needs.
Our members are ready to create sustainable and resilient developments that foster vibrant, liveable, inclusive neighbourhoods to create long-term value for future generations.
We believe that real estate is more than buildings; it’s about building communities and improving lives.
Conclusion
As we celebrate 65 years of REDAS, I would like to remind the industry to continue pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and seeking new opportunities to improve sustainability and inclusivity in our developments.
The journey ahead is filled with new challenges, but with a collaborative and forwardthinking mindset, we can ensure Singapore remains a vibrant, liveable, and inclusive city for generations to come.
On this note, I would like to thank President Tharman for honoring us with his presence today.
A heartfelt thank you to our distinguished guests, members, sponsors, partners, and well-wishers for your unwavering support.
Special thanks to Chairperson Ong Ai Ting and the Organizing Committee for making this celebration a memorable one.
Wishing everyone a wonderful, healthy, and safe holiday season ahead.
Here’s to 65 more years of excellence and collaboration!
