I REFER to the letter 'Neighbours do not interact' (my paper, June 3).
I agree with the writer and I would like to provide my feedback and suggestions.
I have been a grassroots leader in my constituency for 21/2 years and I have been observing the relationship among my fellow residents and neighbours.
With many of us living a hectic lifestyle, we certainly lack the energy, time and opportunities to get to know and mingle with our immediate neighbours and other residents living in the same HDB block - let alone mixing with those living in other blocks in the estate.
Most of the time, our main doors are shut. And residents who do take the initiative to interact with one another are often limited to a few groups, such as the senior citizens and the housewives.
In addition, the lack of the Chinese dialects or the Malay language - which used to be the lingua franca among Singaporeans in the 1960s to the 1990s - could be another reason for the non-interaction.
Some of us also do not want to be labelled as kaypohs or busybodies, and we try as much as possible to keep to ourselves.
This is certainly an unhealthy sign as we ought to interact with our neighbours for several reasons.
There is a wise old Malay saying that our neighbours are much closer to us than our relatives, so we should be encouraged to be close to our neighbours.
Apart from the goals of social bonding and creating a cohesive society, neighbours can be considered as our 'first line of help'.
In times of need or emergency, we can turn to our neighbours who live right next to us.
In peaceful situation, however, good neighbourly ties are also a platform for encouraging mutual understanding, an opportunity for networking and appreciation among the various races and religions, and a source for advice, guidance and even business opportunities.
Being actively involved in grassroots activities, I can testify that the various grassroots organisations (GROs) provide more than sufficient avenues and opportunities for the residents to mingle. Some examples include the quarterly Residents' Night, the monthly brisk walking event, and the annual festive celebrations.
I am pleased to note that my neighbours and fellow residents in the estate where I live and serve have provided their support for the activities and events that we organise regularly.
Here is my two cents' worth of advice for my fellow Singaporeans: Get to know your immediate neighbours today.
And while you are at it, join the GROs as a volunteer to contribute to your estate.
If not, just enjoy the various activities and events organised as they provide a common platform for meaningful interaction among residents.
Each of us has an important role to play in making our estate lively. Let's make the first move today.
