Active ageing, healthy living and a birthday surprise at AMK event

PM Wong plays pickleball with youngest member of interest group at carnival

- Chin Soo Fang

It was a birthday gift he will never forget.

Nolen Ang, who turns 11 on Oct 6, was playing pickleball when Prime Minister Lawrence Wong showed up at the first Sports and Wellness Carnival organised by the grassroots organisations of Ang Mo Kio GRC and Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang SMCs in Hougang Street 61 on Oct 5.

He showed PM Wong a video of the game on his tablet before they played for about five minutes. To cap it off, PM Wong signed Nolen's pickleball and took photos with him.

“I was a bit nervous at first, but he was very nice and friendly,” said the Primary 5 pupil from Xinmin Primary School. “I was so excited to see him in real life for the very first time.”

He immediately shared the photos on his WhatsApp group with his classmates and friends.

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Darryl David, Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Ng Ling Ling, who are the MPs for Ang Mo Kio GRC, as well as Kebun Baru MP Henry Kwek and Yio Chu Kang MP Yip Hon Weng, joined residents at the carnival to promote active ageing and a healthy lifestyle.

Speaking to the 1,000 participants, PM Wong said he was happy to see the residents of Ang Mo Kio GRC, which is a mature estate with many seniors, keeping active and healthy.

He said his visit to Ang Mo Kio was the latest in a series of constituency visits since he took over as prime minister about five months ago.