Remarks by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower at Wandering Dervishes’ Migrant Cricket Tournament

Shawn Huang, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower, Terusan Recreation Centre

Dr Muntasir Mannan Choudhury and Dr Tousif Kabir, Co-Founders of Wandering Dervishes,
Members of Parliament, Dr Hamid Razak and Mr Jackson Lam, 
Distinguished guests, volunteers and partners,
Our migrant brothers,

1 Good evening. I am happy to join you today at the Migrant Cricket Tournament organised by Wandering Dervishes. It is wonderful to see so many teams and supporters gathered here through their shared love of cricket.

2 Cricket is a sport that many of our migrant workers are passionate about. Beyond the excitement of the game, it brings people from different backgrounds together and creates opportunities to form new friendships. Activities like these also encourage an active lifestyle and provide a chance to unwind and recharge. 

3 Recreation centres like Terusan Recreation Centre play an important role in making this possible; which is why we have eight recreation centres located near dormitories where our migrant workers live. They provide spaces where workers can pursue their interests and take part in a range of activities. Today’s tournament is a good example of how these spaces bring people together through shared interests and experiences. I would like to thank Wandering Dervishes and its volunteers for making today's event possible. 

4 Since 2023, it has provided free health consultations and screenings to about 3,500 migrant workers across some 28 dormitories and recreation centres, helping to make healthcare and health information more accessible, including in workers’ native languages. I am heartened that Wandering Dervishes has also collaborated with many other government agencies and community partners to organise a range of programmes for our migrant workers. This is aligned to our approach to involve the whole-of-society to support the well-being of our workers. 

5 MOM values our partnership with Wandering Dervishes, as well as the support of the Central Narcotics Bureau, which is present today, with both contributing their time, expertise and resources to our migrant workers. Together, we can bring more activities and programmes to our recreation centres and create vibrant spaces where workers feel welcomed, connected, and supported.

6 To all the teams taking part today, congratulations on the spirit and sportsmanship you have shown today. Whether you were playing on the field or cheering from the sidelines, I hope you enjoyed the tournament and made new friends along the way. Thank you and have a wonderful evening.