Singapore

Temasek Holdings is pleased to announce that it is contributing $100,000 towards the new building fund of the Singapore Leprosy Relief Association (SILRA) Home, which is Temasek’s adopted charity. The cheque will be presented to SILRA at a dinner with the residents of SILRA Home on 3 Dec 02 in celebration of the year-end festivities.

2. The adoption of SILRA Home, which took place in the first half of 2002, is part of Temasek’s social contribution initiatives. SILRA Home is the first adopted charity of Temasek Holdings, and one of the main objectives of this initiative is to encourage volunteerism among the Temasek staff. A committee comprising Temasek staff plans and manages the programmes under this initiative.
3. Since the start of this initiative, Temasek has organised a number of volunteer activities with the residents of SILRA Home. In July this year, with the assistance of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and SMRT Corporation, Temasek arranged a tour of the Changi Airport and a short ride on the MRT for the residents. The residents enjoyed the outing tremendously because many of them, with their conditions, had not been to the airport nor taken a ride on the MRT. And in September, about 20 Temasek Holdings staff celebrated the mid-autumn festival with the residents.
4. SILRA, which has occupied their current premise at Lorong Buangkok since 1971, will be moving to a new five-storey building with nursing facilities in Buangkok Green in the first half of 2003. Temasek’s contribution will go towards the purchase of furniture and equipment for this new home.

About SILRA Home

The Singapore Leprosy Relief Association (SILRA) was set up in 1951 to help look into the welfare of leprosy sufferers. It built SILRA Home through public donations. The Home was officially opened on 4 Sep 1971 by the late President of Singapore Dr Benjamin H Sheares.

Its objectives are:

• Promote aid, assistance and coordination of welfare and relief for persons suffering from leprosy:
• Bring cheer into lives of ex-leprosy sufferers

SILRA provides the following services:

• Financial assistance to needy leprosy patients
• Food, lodging, recreation and healthcare services for ex-leprosy patients
• Classes to teach patients handicraft skills and rehabilitative work

The current home at Lorong Buangkok (off Yio Chu Kang Road) has a capacity of 150 destitute ex-leprosy patients. It is presently housing 91 patients (55 male, 36 female). Although of average age exceeding 70 years, they are not bedridden although several are in wheelchairs. SILRA will be moving to a new 5-storey building with nursing facilities at Buangkok Green in 1st half 2003.

SILRA is a charity under the National Council of Social Services, which subsidises the basic operating costs of SILRA, such as manpower, electricity and water.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Eva Ho (Ms)
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Temasek Holdings (Pte) Ltd
Tel: (65) 6828-6763
FAX: (65) 6828-6263
Mobile: (65) 9617-6234
Email: evaho@temasek.com.sg