Madam Gurusamy Intrany has had her fair share of struggles earlier in life, from seeing her father die when she was a teenager, to going through a divorce after her husband of 13 years had an affair, and undergoing three surgical operations in one day.

Despite all these, the spirited 65-year-old has proven to be a pillar of support today, not just for her family, but also for many others.

She still takes care of her 93-year-old mother-in-law who lives with her, counsels couples on the verge of divorce, donates to old folks’ homes in Singapore and India, and gives money to the poor she sees on the streets.

Last Saturday, she was one of six winners of the Silent Heroes award, given out by the Hillview Civilians Club at its 52nd anniversary dinner at Shangri-La Hotel.

Now in its third year, the award honours people who help to improve the lives of others without expecting recognition or reward.

The organisers look out for those who have shown significant concern for the elderly, sick or disadvantaged, as well as those with serious long-term disabilities who have worked towards achieving their goals.

There is also a Pioneers of Promise category, which recognises Singaporeans from the pioneer generation who use their skills to raise awareness about social issues, promote harmony, and encourage youth to work towards their goals.

Madam Intrany, one of the winners in the Pioneers category, buys chicken rice for the homeless elderly or disabled on the streets, and gives them clothes or $5 to $10.

She also occasionally visits Tai Pei Old People’s Home and Sree Narayana Mission with food and small sums of money for the elderly residents.

“As long as I am alive, I like to help these people because they have also suffered,” said the mother of four and grandmother of three.

“My mother was a good person who worked very hard for her nine children as a cleaner and cook. She taught us to help others even though we might not have much.”

Madam Intrany earns $2,000 to $3,000 each month, from being an astrologer and helping out with paperwork part-time at an engineering company.

Mr Ong Ye Kung, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills), who was guest of honour at the event, lauded the award winners as heroes “who display humility and selflessness”.

Hillview Civilians Club was set up in 1964 as a football club, but has evolved into a group that runs social outreach programmes for youth, the elderly and the disabled.

Mr M P Sellvem, the club’s president, said its mission has been to cultivate “the resilience of the kampung spirit” among Singaporeans.

“Through this initiative, we believe we can inspire more people to think and do good,” he said.

This article was first published on August 30, 2016.
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SINGAPORE – A worker from China died on Sunday (Aug 28) at a Woodlands construction site, bringing the workplace death toll this year to at least 49.

The 33-year-old fell seven storeys while working at the Woodlands Avenue 12 site, which is run by Wee Hur Construction.

His death came four days after a workplace health and safety conference last week, at which Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say warned the workplace death rate was likely to go up this year.

The accident occurred at project Mega@Woodlands, which according to a signboard at the site, is an eight-storey industrial factory development slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2017.

A Ministry of Manpower (MOM) spokesman said that at around 9am on Sunday, a team of workers had been installing formwork – moulds into which concrete is poured – for a column on the seventh storey of the building.

One of the formwork panels fell over the edge of the building, taking the victim with it.

Police said they received a call for assistance at 10am. Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The Straits Times understands the worker was wearing a safety harness at the time of the accident, but it is not clear if it was clipped onto a lifeline.

MOM is investigating the cause of the accident and has issued a stop work order on all formwork and lifting operations at the site.

Said the spokesman: “Employers and contractors are reminded to establish and effectively implement clear procedures to safely install and dismantle formwork.

“If lifted by a mobile or tower crane, a formwork panel should always be properly supported and secured prior to being released, to prevent accidental toppling.”

A spokesman from Wee Hur said the worker was employed by one of their sub-contractors.

“The deceased’s family has been notified and the company is arranging bereavement support to help the family tide through this difficult period.”

He added: “Wee Hur is committed to workplace safety and has instructed its safety officers, foremen and its sub-contractors to exercise greater caution at (the) worksite.”

This article was first published on August 29, 2016.
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