'Coming here feels like coming home': PM Wong visits East Coast

Mr Bala Trichy Iyer, 56, gives back to his community by offering basic coding classes at Changi Simei Community Club (CC).

- Shermaine Ang

The entrepreneur, who founded technology start-up The Walnut, has held three Python lessons so far. To his surprise, residents in their 70s with no tech background showed up and kept coming back.

"Most of them say: 'I have no idea. Looks like I have missed the boat.' But we say: 'No... we'll teach you today. And not only will you do it effortlessly, you'll be enjoying it also,'" he said.

Such community spirit is important as Singapore embarks on a new phase of nation-building in a troubled time, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Dec 14.

"You can see it around the world when you read the news. The world is becoming more troubled. There are wars in Europe, in the Middle East," he said at a community event in Bedok. "Society is becoming more divided, trust being eroded."

But Singapore can be a "beacon of light" and come together to face challenges, he said. "We can be stable, secure, reliable and trusted."