MyStory

Siti Nur Jannah Binte Jamaludin, 1987
Corporate Support Officer, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority of Singapore

"We need to have one heart among the different races. One heart to work together, one heart as a country."

Do you know that you share a very important birthday with our country? 3rd December is the date when Singapore’s National Anthem, the new flag and Coat of Arms (State Crest) were first unveiled to the newly-self-governing state. How do you feel about that?

I feel very proud to know that I share the same birthday. It’s unexpected.

We have six national symbols - the Flag, National Anthem, Pledge, State Crest, the Lion Head and the National Flower. Which of these symbols mean the most to you? In what way, and why?

The Vanda Miss Joaquim, the flower. It’s easy to remember and very soft. And it makes me proud that we have our own flower for our own country.

What does ‘Home’ mean to you?

Home is a safe and secure place. Singapore is my home because it is a safe and secure place also. Singapore has a very high standard of living.

When you think about Singapore, what are the first things that come to mind?

The places. We have Little India, we have Chinatown, we have Geylang Serai, and, and Orchard Road. They are multi-racial, we are a multi-racial place.

If you have a foreign friend coming to Singapore, what are the top three things that you would introduce your friend to?

I’ll bring him or her to places like Little India, Geylang Serai. I’ll also introduce him or her to the food here. Like thosai, prata, and Malay and Chinese food. Because maybe some of them won’t come across this kind of food in their own countries. Like my relatives in Malaysia, they don’t know what sup tulang is. And the Istana. I feel proud that this place is secure and it’s interesting.

What do you think we need to do in order to continue overcoming challenges in the future?

We just need to have one heart. No matter how, what is the outcome, we still need to help to solve problems among each other, among the different races. We need to have one heart among the different races, as a country.

What hopes and aspirations do you hold for Singapore?

I hope that in the future, every country will know how well Singapore runs. Because we are a small island, so there are some countries who still don’t know us. There are people who say that Singapore is a safer place to stay in.