The Parade of Unsung Heroes
Done by: NURUL IIMAN BTE SAID
Clad in a neon green vest, 54 year old part-time security guard, Mohd Yunos Rahmat keeps watch on the people streaming through the gates. He has been standing on duty since 2 pm in the afternoon, all for the safety of the Chingay performers and the spectators.
Mr Yunos is part of more than 2000 volunteers that volunteered to help out at the parade by managing the crowds and ushering in the spectators. An army of police officers and security guards like him are on duty to make sure Chingay runs smoothly.
Unable to watch the parade himself, Mr Yunos only manages to catch a glimpse of the fireworks from where he stands. It is his first time on duty as a security guard for such a big event and he takes his duty very seriously. “It’s a tough job, it’s very challenging. Being in Singapore and all that, ensuring security means that everything has to be in order. We need to take note of the surroundings as we are assigned respective locations and duties,” he says.
Part of the unsung heroes parade are the volunteers, donned in red shirts. Lee Kai Lin, Kelyn, an 18 year old graduate from Hwa Chong Junior College is one of them. The volunteers report at about 2.30pm and then leave at around 11pm, when the entire event ends. Kelyn, whose job is to meet different people and direct the crowd to the traffic, says that she enjoys the privilege of watching things the spectators do not. "At the start of the event, there are performers who are already dancing on their own enthusiastically with their friends... it's why I enjoy being behind the scenes," she says.
Done by: NURUL IIMAN BTE SAID
Clad in a neon green vest, 54 year old part-time security guard, Mohd Yunos Rahmat keeps watch on the people streaming through the gates. He has been standing on duty since 2 pm in the afternoon, all for the safety of the Chingay performers and the spectators.
Mr Yunos is part of more than 2000 volunteers that volunteered to help out at the parade by managing the crowds and ushering in the spectators. An army of police officers and security guards like him are on duty to make sure Chingay runs smoothly.
Unable to watch the parade himself, Mr Yunos only manages to catch a glimpse of the fireworks from where he stands. It is his first time on duty as a security guard for such a big event and he takes his duty very seriously. “It’s a tough job, it’s very challenging. Being in Singapore and all that, ensuring security means that everything has to be in order. We need to take note of the surroundings as we are assigned respective locations and duties,” he says.
Part of the unsung heroes parade are the volunteers, donned in red shirts. Lee Kai Lin, Kelyn, an 18 year old graduate from Hwa Chong Junior College is one of them. The volunteers report at about 2.30pm and then leave at around 11pm, when the entire event ends. Kelyn, whose job is to meet different people and direct the crowd to the traffic, says that she enjoys the privilege of watching things the spectators do not. "At the start of the event, there are performers who are already dancing on their own enthusiastically with their friends... it's why I enjoy being behind the scenes," she says.
BEHIND THE SCENES: Armed with pom-poms, these Chingay volunteers welcome in the spectators getting them all warmed up for the event which is held over two days. - (PHOTO: JEREMY LAH WEI XIANG)
When asked what they do while the parade is in progress, volunteer Teo Ming Jie, 19, a year one student from Nanyang Polytechnic says: “ We have to keep a look out for and stop people from throwing their bottles down or climbing over the railings.” Ming Jie goes on to add that she enjoys the experience of being a first time volunteer. “It’s very tiring, but worth it in the end because there are people that come to you, thank you and say bye… they walk past you and give you some things. I got a chocolate,” she says with a smile.
It is exactly this spirit of dogged optimism and positiveness from volunteers like her that pulsate throughout the night, helping to give Chingay that special shine.
It is exactly this spirit of dogged optimism and positiveness from volunteers like her that pulsate throughout the night, helping to give Chingay that special shine.