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It has been slightly more than one year after it was announced on Apr. 21, 2020 that all foreign worker dormitories in Singapore would be put under lockdown.However, life is far from normal for dormitory residents, as their movement is restricted to their dormitories, their work sites, and one of Singapore's eight Recreation Centres.42-year-old Bangladeshi migrant worker Zakir shares more about what life is like for them on the inside and their hopes that they will be able to leave the dorms soon.#migrantworkers #covid19
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/zakir-migrant-workers-dormitory-restrictions/
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mothership-sg
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PERSPECTIVE: "But we wait, wait, but there is nothing happening. Until today, we cannot go out. We come in work and go to the dorm, that's it."
It has been nearly one year after it was announced on Apr. 21, 2020 that all foreign worker dormitories in Singapore would be put under lockdown.
The Covid-19 situation in dormitories appears to have levelled off since the peak of over 1,000 new dormitory cases a day in April 2020. Since 2021, there have been six Covid-19 cases amongst dormitory residents. Most workers are also back at work.
However, life is far from normal for dormitory residents, as their movement is restricted to their dormitories, their work sites, and one of Singapore's eight Recreation Centres.
42-year-old Bangladeshi migrant worker Zakir Hossain Khokan, who lives in Cochrane Lodge II, tells us more about what life is like on the inside for migrant workers, and the impact that Covid-19 and being mostly restricted to their own dorms has had on them.
Zakir is also the founder of Migrant Writers Singapore and One Bag, One Book, an initiative to spread reading culture among migrant workers living in Singapore.
By Zakir Hossain Khokan, as told to Jane Zhang
Shuttling between dormitory & worksite
We were allowed only go to work. Dorm and work. That's it.
[In the dorm,] we can go corridor, we can go downstairs, walk inside the dorm at level one. But we cannot go outside of the dorm.
The situation is like we are inside a cage, you know. This one kind of mental torture of the environment.
Some of my roommates joke to each other, "Hey, now we are in zoo. Hopefully some people come and buy some ticket and they will see us." Sad, but people make joke to make laugh.
Recently, they allow us to go nearest RC for three hours.
[Editor's note: Responding to Mothership's queries, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a statement on Apr. 14 that since Mar. 10, migrant workers living in dormitories are allowed to visit Recreation Centres up to three times a week, up from once per week previously.
These visits can be booked on different days of the week, or back-to-back on the same day.
The ministry said that on average, over 16,000 workers per week have booked multiple visits to the RCs.]
People can go, they have barbershop. Then vegetable shop and other grocery items they can buy. Also they can transfer money. And one small canteen.
The arrangement at least [allows] people go there. Just go there, and — I'll use Singlish — just jalan jalan lah!
Sunday if we no go work, 12 people inside the room, a very big crowd. Then people thinking, okay for three hour, they allow us to go RC.
We don't know what to do; why we go, we also don't know. Just go there lah, if need some groceries item, or some vegetable or fish or whatever! Better than stuck in the room.
Unable to see friends
If I go RC, feeling is okay, but actually does not give much refreshment. How to explain in English, I also don't know...
Actually, because we are waiting to meet our friends and family. But in RC, actually cannot be meet friends because different friends are living in different area in Singapore, different dorm in Singapore.
We miss each other, but we cannot meet together lah.
[The last time that we could meet with friends] was April 2020. In April, we do some activity in Little India — we distributed mask, hand sanitiser, and other things.
After Apr. 7, government announced Circuit Breaker. After Circuit Breaker, we have very, very — how to say? — very difficult time. We cannot meet together, cannot share.
Sometime we call, sometime video call. But this actually not captures everything, lah.
You know that as a human being, we find those similar kind of mentality friends. If can talk very long time, that can help us for mental well-being.
But in this pandemic actually, that also not possible.
[Editor's note: MOM also told Mothership that it has worked with various partners to facilitate 10 outings since the start of 2021, bringing almost 7,000 migrant workers to the community.]
Workers facing stress, mental health issues
This Covid actually — physically and mentally — really affected me very badly. Not only me. Suddenly I see my roommates and colleagues, they also affected very badly. Friends also, they also down.
I find out that they work very hard in this time, and they only can go work and dorm, not allowed to go other place. This is one kind of mental pressure for them — mental sickness or sort of thing.
Environment has a lot of change happen after Covid. Behaviour also have change.
I find out in my roommate who was very talkative, after Covid he become a very silent person. Someone who always made jokes for everyone, we laugh — this person also become very quiet. This all affect people's attitude, you know.
Like my job site, when I joined back after Circuit Breaker, I find that so many workers actually come to our safety department, and they share that they are not feeling well.
After a loooong time quarantined, they come back to join work, then they cannot concentrate to work, they're feeling every day headache, back pain, cannot eat properly, some people lost the [appetite].
Some people say, "I cannot get energy to work."
Mentally, they cannot concentrate, they cannot stable work. Actually this all coming from the mental health problem, but they cannot explain why they feeling these things, because this is very first experience for them also.
So actually, people need to, at the first level, talk about mental health — what is mental health?
Mental health festival
This pandemic time, you know, Migrant Writer of Singapore we started one Facebook group, called Daily Life in Covid-19. The page name we change now to "Arts in Me".
That page actually helped us along — so many new friends and new migrant workers and locals, they join the group and they share their stories, their motivational messages, their videos.
I think that also helped us a lot in the mental health well-being area. This positive vibe I think needs to spread in the society.
And in society, I find out not many people actually talk about mental health issues. That is one kind of taboo in the society — people thinking mental health is actually something that cannot share, cannot talk. That kind of taboo still have in society, everywhere.
So I find out this taboo need to break also. We need to open up and we need to share our story, our experience, so other people can hear, can learn. And sharing is one kind of medicine for well-being also.
And that's why, together with my team — Migrant Writers of Singapore — we need to make awareness in society about mental health.
I think people need to know what is the symptom of mental health, and where they have to go if they have some difficulty.
So we're going to do this mental health festival on Apr. 25 at Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre.
This actually is not only for migrant workers. I find that locals also facing a lot of mental health issues. That's why I invite to local and migrants, "Please join our festival. And please we share our experience together."
If we share more, than maybe we can find out some solutions, some ways that will help us more. We even invite some psychologists in our panel discussion. For event we put yoga, we put meditation, we put storytelling, poetry reading. This a lot of things that are related to mental well-being.
I think this mental health festival is very important in this time.
If you want a healthy community, if you want a healthy city, if you want a healthy country, without mental health, you cannot have a healthy country!
[Editor's note: The Mental Health Awareness & Wellbeing Festival will be happening on Sunday, Apr. 25 from 12:30pm to 5:30pm.
The festival will be open to an on-site audience of up to 50 people at the Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, in accordance with existing Safe Management Measures. It will also live-streamed online.
Find out more about the event here, and sign up to attend in-person here.]
Not sure when we will be allowed to leave dorms
We don't know [when we will be able to leave our dorms again]. We are waiting for that. We still don't know when we will be allowed to go to [anywhere] other than worksite. We no have any idea.
[Editor's note: On Dec. 14, 2020, MOM announced that it would be starting a pilot scheme in the first quarter of 2021 to allow migrant workers in some dormitories to access the community once per month.]
[Reading this announcement] made us smile, and we were very happy when we read this article, that MOM announced this kind of thing.
We expected that very soon we can go out and we can breathe outside. And so that gave us one kind of expectation.
It's not just me — my friends and colleagues who are living in worker's dorm, they were also hoping that they will come out of it soon, because day by day, the infected rate from dorm is down and down, right?
So when the situation is improving, that also give us hope that very soon, hopefully we can go out.
But we wait, wait, but there is nothing happening. Until today, we cannot go out. We come in work and go to the dorm, that's it.
We are waiting for the announcement that government will allow us to move in society and we can go where we want.
We hope that very soon we can move out of the dorm. Because this actually... if this time is day by day make longer, this situation actually make people one kind of a patient of mental health, and psychological issues will come out.
[Editor's note: Responding to Mothership's queries about the status of the pilot scheme, the ministry said that in the "near future", migrant workers will be allowed visits to the community in controlled numbers once a month.
"We are working on the details and will provide more information when ready. When a large majority of dorm residents are recovered workers or vaccinated and the risk of transmission in dormitories is greatly reduced, we can ease restrictions further."
MOM added:
"The recent Covid-positive case in a dormitory at Brani Terminal Avenue is a reminder that we must continue to be vigilant in our fight against Covid-19. This is in line with our commitment to calibrate and ease restrictions in a safe manner."]
Creating a bridge between migrant workers and locals
Locals have to feel the situation, how the migrant workers' life is going, realise what a tough life actually we are going through now.
If they realise, I think, they will find out how much sacrifice is going from migrant communities, to make the locals' lives better. This all is a sacrifice actually.
What I'm doing, it's doing for Singapore. When the local people will be sing the national anthem Majulah Singapura, hopefully they will realise that migrant worker also did a lot of work for Singapore.
If they realise these things, that will be very helpful and that will change people's views about migrant community.
And that is very important to change view to positive for migrant community, because when the virus spread, we received a lot of negative comments that "migrant workers not have any blah blah", and "they bring this virus in society".
Actually, that is wrong. Now, they have to realise. We're not bringing any virus in Singapore. This virus is spread because of unhealthy accommodation system.
You see, we are the most suffer because of wrong design of dorm. Still today we suffer.
I think if they realise, they will be find a positive view for migrant workers. And that positive view will make a bonding or bridge with locals and migrants.
That kind of thing will make healthy community, and will reduce discrimination and other things in society.
So I think this pandemic also show us that migrants and locals can come together and they also can make a wonderful, wonderful bonding together.
And that is very important for a healthy society, for mental health resources. If in a society, we can increase more humanity, that will be make a happy society.
Related story:
Top photo by Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images.
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While nightlife establishments across Singapore have had to cease operations due to Covid-19 measures, on the night of Apr. 2, three illegal KTVs within walking distance of each other in Farrer Park played host to 45 guests.Our writer shadows the Singapore Police Force as they find 45 people who were patronising the unlicensed public entertainment venues, and arrest another eight people.#lawenforcement
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/police-raid-illegal-ktv-farrer-park/
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mothership-sg
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They would have been downing drinks and belting their favourite tunes when their long weekend festivities came to an abrupt halt.
While nightlife establishments across Singapore have had to cease operations due to Covid-19 measures, on the night of Apr. 2, three illegal KTVs within walking distance of each other in Farrer Park played host to 45 guests.
When I’d reached the scene, evidence of the police’s forceful entry lay strewn across the ground; a knob sat on the floor amongst splinters about meter away from a ravaged wooden door.
At the foot of the door was a small plastic CCTV camera which had been ripped from its mounting above the doorframe moments before the Singapore Police Force (SPF) made its entrance.
The guests were now being detained for investigations, each presumably held in the rooms they had been partying in before police entered.
At the first location I visited — a converted residential space four floors above a coffeeshop — resembled something you might see at a cheap karaoke studio.
Thin partitions had been installed to divide the space into six rooms of different sizes, each outfitted with a sound system, karaoke machine, and a flatscreen television.
Karaoke videos continued to play on the screens albeit with the sound muted.
With the house lights turned on, the illusion of dark paint jobs and LED fixtures being anything more than hastily applied and tacky vanished.
Patrons sat on cheap furniture with their personal items — phones, wallets, and in some rooms, thick wads of cash — laid out on the tables in front of them. Group sizes ranged from three to eight.
Each room had at least one police officer in plain clothes standing watch.
One officer I saw held a clipboard and a stack of pink NRICs, another questioned a petite girl in a hallway.
Also present were other evidence of the reckless abandon that had preceded the raid — unfinished towers of beer and half-drunk glasses of alcohol. Left untouched, the drinks now appeared to be lukewarm and stale.
"I'm a celebrity!"
Despite the circumstances, patrons at the converted residential space seemed fairly upbeat and still in the mood to party.
One plump and heavily tattooed man I saw seemed to be casually conversing with the police officer.
He pointed to my own tattoos as I walked past his room and said: “this guy is got angkong too”.
“I’m a celebrity!” one woman loudly proclaimed as she squeezed past the media in a narrow corridor.
Police were leading her and another woman to the toilets, located in what would have been the unit’s kitchen.
Here the operators of the illegal KTV kept their alcohol in a large cooler.
Standing outside one of the rooms, I heard patrons discussed what they would do afterwards.
“Sh*t I was just feeling damn hungry before all this,” said a woman.
Someone else in the room suggested visiting Swee Choon later.
These patrons, aged between 24 and 66, were released after they were questioned by the police.
They will however remain under investigation for allegedly flouting the rules and regulations under the Public Entertainment Act and Liquor Control Act 2015, as well as the suspected breaching of Covid-19 measures.
Tension and regret
At another of the illegal KTVs — this time a converted office space which featured three karaoke rooms and an open lounge-type area — a hot-headed and uncooperative individual risked spending the rest of his night in police custody.
The mood at this site was much more sober and tense.
A room in the back had a counter, similar to one you might see at a restaurant, with boxes of beer stacked on top of each other behind it.
A cupboard below the counter stored various bottles of hard liquor, some bearing labels with names (presumably those of regular customers) on it.
As I ventured into one of the karaoke rooms to take photos, patrons maintained a dejected silence and hid their faces from the gaze of my lens.
The clicks of my camera shutter pierced the quiet; it must have punctuated the compounding feelings of humiliation and regret.
"The culprits will be dealt with sternly"
Apart from the 45 patrons, eight individuals were also arrested.
Six men and one woman, aged between 23 and 38, are alleged to be operating the venue and suspected of committing offences under the Liquor Control Act 2015 and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.
Another 38-year-old man, established to have an outstanding warrant of arrest, was also arrested.
I watched, along with the rest of the media, as the officers led a man and woman to a police van.
Photographers rushed to get their shots, their flashes firing relentlessly until the sliding van door was slammed shut.
Police were later seen confiscating various items.
Karaoke equipment, television sets, microphones, and alcohol were all loaded into a large lorry.
Addressing the media, Commander of Central Police Division and Assistant Commissioner of Police Gregory Tan said the operation was part of the SPF's on-going efforts to clamp down on illegal public entertainment activities.
"The culprits will be dealt with sternly in accordance with the law."
Related Stories:
Top image by Andrew Koay
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Malcolm Lee is the chef-owner of the acclaimed Candlenut restaurant, which serves up authentic Peranakan dishes with a modern twist.He set himself on a quest to share his love for Peranakan food, armed with the knowledge of a third-generation chef, and a very homely team of himself, his mother and three retired housewives.And of course, it was tough to say the least: Lee was barely scraping by to make ends meet. There were nights where he and his mother slept in the restaurant to maximise their rest time.“There were really many times that I told myself I wanted to give up... sometimes even up till today. A lot of things were sacrificed... Even with my family, friends and my relationship as well. Every single thing has been affected, it has all taken a second priority in life and I think that’s something that I quite regret at this point.”#restaurant #chef #food #Peranakan
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https://mothership.sg/2016/11/even-heartbreak-couldnt-make-this-sporean-give-up-on-his-peranakan-restaurant-now-its-michelin-starred/
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mothership-sg
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Opening and keeping a restaurant afloat is an endeavour riddled with all sorts of challenges.
Other than shelling out your life savings, slaving in the kitchen to perfect recipes and dishes, hiring, marketing, sourcing for ingredients and finding the right location (just to name a few), sometimes it takes a certain kind of luck to even make it at all — not to mention sacrificing relationships and loved ones.
But there's one guy who managed.
Meet Malcolm Lee.
He is the chef-owner of the acclaimed Candlenut restaurant, which serves up authentic Peranakan dishes with a modern twist. Take a look at some of their pretty dishes:
This is steamed curry of cod fillet & tiger prawns & fresh herbs —
And this is chilled glass vermicelli with wild abalone and Cincalok dressing:
In general, their dishes are priced between $12 and $36, on the slightly pricier side, but not bad for a gourmet Peranakan place, we think.
Anyway, Lee's restaurant was among those awarded one Michelin star, along the likes of hawker stalls Hong Kong Soya Sauce Noodle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle.
We now know Lee's story, courtesy of a pretty moving video posted to the Singapore Michelin Guide's official Facebook page, aptly titled The Struggles and Sacrifices of Running a Michelin-Starred Kitchen: Malcolm Lee of Candlenut.
It begins with Lee's early days as a chef. He was long inspired by French and modern European cooking, but he decided to go back to his Peranakan roots — because, after all, what can replace Beef Rendang, curries and kueh pie tee right?
He set himself on a quest to share his love for Peranakan food, armed with the knowledge of a third-generation chef, and a very homely team of himself, his mother and three retired housewives.
And of course, it was tough to say the least: Lee was barely scraping by to make ends meet. There were nights where he and his mother slept in the restaurant to maximise their rest time.
These tough times made him want to give up on the restaurant on countless occasions — you can't blame the guy when he had to deal with overcoming his split with his ex-girlfriend, who help set up the restaurant with him.
"There were really many times that I told myself I wanted to give up. There were so many times, you know, sometimes even up til today. A lot of things were sacrificed to reach today. Even with my family, friends and my relationship as well. Every single thing has been affected, it has all taken a second priority in life and I think that's something that I quite regret at this point."
Lee teared up talking about her, too :(
Nonetheless, the Michelin nod has pushed him to keep going in his pursuit of fine Peranakan cuisine, and now his toil and pain is seeing him move Candlenut to a larger location on Dempsey Hill — home to many classy food joints, and also a dream "home" for Lee.
They opened on November 1 — here are the details:
Block 17A Dempsey Road
249676 Singapore
Tel: 1800 304 2288
Opening hours : 12:00 - 14:30, 18:00 - 21:00
Here's a Mothership.sg salute to your grit, Malcolm — thank you for your passion, perseverance and invaluable contribution to our world-renowned food culture :)
Top photo from
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Azariah Tan, a Singaporean concert pianist, suffers from bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, caused by a degenerative condition which destroys the tiny hairs in his ears. He is likely to go completely deaf one day — and it isn’t even clear to him when that will happen.Despite that, Tan is as bubbly as the next guy (at times more so), willing to roll with the punches, and is an accomplished pianist to boot — at the age of 26, he has a doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance (so that’s Dr Azariah Tan to you).Does the prospect of going completely deaf frighten him, we asked.There was a slight hesitance before he replied with a resolute “No”.“I’m not too worried about it. I would say (my hearing level) is not going down super fast. It goes down gradually. But no one can say. It might plunge down suddenly, who knows?” #motivation #inspiration #success
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https://mothership.sg/2018/10/hearing-impaired-pianist-azariah-tan-interview/
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mothership-sg
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We had a problem.
The video challenge we had in mind for Azariah Tan, a Singaporean almost-deaf pianist, was a no-go. We thought it would be fun getting him to listen to several pieces of hardcore metal songs and replicate them on his piano.
But reality panned out differently. The challenge couldn't be done because the many layers in a metal song could not be broken down, interpreted and transmitted by his hearing aid. It would just sound to him like a huge mess of indiscernible noise.
As we stood there in his living room, trying to come up with another idea, he chimed in and said, "Hey, why don't I take off my hearing aid and you guys talk to me. It's really funny when I try to read your lips and fail."
Tan's earnest candour and self-deprecating humour took me by surprise.
Lost 85 per cent of hearing, but has a doctorate in music
Looking at him, it's hard to believe that this young man has only 15 per cent of his hearing left.
Tan suffers from bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, caused by a degenerative condition which destroys the tiny hairs in his ears. He is likely to go completely deaf one day — and it isn't even clear to him when that will happen.
Despite that, Tan is as bubbly as the next guy (at times more so), willing to roll with the punches, and is an accomplished pianist to boot — at the age of 26, he has a doctorate of Musical Arts in piano performance (so that's Dr Azariah Tan to you).
More recently, he released his first album in July: a compilation of recordings he did of pieces by Chopin — a first for a Singaporean — and reception of it in the classical music community has been so positive that he was dubbed "one of Singapore's finest musicians".
How his parents discovered his condition
The only indication of anything out of the ordinary are his barely-noticeable hearing aids — in some way a reflection of how his parents realised their son wasn't just ignoring them.
"My parents suspected that I had [a hearing condition] when I was three. They would call my name and I wouldn't respond. But then they would say other words, like 'Batman' and I would respond."
Tan's parents initially thought he was selectively responding to certain words, but the reality was, regrettably, far more concerning.
They noticed that he was having more trouble hearing and making out words with higher frequencies (like his name "Azariah", which is pronounced "az-uh-RYE-uh") compared to words with lower frequencies (e.g. 'Batman"). His condition was officially diagnosed when he was four.
Perhaps it was a blessing that he was diagnosed as early as he was because Tan says he has absolutely no recollection of transitioning into wearing a hearing aid — or, more specifically, the social awkwardness he might have experienced having to do so.
"I was too young to know, or feel anything. I also don't remember wearing my first hearing aid!"
It was only in kindergarten that the realities of wearing a hearing aid hit him, but not in the way we expected.
"You need to take it out so that the sweat doesn't get into the hearing aid and damage it, which happened a lot!"
That "a lot" refers to, fascinatingly enough, the many times Tan played sports competitively in primary school. At Henry Park Primary, he was part of the school teams in badminton and table tennis, and also also dabbled in swimming and basketball.
He was taken out of Singapore's education system to be home-schooled before he could sit for his PSLE, though.
Tan tells us the period of home-schooling he experienced gave him more flexibility and time to focus on his favourite subjects like math and science, and of course, his music.
Studying music
Getting into a conservatory was not part of Tan's plan actually. His four years of home-schooling were actually meant to prepare him for his 'O' Levels.
"I think my progression in music was much faster during my home-schooling period. I got into music more and more, and I think I did ok with it, so I started looking into options for studying music."
Out of all the schools and professors that Tan's parents approached, Thomas Hecht, who heads Piano Studies at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, was one of the few who responded positively.
"[Hecht] was very supportive. It made sense too — that when I still had my hearing, to make use of it, to enjoy as much music as I could."
Tan received private tutelage from Hecht until he entered Yong Siew Toh.
From there, he went on to the University of Michigan to complete two Master's degrees for music in Piano Performance and Chamber Music, and subsequently, a doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the Racham Graduate School.
(And by the way, in case you were wondering about National Service, Tan says he went for his medical checks, and was given a PES F because of his deafness, and that was that.)
And while this seems easy being rattled off in a sentence, the journey there was far from that.
The problem with hearing aids
Now, most of us would know that studying music is not necessarily easier than other disciplines. Studying music as a deaf person, however, is a whole new level of difficult.
And going through a classical musical education, Tan explains, was for him like navigating a minefield.
Tan gives an example of studio classes at the University of Michigan.
In a studio class, students would gather in a concert hall where they would play for and critique one other. For Tan, these classes were particularly challenging.
You see, a concert hall's acoustics is designed for music, not speech. It produces a lot of echoes, and for a person with a hearing aid, hearing people talk in a concert hall can be very difficult.
For Tan himself, it's impossible for him make out speech coherently from where the audience sits in a concert hall.
Also, hearing aids have to be toggled to adjust for either speech or music. Tan does this by pressing a button on his hearing aids, but they take a few seconds to switch, so he often ends up missing the first half of a spoken sentence or the first few notes in a sequence of music.
"Also, anything that doesn't follow the wavelength of speech is considered noise, so the hearing aid will cut it out. So in a studio class, there's playing, and then there's speech, followed by playing and then speech."
You can imagine the constant toggling that Tan does just to get through a class.
Here's a sampling of a live performance of his while he was pursuing his doctorate:
&t=1805s
Fortunately, Tan's teacher at the University of Michigan was sympathetic to his needs. He moved the class to sit around the piano on the stage, making it easier for Tan (and the rest) to hear whatever he said.
He adds, with a smile:
"Whenever we make accommodations for people with special needs, it usually benefits everyone."
Tan also faces difficulties when he plays alongside other instruments, like the double bass, for instance:
"The violin is generally at a register that is higher than the piano, so it's distinct, it's separate. Now, if it's a double bass, it's really, really difficult (to differentiate), because it is very low, around the piano's range. The sounds just get blended together and I can't tell which is double bass, which is me. It's like fruit juice! 10 fruits all thrown in together!"
For the most part, Tan is able to get around these challenges, by either playing softly or by looking at what the other party is playing. However, it requires significantly more time and effort on his part to master a piece — to get used to it and understand its challenges.
Unpredictable hearing loss
Tan tells us that these challenges will only get tougher as his hearing worsens. Right now, he only has about 15 per cent of his hearing left — an amount he tracks through regular hearing tests.
"I'm supposed to do one every year but the last one I did was, I think two years ago," he admits sheepishly.
That was done in Michigan using software that isn't available yet in Singapore. It helps to customise one's hearing aids to the needs of the user, Tan says.
And does the prospect of going completely deaf frighten him?
There was a slight hesitance before he replied with a resolute "No".
"I'm not too worried about it. I would say (my hearing level) is not going down super fast. It goes down gradually. But no one can say. It might plunge down suddenly, who knows?"
If and when his hearing goes, Tan says there is the option of having cochlear implants, which presents its own set of challenges, musically. For one, there's hardly any known classical musician playing professionally with cochlear implants.
But doesn't this unpredictability scare him?
"It's normal to be anxious, but I'm just trying to work with what I have right now."
Now that he has completed his doctorate programme, Tan devotes himself to academia and teaching private students. He shares that teaching is particularly enjoyable for him.
"It's not just playing 'do, re, mi, fa, so' - that's not that fun, really. What's most exciting is teaching them the story behind the music, appreciating the music, making drama out of music, and just having fun."
Aside from that, Tan also performs regularly in recitals, most recently even appearing in a music video with local singer Tay Kewei:
As we concluded our conversation, I recall something he said about not getting too wrapped up in the unpredictable:
"Don't be too concerned with what-ifs. It might come or it may not come so suddenly, but I do what I can now, so that when it comes... (he pauses) I'll be okay."
Looking at this man who "did okay" as a classical pianist against all odds, I have no doubt he'll be fine.
If you would like to purchase Tan's album, A State of Wonder, you can do so here.
Top image by Joshua Lee.
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Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) announced on March 30 that it is undergoing a “strategic review to consider options for its various businesses”, with the objective of unlocking and maximising long-term shareholder value.The conglomerate added that its board of directors believes that the company is currently undervalued.#investment #businessnews #finance
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/former-sph-editors-respond-to-sphs-strategic-review-of-business/
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mothership-sg
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Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) announced on March 30 that it is undergoing a "strategic review to consider options for its various businesses", with the objective of unlocking and maximising long-term shareholder value.
The conglomerate added that its board of directors believes that the company is currently undervalued.
PN Balji: Under-performing media business might be broken off
Former editor of Today and The New Paper, PN Balji told Mothership that "unlocking shareholder value" must mean that the company is looking to break off the under-performing media business so that its other relatively successful businesses in property and student accommodation can push up share price.
SPH owns and operates The Seletar Mall. It also owns Orange Valley, one of Singapore's largest nursing homes, as well as purpose-built student accommodation in Britain and Germany.
Balji pointed out that SPH's media arm "won't be allowed to collapse because of its political value to the government".
He expects that it might become part of Temasek Holdings, and might call on former news media veterans the likes of former chief executive of South China Morning Post, Robin Hu, and former Mediacorp chief executive Shaun Seow — both of whom are currently with Temasek — to help with the media business.
In response to our queries with regard to Balji's comment, SPH said that it has nothing further to add to its March 30 statement.
Bertha Henson: Readers might end up not receiving full suite of news
Former Straits Times editor Bertha Henson was another veteran journalist who responded to the news, cautioning that any impact on the conglomerate's core publishing business might result in readers not receiving the "full suite of news".
"Whether we like it or not, SPH is still the one with resources to cover Singapore and the world," she wrote in a Facebook post.
Henson also pointed out that while SPH's digital circulation has been going up, the company does explain how this growth compares to revenue from subscriptions and advertisements, aside from repeatedly saying how the latter has been in "structural decline".
SPH reported a 9.4 per cent growth in circulation numbers last year. This growth was attributed to its News Tablet digital product and higher readership.
However, the pandemic disrupted all of SPH's major business segments, with the media business severely affected by the collapse in advertising, said chief executive Ng Yat Chung last year.
Advertisement revenue which was already in decline over the years, plunged by 31.4 per cent, or S$122.5 million.
Henson added in her post:
"It’s time somebody look a look at the business model of delivering the news to readers, with an eye on the national interest rather than just for shareholders."
SPH share price jumps by eight per cent after announcement
While SPH said that the strategic review might not result in a transaction or definitive agreement, the announcement has made an impact on the conglomerate's share price.
Business Times reported that SPH's share price rose by up to eight per cent on the morning of March 31.
Top image via BCA.
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The very first battery recycling facility in Southeast Asia officially opened in Singapore on Mar. 24. The facility was opened by e-waste recycling company TES, and is called TES B.“This will bring us closer to our goal of being a zero-waste nation,” TES’s CEO Gary Steele stated.#scienceandenvironment #energy #sustainability
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singapore-battery-recycling-facility/
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The very first battery recycling facility in Southeast Asia officially opened in Singapore last week on Mar. 24.
Recovering precious metals
The facility was opened by e-waste recycling company TES, and is called TES B.
TES B is described as a "multi-million-dollar, state-of-art facility", and will recycle lithium batteries to recover precious metals like nickel, lithium and cobalt.
The facility will be able to recycle up to 14 tonnes a day, or the equivalent of 280,000 lithium-ion smartphone batteries, and can recycle up to 5,000 tonnes annually.
Its technology is said to have over 90 per cent recovery rate of precious metals, and yields a purity level of almost 99 per cent.
This means that the metals TES B recovers from the lithium batteries will be commercially ready for reuse and fresh battery production.
TES B is also powered sustainably — a proportion of its energy will be generated by a second-life Energy Storage System fed by rooftop solar panels.
Additionally, the recovery process is a closed loop one — the first of such facilities in the world — and environmentally friendly, as they do not release secondary contaminants like heavy metals or pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.
Supports Singapore's move towards a circular economy.
Production of batteries is an environmentally unfriendly one, with mining of precious metals and refining them having the most negative impacts.
As TES's CEO Gary Steele adds, the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, electric vehicles and mobility devices is increasing the demand for batteries, which is facing a shortage in raw materials.
The development of TES B, thus "further cements Singapore as being at the centre of the future circular economy".
The TES B recycling facility will also contribute to Singapore's Extended Producer Responsiblity Scheme for the management of e-waste, National Environment Agency's Chief Executive Officer Luke Goh said.
The facility will help build up the capacity for the recycling of lithium-ion batteries in Singapore and allow the recovery of precious materials.
It will also support Singapore’s move towards phasing out internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in favour of cleaner energy vehicles like electric ones.
"This will bring us closer to our goal of being a zero-waste nation," Goh stated.
Related stories
Top photo from TES
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The health certificates would be an important enabler for the safe resumption of cross-border travel while protecting public health, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said.In his interview with Chinese state media Xinhua, Vivian also congratulated China in making “enormous progress in its poverty alleviation efforts by lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty”, calling it an achievement “that is unprecedented in human history”.“We are happy that our trade, investment, and mutual support for development over the decades have also contributed to China’s poverty alleviation efforts,” the foreign minister said.#china #singapore #travel
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/vivian-balakrishnan-xinhua-interview-vaccine-passport/
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Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan is on a two-day trip to Fujian, China from Mar. 30 to Mar. 31, where he will be meeting his Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and foreign affairs minister Wang Yi.
S'pore welcomes China's proposal to mutually recognise Covid-19 health certificates
His visit "reaffirms the long-standing and substantive relations between Singapore and China, as both countries cooperate to strengthen economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Mar. 30.
In an interview with Xinhua, Vivian reaffirmed mutual ties, and welcomed China's "recent proposal on mutual recognition of health certificates".
He also touched on public health cooperation between the two countries, one of the main agenda items of the 16th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), co-chaired by DPM Heng Swee Keat and Vice Premier Han Zheng in Dec. 2020.
"This is a timely initiative as our two countries have begun vaccination programmes," Vivian noted, referring to the Covid-19 "vaccine passport" rolled out by China earlier in March.
Health certificates needed for safe travel
He further added that the health certificates would be an "important enabler" for the safe resumption of cross-border travel while protecting public health, and stressed on the importance of early cooperation between countries to "ensure that the systems are interoperable".
Vivian also mentioned that Singapore and China have been "in close touch" to provide mutual assistance to each other since the Covid-19 outbreak.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed," the minister said, reiterating DPM Heng's words during an interview with Xinhua last year.
S'pore has contributed to China's poverty alleviation efforts
Vivian also congratulated China in making "enormous progress in its poverty alleviation efforts by lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty", calling it an achievement "that is unprecedented in human history".
"We are happy that our trade, investment, and mutual support for development over the decades have also contributed to China's poverty alleviation efforts," the foreign minister said.
He mentioned that the Singaporean community in China have raised funds to construct a dormitory for Anzi Primary School located in Pengshui County, Chongqing, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Singapore-China relations in 2020.
S'pore can play a key role in China's external economic growth
He further welcomed China's interest to deepen its economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, as it continues to open up its trade and economy in tandem with the expansion of its domestic market.
"Singapore companies can continue to tap on the large and growing markets in China, in areas where Singapore's expertise best serve China's domestic economy," the foreign minister said, noting that Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor in the past seven years.
Singapore and the rest of ASEAN recently signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) with China and four other countries, with Vivian hailing trade deals as important tools for deepening regional integration and cooperation.
"When RCEP comes into force, it will send a strong signal that our region remains committed to free and open trade. At the same time, the door remains open for other like-minded partners to join us," Vivian said.
As a key financial hub in the region, Singapore is well-positioned to serve as a gateway for Chinese investors to access Asean markets and opportunities, as well as a key node to channel investments into China from the rest of the world.
Around one-quarter of all Chinese outward investments to countries under China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) flows through Singapore, pointing to Singapore's relevance in the BRI as a financial hub for the region, Vivian added.
"We are constantly exploring new areas of cooperation that is in line with our common interests and which are mutually beneficial," said Vivian.
Top image via Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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The Land Transport Authority (LTA) Singapore and bus operator Go-Ahead Singapore have embarked on a six-month trial to improve vehicle efficiency with solar panels.The solar panels will charge the battery of these buses, in order to reduce the load on the alternator, said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post.#energy #solar #renewableenergy
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/2-go-ahead-spore-buses-solar-panels/
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The Land Transport Authority (LTA) and bus operator Go-Ahead Singapore have embarked on a six-month trial to improve vehicle efficiency with solar panels.
The solar panels will charge the battery of these buses, in order to reduce the load on the alternator, said Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post.
According to Ong, these solar panels are ultra thin and were manufactured specifically for buses.
In a conventional combustion vehicle, an alternator converts the mechanical power of a running engine into electrical power.
This electricity is used to power the vehicle's electrical system and charge the automobile's battery.
By using solar panels to charge the vehicle's battery, the vehicle depends less on the alternator, which then leads to less fuel usage and carbon emissions.
The minister added that a similar trial by Go-Ahead in the UK resulted in fuel savings of three to four per cent, amounting to about 1,400 litres of diesel saved per bus per year.
"With our sunnier climate, we could see even more fuel savings," he added.
These two buses will ply the service 15 route, which serves the Pasir Ris, Tampines, Marine Parade and Eunos areas.
The buses on trial will come with these special bus wrap liveries so that they are easy to identify.
All images via Ong Ye Kung/Facebook.
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Mothership.sg spoke to some of our own young colleagues about their personal caregiving experiences, what they have learned or are learning, and how they process their experiences.From the little triumphs of having good days to recognition of the knowledge that those being cared for are getting the best, all of this serves to emphasise the indispensable role caregivers play.#caregivers #families #eldercare
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/agency-for-integrated-care/
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If it takes a village to raise a child, what does it take to provide care for someone going through a second childhood?
If you were to ask caregivers of the elderly, the answer would always be: A lot -- and then some more.
Personal anecdotes clearly spell out the toll that caregiving takes, especially when the ones being cared for are the elderly and infirmed.
Caregiving labour is very often unseen.
Thankless, unpaid, and confined to one’s home, the reality is that caregiving will become more widespread.
Singapore’s ageing population
An ageing Singapore is already recognised as one of the major issues in the foreseeable future.
It has been projected that half of Singapore’s total population will be at least 65 years old in 30 years’ time.
In fact, a milestone demographic flip has already occurred.
In 2018, for the first time in Singapore’s modern history, the number of elderly Singaporeans aged 65 and above and youths aged 15 and below was the same.
Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) in Singapore
But caregiving is not all gloom.
Caregivers do develop their own coping mechanisms.
From the little triumphs of having good days to recognition to the knowledge that those being cared for are getting the best, all of this serves to emphasise the indispensable role caregivers play.
In Singapore, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) provides community-based services available to support caregivers and those being cared for.
The AIC’s role in the care community is to first let caregivers know that they are not alone.
Mothership spoke to some of our own young colleagues about their own personal caregiving experiences, what they have learned or are learning, and how they process their experiences.
Abe, 27, maleI've been living in the same HDB flat for over 20 years now. My immediate neighbour has always been a middle-aged lady who cared for her elderly mother. In a way, they both watched me grow up and I watched them grow old. I've been living in the same HDB flat for over 20 years now. My immediate neighbour has always been a middle-aged lady who cared for her elderly mother. In a way, they both watched me grow up and I watched them grow old. As the years passed, the elderly mother gradually lost her mobility and became wheelchair-bound. I think she also developed dementia. I've never set foot in their home until early 2020 when the caregiving incident happened. I was 26 at that time, and it was the stark first-hand experience of what being a caregiver entails. My mother, my brother, and I were called upon one day to help out of the blue. I was asleep in the living room when there was a knock on my door at about 10:30pm. My mother answered the door. My neighbour had approached us to seek help as her elderly mother had fallen. My mother woke me up and along with my brother and I, we went into my neighbour's home. It was dark when we stepped in, with light only coming from the back of the flat where the kitchen and toilet was. When we stepped into the toilet, I saw the elderly mother lying on the floor by the toilet bowl. My neighbour told us that she was trying to move her from the wheelchair onto the toilet bowl when her mother fell. My neighbour was drenched in sweat and we could see that the elderly mother had soiled her pants. What we had to do seemed straightforward -- help move the elderly mother back onto the toilet bowl so my neighbour could help to change the adult diapers and help her to wash up. But it turned out there were some challenges. I have never been in a situation where I had to help an elderly off the floor. I did not know how I should go about it or if there are any precautions I should note when lifting an elderly person. The floor was also slippery, and the elderly woman had also soiled herself. Eventually, I lifted the elderly woman from under her armpits while my brother helped to lift her legs. My mother and neighbour helped to look out and direct us. It was challenging to lift her weight while at the same time being careful with how we carried her. Helping my neighbour and my elderly grandmother made me realise that I had not cared for my own grandparents in this way before. I felt guilty and became reflective of my own relationship with my grandparents. My parents are also getting older, so in a way, this experience was a wake-up call for me to acknowledge the realities of being a caregiver for the elderly. We managed to lift my neighbour's elderly mother onto the toilet bowl. We went back home but about an hour later, my neighbour returned to seek help to move her elderly mother on to the wheelchair and back to bed. We helped again. The simple routine of using the toilet has become a challenging process for both of them, and would only be more so as both of them get older. Caring for the elderly is not easy. Support in one form or another would definitely help, whether it is having someone to assist, or being equipped with knowledge on how to care for the elderly. I wish I had known my neighbours better so I could have been more aware of the challenges they face.
Z, 27, femaleI vaguely remember being in primary school when I was told my dad was sick, but I wasn’t told exactly what it was. I learned that he had Parkinson’s disease eventually. I vaguely remember being in primary school when I was told my dad was sick, but I wasn’t told exactly what it was. I learned that he had Parkinson’s disease eventually. We had to start giving care to him in stages. Most notably when I graduated from secondary school when it got harder for him to take care of himself, and when he started to experience hallucinations. My mum quit her job to take care of him full time. The current routine where I take turns to care for my dad with my mum and sister started around when I was 19 or 20. My dad’s Parkinson's disease was at a late stage where he needed help with dressing, showering and feeding to a small extent. He also has medication hourly, along with medication he needs to take in the morning and night as well. When he goes to bed, we need to change him into diapers, and once more before we retire for the night. The difficulty was dealing with the different challenges in different years. At the height of his hallucinations, my dad was aggressive, shouting at invisible things, and at some points driven to be suicidal. Now he’s considerably calmed down, but he doesn’t talk much anymore. He isn’t enthusiastic about helping himself cope better -- he pretty much acts like any old man, 10 or 15 years older than him. Physically, he’s weaker. As he is much heavier than us and my mum’s health is not great, this is a double burden as I have to worry about both my parents’ safety when we help him to the toilet, diaper changes, etc. He has fallen down before, which caused him to be hospitalised, and with our mum being literally two to three times lighter than him, we have to worry about both parents taking care of him. As a young adult, the difficulty is having to figure out life with these other responsibilities to shoulder. It does sound selfish, but there are moments of wondering why it happens to you at this age, when everyone else is enjoying and living life. Half my Sundays are spent at home instead of being out with friends, because our helper is on leave, and there is that occasional sadness that part of my young adult life is sacrificed for the sake of being there for my parent. You are being filial, but sometimes filial piety doesn’t erase the inevitable pity you have for yourself. We are coping for now. We take turns to go out with friends, making sure our mum has a breather, and we find ways to have some kind of assistance with the caregiving - like making use of caregiving services when our helper went home some time ago. There will be more difficult questions in years to come, but for now it’s finding the outlets that help you cope with the situation you can’t change. Caring for your parent doesn’t need you to master everything at once. I’m thankful that in recent years there are more programmes, apps, courses, etc. to help us cope better with caring for an aged parent. Seeking help is not washing our hands off the responsibility for the health and wellness for our parents, but in fact, is part of what we do to ensure that they get the care we need, while not neglecting our own needs. Caregiving is not an act of martyrship. Help exists so that we may all move forward with everyone equally taken care of. It’s okay to be frustrated and lost. However, seeking help is important. It’s easy to feel alone in giving care to a dependent person, but this doesn’t always have to be the case.
Lir, 25, maleThroughout my teens, I watched my maternal grandparents’ health deteriorate over the years. When my grandma passed, my grandpa’s condition became worse, from having dementia to becoming wheelchair-bound. Throughout my teens, I watched my maternal grandparents’ health deteriorate over the years. When my grandma passed, my grandpa’s condition became worse, from having dementia to becoming wheelchair-bound. My aunt was my grandpa’s primary caretaker -- I can’t remember the exact year -- but I recall having to help with taking care of my grandpa at times when my aunt was busy with work. There were times when my grandpa would have difficulty expressing what he wanted, and because we couldn't understand him, he ended up throwing tantrums. It was quite frustrating to look after him, but at the same time I wanted to try to help him, and that was a constant struggle. Gradually, my grandpa lost the ability to speak, and also required assistance with daily activities like eating and going to the toilet. We ended up having to hire another caregiver to help with looking after my grandpa, despite the financial strain. I wish I had been more understanding towards him, and also helped find out how to contribute financially towards the care that he was receiving.
Caregiver Support Available
Caregiving is not an easy task but there are various caregiver support available.
Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) provides support and resources specifically for caregivers to increase their ability and confidence in caring for their loved ones, and to stay mentally and emotionally resilient.
Here is a list of the types of support available.
ABCs of Caregiving Course: Covers all essential skills needed to care for your loved one’s daily needs, based on their mobility condition. The home-based or classroom-based courses are tailored for informal caregivers who look after seniors every day, including Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs).
Caregiver Training Courses: Training courses to enable the carer with skills and knowledge to take care of someone’s personal care needs.
Caregivers Training Grant: $200 annual subsidy that lets caregivers attend approved courses to better care for their loved ones. The $200 subsidy is provided for each care recipient every financial year (from April to March the following year).
Home Caregiving Grant: $200 monthly cash payout to support your loved ones with at least permanent moderate disability, i.e. always require some assistance to perform three or more Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This grant can be used to defray the costs of caregiving expenses, such as the costs of eldercare and caregiver support services in the community, or hiring of a Foreign Domestic Worker (FDW).
Respite Care: Short term, temporary care options, otherwise known as respite care options, for caregivers to tap on to take a break from caregiving, or when extra assistance is needed from time to time, such as when the helper goes on home leave.
AIC Links: Caregivers and their loved ones can approach any of 12 AIC Links to get information from finding care-at-home, centre-based care services and caregiver support.
This article was brought to you by the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC).
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Since Apr. 5, many employees in Singapore will likely see an increase in the frequency of days spent in the office. As many lament the gradual decline of their WFH days, it remains to be seen: What will happen to the future of WFH in Singapore?And most importantly, our writer comments in her open letter to all employers in Singapore, can we not revert to pre-Covid office arrangements just for the sake of it?“It might be tempting to eventually ask all employees to return to the office when the situation allows for it. But it may not be for the best.”#workfromhome #singapore #workflexibility
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/wfh-dont-want-go-back-office/
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COMMENTARY: Can we not revert to pre-Covid office arrangements just for the sake of it?
Come Apr. 5, many employees in Singapore will likely see an increase in the frequency of days spent in the office.
As many lament the gradual decline of their WFH days, it remains to be seen: What will happen to the future of WFH in Singapore?
The 16 floors of Spotify's headquarters in the U.S. has barely been filled in the past year or so with its employees being told that they can work from anywhere.
It might never be full again.
All over the world, the pandemic has forced companies to rethink what 'office spaces' mean. Giants like Facebook, Google and Twitter have all indicated plans to shift to remote working.
Gradual return to the office
Many experts in Singapore, however, are still in agreement that working from home is not a "sustainable and optimum long-term solution for all corporates", CNA reported.
As you already know, work-from-home (WFH) will no longer be the default work arrangement in Singapore from Apr. 5.
Starting with public servants in Singapore, the government has also encouraged those who can work from home to return to the office three out of five working days.
Perhaps you're secretly disappointed that you will have to return to the office, or maybe you're pleased because you think that you can finally get your business up and running.
As the Covid-19 situation stabilises further, it is likely that more companies will be thinking of getting their employees to return to the office more often.
Maybe even revert to the pre-Covid-19 'normal' of work arrangements that are 100 per cent office-based.
But I implore you: Can we not?
Please do not end WFH entirely
There are many benefits of WFH that have led to some urging employers not to end WFH.
The public transport system in Singapore has seen less pronounced morning and evening peaks, transport minister Ong Ye Kung said. This has made public transport operations more efficient, and in turn, financially sustainable.
For many of us, WFH has allowed us to sneak in an extra hour of rest or time with our family because we save on commuting time.
A study by Microsoft also showed that staff have crafted and adapted to new routines, as a result of forced-WFH policies. Employees have built different familial responsibilities and even exercise routines into their daily schedule, for instance.
I'm not saying we should work from home forever
Previously, in an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) forum, Singapore Perspectives, Minister for Education Lawrence Wong had said that 100 per cent work from home is not possible.
And I get that. So, to be absolutely clear: I'm not suggesting that we all just work from home forever.
There will be some jobs where work-from-home is just not possible. WFH is totally out of the equation for those working in essential services such as in the healthcare or cleaning industries, for instance.
For companies that do allow for WFH arrangements, though, it might be tempting to eventually ask all employees to return to the office when the situation allows for it.
But it may not be for the best.
If there's anything the pandemic has shown us, it's our capacity to adapt and get used to new modes of thinking and ways of living.
Problems with 100% WFH model
From a pragmatic perspective, I recognise that there are many problems that come with a complete WFH model.
The social aspect of being in an office is arguably a crucial component to feeling fulfilled at work. For those who joined a new company recently, they would have hardly had the chance to interact and build rapport with their colleagues.
With an endless onslaught of virtual meetings, the working dynamic is also significantly affected —"Zoom fatigue" is a thing, and face it, nobody likes constantly talking to screens.
Sometimes, it's a lot easier to get things done in person too. It's much more straightforward to have a quick conversation to clarify things in person, rather than to have a discussion over text that risks conveying tone wrongly.
But this doesn't mean we should revert to 100 per cent work from office just for the sake of it.
Something in-between?
Too much WFH and employees may feel a loss in a sense of ownership and belonging to the organisation that they work for.
A complete return to no-WFH also feels maddeningly unnecessary because, after all, we did survive an entire year of a hybrid work arrangement.
Perhaps what looks ideal for the future of work is likely a mix between flexible working hours/WFH and office-based arrangements.
How much is 'just right' is entirely up to you
The Wall Street Journal has suggested an estimated of 25 per cent of work time to be WFH after the pandemic blows over.
But what is the ideal ratio of WFH/office-based work, and how would it look? Might it involve two weeks of going into the office and an entire week of WFH, or a day or two of WFH per week (my personal favourite, if I had to choose)?
Different companies, with different organisational cultures and manpower needs, should decide what works best for them. And their employees.
In reconfiguring new norms, supervisors will have to rethink how they would like to run and manage their teams and certain biases will have to be taken into account.
For instance, Sam Yam, NUS assistant professor of management and organisation, told CNA that managers will have to be conscious of the notion that working from home means less productivity.
Employees will also likely have to actively demonstrate that they are still able to deliver and meet targets given such work arrangements.
But whatever the arrangement, it no longer makes sense to return to the 100 per cent office-based model.
Top photo via LYCS Architecture/Unsplash.
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When carmen Lim first started working as a cybersecurity engineer in 2017 at the age of 21, she was often mistaken as an intern.“I often get questions about my age too, which they inevitably link to certain opinions about my experience in the industry, as well as my capability and knowledge,” Lim said.These unfounded preconceptions about her ability at work might hurt her feelings at times, but she has since learnt to brush them aside and simply let her work speak for itself.Lim has always known that she wants to be in the IT industry. Getting there, however, was a different story.PSB Academy #cybersecurity #university #workexperience
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/psb-academy-cybersecurity/
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When Carmen Lim first started working as a cybersecurity engineer in 2017 at the age of 21, she was often mistaken as an intern.
“I would constantly get questions from clients on why an intern like me is handling the project,” she said.
“Maybe it’s because I look young, or maybe it’s due to my petite frame, who knows!”
Looking at her pictures (we were conversing via email), it’s not hard to imagine why this sort of misunderstandings frequently happen.
Not only does Lim look like a regular university student, perhaps it’s hard to put her youthful image and the seemingly knowledge-intensive field of cybersecurity together.
While she mostly shrugs such questions off -- many clients were quick to understand after she explained her role to them -- it could cause her some inconvenience at times.
“I often get questions about my age too, which they inevitably link to certain opinions about my experience in the industry, as well as my capability and knowledge,” she said.
These unfounded preconceptions about her ability at work might hurt her feelings at times, but she has since learnt to brush them aside and simply let her work speak for itself.
“No one would be happy if others doubt them, but rather than spending time unnecessarily worrying about something that I’ve no control over, I think it’s better to focus my energy on something that can be improved upon, like my work,” she said.
While Lim has met her fair share of detractors who doubt her due to her young appearance and age at first, she credits her sense of confidence today to a client and a reseller she met while she was working on her first ever project as a rookie engineer in her first company.
Saying that it was one of her most memorable moments at work, Lim said she was “extremely lost” at that time as she was just starting out in the workforce. But she was also “very determined”. Her clients’ patience with her had really helped build up her confidence, she said.
Failed to get into her dream course in polytechnic
Lim’s career path hasn’t always been that clear-cut to her, she revealed.
While she has always been interested in the field of technology since secondary school -- access to her school’s audiovisual room, where digital equipment such as laptops and visualisers were stored, had first piqued her curiosity -- her path to her current vocation had its fair share of turns.
Having scored less than her desired grades for her ‘O’ Levels, Lim had to give up on an Information Technology course in a polytechnic that she had set her eye on.
She then turned her sights to the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), graduating with a Higher National ITE Certificate in Network Security Technology in 2016 when she was 20 years old.
Soon after, she enrolled in PSB Academy and graduated with a Diploma in InfoComm Technology a year later.
Then came the gruelling job hunt that most fresh grads have to go through.
In the process of researching on the different paths she could take, Lim sent more than 20 resumes. Out of those, she received three interview offers.
She eventually got placed at a digital infrastructure firm as a Network and Support engineer, where she was the youngest engineer.
Google is her “best friend”
Being the youngest meant she had the least amount of experience in the team, which worked against her at times as she tended to require longer periods of time to finish the same tasks.
But Lim was able to overcome this with a bit of ingenuity of her own.
Lim said that ever since she started working, Google has been her “best friend”. Whenever she encountered a problem that she didn’t know how to get around, she would turn to the search engine for help.
And Google never failed her. Each time she managed to find the solution to the problem she was facing, not only could she tick the problem off her list, she is also one step closer to completing her project. And that gives her immense satisfaction.
“The sense of achievement I feel when I finish a project has always been my motivation,” she said.
While the days and nights could get rather long while she is in the midst of rushing to complete a project by the given deadline -- she credits cup after cup of coffee to help keep her energy up -- Lim said she always tries hard to motivate herself to carry on with her work, no matter how tough it gets.
“I tell myself that no matter how difficult a client is, I must always be determined to learn and adjust,” she said.
Promoted within a year
Perhaps it was this unwavering determination that allowed her to push on at her job, and become better by the day.
Besides picking up hard skills needed for her job, Lim also sharpened her soft skills, such as communication with her colleagues, being understanding, and dealing with stress while working with a tight timeframe.
Within a year, she was offered a chance at promotion to a “Level 2” engineer -- a rank higher than her previous one. Having had to choose a specialisation in a product out of the many she was dealing with at that time, Lim settled on SolarWinds, which is a network monitoring software that helps to detect and resolve network performance issues.
This was also when she decided to further her studies in Cybersecurity. In 2018, she went back to school on a part-time basis as she thought the extra academic qualification would serve her well in the future. It also allowed her to take the modules she wanted to take, as they were suited to her interests.
Two years later, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity with Coventry University.
On why she chose PSB Academy, Lim said she found that one of the institution's partner universities, Coventry University, allowed her to take the modules she wanted to take, as they were suited to her interests.
Although she was “a little nervous” if she could handle the stress of studying part-time while working full-time at the same time, her worries appear to have been unwarranted.
She eventually received an opportunity to work as a cybersecurity engineer at Inventivo, where she made better use of her specialisation.
The move saw a 20 per cent jump in her salary too -- made possible by her choice to go back to school to pursue a specialised degree.
One thing remained consistent, however. Currently at her new workplace, she is still the youngest engineer.
Cover image composite courtesy of Christopher Tan and Tan Tan.
This sponsored piece by PSB Academy makes the writer want to consider taking up a part-time degree too.
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Growing up, Siti Hawa’s aunt would often bring her and her brother out on weekends and treat them to little gifts. Now, between juggling work and being the sole caregiver of Siti’s grandmother, her aunt hardly has time for herself.To treat her aunt, Siti brought her out on a well-deserved #Singapoliday at Sentosa. After all, how better to relax than by leaving the city behind in favour of an island resort?Klook #family #love #singaporediscovers
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/sentosa-singapoliday-klook-yacht/
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Last weekend, I brought my aunt, who is like a second mother to me, out on a well-deserved staycation at Sentosa.
Growing up, she would often bring me and my brother out on the weekends and treat us to little gifts.
Now, between juggling work and being the sole caregiver of my grandmother, she hardly has time for herself.
Thus, a little getaway for some rest and relaxation was certainly in order.
As my aunt prefers nature as opposed to city life, I felt that Sentosa would be the perfect location with its beaches, greenery and views of the sea.
Plus, where better to relax than by leaving the city behind in favour of an island resort?
Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa
We booked a package via Klook, which included a one-night stay in a Luxury Room at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa, breakfast, lunch and dinner from S$460. Prices might differ depending on the date.
Though it was a weekday, the hotel was far from empty.
Here’s what the room looked like:
The room was spacious and came fitted with a large bathtub. Moreover, the wooden furnishings made the room feel comfortable and cozy.
After checking in, we decided to explore the hotel. We loved that there was so much greenery all around us.
It was too hot for a swim, so we settled for lounging on the sunbeds by the pool.
Sofitel Spa
The staff at the hotel also recommended that we check out the Sofitel Spa, where you can enjoy a variety of massages and facial treatments.
Besides these, guests can also choose from an extensive list of manicure and pedicure treatments.
Hotel guests are able to make use of the other pool at the spa so you won’t be limited to just the hotel’s pool.
To get to Sofitel Spa, you will need to take the hotel’s shuttle bus.
A look at the spa’s pool:
The Garden
As we explored Sofitel Spa, we came across The Garden, a restaurant that is housed in a colonial-era building.
We decided to grab a bite here as we were drawn to its high ceiling and cosy ambience. This meal was not part of the Klook package, though.
We chose a seat by the window, overlooking tall trees and greenery.
We ordered truffle fries (S$12) and ice cream sandwiches (S$9) which were melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
The portion for the fries was sufficiently large, which we appreciated.
30-minute Gogreen Segway ride
At around 5pm, we departed the hotel to head to our first activity, the Gogreen Segway.
Getting around Sentosa was a breeze, since there is a free Sentosa Bus and Beach Shuttle linking various parts of the island.
The bus stop for Sentosa Bus B is conveniently located just outside the hotel.
We arrived at our destination in time for our 5:30pm booking for the 30-minute Gogreen Segway ride (S$39.90/pax), described as a scenic ride along Siloso beach and Palawan beach.
Each rider goes through a training session and a safety briefing before beginning the ride.
My aunt was initially apprehensive about trying the Segway, but after some encouragement, she decided to give it a try.
As it was our first time, we found the training to be very helpful and soon realised that it was not hard to control the Segway.
The staff also passed us shower caps (for hygiene reasons) and ensured we wore our helmets properly. The equipment and handlebars of the Segway are also sanitized after each use.
Riding the Segway was so easy to learn that each of us only took around five minutes to complete the training session.
Before we knew it, we began our 30-minute Segway ride. For safety, we rode the Segway in a single line on one side of the road.
A staff member rode beside us to ensure that any vehicles would be directed accordingly.
We were lucky to catch the sun setting during our journey and it was truly a scenic ride.
As we gained more confidence, we were able to go a little faster. It was exhilarating feeling the wind on our faces and taking in the picturesque view as we rode the Segway.
Throughout the ride, the staff took their time to explain to us about the various landmarks we passed by.
We also stopped halfway through our journey to take some photos.
My aunt enjoyed the experience and was happy that she was able to step out of her comfort zone and try something new.
During the ride, she would point to landmarks she remembered, such as Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa, and recalled how she had stayed there a long time ago.
It made me realise how fast time flies, and the importance of spending quality time with our loved ones.
Fun fact: Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa opened in 1993 and was Singapore’s first beach resort.
Along our route, my aunt was excited and made it a point to remember the new landmarks that were unfamiliar to her, like AJ Hackett.
My aunt also revealed that when she visited Sentosa over 10 years ago, there were no buses, so she was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get around now.
She also added that Sentosa looks so much more developed now, with plenty of restaurants and attractions compared to when she last visited.
The experience was certainly a breath of fresh air for her.
You may book the Segway fun ride via Klook here.
Dinner at The Cliff
As part of our Klook package, we had a three-course dinner at The Cliff, an Italian restaurant back at the hotel.
My aunt remarked how she could not remember the last time she had a three-course meal in a restaurant, as she often preferred to eat home cooked meals at home.
We were given the no pork or lard menu to choose from.
Our favourite out of the three appetisers were the scallops, which were fresh and served raw.
As we were not accustomed to eating three-course meals, we were pretty full by the end of the first course.
We were shocked when the pizza came, as it was large enough to feed two very hungry people, at the very least.
My personal favourite was the spaghetti, which was savoury and creamy, though my aunt commented that she felt jelak after a while.
My aunt’s favourite was the barramundi which was crispy on top and juicy and tender inside.
After dinner, we headed back to our rooms to get some rest.
My aunt remarked how much of an adventure the day had been, from the activities, to the atmosphere and even the food.
Trying out new activities and exploring Sentosa was something she previously never thought of doing due to her busy schedule, however, she said that she enjoyed it immensely.
Breakfast at Kwee Zeen
At 9am the next morning, we headed for breakfast at Kwee Zeen, a restaurant in the hotel that serves Pan-Asian, Western and French cuisine.
Upon entering the restaurant, the first thing that greeted us were the restaurant’s high ceilings.
We were also happy to find out that breakfast was an a la carte buffet, which meant that we could order as much food as we liked.
Breakfast has always been my favourite meal of the day, and this particular one did not disappoint.
Further, after a hearty Italian dinner last night, my aunt was more than happy to tuck into a more familiar cuisine.
The pancakes were soft and fluffy, and came slathered with generous layers of maple syrup.
The laksa on the other hand, was just the right amount of creamy.
Off to the Southern Islands on a Yacht
After breakfast, we enjoyed the beautiful sea view and the wind on our faces on a four-hour yacht charter booked via Klook for S$599, which my brother joined us for.
The yacht would cruise to Lazarus Island where it would stop for water activities.
My aunt had only ever been on a sampan, also known as a small fishing boat before. Thus, seeing a yacht for the first time was something new for her and she was extremely excited.
Here’s what the yacht looked like:
She was shocked that the inside of the yacht was air-conditioned, a pleasant reprieve from the heat outside.
The entire yacht trip was smooth and we could barely feel the choppy waters when we were inside.
She commented that the sampan was nothing like that, and recalled how she would get seasick often.
As we left from Marina at Keppel Bay, we passed by Sentosa and my aunt expertly named the beaches and landmarks we cruised by, which she learnt from our Segway tour.
Her adventurous side sparked by the Segway ride was evidently still there, as she bravely stepped onto the tip of the yacht for photos:
Soon, we approached Lazarus Island and its white sandy beach, Eagles Bay. True to its name, we were so excited to spot eagles flying above us!
Here, my aunt opted to relax on the yacht while my brother and I made use of the water mats, double kayak and floats.
She could not stop snapping photos of us from the yacht, and for a moment, all three of us felt like how it used to be when we were smaller and on a holiday together.
With little to no one at the beach, we felt like we had the island and its waters all to ourselves.
Time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to head back to the yacht and return to the hotel for lunch.
Lunch at Kwee Zeen
We had a two-course lunch at Kwee Zeen, which is also included in the Klook staycation package.
This time, we sat at the restaurant’s alfresco area to enjoy the warm breeze.
For the fourth time in two days, my aunt reiterated how she felt that she was on holiday because of the greenery and the fact that we were on an island.
She later explained that the experience reminded her of trips to Batam, with its warm weather and sea view.
Here, we ordered the South Indian Fish Curry and Wok-fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk.
Overall, our favourite meal at Sofitel Sentosa Resort & Spa was dinner at The Cliff as we were able to try an assortment of Italian fare we would not normally go for.
Checkout at 2pm
We checked out after having lunch, at around 2pm. Checkout was quick as we utilised the express checkout and dropped the room keys into a box.
In a blink of an eye, our Singapoliday had come to an end, but it was definitely one to remember.
My aunt admitted that at her age, she did not think that she could do anything remotely adventurous, like going on a yacht or riding a Segway.
However, this experience had opened her eyes to the possibilities of exploring Singapore even more.
Moving forward, she said that she would definitely be open to going on more adventures with me.
Her comment struck a chord with me, and I made a mental note to spend more time with my loved ones.
She added that she truly enjoyed exploring Sentosa island, feasting on good food and relaxing by the pool, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
It was an enjoyable experience that made her feel like she was overseas, without the hassle of travelling for hours to get to our destination (not that we can travel now).
Further, exploring Sentosa again after so long gave her a sense of nostalgia as she recalled how the island used to be back in the day.
The quality time spent with my aunt and the memories we forged during this Singapoliday is irreplaceable.
Click here to check out more deals on Klook.
Psst.. new Klook users get to enjoy a 10 per cent off promo too.
Top photos by Siti Hawa
This sponsored article by Klook in collaboration with the SingapoRediscovers campaign reminded the writer how important it is to treat your loved ones.
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Swedish carmaker Volvo Group has announced that it will give its 40,000 employees worldwide the right to six months of paid parental leave, regardless of gender.This new policy will also cover those who become parents through adoption, permanent foster care and surrogates, as well as non-birth parents who are same-sex couples.Volvo Cars #parenting #paternityleave #benefits
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/volvo-paid-parental-leave-worldwide/
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Swedish carmaker Volvo Cars has announced that it will give its 40,000 employees worldwide the right to six months of paid parental leave, regardless of gender.
According to CNBC, this new policy, which will begin from April 1, 2021, will also cover those who become parents through adoption, permanent foster care and surrogates, as well as non-birth parents who are same-sex couples.
Will cost Volvo millions of dollars
The new policy will allow employees who have been with the company for a year to receive 80 per cent of their pay during their parental leave.
These include all employees, both hourly and salaried, to use their time off during the first three years of parenting a new child.
According to Financial Times, Volvo currently offers six months of paid leave to new mothers, but follows local regulations for fathers.
While such a generous parental leave policy is common among Swedish companies, Volvo will take a step further, and introduce the policy to its global workforce, including its staff in the U.S. and China.
The company hopes this shift in policy will not only help raise the number of senior female managers, but also bolster its image among potential car buyers.
Volvo told FT that this new policy will cost the company "millions of dollars", but said that this is the "right thing to do".
Top image via Unsplash.
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Popular Swedish oat milk brand Oatly will soon be producing directly out of Singapore, in what will be Asia’s first oat milk manufacturing facility. This is part of a long-term and “strategic” partnership between Oatly and local beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s).#foodmanufacturing #foodindustry #fmcg
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/yeos-oatly-oat-milk-factory-singapore/
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Popular Swedish oat milk brand Oatly will soon be producing directly out of Singapore, in what will be Asia's first oat milk manufacturing facility.
This is part of a long-term and "strategic" partnership between Oatly and local beverage company Yeo Hiap Seng Ltd (Yeo's), the latter revealed in a press release on Mar. 29.
First factory in Asia
Oatly's oat milk will be manufactured at Yeo's Senoko Way manufacturing site, and both companies have jointly invested S$30 million in the facility and the equipment.
Yeo's will manage, run and maintain the new facilities, and both parties will undertake end-to-end manufacturing for the Oatly products.
This will be first time Oatly products will be produced outside of Europe and North America, and the products produced in Singapore will be exported to markets across Asia.
Production will begin the second half of this year, and the oat milk will head for China first before being sent to the rest of Asia.
Additionally, the partnership with Oatly will initially create over 50 new jobs at Yeo's, and the capital investment will be funded from internal reserves.
Oat milk a booming industry
Oatly uses patented enzyme technology to turn oats into food products like oat milk, oatgurt and ice cream.
Oatly's products are lactose-free and high in beta-glucans, a type of soluble fibre that helps to lower bad cholesterol levels.
The brand launched in Singapore only last year and its products are currently available at supermarkets and online retailers.
Oat milk is becoming increasingly popular as more people turn to vegan diets and reduce consumption of dairy products.
A study by Dublin-based Research and Markets expects the oat milk market to grow at 13.4 per cent CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) from 2020 to reach US$6.8 billion (S$9.1 billion) by 2026.
According to the press release, the partnership between Yeo's and Oatly is "in line with Yeo’s purpose of nourishing every home with natural goodness across generations" and "reinforces the company’s reputation as a leading Asian food and beverage company".
This contributes to Yeo's growing line of plant-based and soy milk products.
Yeo's CEO Samuel Koh added that this "dairy alternative segment" will continue to "grow exponentially as consumers become more aware of the impact of their food and beverage choices on their health and the environment".
Top photo from Oatly / FB
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Due to the huge crowds seen on Good Friday, National Parks Board (NParks) has deployed over 500 staff, as well as drones, to manage and monitor the traffic.#nature #singapore #outdoors
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/nparks-may-close-off-crowded-sections-good-friday-weekend/
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You might have caught sight of photos of depicting the throngs of people gathered at Singapore's green spaces recently.
Or, you might even have been one of those stuck in the human traffic there.
On Good Friday (Apr. 2), the Rail Corridor resembled pre-Covid-19 Chinatown during Chinese New Year, with hordes of visitors amassed on Bukit Timah Road Truss Bridge.
Similar scenes were seen at MacRitchie as well.
Stepping up patrols
On Apr. 3, Sim Ann, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC provided an update on the situation via a Facebook Live video.
With her was Ben Cheung, Chairman of the Mayfair Park Neighbourhood Committee, who shared that they had received feedback of an overwhelming number of visitors at such areas, and Lim Liang Jim, Group Director of Conservation under the National Parks Board (NParks).
Lim shared that to manage to crowds, NParks had deployed over 500 personnel to all parks, nature reserves and green spaces in Singapore.
These personnel would patrol the area and advise visitors to observe safe management measures such as keeping to a maximum of eight people per group, keeping more than two metres apart between groups, and wearing masks when walking or not participating in strenuous exercise.
In the background of the video, traffic appeared moderate, with a number of visitors walking and cycling past.
Drones too
While officers are on the ground, NParks is also utilising technology like drones to help monitor crowd levels.
The agency has been using such technology since April last year. At such a high vantage point, the drones can obtain visitorship updates quickly and complement ground observations by NParks officers.
The use of drones also gives them a better sense of the density of visitors in a specific area.
NParks may close off crowded sections
Lim also encouraged people to check out NParks' real-time map, which provides live updates on the visitorship levels at Singapore's green spaces.
This allows visitors to make more informed choices, such as visiting during off-peak hours or on weekdays, and is so "everybody can have a more stress free experience when going out to our green spaces".
Lim added that should the crowds at a specific area become too dense, NParks will consider closing off that section of the green space.
You can watch Sim's full video here.
Top photo from Lianhe Wanbao and X-Trekkers / FB
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For nine years, Sandra Aulia, 49, wore a “mask”, suffering in silence, pretending that everything was good. Said Aulia, “I came from a belief that marriage is for a lifetime. I didn’t believe in separation and divorce and I didn’t understand about this ‘cycle of violence’.”In 2011, Aulia left her matrimonial home together with her four-and-a-half-year-old daughter.Today, she is a champion for women and girls alike, speaking up on her own experience of domestic violence to support various anti-domestic violence initiatives and lend a voice to the voiceless.She shares how empowering oneself with the knowledge to determine one’s own choices can break the cycle of violence, and how the challenges she has faced have only made her stronger.#domesticviolence #awareness #women
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/domestic-violence-survivor/
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For nine years, Sandra Aulia, 49, wore a “mask”, suffering in silence, pretending like nothing happened and everything was good.
Said Aulia, “I came from a belief that marriage is for a lifetime. I didn't believe in separation and divorce and I didn't understand about this ‘cycle of violence’.”
Today, however, she is a champion for women and girls alike, speaking up on her own experience of domestic violence to support various anti-domestic violence initiatives and lend a voice to the voiceless.
She shares how empowering oneself with the knowledge to determine one’s own choices can break the cycle of violence, and how the challenges she has faced have only made her stronger.
The beginning
The first incident of physical abuse happened two weeks after marriage.
Following a disagreement, her ex-husband banged her head against the wall, as he was unhappy. She said:
“I was really shocked as it was more than the physical pain. I couldn’t believe that what I’ve seen in movies was really happening to me. I didn’t know how to deal with it because I did not grow up in an environment with violence, and this was never taught in school.”
Living on the edge
Over the years, the incidents would occur periodically, and worsen to include other common types of abuse – psychological, economical, social, and sexual.
Efforts to improve the situation, such as going for marriage counselling, did not work.
The violence continued after the couple had their first child.
“It was almost a daily occurrence. More than the physical was the psychological – not knowing if tonight was going to be a safe night for us to sleep, or if it was going to happen again. Home was never a safe place; we were always on edge not knowing what may happen.”
Aulia elaborated on one particular incident that happened when her daughter was just nine-months-old:
“I was separated from my toddler; it was so traumatic. Aside from the scratches and the bruises, I had a black eye because he banged me onto the bed frame. I actually called the police to ask for help to stop the anger”.
Getting out
That incident ended up being the lynchpin for change.
At PAVE, the domestic abuse treatment centre where Aulia was directed to, she saw a graphic chart, which explained the “cycle of violence”, and realised she was trapped in it.
Said Aulia, “It helped me understand it was a ‘condition’ I was facing and not about the person. I should no longer tolerate the violence any longer as it was not right. Once I was able to accept the ‘condition’, I could make a good decision to stay or to leave.”
Soon after, the breaking point culminated – when Aulia’s ex-husband confined her daughter again.
Not wanting to see her daughter go through the same cycle of abuse, Aulia left her matrimonial home together with her daughter in September 2011. Her daughter was just four-and-a-half years old.
Alone in Singapore, she sought PAVE for help to apply for a Personal Protection Order (PPO); something she says is important for domestic violence victims, because “when you get it [PPO], it feels like all these accusations [of being ‘ugly’, of always being blamed for things that happen] are nullified”.
Aulia also stayed at Star Shelter for a period of time, a temporary refuge where victims of domestic violence can gain support. The shelter provided everything from counselling and free legal aid, to job enhancement and placement schemes.
“It was a safe place, a guarded environment so he could not harm us anymore”.
Helping survivors in small ways
Speaking candidly about the ways the community can make a difference in supporting possible victims, Aulia says that something as simple as asking “Are you okay? Do you need help?” is good enough for a start.
She explains, “At some point, all I needed was somebody to come in and break that tension and anger so he would stop. But no one did. Being silent is like silent approval, so something as simple as somebody coming into the picture to check if you’re okay can stop an abuser.”
Aulia also points to the many support services that domestic violence victims can go to seek help or advice, including PAVE, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) and more. Recently, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) also launched a 24-hour domestic violence helpline for victims and members of the public to seek help; the National Anti-Violence Hotline is at 1800-777-0000.
She reiterates:
“Violence is never a means of conflict resolution”.
Growing better, not bitter
On her healing journey, Aulia says that it was eventually a decision, on her end, to leave. And then, to heal.
“We can grow up being bitter or getting better. I choose to be better.”
She adds that being a survivor has taught her that the only lasting relationship is with yourself – what matters is how you value yourself, your true values and character.
Other survivors of domestic violence she met at Star Shelter also helped her realise how extraordinary they were, to have come through these harrowing ordeals.
By sharing her story, she hopes to encourage a “kampung” culture again, one where bystanders proactively help to report situations of violence to break the cycle, and survivors dare to tell their story to break the silence.
The importance of self-care
In most cases, the psychological effects of family violence often end up being more long-lasting than the physical hurt. Many who have left abusive relationships find their self-esteem in tatters, and still struggle to rebuild their self-confidence.
Aulia adds, “Once we [domestic violence victims] have the confidence that violence should not be tolerated, we can stand up for ourselves.”
Cultivating self-care is thus important to value ourselves and our body, and it is within one’s own stewardship.
Aulia emphasizes, “Self-care is the basic kit of being beautiful. You can be born with all the beauty in the world, but if you do not take care of yourself, it wouldn’t work. Health and proper grooming is true beauty [in] itself.”
L'Oréal x UWS anti-domestic violence campaign
Like Aulia, L'Oréal believes that rebuilding self-confidence and cultivating self-care is important to domestic and gender-based violence victims, and their healing journey.
To commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8, L'Oréal launched its #YouDeserveBetter campaign, in partnership with United Women Singapore (UWS), to support survivors of domestic violence in rebuilding their confidence and breaking the cycle.
With more than 50 years of empowering women through beauty and self-care products, L'Oréal will provide 2,000 curated personal care kits to women from more than 10 shelters and homes in Singapore throughout the month of March, in support of survivors of gender-based domestic violence.
The kits contain high-quality skincare, haircare and cosmetic products from L’Oréal, put together for the beneficiaries with the hope that it will help them rebuild their self-confidence.
The public is encouraged to join in the anti-domestic violence movement by supporting UWS and their initiatives, as well as using the hashtags #YouDeserveBetter and #LOréalxUWS, to share any personal experiences of how you might have helped someone suffering from domestic violence on social media.
L'Oréal believes that speaking out against domestic violence, and taking action to help those in need can build a community of care that lets survivors know they are not alone, and that they deserve better.
Organisations that are keen to educate their employees about the workplace impacts of domestic violence can also get in touch with UWS to learn more about its GenSafe Workplaces programme.
This is a sponsored article by L'Oréal.
Top image via Jia Hwee Tan and Sandra Aulia
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Singapore Tourism Board Chief Executive Keith Tan announced three new local attractions that will be launched in Singapore: Museum of Ice Cream, the Slingshot, and SkyHelix Sentosa.According to Tan, the Museum of Ice Cream is a popular attraction in New York City.The launch in Singapore will be their first location outside of the United States.#tourism #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/ice-cream-museum-singapore/
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The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced three new local attractions that will be launched in the near future.
The announcement,by STB Chief Executive Keith Tan, was made at the Tourism Industry Conference on April 7.
The three new attractions will be the Museum of Ice Cream, the Slingshot, and SkyHelix Sentosa.
According to Tan, the Museum of Ice Cream is a popular attraction in New York City.
The launch in Singapore will be their first location outside of the United States.
With some interesting flavours available in their U.S. establishment.
The Slingshot, Asia's tallest slingshot and a new thrill ride, will be opening in Clarke Quay later this year.
SkyHelix Sentosa will be Singapore’s first open-air panoramic attraction that allows visitors scenic views of Sentosa and our Southern Waterfront. It will open in 2022.
Other announcements made at the conference include STB's work in refreshing tourism attractions, as well as new accommodation offerings.
Transforming carpark into event space
In terms of refreshing tourism attractions, Tan pointed to the continued transformation of Grange Road carpark in Orchard Road into a lifestyle and event space, which is expected to be completed in 2022.
He also announced that, together with URA and SLA, they will launch a tender for a new attraction concept at the vacant site between Somerset skate park and Killiney Road, later this year.
There will also be two new properties opening in the lifestyle precinct Orchard Road – Citadines Connect City Centre and Orchard Hills Residences Singapore MGallery.
Tan also highlighted how STB had supported close to 300 establishments with their Marketing Partnership Programme launched in April, 2020.
Image from MOIC
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In his second contribution to #LessonsOnLeadership, Advanced MedTech CEO Abel Ang makes the bold argument that it is actually a good thing to switch jobs often in the early stages of one’s career, and to be a Jack of all Trades over a specialist.Read more in his piece here:
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/sg-students-education-disruption-future/
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COMMENTARY: "Success in the future will not be on how well someone can remember dates, facts or scientific formulae."
Writing for Lessons on Leadership, a new series hoping to inspire the next generation of Singaporeans through the stories of Singapore’s many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, Abel Ang writes about our vulnerability to disruption:
He explains how it can be beneficial for students to delay academic specialisation, find out what fits them best, and try out many jobs to figure out which 'wicked problems' they can best solve in their careers.
Abel Ang is the chief executive of a medical technology company and an adjunct associate professor at Nanyang Business School.
Imagine taking that all-important exam that you have been slogging long and hard for. You spent your whole life preparing for it. You get an A-grade on the exam, but suddenly the examiner tells you that you have aced the wrong exam. You wake up in cold sweat.
This is not a repeating nightmare that revisits every few years. It is the reality that many are preparing themselves, and possibly their children for.
Our vulnerability to disruption
Success in the future will not be on how well someone can remember dates, facts or scientific formulas.
It will not be based on how well we solve math problems. It will not even be based on how many languages we speak, or how well we play a game like chess. We will have computers and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for such tasks, and the bad news is, they will be significantly better than us.
In a speech given in 2018, former Education Minister Ong Ye Kung worried that
“Over-specialisation will make students vulnerable to technological disruption…[and] traditional emphasis on academic excellence has inadvertently made our students too ‘book smart’, and lacking the innovative spirit, entrepreneurial zest and survival instinct needed in the real world.”
He opened his speech at an international education congress in Switzerland saying: “The world we are preparing our young for is very different from the times when we designed our education systems.”
“Kind” vs “wicked” problems
On that point, much of the training that our children are receiving in our local schools continues to be focused on solving “kind” problems. Kind problems are problems that AI can solve easily. Eg. remembering facts, doing calculations, learning languages …
For the time being, humans are still able to differentiate themselves from AI by being able to solve “wicked” problems in a more volatile, uncertain, chaotic and ambiguous (VUCA) world.
Wicked problems are problems that are difficult to solve due to incomplete or contradictory knowledge, the diverse number of people and opinions involved, and the interconnected nature of these problems, with other difficult to solve problems.
Preparing our kids and ourselves to solve wicked problems is one of the areas that we want to get an A-grade in, if humans are to differentiate themselves against machines.
So how do we better prepare to solve wicked problems?
Exploration is a central benefit of education, not a whimsical luxury
For answers, I recently turned to the best-seller by David Epstein, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. I found the book very readable, offering many relevant insights on the topic of over-specialisation.
Epstein advocates that the role of education is to allow individuals to “delay specialisation while sampling and finding out who they are and where they fit.” He believes that: “Exploration is not just a whimsical luxury of education; it is a central benefit.”
Bad idea to pick a specialised career path based on one's chosen secondary school subjects
For students, the main advice is to delay academic specialisation. He is not fond of the approach that we practice in Singapore, where students decide their fields of study prior to entering university, due to the subject combinations that they take, at the expense of subjects that they might need for switching later.
He describes the picking of a specialised career path based on the limited options available in secondary school as “being forced to choose at 16 whether you want to marry your high school sweetheart. At the time it might seem like a great idea, but the more you experience, the less great the idea looks in hindsight.”
Try many jobs to find out what fits best — career switchers are winners
Besides specialising later, he recommends that young people try many jobs to seek out what fits them best. He believes that each job has informational value and will allow the young to figure out which wicked problems they can best solve in their careers. In his mind, if people treated “careers more like dating, nobody would settle down so quickly.”
Economist have a term called match quality which describes the degree of fit between the work someone does and the abilities and proclivities that each person has. In the selected field of study and particularly in one’s career, Epstein advocates that individuals should optimise for match quality.
Epstein believes that winners “quit fast and often when they detect that a plan is not the best fit, and do not feel bad about it.” He believes that switchers are winners because they are optimising for match quality, and the alignment of match quality helps them to overcome any lack of skills that they might have, due to starting later in a field, compared with others that might not have switched.
In the book Epstein lists out switchers that have gone on to achieve great things: Van Gogh, Thomas Edison, and Charles Darwin. Each of these individuals was able to pivot and not be paralysed by sunk cost of prior choices that they each had made – going on to achieve greatness in their respective fields.
Epstein’s advice seems broadly consistent with what the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) outlined in their report to government:
“Since technologies and jobs are likely to change throughout our lifetimes, we need to go beyond the pursuit of the highest possible academic qualifications early in life to focus on acquiring and using knowledge and skills throughout our lives.”
Doing a bunch of different things helped me realise what I didn’t want in my life
In retrospect, my own career has been one of optimising match-quality. I took a gap year before university where I worked with youths in a nonprofit for eight months and spent the remaining time working as a waiter at Regent Hotel. There was no glamour in my gap year, but it helped me to realise that I did not want to spend my life doing either of those things.
During university, I worked as a home math tutor during the four years to pay my way through school. In addition to tutoring kids, I managed to work in three startups: a PR agency, an Internet café, and a digital media company. Before I took my first job after university, I had been involved with two startups that failed.
I joined the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) after graduating with a general degree in Communications, focusing on developing the technology industry in Singapore, long before it became sexy to be in tech.
During my time at the EDB, I was exposed to many industries and found out that healthcare was where my passion and purpose lay. I was fortunate that the EDB gave me a scholarship to pursue a Masters in Computational Biology, even though I had never taken a single programming class in my life.
Now almost 20 years later, I run a Singapore medical device company that has global operations of 1,000 people and sales of about US$250 million per year.
Mine has been a meandering journey of many pivots and experiments before I found my current match.
Will I stay in healthcare? Probably. Is that the only thing that I will do? Probably not.
I will continue to pivot and try new assignments. My learning will continue, as disruption lurks in every corner of every industry.
Epstein’s book is chock full of evidence that high grades and early promise do not foretell outstanding career outcomes and enhanced employability later. Given what we know about the future, that may actually be an A-grade in the wrong exam.
His one-line advice to all of us is “don’t feel behind”. He encourages us to experiment, to try, to learn and adjust as we go along in the search for what we will find passion, purpose and excellence in life.
Generalists and Jack-of-all-trades take comfort, your time is now.
Top photo via SIT.
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Raffles Medical Group founders Dr Loo Choon Yong and Dr Alfred Loh met as first-year medical students grouped by surname, standing over the same cadaver. They were essentially joined at the hip throughout their university education from that point, but they were also united in their grave concerns over practices common in Singapore, like the recycling of needles and the widespread sale of vaccination certificates by clinics.We discover their story, and how they stayed friends and good business partners for the past 45 years in this latest instalment of #LessonsOnLeadership:
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/lessons-on-leadership-raffles-medical-interview/
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On the day I met Dr Loo Choon Yong and Dr Alfred Loh at Raffles Hospital, I asked them if I could take a picture of them together.
It wasn't entirely straightforward, doing this — Loo, as executive chairman, is a very busy man with barely 15 minutes between meetings — but when Loo and Loh came together, the former's mischievous grin snuck an appearance, while the latter's serene countenance took on a more relaxed tinge as the two wondered aloud when the last time they took a photo together was.
"Was it that long ago? Nah, it was when our longtime patient came by last month to visit and we took a photo, remember?" Judging from their uncertainty, it could well be that their last photograph together was this one, back in 1995:
What's a surgicentre, you might ask? It's one of the concepts the two came up with at the time, bringing together the specialists they trusted and would refer their patients to for surgeries, and the demand for "day hospitals" — where short, less-invasive procedures could be performed.
Sure enough, Loo says, they would run out of space at their first surgicentre within nine months. And it would be their collective desire to do more for their patients that led them to establishing and building Raffles Hospital, the iconic building in Bugis.
Which, in turn, propelled what Loo still calls a "practice" into Singapore's largest homegrown privately-owned medical group, this year turning 45 years old.
So how'd Loo and Loh get the two-clinic practice they bought over from a retiring doctor in Chinatown to the heights Raffles Medical Group has scaled, and remain good friends through it all?
To find the answer to this, we track back to the year 1968, when they first met standing over the same cadaver in medical school.
The "armchair anatomists"
Back in those days, both explain, the students spent their days on common schedules, starting with 8am lectures, dissections on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, followed by clinical placements at hospitals in the afternoons that can stretch to nighttime.
Loh shares how this helped him to understand Loo's idiosyncrasies quite quickly:
"Because in university, they group you according to your surnames. So he's Loo, I'm Loh. So during the preclinical years when we were doing experiments, cadaver dissection, we were always together. Then even after that when we were doing clinicals, where we were posted to the various hospitals for clinicals, we were together. And in KK, for example, where we had to stay in the hostel, because again, our names are next to each other, we shared the same room. So he and I were practically, you know, like, joint twins."
While Loo spoke of their cadaver sessions even more jovially:
"We were all friends. Because you meet each other, that dissection group you are seeing each other, you're laughing, joking the whole morning. So three mornings a week, that's quite intense. And of course, we always say, the one who dissected the most, he ended up as an orthopaedic surgeon. Another one became a heart surgeon. The rest of us actually didn't dissect — we were all laughing, entertaining each other, joking; all armchair anatomists, we called ourselves."
With all the time the boys spent together, they agreed also that in post-graduation, if they were to leave their respective jobs to start their own practice — Loo was offered a traineeship in general surgery at the time, while Loh was two and a half years into a three-year paediatrician course in private practice — they would do so together.
S'pore healthcare in the 1970s: people selling signed vaccination certificates, reused needles and syringes
Which brings us to how Raffles Medical Group came to be.
Loh recounts how their shared time spent in clinical placement at government hospitals allowed them to observe how doctors practised and how their patients responded; they also picked up each other's personal feelings in response to what they were seeing, and found that they were forming similar opinions about the state of things in Singapore's healthcare at the time.
For what I quickly learned would be the source of classic in-your-face bluntness, I turned to Loo, who shared a couple of ghastly examples:
"People were selling vaccination certificates, for instance... and they were selling books of these, they sign and give it, sell it to the travel agents, who then resold the certificates. And then one day, there was an investigation, many practices got affected, got fined and all that. There are many other practices that were not in conformity with professional and ethical standards."
One trigger for him as a young doctor in the 1970s was also the observation that it was common practice — among government hospital doctors — for doctors and nurses to recycle the needles they used.
These needles were washed and autoclaved (an industrial steam sterilising process), but still... reused.
"The whole world didn't know about Hepatitis. We knew about Hepatitis A. We didn't know about Hepatitis B, C and so on. You must remember I'm so old right, I'm talking about the 1970s — 40 odd years ago, almost 50 years ago. So I say we already suspected the livers get infections. How can we (be doing) this?? So I used to use my own salary to buy (new needles), I go on duty. I have no heart to prick (with recycled needles). I bought my own needles and my own Venojet. I cannot use recycled needles, knowing."
After awhile, Loo said he started asking the aunties who wanted to give him gifts of gratitude for curing their babies of jaundice to instead buy needles for him so he could use sterile, single-use needles for every single patient he saw.
"And then after a few months I said the longer I do this, how can I compensate for a whole population? And then what made it worse was the fact that some people were getting medals for being 'efficient'... I said what is this?? This is misallocation of resources! So I said no lah, I don't want to be part of this system. So that's how Raffles started. 'Come, Alfred, we have a group of doctors work together to look after a group of patients, a group of patients who trust us, who will pay us costs plus a bit of margin.' That's how we started. The story 45 years ago and today is the same story of the why."
A marathon five-hour meeting on a concrete bench at an HDB void deck
Loo's pithy statement to Loh is a quick summary of what was in reality, as Loh relates, a five-hour nighttime meeting the two men had at the foot of the housing board block Loh lived in with his family.
"So one evening he came over to my place. We went downstairs by the carpark, sat on the cement seat and discussed this issue about starting the practice from about 9 something till about two in the morning. And that's where we laid foundations of the relationship and how we would proceed from practising. And it was just with a handshake, that we'd agreed that we'd be partners and that we agreed along certain lines, how we would work together. There was no paper, no signing of nothing. So that to a certain extent having lasted almost 50 years tells you the depth of relationship that we have."
And before they knew it, the opportunity came for them to get started — an elderly doctor managing two clinics in Maxwell Road and Cecil Street was looking for someone to take over his practice so he could migrate to Canada to live with his son.
Loh learned about the opportunity through his father-in-law, who happened to know Dr Teng Ping Ming, and soon he and Loo were on board, each taking one clinic.
"But you know, it was not easy. Because the old gentleman, Dr Teng, he was a kingpin in Chinatown at that time, you know, his patients were old towkays in Chinatown. And he was at that time already in his... almost like me, grey hair in his 70s already. We were about 28? So I took over the clinic he was running in Maxwell. And there were occasions where a patient will come in, open the door, look at me, close the door, and tell the nurse outside, 'I don't want to see a baby doctor'. In Hokkien they say 'ginna lokun' — in other words you're a young punk, you're inexperienced, I don't want to see you. So we had to go through that."
Building an 'invisible' brand of quality, dedicated practice
But it was through this that Loo and Loh became determined to pioneer a style of medical practice not done at all in Singapore — this was a time where doctors in the heartlands saw more than a hundred patients a day, for no more than two or three minutes each.
"He and I agreed that we ought to go into practice in a less hurried way — we wanted to give patients the satisfaction of knowing what they have, and giving them the necessary advice, not the one see and then within two minutes, you're out. So we started with the premise that if you give patients enough attention, enough patient education, enough information about their welfare, they will look after themselves. And that was, I think, one of the cornerstones of our practice."
Loh observed that people started telling others about the young doctors in Chinatown and how dedicated they were in their service, and would also bring their relatives, friends and colleagues back to him and Loo for consultation.
As they started hiring new doctors to join them to manage their growing patient load, teaching them to work by the axiom "Treat your patient well and your patient will treat you well", Loh says they got their new colleagues to sit in on consultations with them for their first week in order to learn how they do it.
"And that's how we built our practice. That's how we built our reputation. We were not cheap — in those early days, we were known to be not cheap — but patients were prepared to pay because they wanted that sort of service."
How to capture the lucrative market segments
Loh explains another two key ways in which they were successful in capturing business from big spenders:
pre-employment health checkups, and
health checkups for foreign patients from around the region.
On the former, the two doctors realised that other private practices in the central business district catered to companies that would send their employees to them for pre-employment checkups — but the process was long and tedious and involved plenty of back-and-forth and outsourcing to labs and facilities in Orchard Road.
"We realised that in those days when companies were recruiting because our economy was picking up, we found that actually economy of time was more than important than the economy of dollars. Companies were prepared to pay extra if you can turn around the checkups for them more quickly. So because of that, we reinvested our earnings into a lab and an X-ray, and have it turnaround in 24 hours. So because of that we became more preferred as a provider."
How he discovered the market for health checkups for foreigners was a more fascinating one: Loh happened to come across a group of Indonesians at a lift lobby at Mount Elizabeth Hospital, and after awhile of listening to their conversations, he realised they were not there with any specific ailment, but instead for health checkups.
"So I asked myself, Why do they want to see specialists for health screening? It's like taking a hammer to kill a fly. So I was discussing with Choon Yong, like why don't we set up a specific service for health screening, and that's how we did it."
They learned that the management of the old Meridian Hotel had strong ties with the airline Garuda Indonesia, which would fly in Indonesian tourists to stay at the hotel, shop on the Orchard belt, and after Raffles Medical set up a small health screening service clinic at the hotel, also get their health screenings done then and there.
And Loh himself seems to have found a niche with the crème de la crème of international patient clientele — a couple of governments send their entire Cabinets to Raffles Medical for annual checkups, with no less than their Prime Minister having to see no less than Loh, and up till Covid-19 struck, Loh says he would see six to eight Indonesian clients for full-body health screenings.
Raffles Medical in the Covid-19 pandemic: more involved than you might expect
Now you might be wondering, given the ongoing pandemic, what kind of role Raffles Medical as a private healthcare group played in Singapore's overall efforts to curb the spread among our population.
Thanks to Loo's unwavering patriotism, the answer is: really quite a lot, actually.
Last year, at the height of the crisis with the explosion of cases among our foreign worker dormitories, the Group expanded its flexible workforce by 1,300 to:
Provide care, swabbing and screening for Covid-19-positive patients who were moved to recovery and isolation facilities at the EXPO and Changi Exhibition Centre from April to December,
Send teams of more than 50 doctors, nurses and healthcare staff to test residents of over 40 dormitories over five months,
Run air border screenings in the early days in January 2020 for passengers arriving off flights from Wuhan, and other cities, and
Run tests for travellers on the reciprocal green lanes.
Most recently, the Group also designed and got up and running Singapore's first vaccination centre at Changi Airport's Terminal 4 in five working days, and now operates 13 centres islandwide.
On these, Loo speaks with great pride, but also opened up about the grave concern he felt when Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean shared the figures involving the number of foreign worker infections last year with him in a meeting, while appealing for help from Raffles Medical.
"So we were asked specifically, 'Can you help?' when actually we got no troops. Our existing staff were all quite exhausted going to the dorms and all that. So my team medical director said, 'Dr Loo you go to the meeting, please don't promise.' I went there, I saw the problem. So I said I have to go be the chief apologist and say no. But when I saw this data, I thought wah, it's very serious. Actually I did not commit, you know, I kept quiet. There was a lot of pressure on us. They were hoping that we can help them."
Loo says he brokered a deal with SM Teo, offering to pull in his medical staff from Vietnam and China, provided the Singapore government expedited their clearance. Sure enough, they pulled through, and Raffles Medical was able to bring back "a few hundred" more nurses to support facility care efforts.
Secrets to preserving a friendship from 45 years of business partnership
Those years of rapid growth saw Loo and Loh come together at various points over the decades to make pivotal decisions that dictated the direction in which Raffles Medical would grow — some of these included deciding to expand overseas (Raffles Medical now has hospitals in China, and clinics in Cambodia, Vietnam, Japan and various parts of China), and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange.
What, I wondered, is the secret the two of them have to staying friends after so many years of working together — after seeing so many others fall by the wayside, end very acrimoniously and often with costly legal battles?
The answers, according to Loh, are
a) to agree to disagree:
"We never had any friction but of course like everything else, we do have occasions where we disagree. But I think from the very start, when we started the partnership, the understanding between us was that we agree to disagree. And we take it from there."
And
b) to know and understand each other so well that they can trust each other with their complementary strengths:
"I must say my good friend Choon Yong, he's got a very sharp... he's got an attitude to look for business. He knows opportunities when he sees them. And of course that helps. But as I always insist, he does the business side of things, because I don't really fancy doing the business side; I concentrate on the professional side. So I sit on, I chair the Quality Committee, and we look into our patient care, quality of care, how well we are doing in terms of patient care. And I sit on the ethics committee. And I sit on the accreditation committee where we accredit specialists who want to work here. So this is what I'm comfortable with and what I like to do. So in a way, we complement one another. He knows he can leave this part of it to me, and I know I can leave the business side to him. So that's how it works out so well."
Truthfully, at the ages of 72 and 74, I marvel at how Loo and Loh still seem to be going strong in their active, daily involvement in Raffles Medical Group.
As huge as this "practice" has become, this still is very much their baby, but both of them, separately, did also speak to me at length about the legacy they are working so hard to leave behind, institute and cement in the hallowed halls of their shiny flagship hospital building.
Perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was pretty impressed by how Loh accurately pinpointed the one thing Loo acknowledges gnaws at him:
"When we exit the stage, will Raffles still maintain the character that it is? And in the earlier years, our motto was 'to our patients our best'. And whether that motto, and that approach to practice, really is something that will permeate through the many layers, you know, not just at doctor's level, but also the nurses' level, the dispensers' level, even the back room people's level, you know, all that, whether that philosophy, that approach to running the group, will be diluted."
And this is definitely something we hope the two wise doctors can put their heads together to figure out how to prevent from happening.
Lessons on Leadership is a new Mothership series about the inspiring stories of Singapore’s business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as the lessons and values we can learn from their lived experiences.
Stay tuned for our next interview with Ya Kun Group chairman Adrin Loi and his son Jesher later this month.
Check out our first two interviews under this series here:
Top photo courtesy of Raffles Medical Group, bottom photo by Jeanette Tan
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The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has launched a new online tool that will help companies identify their workplace stressors."iWorkHealth" is a psychosocial health tool that employees can self-administer.It was developed by MOM's Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute, in partnership with the WSH Council, Institute of Mental Health, Changi General Hospital and Health Promotion Board.Employees can answer 71 main questions covering stress-related factors at the workplace including job demands, job control, job recognition, organisation culture, and relationship with supervisors and co-workers.If there are eight or more employees that have used the tool, the company will receive an aggregated anonymised report on:• Key workplace stressors• Extent of work stress, burnout and mental well-being of their employees• Possible harassment within the organisation• Resources available to improve employees' mental well-beingEmployees will also receive a personalised report on their own mental well-being and work stressors, which will help them take the necessary steps to manage their own mental health.#mentalhealth #workplacehealth #employeeengagement
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/mom-launches-iworkhealth-work-life-harmony/
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The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has launched a new online tool that will help companies identify their workplace stressors.
“iWorkHealth” is an online, self-administered psychosocial health assessment tool that employees can self-administer, for companies and their employees to identify common workplace stressors.
It was developed by MOM's Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Institute, in partnership with the WSH Council, Institute of Mental Health, Changi General Hospital and Health Promotion Board.
Self-administered psychosocial health tool
Employees can answer 71 main questions covering stress-related factors at the workplace including job demands, job control, job recognition, organisation culture, and relationship with supervisors and co-workers.
If there are eight or more employees that have used the tool, the company will receive an aggregated anonymised report on:
key workplace stressors
extent of work stress, burnout and mental well-being of their employees
possible harassment within the organisation
resources available to improve employees' mental well-being
Employees will also receive a personalised report on their own mental well-being and work stressors, which will help them take necessary steps to manage their own mental health.
Alliance for Action on Work-Life Harmony
MOM has also formed an Alliance for Action for Work-Life Harmony to help companies instil workplace practices and resources to promote work-life harmony.
Minister of State Gan Siow Huang said: "In the long term, this will help companies better attract and retain talent."
Top image adapted from Getty Images.
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Most of us living in Singapore probably wouldn’t blink twice at being able to drink water straight from the tap. However, for 26-year-old Ivy Zhang, this was an almost revolutionary change to her life when she first arrived here with her family in 2009, given how they’d had to drill into the ground to obtain clean water back in Myanmar.Zhang initially felt overwhelmed by the change in lifestyle in Singapore and an unfamiliar education system — all while struggling to understand Singlish. But she quickly overcame her difficulties, and forged a new life in Singapore.Today, having lived here for over 10 years, she hopes to be able to settle down permanently in Singapore, and one day be recognised as a “true blue Singaporean”.#Myanmar #Singapore #government
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/myanmar-to-singapore-experience/
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mothership-sg
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Most of us living in Singapore probably wouldn't blink twice at being able to drink water straight from the tap.
However, for 26-year-old Ivy Zhang, this was an almost revolutionary change to her life when she first arrived here with her family in 2009, given how they'd had to drill into the ground to obtain clean water back in Myanmar.
Zhang initially felt overwhelmed by the change in lifestyle in Singapore and an unfamiliar education system — all while struggling to understand Singlish. But she quickly overcame her difficulties, and forged a new life in Singapore.
Today, having lived here for over 10 years, she hopes to be able to settle down permanently in Singapore, and one day be recognised as a "true blue Singaporean".
She hung out with the "Crazy Rich Asians" of Myanmar
Zhang, who is also known as May Mann Oo in Myanmar, was born in Mandalay to Chinese parents.
She described her early life in Myanmar as spartan, given how underdeveloped the country was at the time.
Households in her area only had access to electricity for eight hours a day, made worse by the fact that they had no idea which eight hours in the day the electricity would be running.
Fortunately for her, she was eventually able to attend an American international school, something that she acknowledged was "very privileged".
That was when she began interacting with some of the richest people in the country, whom she described as the "Crazy Rich Asians" of Myanmar.
They lived in huge complexes, with multiple mansions for each branch of their extended families, complete with modern amenities such as swimming pools, gyms and private theatres.
This was in stark contrast to Zhang's own home, which was middle-class at best and was devoid of all these first-world luxuries.
In fact, Zhang recalls seeing an actual gold-plated room in her friend's house, as if the aforementioned displays of wealth were not ostentatious enough already.
She would often see them whip out stacks of cash to pay for drinks, without asking for any change.
This, Zhang said, also had to do with the fact that credit cards were not common in Myanmar back then — even among the wealthy — as the people had a deep-rooted mistrust of banks.
Yet, these classmates were not necessarily the obnoxious rich kids that one might imagine them to be, and Zhang personally finds it difficult to find fault with how detached they were from the reality of Myanmar.
"They were actually super nice, which makes it even more difficult to be annoyed at them," she said. "They just don't understand. When they live in so much wealth, anything less than that doesn't make sense to them".
Zhang said that they were always extremely generous, often offering to pay for her meals and instructing their chauffeurs to send her home.
When pressed for her thoughts on the recent military coup, Zhang declined to comment much on the situation, aware of the sensitivity of the issue.
However, she did share that she and her family have been sending money back to Myanmar, with instructions for their family members there to buy food and necessities for those in need, amid the political turmoil.
"It's very sad, but this is what we can do," she said.
Moved to Singapore in 2009
Unlike the rich friends Zhang hung out with, she herself was far from affluent; her parents owned a small business, and channeled much of their profits toward paying for her school fees every month.
Her parents made frequent sacrifices, such as selling their car and downsizing their house, as they saw the value in getting a good education for their children.
Unfortunately, as her school fees began to increase by almost 25 per cent every year, it became increasingly less feasible for Zhang to continue studying in her international school.
Her parents also felt that the quality of the education she was getting in her school was not worth the amount they were paying, especially since school fees had to be paid in US dollars — a rare commodity for a middle-class family.
As a result, in 2009, Zhang's family decided to move to Singapore, joining Zhang's sister, who moved to Singapore earlier to pursue her own education.
A whole new world
For Zhang, arriving in Singapore was akin to entering a whole new world.
She was incredibly amazed by things that many Singaporeans probably take for granted.
For example, she would often switch lights on randomly, just to marvel at the fact that electricity is available the entire day.
Zhang was also pleasantly surprised by the fact that tap water in Singapore is safe to drink.
She said that in Myanmar, the water that flowed out of taps was often dirty, and families would only use it to wash clothes, or clean the floor.
When I asked her whether she drinks water from the tap here, she replied with a resounding yes.
"You would never, never do that in Myanmar," she said. "You do that, and you might actually die".
Zhang later clarified that this might have been an exaggeration, but her excitement towards something as basic as clean water fascinated me.
In fact, Zhang didn't take something as simple as going to school alone for granted, as her parents initially insisted on accompanying her to school, even though she was already a teenager.
"I think they still have the mindset of being in Myanmar, where they found it very dangerous to even go to school," she said.
She recalled an incident back in Myanmar. Her family and her were heading home when they noticed a person lying face-down on the street, with blood all over him.
It looked like a traffic accident, and the family initially assumed that the police would arrive soon to take care of him.
Instead, four hours later, when the family drove down the same street, the man's body was still lying there, with no law enforcement in sight.
Till today, Zhang has no clue what happened to the man.
Another thing that Zhang loved about Singapore when she arrived: 24-hour McDonald's.
There were no McDonald's outlets in Myanmar at the time, Zhang explained, saying that when she was finally allowed to travel alone, she would wake up early, and set off on the first train, stopping at McDonald's on the way to school, just to get a chance to eat her favourite hashbrowns.
Sometimes, one needs to appreciate the small joys in life, I thought to myself.
Adapting to tests and exams in Singapore
While 24-hour access to McDonald's was great, it wasn't easy for Zhang to adapt to her new school life in Singapore.
She was fluent in English, thanks to her time in an American international school, but the rigour of Singapore's secondary education system was something she wasn't quite prepared for.
She said that the American system prioritised project-based learning, so Singapore's emphasis on tests and exams were a rude shock to her.
"I think the system is very different. It's like, if you don't write in a certain way, you're very, very heavily penalised. And that was not how I was taught growing up."
Zhang described having to cram four years of syllabus in only two years, with a much weaker foundation in science and math compared to her peers.
She recalled failing most of her subjects in her first year, with the exception of English and Chinese, and found literature particularly challenging, given how she had zero background knowledge prior to this.
Her strong American accent at the time also made fitting in at school quite difficult, as she encountered people who would mock her for being an Asian with an American accent.
She also had trouble understanding Singlish, and said that her peers often spoke too quickly for her to catch up.
She recalled a particular instance where her English teacher asked her to read out a comprehension in class, and praised her for her accurate pronunciation.
She soon learnt that getting praised in secondary school was not always a good thing, as some of her classmates began making fun of her accent in front of her.
"It's never a nice thing to be validated in your class, especially in secondary school," she said.
Despite her many challenges, Zhang persevered through her studies, eventually doing well enough to enter Catholic Junior College, and went on to secure a place at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where she graduated with a degree in Communications and New Media.
People in Myanmar were genuinely helpful
Although Zhang has been here for more than a decade, she occasionally misses Myanmar, especially the people.
While many people in Myanmar may be poor, Zhang said that they are often "a lot more genuine", and have a heart of gold.
She said that when she was taking public transport as a young child, her fellow commuters will never fail to give up their seats for her, even without being asked.
Zhang said that for many locals in Myanmar, it's easy to form connections, given that people instinctively helped each other out.
"Many people in Myanmar, if they see you're struggling with something, even if it's something small, they will help you. They won't let the whole world know that they help you, but they will do it anyway."
People in Singapore are less proactive
In Singapore, however, Zhang finds that locals are often less proactive with helping others, although they are more than willing to do so if you approach them for help.
Describing this as a "big city problem", she said that it's often necessary to get to know a Singaporean first, before they become more friendly.
What Singaporeans possibly lack in warmth, however, is made up in spades by their efficiency and work ethic.
She described having lived through a cyclone back in Myanmar in 2004, which left her house without a roof, and her family living in the basement without electricity for weeks.
And while the family was desperate to get back to normalcy as soon as possible, this was not a sentiment shared by the workers who were engaged to repair their roof. They basically took their time with it.
"They were really lazy. They would come in late, and then they will work for a while, then go for a two-hour lunch. It was an excruciating process," she said.
Although she emphasised that not everyone in Myanmar shares the same work ethic (or lack of it), she said that such an experience is not an uncommon one.
For Zhang, this is very different from Singaporeans, whom she felt are generally very hardworking and extremely goal-oriented.
In fact, she said that Singaporeans are often so diligent, they seem to "not be interested in work-life balance".
To be honest, I can't really argue with that assessment.
There are modern shopping malls in Myanmar now
While the Myanmar Zhang remembers is very distinct from Singapore, the disparity has started to shrink in recent years.
She described heading back to Myanmar to visit friends and family, only to be shocked that the malls resembled those in Singapore.
One mall in particular resembled ION Orchard, with shops like Singapore's very own BreadTalk taking root there.
Many global chains have also popped up in Myanmar, a mark of impressive progress, given that the country lacked a McDonald's just years ago.
She hopes to settle down in Singapore
Currently, Zhang keeps herself busy, working as a part-time emcee, while holding a full-time job in a tech start-up.
When I asked Zhang about her future plans, she said that she wants to settle down permanently in Singapore, and that she is in the process of applying to be a citizen.
She said that when she was growing up in Myanmar, she never really felt that she belonged, given that she was an ethnic Chinese among the Burmese, and that she was not rich, unlike many of her classmates.
However, despite being well-integrated into Singaporean society, she still has some lingering doubts about whether she would truly be accepted in Singapore, due to her heritage.
She said that she has considered changing her Burmese name officially, in order to better fit into Singapore society, although she described the process as "complicated", given that she needs to procure many documents to do so.
As she explained the administrative hurdles she faced, I sensed that she was also afraid of facing potential repercussions simply because she stands out, simply by virtue of her heritage and lived experiences.
However, I also began to realise, as the interview went on, that she was no longer speaking in her natural American accent; instead, she was slowly speaking more and more Singlish as we conversed, dotting her sentences with lah and leh naturally.
Despite having trouble understanding Singlish when she first arrived in Singapore, she has clearly grown more familiar with it during her many years here.
While I'm not sure what exactly qualifies someone as a "true blue Singaporean", I do know this: if you can speak Singlish this well, you can't be all that foreign.
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top image via Ivy Zhang
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About 85 per cent of ongoing Built-To-Order (BTO) flats have been delayed by about six to nine months beyond the Estimated Completion Dates (ECDs), due to Covid-19 safe management measures.According to Ministry of National Development Singapore (MND), construction at all 89 ongoing BTO projects has resumed, following the end of circuit breaker in 2020.However, the strict management measures put in place for work at construction sites, coupled with global supply chain disruptions and manpower shortages within the construction industry have affected project timelines.#construction #covid #hdb #bto
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/hdb-bto-delayed/
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About 85 per cent of ongoing Built-To-Order (BTO) flats have been delayed by about six to nine months beyond the Estimated Completion Dates (ECDs), due to Covid-19 safe management measures.
This was revealed by the Ministry of National Development (MND) in a written parliamentary reply on Monday (Apr. 5), in response to questions from Members of Parliament Darryl David and Yeo Wan Ling.
Construction at all 89 ongoing BTO projects have resumed
According to MND, construction at all 89 ongoing BTO projects has resumed, following the end of circuit breaker in 2020.
However, the strict management measures put in place for work at construction sites, coupled with global supply chain disruptions and manpower shortages within the construction industry have affected project timelines.
MND said that the extent of the delay for each project varies, depending on site-specific factors such as manpower availability, contractor performance and supply of materials.
The ministry also said that the Housing and Development Board (HDB) is currently working with various agencies to implement mitigating measures, in order to reduce the length of delays and work towards meeting the revised completion dates.
This includes getting exemptions to allow less noisy construction activities to be carried out on Sundays, as well as public holidays, where possible.
HDB is progressively updating affected flat buyers
MND said that HDB is progressively updating affected flat buyers on the revised completion dates through letters and the My HDBPage as construction progresses.
Those who are unable to find alternative housing arrangements with family members, relatives or on the open market are encouraged to contact HDB for assistance.
As of end February 2021, HDB has updated about 43,000 affected households on the delay, with 240 households assisted with Interim Rental Housing flats.
Top image via HDB.
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Healthcare workers are a crucial line of defence against the Covid-19 pandemic, and they've been performing crucial services for many years.Member of Parliament Darryl David commended the announcement in the Emerging Stronger Together Budget that healthcare workers will receive a salary boost.However, he had more suggestions for how to increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession as a whole, so that more locals are encouraged to take up this vital work.One suggestion David made was for the government to consider implementing mandatory leave and paid holidays for nurses as additional benefits, so they could take a break and recharge when needed.He also added that the government could develop a mid-career conversion programme to help locals make a switch to the healthcare sector, noting that many locals were employed as temporary swabbers or allied health care staff during the height of the pandemic.#healthcare #covid #nurses
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/darryl-david-nurses/
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Healthcare workers are a crucial line of defence against the Covid-19 pandemic, and they've been performing crucial services for many years.
Member of Parliament Darryl David commended the announcement in the Emerging Stronger Together Budget that healthcare workers will receive a salary boost.
However, he had more suggestions for how to increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession as a whole, so that more locals are encouraged to take up this vital work.
Money for nurses
In his Budget Speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat acknowledged the contributions of our healthcare workers.
The salaries of nurses and other healthcare staff, such as support care staff, will be enhanced, with more details to follow from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
This will apply to staff working in public healthcare institutions, as well as publicly-funded community hospitals and long-term care service providers.
While glad that their salaries will be enhanced, David suggested that the government could also help to enhance career prospects too.
Career progression ladder for enrolled nurses too
He noted that MOH classifies nurses into "registered" and "enrolled".
Registered nurses must have tertiary qualifications, and can specialise in different practice areas.
"They have a clear career pathway that enables them to eventually become a nurse manager," David said.
"This pathway of progression is generally different for enrolled nurses who typically are those who possess a NITEC in Nursing from the ITE," he added.
He suggested that the government could implement a progression ladder for such nurses which takes into account their experience on the job.
He also suggested providing them with skills upgrading opportunities through both formal and on-the-job training, and also scholarships for those who aspire to higher qualifications.
Improve conditions
Besides the career progression ladder, David also urged the government to improve working conditions and work environment for nurses. He pointed out that Singapore has traditionally relied on foreign nurses to supplement local nurses. He noted that this was not for a lack of trying.
David said he believed wages are just one reason for the reluctance of more Singaporeans to become nurses.
"Perhaps they are deterred by long working hours, the stress from having to deal and manage different patients and their family members, as well as potential disruptions to family life arising from irregular work shifts."
He suggested that the government could consider implementing mandatory leave and paid holidays for nurses as additional benefits, so they could take a break and recharge when needed.
David added that the government should look at the suggestions from the Future Nursing Career Review Committee as a guide to making the profession more attractive for locals.
Finally, the government could develop a mid-career conversion programme to help locals to make the switch, with David noting that many locals were employed as temporary swabbers or allied health care staff during the height of the pandemic.
Top image from MCI's YouTube page.
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Part of Singapore's efforts to strengthen its food security is increasing its capability to produce food locally.To do this, more sites for urban rooftop farms atop multi-storey Housing & Development Board (HDB) carparks are being offered for rental, via a public tender process that was launched on Tuesday, Feb. 23.Seven sites have been identified in Jurong West, Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands, according to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB.The sites will be used to farm vegetables and other food crops, and will also be used to pack and store produce.They will also be tendered out as a single site (in Jurong West) and three cluster sites (in Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands).Tenderers who successfully bid for cluster sites will be awarded all sites within the cluster, to allow them to cut costs through production at scale.Single-site farms, on the other hand, provide opportunities to "testbed innovative ideas".#food #foodsecurity #farming
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/7-rooftop-urban-farm-tender/
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Part of Singapore's efforts to strengthen its food security is increasing its capability to produce food locally.
To do this, more sites for urban rooftop farms atop multi-storey Housing Development Board (HDB) carparks are being offered for rental, via a public tender process that was launched today (Feb. 23).
Seven new sites
Seven sites have been identified in Jurong West, Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands, according to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and HDB.
The sites will be used to farm vegetables and other food crops, and will also be used to pack and store produce.
They will be tendered out as a single site (in Jurong West) and three cluster sites (in Bukit Panjang, Sembawang and Woodlands).
Tenderers who successfully bid for cluster sites will be awarded all sites within the cluster, to allow them to cut costs through production at scale.
Single-site farms, on the other hand, provide opportunities to "testbed innovative ideas".
Tenderers must submit their proposals via GeBiz before the tender closes on Mar. 23, 4pm.
Proposals will be assessed on their bid price, production output, design and site layout, as well as their business and marketing plans.
More information can be found on SFA's website here.
Producing food locally
This is the second time tenders were launched for rooftop urban farms on carparks here — the first took place in Sep. 2020, with nine sites being awarded.
Collectively, the nine farming systems can potentially produce around 1,600 tonnes (1,600,000kg) of vegetables per year.
Having more space for commercial farming in land-constrained Singapore is one of SFA's strategies to achieve its "30 by 30" goal — which is to produce 30 per cent of Singapore's food locally by 2030.
The move is also in line with HDB’s Green Towns Programme to intensify greening in HDB estates.
“Besides contributing to our food security, Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) rooftop farms help to bring the community closer to local produce, thereby raising awareness and support for local produce," said Melvin Chow, Senior Director of SFA’s Food Supply Resilience Division.
Top photo from SFA / FB
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A Singaporean Deliveroo food delivery rider who has completed the most deliveries here is on track to receive a S$18,500 bonus. The one-time bonanza for this particular food delivery rider is part of a Thank You Fund initiative to redistribute money worldwide.The bonus is to recognise the best workers should the company get listed on the London Stock Exchange, which is expected to be completed at the end March 2021.The Singaporean, Jude Chan, 33, has completed more than 21,500 orders in his three years with Deliveroo.This makes him the most prolific Deliveroo personnel in Singapore who averages 30 to 40 orders a day.Chan is among the hundreds of riders globally in line for a one-time payment of S$18,500.At the base, riders will receive S$370 if they have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders.#delivery #food #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/deliveroo-bonus-singapore/
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A Singaporean Deliveroo food delivery rider who has completed the most deliveries here is on track to receive a S$18,500 bonus.
Thank you bonus
The one-time bonanza for this particular food delivery rider is part of a Thank You Fund initiative to redistribute money worldwide.
The bonus is to recognise the best workers should the company get listed on the London Stock Exchange, which is expected to be completed at the end March 2021.
More than 21,500 orders completed
The Singaporean, Jude Chan, 33, has completed more than 21,500 orders in his three years with Deliveroo.
This makes him the most prolific Deliveroo personnel in Singapore who averages 30 to 40 orders a day.
Chan is among the hundreds of riders globally in line for a one-time payment of S$18,500.
Chan told The New Paper he will be giving some of the money to charity and investing the rest of it.
How to deliver more
He added that his trick to doing more is to brisk walk to collect food to complete orders faster.
The motorcycling enthusiast is also familiar with the roads in town and the Central Business District and does not rely on a map to get around.
He said: “I first started riding as a way to keep fit while earning more money, but working at Deliveroo has really brought my love of riding my motorcycle to life! Their flexible working nature means that I can ride on my own time with a peace of mind."
About Deliveroo Thank You Fund bonus
Some 36,000 Deliveroo riders around the world can receive a one-time payment reward should the company be listed publicly.
The exact amount varies according to each delivery personnel's output.
Eligible riders in Singapore stand to be paid S$18,500, S$1,850 or S$925.
The performance of riders are ranked in relation to other riders.
At the base, riders will receive S$370 if they have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders.
Deliveroo's founder and chief executive Will Shu said: "Riders are at the heart of our business, and we want to reward their efforts that have helped Deliveroo become what it is today."
"Their commitment to great service has enabled us to grow and offer the best food delivery experience in the world."
"Over the last year, riders have helped us do so much more than just deliver great food, having supported businesses and enabled vulnerable people or those self-isolating to stay safe indoors throughout a global pandemic."
"We're pleased to be able to say thank you."
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“I have nice friends who will tell me ‘this thing you already say’. It shocks me that I keep repeating (myself). So please tell me when I keep repeating my story, because I wouldn’t know.”Our writer, Andrew Koay, speaks to Ms Lim (not her real name), a Singaporean lady in her 60s with Alzheimer’s disease, to understand what it is like to be fully aware that you are slowly losing all sense of self.#alzheimersawareness #alzheimers #life
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https://mothership.sg/2019/09/singaporean-dementia-future-interview/
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As I arrive at an east-side HDB void deck on a late Wednesday afternoon, I feel heightened apprehension at the task before me.
It's not because I am interviewing someone prominent, or someone controversial — I am here to meet a fairly normal Singaporean lady in her 60s, who wishes to be known by the fairly normal moniker of Ms Lim.
My unease stems instead from my first meeting with her a few weeks prior, where we discussed the possibility of an interview, which, in turn, made me realise that interviewing Lim is likely to be harder than I originally anticipated.
This is because Lim has Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that sees symptoms of progressive intellectual decline over the years.
A person who has dementia often faces problems with memory, confusion, and changes in mood, behaviour and personality.
Talking in circles
And while her dementia is only in its early stages, the symptoms of Lim’s condition were quite apparent from that first meeting we had.
As we made polite small talk in the quiet cafe we’d met at, I noticed that our conversation was moving in circles.
Her responses to my queries about how her week was going would slowly spiral towards something she had told me a few minutes earlier, and send her back into a looped dialogue that I ended up hearing a few times in those 45 minutes.
The first few times it happened, I thought she was just reiterating a point she was making. But slowly it became more and more apparent, with each repeated anecdote, that Lim had no inkling of the conversational spiral she'd found herself in.
Fast forward two weeks, and I find myself standing at the door of Lim’s flat, wondering how exactly the next hour or so of my life will go.
Will I be able to get through my questions? Will Lim be lucid enough for us to hold a conversation? What's the most polite way to handle her repetition?
When a harsh conversation made her realise something was wrong
My trepidation is slightly eased by the presentation of packet drinks and snacks Lim prepared and laid out on a small coffee table beside the chairs we are sitting on. They were bought specifically for the occasion; a gesture Lim insists on despite my protests.
Real sweet aunty vibes.
At the beginning of our interview, conversing with Lim is just like talking to any aunty.
She tells me about what it’s like to grow up in a large family, her work across different companies, and her compulsion to buy muffins for her friends' children whenever they invite her over to their houses.
It seems Lim lived quite an uneventful life up until the day she found herself on the end of a berating from a friend.
“When I talk to this friend, she will tell me: ‘You say it already you still ask me again?’ You know that kind of (scolding) tone? ‘Huh, you mean just now I just say?’ ‘You just say and then you repeated’ But I didn’t know. The problem is that I didn’t even know.”
In this rather coarse fashion, Lim’s friend had made it known to her that she had repeated herself multiple times throughout their conversation.
Living alone may have brought it on — and Alzheimer's in turn increases isolation
Feeling shocked and worried after the incident, Lim consulted a doctor who diagnosed her as being in the early stages of dementia.
“I was shocked actually. My mom just left when she was 94 years old, her memory was super… All my family none of them have the problem, only me. It could be because I stay on my own.”
I didn’t think much about that last bit at the time. I later learned that one of the risk factors for dementia was social isolation and loneliness, though, and it was then that her words hit home more strongly.
It’s sad to think that at least for Lim, a condition that might have been brought on by loneliness has served to increase her isolation from family and some friends — at this juncture it's worth sharing that a common behavioural trait of someone with dementia is to withdraw from social activities.
She tells me about how she finds going out with her siblings “meaningless”, and that they do not seem interested in knowing about her struggles.
Lim says she also cut off contact with friends whom she fears might have used her mental condition to take advantage of her in the past.
The fight to remember
A note scrawled on an old receipt pasted right next to her front door reveals another challenge Lim faces.
A deteriorating short-term memory can make everyday activities like leaving the house a task and a half.
What Lim calls ”memory lapses” can be as simple as her losing track of what she has done earlier in a given day, or where she is when she finds herself in less familiar places.
Then there’s the prospect of having to engage in conversations with the very real and embarrassing possibility of constantly repeating yourself and coming across as senile.
When I ask her about this, though, Lim is quite pragmatic:
“I have nice friends who will tell me 'this thing you already say'. It shocks me that I keep repeating (myself). So please tell me when I keep repeating my story, because I wouldn’t know.”
Battling the condition
Despite her saying this, though, I’m somewhat ashamed to admit that I never plucked up the courage to tell Ms Lim about any of the multiple times she had repeated herself in our entire conversation.
I did think about it at various points but it just seemed incongruous to interrupt someone who, despite her condition, still carries a relatively high level of self-regard for her own lucidness.
“I know what I’m talking. A person with dementia will be very very disorganised. And the way they speak you know it doesn’t make sense sometimes. But the friends whom I know tell me ‘you talk very sensibly — you know what you’re talking.’ I say ‘yes, I know what I’m talking’. Mine is more of a memory lapse rather than dementia. But this is probably part of the dementia lah, I don’t know. Now I can be talking to you very logically. But then when you all leave, I cannot remember what actually I’ve said, because it’s a memory lapse.”
While Lim's dementia is still in its early stages, she says she is working hard to slow down the symptomatic progression of her condition.
She attends a weekly programme at a café hosted by the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA).
Here, Lim gets to participate in making simple works of art (something she never enjoyed growing up but recently learned to love), as well as jaunts to museums and the Botanic Gardens.
Staring down the barrel of an inescapable fate
It’s at this cafe that Lim also gets to interact with others who have been diagnosed with dementia.
“You can tell some of the elderly are really the quite serious type. So when I go there I always look out for those who are worse than me, then I will bring them and say ‘come let’s talk’. You know I’m very talkative. So when I go there you sit down. Then I ask ‘did you take your breakfast?’ Sometimes they don’t remember (laughs). Poor things ah, I haven’t got to this stage yet.”
It’s hard to ignore the horror of Lim’s situation at this point. As you might already know, there is currently no cure for dementia.
And while medication and therapeutic activities can help to slow its progression and maintain cognitive functions, it's unfortunately near-inevitable that Lim’s condition will one day decline to a stage where she will lose all sense of who she is.
At its most severe stage, people with dementia experience no apparent awareness of past or present, require full assistance in activities such as dressing and showering, and can even get ‘lost’ in their own homes.
Does it scare Lim at all then? To be staring down the barrel of what is her inescapable fate?
“I am already mentally prepared. One day I will become like them like that. So I’m trying to… at least to slow it down. This condition will get worse, it will not get better. I’ve been trying to maintain.”
Her response is accompanied by a defiant smile, carrying a sense of dignity and determination rare in even the healthiest of people.
“I won’t allow this problem to actually overcome me. Even though despite this dementia, I’m still me. And I will not allow this condition to overcome me.”
"Who are you guys ah?"
As the interview winds down to its conclusion and we say our goodbyes, Lim turns to the two people from the ADA who had helped to set up the interview and asks them, "actually, who are you guys ah?"
It's a shocking moment for me, personally, that reveals the harsh reality of Lim's condition — this must be at least the second time she would've met the people from the ADA. They were also at her house talking to her before I had arrived.
Lim also didn't remember the first meeting we had, nor did she remember that I was a writer from Mothership — I had to explain that mid-interview.
I wonder how much of this meeting she will remember, or if she even remembers that her story will be told.
Throughout the two encounters we had with each other, I felt grateful for Lim's openness to me and her willingness to talk to me about her family and her struggles.
Amidst the isolation and social withdrawal Lim is battling, I wanted her to know that I cared, that the ADA people cared, and that we were working towards bringing awareness to the challenges faced by people with dementia by telling her story.
Yet the sad irony is that the one person I want the most to feel happiest from this story is unlikely to know or remember her part in it.
In recognition of World Alzheimer's Month (WAM) 2019, ADA will be holding a carnival on Saturday, September 21 at *SCAPE, open to the public.
Date: Saturday, 21 September 2019
Time: 11am to 4pm
Venue: *SCAPE Singapore
2 Orchard Link Singapore 237978
More information about the carnival can be found here.
Cover illustration by Dan Wong
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A new PSLE scoring system that is meant to move away from an over-emphasis on academic results is kicking in this year. Under the AL scoring system, there are only 29 possible PSLE scores, compared to the more than 200 possible aggregate scores under the previous T-score system.This means that schools will also be less differentiated based on cut-off points (COPs), so students will have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from.Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE)
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/psle-2021-achievement-levels/
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Starting in 2021, students taking the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) will no longer be scored based on how well they did relative to their peers, but rather, on their individual performance in the subjects.
The new PSLE scoring system, which uses Achievement Levels (ALs) rather than T-scores, is part of the Ministry of Education's (MOE) efforts to move away from over-emphasising academic results.
Achievement Level scoring system
Under the new AL scoring system, each PSLE student will be scored using eight ALs, with AL 1 being the highest score and AL 8 being the lowest.
The eight ALs are set based on the learning objectives of the curriculum, and are designed to reflect students' levels of understanding and mastery of a subject, MOE said in a press release on Tuesday (Apr. 27).
A student's AL for each subject will reflect their own level of achievement, rather than how they performed relative to their peers. This will allow students to set goals and work toward their desired aggregate score with more certainty, said MOE.
Students taking Foundation level subjects are graded from AL A to AL C, which are mapped to AL 6 to AL 8 of Standard level subjects respectively, for the purpose of the Secondary One (S1) posting exercise.
This is because the curriculum of a Foundation level subject is a subset of a Standard level subject, said MOE.
The sum of the student's ALs across their four subjects is the PSLE score, which ranges from four (the best possible score) to 32.
Indicative PSLE score ranges for secondary schools
Under the AL scoring system, there are only 29 possible PSLE scores, compared to the more than 200 possible aggregate scores under the previous T-score system.
This means that schools will also be less differentiated based on cut-off points (COPs), so students will have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from.
MOE has published the indicative PSLE score ranges of all 139 secondary schools taking part in the 2021 S1 posting exercise on SchoolFinder here.
These indicative PSLE score ranges reflect the score of the first and last student who would be posted into each school under the AL scoring system, based on the 2020 cohort's PSLE results and school choice patterns.
The PSLE score of the last student posted to a school is referred to as that school's COP.
Based on 2020 indicative PSLE score ranges, the indicative COPs for secondary schools start from six.
School's score ranges may vary from year to year, depending on the cohort's PSLE results and their school choices in the previous year's S1 Posting Exercise. These fluctuations may typically be by one AL.
Students will also continue to be admitted to their courses — Express, Normal (Academic), and Normal (Technical) — based on their overall PSLE score.
For example, this student who earned an AL 6, AL 4, AL 5, and AL 4 would be placed in the Express stream, as the PSLE score is less than 20.
MOE said that under the new PSLE scoring system, the proportion of students qualifying for the different courses is expected to be broadly similar, as the curriculum and assessment standards have not changed.
Tie-breakers for S1 placement
Similar to the T-score PSLE system, students will continue to have six options in selecting their secondary schools and will be posted based on academic merit.
This means that a student with a better PSLE score will be admitted to a school ahead of a student with a poorer PSLE score.
In cases where two students with the same PSLE score are vying for the last place in a school, the first tie-breaking factor will be citizenship. A Singapore citizen will be admitted ahead of a Singapore permanent resident, who will be admitted ahead of an international student.
If two students vying for the last spot in a school have the same PSLE score and citizenship status, the next tie-breaker will be based on school choice order.
This means that the student that ranked the school higher will be considered first.
The final tie-breaker, should all three of the previous factors — academic merit, citizenship, and school choice order — be the same, will be decided by random computerised balloting.
In a virtual briefing on Tuesday (Apr. 27), MOE told media that it expects that only one in 10 pupils will need to undergo balloting.
HCL advantage for SAP schools
Students applying for admission to Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools will receive a posting advantage if they pass Higher Chinese Language (HCL).
If students with the same PSLE Score are vying for limited places in the same SAP school, those with better HCL grades [in the order of Distinction (D), Merit (M) and Pass (P)] will be allocated a place ahead of other students.
This posting advantage applies before the tie-breakers mentioned above for S1 posting.
For SAP schools, the indicative PSLE Score ranges will include HCL grades. For example, the indicative PSLE score range of 2020 for a school's Express stream could be 5 (D) – 12 (P).
This indicates that the first student admitted in 2020 would have scored AL 5 and gotten a Distinction in HCL, while the last student admitted would have scored AL 12 and gotten a Pass in HCL.
This means that in the 2020 S1 Posting Exercise, a student with a PSLE Score of 12 that did not obtain a Pass in HCL or did not take HCL would not have been admitted.
However, a student with PSLE Score of 11 who did not take HCL would have been admitted, as 11 is a better PSLE Score than the COP of 12 (P).
While students do not need to take HCL in order to enter SAP schools, students who pass HCL will receive a posting advantage for admission.
Look beyond COPs when choosing schools
In the media briefing, MOE emphasised that parents and students are encouraged to look beyond the cutoff points when choosing schools, and to look at schools holistically.
For example, they are encouraged to consider other "equally important factors" when considering what school would be a good fit for a student's overall learning needs, such as a school's distinctive programmes, co-curricular activities, ethos and culture, and distance from home.
MOE also stressed that there is also a good spread of schools with a range of COPs across school zones.
In addition to schools' COPs, SchoolFinder also has more information about the holistic offerings of the secondary schools that are part of the S1 posting exercise.
Students can also consider the Direct School Admission (DSA)-Secondary — which is meant to recognise students' diverse talents and achievements in areas not demonstrated in the PSLE, such as sports, performing arts, and leadership — as an alternative admission pathway.
More information on the DSA-Sec 2021 Exercise will be released in May.
Subject-based banding
Under the new PSLE scoring system, students in the N(A) and N(T) courses will continue to be eligible to take subjects at a more demanding level at Secondary 1, based on their PSLE AL scores for individual subjects, rather than their overall PSLE score.
If a student earns a grade of AL 5 or better in a subject, they have the option to take that subject at the Express level. If they earn a grade of AL 6 or better — or AL A for a foundation subject — they can take the subject at the N(A) level.
MOE added:
"As students progress in secondary school, if they demonstrate aptitude and competencies, they will have further opportunities to take subjects at more demanding levels at various junctures, to further pursue their strengths and interests, and develop to their fullest potential."
Top photos via Facebook / Maliki Osman and MOE.
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Caring for these large birds was the last thing former military policeman Clarence Saw expected when he applied for the job at Jurong BirdPark at 25.But the 58-year-old has been working as a trainer and presenter at the park since 1988. Since then, Saw has gone on to present for hundreds of people, even prominent ones like the former President of Singapore S. R. Nathan, the late Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.He also spills the beans about a memorable incident when a falcon took off midway through a show and did not return.Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) #people #singapore #tourism
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/jurong-bird-park-keeper-clarence/
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"Maybe you should stand back a bit."
"Oh okay sure," I said as I inched back warily towards the metal railing at the edge of the grassy plain, phone ready in my hands.
The intended subject of my shot was currently positioned on the arm of a staff member at the other end of the arena, and at the sight of an almost imperceptible flick of a hand, swooped over to land perfectly on Clarence Saw's arm.
Despite me standing more than two metres away, the gust of wind from the powerful flap of the bald eagle's wings riffles my hair.
Saw, who has been working as a trainer for birds of prey at the Jurong Bird Park for the last 33 years, and who is now the senior manager of Animal Presentations, swivels around for me to get an eyeful of the magnificent avian.
Unpredictable creatures
The bald eagle, whose name is Suzy, finishes gobbling up the small chunk of meat treat after accomplishing its trick, and proceeds to nip at Saw's forearm, leaving marks on his skin.
The 58-year-old however, remains unperturbed and barely flinches, his experience in handling the bird (and be on the receiving end of such treatment) evident.
But having cared for and trained raptors, as well as worked as a presenter in the hawk shows — now known as the King of the Skies show — alongside the raptors for nearly half his life, Saw understands that the birds' compliance to tricks belies their unpredictability.
"You can train them, but over the years I've realised you can't tame them," he said.
These birds of prey, which include hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures, retain their natural instincts and can pose a formidable threat. My eyes catch sight of Suzy's talons, which dig into Saw's arm, currently sheathed in a protective gauntlet.
I repress the urge to stroke its feathers like one does to a pet bird, and yet, feel a healthy amount of respect for this being whose intelligence shines clearly in its ochre eyes.
Former military policeman
Saw handles the birds with ease and familiarity, and with his salt and pepper hair, and tan, weathered face, the man looks truly at home in the outdoors.
Surprisingly, caring for birds of prey was the last thing he expected when he left his prior job of six years as a military policeman.
Back in the army, Saw's duties comprised enforcing law, order and discipline on soldiers and carrying out policing and security operations. However, it was this system and daily discipline that compelled him to switch jobs.
"It was getting too regimented for me. You know how in the army its all about the regiment, the camp. You start at 6am in the morning and at this time you gotta do this, and then after that you gotta perform something else at another time," Saw said of the strict schedule they followed.
In search of more freedom, Saw, aged 25 then, decided to fly the nest.
Assigned to birds of prey on his first day
While searching for a new job, Saw came across an advertisement for a vacancy as a "trainer presenter" at Jurong Bird Park in the Classifieds section of the newspaper. Mind you, this was May 1988 where computers and the Internet were still in their fledgling stages and sites like JobStreet and Glassdoor were a distant dream.
Saw decided to apply for the job without much hesitation: "I was thinking, hmmm, maybe I'll give it a go since I already have some interest in birds."
This interest was sparked by his father, who returned home one day when 16-year-old Saw was watching television, with a cage containing a tiny Oriental White-eye, a popular songbird.
It was the first time he had seen such a bird, and Saw initially paid it no mind. As time went by, one songbird became two, and then three, and Saw soon found his home filled with more than 10 birds chirping and twittering.
He gradually became involved in the care of the birds, helping to feed and bathe them and clean their cages.
Despite the experience Saw had (somewhat), in no way did he expect to graduate from caring for cute songbirds to be assigned the fearsome birds of prey on his first day of work.
"On the day that they told me to start work, they brought me down to this place [at Jurong Bird Park], and told me this will be where I'll be working and what I'll be taking care of, it came like a surprise and a shock to me. At no point at all did I expect I would be working with the largest [birds]."
It was his first time encountering birds of prey as well, and Saw described the mixed feelings he had at this new revelation — "I was excited, but also at the same time, you know, wah, can I do this or not?"
'Just you and the bird'
He needn't have worried much — Saw went through plenty of training to get him accustomed to his new and unconventional job.
Although he was "a bit intimidated at the start", he assured that all keepers and presenters are trained on how to handle the creatures carefully.
"We were told the consequences of what will take place if we don't handle them properly... I mean, they've got powerful beaks, powerful feet," Saw said, alluding to the potential for injuries to occur.
To overcome that barrier of fear, newbies like Saw would literally sit down (at the exact amphitheatre I interviewed Saw at) for several hours with the birds perched on their arms, as part of a training procedure called manning.
This was to build a relationship between the trainer and the raptor — for the former to familiarise themselves with the heft of the bird in their arms (a bald eagle like Suzy can weigh up to 6.3kg), and for the birds to be comfortable with a new human's presence.
"It's really just sitting there, and then it's just you and the bird."
Very cozy.
The true stars of the show
As the then-hawk show had just opened the same year he started working at Jurong Bird Park, Saw was one of the pioneer presenters there.
At the time, there were only six birds of five different species starring in the show, as compared to the numerous individuals seen in the Kings of the Skies shows these days. Here's a snippet of a recent one.
Prepping to become a presenter was an "intensive" and gruelling process for Saw, due in part to his lack of presentation skills and experience in the field.
He cited the task of having to handle the birds, presenting from a script, and working the crowd concurrently, as one of the biggest challenges he faced during his probation period, which was a lengthy six months.
Thankfully, he passed his probation with flying colours, and Saw has gone on to present for hundreds of people, even esteemed ones like the former President of Singapore S. R. Nathan, the late Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Despite the high-flying decades spent on stage, Saw retains no delusions of grandeur about who truly dominates the shows.
"Sometimes you think you come out here and present a show, it's very glamourous and all that. But I always instil this mindset in my staff that we are not out here to be the stars. The birds are the stars. We are just out here to make the birds look better."
Being a trainer and presenter also requires a keen sense of intuition and understanding of the birds on an individual basis, Saw reveals.
Working with birds is akin with navigating real life, human relationships, and Saw explains that even birds of the same species have different personalities.
"This bird may be very comfortable, you're stroking and touching it, it's fine. But another bird [of the same species] may not like it. So it's like people — I can say things and joke about you but I cannot do it with this other person because he doesn't like it."
This comes into play during actual shows and performances, and Saw has to be aware of which bird he is handling and the limits he can push with the bird.
Hunting down an escapee falcon
While Saw's new career might have gotten off to a flying start, things were not always smooth sailing.
One particular memorable incident (for perhaps both the right and wrong reasons), which took place a few years after Saw started working, was when a laggar falcon took off midway during a show Saw was conducting.
Falcons were part of the hawk show, and presenters would swing a long lure round and round, much like Mongolian falconers seen in documentaries who hunt game on horseback. The birds would then twirl in the air and dive for the lure, making for a rather thrilling experience for the audience.
Unfortunately on that fateful day, the laggar falcon did not perform as expected.
"This falcon just went straight, and straight, and straight until we lost sight of it."
One can imagine the bafflement the audience that day likely felt. Saw sheepishly reveals that he felt a certain amount of panic in that moment, but at the same time, excitement that he would be venturing out on this "wild goose chase".
With the help of a tracking device, which were attached to all falcons back then, Saw and other staff slowly and labouriously pursued the escapee bird all the way to Keppel Shipyard, which is around 8km away from Jurong Bird Park.
This process was complicated by the fact that the transmitter signal from the tracking device would bounce off buildings, misdirecting the group and causing them to go round in circles. By the time the laggar falcon was retrieved, it was around 10pm.
Saw however, merely sees this as occupational hazard and a learning point.
"Things like this happen you know, and its part and parcel of the job." "I tell my staff not to always think that, even though the birds perform everyday... It doesn't mean that it's going to be smooth all the time. Along the way there will always be some other things distracting them, you know, so we have to be prepared for the unexpected."
There are no longer any falcons at Jurong Bird Park — partly due to this incident, as well as the lack of space to accommodate the range and speed at which they fly.
A bond with a special bird
Saw also elaborated on a certain unique relationship he had with... surprise, surprise, an Andean condor. Andean condors are a species of vulture from South America, and this individual in particular was named George.
It is a no-no for any one bird to become too attached to a trainer, and vice versa. Saw explains that this would complicate things should the bird not want to be handled, fed, trained or cared for by any other people.
"Even though there is some affection on the bird, but because it's the nature of our job, we have to realise that these are wild animals, we cannot treat them as a pet," Saw said.
And yet, it's clear that Saw has a certain bond with George. He describes George fondly as a "very special bird". Its most distinctive characteristic is its massive size — the Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world by combined measurement of weight and wingspan, up to 15kg and 3.5m respectively.
Despite his size, which intimidated quite a few keepers, Saw came to know of George as a gentle giant who was very calm and "doesn't display any aggressiveness".
He wistfully harks back to the days spent with George:
"He's so intelligent, and he picks up things so fast in training. I could actually walk around with him and he'll just walk by my side. He can stop sometimes [while walking] and he'll just stare at something and look around. And I'll just continue walking... and after a few metres away I'll stop and call him 'George!', and he'll gather back his senses and come running back towards you."
Unfortunately, George died in 2018 due to medical complications, and having worked with him since the 1990s, Saw greatly misses the gigantic bird.
"It's part and parcel I guess, in this line of work. You have to accept that they come, they go. After some time you get used to it."
Never thought of switching careers
After being a presenter for 28 years, Saw has since taken a backseat, and is mainly involved in mentoring and training staff to present shows, although he yearns to be back in the limelight — "I would love to [present again]" he chuckles. However, he adds that he has to step aside to give others a chance.
What truly struck me though, was Saw's dedication to the job. After all, he has never considered switching careers throughout his impressive 33 year stint at Jurong Bird Park.
"The kind of things that I do, I will not be able to do it anywhere else. I mean where else will I be able to work outdoors, which I love so much, be with birds I admire and until today, am still learning from. I'm not the kind of 'behind the desk' person."
"I look forward to coming to work everyday," Saw reveals. The unpredictable nature of the birds of prey also adds that element of fun and excitement, which he views as a new challenge.
This is in stark contrast to those who are caught up in a constant pursuit of happiness or career milestones.
Although Saw might be getting on in years, he has no plans to retire anytime soon, patting his thighs and proclaiming that he will continue working for as long as his legs allow.
When asked what he will miss most about Jurong Bird Park, as the bird park is scheduled for a relocation to its new premises at Mandai next year, Saw is unable to provide an answer.
This is perhaps, telling in and of itself — after all, the greatest attachments to and the best memories Saw has of his job are of the birds he cares for, and less so of any physical area within the park.
And maybe for Saw, who was unexpectedly thrust into this role, this is his greatest achievement — to love one's job so much that time simply flies by.
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top photo courtesy of Clarence Saw and by Ashley Tan
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To help applicants get their “target queue number”, an online site SGOBF claims to offer a service helping applicants who have been unsuccessful in previous balloting exercises.Speaking to Mothership.sg, SGOBF clarified that they are essentially a service helping people to fill out their application by using their “experience and expertise”.It is also largely “manual”, and they claim that they do not make use of shortcuts to hasten the process using automation.In response to Mothership queries, Housing & Development Board (HDB) said that they are “aware of the website, which is not endorsed by (them)“.They advise the public to “consider carefully” whether to pay and engage such a service considering the risks, which include whether a past success in getting a small queue position is replicable in future.#automation #housing #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/sgobf-open-booking-queue-number/
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Securing a flat in Singapore can be a stressful experience for applicants.
What is Open Booking?
The Housing & Development Board (HDB) launches Build-To-Order flats, which will be sold through BTO exercises.
The leftover flats from these exercises, coupled with other completed flats repossessed or sold back to HDB, will be sold under the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise.
Flats left over from the SBF can be booked through the HDB portal under Open Booking.
Applicants can apply online at any time of the year, except for twice a year when HDB is preparing for a fresh supply of flats to be offered.
Open Booking of flats are on a first-come-first-serve basis instead of ballot.
Service helping people get 'target queue number'
To help applicants get their "target queue number", an online site SGOBF claims to offer a service helping applicants who have been unsuccessful in previous balloting exercises.
On the site, they claim that they are offering a customised service for a "very limited number of clients" to help them achieve a desired queue number in a "risk-free" approach.
Speaking to Mothership, SGOBF clarified that they are essentially a service helping people to fill out their application by using their "experience and expertise".
It is also largely "manual", and they claim that they do not make use of shortcuts to hasten the process using automation.
They clarified that they do not have a fixed price for their service and people are free to offer them "any fees" they deem their service to be "worthy" of.
SGOBF said that they are unable to "guarantee" a good queue number as "good" is subjective. However, they said they are "fairly confident in successfully helping someone who is not too particular about unit choice".
They also explained that what they are doing, in terms of helping with the application, is "no different" from helping those who are "computer-illiterate", or those who may not have internet access.
HDB "aware of" site
In response to Mothership queries, HDB said that they are "aware of the website, which is not endorsed by (them)".
They advise the public to "consider carefully" whether to pay and engage such a service considering the risks, which include whether a past success in getting a small queue position is replicable in future.
HDB said that there is also "no need to engage such a service", given the "simplicity of the application process".
Flat applicants are advised to submit their flat applications using the official platform, the HDB Flat Portal.
This portal was developed to provide more convenience for home buyers and sellers to gather information on the purchase or sale of a flat through a single integrated platform.
Flat applicants can also find out more information on the flat application procedure on the HDB InfoWEB.
Top photo via SGOBF, Unsplash/Amos Lee.
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According to a 2019 survey, 51 per cent of Singaporean singles cited dating apps as the most preferred way for them to meet new people.Despite the high usage of these apps, however, many singles, especially women, have similarly admitted to losing faith in finding love on these platforms.Our writer, Melanie Lim, cites three of her top reasons why dating apps might actually make it harder for one to find a lifelong partner, even though they no doubt made it easier to ‘match’ new people.#datingapp #love #singles
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/dating-apps-lovenn/
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It’s hard to find love on dating apps in Singapore, it really is.
It’s tiring enough having to swipe through hundreds of thousands of profiles with no end in sight.
What’s worse is when people don’t even initiate a conversation with you after being matched.
According to a 2019 survey, 51 per cent of Singaporean singles cited dating apps as the most preferred way for them to meet new people.
Despite the high usage of these apps, however, many singles, especially women, have similarly admitted to losing faith in finding love on these platforms.
And while dating apps have no doubt made it easier to ‘match’ new people, here are three of my top reasons why they might actually make it harder for one to find a lifelong partner.
1) It’s hard to find “real” or serious matches
In the formative years of 2013 to 2014 when dating apps were still relatively new in Singapore, they were at first stigmatised as untrustworthy online platforms filled with lecherous men and “desperados”.
The reputations of these dating apps were so dismal that people who met their partners on them used to lie or come up with alternative stories of how they got to know each other.
Gradually, as the years went by and the usage of dating apps became more popular, they soon became the norm for many singles looking to meet and mingle.
These days, many of the profiles I get matched with on other dating apps tend to tell me that they’re looking “for fun” or “for something casual”, and very rarely do I get matches who tell me that they’re looking for love, let alone a lifelong relationship.
And to be honest, can I really blame them?
Tinder isn’t exactly the first place you’d think of when finding a good Christian boyfriend to bring home to your parents.
Additionally, certain dating apps are full of dodgy profiles and unusually good-looking men who are exceptionally nice to you, begging the question if one is only destined to be matched with modelesque men if they are “fakes”.
2) Too many options make it hard to commit
In the same vein, dating apps often present users with hundreds of thousands of profiles, reasoning that more options would make it easier for one to find a suitable mate, especially if one just wants to “play the field”.
Contrarily however, the idea of choosing from so many options actually makes one less satisfied with the choices they have made, particularly when looking for a lifelong partner.
After all, why commit to one match when there are plenty of fish in the ocean?
Indeed, thousands of dating profiles have made it seem as if there will always be someone better looking, with a better job, or a better personality for us out there.
And when everyone is just trying to score the best match they can get, this can become a pretty exasperating “game” of sorts.
3) People are not upfront about their deal breakers
It’s safe to say that no one in the world is perfect.
Likewise, most (if not all) singles have preferences as well as deal breakers when it comes to dating and relationships.
Despite this, however, dating apps that actually give you an avenue to be upfront about your dating preferences or deal breakers are few and far between.
While a successful relationship is often based on things such as compatibility and similar values, one might not get a chance to meet a suitable partner as profiles tend to be matched based solely on traits like physical appearances.
Conversely, one might only realise too late into the dating process that their match is not compatible with them, because some of these preferences and deal breakers are not laid bare from the get-go.
This not only eats up time and effort for both parties, but can also be extremely disheartening for one to go on date after date, only to find out later on that your match is not the one for you.
And after spending close to two years on and off these apps, I’ve come to the (rather tired and weary) conclusion that my ideal dating app would be one that sorts profiles based on the following:
Personality
Family closeness
Views on intimacy
Religion
What the other party is looking for
Find an ideal match with Lovenn
If, like me, you are frustrated with run-of-the-mill dating apps that do not meet your needs, consider signing up for Lovenn, the newest dating app on the market that is tailor-made to suit local dating preferences.
Essentially, what Lovenn does is provide singles with a platform to date honestly and be upfront with their expectations.
In fact, 99 per cent of Lovenn users are looking for a serious relationship and/or marriage.
Via a checklist provided to each individual, Lovenn helps to match you with profiles that fit your criteria and whose criteria you fit as well.
Some examples of these filters include:
Personality
Views on sex
Body type
Income level
Work-life balance
Exercise habits
Family closeness
Marital status
Having used the app for close to three weeks now, I personally found these filters super useful.
I could list down some of my must-haves and deal breakers before even matching a profile or speaking to them, sparing me both time and effort from incompatible matches or conversations:
Unlike other apps, I also did not have to swipe incessantly because Lovenn would automatically recommend me five to 10 of the most suitable profiles on a daily basis.
Another thing I really like about Lovenn is the fact that my friends can affirm me as a date by writing a testimonial on my profile, making for an interactive experience that is both unique and uplifting.
I can even see testimonials written by the friends of my matches, which further adds to all the fun and intrigue:
Once matched with a profile, I also get to view an exact breakdown of our compatibility score - which in turn saves a ton of time on unnecessary small talk, imo:
If all this talk has got you interested in signing up for Lovenn, you can use the promo code MS39 to get free premium tier membership (U.P. S$39) from now till June 1, 2021 (only valid for new sign-ups).
Don’t say we bo jio.
This sponsored article by Lovenn made this writer less resigned to being a single.
Top image via Airam Dato-on on Unsplash
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Choong Wah King, 68, is occasionally lucid in spite of his deteriorating vascular dementia. For his wife, 64-year-old Lynda Teo, these moments offer snatches of relief, but also acute sorrow.She choked up while recounting how her husband expressed suicidal thoughts: “He said that he wanted to die because he feels that he’s a burden to me.”#caregiving #health #family
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singaporean-dementia-caregiver/
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Prior to meeting my interviewees in-person, my knowledge of dementia was limited.
My experience with dementia mostly comprised faint childhood memories of my late grandfather, who developed a tendency to mistake me for my aunt.
Unaware that dementia can also manifest in other ways such as hallucinations and behavioural changes, my experience of meeting 68-year-old retiree Choong Wah King, who has early onset dementia, along with 64-year-old Lynda Teo Siew Hua, was truly eye-opening.
Teo is Choong's wife of 44 years, and now, his caregiver.
The questions I had prepared were mostly directed at Choong, in hopes of acquiring a glimpse of what living with dementia is like.
However, I soon realised that Choong's lucidness had deteriorated to the point whereby Teo had to answer most of the questions on his behalf.
Through Teo's retelling of Choong's story, I learnt about the uphill battle that a caregiver faces as she tries to slow down the dementia patient's deterioration while serving as the intermediary between him and his community.
Early onset dementia
According to a Straits Times report in July 2020, cases involving early onset dementia are on the rise.
In older patients, the condition typically manifests as memory disorders like forgetfulness.
Younger patients, on the other hand, usually demonstrate a range of symptoms which include behavioural changes, forgetfulness and difficulties with planning, sequencing and judgment.
As of six months ago, Choong is in the "mild to moderate stage" but still deteriorating, said Teo.
While her husband was officially diagnosed with early onset dementia in 2016 at the age of 63, Teo believes that he was already affected by it much earlier.
Started behaving erratically in 2010
Choong's behavioural changes started in 2010.
He became increasingly suspicious, accusing his wife of keeping a boyfriend outside, and claiming that his mother-in-law was a spy, even locking her out of the house once.
Choong's erratic actions resulted in tense familial relations, requiring intervention from a counsellor at one point, said Teo.
"A lot of things happened everyday. He would call me, she would call me. My mother said, 'He wants to beat me'. [It felt like] living in hell almost everyday."
On the advice of a friend, Teo brought Choong to a polyclinic, which subsequently referred the couple to the National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) for an MRI.
The results from the scan were sobering: Choong was suffering from "shrinkage of the brain"; the then-63-year-old was diagnosed with vascular dementia.
Vascular dementia, like all other forms of dementia, has no cure.
Possibly caused by a silent stroke in 2010
Like Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia is a common type of dementia. Also known as post-stroke dementia, the condition is commonly caused by strokes in the brain, which impair blood flow and cause decline in brain function.
Choong did not have a history of stroke — or rather, none that he and Teo were aware of. Their doctor, however, believed that he might have had a silent stroke years before.
Sometime in 2010, Choong woke up in the middle of the night complaining of "a very, very bad headache". Not knowing what else to do at the late hour, Teo gave her husband two Panadol tablets.
The next morning, she asked him how he felt after the terrible headache, but he simply assured her, “I’m fine now.”
Teo believes that if Choong had gone for an MRI in 2010, they might have been able to nip it in the bud.
Unfortunately, by the time he went for the scan years later, "it was too late after so many years and behavioural changes".
"I would like to share or highlight to people — if there’s... abnormal kind of pain, headache, you need to be alerted, go and see a doctor quickly, do MRI or whatever. That’s very important."
Hallucinations, verbal lashings & suicidal thoughts
Teo confessed that she did not really know what dementia was initially when she first learnt of Choong's condition.
Loss of memory is what most people associate with dementia, but the behavioural symptoms — the mood swings and changes in personality — demonstrate the true extent of how the disease puts a strain on relationships.
Scolded and cursed at his wife for two hours
The drastic change in Choong's behaviour really affected his wife.
"He didn’t scold me last time but when his behaviour changed, he did that to me, so I couldn’t take it at that point in time."
The triggers for his bad mood tend to revolve around "hallucinations and delusions", which cause him to accuse people around him of things that they did not do.
"He always thinks that a lot of people come into my house to paint and maybe [work on] some kind of utilities."
These thoughts often send Choong into a state of agitation common in patients with dementia, resulting in verbal lashings that he unwittingly unleashes on his wife and helper.
Once, he cursed and scolded Teo in front of other patients at a polyclinic for two whole hours.
"I was so sad, but I had to control myself [from breaking down]. I did not know what to do so I just kept quiet. The moment I stepped into the consultation room, I broke down and cried.
"That was the worst episode," said Teo, as tears welled up in her eyes.
Husband feels that he is a burden
Choong has occasional moments of lucidness, which can offer snatches of relief, but also acute sorrow, said Teo, choking up as she recounted how her husband would express suicidal thoughts:
"He said that he wanted to die because he feels that he’s a burden to me."
It's a painful thing for one to hear, devastating even, if not for the fact that Choong does not have the courage to take his own life. This much he admitted to her.
"Luckily he said that, otherwise I don’t know what will happen," she said, chuckling weakly.
Slowly losing memories of family
People with dementia struggle to recall things they have done, and Choong is no exception.
Sometimes, he would insist that he had not eaten lunch, even though he had. So Teo started taking pictures of him eating, as evidence in case he forgets.
It doesn't always work, though.
Sometimes, when he is deep in the throes of his delusion, Choong would insist that the person in the picture is not him, and accuse his wife of lying.
Still, such incidents are relatively minor when compared to Teo's fear that her husband will eventually forget her.
"He's beginning to forget who am I," she said, as she tried to stifle tears.
"Sometimes, I work at home and I'd be at my laptop, and he would be talking and doing activities with my helper. He would ask her, 'Where’s my wife?'. And I would reply, 'Eh hello, I’m here!' 'Huh? You ah? You are my wife?' . . . . He can only remember our wedding photograph when I was 20 years old and he was 24 years old."
It isn't just his wife that Choong is starting to forget.
As our conversation shifted to the topic of his family, Teo gently prodded him to recall the names of his grandsons. It took a while — and a good deal of coaxing and encouragement — but he managed to give the right answers: Wen Kang and Xun Kang.
And then, just like a key turning in a lock, Choong broke out in a wide smile as he recalled the fond times he shared with his grandsons — "They always come to my house, like to talk to me, play with me, like this," he said.
Choong soon lapsed back into his dementia-induced habit of lamenting about spending his days sleeping at home while his wife works.
Living and coping with dementia
Five years since Choong's diagnosis, it seems like Teo has a better handle on being Choong's caregiver.
She meticulously documents everything — from mealtimes to visits — with photos so that her husband will have reminders in the likely event that he forgets.
The couple have even travelled overseas together, which Teo finds is "still okay", despite some minor inconveniences.
At home, Teo makes sure that all the house keys are locked away before heading to bed, in case her husband tries to leave in the middle of the night.
But because most hotel room doors can be opened from the inside, a person with dementia can sneak out easily without the knowledge of the caregiver.
To address this, Teo purchased a battery-operated door chime with a sensor and placed it in an area where Choong would need to pass in order to reach the door.
The chime sounds when the sensor is triggered, alerting Teo to act immediately.
Creative ways to slow down Choong's deterioration
Although there is no cure for dementia, Teo is doing her best to slow down her husband's deterioration and help him cope with the disease.
Hobbies that Choong has picked up since his diagnosis include colouring, puzzles, and simple mathematical exercises with their helper.
Such activities help to keep Choong calm, and ease his agitation.
"He finished two [colouring] books, this is the third one," Teo shared, hinting at his enjoyment of the therapeutic activity.
Persisting glimpses of normality
Despite Choong's behavioural changes and memory loss, he still retains some of his old qualities, which Teo is grateful for.
For instance, Choong is "patient and very detailed" when it comes to his colouring.
Choong's detail-orientedness dates back to his younger days; "whatever he wanted to do, he'll do it nicely", Teo said. "That's why I think he still has it."
In the past, she depended on Choong as her trusty handyman who would tend to issues in the flat such as plumbing and lighting.
Choong "still can do it" sometimes, Teo said, gesturing to an old fan in the corner of the flat.
"I thought the fan didn't work anymore and thought of throwing it away and getting a new one," Teo recalled
Instead of throwing it away, she figured she'd let Choong experiment.
Her husband took one look at the fan, identified the faulty component as a broken wire, and subsequently patched it up.
"Then it works! So clever!" she shared excitedly.
It's evident that Teo takes comfort and pride in Choong's ability to do the smallest things, from making ang bao baskets to cutting fruits and assisting in the kitchen.
"He can still do certain things. That's why if he can do [it], I just let him try. Why not enable and empower him to do things?"
Meeting and growing with other people with dementia
Caring for someone with dementia takes a village, and Teo has been receiving support from the Alzheimer's Disease Association (ADA) in Singapore.
Teo arranged for a social worker from ADA's ElderSit programme to come engage Choong in activities once a week.
The couple subsequently joined other ADA programmes like the Memories Cafe (where persons with dementia and their caregivers can meet and interact in a safe setting outside their homes), and the Voices for Hope programme, which enables persons with dementia to be confident and share their stories, needs, and views on public platforms.
"Voices for Hope teaches us advocacy so we try our best to go down if we are invited to do advocacy," Teo said.
"I know a lot of people think dementia is for older people but early onset dementia is on the rise so we would like to share about this."
As one's dementia progresses over time, the journey for both them and their caregiver becomes increasingly taxing on mind and emotions.
But the ever-resolute Teo is determined to walk with her husband every step of the way:
"What I learnt, I know from him is that he is afraid of losing the loved one, he’s afraid that I would leave him. So, sometimes I assure him that I will go along with him on the journey."
A lady with dementia tells us what it's like to slowly lose one's sense of self
If you would like to donate to the Alzheimer's Disease Association, you may do so here.
Stories from the City of Good is a series on ordinary Singaporeans giving their best for others and inspiring each other to become a Singapore that cares. This is a collaboration between Mothership and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre.
Top images by Karen Lui
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Growing up, Mothership writer Julia Yeo wanted to be a farmer. Unfortunately, her parents were rather unimpressed with her childhood ambition, preferring that she had more practical goals.Her dream of becoming a farmer was gradually replaced by more practical ones, and she forgot about her little childhood fantasy — until recently, when she was offered the opportunity to visit a farm in Singapore located north of Pulau Tekong.This was what she learnt about local produce, from watching farmers in Singapore work.Singapore Food Agency #sustainability #food #supportlocal
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/sfa-coastal-fish-farm-sponsored/
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Growing up, I wanted to be a farmer.
My first-ever visit to a farm was when I was nine years old, during a trip to Australia with my parents.
I was amazed at how nearly all the food prepared at the farm was grown and harvested in-house.
During the farm visit, I was so inspired by the farmers and the work they did that I came home wanting to be one myself.
Unfortunately, my parents were rather unimpressed with my childhood ambition, preferring that I had more practical goals.
They quickly gave me a “reality check”, informing me that it would be rather difficult to find work as a farmer in Singapore, adding that there weren’t that many farms around the country due to the limited space we have.
My dream of becoming a farmer was gradually replaced by more practical (i.e. boring) ones, and I forgot about my little childhood fantasy -- until recently, when I was offered the opportunity to visit a farm in Singapore.
A fish farm, at that.
Taking a 30-minute ride out from Changi Ferry Terminal, my coworker and I sailed to Prime Aqua Sea Farm, a coastal fish farm located north of Pulau Tekong.
Before the trip, I had imagined fish farms to be a challenge to navigate, and somewhat old-looking… and fishy-smelling.
I found that my expectations were completely misplaced when I arrived.
The coastal fish farm is a massive 3.5-hectare floating structure, divided into three farms.
Marcus, 24, is the youngest member on the team. He shared that he has been working as one of the management members at the fish farm for about one-and-a-half years, since 2019.
I was rather surprised to find someone this young working here, considering the long working hours and niche field of work.
Marcus shared that he was introduced to this line of work by his father, who has been working in another department under Prime Group International for 30 years.
He shared that despite needing to spend more time off-shore and away from home, he found meaning in his work.
Seeing Marcus reminded me briefly of my childhood dream of becoming a farmer, which had already somewhat faded away over the years.
However, I was heartened to learn that it is now a viable career even for young people now.
Marcus shared that the team normally starts work at 7:30am, when they conduct routine inspection around the farm, before having breakfast together.
After that, they would disperse for their daily duties, such as feeding and inspecting other parts of the farm, or monitoring the condition of the fish in the CCTV room.
With the automated fish monitoring system, the staff members are able to monitor the fish in a central location, and are able to easily identify any issues quickly.
The automatic feeder ensures punctual feeding times for the fish and distributes an accurate amount of feed for all the fish, making sure that the fish are not overfed or underfed as much as possible.
The farm currently breeds nine types of seafood, including local favourites such as red snapper and threadfin. Using these technologies, it is able to maintain a high survival rate of fish at around 80 per cent and a standard fish population of 2 million.
Solar energy system -- fully sustainable using solar-powered energy
Marcus shared that the farm -- all 3.5 hectares -- was energy efficient, and fully sustainable using solar-powered energy harvested from the solar panels installed at the top of the covers of the farm.
They also have a diesel generator set, which is only turned on occasionally during long periods of rainy and cloudy weather, when there is insufficient solar energy generated.
Thinking back, I felt a little embarrassed that I was still under the impression that farms were usually somewhat backward and rural.
Daily harvest
Harvesting of fish would start after lunch at around 1pm.
The fish are packed into large boxes, with layers of ice keeping the fish as fresh as possible.
Huge amounts of fish were being scooped up by the minute -- before I knew it, the boxes were already filled up.
By 5pm, the boxes of fish are transported to the mainland, before they are distributed to wholesalers at Jurong Fishery Port.
And by midnight, the fish are ready to be sold to customers at fresh markets and supermarkets islandwide.
With a turnaround of less than 24 hours, the fish harvested from local fish farms require significantly less time and logistics to be ready for sale, compared to imported fish, which require a minimum turnaround time of 72 hours, according to Marcus.
He added that the farm harvests an average of 55 tonnes, or 55,000 kg of fish per month, which are sold across Singapore.
In line with the Singapore Food Agency’s (SFA)’s goal to produce at least 30 per cent of Singapore’s nutritional needs locally by 2030, the farm is targeting to ramp up production and produce 1,000 tonnes of fish annually by the end of 2021, Marcus shared.
To support more farms like Prime Aqua Sea Farm that are keen to adopt technology to ramp up production, SFA is establishing a S$60 million Agri-food Cluster Transformation (ACT) Fund which farms can tap on for co-funding support. The fund will be open for application later this year.
Support our local farmers
After the visit to the farm, I found myself being more conscious of where the food I buy and eat comes from.
While a lot of our food is still imported, I’m glad that with efforts by farmers to use technology and ramp up production, more and more of our food can be grown locally.
Considering that it’s all produced within this little island, there is less need for food to travel long periods of time before it reaches us, resulting in less spoilage and food waste.
As a result, we can enjoy locally grown produce that is fresher and lasts longer.
Knowing who’s behind the scenes, making sure that the food on your table is safe to eat, perhaps meeting Marcus and other farmers on the fish farm, gave me confidence that local produce can be held to a high standard.
Fish farmers like Marcus and his team ensure that no detail is left out -- from checking the fish feed rigorously every day to installing underwater CCTV cameras to monitor the fish, making sure that their fish grows well.
Having seen the hard work that goes into producing food, local produce is no doubt the preferred choice for myself, whenever available.
This sponsored article by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has slightly reignited this writer’s dreams of becoming a farmer someday.
Top image via Julia Yeo
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The Singapore government is encouraging public servants who can work from home to return to the office three out of five working days as a general guideline, shifting towards a hybrid work mode.This arrangement comes after the announcement of the general easing of Covid-19 measures in the workplace, which would allow more people to return to their offices to work.#workfromhome #singapore #covid19
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/public-servants-go-office-3-days-a-week/
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The Singapore government is encouraging public servants who can work from home to return to the office three out of five working days as a general guideline, The Straits Times (ST) reported.
This shift towards a hybrid work mode comes after the announcement of the general easing of Covid-19 measures in the workplace, which would allow more people to return to their offices to work.
Changes will take effect from April 5
On Mar. 24, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that Singapore will shift from working from home by default, to a more flexible and hybrid working arrangement.
This change, which will take effect from April 5, means that up to 75 per cent of the employees who are presently able to work from home can now be at the workplace at any one time, up from the current 50 per cent.
The current cap on the time an employee spends at the workplace will also be lifted.
Split team arrangements will not be mandatory, although companies may continue to adopt such arrangements if they wish.
However, the Public Service Division told The Sunday Times that officers whose agencies allow them to work from home for more than two days a week can continue to do so, even after April 5.
The government will also encourage staggered hours and hybrid ways of working where possible, to reduce travel on public transport during peak hours.
According to ST, there are about 153,000 public officers, and public transport ridership is expected to rise with more workers returning to the office.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said that from Mar. 8 - 12, 2021, ridership was about 74 per cent of pre-Covid-19 levels.
The number of commuters tapping out at CBD (Central Business District) MRT stations has also been relatively low, at 40 per cent of the usual number.
One year of working from home
Working from home has been the default since April 2020, when circuit breaker measures were implemented.
While it was the first time for many to experience working from home, a survey conducted found that eight in 10 employees wished to continue working from home, at least some of the time, after circuit breaker was over.
Towards the end of May 2020, co-chair of the Covid-19 Multi-Ministerial Task Force (MTF) Lawrence Wong stressed that most of Singapore's workforce should continue to work from home even after circuit breaker ends, telling Singaporeans to "embrace working from home as the new norm".
By January 2021, although Singapore entered Phase 3, business were still advised to ensure that working from home remained the default setting.
Related Stories
Top image via Unsplash.
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Izaac Quek Yong, a 14-year-old Singaporean boy, is now ranked world number one after the International Table Tennis Federation updated its list.He has become the first Singaporean to top the table tennis world ranking list for players under the age of 15, according to a news release on April 14, 2021, the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) said.Izaac started training at the STTA’s Bishan Zone Training Centre when he was seven years old.He was selected to join the junior development squad and youth training squad.Izaac then continued his journey at the Singapore Sports School and was chosen for the STTA’s intermediate squad in 2020.In 2020, Izaac won the Cadet Boys' singles title without losing at all at the ITTF Swedish Junior and Cadet Open.In March 2021 in Singapore, Izaac finished third in the men’s singles and first in the men’s doubles event together with his teammate Ethan Poh at the National Table Tennis Grand Finale tournament.#sports #tabletennis
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/izaac-quek-yong/
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Izaac Quek Yong, a 14-year-old Singaporean boy, is now ranked world number one after the International Table Tennis Federation updated its list.
He has become the first Singaporean to top the table tennis world ranking list for players under the age of 15, according to a news release on April 14, 2021, the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) said.
Training since 7 years old
Izaac started training at the STTA’s Bishan Zone Training Centre when he was seven years old, STTA’s president Ellen Lee said.
He was selected to join the junior development squad and youth training squad.
Izaac then continued his journey at the Singapore Sports School and was chosen for the STTA’s intermediate squad in 2020.
Undefeated in open
In 2020, Izaac won the Cadet Boys' singles title without losing at all at the ITTF Swedish Junior and Cadet Open.
In March 2021 in Singapore, Izaac finished third in the men’s singles and first in the men’s doubles event together with his teammate Ethan Poh at the National Table Tennis Grand Finale tournament.
STTA is considering sending Izaac for the Asian Youth Games in Guangdong or the Hanoi SEA Games in November, it is understood.
“I am very happy that I am able to achieve this target," Izaac said in a statement.
“I will continue to work hard and achieve more sporting glory for Singapore.”
The association said: "Izaac Quek Yong is the first Singaporean to accomplish this new milestone."
Top photos via Singapore Table Tennis Association
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The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that a scheduled announcement on the air travel bubble between S'pore & Hong Kong has been postponed yet again.#travelbubble #hongkong #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/air-travel-bubble-announcement-hong-kong-singapore-cancelled/
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A scheduled announcement on the air-travel bubble (ATB) between Singapore and Hong Kong has been called off again, according to Bloomberg, which cited people familiar with the matter.
Bloomberg further reported that no immediate explanation was given, and that the cancellation was first raised by Singapore.
MOT: Hopes to announce resumption of the ATB soon
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Transport told Mothership that authorities on both sides have been in "close consultations" on arrangements for the travel bubble.
MOT added: "We have not fixed a date to announce the resumption of the Bubble, but will do so once we are ready, hopefully very soon."
The ATB was previously planned to take place in mid-May before the delay.
Start of travel bubble delayed for second time
The delay marks the second time in five months that authorities have deferred the announcement on the ATB between both cities.
The ATB was originally scheduled to start on Nov. 22 last year but was deferred a day before (Nov. 21, 2020) following a rise in Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong.
On Dec. 1, 2020, authorities from both sides then announced a delay to the start of the travel bubble, deferring the plan to beyond 2020.
The latest deferment comes as a group of travellers on a flight from New Delhi to Hong Kong had tested positive for Covid-19.
The delay also comes after the Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday, Apr. 20, a new local Covid-19 cluster involving three cases linked to a man who was "probably re-infected" in India.
On the same day, Singapore had also announced tighter border measures for travellers arriving from India, citing the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country, as well as the emergence of new virus variants.
Top image via Roslan Rahman/Getty Images
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Grace, the vice-chairman of HUG Community Services, has myeloma, has experienced a total of five cardiac arrests since she was 20. For four out of these five cardiac arrests, Jeffrey, Grace’s colleague and founder of HUG, had administered CPR to save her life.Speaking to Mothership, Jeffrey explained that he had learnt how to administer CPR during his time as a St John cadet in school and again in the army.He revealed that Grace was the first “real case” that he had ever performed CPR on, during which he felt “panicky and nervous”.Although he initially had fears of being accused of molest or being sued for injury, Jeffrey decided to focus on saving Grace’s life first, as time was of the essence.Grace echoes this same belief, as to her, it does not matter what race or gender her saviour is, as she would be thankful regardless:“It shouldn’t matter whether the rescuer is a man or woman; Chinese, Indian or Malay. I just feel thankful that someone plucked up the courage to save me.”Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) #health #cprtraining #savelife
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singapore-heart-foundation-cpr/
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The first time Grace, the vice-chairman of HUG Community Services, experienced a cardiac arrest, she was only 20 years old.
Her day at a swimming pool ended abruptly when she passed out and regained consciousness in Changi General Hospital (CGH).
The nurses informed her that someone had saved her by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on her.
To this day, the identity of her saviour remains unknown.
Grace revealed that she would have loved to thank the person who had saved her.
Another four cardiac arrests
In an interview with Mothership, Grace revealed that she has myeloma, meaning that she is a bone marrow cancer patient. She is currently in remission.
However, she would forget to take her medication at times due to her workaholic nature, which she suspects could be the cause of her cardiac arrests.
To date, Grace has experienced another four cardiac arrests, and her colleague, 54-year-old Jeffrey, the founder of HUG, had administered CPR to save her life each time.
As Jeffrey is Grace’s mentor and is aware of her condition, he makes it a point to accompany Grace wherever she goes. Otherwise, he would make sure someone else is with Grace to ensure her safety.
Grace recounted her second cardiac arrest, which happened around four years ago in Jeffrey’s car.
She said, “That evening I was feeling very, very, tired, so I closed my eyes to rest. The next thing I knew, someone was shaking me to wake me up, but I felt very groggy, sleepy, and I just wanted to tell that person to not bother me and let me sleep.”
When Grace regained consciousness, she noticed that Jeffrey was panicking and his head was “full of sweat”. She did not realise that she had collapsed.
Jeffrey later told her that her heart had stopped beating and her breathing was shallow.
Third and subsequent cardiac arrests
The third cardiac arrest Grace experienced took place in the office while she was busy packing and cleaning up.
She did not know when or how she collapsed, however, she found herself lying on the floor when she regained consciousness. Again, Jeffrey was looking at her in panic.
Grace’s fourth and fifth cardiac arrest took place in the toilet of a shopping mall on two separate occasions.
The first time, she recalled feeling tired and was about to leave the washroom when she collapsed.
When she came to, she found herself surrounded by a group of people who told her that she had collapsed and that Jeffrey had saved her.
During the latest incident, Jeffrey sought help from the security personnel at the mall after he was unable to find Grace. They later found her in a cubicle and he performed CPR on her.
Fears of being accused of molest
Speaking to Mothership, Jeffrey explained that he had learnt how to administer CPR during his time as a St John cadet in school and again in the army.
He revealed that Grace was the first “real case” that he had ever performed CPR on, during which he felt “panicky and nervous”.
He recalled the experience:
“When I looked at her and her face was all pale, cold sweat on her body, no pulse, I was totally lost on what I should do at that present moment. I wondered what to say to her parents if she were to die in my car.”
Fears of being accused of molest or being sued for injury also came to Jeffrey’s mind, albeit momentarily, and it seems that he is not the only one.
A survey commissioned by Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) revealed that some respondents feared being accused of molesting as a deterrent to performing CPR on a stranger.
Despite this, Jeffrey told himself to focus on saving her life as time was of the essence. To him, “what was important was to save her first” as he felt that legal issues, if any, can be dealt with later.
Jeffrey’s advice to those with similar fears is to “be brave, step up and help. If you hesitate, a life may be lost forever.”
Grace echoes this same belief, as to her, it does not matter what race or gender her saviour is, as she would be thankful regardless:
“It shouldn’t matter whether the rescuer is a man or woman; Chinese, Indian or Malay. I just feel thankful that someone plucked up the courage to save me.”
She advises individuals to “put themselves in the shoes of a parent. If your daughter suffers cardiac arrest, would you be selective in who can or cannot save your daughter? I believe you would just want your daughter to be alive, that’s all.”
There should be no liability
When asked whether there have been cases in Singapore where the casualty or their next-of-kin sues the rescuer for outrage of modesty or injury, Ms Kuah Boon Theng S.C., Managing Director, Legal Clinic LLC said:
“In reality, such concerns have not translated into actual complaints, claims or court proceedings. If a casualty or their next-of-kin were minded to sue a rescuer, it would be necessary to prove that the rescuer was at fault, and it was the wrongdoing that caused the casualty to suffer injury. The rescuer would be able to show that he or she went to the aid of the casualty with good intentions. So long as the action was not reckless or unreasonable, even if the efforts fell short, it would be difficult to fault the rescuer for the attempt. As for causation of injuries, someone wanting to make a claim would have to prove that if the casualty was left well alone, he would have been better off. That is not a case that is easy to make and is probably why we have not seen these claims in practice. If you perform proper chest compressions, it is well accepted that there is an inherent risk of injury (such as rib fracture), but the claimant has to prove that without this attempt to save life, the victim would have been better off. Again, this is something that is going to be very difficult to establish. That is why we encourage people to undergo basic CPR training - so that they do not have to resort to reckless measures and are also not paralysed into inaction.”
As for molestation charges, Kuah explained that, “In a lifesaving emergency, it would be difficult to prove that a would-be rescuer is placing hands on a woman with the criminal intent of molesting that person.
In the first place, a person would only ever require CPR if the heart has stopped beating. In such a situation, a would-be rescuer can show that he is not motivated by any criminal intent but is trying to save a life.
It would also be difficult to argue that his actions amount to some form of inappropriate physical touching, if all he is doing is follow appropriate CPR techniques. I therefore believe that the benefit of doubt will be given to the person who is trying to help the female casualty.”
Grace emphasises the value of learning CPR and says, “CPR is very, very important. I encourage everybody to learn. You may not know who is the next one who needs your help, regardless of who they are.”
If you do face a legal issue arising from your resuscitation attempt and wish to seek legal advice but are unable to afford a private lawyer, Singapore Heart Foundation is in collaboration with the Law Society Pro Bono Services to provide free legal consultations at their Community Legal Clinics.
Find out how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) and perform CPR on women in this infographic:
Top photo courtesy of Singapore Heart Foundation
This sponsored article in collaboration with the Singapore Heart Foundation made the writer learn the importance of CPR.
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Choa Chu Kang cemetery is now the “one and only” cemetery open for burials to be conducted in Singapore. To share more about how exactly burials are conducted there, a YouTube video on March 19 featuring funeral director Harmony Tee hopes to demystify the process and explain how the crypt burial system prevents "tricky" situations, such as the wrong body being exhumed.#funeralservice #singapore #bereavement
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/how-are-bodies-buried-sg/
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Choa Chu Kang cemetery is now the "one and only" cemetery open for burials to be conducted in Singapore.
To share more about how exactly burials are conducted there, a YouTube video on March 19 featuring funeral director Harmony Tee hopes to demystify the process.
How bodies are buried in S'pore
Tee explained how the traditional soil burial system has evolved to a crypt burial system.
"In the past, it's just soil and the coffin is lowered into the soil before the soil is covered on top of the coffin."
Now, coffins are lowered into rectangular, concrete crypts instead of soil plots.
Soil is placed on top of the coffin, and a concrete lid placed on top to seal the crypt.
Tee revealed that this crypt burial system actually helps to manage a rather "tricky" issue: Exhuming the wrong body, or paying respects to the wrong person.
In 2019, eight families were discovered to have been paying respects to the wrong graves for 39 years, Straits Times (ST) reported.
The reason? Misaligned tombstones.
The National Environment Agency told ST that the burials were performed on a single day nearly four decades ago. The next-of-kin of one of the grave plots did not erect a headstone, and due to the misalignment, one of the headstones was found to be straddling the space over two grave plots.
Soil erosion underground resulted in grave exhumers digging up the "wrong person", Tee added.
Land-scarce Singapore
For burial plots, land is prepared by the government in a grid system, and each plot of land is "allocated".
Tee elaborated:
"Unlike in other countries where we get to choose our own plot of land (as to where we want to be buried), in Singapore, we do not have such a choice. This actually works perfectly fine for a land-scarce country like Singapore."
It costs S$940 to have one plot of burial land, and this plot has a limited leasehold of 15 years before the remains have to be exhumed and cremated.
You can see the full video here:
Top photo via Harmony Funeral Care/YouTube.
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On Mar. 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ117 was hijacked by four passengers, who claimed to be members of the Pakistan People's Party. They wanted to contact the Pakistani ambassador in Singapore, as well as former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in order to demand the release of 11 political prisoners in Pakistan.The entire ordeal lasted over nine-and-a-half hours, until commandos from the Singapore Armed Forces' Special Operations Force (SOF) stormed the plane and killed the hijackers, freeing the hostages in the early hours of March 27, 1991.Ted Ang, the most junior crew member onboard the plane, was only 23 years old when the hijacking took place. He had only been working as an air steward for SIA for one year, and had just joined SIA's Airbus fleet one month prior.30 years later, Ang is now working as an interior designer, and reflects on the fateful events of that night. #aviation #airlines #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/sq117-hijacking-ted-ang-perspective/
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PERSPECTIVE: On Mar. 26, 1991, Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ117 was hijacked by four passengers, who claimed to be members of the Pakistan People's Party.
They wanted to contact the Pakistani ambassador in Singapore, as well as former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in order to demand the release of 11 political prisoners in Pakistan.
The entire ordeal lasted over nine-and-a-half hours, until commandos from the Singapore Armed Forces' Special Operations Force (SOF) stormed the plane and killed the hijackers, freeing the hostages in the early hours of March 27, 1991.
Ted Ang, the most junior crew member onboard the plane, was only 23 years old when the hijacking took place. He had only been working as an air steward for SIA for one year, and had just joined SIA's Airbus fleet one month prior.
30 years later, Ang is now working as an interior designer, and reflects on the fateful events of that night.
By Ted Ang, as told to Jane Zhang
This happened when I was 23 years old — my first year of flying, first month on the Airbus. I felt that life is not fair.
Start of flight, late passengers
It was the last sector of the flight, for my duty.
On the way back from Kuala Lumpur, there were some slight delays. The captain was expecting some passengers who were held up, late at the gate boarding.
They were actually the four hijackers that were the last to board the airplane.
The flight took off, and one of the passengers requested for a glass of milk that I went to the back of the galley to prepare for her.
At that same time, I saw two of the passengers [who turned out to be the hijackers] were getting into one toilet, while the other pair went into the other toilet on the right hand side.
The hijacking
When they came out from the toilet, they were holding some kind of items in their hands. And they were shouting at me, "This is a hijack! Don't move!"
And the funny thing — I think we now can laugh about it — was, well, I thought they were drunk.
So, I gave a smile, and I said, "Sir, would you like to head back your seat?"
It happened so fast, I remember there were some punches, some kicks. I was being kicked in the stomach, and then I landed at the back of the galley.
And at the same time, I was asking myself, "Is this real? You might be kidding." I was in a state of shock, because I couldn't believe why they would want to hijack Singapore Airlines.
It was a moment of denial, I would say. It was completely out of the blue. During my days of training, I don't remember coming across any training on hijack situations. We were only trained how to handle plane crashes.
Demanded to fly straight to Sydney
They walked around the cabin and then announced to the whole aircraft that they were taking over the airplane.
Nobody screamed or shouted.
As the hijackers were walking around aircraft announcing it was a hijack, [chief steward] Philip Cheong had gone to inform the captain that there was a possible hijack scenario, so Captain had to lock his cockpit door.
So the captains informed the control towers that there was a possible hijack happening on the aircraft. And that's when the control centre started preparing for the crisis.
By then, all the crew — the stewardesses and the rest of the guys and myself — gathered at the back of the galley.
The hijackers started demanding for the flight not to land in Singapore. They were saying, "No, do not land in Singapore. We will blow the aircraft."
They demanded to speak to the captain, and they wanted the plane to fly direct to Sydney. We were trying to tell the hijacker that we are not able to fly to Australia and that we didn't have enough fuel.
It was a very short flight, around 40 minutes. So if you minus 10 or 15 minutes for takeoff, and 10 to 15 minutes for landing, it leaves you only really 20 minutes for your meal service.
By the time anything could happen, the plane actually landed in Singapore already.
Landed in Singapore
I think Captain Stanley took the initiative to land because if they didn't, we were going to miss the landing strip, I think. So, it was inevitable that we would have to land in Singapore.
After we landed, the hijackers took control the aircraft.
They gathered all of the passengers to be seated in economy class. The female stewardesses were asked to sit in the cabin together with the passengers.
They had two guys looking after all the passengers. The leader, Shahid, was walking up and down, and then there was another guy that was watching over us.
In my opinion, all the passengers and the stewardesses were all well-treated. They were not harassing the passengers. They did allow them to go to the toilet, telling them, "Go toilet, raise your hand, and then you're allowed to go."
Pushed two crew members off plane
Next, they took a white packet substance from their bag, and they were asking for water. Initially, I thought they wanted to take some medication or something like that.
So, we filled up water for one of them, and then he actually put the white powdered substance into the drink. And then he asked one of the crew, Bernard, to drink it.
After Bernard drank it, he became kind of weak and unconscious.
We were surprised, as the hijackers had been assuring us, "You're my brother, my sister. Don't worry, we will not harm you."
Soon after, they dragged Bernard and Phillip to the front of the cabin. And from where we were seated, we could hear the sound of the door being opened. You know the aircraft door, once it has been opened it — "pshhh", that kind of vacuum sound? So we heard the sound, and we didn't know what happened.
After that, Shahid came back and said, "I'm sorry. I killed one of your friends."
I had only just met Bernard for the first time, and it was my first time working and flying with the rest of them. But it really saddened me to know that one of my colleagues has been killed, or presumed killed...
I didn't know what happened to Bernard from where I was sitting at the back of the galley. I had a hopeful thought that maybe they were just trying to lie to us and kept him inside the toilet instead.
That was a very mixed feeling, I would say. And I was just wondering who would be next.
SQ service even amidst hijacking
I think about one or two hours later, negotiations were going on between the hijackers in the cockpit, and the control tower.
We were told by the hijackers to serve drinks and give blankets to all the passenger who felt cold. That's what our SQ service is all about, even in a hijack scenario (laughs).
We didn't know what was happening. We were not panicked, I think. I think we were still in a state of denial and thinking what we were going to do next.
Then we heard another sound of the aircraft door being opened. Philip was thrown out. This time around, Shahid came back to us saying the same thing: "I'm sorry, I killed another friend."
We found out later that Bernard and Philip were both not killed, but injured from the fall after being pushed off the plane.
I remember Philip telling me [later] that when he landed on the tarmac, I think he broke his ankle, but that pain didn't come to his thoughts because he just ran away from the aircraft.
It wasn't until the medic came to him then he realised that he was injured. Philip was able to give quite a bit of information to the on-ground people, such as how many hijackers there were.
Conversation with young hijacker
Of the four hijackers, two of them — the leader Shahid and another guy — were pretty rough and pretty fierce. Whereas the other two — I remember one with a big tummy and rabbit teeth and then the other guy was a young chap — I could tell that they were just followers.
They were just basically following the orders. I remember I was having a small chat with the young chap.
I asked him, "After you do this, do you go back to Pakistan?" Then he said, "No, no, no." He said he was prepared to die actually.
He said even if he died, he's got no worries because his family would be taken care of.
And of course, I asked him, "Why do you want to go to Sydney, of all places?"
He was telling me that he found that Sydney is nice, and that Australia is a good country because the Chinese, Indians, and Malays all live together.
So I told him, "We do that here in Singapore!" Then he said, "Oh, I want to go to Singapore."
I was sitting just inside the galley with Gordon, another steward. I asked the hijacker, "Hey, can I smoke? Since, if I'm gonna die, can I at least have a cigarette?" Then he said, "You can smoke."
Having a cigarette in the back of the galley (laugh). I had become friends with the hijacker!
Almost thrown out
I think it was about three or four in the morning. when there was a sudden change of behaviour with the leaders.
The second-in-command came to the back of the galley, and then he pointed at me and dragged me out of the galley. He ordered me to open the door, the last door on the left hand side of the aircraft.
And that's when he put a knife around my neck. And I was telling myself, "Oh, gosh. I'm next."
I was telling myself, sh*t I'm going to die. Because I didn't know what happened to Philip and Bernard.
And then Shahid came back and they had some argument in their language, which I couldn't understand.
The second-in-command put down the knife and then ordered me to close the door. With that, he kicked me back into the galley.
I remember Gordon was asking me, "Bro, bro, how? You okay anot?" So I told Gordon, "Don't talk about it. I'm f*cking scared."
Everyone would be released... except Ted and Gordon
Then the moment came — I think that was about four plus or five in the morning — whereby the hijackers ordered all the passengers to bring down all the window shades.
That's when I heard a lot of noise outside the aircraft. I thought it was the refuelling trucks to refuel the aircraft.
The leader was very happy. He came back and said that after the plane was refuelled, all of the men and women will be released.
I was telling myself, "Oh, good. Game over. Everything came to a happy ending."
But with that, he pointed at me and Gordon, and then he said, "You and you will follow me to Sydney!"
I think that was the lowest point of my life. I felt that if the plane were to take off, it would be the end.
I was thinking that if the plane were to take off, it would be blown up or shot down just to kill all the hijackers. I don't know whether they would go to that extreme, but this is what crossed my mind.
It wasn't the fear of death; but it was the fear of leaving responsibility behind. Like what's going to happen to my wife? What's going to happen to my mum? What will happen to my sister was just studying? What will happen to my dog?
You think back to the things you should have done and not done. For example, I was quite a thrifty person. I always wanted to buy a Louis Vuitton bag but I gave myself a lot of reasons not to. I wanted to buy washing machine for my mother, but I thought, "Well, we can still use [the old one]."
So I told myself, if I survived, then I would go and buy them.
I took the opportunity to write two letters: one for my wife, and then one for my mom.
And then I managed to see one of the stewardesses, so I told her, "If you leave the aircraft before me, please pass these letters to my family."
Where is the rescue?
Around five plus in the morning, the hijackers told Gordon and myself to move into the passenger seats. That was actually the first time I saw what was happening in the cabin.
I didn't see any passengers panicking or crying. Everybody was sleeping or waiting for what was going to happen next.
I remember I was very, very tired. And I did doze off and slept for a short while.
The next moment I remember was I was looking at my watch. I think it was 6:15am in the morning.
And I was asking myself, "Where the hell are all the commandos and SOF (Special Operations Force) guys?" Because this was taught during army training — to attack at dawn, when people are most tired.
The second time I looked at my watch, it was at 6:39am or 6:40am [online sources say they stormed at 6:50am]. I think I could remember the time quite well.
I could hear some noise at the back of the aircraft and what seemed like a door being opened.
In the next moment, I saw a stun grenade being thrown into the cabin. Bam. Bam. And then all the other guys from SOF came in and they were shouting, "Heads down! Heads down!"
So I ducked, of course. I took cover under the seat and told myself, "Oh, thank God. Game over. They're here." Really, that's how I felt.
I heard gunshots, of course with the silencer. It was very fast, very swift, very precise. I think within 15 seconds, it was game over.
And then the commander was saying, "Ladies and gentlemen, we are from the Singapore Armed Forces. We're here to rescue you. Just follow instructions and do what we say."
When I sat up straight and took a look at the cabin, I remember there were at least about 15 or 20 guys in black suits, ski masks, with the submachine guns. I had one gun pointed at my head. I think every other passenger had a gun pointed at them.
The next thing they did was to identify sleepers. In a typical hijack scenario, sleepers will be the backup plan. That means one of them is actually a hijacker who pretends to be a passenger. So, should the mission fail, they'll be the one to carry out the mission.
After they gave the all-clear, they opened up the door, the slides were deployed, and they were giving strict instructions — just leave everything, do not carry anything, get out of the aircraft.
Debriefing
Once we were out of the aircraft, myself, Captain, and I think Gordon, were taken by another car to the control tower at Changi Airport. That's where we had a debriefing.
I remember the first thing I asked was, "Can I have a cigarette?" Because I ran out of cigarettes. Then everybody was throwing their cigarettes all on the table.
They asked me if I knew the positions of the hijackers and what I saw.
I think they were keeping it quite short and sweet, about 45 minutes to an hour, because they knew that we were so exhausted.
They told us not to speak to any public or to the media. Anything that we say had to go through the company or the public relations and all that.
Aftermath of the hijacking
It was good to be alive. I don't know how to describe that, but it was a very stark feeling.
When your life is being decided by other people, whether you live or die, a lot of things will cross your mind. And then you start to treasure what you have around you.
I think what I took away from the experience is that yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is something to look forward to. Make full use of what you have today.
We always say "tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow", but maybe tomorrow never comes. So I think I cherish what I have at the moment.
The second day [after the hijacking], I went to buy my Louis Vuitton bag and the washing machine for my mother.
Related story:
Photos courtesy of Ted Ang and by Konstantin von Wedelstaedt via Wikimedia Commons.
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“How do we make sure that our social security system does not keep the people it seeks to help out of the system?”In mid-April 2020, four social service agencies — Beyond Social Services, Association for Women for Action and Research (AWARE), REACH Community Services, and Methodist Welfare Services — joined forces with ground-up groups A Good Space, ReadAble, 6th Sense, and Cassia Resettlement Team to form the Mind The Gap (MTG) Collective.The goal of MTG was to help low-income families survive the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker period, some of whom may not have been able to receive the help that they needed due to stringent testing and long wait times.Former Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong, who initiated MTG as Chairperson of A Good Space, reflects on the work of MTG and what it shows about how to better support low-income communities and avoid people slipping through the cracks.Ong is also a social entrepreneur — having founded A Good Space, Hush TeaBar, and WorkWell Leaders Workgroup — leadership coach, and author of 50 Shades of Love.#socialservices #community #societyandculture
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/mind-the-gap-commentary-anthea-ong/
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mothership-sg
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COMMENTARY: "How do we make sure that our social security system does not keep the people it seeks to help out of the system?"
In mid-April 2020, four social service agencies — Beyond Social Services, Association for Women for Action and Research (AWARE), REACH Community Services, and Methodist Welfare Services — joined forces with ground-up groups A Good Space, ReadAble, 6th Sense, and Cassia Resettlement Team to form the Mind The Gap (MTG) Collective.
The goal of MTG was to help low-income families survive the Covid-19 Circuit Breaker period, some of whom may not have been able to receive the help that they needed due to stringent testing and long wait times.
Former Nominated Member of Parliament Anthea Ong, who initiated MTG as Chairperson of A Good Space, reflects on the work of MTG and what it shows about how to better support low-income communities and avoid people slipping through the cracks.
Ong is also a social entrepreneur — having founded A Good Space, Hush TeaBar, and WorkWell Leaders Workgroup — leadership coach, and author of 50 Shades of Love.
Note: All applicants’ names have been changed, to protect their identities.
By Anthea Ong
Covid-19 hit us last year like a perfect storm.
At the onset of circuit breaker measures, the distressing stories of some rental flat families — up to one in five families we spoke to, at one point, couldn’t even afford meals — were too many to ignore.
Such a situation likely arose from income loss as well as growing arrears and expenses despite at least a quarter of this group seeking help from state agencies.
Mind the Gap’s focus was to quickly pull together S$50,000 to help these families tide over the circuit breaker period especially those with a sudden loss of jobs and income, and minimal savings.
We managed to raise S$1.12 million, allowing us to extend monthly support to more than 750 individuals and families from May to December, including two in Pulau Ubin, ranging from one to six months.
This work, while deeply satisfying, poses many difficult questions for us to grapple with:
Why did some of these families fall through the gaps?
What made some families choose to struggle with food insecurity and arrears rather than seek assistance from social service organisations (SSOs)?
What does the suffering of low-income households in the pandemic tell us about what we are not doing in “normal” times?
Stringency of criteria and long waiting time were difficult for families
While some of the families we supported have had positive experiences receiving support from ComCare and Covid-19 related schemes, others faced obstacles and did not approach the system because of stringent criteria and difficult experiences in the past with the process.
Families recounted the feeling of being interrogated on every line of their bank statement.
"They always ask me why I didn’t do this or that, never asked about how I was coping or about my situation," said Nadia.
A 39-year old Singaporean mother with two young children, she was brought to tears by this intensive questioning, an experience shared by several others.
For those who did seek help from the SSOs for ComCare or NTUC for the Self-employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS), the long waiting time for the application to be processed — about four to six weeks for the ComCare fund — became a big problem for families who needed urgent cash flow.
Due to the stringency of social assistance, some families turned to it only as a last resort and after they had exhausted all their existing resources.
This meant that they struggled to last out even the shorter processing times of the available interim measures, such as the Temporary Relief Fund for April 2020 and Courage Fund by MSF, which provided a one-time sum of up to S$1,000 per eligible household and takes only two to three weeks to be processed.
MTG provided faster & less stringent aid to fill the gap
This was where applicants found MTG helpful - assistance could reach households as quickly as under two weeks; for households assessed to require urgent assistance, within a few days.
Most of us do not oppose gatekeeping or means-testing to encourage self reliance and safeguard against abuses.
But these concerns should be balanced against the need to protect the dignity of the poor and ensure that help reaches them in a timely and accessible manner.
How do we make sure that our social security system does not keep the people it seeks to help out of the system?
At MTG, we agreed unanimously at the start to avoid excessive means testing to assess suitable applicants given that we were focused on providing immediate to short-term assistance.
To qualify, individuals and families had to be impacted by Covid-19 financially or in other areas of their lives.
We designed the application process to be based on trust so that there was no need for extensive submission of supporting documents. Our means-testing approach was largely community-and-relationship-driven.
Aside from the eight of us in the main Collective, 20 other ground-ups and social enterprises like SG Assist, Merpati Kaki, and The T Project helped provide us with the incisive knowledge of needs and trust capital for us to be extensive in our reach and responsive to individuals and families in distress.
Other than food and utilities, many applicants could also clear parts of their arrears, which reduced anxiety and stress and gave them the time and space to look for employment.
Applicants were successful in finding jobs
As the economy gradually reopened, numerous applicants have in fact found jobs.
"[Before Covid-19], I couldn’t save much. But now that I have a new job, I can save more from my income, MTG support, and financial assistance," said another MTG applicant, Sara.
The 41-year-old divorced mother added, "Now, I can provide a bit more for my kids and may be able to finally go for my surgery."
Another applicant, Michael, a 39-year old Grab driver, used the MTG support to clear the remaining 40 per cent of his MediSave liabilities. He had worked hard to save for 60 per cent.
This was so that he could be allowed to renew his Private Hire Driving Vocational License and resume his livelihood.
Reducing stringency helps applicants develop self-reliance in the long-term
It is hard to dispute the rationale to target public resources to only those who need it.
However, the difficult experiences that Nadia and many other MTG applicants encountered raise the question of whether the current code of stringency deters many from seeking help, perpetuating their state of distress and keeping them further from standing on their own two feet.
Given the changes that rapid economic growth has wrought on our society, we should also question if family and community structures today are as strong and reliable as they were when this social security model — with the government as the last resort — was developed.
Have we invested enough in low-income communities to harness their own strengths and build community assets?
Conversely, Sara’s and other MTG applicants’ stories of finding jobs and saving for the future may also provide insight into whether helping Singaporeans and residents in distress in a more dignified manner with easier and quicker access may in fact better achieve the objective of enabling long-term self-reliance.
We acknowledge that 750 MTG applicants is just a fraction of the 78,600 individuals benefiting from various ComCare schemes in 2019.
However, as seen from the MTG applicants we spoke to, adjusting the stringency of criteria certainly eased their cognitive load and had a positive impact on their sense of dignity and motivation.
Suggestions for improvements to assess need for aid
We can stay with the targeted and means-tested approach, but we must reduce the number of hoops that applicants need to jump through and do away with the need to prove their suffering over and over again.
We should, therefore, allow auto renewals for cases clearly needing longer assistance up to 12 months instead of the current three or, at best, six months.
In doing so, we also reduce the administrative load on our social service agencies (SSAs) so they can focus on better supporting affected Singaporeans.
Given these priorities, we may have to trade-off the luxury of deep-diving into every case to test its deservedness. Officers from the relevant government agencies could be given the power to investigate end-users who they suspect to be abusing the system.
To preserve the work ethic, the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme — which is currently given automatically to low-wage Singaporean workers and self-employed persons above 35 years old based on CPF contributions and means testing— could be used as the basis for automatic qualification for all other assistance, whether in housing, childcare, education, digital access, healthcare, or eldercare.
This has the benefit of keeping the narrative of work as a means towards self-reliance, without the stigma and loss of dignity.
Ground-up organisations & social enterprises can fill the gap
While many SSOs and Family Service Centres (FSCs) have outreach activities, these remain limited for a variety of reasons including bandwidth. This gap becomes even more salient during a crisis.
Ground-up organisations, social enterprises, and others should be designed into the system to expand this community outreach and trust-building capacity so that no one in need is left behind, especially during a crisis.
These groups must also be supported to work with — not for — these communities to strengthen their collective assets from within. Trust built is also a natural safeguard against moral hazard.
It was not lost on us that we may all have been in this same storm but we are certainly not in the same boat.
How quickly and willing we are to update and improve our social security system to support our most vulnerable will measure who we are as a society, and prepare us well for the next storm.
If you're interested to find out more, NUS Social Service Research Centre will be hosting the members of Mind the Gap in a public webinar on May 25, 2021 to discuss more about their learnings and suggestions.
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Top photo by Shawn Ang on Unsplash.
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Like a lot of 18-year-olds, Lee Zhuo Ying enjoys going to the movies and binge-watching YouTube videos.However, Lee has Down Syndrome. She only started primary school at eight years old instead of seven.But it wasn’t because she was not ready. On the contrary, it was her mother who was not yet prepared.“I don’t think it was her, it was me who wasn’t ready. I initially didn’t prepare her for mainstream schools!”However, achieving one milestone after another, Lee has never felt out of place in school.Fast forward to 2019, Lee became the first Down Syndrome Association member to take the N-Levels examinations.#downsyndrome #school #inspiration
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https://mothership.sg/2020/03/lee-zhuo-ying-down-syndrome-interview/
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Like a lot of 18-year-olds, Lee Zhuo Ying enjoys going to the movies and binge-watching YouTube videos.
She is currently pursuing her tertiary education.
But she is also the one in 700 born with more than 23 pairs of chromosomes.
Lee has Down Syndrome, a condition which is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability, and characteristic facial features.
Her mother, Hui Choy Leng, only found out about Lee's condition only after she gave birth.
Recalling the first time she was told the news, she said, "Honestly I blanked (out). The earlier blood tests didn't tell so I wasn't prepared at all."
She was only 31 years old then.
Early intervention since infancy
Upon a friend's suggestion, the mother of two enrolled her youngest child into several programmes at various organisations.
From three months old, Lee attended early intervention programmes at Rainbow Centre and Lee Kong Chian Gardens School.
She was also part of Down Syndrome Association's (DSA) Integration Facilitation Support Programme up until she was 17.
Through these programmes, Lee has learned to adapt to society at large.
Hui told us,
"I hardly remind her that she has Down Syndrome. She is expected to behave like any other children, so she doesn't feel like she's different from other kids. In her world, maybe part of the integration [in school] could blur the line."
Following an intelligence quotient (IQ) assessment when she was six years old, a doctor recommended that she attend a mainstream school.
While most children start primary school at seven, Lee began primary school at eight years old, because her family had opted to delay her primary school registration by a year.
And it wasn't because she wasn't ready to go to school.
On the contrary, it was Hui.
Her mother said, "I don't think it was her, it was me who wasn't ready. I initially didn't prepare her for mainstream schools!"
Many milestones
Achieving one milestone after another, Lee has never felt out of place in school.
When she attended Fuhua Primary School, she received the Fuhua GEMS Award, an award that recognises students' tenacity and perseverance.
Lee enjoys going to school so much, she would still want to go to school even if she is not feeling well.
While the student was grinning sheepishly, Hui said, "She would refuse to take MC whenever she is sick, so I have no choice but to let her go and let her teacher send her back. She will only listen when the 'authorities' say so."
After passing her her Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), Lee went on to Crest Secondary School, a specialised school for Normal (Technical) students.
In secondary school, she completed an internship at Ben & Jerry's as a scooper.
Speaking fondly of her time there, she said that she some of the fun things she did include making waffle cones and serving customers.
Thankfully, she has never encountered difficult customers.
First to take N-Levels
In 2019, she achieved another milestone: She became the first DSA member to take the N-Levels examination.
While she did pass her examinations, she couldn't help but sigh while we were talking about it.
Her results didn't qualify for her to enrol into her preferred Western Culinary Arts course at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West.
"I enjoy cooking and baking. My best dish, which is also my favourite food, is fried beancurd and curry rice."
However, she did tell me that she's enjoying herself at her current Retails Services course at the same campus, where she has been learning more about business communications and business essentials.
It takes a village
Getting to where she is hasn't always been easy.
For one, it takes more effort to get Lee to understand academic and logical concepts.
Hui explains,
"Some things may be simpler for us to understand. But for them, it may take more than double the effort. Like for math concepts like division, I have thought to myself: 'Why you don't understand? Division is just division.' It takes repeated attempts and it can get tiring for both of us."
But the key to success is to remain patient.
"The results may not be perfect, but with determination and patience we can get through it."
Hui also believes that family support has been an important factor in raising her child. As a working mother, Lee's aunt has been taking care of her since she was a baby.
"She is like a second mother to her. She instils discipline and routine in Zhuo Ying," Hui said.
Meanwhile, she teaches Lee time management and organisation skills by setting up a timetable for her when she entered primary school.
Working harder
With tertiary education being a different ballgame from primary and secondary school, Lee is taking her studies more seriously than ever.
She tells me that every day after school, she would take a shower and eat dinner before starting on her homework or revision for upcoming tests.
Just like a lot of mugging students, she multitasks and does her assignments while watching YouTube videos.
Her videos of choice? Barney & Friends as well as Hi-5.
Wants to take care of family
Her inclination towards children's entertainment, however, isn't a reflection of her maturity.
After she completes her course in ITE, she hopes to help her family financially.
Lee announces, "I really want to go out to work and raise my family, maybe as a cashier at a supermarket?"
And she has also thought about starting a family of her own.
After much persuasion, the shy teenager shared some qualities she wants to find in a future husband.
He must have a:
Good sense of humour (more importantly, he should laugh at her jokes).
Protective nature.
Lee also emphasised that her future partner doesn't need to be rich.
"Because we both can work, not just him," she reasoned.
She also hopes to raise children, preferably twins.
However, she said that she will consult with a doctor when she is ready to have children: "We will decide with the doctor lor."
Give them time
To Hui, raising her daughter has been a journey of pleasant surprises.
She used to worry about having to raise Lee for the rest of her life, but now she's glad that Lee has been gaining independence.
She hopes that people will be more accepting of individuals with Down Syndrome and dispel common misconceptions such as them having violent tendencies.
"They are actually fun-loving and kind-hearted people. Give them time. Accept them for who they are and don't limit them. Give them the chance to learn and of course, be patient."
Top image by Fasiha Nazren.
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was among the 40 global leaders invited by U.S. President Joe Biden to attend the Leaders' Summit on Climate.At the virtual summit, PM Lee shared how Singapore can overcome our constraints to achieve sustainability goals by being innovative and using technology extensively. https://lnkd.in/gGbxcQv As a financial hub, Singapore can share our experience in areas such as green finance to help global push in sustainability. Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu, also opened the first of a series of Green Plan Conversations on April 24: https://lnkd.in/gqsavJZ#MothershiponEarth #sustainability
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/pm-lee-singapore-climate-summit/
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was among the 40 global leaders invited by U.S. President Joe Biden to attend the Leaders' Summit on Climate.
The two-day virtual summit that commenced on Earth Day (April 22) aimed to galvanise efforts of major economies to tackle the climate crisis.
In response, PM Lee said that this climate summit is a "welcome signal" of the U.S. leadership and commitment to a multilateral climate solution.
At the virtual meeting, PM Lee affirmed Singapore's commitment to tackling climate change and outlined how Singapore strives to reduce carbon emissions despite constraints, such as our small size and lack of natural resources.
PM Lee also mentioned that the Singapore Green Plan 2030 that was launched earlier this year.
The Green Plan outlines concrete targets in various sectors including transport, building, education, and energy for the next 10 years.
"Our strategy goes beyond meeting emission caps or implementing our carbon tax," he said.
Innovate and use technology extensively
Singapore must innovate and use technology extensively in order to achieve our climate goals, PM Lee explained.
Some examples mentioned include installing one of the world's largest floating solar energy systems as part of the plan to quadruple solar energy production by 2025. The solar energy systems will offset 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
Singapore is also using computer modelling for more climate responsive urban design, experimenting with specially cooling paint on buildings, as well as planting one million more trees to combat rising urban temperatures.
Singapore can help the global push for sustainability
Notably, PM lee also highlighted how Singapore can play its role in this fight against climate change regionally and globally.
As a financial hub, Singapore can help the global push for sustainability through green finance, fintech, and capability building.
“We have launched a US$2 billion Green Investments Programme. This will support the development of carbon trading and services, sustainability consultancies and environmental risk management,” he said.
PM Lee also highlighted that emissions verification is a "promising area". New technology can be used to measure carbon footprints and monitor abatement commitments of businesses.
"Singapore is happy to share our experience in all these areas," he added.
Furthermore, Singapore has added climate and sustainability in the Singapore-US Third Country Training Programme and pledged to work closely with the U.S. to support the clean energy transition in Southeast Asia.
Related stories
Top image via the Ministry of Communications and Information.
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Sweta and Shaman Goomany’s parents introduced them to each other in 2017, thinking they had marriage potential. Today, their relationship has evolved from awkward first meetings, through the challenges of adjustment, to a comfortable sense of security with one another.But it wasn’t love at first sight that brought them together.In fact, it took more than a year from their first introduction before sparks began to fly.Both Sweta and Shaman’s parents had their marriages arranged in Mauritius, in line with traditions at the time.One generation later, neither Sweta nor Shaman thought that they would end up in an arranged marriage.After all, traditions were shifting: three of Shaman’s five brothers had “love marriages” as opposed to arranged marriages.Sweta and Shaman’s parents, who had been friends for some time, had agreed that there was marriage potential between their children, and introduced them to each other.This was not a stereotypical case of parents imposing their will against their children’s wishes, however.Instead, the healthy relationships that both parties had with their respective families were why they agreed to give each other a chance in the first place.#societyandculture #love #family
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/sg-arranged-marriage/
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"When we met in life is also... like..." says Sweta Shany Goomany, trailing off as she looks up at the ceiling, in search of the right word to describe how she first met her husband, Shaman Kumar Goomany.
"... zhun zhun, yeah, perfect!" she says, arriving at a Hokkien phrase that means "accurate", or "exact".
It's one of many signs that tells you that she calls Singapore home, despite being born in Mauritius.
Which is partly why 27-year-old Shaman, a Mauritian, agreed to settle down with her in Singapore, after they got married in 2019.
Sweta, now 25, moved here when she was eight, attending primary and secondary school, before graduating with a diploma from Nanyang Polytechnic.
Today, a few months ahead of their second wedding anniversary, they are convinced that they have found "the one" for them, in each other, through a marriage arranged by their parents.
But it wasn't love at first sight that brought them together.
In fact, it took more than a year from their first introduction before sparks began to fly.
Over cups of Ribena at their HDB flat in Tampines, the couple shared the story of how they got to have an arranged marriage, how they only got a chance to date each other after their wedding, and more.
Never expected to have an arranged marriage
Both Sweta and Shaman's parents had their marriages arranged in Mauritius, in line with traditions at the time.
One generation later, neither Sweta nor Shaman thought that they would end up in an arranged marriage.
After all, traditions were shifting: three of Shaman's five brothers had "love marriages" as opposed to arranged marriages.
And as one of the younger boys, the odds were that Shaman would be able to find his own partner, date first, get to know each other, and then marry — or so he thought.
Sweta shared the same sentiments:
"I didn't [want] my mom to marry me off to someone that I didn't know. And I didn't [want] to, like, you know, just get married to someone, like, without knowing everything."
In fact, when Sweta's parents started talking to her about settling down, she even tried to enroll in university just to have a reason to postpone marriage.
"I was telling my mom, 'no, I have university to go to, so, no, don't get me married. I want to study," she says, laughing.
Arranged, not forced
Sweta and Shaman's parents, who had been friends for some time, had agreed that there was marriage potential between their children, and introduced them to each other.
This was not a stereotypical case of parents imposing their will against their children's wishes, however.
Instead, the healthy relationships that both parties had with their respective families were why they agreed to give each other a chance in the first place.
"So I was like, 'okay, I should like not let them down', and [agreed to] give it a shot," says Sweta.
However, their primary motivation at the time was very much a sense of obligation to their parents.
"We were not even interested," says Sweta flatly.
She recalls:
"It had been like two months? Yeah but we didn't like, 'what is your favourite hobby? Can I have a picture of you? Can I see you?' no, it was nothing like that."
"It was not moving forward," Shaman says, "there was no progress."
Which is why it would take another push from their parents, almost a year after they were first introduced, for the couple to start talking again, more seriously.
Sweta's parents, on one of their trips to Mauritius, paid a visit to Shaman's parents.
Sweta only heard about the meeting when she woke up the next morning.
The first message, from Shaman, read: "Your parents came to talk about us last night."
Her immediate reaction? "I was like 'us?' I was like 'what? Huh? Since when there was us?'"
As it turns out, while she was sleeping, her parents had stepped up to play the role of an intermediary between Shaman and their daughter.
"My parents went on [a] date with him, instead of me," Sweta says.
Shortly after, an engagement date was set.
"I was like, 'huh, I have not yet met him [and] I will be engaged to him?'" Sweta says.
Somehow, in spite of her initial doubts, she found it in herself to go along with the plan.
Shaman, likewise, was convinced to accept Sweta, partly due to advice from his second brother, who he was closer to. "Most of the time, you don't get what you expect or what you want," Shaman recalls his brother saying.
Sweta says that they still look back on that pivotal decision from time to time:
"I asked him, like, will you say yes again? He said 'no, I'm not sure.' Because we don't know how we said yes!"
"Up till now... we don't know how we got the courage to say yes to each other," Sweta says.
An awkward first introduction
As luck would have it, all of this happened toward the end of the semester where Sweta was working on her Final-Year Project in Polytechnic.
After the semester ended, she found herself on a flight to Mauritius, to meet Shaman for the very first time.
The couple's relationship progressed quickly from that point on.
Together in the same physical space for the first time, with engagement looming, the topic of their marriage remained an awkward one, however.
"We didn't really say 'oh, we're going to get married, how's life going to be like," says Sweta. "We were not there yet. We were not mentally there yet."
"[Shaman's parents] were like, 'so you're going to be the daughter-in-law in my house now. You're going to marry my son.' I'm like, 'oh, no, this is going too fast.'"
At the end of a week together, the couple's emotional connection had outpaced the physical.
"We were not that close yet. We [had] not held hands yet. No. We have not hugged each other yet. So we were not there, you know, but we were happy... I trusted him, He trusted me."
"We already had it in our mind like, 'yes, this is good for me,'" says Shaman, of their mental state when they got engaged.
"But I can still tell during the engagement that he did not really fall in love. Not yet!" says Sweta, giggling as Shaman playfully pokes an elbow into her side.
Today, photos of these awkward moments have been printed out and proudly exhibited — perhaps because the photos remind them of how unbelievable it is that they went through with their parents' plan.
Sweta eagerly flips to a photo in her diary, of their "soccer debut", where the newly-engaged couple stand beside each other, family members in the background, each holding their own hands in front of them like soccer players defending a free kick.
"Suddenly, we were married"
A few months later, the couple married in a traditional ceremony in Mauritius.
Marriage, as Sweta describes, was "a sudden change, you know? We were single, both of us were single and then suddenly, we were married," says Sweta.
The initial adjustment was "very difficult", because of their different cultural backgrounds.
"I was always comparing, 'in Mauritius it's like this', [and Sweta would] explain to me like 'here it's like this'... the way of thinking was not on the same level," says Shaman.
Sweta admits that at one point, they even thought, "Why did I agree to marry someone outside my zone?"
"There was a lot of crying, really a lot," she recalls solemnly.
"It was not the sweet life," Shaman adds.
"There's no 'breakup' in our relationship"
What carried the couple through this difficult initial adjustment phase, however, was the commitment they had made to each other in marriage. Sweta explains:
"You know when you're girlfriend or boyfriend, once [there's] a big fight you can just break up right? Like, just let it go. 'This guy is not worth my time anymore.' But for us, it was totally different. We were at the point where we cannot break up."
"What we knew was like, both of us are in this together, we are going to go all the way... So we have to make it work," says Sweta.
Learning to let go
"Sometimes when we are having a fight, we will think like, 'if only like I knew before, I would have solved this problem before getting married,'" says Sweta.
She cites as an example, the fact that she only realised after marriage that she had to learn to let go of her need to be in control all the time — something that came from growing up to be highly independent, as the eldest child in the family.
"She does everything," says Shaman, chiming in. "Even for our honeymoon, it was supposed to be planned by me. [But] it was fully planned by her."
"That's how I grew up," Sweta says simply, attributing her tendency to take control partly to the culture in Singapore.
Since getting married, however, Shaman has taught her "how to let go".
"It's not only on one [person's] shoulders, it's both," says Shaman, explaining that Sweta has learnt to "stop carrying the big burden" on her own.
"We didn't have the chance to calibrate stuff because before going into the relationship," Shaman says, but says that they resolve such issues as they come up.
Shaman says, "we have a situation now-"
"-now we solve it," offers Sweta.
"Now we solve it," affirms Shaman.
Dating after marriage
Once they were married, Shaman explains, "we took it like it will be going forward as a love marriage," adding that "despite being in an arranged marriage, we tried to date after the wedding."
Shaman now arranges special dinner outings where he brings Sweta flowers, something they didn't have a chance to do before marriage.
One of their favourite places to go on their first dates? Starbucks.
"It's like a celebration place for us, even though it's not that 'wow!'," says Sweta.
Many important occasions were marked in Starbucks, Shaman recalls, saying that "it's tied to good moments... for us, [it's] a happy place."
After the interview, Sweta happily shows us her collection of photos taken in various Starbucks outlets — mostly Shaman with various drinks, as well as a mini-series of pictures showing his name being misspelled by staff.
Starbucks aside, a number of their outings have involved Sweta bringing her husband to different places and experiences in Singapore.
The couple describe a kind of freedom when they're out on these dates. Sweta imagines that for an unmarried couple, there would be a lot more caution involved in negotiating each others' boundaries.
On the flipside, however, "when you're married it's like your best friend is just beside you," says Sweta, describing a sense of security that she says is "the best part" of being married.
The idea of "the one"
The couple share a belief in the idea of each person having "the one" for them.
It was not a perspective they subscribed to before, however.
"If you had asked me this question before, I would say no," admits Shaman.
But seeing how Sweta has made sacrifices for him and gave up her personal time to make him happy, Shaman is firmly of the belief that he has indeed found the one for him.
Sweta, too, has seen Shaman fulfil all of her expectations.
"[Finding someone who was] caring was the most important thing," Sweta said, explaining that she had a habit of putting others before herself, and wanted a husband with similar qualities — a standard that Shaman has proven he can live up to, in his interactions with Sweta and even her family members.
In less than two years since they got married, the couple have quickly become a big part of each others' families, and are looking forward to finally get together again when they travel back to Mauritius this April.
Reflecting on their life together, Sweta says that a sentiment both of them share is:
"Wow, if I had only met you earlier, life would have been so much more beautiful."
Beyond who they are to each other, their belief in the idea of "the one" probably also comes from the unique circumstances in which they got together.
"We didn't really have to plan for anything. The engagement came, the wedding came. Everything fell in place. I was graduating already... So I really believe: Yes, it was the moment [and] the one for us."
As Sweta says, the serendipitous timing, and the way things happened to bring them together, are best described in this phrase:
"Zhun zhun."
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.'
Top image by Nigel Chua
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Japan has appointed regional revitalization minister Tetsushi Sakamoto as the "Minister of Loneliness" amidst the first uptick in the country's suicide rate in 11 years.He will oversee the issue of social isolation, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.#suicideprevention #covid #japan
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/japan-minister-of-loneliness-suicide-rate/
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Japan has appointed a "Minister of Loneliness" amidst the first uptick in the country's suicide rate in 11 years, Nikkei Asia reported.
Isolation exacerbated by Covid-19 pandemic
According to The Japan Times, regional revitalization minister Tetsushi Sakamoto was nominated on Feb. 12 to oversee the issue of social isolation, which has been exacerbated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The issue had been raised by Japan's Prime Minister, Yoshihide Suga, at a meeting in which he told Sakamoto:
"Women are suffering from isolation more (than men are), and the number of suicides is on a rising trend. I hope you will identify problems and promote policy measures comprehensively."
Nearly 21,000 suicides were reported in 2020
Nikkei Asian further reported that a total of 20,919 suicides were reported in 2020, with an increase of 750 cases from 2019.
This increase is the first since 2009, in the wake of the global financial crisis.
In addition, suicides among men fell for the 11th consecutive year, while suicides among women rose to 6,976, for the first time in two years.
440 cases of suicide were also reported among elementary, middle and high school students by Nov. 2020, the highest number since 1980.
Will hold an emergency meeting with advocacy groups
As such, Sakamoto is expected to assemble a team which will coordinate efforts between different agencies and ministries.
The minister raised the possibility of working with the health ministry on suicide prevention and the agriculture ministry on providing food banks to people experiencing isolation.
He will also hold an emergency meeting with advocacy groups to hear their viewpoints on helping people who face loneliness and isolation.
"I hope to carry out activities to prevent social loneliness and isolation and to protect ties between people," he added.
Top photo via Flickr
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What's it like for a young person in Singapore to be a carpenter? We speak to Ziyad Ahmad Bagharib, who became a carpentry apprentice shortly after graduating from school, to find out more.In 2018, Ziyad went on a trekking trip in Sumatra, Indonesia after he graduated from Yale-NUS.There, he saw the locals building homesteads using natural resources from the surrounding forests, demonstrating a keen knowledge that amazed him.This reminded him of a childhood dream he had, which was to some day build his own house in the forest.Ziyad recalled a conversation with his then-girlfriend when he was 17-years-old, where she asked him what his ideal home was."I answered her, I wanted to have a wooden house somewhere in the middle of the forest, and she got pretty upset because she doesn't like the wilderness," he laughed.While building his own home might not be possible in the short run, he decided that he would try and start working towards it in a tangible way, by first learning to become a carpenter.#unconventional #career #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/carpenter-graduate-building-home/
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In 2018, Ziyad Ahmad Bagharib went on a trekking trip in Sumatra, Indonesia after he graduated from Yale-NUS.
There, he saw the locals building homesteads using natural resources from the surrounding forests, demonstrating a keen knowledge that amazed him.
"I'll be walking through the forest, and all I know is like, oh trees! But every minute they're telling me something like, oh, this plant can be used for that, and oh if you eat this, it's good for that. They just know this landscape in a way that is so opaque to me."
This reminded him of a childhood dream he had, which was to some day build his own house in the forest.
He recalled a conversation with his then-girlfriend when he was 17-years-old, where she asked him what his ideal home was.
"I answered her, I wanted to have a wooden house somewhere in the middle of the forest, and she got pretty upset because she doesn't like the wilderness," he laughed.
Ziyad's ideal house would be an off-the-grid wooden cabin surrounded by nature.
While building his own home might not be possible in the short run, he decided that he would try and start working towards it in a tangible way, by first learning to become a carpenter.
Interviewing in a storeroom
Entering the carpentry industry wasn't easy. After all, it wasn't as simple as finding one's preferred company on LinkedIn, and sending them a resume.
Ziyad spent a lot of time searching for carpenter apprenticeships online, but found that not many companies wanted to recruit apprentices in the first place, for a very practical reason:
"You have to spend so much time on this person, and you have to trust that they will be interested enough to actually be helpful to you in the long run."
After facing multiple rejections from companies that were actually looking for apprentices, Ziyad eventually stumbled upon a firm called Reno Scout.
The company appeared "quite dodgy" at first, admitted Ziyad, as it had a Facebook page with only 200 likes, and interested applicants were supposed to message the company via WhatsApp.
However, he went ahead and contacted the company, and soon found himself in an interview, face-to-face with the company's boss in a storeroom within an industrial unit.
It turns out that the company itself was a start-up, and if Ziyad nailed his interview, he would technically be the company's first staff.
Although the boss tried to warn Ziyad about the working conditions, explaining to him that it will likely be quite uncomfortable and tiring, Ziyad assured him that he was up for the challenge.
"I see my friends working in consultancies or finance, they're wearing long-sleeved shirts and going to the office and all that. I'm like, I can't do that, and I can't see myself doing that. I said that to him. And he looked at me like I just said the right thing."
Naturally, Ziyad got the job after this, securing a two-year contract to work with Reno Scout.
Dad thought carpentry work was too dangerous
Ziyad's enthusiasm for carpentry was, unfortunately, unmatched by that of his parents. His mother was "pretty cool" with his decision but his father was less pleased because he felt the industry was a dangerous and unhealthy one.
His dad's concerns were not unfounded, said Ziyad, adding that many people in the industry have lost a finger or two during the course of their work, largely due to the table saw, which is used to cut large blocks of wood.
In particular, the older folks tend to have faced more major accidents, given that safety procedures weren't as frequently adhered to in the past.
Thankfully, safety has risen on the list of priorities over the years, and apart from accidentally drilling into the side of his index finger on one occasion, Ziyad is mostly fine.
"At least I still have all my fingers," said Ziyad as he waved his hands in front of me.
He had to put on many hats for his job
When asked what a typical day in his job was like, Ziyad had a simple answer: There isn't a typical day in the life of a carpenter.
While he was officially a carpenter apprentice, he was also a member of a renovation company, so his daily tasks were extremely varied.
He would bounce between cutting down wood pieces to size and spending hours doing miscellaneous tasks like cleaning a newly renovated house.
"If we are at the tail end of a renovation, and the house is pretty much done, but needs to be cleaned thoroughly, I will literally spend the whole day cleaning the cabinets, washing the toilets, mopping the floor, all that kind of stuff."
Working in a start-up, he was also assigned the role of handling its social media platforms. When his company decided to start a YouTube channel, Ziyad, being the youngest, was also the man in charge of helping it grow.
In fact, he had to master Adobe Premiere Pro from scratch in order to put together many of Reno Scout's videos, like this one here:
&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=RenoScout
But this is not to say that he did not do his fair share of carpentry work, much of which was learned on the job.
He was often assigned many difficult tasks, which he had to learn quickly in order to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the job.
A particularly fond memory that Ziyad shared was the time he had to install locks on six drawers before the end of the day for a client — not a difficult feat for a carpenter, except for the fact that Ziyad had never installed locks on drawers prior.
And so when his colleague left (Ah Huat always left at 5.30pm on the dot, Ziyad laughed), he was left to his own devices.
Armed with basic instructions from Ah Huat, along with the very helpful tip to "use masking tap and draw pencil lines" to make the job easier, Ziyad managed to accomplish his task at last at 9pm.
He said that when he returned to the office, he received a "hero's welcome"; both his boss and Ah Huat immediately praised him for his efforts.
"Before that point, I feel like everyone saw me as the kid. You know, like the apprentice. The one who doesn't know what he's doing. But after that point, everyone started to treat me with a little more respect."
And in case you're wondering, Ziyad was promoted to a full-time staff shortly after this "test" of sorts, one that he passed with flying colours.
Camaraderie was highlight of his job
As Ziyad described his day-to-day experiences at Reno Scout, one thing stood out to me: his enthusiasm when speaking about his colleagues.
Apart from his boss, Ah Huat, and a fellow apprentice David, who mainly does designs, the company also employed a few carpenters from China: Ah Chen, Xiao Chun and Ah Kuan.
It was a rough start, as one may expect, given the language barrier, leading to many hilarious encounters.
He described his first interaction with Ah Chen, the company's first employee from China:
"I tried to say something like, everything okay? And he just looked like at me, there were no words, no attempt to engage at all," he laughed.
Eventually, however, the two would become buddies, as they began to learn a little of each other's language, using the Google Translate app.
"I remember Xiao Chun's first words in English were 'very much'. He's a funny guy, he would be working at a table saw doing his own thing, and then out of nowhere, he will go 'very much!' I found that really funny."
Ziyad would go on to learn basic phrases in Mandarin as well.
However, it turns out that a common language wasn't even necessary for carpentry work, as it actually took "very few words" for them to work together.
"Let's say Xiao Chun is building a kitchen. I can see what he's doing, I know what he's trying to do. And by virtue of us having that common vocabulary of how the wood is supposed to go together, we can work together."
In a way, the wood that they were working together became the medium through which they communicated.
Appreciation for skilled blue collar jobs in Singapore is lacking
As we were deep into the interview, I finally took the chance to ask Ziyad the golden question: how much was he paid during his job?
Ziyad was quite up-front with this: He earned S$1,500 a month, before CPF deductions, for his first six months as an apprentice.
After the six-month mark, when his boss assessed that he was good enough to become a full-time employee, Ziyad's pay went up to around S$2,000 a month, plus commission for each piece of work he did, a salary that was, in his words, "more comfortable".
This quantum is typical for the industry, he added.
Another thing that Ziyad shared, on a more sombre note, is how carpentry is not typically valued in Singapore.
Ziyad follows a carpenter in New Zealand on YouTube, and realised that the customers in New Zealand treat their carpenters with a degree of respect, as they see the profession as a valuable and skillful profession that is necessary in society.
This, however, isn't really the case in Singapore, he said. Appreciation "just doesn't exist" for manual blue collar jobs.
Even though qualifications do not really exist for the carpentry industry, he said that many local carpenters are highly skilled individuals, with expertise that can only be honed through years or even decades of training and practice.
And when asked whether he has met a graduate carpenter, such as himself, he replied that he hasn't met one, but it was also because he never asks anyone for their education background.
"Yeah, like who cares, man? It's like, if you can make the object, you're a carpenter."
Not necessary for your job to be the dominant thing in your life
Ziyad recently ended his two-year contract with Reno Scout, citing other work commitments.
However, this does not mean that he is done with carpentry or creating his own furniture, which he documents on his own woodworking Instagram page.
In fact, on the day that we met, Ziyad was busy designing and building a custom table for his friend, who works in the music industry.
Ziyad regularly receives such requests for custom furniture from his peers, so much so that he has had to turn down many of them down, due to time constraints.
Why not do continue doing carpentry full-time, given that his passion for it is still going strong?
His answer was simple: It just isn't necessary to do so:
"You don't always have to do something as a job for it to become the dominant thing in your life."
He went on to explain that while it was important for him to embark on a two-year stint in carpentry full-time, in order to learn the necessary skills, he feels he can spend the rest of his life building upon this foundation, upgrading his skills in the process, even if he has to make mistakes along the way.
And Ziyad isn't one to shy away from potential mistakes, given what he's learnt from his stint in carpentry.
"The thing about making mistakes in carpentry is that it's always fixable, it's just the extent of what you have to do in order to fix it. It's always fixable, there's nothing that's ever irreparable. There's no such thing as an irreparable cupboard."
Totally unrelated but follow and listen to our podcast here
Top image via Ziyad Ahmad Bagharib.
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"[If] you have to do A, you do B, I do C, but we are aligned in why we’re doing A, B and C, that’s very powerful. Versus let’s get steps A, B and C approved, then we do.If you’re confident that you’re aligned, and then you know, everybody pushes forward in their own way. And you don’t come back unless you have a problem. I mean, people kind of expect that you will do it, you get it done.So what’s most important is that whatever you’re doing, is it aligned with a bigger picture? So I find that that in a way, helps an organisation be more agile, be more responsive. Because if you’re always trying to come back and seek approval for things, it slows you down.”Before he took on his current role as the CEO of the Singapore Sports Hub, former top public servant Lionel Yeo spent just over a year at Grab as its CEO Anthony Tan's adviser. He shares his journey toward taking up this role (and why, even) in our latest #LessonsOnLeadership interview.#ceo #leadership #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/lessons-on-leadership-lionel-yeo-sports-hub-ceo-interview/
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The writing's been on the wall for the past five years — the Singapore Sports Hub has definitely not been having an easy time.
The ongoing pandemic continues to grind large group activities to a halt — this means no concerts, no football matches, no events that involve large crowds of people filling the high-tech aerated seats at the new Grand Old Dame.
Sporting activities have resumed for some time now though, so people are slowly returning, but the glittering dome in Kallang remains largely a shadow of the hive of activity it used to be all year through in the years prior to 2020.
All this, of course, throws up questions about the sustainability of the Sports Hub, as it navigates the tricky and thorny public-private partnership it as a private limited straddles between its financiers, the public and of course, its biggest customer, the Singapore government.
In the middle of this complexity and tension stands Lionel Yeo, the man headhunted for the role of Sports Hub CEO just over a year ago.
A revolving door for CEOs
Yeo is the fourth CEO since the project first started construction in September 2010.
Frenchman Philippe Collin-Delavaud, who led the Sports Hub for four years (March 2011 to December 2015), handed over to Manu Sawhney in 2015.
The subsequent four years saw three people in the hot seat.
Sawhney's 19-month tenure saw complaints about his management style and decisions, as well as a spate of resignations from the Sports Hub's senior management and staff.
Former national swimmer Oon Jin Teik took the helm as acting CEO from May to December 2017, and he resigned about a year later alongside a couple of other senior executives, reportedly over disagreements with the Sports Hub's board over the business direction the company was taking.
Welshman Bryn Jones, Sports Hub's chairman, subsequently took over as acting CEO in May 2019 until Yeo came along.
One would certainly wonder, then, why anyone in their right minds would seek out (or perhaps in Yeo's case, agree to take on) what looks to be an unenviable, thankless role that almost looks doomed to difficulty.
Initially said no to the job
The answer to this question, at least in Yeo's case, is that he initially didn't.
"One day, I got a call from a headhunter — I'm in the second half of 2019 — to say hey, you know, there's this opportunity, what do you think? My first reaction was 'No, I don't think so. Let me help you think of a few other people who might be up for it?'"
At this point, Yeo had not that long ago left the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) — and by extension, 22 years working for the government and six at the STB's helm — and was in the middle of a "vacation" of sorts from public service, at Grab.
How he got the job of Adviser to the CEO at Grab was decidedly spontaneous too — Anthony Tan, whom he incidentally met at an event held at the Sports Hub "in 2016 or 17" while he was still STB CEO, kept in touch with him over the years and when Yeo casually mentioned to Tan he had left, invited him to join in some shape or form.
So eager Tan was to take Yeo on that he was ready to create a special new role for him and figure out the details later on.
The Lionel Yeo backstory: a GEPer, a PSC scholar, and 22 years in civil & public service
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. To understand how Yeo got to this point, it is worth backtracking to where he first started — a bright kid who was in the second batch of GEP(Gifted Education Programme)ers (back when *truly* gifted people were drafted into the programme and nobody had a chance to "prepare" themselves or work toward getting into it).
He remembers fondly enjoying his classes — being asked to apply trigonometry knowledge to calculate the height of a building, for instance, and walking down from Grange Road (where Raffles Institution used to be) to Orchard Road to catch a movie in the cinema and write a review of it as homework.
From there, he scored a Public Service Scholarship, and while one might expect a scholar to delight in leaving government service upon completion of his or her six-year bond, Yeo realised he actually really enjoyed the work, which saw him do stints at the Ministries of Finance and Trade and Industry, and take charge of the Civil Service College as well as, of course, STB.
Writing Budget speeches for then-DPM Lee Hsien Loong, and trawling Harvard Business School case studies with Lim Siong Guan
Apart from discovering he was quite the policy wonk, Yeo also credits the not-so-common fulfilment he derived from his government time to the leaders he worked under and learned from.
PM Lee, for instance, was Finance Minister at the time Yeo was a middle-ranking officer at MOF arrowed to work on the main Budget speech in Parliament.
"He was very much on top of the material. And, for sure, he kept us on our toes. That's always helpful. So in a way it was good, because when you have a boss who's so good, it forces everybody else to raise their game. So we all felt like we had to try our best to raise our game. It was quite intensive."
He speaks glowingly of then-Permanent Secretary Lim Siong Guan, too, who would devote meetings he had with the younger officers to include sessions on management principles and values.
"So it's not unusual for us to be discussing a Harvard Business School case study, for example, as part of our management meetings."
From Lim, Yeo learned the concepts of servant leadership, as well as to ask the question "How can I help you do your work better?" — something he applied in his 12 years across his two public service CEO stints as well as at the Sports Hub today.
Solving the mystery of why Yeo ended up taking on a role he didn't initially want
So how did he end up somewhat back in service of the government? For as we alluded to earlier, who would want this job, really?
At this moment especially, the role is tough, thankless, nobody's impressed by all the gaffes that happened on the watch of his predecessors, and just look at the number of predecessors he has in such a short time — something must be inherently tough about this position too, relative capability notwithstanding.
To this, Yeo gives credit to the headhunter who convinced him to consider the "opportunity" — he recalls she invited him to speak with Jones, who was also acting CEO at the time, as well as a few of the Sports Hub board members to "update" himself on what's been happening since the time he left STB.
"So I agreed... And then as I went through that process, I realised that things were starting to get better. And there was starting to be better alignment, at least amongst the internal stakeholders. Not perfect yet by any stretch of the imagination, but I think, you know, during the most of 2019, when there was no CEO, I think credit to Bryn (Jones), he had done a good job in terms of starting that process of achieving better internal alignment. So that gave me some confidence — Bryn comes from Infrared Capital Partners, which is the majority shareholder in this consortium. So they gave me a little bit of confidence that maybe there is some hope in this project."
He says he gave it further thought and remembered that as CEO of the STB, he was always "very excited and bullish" about the Sports Hub as a project — even waxing lyrical about its promise in a speech he made at an industry forum in 2013 or 14.
"We were all very excited. New National Stadium, you know, new facilities, we're going to have world class events, etc etc. So, I think, I already had that history and background of the promise of the Sports Hub, and I thought, hey, this is a national project, it would be meaningful to come in and see if we can get things onto a better trajectory. And so I then realised that okay, it could be a meaningful challenge. And decided, to cut a long story short, that it was worth a try. Like I said, I was looking for new learnings, adventure, so I certainly wasn't looking for a quiet life. Right? If I wanted a quieter life, I may have stayed in the public service. But obviously I didn't leave the public service because I wanted a quiet life. So this constituted the kind of challenge that seemed right for me at that moment."
Keeping a place that earns money from live events & large gatherings alive despite Covid-19
Interestingly, despite any grand plans Yeo might have had for the Sports Hub in 2020 prior to the pandemic slamming into Singapore (and indeed, the rest of the world, hence restricting travel for stars, athletes and international sporting teams) being scuppered, he's still managed to get some things going last year.
The National Stadium and the OCBC arena became home to 3,000 foreign workers requiring community isolation accommodation last year, at the height of the spread across our densely-packed dormitories. In this period, the Sports Hub clocked in 148,000 man hours, provided 485,580 meals, and also gave 2,500 haircuts (we reckon the other 500 guests decided to keep their hair long during their stays).
The Sports Hub was also fittingly the location chosen for Singapore's first live event — a mixed-martial arts one organised by Singapore-based ONE Championship, for which all 250 tickets were sold on the first day they were launched.
For this, the arena was organised into zones with segregated gates for entry and exit as well as bathrooms. With the addition of individually-zoned F&B concession stands down the line, it's also hoped this arrangement can pave the way for safe organisation of larger-scale live events in future, and possibly this year.
Putting together lessons learnt from the civil service, the public service & a fast-moving startup
For one to confront the tricky challenge that is taking the helm of the Sports Hub, one must undoubtedly have under their belts the right combination of sufficient experience and leadership qualities to navigate previously-soured relationships as well as differing and seemingly-irreconcilable directions.
Here are some of Yeo's:
a) Servant leadership — how can I help you to do your work better?
This, he says, he learned from Lim Siong Guan — as a servant leader, he reminds himself constantly that he is here to serve his team, serve his organisation and serve its stakeholders. The other, a simple question, is one that assists him in navigating the partnerships he has with the government and Sports Hub's investors:
"So how can I help my staff do their work better? How can I help my peers do their work better, because a lot of the government worries about collaboration across agencies. So it's not just about well, my agency, and what I want to do, but it's also about how my agency works well with another agency as well. So this culture of working with other CEOs, and their success is my success."
Externally, Yeo is also mindful of the multiple operating partners and the priorities that Sport Singapore and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) have pertaining to sport and the Sports Hub.
"How can I help the Singapore government succeed? How can I help them do their work better? So you know, I'm always asking myself, what's MCCY's policy agenda when they look at a project like the Sports Hub? I need to understand their agenda so that I can understand how I can lead the Sports Hub to meet those policy objectives."
b) Pursuing an evolutionary approach with a revolutionary outcome
Big concept, this sounds like — but really, he points out, it's as simple as putting one foot in front of the other.
"That means that on a day to day basis, we are making small steps, incremental progress, but we're doing this with a (big) objective in mind. And when you look back after a year, three years, you realise, oh my goodness, a lot of things have changed. Sometimes when you try to sort of do that change, or communicate that change up front, it can be quite scary — people are like, you sure, are you mad? But if you know that that's where we're going to, and then you are able to sort of break it down into smaller sub-journeys. I think that's more palatable. And then that helps you to bring people along with you."
c) Seeking alignment, rather than approval
This is something Yeo learned from his stint at Grab, where he noticed how in meetings, the culture and perhaps buzzword, if you like, was "alignment" — in many meetings he attended, people would say, "Are we aligned on this?"; a refreshing departure from the culture of approvals he was used to in the civil and public service.
"So I guess, the subtle difference is, it's not so much that you need a hierarchy, and then get it approved, all the way up to the top. But what's more important is to ensure alignment. Because we know that when we walk out of the meeting room, we all have something to do, right? And we cannot all be coordinating with each other all the time, because it is super inefficient. But if we have confidence, right, that the three of us, for example, we are aligned, right, and then you know, you have to do A, you do B, I do C, but we are aligned in why we're doing A, B and C, that's very powerful. Versus let's get steps A, B and C approved, then we do. If you're confident that you're aligned, and then you know, everybody pushes forward in their own way. And you don't come back unless you have a problem. I mean, people kind of expect that you will do it, you get it done. So what's most important is that whatever you're doing, is it aligned with a bigger picture? So I find that that in a way, helps an organisation be more agile, be more responsive. Because if you're always trying to come back and seek approval for things, it slows you down."
That being said, Yeo notes there are of course good reasons for the public sector having multiple approval processes — they are, after all, still looking after taxpayers' money, and from a governance and accountability perspective, that is crucial. And so whether an organisation operates by approvals or alignment or both, each method serves different purposes, he says.
d) Porosity, and the importance of an organisation having it
Porosity, which you might derive meaning from its root word "porous", is the notion that when applied to companies or organisations, suggests that a company is flexible with allowing its talent to leave and spend time in organisations outside, and perhaps in future return to share the new things they have learned.
This smooth inward and outward flow of talent, Yeo strongly believes, helps renew an organisation and keep it, as well as its people, growing and diverse in experience and world view.
"I was very clear to the young officers in STB. You know, you come in you give us a few good years. Right. If you want to stay on that's great. If you if you want to sort of explore the world outside STB, carry on. And if you done right by STB, we will welcome you back when you're ready."
And besides, he says, you can't hold on to talent by force or by contract —
"I mean, talent will will do what talent wants to do. But if you're able to sort of strike a mature relationship with them, I think talent appreciates being treated like a grownup."
f) How will history judge us in whatever we do?
This is another guiding principle for Yeo, inspired in part by Amanda Gorman, the girl who recited her poem at U.S. President Joe Biden's inauguration earlier this year.
"'For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.' So how will this decision that we take be judged? It's not just how we will be judged tomorrow, or next week, or next year, but about how when people look back on this project five years from now, 10 years from now, whatever, how will they? How would they think about the management in Sports Hub, during this period? And I think if we consider that as part of our decision making process, I feel we can make better decisions if we are mindful of, you know, if we're prepared to be humble before history."
For all Yeo has achieved in his years working thus far, he does strike me to be someone who is, as it were, born with significant intellect and wisdom that I'm glad he has over decades chosen to use in service of Singapore.
His vision for the Sports Hub is fittingly not only to be a premier destination for big-time sporting events or entertainment gigs, but ultimately for "every Singaporean to develop a personal and collective attachment" to it.
It follows, too, that as someone uniquely placed to be both passionate about the Sports Hub's success but also acutely understanding of the challenges it will face in navigating the tricky tensions in the relationships with government and other stakeholders, and balancing them all, Yeo truly is the right man for this punishing job.
And I, at least, am glad he said yes.
Lessons on Leadership is a new Mothership series about the inspiring stories of Singapore’s business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as the lessons and values we can learn from their lived experiences.
Stay tuned for our next interview in April with Dr Loo Choon Yong and Dr Alfred Loh, founders of the Raffles Medical Group.
Top photo courtesy of the Singapore Sports Hub
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[JUST IN] Singapore will shift from the default mode of working from home to a more flexible and hybrid working arrangement, the Ministry of Health (Singapore) has announced in a virtual press conference on Mar. 24, 2021.This shift will mean that:• Up to 75 per cent of the employees (who are presently able to work from home) can now be at the workplace at any one time, up from the current 50 per cent• The current cap on the time an employee spends at the workplace will also be lifted• Split team arrangements are no longer mandatory, although companies may continue to adopt such arrangements if they wishHowever, employers should still continue to stagger start times and implement flexible working hours where possible.#singapore #workfromhome #office
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/back-to-office-singapore/
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You might be returning to office more often from April 5, 2021.
Flexible working arrangements
The Ministry of Health has announced in a virtual press conference on Mar. 24, 2021 that Singapore will shift from the default mode of working from home to a more flexible and hybrid working arrangement.
This comes after the tripartite partners, consisting of the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), have reviewed the safe management measures at workplaces.
This shift will mean that:
Up to 75 per cent of the employees (who are presently able to work from home) can now be at the workplace at any one time, up from the current 50 per cent
The current cap on the time an employee spends at the workplace will also be lifted
Split team arrangements are no longer mandatory, although companies may continue to adopt such arrangements if they wish
However, employers should still continue to stagger start times and implement flexible working hours where possible, MOH added.
Restrictions against cross-deployment across workplaces remain in place.
Team bonding activities allowed
Additionally, social and recreational gatherings will be allowed, but must be limited to group sizes of no more than eight persons.
This includes team bonding events organised by the employer.
Due to the higher risk of transmission when people are unmasked, MOH said that meals should not be the main feature of the event, and that companies should avoid holding events over meal times as far as possible.
Those who fail to comply will have enforcement actions taken against them, including the possibility of workplace closures.
Should there be a resurgence in the virus, MOH will reintroduce more stringent measures.
Top image via Google Maps Street View
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Living on a high floor and getting to select a HDB unit on a high floor has become an aspiration for many. But what is it about high-rise living that makes it so coveted in Singapore?We find out more from several Singaporeans living above the 30th storey in HDB flats.Housing & Development Board #housing #realestate #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/high-hdb-floors-sg-experience/
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PERSPECTIVE: Living on a high floor and getting to select a HDB unit on a high floor has become an aspiration for many. But what is it about high-rise living that makes it so coveted in Singapore?
We find out more from several Singaporeans living above the 30th storey in HDB flats.
Living 32 storeys above, Zheng has learnt first-hand that it can get pretty windy.
In the year she has been living in the St. Georges' Towers BTO project, she realised that it's generally tough for indoor plants to grow well under windy conditions, given the breeziness in her living room.
But that's a small inconvenience for Zheng and her husband to live with, considering that their home faces a glorious city view including the Sports Hub and the sea. From their bedroom, they can even see Marina Bay Sands in the distance.
"We were fortunate to be given the opportunity to [select a BTO flat with] a high floor. If there was an even higher floor, we would have been keen."
Zheng and her husband are among the many Singaporeans who covet high-rise living – in fact, the higher the floor, the better.
High floors: A modern-living obsession
High-rise residences stand as a symbol of modernity, signalling affluence and progress.
In 1950s, the tallest public housing flats in Singapore were a mere nine storeys. Fast forward over six decades later, and we have seen a rise in towering HDB projects that have more than tripled that.
As public flats rose towards the sky, at some point, so did our obsession to live among the clouds.
According to this research paper from 2006, Singapore residents were found to be "highly adaptable" to living on high floors, as most were generally not averse to living way above ground level.
In fact, many respondents in a survey cited how higher floors are also generally associated with "privacy" and positive environmental attributes like "cleaner air" and "breeze".
The desirability of high floors can be seen in the trend of how BTO units are snapped up as the flat selection queue moves along: The higher floors tend to be snapped up way quicker, with the balance units in a project often located on the lowest floors.
Unpleasant experiences typically associated with lower floors, such as noise or increased exposure to pests, are also well-publicised, with anxieties often seen in various forum threads discussing what it's like to live on a low floor.
Joan, 66, who has lived on the second floor for nearly 40 years, told Mothership that she prefers living on low floors as it means that she does not have to rely on lifts. However, she admitted that there are inconveniences and downsides:
"My apartment at Commonwealth Crescent was by the staircase, and I could hear people using the stairs, talking loudly and walking past the common corridor. When I heard the loud noises and screaming, I opened the door, only to realise the neighbourhood kids are playing! Inconsiderate people also threw used tissues, cigarette butts or flick[ed] cigarette ashes out the window."
But does the unpleasantness really diminish as you go higher?
Of course, it varies, according to factors such as neighbours or the block environment. But there are some differences between living on the 3rd and 30th floor that can be generalised across most cases.
Is living on a high floor really any different?
Maurice Huang, 34, takes around 40 seconds to get from the ground level to his home on the 44th level, assuming that the lift doesn't make any stops.
For most of the Singaporeans we spoke to living above the 30th floor, a main downside raised was the waiting time for the lifts.
Wendy Ng, who lives on a 32nd-floor HDB flat in Queenstown, said: "We only have three lifts serving a block of 43 floors, so yes.. the waiting of lifts takes time."
When you reach the top of the flat, however, an unblocked view of the city stretching out to the horizon potentially makes it all worth it.
Huang's level 44 flat gives him a view of Sentosa and Mount Faber, while Zheng and Koh's Kallang Whampoa flat gives them a beautiful sunset view.
In fact, the view and the sunset is "one of the most mentally calming things," they said.
Residing on a high floor with unblocked views also means less cover from strong winds, which can prove to be a bit of an inconvenience — "Our TV on the wall will shake," Ng said, with Zheng and Koh adding that "more wind leads to more dust accumulated in the house".
The upside, though, is that many of these residents do not need to rely on fans or air-conditioning to keep cool even in Singapore's sweltering heat.
In fact, Ng said that "it gets cold" in the later part of the year as the winds coming in from her living room window can get quite strong.
"Generally, we don’t need to turn on the fan. But it depends on the wind direction and time of the year. Like [this time of the year], my service yard is very windy."
Zheng and Koh share a similar experience, saying that there are significant cost savings for electricity seeing as they hardly need to turn on the fan or air conditioning.
A house (especially on a high floor) as an asset
There are many intangible upsides that living on a high floor bring — general breeziness, a stunning view and potentially decreased exposure to pests.
The height also translates to very material differences when you consider the fact that the higher you go, the more expensive it gets.
Put another way for home-owners: The higher the floor, the higher the resale value.
All three Singaporean couples we spoke to either purchased their flat under the BTO scheme, in which they had the opportunity to select a high floor, or were fortunate enough to be part of the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment (SERS) scheme.
In new BTO projects, higher floors are typically sold for higher prices, with a difference of anywhere between S$3,000 to S$7,000 for each floor.
There are other factors that affect flat price, such as size, orientation and proximity to amenities, but in general, the price difference between the lowest and highest floor could be nearly S$100,000 for a four-room flat located above 30 storeys.
"Higher prices are justified if it comes with a better view. But if your view is facing other flats, it seems like a waste." Ng, whose flat has an unblocked view of the Queenstown area, said.
Huang cited resale value as a reason for going for high floors, agreeing that they would have gone for an even higher floor for their Dawson flat if it was available.
Currently, several Dawson flats have crossed the S$1 million mark, involving five-room flats located on high floors.
Huang and his wife are forking out S$485,000 for their level 44 four-room flat (which was eventually completed in 2015), an option which they found manageable during the 2009 BTO exercise.
Would they have paid for the same unit if it was on the resale market though? "No."
Ng, who said they would not have purchased a similar unit on the resale market, added that they selected a high-floor because of a very practical reason: resale value.
"I will most likely not want to live below level six but will not insist to stay above 30 given the high price. The true value only comes when you sell your house."
A house as a forever (99-year?) home
Things can look rather different when you take reselling the house out of the equation, though.
For 66-year-old Joan, who is perfectly content with living on the second floor, said: "It costs less for a lower floor, so why pay more for the same sq ft [area]?"
The resale value has never bothered her as she intended to make every house a permanent home: "I did not consider resale value for [my] Hougang and Bishan flats because there was no plan to sell it off."
Zheng and Koh, who applied for their flat during the 2014 BTO exercise, are paying around S$560,000 for their four-room flat. Currently, they have only been living there for a year.
Another BTO project in the area which was built in 2012, Bendemeer Light, has seen a three-room flat recently being sold for S$650,000.
Four-room flats are also being listed with an even higher asking price, with some over S$900,000.
For Zheng and her husband, they said they might have considered purchasing the Kallang Whampoa flat on the resale market, if they "plan[ned] to live in the house long-term, for at least 10 years".
After all, "value" is relative: If you can afford a unit in a great location and on a high floor, why not?
Top photo courtesy of Wendy Ng, SCDA Architects.
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While recent intakes for medical schools have seen an increase in poly graduates joining, for the first time, an ITE graduate has joined NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.Nicholas Chan beat some 2,000 applicants to clinch his spot among the 280 who enrolled.He was described as a “rebellious teenager” who had quit secondary school in his third year.Through hard work and determination, Chan landed a spot in NUS Medicine, after being rejected once.National University of Singapore #university #medicalschool #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2019/08/medical-school-bursary-ite-graduate/
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PM Lee gave his 2019 National Day Rally speech on August 18.
The main topics are education, older worker reforms, and climate change.
Under education, one of the topics PM Lee spoke about was fee and bursary adjustments in various tertiary institutions.
These will apply from the next academic year, and existing and new students will benefit.
Accessibility of good education
While going through the subsidies, however, PM Lee spoke about medical schools in particular.
Medical courses are one of the most expensive university courses at up to S$35,000 a year — after subsidies.
However, the accessibility of good education is important, so the costs of medical schools should not deter good students.
In fact, doctors from diverse family and educational backgrounds are wanted, PM Lee said.
"We want every Singaporean son and daughter to receive a good education and start well in life, regardless of family circumstances. Students from less privileged backgrounds must be confident that they will get financial help when they need it."
Student was a '"rebel"
In the same vein, PM Lee mentioned an exceptional case.
While recent intakes for medical schools have seen an increase in poly graduates joining, for the first time, an ITE graduate has joined NUS Medical School.
Said student is 23-year-old Nicholas Chan, 23, according to NUS Medicine.
Chan beat some 2,000 applicants to clinch his spot among the 280 who enrolled.
Chan was described as a "rebellious teenager" who had quit secondary school in his third year.
He then took O' Levels as a private candidate to qualify for ITE, where he trained as a nursing student.
He studied the same course in Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), where he earned a "near-perfect" GPA of 3.91 out of 4. Sadly, his initial application to NUS Medicine, which took place last year, was rejected.
But Chan did not give up.
This year, he applied again through its Exceptional Individual Scheme to support his nursing diploma.
That, along with his lecturers' testimonials, finally landed him a spot in the school.
S$5,000 per year
As for school fees, PM Lee said that bursaries for medical schools will be "significantly more generous".
If a lower-income student adds the government's bursaries to university bursaries, they would pay, at most, S$5,000 per year to study medicine.
PM Lee encouraged students who may be worried about finances to put down that burden, as it will be "taken care of".
Top image via Ministry of Communications and Information
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In Singapore, Muslim women who work as nurses are not allowed to wear the tudung/hijab as part of their work uniform.This issue has been highly debated for years, and recently resurfaced in this year’s Committee of Supply (COS) debates.Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam later said during a dialogue session, organised by the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) on Mar. 23, that there is "likely to be a change" in the issue of nurses being allowed to wear tudungs at work.Mothership.sg speaks with five nurses/nursing students who wear the tudung to hear their views on this issue.One of the nurses we spoke with said that her parents had checked with her whether she was comfortable with not wearing a tudung."But they also reassured me that I was doing a noble job and that I’m helping people. Since the tudung is a form of piety to the greater good, they also reassured me that God will understand."#inclusion #diversity #equality
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singapore-nurses-tudung-policy/
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PERSPECTIVE: In Singapore, Muslim women who work as nurses are not allowed to wear the tudung/hijab as part of their work uniform.
This issue has been highly debated for years, and recently resurfaced in this year's Committee of Supply (COS) debates.
Mothership speaks with five nurses/nursing students who wear the tudung to hear their views on this issue.
Their names have been changed to protect their identities.
Farah, 25, was a student when she first discovered that she wouldn't be able to wear the tudung as a nurse.
Can't wear tudung due to infection control purposes
She was told by her lecturers that nurses couldn't wear the tudung due to infection control purposes, and said she was convinced by the reason.
Sarah, a 21-year-old nursing student who has had several attachments to various hospitals, was told the same thing: "Before I even joined nursing, I knew that we can’t wear the tudung because of infection control purposes, which I totally understand."
Although both women viewed infection control as a justifiable reason, they still had questions.
Farah, who has been a nurse for five years now, told us:
"Over the years, I realised that doctors, therapists could wear the hijab and they were in close contact with patients too. So why are nurses not able to don the hijab while at work?"
Other reasons why wearing a tudung isn't allowed
Some political leaders have cited justifications for the tudung policy.
In 2013, then Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim said that wearing the tudung would be "very problematic" in some professions that require a uniform.
He added that this issue will take time to resolve, and that the government will find practical solutions in the years to come.
Then Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean also weighed in on this issue, saying that the government must "maintain overall social harmony".
He explained that every community pressing for its own concerns must bear in mind how that affects other communities and how others might see it.
Most recently, current Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli explained in Parliament that Singapore's uniform policy in the public service "cannot be tilted towards any particular religious belief".
He said that allowing tudung would introduce a "very visible" religious marker that identifies the wearer as a Muslim.
This has significant implications, said Masagos, as the government does not want patients to express preferences over being served by a Muslim or non-Muslim nurse.
Most nurses felt it will not affect relationship with patients
Would wearing a tudung really affect the patient-nurse relationship?
"We do not really know the reaction we get from patients until we actually do it someday," Farah acknowledged.
The nurses recognised that wearing the tudung could trigger discrimination from patients, but they don't believe that that's a sufficient reason for the tudung policy.
Sarah further added:
"Some patients might be racist or biased. But still, that doesn’t mean we should not wear the tudung for them. They have to change their mindset, we don’t have to change for them."
Based on their experiences, a number of the nurses that we spoke with also shared how they have never felt that their religion would affect the relationship.
21-year-old Maria, who had recently graduated and will begin working as a full-time staff nurse in April, said that a majority of patients have nothing against Muslim nurses.
In fact, based on conversations with past patients, Maria said that they knew what her religion is even without her donning the tudung, and they were fine with it.
Maria added that she has served food that contained pork in it to a patient, and that the patient felt bad for having her serve him.
"But this is my job and I will continue serving them regardless of their race or religion," she said.
Tudung policy affects each hijabi nurse differently
The tudung means something different to each individual and the experience of not being able to wear it at work affects each Muslim woman differently.
For Azlin, 25, not wearing her tudung makes her feel like part of her identity is missing.
"It’ll always be an odd feeling because I’m just so used to wearing the tudung in my everyday life. But over the years, it will still feel like a void whenever I am at work but I will try to pacify myself by telling myself that I’m helping people."
31-year-old Izzah explained that wearing the tudung is a "symbol of closeness to God, my Creator".
Because Izzah is a nurse in the operating theatre (OT), she doesn't wear the nurse uniform on a daily basis. Instead, she and other OT nurses wear scrub suits, which include a surgical hat.
"So, in a way, to console myself, technically we are still covered. Like, our hair is still covered. And we are not really exposed as much as our friends who are wearing uniforms," she explained.
She only changes into her scrubs after she reaches work, so she is able to wear her tudung to and from work.
However, a few times a year, when there are official ceremonies or awards ceremonies that the nurses attend, Izzah has to wear the nurse's uniform.
Izzah said that while for other nurses may look forward to these ceremonies, for her, having to put on the nurse uniform is "a bit dreadful", because it means that she is unable to cover her hair.
So, as a way to make herself feel better, Izzah opts to wear the pants suit version of the nurse's uniform rather than the knee-length dress.
Sarah, who only began wearing the tudung recently, emphasised the importance of the tudung as something that a person chooses to wear because she is comfortable wearing it, and not something that is forced upon her.
She said that for her, not wearing it in the healthcare setting "doesn’t really bother [her] and it’s not that important".
Some have left the industry because of the tudung
Several nurses spoke about friends or family members who opted not to enter or continue in the nursing field due to the tudung policy.
This dilemma was acknowledged by Masagos in Parliament when he said he empathises with Muslim women who may find it challenging to choose or remain in professions that may not allow them to fulfil both religious and professional duties at the same time.
Izzah, who has been working as a nurse for 10 years, said that she has friends who eventually chose to quit their jobs as nurses due to the tudung policy.
Farah also said that her mother had applied for an admin position at a hospital, but was told that she would need to remove her tudung for the job.
Farah's mother didn't take up the job eventually as she was uncomfortable with the idea of removing her tudung.
Maria told us that she herself considered switching career paths because of the tudung, but found it challenging to forego her passion for nursing.
"Some of my hijabi friends also quit halfway during their studies because of the tudung issue. But I continued because I love nursing too much. It’s my passion."
Hopes for policy to evolve eventually
"In Singapore, we have people of different races and we ought to accept their differences," Sarah said, saying that the policy is "a bit ridiculous" to her.
Her thinking is: We live in a multi-racial and multi-religious country, so why should people be uncomfortable with women who wear a tudung?
Azlin, who is in her fourth year of being a nurse, also shared how she has had many patients of various ethnicities and religions who have expressed empathy for nurses who are not able to don the tudung during work.
"They share the exact sentiments as I do and simply do not understand the logic behind this policy."
Some of the nurses also highlighted examples from other countries that allow the tudung in frontline professions.
Maria hopes that one day, Singapore will be more "open-minded" like countries such as New Zealand, where public servants are allowed to wear the tudung.
Izzah also spoke of an invention of a disposable tudung worn in the operating room, ideated by a hijabi junior doctor in the UK.
Uniform changes over the years
While Izzah also thinks that the tudung policy should change, Izzah noted that progress has been made over the past decade.
When Izzah was a student, nurses were only allowed to wear knee-length nurse dresses, with either skin-coloured stockings or no stockings at all underneath.
By the time Izzah was taking her advanced diploma in 2012, nurses were given an option to wear pant suits instead of the dress, based on their level of comfort.
"I think that is sort of a progress, in a sense, towards inclusivity," she said.
In her view, these are examples that show how discussions 'behind closed doors' actually do reap results.
Nursing as a noble job
Most of the women we spoke to agreed that they would definitely wear it at work if it was permitted, except for Farah, who was a bit torn:
"It's a both yes and no answer. Yes because I would love to represent my religion. It gives me a meaning just like how Christians wear their rosaries and Sikhs wear their turban. And no because it has been a norm for way too long... Hence, it is going to be a strange situation to be in."
For those who voiced out discomfort with not wearing the tudung at work, they instead found comfort in their faith towards God.
Azlin said that when she first became a nurse, her parents had checked with her whether she was comfortable with not wearing a tudung.
"But they also reassured me that I was doing a noble job and that I’m helping people. Since the tudung is a form of piety to the greater good, they also reassured me that God will understand."
For Maria, she began wearing the tudung while studying for her nursing diploma and felt "a bit uncomfortable" when she had to take it off during practical lessons or her clinical attachment.
However, she too believes that God will understand her compromise.
Related story:
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Top photo via Getty Images. Some quotes were edited for clarity and grammar.
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In the course of his 13-year career with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), Captain Sasi Kumar has seen his share of horrifying things — among the worst, he seems able to share in passing: brains spilled out across the road, and in one case you may also recall, a severed body on the MRT track.Aside from his fire-fighting duties, Sasi also established a Fire Safety Specialist Course for secondary school students in the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps in 2016.He also a liaison officer for foreign delegates and an ambassador who promotes the SCDF as a career option for graduates (and it is at this point he tells me that one of the most common questions he gets at schools is whether the SCDF has female firefighters. Yes, he says, of course they do).#safety #career #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2019/10/sasi-kumar-scdf-fire-biker-interview/
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At the not-that-old age of 37, Captain Sasi Kumar has had some pretty action-packed experiences as a firefighter.
In the course of his 13-year career with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the rota commander at Bishan Fire Station has seen his share of horrifying things — among the worst, he seems able to share with me in passing: brains spilled out across the road, and in one case you may also recall, a severed body on the MRT track.
The thought of these very tragic and painful deaths might send chills down most people's spines, but Sasi is, perhaps a bit sadly, quite immune to them now.
"The very first time you see a dead body, the fear will definitely be there and there will be a lot of questions in your mind. But after you see a few dead bodies the fear tends to go away. Now, seeing dead bodies and blood is part and parcel of my job."
Despite that, Sasi displays none of the battle-harden weariness you might expect of a veteran firefighter — if we can call him that, given his still-young age.
Instead, the fast-talking man exudes a friendly energy and is passionate to share about his work with the force, especially about the many lives he helped not just to save, but in many cases, revive.
One of Sasi's most memorable cases was a cardiac arrest victim in an Ang Mo Kio HDB flat, whom he attended to a few years ago:
"When I first arrived on scene, there was no pulse. The AED detected no pulse so I continued my CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and later then I used my AED again, it said 'shock advised' so there was still hope, a pulse was detected. I was able to shock the victim (using the AED) just as the ambulance arrived. So I passed them all the information about the victim and she was conveyed to the hospital."
This was a case he responded to early on in a three-year period (2012 - 2014) he spent as a fire biker at Ang Mo Kio Fire Station.
Fire bikers: First responders on the ground
You may or may not have noticed the SCDF's fire bikers before, but they've been around for decades now. The originally unheard-of concept first came up in 1992, when fast-response medics rode out on motorbikes to quickly get to a person in need of medical assistance before the ambulance arrived.
These guys' roles expanded five years later, when in 1997, the SCDF introduced a group of about 30 "super-firefighting-lifesaving heroes" (a term we've just coined ourselves) who can fight fire, conduct rescue operations, perform CPR and these days, surprisingly advanced medical treatment — all before the larger vehicles roll in.
Sasi speaks fondly of his time as a fire biker, sharing that their work is especially exhilarating because they're typically the first to respond to emergencies on the ground.
The SCDF sees, on average, a six per cent increase in ambulance calls annually since 2000. Responding to these calls as quickly as possible is paramount, and that is why fire bikers — seasoned fire and rescue specialists who are also medically trained — play very important roles.
Whenever you call 995, these fire bikers have less than a minute to gear up and be deployed as part of the pre-fire fighting phase, setting out with a compressed air foam backpack, a forcible entry tool bag, as well as an emergency medical technician kit.
In medical emergencies like cardiac arrests or strokes, having a fire biker arrive early can make all the difference because stabilising a victim before they are taken to the hospital is key to their survival.
Fire bikers are also equipped to do this thanks to their emergency medical technician kits, which have essential medical items like medical drugs, an oxygen cylinder and an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Keeping composed in the presence of onlookers, STOMPers & kaypoh pundits
As if the stress of an emergency isn't enough, fire bikers sometimes have to contend with environmental circumstances like language barriers or overly curious members of the public — like the time Sasi responded to another cardiac arrest case outside a church in Ang Mo Kio, whom he also, thankfully, revived:
"At that point, the only next-of-kin was the domestic worker. So I had problems communicating with her. The second challenge was the public. There were a lot of people looking at how I was performing!"
Sasi says that in situations like this, it's very important to first remain composed in order to think and carry out the required protocols.
Interestingly, though, he says bystanders can be quite helpful — especially those who come forward offering information about the victim's medical condition or residence.
"Even if you do one cycle of CPR or if you help us divert traffic just to allow us to park our vehicle, it's really really helpful for us."
Sasi notes that even those who just stand around to film accidents are contributing in their own way.
Footage people send to the SGSecure or SCDF's MyResponder apps, he says, can contain vital information that the SCDF can use and transmit to their paramedics on the ground (so remember to upload your videos to those apps first before Facebook or sending it to your friends on WhatsApp).
How his NS experience derailed his plans to be an engineer
From the way Sasi's eyes light up whenever he talks about his work, you can tell he enjoys it tremendously.
Even though signing on with the SCDF wasn't part of his original plan, how he ended up doing so is a funny story from which he thankfully hasn't had regrets.
Sasi says that when he first graduated from Singapore Polytechnic's electrical engineering course, he thought he would work in the engineering field and possibly pursue further studies.
But his experience from his National Service stint in the SCDF as an NSF (full-time national serviceman) section commander at the Tuas fire station changed his mind.
"During this period when I was at Tuas fire station, I kind of enjoyed the life. Because the working hours were good. One day work, two days off!"
He would then sign on in 2006, attached to Ang Mo Kio fire station, and six years later was trained as a fire biker.
The prospect of working 10 days a month sounded as great to him as it does to us, but of course, what you actually do during those 10 days is a whole other story that should quite adequately explain why you need two days of rest after one day of work.
What happens in a fire station
At any one time, a fire station is manned by a rota (short for "rotational", an old name for a shift). A rota consists of three or four sections, depending on the size of the fire station.
During a shift, Sasi and his team perform routine checks on the appliances and then head out to do hydrant checks, operational surveys, and enforcement checks.
In the afternoon, the rota does their physical training, and in the evening, they have lectures.
When the fire station is activated, the fire bikers and in some cases the Red Rhinos are first deployed to the scene.
They are followed by the main fire station appliances such as the fire engines.
Upon arrival, the fire bikers will provide crucial information, conduct forcible entry if necessary, and initial firefighting by using their compressed air foam backpack before the arrival of the rest of the crew.
Simultaneously, the fire fighters will don their 15kg fire fighting suits and prepare to move in.
The main phase involves entering the burning unit and start fire-fighting, ensuring adequate ventilation, and rescuing trapped victims if needed. The goal here is to get the fire under control so that there is minimal risk of it getting bigger.
Once the fire is under control, the crew searches the location for small pockets of fire or embers to make sure everything is put out, and the smoke is dispersed.
"Sometimes a small ember might re-ignite and then create another fire again. So you want to prevent this from happening," Sasi explains.
Then comes what is called the damping down process where water is used to cool down the affected surfaces so that they do not reignite from the heat. In some cases, like higher-profile Jurong factory fires, this can take many hours and involve many firefighters.
Feeling tired yet? The work doesn't end with the last vehicle leaving the scene. The team also has to carry out an investigation into each fire, conducting interviews, examining the scene, collecting samples, and searching for fire patterns.
Dangerous but exciting
It is physically challenging and dangerous and at times, it worries Sasi's family members, especially his wife, who texts him often to check in on him.
"The tendency to be worried is there. Every family member will be worried. No matter how many hundreds of safety protocols you have, sometimes, you never know, something might just happen. But we just don't want to make our family members worry."
The father of one is quick to add that the SCDF has safety protocols in place and he shares them with his family to keep them at ease.
Despite the danger, Sasi relishes the challenge and the excitement of his job.
"They always say that no two fire incidents are the same. Today you can respond to a minor rubbish bin fire, but tomorrow you might respond to a bigger incident, like a factory or warehouse (fire)."
Encountering a factory fire for the first time
Sasi will never forget the first fire he encountered as an NSF — a factory fire in Tuas.
"It was quite scary because I was seeing a full factory blazing. I was quite blank because I was seeing it for the first time and I didn't expect a fire at this scale," he says, grinning.
In the literal heat of the moment, all Sasi could manage was to follow his seniors' instructions and set up the water jets and follow his more experienced fellow crew.
The team took three hours to put out the fire from 10pm to 1am, but with the damping down, Sasi and his colleagues only managed to return to Tuas fire station at 7am the next day.
Rescuing a lady and her month-old infant from a shophouse engulfed in fire
His time at Ang Mo Kio fire station was certainly different from his experiences during his NS days mainly because the fire cases they respond to tend to be residential (like kitchen or rubbish bin fires) while those in Tuas tend to be more industrial in nature, like chemical fires.
Sasi remembers an exciting fire/rescue mission that he responded to just six months after joining the Ang Mo Kio fire station.
The fire broke out in a shophouse clinic in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10, trapping a mother and her baby in the second-floor unit above.
While the clinic was fully engulfed in the fire, the mother was carrying her one-month old baby and standing at the kitchen window," recounts Sasi.
Sasi himself was tasked with firefighting so he set up the water jets while another section pitched the ladder to rescue both mother and child.
At the same time, another section assisted Sasi's firefighting section while another helped to evacuate other people in the neighbouring units.
And of course, the most in-vogue type now: PMD fires
Sasi has also seen his share of PMD fires, recalling one in particular that caught fire while charging outside an HDB flat.
"When the fire broke out, it affected everything that was placed along the corridor, like the shoe rack, the electrical wirings, the neighbours' shoe rack. Thankfully, we arrived as quickly as possible and members of the public assisted us by pouring buckets of water," he says.
PMD fires, he notes, can actually be quite intensive. Sasi himself has in recent times dealt with many PMD fires that spread so quickly that entire rooms were engulfed by the time the SCDF arrived.
Time for a PSA: If a PMD fire ever occurs in your house, the SCDF advises that you close your doors before you evacuate your house — doing so helps to slow its spread.
From fire biker to rota commander
In 2016, Sasi took on the role he has now: a rota commander at Bishan fire station, where he heads some 25 section commanders and firefighters.
"Now I'm seeing things from a macro point of view where I delegate the tasks to the guys and take charge of their safety," he says.
He also clinched his second Minister for Home Affairs National Day Award in August this year — the first being four years ago — given to Home Team individuals who perform outstanding work.
"I definitely feel happy and a sense of satisfaction. And of course I also feel my supervisors and organisation recognised my good work and awarded me for it."
Aside from his fire-fighting duties, Sasi also established a Fire Safety Specialist Course for secondary school students in the National Civil Defence Cadet Corps in 2016.
He also a liaison officer for foreign delegates and an ambassador who promotes the SCDF as a career option for graduates (and it is at this point he tells me that one of the most common questions he gets at schools is whether the SCDF has female firefighters. Yes, he says, of course they do).
Looking back, Sasi says, rather earnestly, that he has never thought of doing anything else aside from this. 13 years and about 200 incidents later, this "veteran" rightfully shows no sign of slowing down.
Top photo by Ng Kah Hwee.
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In December last year, all Singaporeans over 18 received S$100 worth of SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRVs). But as of March 1, only around one in four of the vouchers have been redeemed in the last three months.Many Singaporeans that Mothership.sg spoke with expressed interest to use the vouchers. However, many didn’t know what to do/haven’t found the time to do something, or were reluctant to make a booking because the process seemed complicated.Singapore Tourism Board#SingapoRediscovers #tourism #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/how-to-redeem-singaporediscovers-2021/
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PERSPECTIVE: Why have only around one in four of the SingapoRediscovers vouchers been utilised in the last three months?
Many Singaporeans that Mothership spoke with expressed interest to use the vouchers. However, many didn't know what to do/haven't found the time to do something, or were reluctant to make a booking because the process seemed complicated.
In December last year, all Singaporeans over 18 received S$100 worth of SingapoRediscovers Vouchers (SRVs).
Greater redemptions were seen during the school holidays in December, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said, adding that "strong demand" was expected during other holiday periods.
These vouchers are valid until June 30, 2021.
But as of March 1, only around one in four of the vouchers have been redeemed in the last three months.
(Over S$72.6 million in vouchers and payments had been redeemed as of Mar. 1, 2021 out of the S$320 million distributed at the end of last year.)
So, why are Singaporeans not utilising the free S$100 given to them?
Various reasons as to why people aren't redeeming SRVs
In a CNA commentary, the author noted that based on her observations, some of the common reasons why people are slow to redeem the vouchers include wanting to avoid crowds at attractions.
Others also haven't found something they would like to do yet.
Speaking to Mothership, a 29-year-old who only wanted to be known as Moses, admitted that he "completely forgot about it after the initial advertising push":
"When it was first advertised, places were really crowded because people rushed to use it. But now that it's less crowded, people may have forgotten about it."
He also said that he was "lazy" to browse through the list of SRV-redeemable activities, although he acknowledged that there is a very wide variety of activities available.
27-year-old Archana Gunalan, who is excited about the voucher and intends to use it, lamented that it is difficult to find a day to do something together given her friends' schedules.
"YES I would love to (use my SRV). There are so many fun things to do! But when you want to plan things with friends and everyone’s schedules are different, we have to wait until everyone is free on the same day."
Then, there are others like Parveen, 28, who had been excited about using the vouchers for an indulgent staycation, but later decided on a more "fuss-free" solution.
"Going for a luxury staycation, I would have [had] to shell out an additional S$400. The more I planned, the more miserable I became. In the end, I decided to donate it to Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) ItsRainingRaincoats and let someone else enjoy this."
Redemption process complicated and troublesome?
A few people Mothership spoke to also considered the redemption process troublesome. At least at first glance.
"I thought it was (confusing) the first time I logged into SingPass," Archana said. "But I just went to check out the redemption process, it’s actually not so leceh (troublesome)."
Amanda Choo, 27, pointed out a potential problem for families looking to utilise their SingapoRediscover Vouchers together:
“I bought [Jurong] Bird Park tickets for my family of five, and had to buy each ticket individually so that we could use our own vouchers. I did five separate orders. If we had all bought together in one, then someone would have [had] to 'sacrifice' their voucher."
The voucher code generated is valid only for 15 minutes, after which it expires. While there are likely security reasons for such digital features, it does result in some inconveniences.
"Since the [voucher] code generated is of a certain value only, if halfway through ordering, you decide to change the amount you want to use, you have to wait for 15 minutes before you can generate another code. That took up time too."
Afiqah Syahira, 21, agreed on that particular inconvenience.
"It was a bit of a rush. When I planned to go USS, I didn't know [there was] a grace timing for the code before it’s expired. When I saw there was a timing, I panicked and bought the wrong ticket. Sian (frustrating) I imagined – what if [it were] not tech savvy aunties and uncles?"
Physical locations in Singapore
Moses said that his mother, who isn’t totally unfamiliar with technology, doesn't know how to redeem the vouchers.
"I think she finds the whole redemption process foreign and intimidating, like there’s a need to download the SingPass app and all.”
For the elderly or those who are unfamiliar with navigating the web, or using their SingPass, they can either:
1) Enlist the help of a more digitally-savvy family member or friend to make the booking on their behalf, or
2) Go to a physical counter available island-wide, many of which are located within Community Centres/ Clubs (CC) or within 5-minute walk from CCs.
For many of older folks that Mothership spoke to, it seems like they are looking to rely on the help of others for this redemption process.
"I’m waiting for my daughter to help me redeem it!"
Sara Heng, 61, told us she has not used her SRVs yet as she "doesn't know how to get it". She also didn't realise that these vouchers can be redeemed at physical locations, including CCs.
Although she's "not sure where to go", Heng said she intends to get someone to help with it.
As for Lilian, 73, she has not redeemed her vouchers because she's waiting for her daughter to check out the "best activity".
Does she hope to use her voucher eventually? "I’m waiting for my daughter to help me redeem it!"
Convenience over everything else
From our conversations, it seems like Singaporeans are mostly keen to use their vouchers.
However, for those who haven't done so, many can be broadly categorised into the following:
Don't know what to do or haven't found the time to plan something
Intimidated by the actual redemption process
The entire process that someone has to go through is sometimes perceived to be cumbersome too:
1) Look through a list of activities that are available on various platforms,
2) Coordinate with other people if necessary, and then
3) Make a booking on the site by generating a SRV voucher code using SingPass
Many experience inertia to get to Step 1, and Step 3 is also a hurdle given that people need to actually find out how to go about the redemption process.
Which begs the question: Is there a way to simplify it all?
Other redemption mechanisms?
Amanda opined that utilisation could become more convenient by allowing redemptions of multiple voucher codes in a single order.
She suggested mimicking the way Singapore Airline bookings currently work, where each individual member with a KrisFlyer membership can input their own membership code, to do so.
Others wanted to scrap this online redemption system altogether.
Moses suggested that the government could issue CEPAS cards for this purpose, with a stored value of S$100. These cards could then be used to make payment at various merchants islandwide.
"But this is high-effort and probably takes up even more resources," he added.
"They could mail us [physical] vouchers," Archana suggested, adding that this method would allow people to carry it with them and use it spontaneously if the opportunity arises.
But doing so perhaps wouldn't be very in line with Singapore's move to become a smart nation.
Tough.
Top photo via Guo Xin Goh/Unsplash
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A massive derelict bungalow, Chee Guan Chiang House, located at 25 Grange Road in the prime Orchard shopping district, has been left untouched by modernity for years.An aerial view of the building and the sprawling land around it might be unfamiliar to the Singapore public, as such large swathes of private land is almost unheard of.Yet, the location the house is at is highly recognisable to anyone who frequents Orchard Road enough, as it is just a stone's throw away from Ngee Ann City.The house was commissioned by Chee Guan Chiang, who is the eldest son of the first chairman of the OCBC Group, Chee Swee Cheng.Designed by Haw Par Villa's architect Ho Yew Kwong, the house also showcases several classic Art Deco features, including its iconic rounded facade.It covers a land area of 100,000 square feet and was estimated to be worth S$425 million in 2007.Its current value could be upwards of half a billion Singapore dollars.#realestate #property #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/chee-guan-chiang-bungalow/
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A massive derelict bungalow, Chee Guan Chiang House, located at 25 Grange Road in the prime Orchard shopping district, has been left unmolested by modernity for years.
An aerial view of the building and the sprawling land around it might be unfamiliar to the Singapore public, as such large swathes of private land is almost unheard of.
Yet, the location the house is at is highly recognisable to anyone who frequents Orchard Road enough, as it sits at the junction of Grange Road and Devonshire Road -- just a stone's throw from Ngee Ann City.
The private property premises have been cordoned off from the public with sufficient warning that trespassers will be prosecuted, to keep out prying eyes.
But it continues to fascinate Singaporeans of all stripes, who can only wonder why such a prime property can even go to waste, given the area's surrounding residential and commercial buildings that have been highly developed over the decades.
Art Deco Bungalow worth S$425 million
The house was commissioned by Chee Guan Chiang, who is the eldest son of the first chairman of the OCBC Group, Chee Swee Cheng.
The house, designed by Haw Par Villa's architect Ho Kwong Yew, showcases several classic Art Deco features, including its iconic rounded facade.
It covers a land area of 100,000 square feet and was estimated to be worth S$425 million in 2007.
Its current value could be upwards of half a billion Singapore dollars.
The entire plot of land with the house on it:
Its proximity to Ngee Ann City:
Named Wellington House initially
Chee Swee Cheng had named the bungalow Wellington House initially.
Rather than being named after a person or a place, Wellington was chosen because it began with "well", and that sounded like wealth.
The monogram "WH" can be found along the wrought-iron balustrades on the veranda of the house, as well as on the grand staircase inside the house.
There were also a pair of stained glass windows inside the house.
The house was finished in 1938, but the Chee family left the country after the Japanese invaded Singapore in 1941.
It was then used as a boarding house for travellers for several years and it was renamed New Leonie Guest House in 1964.
However, it fell into disuse after that.
40-year legal battle over land
Much of the property's current state can be attributed to a legal tussle over the plot of land the house sits on.
The trouble began in 1973.
Three of the four houses on the land were sold to Lee Tat Development, with the remaining house sold to Grange Heights condominium.
Grange Heights' contractors began using the road -- an 883 square metre strip of land that passes through the Wellington House -- for easy access to Grange Heights.
According to The Straits Times, Lee Tat Development then sought a court declaration in 1974 that the developer of Grange Heights had no way across that road.
The two parties took each other to court several times over the road -- over a span of 40 years.
In 2005, the Court of Appeal said that Grange Heights residents had the right to use the road, but this was overruled three years later in 2008, as Lee Tat Development won the legal battle.
In 2018, ST reported that Lee Tat Development appealed for compensation from Grange Heights condominium's management corporation (MCST), which was dismissed.
The house received conservation status by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) in 2008, but that failed to save the place from its current state of disrepair.
The property continues to be fenced in by iron gates and warning signs to deter trespassers.
These measures to keep out the public were put up some time after 2015.
Top image via Tapatalk & Pinterest
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The year was 1991 and on the morning of Mar. 26, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A310, shortly after departure from Subang International Airport near Kuala Lumpur, was hijacked by four Pakistani terrorists.Armed with explosives and knives, the terrorists demanded to speak with the Pakistani ambassador in Singapore for the release of 11 of their comrades from various prisons in Pakistan.They also ordered the flight crew to add sufficient fuel for a trip to Sydney.If the demands were not met, they threatened that they would kill all 114 passengers and 11 crew aboard SQ117, one by one.But Singapore had an ace up the sleeve: the Singapore Commando unit.In just 30 seconds, they opened the plane’s doors using explosives and killed all four terrorists, with no hostages injured.The valiant Commandos were awarded the Medal for Valour, while the pilot of the flight and the chief police negotiator received the Public Service Star.This incident underscores the importance of a swift and decisive Military Defence, changing the way we view our armed forces forever.Read on to learn about four other life-changing episodes in Singapore’s history.Singapore Airlines Ministry of Defence of Singapore#singapore #defence #independence
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/sq117-singapore-history/
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For nine and a half hours, the entire nation was on edge.
The year was 1991 and on the morning of Mar. 26, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A310, shortly after departure from Subang International Airport near Kuala Lumpur, was hijacked by four Pakistani terrorists.
Armed with explosives and knives, the terrorists demanded to speak with the Pakistani ambassador in Singapore for the release of 11 of their comrades from various prisons in Pakistan.
They also ordered the flight crew to add sufficient fuel for a trip to Sydney.
If the demands were not met, they threatened that they would kill all 114 passengers and 11 crew aboard SQ117, one by one.
To prove their point, the terrorists even pushed two flight attendants out of the plane after the plane landed in Changi Airport.
In the early morning of Mar. 27, 1991, the terrorists said that they would start killing one hostage every 10 minutes.
Time was ticking.
But Singapore had an ace up the sleeve: the Singapore Commando unit.
In just 30 seconds, they opened the plane’s doors using explosives and killed all four terrorists, with no hostages injured.
The valiant Commandos were awarded the Medal for Valour, while the pilot of the flight and the chief police negotiator received the Public Service Star.
And this incident, ladies and gentlemen, underscores the importance of a swift and decisive Military Defence, changing the way we view our armed forces forever.
The SQ117 hijack, of course, wasn’t the only significant event in Singapore’s history -- we have also been shaped by several other life-changing episodes.
Here’s a blast from the past with some other events:
SARS is the virus that I just want to minus
Remember this gem?
While a lighthearted way to educate the public about SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, the 2003 outbreak of the infectious disease was a far deadlier affair as compared to Covid-19.
It halted and changed our way of life, when one Singaporean carried the deadly virus from Hong Kong to Singapore, subsequently leading to the infection of 238 people, of whom 33 died.
How did SARS halt and change our lives, you say?
As this strain of coronavirus caused high fevers, local authorities conducted temperature screenings across our island and at immigration checkpoints.
Our civil defence force, healthcare workers and various ministries worked tirelessly to educate the public on how everyone played a part in stopping the spread of this illness.
Singaporeans of all ages who lived through the SARS pandemic will also vividly remember carrying personal thermometers and monitoring their own temperatures at least twice a day.
Mandatory quarantine for those who had recently travelled was instated, contact tracing was meticulously carried out and a public SARS hotline was also set up to cater to all matters regarding the virus.
All those measures may feel familiar given that we are in the midst of another pandemic.
But maybe another way to think about it is that we learnt from our experience dealing with SARS, which gave us a valuable framework to start with.
A devastating 1985 recession
Things may look hunky dory for Singapore in the decades following our independence: our economy was on the upward trajectory, there were jobs for most Singaporeans.
And then life decided to throw the proverbial spanner in 1985.
Singapore’s growth rate in the second quarter of 1985 was -1.4 per cent and crashed to -3.5 per cent by the following quarter.
Although an important regional trading hub, Singapore suddenly saw its regional countries trading directly instead of through Singapore after Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines implemented exit taxes on Singapore
Suddenly there was extremely low demand for the nation’s goods and services as Malaysia introduced a 50 per cent tax on goods bought from Singapore by residents.
Other pillars of our economy like oil refining and shipbuilding were doing badly too due to the rise of strong competitors. Domestically, construction projects quickly and suddenly dwindled.
Long story short: it was a rather huge spanner.
Well, if life gives you a huge spanner, you just need to be a better mechanic. Metaphorically speaking.
Singapore liberalised various services sectors like finance, telecommunications and utilities, reduced employer CPF contributions, lowered interest rates of loans and introduced rebates on government fees, and personal, corporate and property taxes.
Some of these measures are still in place today to help safeguard our economy just in case an even larger spanner (ahem Covid-19) comes along again.
The Singhealth Cyber Attack woke Singaporeans up to the danger of cyber threats
To be honest, Digital Defence sounds like some gaming lingo but it is no less important than the rest of the Defences.
Case in point: A well-planned attack carried out by cyber attackers between Jun. 27 and Jul. 4, 2018 exfiltrated the personal data of 1.5 million patients, including those of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (gasp!) and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (double gasp!).
Using custom malware and open-source hacking tools, the attackers managed to access and copy the personal particulars of visitors of several public facilities with a trojan horse (malicious yet legitimate-looking file).
As boomers would have it, “how can this b allow?”
Thankfully, this attack contributed to the push for enhanced digital security. With more Singaporeans aware of the importance of a 2FA for all important online portals for instance.
We should not allow this to happen again.
People of different races protected each other during the 1969 Riots
Way before Singapore enjoyed the racial harmony that we so painstakingly strove to build, 1969 witnessed a series of violent public incidences that resulted in four dead and 80 injured.
Fuelled by the May 13 ethnic clash that happened in Kuala Lumpur, groups of Chinese and Malays took to the streets of newly independent Singapore, from May 31 to Jun. 6, 1969, desiring to exact vengeance on each other.
Rumours spread to Singapore that Chinese rioters involved in the May 13 riots in Malaysia were severely and unjustly punished, and that the Malaysian Armed Forces were persecuting members of one ethnic group more harshly than another.
This air of hatred drove Chinese men in Singapore to take out their unhappiness on Malays, and Malay men likewise reciprocated.
During the tumult, however, the goodness of some Singaporeans shone through – some Chinese families sheltered Malays who were attacked, and some Malay households also nursed and gave refuge to Chinese victims.
The police force and armed forces carried out security sweeps across the island. However, the long-term solution was to nurture racial harmony and understanding between Singaporeans of different backgrounds.
Today, Singapore’s Social Defence is strong – we handle inter-race relations delicately and work to dispel rumours quickly.
In order to be a psychologically strong nation, we not only need to actively nurture racial and religious harmony and tolerance, but also stay committed to and confident in Singapore’s future.
Let’s not take things for granted
Total Defence is not a one-day observance but a practice of everyday vigilance.
Even during times of peace and stability, all Singaporeans need to understand and contribute to our country’s Military, Civil, Economic, Social, Digital and Psychological Defence.
During trying times, such as this pandemic, all pillars of national defence have been tested by new challenges and threats, which is where the cooperation and awareness of all Singaporeans play a part.
The resolve of our people and competency of our defence forces help us feel confident that we will be able to emerge stronger through every crisis, as we have done so in the past.
This article sponsored by Nexus, MINDEF made this writer aware of the events that shaped Singapore’s history.
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Back when Nicholas Tan was 18 and studying visual merchandising at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), he took an interest in photography when he noticed one of his friends doing it. Despite being inexperienced then, Tan volunteered to be a student photographer for an overseas school trip to China.After realising that he had a knack for it, he joined his very first inter-school photography competition (where he went on to win both first and second place), won the Best of Show student category at the Canon Photomarathon Singapore XIV 2016, and graduated with a diploma in visual communications & media design from Singapore Polytechnic.He went through most of this while his eyesight was — and still is — slowly deteriorating as he has been diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease.Tan was diagnosed during the first year of his visual communications diploma, a course which would heavily require his sense of sight, his doctor suggested for him to try for a different industry.But Tan wasn’t having it.#inspiration #photography #inspireyourself
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https://mothership.sg/2019/06/singapore-graduate-diploma-going-blind-visual-communications/
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Every photographer starts their journey differently.
For one Nicholas Tan, it was because of a friend.
Back when he was 18 and studying visual merchandising at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), Tan took an interest in photography when he noticed one of his friends doing it.
He promptly jumped on the bandwagon.
Full of accolades
Despite being inexperienced then, Tan volunteered to be a student photographer for an overseas school trip to China.
After realising that he had a knack for it, he joined his very first inter-school photography competition (where he went on to win both first and second place, by the way), won the Best of Show student category at the Canon Photomarathon Singapore XIV 2016, and most recently, graduated with a diploma in visual communications & media design from Singapore Polytechnic.
Not bad for a 23-year-old, especially since he went through most of this while his eyesight was -- and still is -- slowly deteriorating.
But we'll get back to that later.
First camera
Before entering the Canon Photomarathon, Tan didn't have his own camera, and had been loaning cameras from his school's resource centre.
His mother noticed that it was more than just a hobby, and offered to get him a camera.
However, Tan declined, as he didn't want to burden his mother financially.
But he was up for a pleasant surprise:
"One day, she suggested to survey for cameras so I knew how much I needed to save up. I thought it was a good idea, so we went out and found the camera that I wanted. And then she just said 'Ok, let's buy. If you want to be a photographer, you need your own camera.'"
Now, despite having a handful of cameras, Tan still goes back to the Nikon D5500 from his mother as a reminder of where he started.
Progressive retina damage
Today, Tan isn't wearing a pair of shades to make himself look cooler.
Instead, the photographer wears it to protect his eyes, as he has been diagnosed with Stargardt's disease.
The disease is an inherited condition that causes progressive damage to the part of the retina that is responsible for sharp, straight-ahead vision.
Symptoms of Stargardt's disease include:
Blurry or distorted vision
Inability to see in low lighting
Difficulty recognising facial features
Increased sensitivity to bright lights
Higher chance of colour blindness
While the chances of becoming completely blind due to Stargardt's disease is rare, the progression of the disease varies from person to person.
Vomiting after getting hit in the head
Tan first noticed that something wasn't right when he couldn't recognise people he knew when they were walking towards him.
He was 19 years old then.
Despite noticing that something was amiss, Tan only asked the doctor about the condition when he got injured during a friendly game of football.
"I was playing football when I got hit in the head and started vomiting. I thought it was a concussion, so I went to the hospital. Since I was already experiencing problems with my eyes, I asked my doctor what was wrong so they told me to go for another check-up."
After going to the check-up, he received his unfortunate diagnosis, which he stressed, wasn't caused by the game of football.
And since this happened during the first year of his visual communications diploma, a course which would heavily require his sense of sight, his doctor suggested for him to try for a different industry.
But Tan wasn't having it.
"But this (visual communications) is what I wanted to do all along, I've planned for long to do this. It's like telling me to change my dreams because it's not going to work out. I don't know what was my future, there was the uncertainty in it."
During the whole ordeal, he felt nothing but sadness, shock and confusion in the months that followed, especially when it came to his potentially career-changing decision.
This process, he shares, was important towards healing and finding himself.
"It's ok to let yourself be sad for a while and then pick yourself up to do what you can in the moment."
Fortunately for him, it was a conversation with his mother that put him back on his feet.
"There was one time when I was talking to my mother about it. It started off as a casual conversation, but we eventually started talking about my eyes. I shared to her about my worries and fears and she just told me this line: 'There's no point worrying so much about this, just do what you can in the moment.'"
From there, he followed his mother's advice to achieve his dreams by going ahead with his diploma, against all odds.
Seeing the pros in the cons
While losing one's eyesight may seem like an insurmountable ordeal in many people's lives, Tan shares that he doesn't have to make a lot of changes to his lifestyle.
The only change he had to carry out, apart from wearing shades, is getting more sleep.
"I used to sleep six to seven hours, but now I have to sleep between eight to nine hours so I can rest my eyes to slow down the progression [of the disease]."
Other than that, the optimistic individual just shrugs that he is going to do what he can in the moment.
It goes without saying that Tan had to go through several bumps while pursuing his diploma.
For one, he couldn't read texts as well as he used to, which is essential for his education.
He also often gets asked about his shades as it makes him stick out like a sore thumb in school.
"A lot of people have asked me about my shades. I keep having to repeat my reason and it keeps reminding me that I have an eye condition. It gets a bit sad."
Now, however, he doesn't really mind the questions and instead looks at his "cons" as "pros" instead.
You can take a look at some of Tan's best works here:
For example, he uses his sensitivity to light and inability to see facial expressions to his advantage when taking photos.
"I tend to observe the light more, so my photos come out to look more contrasting. Also, because I cannot see facial expressions well, it forces me to get out of my comfort zone and approach people."
And although Tan is visually impaired, he doesn't allow that to get in the way of his work or let others treat him differently.
In fact, his schoolmates trust in his skills enough to let him lead important roles in several group school projects.
"I told my friends not to treat me differently, and they don't. I've been the videographer and director of photography in several video projects with my friends."
Family is his rock
Tan admits that he wouldn't be here without the support of his family and close friends.
"Family is the pillar that I can always go back to. I always talk to them about what I am truly feeling and they listen unconditionally."
And he's glad to have heeded the advice of the biggest rock in his life, his mother:
"I don't think I can imagine myself in another field because that's the dream that I've been working towards."
Top image courtesy of Nicholas Tan
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In 2019, Jacinda and her husband, Martin, quit their jobs and set off in a campervan on a journey to travel from Singapore to Europe.However, after the trip came to an abrupt halt due to the pandemic, the young Singaporean couple returned home to start their home-based business, called "The Breakfast Club", which offers a plant-based meal delivery service.At The Breakfast Club, meals are prepared using pesticide-free and organic ingredients from local farms in Singapore, such as Fire Flies Health Farm and Green Circle Eco Farm.In addition to using local produce, Jacinda also uses clay pots to slow-cook the food for their meal delivery service, as she does not believe in using the microwave.Apart from providing meal delivery services, the couple also hosts smoothie bowl workshops and intimate private dining experiences in their new apartment.#food #health #business
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/the-breakfast-club-jacinda/
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A young Singaporean, who had her globe trotting cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic, returned home to start an organic farm-to-table vegan home kitchen.
In 2019, Jacinda and her husband, Martin, quit their jobs and set off in a campervan on a journey to travel from Singapore to Europe.
However, after the trip came to an abrupt halt due to the pandemic, the young Singaporean couple returned home to start their home-based business, called "The Breakfast Club", which offers a plant-based meal delivery service.
From campervan travel to starting The Breakfast Club
While traveling, the couple visited many vegan establishments like cafes and restaurants that used wholesome, natural ingredients.
The food they tasted on their travels had no MSG, no refined sugar and no mock meat.
Upon returning to Singapore, they decided to start The Breakfast Club to provide healthy food for busy go-getters.
Apart from providing meal delivery services, the couple also hosts smoothie bowl workshops and intimate private dining experiences in their new apartment.
The home-based business is primarily run by Jacinda who told Mothership that the inspiration for the business came after she improved her health by changing the way she eats.
Stumbled across raw vegan diet after health took a downturn
The 32-year-old recounted that she first made the switch to the plant-based diet about four years ago.
Prior to the change, she was on a "hawker centre" diet, which included food, such as fried bee hoon, bak chor mee, white bread, or food from the economy rice stall.
Adding on to that, she also drank alcohol and ate late suppers quite often.
At that point in her life, the former freelance host and actress was experiencing several health issues, such as:
Acne
Eczema
Urinary Tract Infection
Hives
Balding spots in her hair
Fever
Sore throat
Flu
She took medication for all the above-mentioned conditions, such as hormonal pills and antibiotics, anti fungal medication but the medications stopped being effective for her and the doctors then told her that they didn't know what to do next, Jacinda told Mothership.
Her conditions, however, visibly improved after she stops eating out and went on a five-day raw vegan diet, which included swapping out the refined sugar, carbohydrates and processed food at home for natural, whole foods.
Here are photos of her showing before and after the change in diet:
Jacinda's friends and family saw that the change in her and got curious about her new diet.
She also started making breakfast for some of her interested colleagues at work which eventually led to the start of The Breakfast Club.
Organic local fare & meal delivery service
At The Breakfast Club, meals are prepared using pesticide-free and organic ingredients from local farms in Singapore, such as Fire Flies Health Farm and Green Circle Eco Farm.
In addition to using local produce, the 32-year-old also uses clay pots to slow-cook the food for their meal delivery service, as she does not believe in using the microwave.
Here's a look at the local produce:
Her father, who has an allotment garden plot under the National Parks Board scheme, also often supplies her with vegetables, such as cucumber and spinach (as seen below):
The Breakfast Club offers a wide variety of dishes from various cuisines, drawing inspiration from Chinese, Japanese, and even Mexican food.
Some of the vegan dishes they offer include dumpling noodles:
Vegan sushi, anyone?
They also offer vegan poke bowls for their meal delivery service:
And colourful and aesthetically pleasing smoothie bowls, which do not contain refined sugar:
Eating healthy on a budget
When asked how one can eat healthy on a budget, Jacinda responded that " it is actually not expensive at all to eat well".
Preparing your own food might cost a bit more than what you can get at hawker centres, but Jacinda believed that it is worth it in the long run.
Here are some tips she shared:
1) Prepare your own meals at home. Eating out should be kept to a minimal of once a week or even once a month to help save money. 2) Eating less, or like people from Okinawa say, 80 per cent full. 3) Use whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, beans and unrefined carbohydrates. Cutting out processed foods helps to save money. 4) If you are buying organic, choose local or regional produce, as imported veggies cost more due to shipping costs.
You can find out more about her story here:
Top images via Goh Jun Xuan/@jx_veg_journal
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Co-founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings Kwon Ping Ho has lived quite a life. A former journalist who was jailed not once but twice in his youth — once in the U.S. and once under the Internal Security Act (ISA) — Ho then went on to found international resort and hospitality brand Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts with his wife Claire Chiang in 1994.As part of Lessons on Leadership, a new Mothership series hoping to inspire the next generation of Singaporeans through the stories of Singapore’s many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, 68-year-old Ho shares more about his personal values and how he has imbued them in the company that he started almost three decades ago.#leadership #entrepreneurs #hospitality
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/ho-kwon-ping-values-commentary/
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COMMENTARY: Co-founder and executive chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings Ho Kwon Ping has lived quite a life.
A former journalist who was jailed not once but twice in his youth — once in the U.S. and once under the Internal Security Act (ISA) — Ho then went on to found international resort and hospitality brand Banyan Tree with his wife Claire Chiang in 1994.
As part of Lessons on Leadership, a new Mothership series hoping to inspire the next generation of Singaporeans through the stories of Singapore’s many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, 68-year-old Ho shares more about his personal values and how he has imbued them in the company that he started almost three decades ago.
As told to Jane Zhang
How would you describe yourself as a boss?
I think I'm very approachable but pretty temperamental.
I know that all my associates like to see me when I go and visit them, because they know I don't have airs. You know, in most Asian societies, when you greet — whether it be the wai or the bow — normally it's a lower person who bows to you first and you just sort of acknowledge.
When I see one of my associates, I will do the wai to them, even before they wai to me, simply because it's kind of like saying hi. If I see somebody, you know, I just say hi right away.
But then in an Asian society where there's nuanced hierarchies, people think, "Wow, the boss is acknowledging them before they acknowledge [him]."
But I am also a pretty impatient person. And I do blow up — very much not against any person — but if I'm frustrated by a situation. It's because I feel like there's so much to do, so many things that need to be done, and there's so many obstructions along the way, so I get frustrated by these obstructions
And I think that's why people would say that I am pretty temperamental, but never towards them.
I picked up more from my mother, which is that she's quite creative and articulate, but she has a very short temper. The only saving grace for that is that, like my mother's, it's a temper that rears up and then dies down pretty quickly. It doesn't last.
[In terms of] values that I learned from my father, it's really his patience with people, which I don't have.
My father didn't speak so much, but he was one of the kindest, most patient, people I've ever known. And he's loved by all his associates and his staff because of that. So, I try — not always successfully — to be more like my dad.
What were big influences in how you became the leader you are today?
I wasn't born with values and management style. Born with it meaning that, for a lot of people, the birth of their values and everything else is when they finish their Harvard MBA or their other fancy MBAs, and that's why most MBAs walk around with the same jargon, because they're born from the same mother.
But I didn't do that way, so I don't know a lot of that jargon about management styles or about values, and most of the values that both I and Claire have have actually come directly from experience.
Banyan Tree Bay [the fishing village Yung Shue Wan in Lamma Island] was where we lived in the most important years of our lives as a first married couple.
We weren't at all rich, but it really symbolised, to me, to us both, the values of Banyan Tree, which was about communication, and romance for each other and for travel, because we backpacked about at that time.
So the term romance and intimacy became part and parcel of the concept of Banyan Tree, and the values of the culture itself.
Romance — romance between people, romance for life itself, a love for life. Romance for travel.
Intimacy — again, not necessarily romantic intimacy, although of course there is that element in it. But intimacy in terms of with nature, personal communication. Intimacy means you're close to something.
From there, we've recently developed a tagline now, which Claire originated, which is now being rolled out across all our enterprises. And this tagline actually symbolises the core culture and value of Banyan Tree, and that is, "I am with you".
"I am with you" underpins our entire service culture, because it indicates that empathy is at the very, very root of everything that we do. Only when you are empathetic towards your customer do you derive some degree of self-respect for yourself and what you do.
And I think because it came gradually, there is a real authenticity to it. It's not anything that we ever picked up from anywhere.
When you empathise with what life is like on the other side, things click inside you and then it becomes much more natural for you to respond to situations.
To most traditional hotel chains, service culture is mainly a case of asking hotel associates to anticipate guest needs, etc.
Our difference is to recognise that service culture is a two-way street, and that its roots lay not in servitude, no matter how well dressed up it is, but in genuine ability to see the world from the other person’s shoes.
Empathy for a hotel associate means understanding what a birthday or anniversary means to a guest, but also how grief or loneliness can be a reason for a trip; it also means understanding your colleagues and their stress.
Mutual respect is an important corollary to empathy.
How do you think such values come through in how Banyan Tree is being run?
We have these programmes where they go through different aspects of the Banyan Tree culture — our marketing culture, our service culture, and so on.
It's basically more a process of sensitisation of people, and quite a lot of group workshops, so that they understand what empathy is all about.
But it's not like a boot camp where you have to go through these things. We have more a number of other things that we want them to do.
For example, we do have a programme where, if possible, we would like all the frontline associates to actually have stayed in our hotel before the opening of a hotel.
Now again, it's not mandatory. It's not a reward. It's for them to actually understand how to look at what it means to be a guest. So you actually see some of them noticing that certain things were not adequately done, and the room wasn't adequately cleaned.
If you are staying as a guest with your whole family — and we allow you to stay as a whole family and we don't mind that you order room service — and it takes one hour to come, then you know what it means to not be a very happy guest.
So that's again about empathy. You develop empathy when you see what life is like on the other side.
I think Claire and I — and most of us in Banyan Tree — believe that experiential learning is at the root of long-lasting learning.
How have your values of empathy and "I am with you" played out during Covid? What were some difficult decisions you had to make?
Even during Covid, I think we've been as empathetic as we could be, even though it was a difficult time.
When we first started with the unpaid leave program, immediately I said, "I will take no salary at all. I'll have 100 per cent pay cut."
In Banyan Tree, all our leaders insisted they take far deeper cuts than other associates. The highest-paid get the highest proportion of cut.
Now, the sceptical, the cynics would say, "Yeah, that's nice and easy for you to say. You own half the company." And that is true! I'm well-off and I can survive quite well without my salary.
But I think it is symbolic in some ways. It is a way of basically saying, "I am with you. I know what it's like. I know you have to take a 50 per cent pay cut. It's hard for you to even feed your families."
That doesn't help a lot more when you are a frontline worker — you still got your salary cut — but at least it's less egregiously insulting that top management benefits themselves.
The latest manifestation of having to make painful decisions, but which were necessary, was that for the first time ever, we really had to retrench people — not just let one or two people go; we had to retrench thousands of people.
That was one lesson learned — that you don't wait until you absolutely have to do it, otherwise you'll go under because then is too late. So we let a lot of people go very early on, at the beginning of the crisis.
It's really very painful, you know, to retrench people who've done nothing to deserve it. And many people who've been very good, but you know that you have to do it.
The overwhelming majority understand that we’re hardly doing fantastic right now, and we can hardly maintain full employment staff numbers when occupancies are lower than 10 per cent. And our principles for retrenchment were transparent and fair, based on length of service.
We created our own mobile app for temporary employment and registered all our associates on the data base, and we then serve as a clearing house for temporary job-seekers and hotels which need temps. Which basically means that we’re trying to help them make some income.
And it's only because of that, that now with the second outbreak, third outbreak, fourth outbreak, we don't have any problems surviving as a company at all.
When you were young, you had pretty radical ideals. What kinds of values did you hold back then that have stayed with you, and what have you found to be incompatible with what you do now?
*laughing* Communism and capitalism don't mix. I was never a hardcore communist, but I was a romantic idealist. I would read Che Guevara, Franz Fanon. Hey, you've got to forgive me, I was in my 20s and the whole world was on fire.
So, my economic theories have changed quite a bit. I don't believe that a state-led communist system works at all.
However, if you even talk about that narrow area of economic theory, having been much more "radical", I still don't subscribe to much of what people admire in capitalism today. And people are finally getting a little bit upset that the injustices of capitalism are just phenomenal.
What has remained with me is probably a deep sense of anger toward social injustice, although today I'm not going to hit the streets and do all kinds of things. I've spoken out about 377A, not because I'm a huge proponent of gay rights, but I think it's a human rights issue.
I don't think those things have changed, it's just that the way of manifesting my ideas today has. The fundamental difference is, before I didn't have a platform. I have a platform today; I have Banyan Tree.
So I put everything that I want to do into trying to create something that has a lasting legacy — a legacy that's not just in terms of a company that makes money for the family, but hopefully a community of people which expresses the kind of culture we want to create.
What values do you hope to pass on to the next generation and to your children?
I would probably say — and it will sound a little bit trite, but I think it's absolutely true — you can only succeed in doing those things which you absolutely love, whatever it is. Only then will you have that extra edge over other people.
The only thing you've got going for you is that you love it so much that you live it 24/7. So that work and play and not differentiated, and therefore you don't feel burnout because you just want to keep on doing what you're doing.
The other thing, I suppose, would be: if you really love something and you don't do well in it, don't get discouraged. Be an eternal optimist.
But the flip side to that is that when you finally become successful, don't ever think that's just because you had a lot of failures and you're now doing well, you are the best thing since cheesecake.
There are a lot of young people now who are privileged, not just by wealth, but by education.
Because we have a meritocratic system, the not-so-fortunate flip side is that people who succeed in meritocracy think they got there entirely on their own, which is not true. It's largely a function of the schools you went to, or whether your parents were educated or not.
The other flip side of meritocracy is that not only do you think it's justified that you got up there, but because meritocracy implies fairness and equality, you think the people who didn't get up actually deserve not to.
You'll find quite a number of people in the Singapore system who, because they got there through the system, think that people who didn't get there through the system could have but didn't, so they don't even deserve help.
You know, the balance between humility when you're successful and a stubbornness to not give up when you fail — that's an important core value that I think everyone must have.
Related stories:
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Top photo courtesy of Ho Kwon Ping. Some quotes have been edited for clarity and grammar.
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28-year-old Louis Sue is one of the few male pole dancing professionals in Singapore.“I want people to know that I'm a guy doing pole dancing and there's nothing wrong with it. I don't think I'm the only one excited about pole dancing" he said, adding that people have really "opened up" to the sport over the years. Sue, who has been pole dancing since 2015, even met his now-girlfriend Dionne, during one of his pole practice sessions, at his previous studio.Already a pole dance instructor, she connected with him over their shared passion for the sport, and in 2019, the pair set up their own studio (PXD), so that they could share that passion with others.#dance #people #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/male-pole-dancer-singapore/
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"This is a flag," says Louis Sue, as he power lifts himself upwards, rendering himself perpendicular to the ground.
It's one of many power tricks that Sue, 28, has mastered over years of swinging himself around the pole — an art form that is, in his words, fun as it "makes you feel like you're flying".
Talk about pole dancing, and images of scantily-clad women moving in a sensual, hypnotic fashion come to mind, but Sue is the antithesis to that one-dimensional narrative.
Dressed down in black-framed spectacles, a black shirt, and berms, the full-time pole dance instructor represents a growing community of pole enthusiasts, whose passion for the dance stem from its empowering mix of strength and artistry.
Sue, who is also co-founder of pole dancing studio PXD, said:
“I want people to know that I'm a guy doing pole dancing and there's nothing wrong with it. I don't think I'm the only one excited about pole dancing.”
"People have really opened up more now," he added.
The number of males in each of Sue's pole-dancing class today is double, and even triple that from his time — when he would inevitably be the only male student in as many as four to five classes.
According to Sue, who has been pole dancing since 2015, the sport has evolved from something out of the ordinary to something “mainstream" over the years.
Choosing pole over breakdancing
Sue first became interested in pole dancing during his army days.
"It was between this or breakdancing, but that was scary. While I did dance in secondary school, I didn't want something 'dance dance' as I felt like I wasn't good at it. Pole dance was something fun; it felt like a good mix as it was neither 100 per cent dance nor 100 per cent fitness."
He was also inspired by dancers "of all shapes and sizes" from various Got Talent shows.
It was amazing, said Sue. Seeing them invert themselves effortlessly gave him the push he needed to start taking pole classes once a week on weekends.
That it might be an unconventional hobby did not cross his mind, and speaking candidly, Sue admitted that this was likely a blessing in disguise.
“I was simply excited and was just like 'Let’s go!' Honestly, if I had thought more about it, I might have backed away.”
Friends and family were also supportive, with Sue's dad being the first to buy him a S$500 pole for practice at home:
“My dad was like ‘Aiya buy for you lah since you [are] so enthusiastic’. This was after a few weeks in, and I remember being so excited. It was expensive!”
Winning his first competition
In some ways, perhaps his journey into pole dancing was meant to be, for after just a year of pole burns and honing “strength tricks", Sue entered his first pole dancing competition — the Singapore Pole Challenge 2016 — and won.
Other practitioners that we spoke to suggested that this is super uncommon, though Sue explained honestly that it's hard to tell, given that there are few competitions in Singapore to compare against.
He’d taken part simply because he wanted to get exposure and make a name for himself.
Emerging as overall champion was the cherry on top, placing him on the map in the industry, and proving that a guy from Singapore could compete in pole dancing and win it too.
It didn’t, however, immediately translate to more wins in subsequent competitions.
While practising harder moves for his next competition — this time an international one in Las Vegas — he ended up pulling his shoulder. The injury prevented him from doing any pole dancing for three weeks.
Part of his haste was due to self-imposed pressure to be the best, Sue admitted.
However, he just wasn't ready. Recovering days before the competition, he went on to compete anyway, but it was a humbling reminder that he still had a long way to go.
Dropping out of university to pursue pole
In 2016, about a year into pole dancing, Sue found himself having to choose between entering the Singapore Institute of Management and pole. He eventually decided to drop out of university completely to pursue the latter.
"I told myself that if I won overall, I would not go into university, and dive straight into it [pole dancing]."
Of course his parents were not happy with his decision initially:
"My parents, who had initially not said anything about my hobby, were concerned. I think in Singapore, we still feel like you need to go to university and study."
They ended up relenting, giving him one year to "go out and play" and prove himself, after much insistence on his end that it was something he really wanted to do.
"I went all in, and trained and trained. People will tell you to go to university because it's the safer path, so if you want to do something different, you need to be prepared to prove it."
That mentality paid off, as Sue has since earned top place in over half of the 10 competitions he’s taken part in over four years, including clinching the honour of "winner" in the 2019 Taiwan Pole Sport Championships and 2019 Exotic Generation Asia.
He reminisces:
"In that one year, I took part in quite a few competitions, from Las Vegas to Dubai and more. And I think in that one year, they [my parents] could sense that I really liked it [pole dancing] and meant it when I said I wanted to pursue the sport. So after that, they were supportive already."
Learning to be an instructor from his girlfriend
Yet, something was missing.
A self-professed “hyper person who thinks everyone should try pole”, Sue says that he wanted to share the knowledge that he’d gained through his competitions with more people.
He met his now-girlfriend Dionne, during one of his pole practice sessions, at his previous studio.
Already a pole dance instructor, she connected with him over their shared passion for the sport, and in 2019, the pair set up their own studio (PXD), so that they could share that passion with others.
Used to relying on strength to power through tricks, Louis says teaching was a struggle for several months — simple tricks that he thought were comprised of only three steps could actually be broken down further to 10 or more.
Being good at the sport turned out to be very different to being a good instructor, a point that Dionne can’t help but point out during our chat, “Please lah you forget only, last time you kept screaming and screaming in pain lor!”.
To which Louis responds, “I have improved a lot [in teaching] since then heh, and a lot of it is thanks to Dionne for guiding me!”
Misconceptions around pole dance
To date, there are far fewer misconceptions around pole dancing than before.
There is a growing awareness that there are different aspects or genres to explore when it comes to the sport.
One such genre is Exotic Dance, in which dancers don high heels and embrace their sensuality, blending elements of other disciplines (ballet and hip hop for example) into their performance and story.
Not afraid to push the envelope, Sue who recently diversified into the genre, explains that each genre has their own beauty: "In Exotic Dance, I get to integrate my dynamic power tricks with high heels."
Sue credits the sport's recent popularity to more people picking it up, and seeing it as a form of fitness.
He points out that its prevalence on social media, where dancers post regular updates of their progress, also helps significantly in breaking down common misconceptions, for example, in showing that pole dancers wear very little fabric for good pole grip, not simply to sex it up.
For those who wish to start pole dancing but worry about being self-conscious, Sue says that strength and fitness are things that can be “picked up along the way”.
One does not have to be ripped or of a certain body type to start pole dancing, he adds.
“There’s something for everyone in pole. Just start, and let the instructor show you what the sport is about. If you try it and don’t like it, it’s okay."
An increasing number of people are embracing this sport and in many ways, it's a lot better now:
"With that openness, I feel that the guys who join nowadays are already open enough, and not shy about telling others they do pole. Girlfriends even bring their boyfriends to learn together!"
If you would like to try out pole dancing, you can visit PXD Pole Studio at their two outlets or at their office:
PXD Pole Studio – The Playground @ 140 Robinson Rd, #08-03, Singapore 068907
PXD Pole Studio – The Academy @ 137 Cecil Street, Hengda Building, Singapore 069537 (New location; from the start of April 2021)
PXD Private Studio-cum-Office — No. 883 North Bridge Road #04-04, Singapore 198785
Opening hours are from 7pm to 10pm daily.
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top images by Jinghui Lean and courtesy of Louis Sue
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Citi CEO, Jane Fraser, announced via a press release on Thursday (Apr. 15) that the bank will exit from 13 retail banking markets across Europe and Asia.Retail banking consumers within these countries will face the shut down of their Citibank credit cards, saving bank accounts and personal loans.Affected countries include Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.Singapore, however, will remain unaffected by these changes.#bankingindustry
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/citibank-exit-13-retail-banking-markets/
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Citigroup CEO, Jane Fraser, announced via a press release on Thursday (Apr. 15) that the bank will exit from 13 retail banking markets across Europe and Asia.
Retail banking consumers within these countries will face the shut down of their Citibank credit cards, saving bank accounts and personal loans according to The Economic Times.
Affected countries include Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
Its Institutional Clients Group will nonetheless continue to serve clients in these markets. Citigroup said that it is choosing to focus on investments and resources in markets with the most potential growth and scale.
Fraser said:
“While the other 13 markets have excellent businesses, we don’t have the scale we need to compete. We believe our capital, investment dollars and other resources are better deployed against higher returning opportunities in wealth management and our institutional businesses in Asia."
Singapore unaffected by changes
So if you have a Citibank account, do not worry.
The American-based company plans to achieve an even stronger Global Consumer Bank presence in four ‘wealth centres’, including Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE and London.
"This positions us to capture the strong growth and attractive returns the wealth management business offers through these important hubs," said Fraser.
On Apr. 12, Citi announced the launch of their digital credit cards to accommodate digital savvy Singaporeans.
The digital credit cards can be used to make online payments, set up recurring payments including payments for subscription-based services, and be enrolled into Apple, Google and Samsung Pay.
New Citi customers can use the digital cards immediately, before receiving their physical cards.
Top photo from Go Banking Rates
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Eligible UOB staff will get pay increases and promotions this coming June.This broad-based pay increase and promotions initiative was announced by UO, and is expected to cover up to 98 per cent of their entire headcount.UOB clarified that this excludes senior management. The review of compensation packages for senior management will be considered in a later phase.In this mid-year exercise, high-performing employees across UOB Group will receive salary increases that are above market average.Mid-year promotions will also be granted to those individuals with widened job scopes, and those who exceeded performance expectations over the last 12 months.#banking #finance #salary
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/uob-pay-raise-promotion/
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Eligible UOB Group staff will get pay increases and promotions this coming June.
This broad-based pay increase and promotions initiative was announced by UOB today (Mar. 9), and is expected to cover up to 98 per cent of their entire headcount.
UOB clarified that this excludes senior management. The review of compensation packages for senior management will be considered in a later phase.
Salary increases & promotions
The press release stated that this mid-year exercise is ahead of the annual year-end one.
Pay increases and promotions were put on hold last year in order to "protect the jobs and livelihoods of its employees", UOB said.
In this mid-year exercise, high-performing employees across UOB Group will receive salary increases that are above market average.
The salary increase follows the early payout of UOB’s 2020 performance bonus payments, which employees received last month.
Mid-year promotions will also be granted to those individuals with widened job scopes, and those who exceeded performance expectations over the last 12 months.
The timing is set to coincide with the mid-year performance review of each employee.
Top photo via UOB.
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April 13 marks the first day of 2021’s Ramadan.Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and it's when Muslims all over the world observe the act of fasting.This means no consumption of food or drinks from dawn to sunset for an entire month, among other things.Living in a melting pot of cultures and races called Singapore, there are many people who try their best to make the lives of their Muslim friends and colleagues easier during the fasting month.Here, our writers Fasiha Nazren and Siti Hawa share some things non-Muslims can do to help their Muslim pals navigate this blessed month with ease.#ramadan #culture #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/ramadan-tips-non-muslims/
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April 13 marks the first day of this year's Ramadan.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and it's when Muslims all over the world observe the act of fasting.
This means no consumption of food or drinks from dawn to sunset for an entire month, among other things.
"Not even a sip of water?" we've been asked countless times.
No, not even a sip of water.
Living in a melting pot of cultures and races called Singapore, most of us have been blessed with friends and colleagues who try their best to make our lives easier during the fasting month.
On the contrary, however, here are some things that would help you to help us navigate this blessed month with ease.
1. Don't feel bad for eating or drinking in front of us
At some point, you might be clutching a thick, juicy, beef burger in your hands while wondering if eating it in front of us is considered rude.
But no, we don't find it rude if you start eating or drinking in plain sight.
If anything, you might have just given us some inspiration for what we're going to break our fast with.
I've had friends who turn away or resort to running to the toilet to eat their food for fear of offending me.
I'll say it again: It's really okay to eat or drink in front of us.
2. No special treatment, please
Don't get us wrong, it warms the cockles of our hearts when our friends go out of the way to make us feel comfortable.
This includes giving their seat to us in the train or skipping lunch so that we can have dinner together.
But seriously, though. You really don't have to.
We're not going to lie, fasting for an entire month is not easy but that's exactly why we do it.
One of the reasons why Muslims abstain from food, drinks and other desires during Ramadan is to inculcate the value of compassion in ourselves.
Depriving ourselves of satiety is when we can truly empathise with the less fortunate, who often go through days with little to eat.
And not giving us any special treatment will help us to achieve our purpose.
3. Don’t act weird when you see us eating stealthily
"Eh, you're not fasting?!" a classmate said out loud as I crouched under my desk with my head burrowed in my bag, thinking I could sneak in a sip of green tea.
And then, all eyes were on me so I felt obligated to tell the entire classroom that I was on my period.
In case you didn't know, when a woman menstruates, it would invalidate their fast for the day.
In hindsight, perhaps I could have been more discreet.
But the next time you see your female Muslim friend or colleague eating or drinking during the fasting month, just act normal and know that they have their reasons.
Talking about periods over a meal is already awkward.
Explaining that I'm eating during the fasting month because I'm on my period will only make it weirder.
This brings us to the next point...
4. Just because I'm not fasting doesn't make me a bad Muslim
Some might be quick to judge a Muslim for not fasting, but before you do, know that some Muslims might have a valid reason.
Besides menstruation, there are various reasons why a Muslim can be exempted from fasting which might not be immediately obvious.
These include, but are not be limited to illness, chronic medical conditions, postnatal bleeding, pregnancy, and breastfeeding mothers who believe that fasting for long hours might cause harm to themselves or their babies.
Ultimately, who are we to judge how someone else observes their faith, right?
5. It's not a torturous month for us, really
We may seem physically lethargic, no thanks to the early pre-dawn meals and of course, the lack of food and water.
However, Ramadan is a month that a lot of us look forward to the most.
Why do we look forward to starving ourselves, you ask?
Because, as cliche as it sounds, it's more than just that.
For one, it brings families together.
The dining table would be filled with food and conversations because families would spend most of the month having sahur (pre-dawn meal) and iftar (break fast meal) together.
For another, it makes the community spirit stronger because of activities like the terawih prayers (a non-obligatory evening prayer during the month of Ramadan) and mass iftar meals at mosque.
My favourite thing to do, however, is to collect the free bubur masjid (directly translates to "mosque porridge"), a savoury porridge with minced meat and vegetables, from the various mosques around Singapore.
So don't feel bad for us, we're probably having the time of our lives.
Top image from Masjid Sultan/Facebook
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What was post-Soviet Union Russia like in the 1990s? Seen through the lens of a Singaporean diplomat, who was posted to Russia in late-1993, Christopher Cheang reflects on the socio-political and economic crises that the country was going through at that time.He shares how his initial reaction to the assignment was one of dismay, given concerns about rampant lawlessness, poverty and high levels of crime in the wake of the Soviet Union’s collapse.After living in Moscow for some time, he found that his attitude towards the country changed.Cheang served as First Secretary from 1994-1997 during his initial posting to Moscow and subsequently as both Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission for his second (1999-2004) and third (2006-2013) assignments to Moscow. He is currently a Senior Fellow with the RSIS | S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and has since retired from Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore.Mothership reproduces an excerpt of the book Life and Work in Post-Soviet Russia by Cheang.#russia #photography #government
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singaporan-diplomat-post-soviet-union-russia/
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PERSPECTIVE: What was post-Soviet Union Russia like in the 1990s?
Seen through the lens of a Singaporean diplomat, who was posted to Russia in late-1993, Chris Cheang reflects on the socio-political and economic crises that the country was going through at that time in the book Life and Work in Post-Soviet Russia.
He shares how his initial reaction to the assignment was one of dismay, given concerns about rampant lawlessness, poverty and high levels of crime in the wake of the Soviet Union's collapse.
After living in Moscow for some time, he found that his attitude towards the country changed.
Cheang served as First Secretary from 1994-1997 during his initial posting to Moscow and subsequently as both Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission for his second (1999-2004) and third (2006-2013) assignments to Moscow. He is currently a Senior Fellow with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) and has since retired from MFA.
Here, we reproduce an excerpt by Cheang.
Life and Work in Post-Soviet Russia is published by World Scientific and you can get a copy of it here.
By Chris Cheang
Being assigned to Russia came as a rude shock
I had no experience of Russia or its people to form an opinion of the country, one way or another, when I was informed that I was to be sent there.
Based on what I had read about Moscow and Russia in the media (all negative) in the years and months preceding my posting order to Moscow (MFA parlance for written order for an overseas assignment), trepidation, bewilderment, frustration, dismay, shock, and even anger were sentiments which took hold of my very being when I was informed in late-1993 that Moscow was to be my next assignment.
It was made crystal clear that Moscow was a “good place” which I regarded with mordant disbelief.
I was told to accept my assignment, that I should discount rumours and the perception that Moscow was a “difficult and dangerous place”, and that I did not have much choice in the matter, in any case.
Moreover, it would have been impolitic of me to reject this “opportunity”. When one is faced with such a Hobson’s choice (which was what I perceived it to be), one naturally must know what answer is expected of one. I sank into the slough of despond.
I did not know whether I would emerge from it, but succeeded in hiding my state of mind from my colleagues.
On the other hand, I was determined not to let my feelings get the better of me, for I desperately wanted to secure an overseas assignment, and if it was to be Moscow, then so be it.
A main concern was high levels of crime
My concern about the assignment revolved around the then widespread perception of Russia as a country riven by lawlessness.
My views on Russia had been shaped by media reports on the country. Images of unchecked organised crime gangs controlling the organs of state and thugs running amok on the streets of Moscow began to fill my imagination.
Poverty and social deprivation and the lack or absence of basic items like toilet paper were said to have been the norm.
My wife and I had to purchase rolls and rolls of toilet paper in Singapore, having been told that this very important item (especially good quality paper) was in very short supply in Moscow!
While I had a keen interest in Russia’s history and development from an intellectual standpoint, that positive sentiment was not enough to counteract the negative news revolving around the trials and tribulations of life in post-Soviet Russia. Hence, I did not jump for joy about my posting there.
My own prejudices towards the country
I was also seized with an element of unjustified prejudice and preconceived notions about the country.
In the mid-1980s, I had occasion to visit Poland a number of times, East Berlin for a day, and spent some time in Prague and Budapest on holidays. Having observed socialism first-hand in these countries about the bankrupt nature of the Communist system.
And now I was being assigned to Moscow! Although it was plain to me that Russia was no longer run by Communists, I could not help thinking that the country was still gripped by its ideology.
I was at my wits’ end over the fact that I could not argue my way out of the assignment.
The only positive sentiment I had then was the fact that I would be working for Ambassador Bilahari. I knew him well and had the greatest confidence that he would guide and teach me how to navigate the difficulties of life and work in Moscow.
My initial impression of Moscow was mixed
Fortunately, unlike in 1979, this was not post-Soviet Russia of 1994 and I had become a diplomat — they did not treat me like a student I had been 15 years before. In fact, the immigration officers were rather polite, to my surprise and delight.
The long drive to the students’ hostel in MGU (Moscow State University) was not one to brag about. I had no choice but to stay in a hostel; while I carried a diplomatic passport, I was not yet accredited to the country since officially, my responsibilities as a diplomat were scheduled to commence only in August 1994.
However, I did not have a problem with having to stay in a hostel. It would offer me more opportunities to mingle with fellow students and learn the language fast — that was my reasoning.
It was just as well that my family was spending time duration of my language course; they would not have been able to live comfortably with me in the hostel.
The broad avenues and wide streets which led to MGU were dark, and whenever they were lit, only cast slight rays of light (for the most part, the lampposts were either out-of-order or simply turned off).
Russia was experiencing a political and socio-economic crisis
My Embassy colleague enlightened me on the situation, remarking that the country had found itself in a political and socio-economic crisis and could not spare the necessary funds for street-lighting — that comment only added to my sense of gloom and doom about my new “life” in Moscow.
Thoughts raced through my mind — was this what Russia had become, so bankrupt that it could not even afford to light the main streets of its capital?
If that was the case, then its people were probably not living lives of ease and plenty. My family and I would live better but rather isolated lives in the midst of poverty, a thought which was rather uninviting to me.
Conditions in my hostel also caused me to question my presence in Moscow. My small room was dirty while the common loo (rather maladorous) was situated perhaps 30 yards from my room.
Added to that was the fact that the food in the cafeteria was neither to my taste nor attractive to bestow one’s eyes upon (my ingrained prejudices were expressing themselves, not any sense of objectivity, I admit).
Not having any cooking skills meant that I was dependent on the cafeteria.
However, I was blessed with probably at the time huge monetary resources, compared to my fellow Russian-language and students from other disciplines, not to mention the average man-in-the-street.
With my salary and allowances, I could afford to eat out often in the then few reasonably-priced restaurants in town. That I did, thrice a week.
Whenever I ventured out of the hostel to patronise these restaurants, the dezhurnaya (invariably a matronly woman acting as a watchman in a hostel), would warn me of the dangers lurking on the streets after dark.
Street crime rates were high in 1994 and the years thereafter but thankfully, I did not fall victim to any thugs. Once-in-a-while, some kind South Korean students with whom I shared the common kitchen, would take pity on me and invite me to share their well-cooked and tasty meals.
My attitude to the country began to change once I started learning Russian
My whole attitude and sentiments towards Moscow underwent a change as soon as my Russian language course started.
Thanks to Mr. P, I absorbed all the Russian language terms for those monumental changes in the society and as a result, my command of the language grew in leaps and bounds, although it was still far from fluent.
Today, I can read, write, and comprehend it at the advanced level, having taken part-time lessons in the language during my first, second and last tours of duty in Moscow. For this, I must thank Mr. P, as he provided me the basis for all that.
The need to focus and learn the language meant that I had to rid myself of the prejudices and preconceived notions of my host country. And when one learns a language, one also absorbs the culture of that language and, in the process, appreciates its richness and qualities.
Moreover, my three-month stint as a language student gave me insights into and an experience of life in the Russian capital through contact with Russian and foreign students in MGU, where Russian was the lingua franca.
Truth be told, I had little contact with other foreign students for I did not think I would improve my command of the language by communicating with non-native speakers of the language.
Hence, almost from the start of my stay in Moscow, I tried to have more contact with Russians or foreigners who spoke the language fluently viz. those from the former Soviet republics.
The hostel was also a great location to practise Russian
Since my teacher was assigned to me by MGU on a one-to-one basis, my contact with other students was also not to be taken for granted.
Fortunately, the hostel would organise regular parties which I would attend as often as my mood and my schedule would allow.
At this party (whose dates were not fixed and occasionally, no party was organised at all), one would meet one’s fellow students from Russia, the former Soviet republics, South Korea, China, and Europe as well as North America, not only to socialise but more so to practise one’s command of the Russian language with its native speakers.
From the Russian and former Soviet republics’ students, I would also learn some of the subtleties and nuances of the Russian language as well as Russian social mores.
The then Ambassador, Bilahari Kausikan, would thankfully have me over to his Residence to meet his contacts, Russians and non-Russians.
They would answer all my questions about the country and with the Russian guests, also provided me the opportunity to practise the language.
I also took the opportunity to see as much of Moscow as possible
Moreover, I took the opportunity to see and experience as much of Moscow as possible.
Being a student on a generous MFA allowance meant that I did not have any work responsibilities and hence, more than enough time and more important, the means to indulge myself in the large city’s many distractions, principally eating out in restaurants which, at the time, were quite limited in number.
All-in-all, I certainly must have been one of the very few financially-blessed students in MGU that summer of 1994. Being in that very unenviable position, I became to some extent, the cynosure of the less fortunate students (financially-speaking) with whom I became acquainted while at MGU.
I found that Russians are a warm and hospitable people
The first six to 12 months of my stay in Moscow also opened my eyes to the Russian character.
I came to the conclusion that Russians are very generous, hospitable, and kind even to strangers/outsiders to whom they take a liking. What they then lacked in material possessions, they more than made up by their high degree of friendliness, kindness, hospitality, and basically human touch.
I experienced that first-hand in MGU in the persons of two Russian students — unfortunately, I cannot recall their names. They were poor students, a young married couple, who lived in a small one-room flat in the hostel while Yours Truly had two rooms, one of which was en-suite.
They invited me once or twice to their room for dinner, and shared with me their meagre portions of meat and vegetables. I would naturally respond to their kindness but since I do not know how to cook, would invite them to restaurants.
They would always express their gratitude but would not accept my invitations. They became my first acquaintances in Moscow; they would correct my command of spoken Russian and answer all my questions about politics, their lives, Russia’s history, and so on.
To this day, I regret not having continued my contact with them after I started work in the Embassy.
The people who helped me tremendously during this time
My Russian language teacher, Mr. P, was also a paragon of Russian hospitality, kindness, understanding, and openness. He would often insist on paying for a cup of tea or coffee during our breaks between lessons, although his salary was a pittance.
Unfortunately, I lost contact with Mr. P as well after assuming my post in the Embassy. I regret that to this day as well.
Finally, thanks to Ambassador Kausikan, I had the opportunity to visit a Russian household (my first) and partake of its owner’s hospitality— Mr. O was an old friend of Ambassador Kausikan, an academic whose expertise was China. (He had learnt Mandarin in the 1970s in Nantah, Singapore’s only Chinese language university at the time.)
This kind and gentle individual went to great lengths to provide his two guests with more than enough food and drink. It was a very touching experience for me which I shall never forget.
Top photos courtesy of Chris Cheang
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In stereotypical Asian fashion, Zuo Ming Koh’s family encouraged him to be a lawyer, doctor or teacher. But he did nothing of that sort.Instead, at 30 years old, he is now an Assistant Vice President in GIC’s private equity team in New York.Here is Koh’s story of how he went from a wide-eyed, studious teenager in the little red dot to a private equity investor in the Big Apple.#privateequity #realestate #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/gic-singaporean-interview-new-york/
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In stereotypical Asian fashion, Koh Zuo Ming’s family encouraged him to be a lawyer, doctor or teacher.
But he did nothing of that sort.
Instead, at 30 years old, he is now an Assistant Vice President in GIC's private equity team in New York.
For context, GIC is one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds.
Not too bad at all.
Here's how he went from a wide-eyed, studious teenager in the little red dot to a private equity investor in the Big Apple.
Life-changing phone call
While serving his National Service in 2009, Koh received a call informing him that he had been offered a GIC scholarship.
For the uninitiated, GIC is a fund manager that manages Singapore's foreign reserves on behalf of its client, which is the Singapore government.
The GIC Scholarship Programme, which is open for applications till March 12, 2021, is suitable for individuals who are keen on a career in investment management.
The programme covers tuition and other related fees and allowances and return airfare for overseas studies, and could also cover sponsorship for a Master’s degree and other learning opportunities, subject to approval.
According to Koh, he applied for the scholarship as he wanted to give back to his country through his interest in finance.
He said: “GIC represents an opportunity for me to really contribute to my country’s financial future. That’s a great purpose to have. I'm very interested how the market and the economy work, as well as how business executives make decisions that affect outcomes for investors and other stakeholders.”
While it was welcome news for him, receiving the scholarship wasn't as easy as that.
He recalled the extensive interview process which he initially thought was going to be a "simple, two-round process".
But it was far from simple.
He had to meet various people from GIC who asked copious questions throughout the various interviews.
He said: "I recall thinking to myself at one point, how many people did they want me to meet?” but added that he didn’t mind the many interactions, as “it was very interesting getting to meet more people within the company.”
“I remember being struck by a few things over the various interviews, like they really wanted to know why I was interested in investing and why [I chose] GIC."
Full family support
As the eldest son in the family, he initially hesitated to leave his ageing parents to further his studies and embark on his career abroad.
Luckily for him, he had a supportive family who had his back at all times.
"Personally, [I had] this mental expectation to be with them. But they were very supportive and told me to go ahead because it was a great opportunity for me."
Culture shock
As part of the scholarship, Koh enrolled in Dartmouth College, an Ivy League university in the U.S. where he majored in Economics and Government.
Reflecting on his schooling days in Singapore, he described himself as a fairly serious student who typically had more questions than his peers.
However, being in an American classroom took some getting used to.
"The classes are very interactive. My classmates always had questions for the professors and sometimes would openly challenge the professors in class. I had to get used to thinking on my feet and responding to direct criticisms of the arguments that I was trying to make."
Classroom culture aside, Koh also had to get used to living in Hanover, New Hampshire, a college town of 10,000 residents sans the conveniences he had taken for granted in Singapore.
No midnight prata runs in the U.S.
He said: "Stalls don’t open till late, unlike at home, and I definitely missed the midnight prata runs that I used to do back in Singapore."
Experiencing frigid -20°C temperatures in blustery arctic-like conditions during the winter for the first time was also memorable for someone who was born and raised in tropical Singapore.
“It was something that I could not get used to, really. I was layering up and trying to avoid the outdoors. We would take ‘warm cuts’, where we walk through heated buildings and spend more time walking just to avoid the cold outdoors."
However, being able to enjoy fresh air and outdoor activities like skiing right at his doorstep was a nice trade-off for him.
After four years of college, Koh graduated in 2015 and joined GIC's Professionals Programme (GPP) in Singapore.
GPP is an eight-month programme for fresh graduates that is designed to jumpstart one's career in the world of investing.
The programme includes three rotations around different departments in GIC.
Working in the Big Apple
Koh thought that he was going to start his career in Singapore like most scholars.
That is, until he received a call before graduating from university with an offer to join the Private Equity team in New York.
He took some time to deliberate, however, as he thought of his folks back home in Singapore.
But thanks to the unrelenting support and encouragement from his family, he decided to accept the offer.
"Ultimately I decided that I [was] going to take the offer and I'm very glad I said yes. It's been a really good experience."
Koh spent his first two years in the Direct Investments Group before switching to the Secondaries team in 2018. He has been working in New York for about five years now.
Contributing to Singapore from miles away
Starting off in New York forced him to ramp up on his technical skills, especially as his peers had two to three years of investment banking experience prior to joining GIC.
With the Covid-19 pandemic, Koh also had to get used to working from home.
He lives in a 600 square feet apartment (that's slightly smaller than a 3-room HDB flat) that he shares with his fiancée, who has also been working from home.
However, these challenges are nothing compared to the camaraderie he has built with his colleagues in GIC.
He is also happy that he is able to contribute to his homeland as a proud Singaporean despite being thousands of miles away.
Similar work culture
Having worked with both Singaporeans and New Yorkers, he concluded that the work culture in the two regions is more similar than one might expect.
While he described both as ‘highly collegial, collaborative and intellectual honest’, he also observed that his U.S. colleagues tend to be more direct when voicing their disagreements, as compared to their Singaporean counterparts.
"There's a lot more open disagreement, which is actually healthy for an investment organisation. Of course, that’s not to say that my colleagues in Singapore don’t debate investment ideas, they do all the time as well. It’s just that my U.S. colleagues tend to be more forthright when they disagree. Underpinning these differences, though, is a common aim that we're all trying to get to the best answer, the correct investment decision."
Singapore is home, truly
Koh said that he doesn't get homesick often as he returns to Singapore once or twice a year to visit his family.
However, he hasn't been able to go home for the past year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
To alleviate the homesickness, he would “read Mothership for the latest news and gossip and head to Chinatown [in New York] for nasi lemak”.
Ultimately, you can take a man out of Singapore, but you can't take Singapore out of a man.
Interested in applying for a GIC Scholarship? Visit bit.ly/GICscholar
This sponsored post by GIC has made the writer crave prata and nasi lemak.
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In late 2018, the now 19-year-old Cheri Teo had decided to give the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC) a shot when she was coming to the end of her time at Raffles Girls Secondary School. However, things did not always go smoothly during her time at SYFC.In 2019, Teo had at one point been kicked out of pilot training due to her astigmatism that had crept up past the maximum threshold, and she was sure she would never fly an aircraft again."I felt very helpless because it wasn't something that I could change. It was just my eyes."Thankfully, she managed to graduate from SYFC after being given a second chance & is now on track to be trained as an Air Force pilot with the RSAF.#aviation #airforce #pilots
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singapore-youth-flying-club-cheri-teo/
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Cheri Teo remembers visiting the inaugural Singapore Airshow in 2008 as a six-year-old.
"Back then, I still didn't know what was going on," she says, smiling at the memory, which included other select details such as the fact that her siblings were there with her, that her father had brought them there, and that the big aircraft really left an impression.
Qualified pilot and Air Force-pilot-to-be
Today, Teo is on track to be trained as an Air Force pilot, having passed out from Basic Military Training (BMT) just days before she sat down with Mothership to share about her journey with the Singapore Youth Flying Club (SYFC).
It was an intense year of studying, training, and flying, which ultimately led to her getting a pilot's license at age 17 — before she could even learn how to drive.
It was in fact that very prospect — of being able to pilot a plane before learning how to drive — that helped SYFC appeal to Teo, who recalls that her reaction to that amusing notion was: "dang, that's kinda cool."
Teo says that she decided to give SYFC a shot in late 2018, when she was coming to the end of her time at Raffles Girls School. Teo recalls the gentle influence that her father — a former RSAF officer — had on her decision to sign up with SYFC, over the years.
Whenever they drove past an airport, he would drop casual mentions about it to her, telling her that if she was keen, she could perhaps one day be a pilot.
Joining the SYFC
Teo started out in the first phase of SYFC's Basic Flying Course in November 2018, fresh out of secondary school.
As part of Phase I of the course, Teo was taken up into the skies as a passenger on a training flight (also known as a "sortie").
What's it like to fly?
"From up there, everything really looks so small," says Teo, who still remembers being surprised at how she could see the distinctive shape of Marina Bay Sands, as well as her own house.
That first taste of flight left a lasting impression.
"Once you've tasted flying, it really changes everything, you can't go back. It's really, really fun. You really want to continue flying after that."
Rollercoaster weightlessness
Teo, asked to describe the experience of flying a plane, pauses for a while, thinking, before launching into an effusive spiel about the thrill of lift-off:
"Ooh! There's a very nice feeling I want to describe — it's taking off. Ok when you take off, you have to pull the joystick backwards, right? And the aircraft just lifts off. And it feels like when you're on a rollercoaster and you're at the top of the rollercoaster and there's that 'lifted' feeling, right? You feel that, and it's really really nice."
Similarly, when taking a plane up higher into the sky, Teo describes being pressed into her seat by the g-force, a feeling quite similar to that of being at the bottom of a rollercoaster.
And when the plane is descending sharply, there is a moment of weightlessness, Teo says, where one could drop a pen in the cockpit and watch it float momentarily.
Aircraft becomes an extension of your body
Teo waxes philosophically about two seemingly-paradoxical notions she holds about flying.
On one hand, she says, flying embodies freedom — being able to fly wherever you wish, an experience more like swimming than driving, as the aircraft becomes an extension of one's body, where pilot and plane glide smoothly through the air — albeit within the confines of Singapore's highly-restricted airspace.
On the other hand, being in the pilot's seat is a weighty responsibility, Teo says, explaining that flying is just as much about "confidence, and command and control."
Very different from flying commercial
The massive size of commercial aircraft, Teo says, means that flying on a passenger airline simply incomparable to the experience of flying in the "relatively-mini aircraft" that SYFC participants train in.
Taxiing onto the runway, Teo says, made her feel "quite tiny" in comparison to the other planes at Seletar Airport — much larger private jets.
From the cockpit of the small DA40 plane, "the runway really feels very very vast, very wide," says Teo.
Flying solo for the first time
Teo describes one of her most memorable experiences — her first solo flight — as being "very very nice".
Sitting alone in the cockpit was somewhat nerve-wracking, Teo admits, recalling a stillness and quiet that filled the empty aircraft as she prepared herself for that first solo.
"If anything goes wrong, you're on your own, right?" says Teo, matter-of-factly, before quickly adding: "But nothing ever goes wrong, because they train you well enough."
Teo shares that the lead-up to that first solo flight requires students to repeatedly run through the exact sequence of actions, to the point that during the actual flight, muscle memory takes over.
Furthermore, she says, any remaining nervousness quickly got overwhelmed by excitement.
Biggest fear was not living up to others' expectations
If anything, Teo's toughest struggles were with a different kind of fear — that of not living up to others' expectations.
"I really feel so bad when other people have expectations for me, and I'm unable to live up to those expectations," says Teo.
One wonders if Teo — a high-flier who wrapped up her time in Raffles Girls School with a perfect GPA in seven of her subjects — has much experience with letting anyone down.
Teo, a self-confessed perfectionist, says that it was in SYFC that she realised that perfection is not always attainable.
Faced with the very high standards set by her instructors, Teo's initial response was to be "really harsh on [her]self in making sure [she] never ever disappointed my instructors," a mindset which she soon learned was too idealistic — after all, there was no way to perfect every single sortie, given the dynamic nature of flying.
The roots of this idealistic mindset lay in how Teo had thought that she needed to be good at something before considering it as something she should do.
Therefore, mistakes and failure to meet expectations made her question whether she should even be in the programme.
After discovering that her fellow students were putting similarly unrealistic expectations on themselves, Teo and her batchmates "talked each other out of it", learning instead to "trust the process", and to accept the mistakes that they would inevitably make as part of the process of learning.
This important mindset change, as well as the building up of resilience through the entire process, are among Teo's most cherished lessons from her time at SYFC.
What does it take to become a pilot?
The first solo is a pivotal milestone in the SYFC Flying Course, as flying alone is an opportunity given to a select few students who "demonstrate competence" in Phase II of the course.
Even out of the ones who get to fly solo at the end of Phase II, "only the outstanding ones" are recommended to proceed to the third and final phase.
Teo had committed herself fully to going through the programme, and rode the bus from school to SYFC nearly every day after her classes, despite the fact that she was also in the midst of 'A' Level exam preparations.
Teo does not mince her words as she recalls the biggest challenges she faced: needing to get through thick textbooks which covered concepts that she had never been exposed to before, and being put in high-pressure situations by her instructors, who sought to train their students to be able to respond to any exigencies while in the air, through what Teo describes as "tough love".
Ironically, it was not the rigorous academic and technical demands of the Flying Course that saw Teo nearly getting dropped from the programme.
Rather, it was something quite outside her control.
Nearly getting dropped
In March 2019, at the end of the first phase of the Flying Course, Teo went for a second medical screening to confirm that she could progress to the second phase.
To her surprise, she failed.
This was on account of an issue with her eyesight — specifically, that the degree of her astigmatism had crept up past the maximum threshold.
"I was so sure that I wasn't ever going to step foot into an aircraft ever again," says Teo ruefully.
"I felt very helpless because it wasn't something that I could change. It was just my eyes."
The next two weeks would be the toughest part of her journey, as she grappled with the very real prospect that the past four months of intensive studying and training would be her last experiences with flying.
Teo got through the worst of the emotions with the support of friends in school, only to hear that her medical results had been reconsidered.
She would be given a second chance — provided that she took better care of her eyes from then on.
The experience taught her to appreciate the privilege of being a part of the course, and not to take it for granted.
Team effort
Teo, in a 2018 interview with The New Paper as a finalist of their "New Face" modelling competition, said that her proudest moment in her life till then was getting accepted into SYFC, because of how she'd had to clear a tough entrance interview, and very stringent medical tests.
Today, however, her new proudest moment is not that she has graduated from SYFC, but that she reached the end of the journey together with her peers and instructors.
"I really wouldn't have made it this far without them," she says.
"It's really this... wholesome feeling of the team effort that really helped each individual get to the end point, which is the attainment of the Private Pilot's License."
With mild amusement at herself, Teo says, "I'm trying not to make it sound cheesy, but that's really how it is."
It's clear that Teo is well-connected in SYFC after spending so many days there over the course of that one year, and she greets each person she encounters with a cheery smile.
At one point, a SYFC staff member briefly interrupts us as he needs to get a photo of the interview location for an unrelated matter, and Teo jokingly tells him that she wants to be in the photo, striking a pose with both hands in the air, before moving out of the way obligingly.
Observing the easy rapport that Teo has with all of the SYFC staff we encounter that day, it's no wonder that Teo has so much to say about the camaraderie that she experienced during the course, something she considers much more important than her own personal achievement.
Teo also acknowledges the important role that her parents played, by providing emotional support and the occasional ride home, among other little things.
For example, after a visualisation exercise in her room, which SYFC trainees call "mental flying", Teo opened her eyes and found a plate of cut fruits that had been prepared by them.
Who should join SYFC?
Teo recommends SYFC to "everyone", even those who don't already have an interest in aviation, as one's interest in the field can grow along the way.
And Teo has a special message for females, in particular, explaining that while there are more males than females among SYFC's students, her own experience was that students and instructors alike saw her as equal, and did not give her (nor her male classmates) special treatment on account of gender.
"To any of the female youths in Singapore who are considering flying... I think they should just go for it."
After all, Teo says, "the aircraft doesn't recognise whether you're female or male, they just recognise that you're a pilot."
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
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A travel bubble between Singapore and Australia could be set up by July this year, Australian deputy prime minister Michael McCormack confirmed on Sunday (Mar. 14).Under this plan, Singaporeans who have been vaccinated will be able to travel to Australia without needing to undergo a two-week quarantine at a hotel.Australians travelling to Singapore will not require permission from their local home affairs authorities as well, if they have been vaccinated.In a statement shared on Mar. 14, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that Singapore is in discussion with Australia on how to cooperate in opening their economies safely.#travel #australia #singapore #travelbubble
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/singapore-australia-travel-bubble/
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A travel bubble between Singapore and Australia could be set up by July this year, Australian deputy prime minister Michael McCormack confirmed with ABC News on Sunday (Mar. 14).
Plans for Singapore-Australia travel bubble by July
Under this plan, Singaporeans who have been vaccinated will be able to travel to Australia without needing to undergo a two-week quarantine at a hotel, reported The Guardian.
Australians travelling to Singapore will not require permission from their local home affairs authorities as well, if they have been vaccinated.
It could also be possible for people from other countries to enter Australia via Singapore after they have completed their quarantine period in Singapore as well.
Australian trade minister Dan Tehan confirmed with a number of Australian news sources including The Age that he had held discussions with his Singaporean counterpart, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.
"Singapore [is] very keen to work with Australia on a proof of vaccination certificate and we agreed our officials should work together on this," Tehan said.
He added that he is scheduled to visit Singapore soon, and the travel bubble will be a "key topic of discussion" during the visit.
MFA confirms discussions on possibility of air travel bubble with Australia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement shared on Mar. 14 that Singapore is in discussion with Australia on how to cooperate in opening their economies safely.
As both countries have been able to control the pandemic thus far, Singapore and Australia are in discussion on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates and resumption of travel, with priority for students and business travellers.
An air travel bubble allowing for residents of Singapore and Australia to travel between the two countries without the need for quarantine is also in the talks.
MFA noted that Singapore is not in discussion with Australia on the concept of a quarantine centre or vaccination hub, and Australian nationals can transit via Singapore without quarantining to return home if they travel on approved transit routes and comply with Singapore's public health protocols while in transit.
New Zealand could be involved in potential three-way travel bubble
New Zealand could also be involved in a potential three-way travel bubble, which Australia is hopeful to set up by July or August, before the country opens its borders internationally from October onward, reported Melbourne daily newspaper The Age.
While New Zealanders can currently travel to Australia without undergoing quarantine, New Zealand has yet to reciprocate.
Since late last year, Singapore has lifted border restrictions for visitors from Australia, provided they obtain an Air Travel Pass prior to arrival in Singapore, and test negative upon their arrival.
May be able to open international borders for safe travel by end of this year: PM Lee
In an interview with BBC, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared his hopes for the doors to international travel to open by the end of this year or next year, if many countries can have a substantial portion of their population vaccinated by this year.
However, he noted that travel will be very different from what it looked like before, with more planning and documentation required for individuals.
PM Lee also mentioned the need for the traveller to prove that they have been vaccinated.
"It will be very surprising if we do not have some mechanism to show that somebody is safe to travel," he said, noting that internationally-recognised vaccination certificates could make a comeback in this climate, which were used back when there were other viral outbreaks such as smallpox and cholera in the past.
Read more:
Top image via Unsplash
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Going on a date with someone, there are always two possible outcomes. The first is to decide "I like this person enough to go on another date," which may then lead to yet another date, and so on.Otherwise, you decide the person isn't for you and that you probably don't want to see them again.From an off-the-cuff comment, to different taste in movies, and even a hairstyle that didn't feel right, here are 12 authentic moments when Singaporeans realised their date just wasn’t the one for them.#love #onlinedating #dating
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/love-island-singapore-no-thanks/
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In our brand new series — Love Island Singapore — Mothership brings you on an exploration of different aspects of love as it is expressed and felt by folks on our sunny island.
You will find authentic anecdotes of love and relationships, as told to our writers by Singaporeans.
This month, in the second story of our series, we bring you 12 anecdotes about the moment Singaporeans decided "thanks, but no thanks".
Going on a date with someone, there are always two possible outcomes.
The first is to decide "I like this person enough to go on another date," which may then lead to yet another date, and so on.
Otherwise, you decide the person isn't for you and that you probably don't want to see them again.
In the stories you're about to read, it seems clear that the second outcome is often decided in a split second.
One moment is all that is required for our brains — and perhaps our hearts — to figure out that this person isn't for us.
From an off-the-cuff comment, to different taste in movies, and even a hairstyle that didn't feel right, here are 12 authentic moments that might seem arbitrary, but were so decisive for those involved.
Dirty talk
As told to Mothership by "Kate"
It was the second date and we grabbed dinner at Collin’s at Cineleisure. After getting seated and ordering I had to go to the toilet, so I excused myself.
Once I got back the first thing he said was, “how’s the shit?”
I was a bit taken back. “Err, it wasn’t a shit,” I told him.
“Don’t lie, it’s okay if it was,” he replied.
Yeah, just a weird and uncomfortable experience.
Nothing special
As told to Mothership by "Emily"
I matched with this guy on a dating app a few years ago, but despite chatting a bit here and there we never connected or went on a date.
Fast forward two years, and we matched again on a different app. Finally we decided to actually meet.
When I saw him in person, my first thought was that he looked a little different from his pictures, but it wasn’t that big a deal to me I guess.
It really went downhill when I asked him if he’d been on a date recently.
He said “yeah last night.”
I know it's really lame considering how online dating is, but somehow suddenly I felt not very special anymore.
A mass departure of interest
As told to Mothership by "John"
We decided to go watch a movie, but hadn’t decided which one.
Once we looked at the movie timings, I was pretty keen on watching “Interstellar”, the Christopher Nolan masterpiece.
But she was adamant about watching the new Christian Bale movie “Exodus: Gods and Kings”.
Even though it had gotten abysmal ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, I was a gentleman and I gave in.
We went on a few more dates after that, but the relationship never really recovered.
Profit and loss
As told to Mothership by "Shirley"
Basically, I was on a date with this guy who works in the finance sector. More specifically, in a bank.
Pretty early on, it became clear that he was everything you would associate with a corporate sellout.
The real game-over moment was when he kept talking trash about the company that I worked for, which was in a completely different industry from the one he was in.
He was acting like he was an expert in my job and essentially saying that it wasn’t right for people in my industry to profit off our work.
I was just thinking: “Hello!! Who are you to talk about profit when you work in a bank!”
Sobering thoughts
As told to Mothership by "Desmond"
It was the second date I was going on with this girl.
The first went quite alright actually; we had a quite a good time bar hopping.
This time we decided to have a sober experience, so we went to a museum and then grabbed some dinner.
Somehow the second time around, I wasn’t really feeling the vibe.
Halfway through dinner — that’s when it really hit me.
She was going on and on about her job and I couldn’t help but think how uninteresting it all was to me.
Sweet girl, but it just wasn’t going to work.
Thanks, but no thanks.
A quiet place
As told to Mothership by "David"
We bought tickets to go watch a movie that was showing two hours later, and so we went to find somewhere to sit down and chill.
I thought it’d be a good time to get to know him better so I tried initiating a conversation but only got one-word replies.
And when I wasn’t saying anything, it was just silence.
Eventually I just gave up and started using my phone. We pretty much just sat in silence for two freaking hours.
After the movie, I made up an excuse and promptly left.
I didn’t think I’d ever hear from him again since the whole experience was so awkward. But afterwards he texted me.
“Please give me another chance. I was too shy,” he wrote.
In my heart I was like “I am so sorry, I can’t.”
Bleeding hearts
As told to Mothership by "Farid"
I met this girl one night when I went out drinking with my friends.
She knew someone in the group and hung out with us.
We seemed to hit it off and so we exchanged numbers and started texting back and forth over a few days, flirting and all.
Then all of a sudden she sent me a voice note.
At first I was kinda excited to listen to it, but soon it got weird.
She asked me if I would be willing to cut myself for her, like with a razor.
Suffice to say I wasn’t willing.
The top knot
As told to Mothership by "Cheryl"
We matched on a dating app and he seemed pretty decent actually, so after a week or so of texting back and forth, we agreed to go on a date.
I remember he showed up in a pretty hypebeast kinda getup and a baseball cap.
Dinner was going alright — the conversation wasn’t too bad, like it wasn’t awkward or anything.
But then at one point he lifted his cap to, I dunno, scratch his head or something.
Beneath it was a top knot; like he had the shaved-back-and-sides-with-the-man-bun-on-top kinda hair.
I’m sorry but I just couldn’t handle it.
In the dark
As told to Mothership by "Jessica"
I was on a date with a guy to watch the Thai film “The Con-heartist” and we were trying to find our seats, with the movie already starting.
Because it was dark I struggled a little bit, and stumbled over the legs of some of the other movie-goers.
Obviously, just being polite, I apologised to them: “Oops sorry, sorry. I couldn’t see.”
When we were finally seated, my date turned to me and he was like, “you couldn’t see cause they’re Indians right?”
Mad turn-off.
Tips on how to combat the heat
As told to Mothership by "Tiffany"
So I met up with this dude after talking on a dating app for about a week.
He was polite, and the conversation was interesting enough, so I thought I’d meet him in real life to see if we would hit it off.
Due to our mutual interest in politics, we ended up talking about various issues that were widely reported during that time, like Trump and the U.S. elections.
I learned that we had vastly-differing political views, which is alright, but I must admit that my enthusiasm really dropped by quite a bit.
However, I think the worst part was really later on in the date.
While he had started off asking a few questions here and there, it wasn’t long before he dropped all pretence that he was interested to hear what I thought.
In fact he kept talking for almost two hours, without asking me anything.
Maybe if I found what he was talking about remotely interesting, I would have gladly given him more of my time. But he was talking about things I found quite mundane — like the fact that he wears a Uniqlo undershirt to combat the Singapore heat.
It was quite torturous simply sitting there.
International connections
As told to Mothership by "Henry"
The moment I realised she wasn't for me was when a foreign guy showed up to our date and joined in.
At least I thought it was a date, but she evidently saw it as more of a get-together to meet more than one guy.
Anyways we got to talking and I realised that the foreign guy was a tourist and had many interesting stories to tell of his travels around South Korea and the Philippines
In the end, I asked for his number because I wanted to keep in touch with him.
Too much, too fast
As told to Mothership by "Daphne"
We met at a New Year’s Eve countdown party when I was pretty tipsy.
He asked for my number, and I thought “why not?”
Eventually after talking for a bit, he asked me out and on the day of the date he picked me up on his motorbike.
The whole time we were on the road I was so scared; he was driving so fast!
I couldn’t help but imagine myself falling and scraping my skin on the road.
Before we even got to our destination, I was already questioning why I even agreed to this date.
It also made me realise that I hate motorbikes.
This was the second story in our series Love Island Singapore. Read the first story — on the feeling of relief while navigating the initial stages of online dating — here.
If you would like to share a story about love or relationships, write in to us at [email protected] with the subject line “Love Island Singapore”.
Top image made from a photo by Onesave/day via Unsplash
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If you’ve shopped at your neighbourhood supermarket, chances are you’d have seen household brands like Seng Choon Farm Fresh Eggs or Kok Fah Baby Spinach.But given that Singapore imports over 90 per cent of our produce, it might then come as a surprise that these brands are homegrown.Today, there are some 220 licensed farms, that sell everything from vegetables, mushrooms, and eggs, to goat’s milk in Singapore.For those keen on getting your produce straight from its source, here are seven local farms you must check out.Singapore Food Agency #agricultureandfarming #food #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/fresh-produce-local-farms-sfa/
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If you’ve shopped at your neighbourhood supermarket, chances are you’d have seen household brands like Seng Choon Farm Fresh Eggs or Kok Fah Baby Spinach.
But given that Singapore imports over 90 per cent of our produce, it might then come as a surprise that these brands are homegrown.
Producing food locally is important – so we have enough food for 5.7 million people, and sufficient food supply for a rainy day.
Today, there are some 220 licensed farms, that sell everything from vegetables, mushrooms, and eggs, to goat’s milk in Singapore.
For those keen on getting your produce straight from its source, here are some local farms you must check out:
1) Apollo Aquaculture Group (Fish/Seafood Farm)
The Apollo Aquaculture Group began as an ornamental fish business in 1972.
It then diversified into farming seafood, including fish and crustaceans such as groupers, coral trouts and shrimps.
By incorporating modern vertical aquaculture technology, the farm maximises land and water resources, and is less reliant on manpower to farm its fishes.
This in turn reduces its impact on the environment, and promotes sustainability and environmental stewardship.
How to order: Online, via the farm’s retail shop (address: 24 Seletar West Farmway 2, Singapore 798101), or at major supermarkets.
2) ComCrop (Vegetable Farm)
ComCrop is Singapore’s first commercial rooftop vegetable farm.
Growing food on unused rooftops near where communities live and employing people who live in that neighbourhood reduces food miles and production cost.
By relying on advanced hydroponic technology, ComCrop uses 90 per cent less water than traditional farming, and grows fresh produce in a more environmentally sustainable manner.
How to order: Sold at major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice Finest, and e-SG Farmers’ Market on Lazada Redmart.
3) Kok Fah Technology Farm (Vegetable Farm)
Kok Fah Technology Farm (KFTF) is a family-owned business, currently run by second generation owners.
The local farm produces the leafy greens we all know and love, such as Baby Kailan and Butterhead Lettuce.
By adopting the latest technologies, its fresh vegetables are grown in a more efficient manner.
Because it’s a local product, it takes a shorter time to reach the consumer (from the farm to your local supermarket), which in turn helps the environment by reducing the carbon footprint.
How to order: Via their weekend market at the farm (9am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays), or major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Hao Mart and e-SG Farmers’ Market on Lazada Redmart.
4) Kin Yan (Mushroom Farm)
While primarily producing mushrooms, Kin Yan also grows fresh edible cactuses, aloe vera, rosella, winter melons and various types of leafy vegetables.
As the largest mushroom and wheatgrass commercial farm in Singapore, it sells its products to a number of clients you may have heard of – from Tung Lok Restaurants to Hockhua Tonic.
The farm is pesticide-free, to ensure that produce grown is safe for the environment and for consumption.
How to order: Sold at major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Giant, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong, and e-SG Farmers Market on Lazada Redmart.
5) Seng Choon (Egg Farm)
If the name doesn’t ring a bell, its trademark logo of two fingers pinching an egg yolk might.
Seng Choon is one of the pioneers providing lower cholesterol, “Farm Fresh” eggs in Singapore, with a history that dates back to the 1980s.
By relying on automated feed mills and high-tech quality control systems, Seng Choon upholds the safety, quality, and freshness of their eggs.
With a highly systematic system, it takes less than a day from the time a Seng Choon egg is laid, to the moment it lands on a supermarket shelf for sale.
How to order: Sold at major supermarkets such as Cold Storage, NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong, and e-SG Farmers Market on Lazada Redmart.
6) Bean Farm Pte Ltd (Beansprout Farm)
If you’re a fan of the bean sprout’s crunchy texture, Bean Farm Pte Ltd is one of the few farms in Singapore to produce it.
The farm has been around since 1994, and offers a range of bean sprouts – from Sakura to Mung Bean – all packed with loads of protein and fiber.
The bean sprouts are also freshly packed and delivered on a daily basis.
How to order: Sold at major supermarkets such as NTUC FairPrice, Prime Supermarket, Sheng Siong, and e-SG Farmers Market on Lazada Redmart.
7) Hay Dairies (Goat Milk Farm)
Low in lactose, goat’s milk is a good alternative for those who might be lactose intolerant.
With more than 800 goats from Minnesota, United States, Hay Dairies is the only goat farm in Singapore to produce all-natural, gluten-free goat’s milk since 1988.
The fresh milk is available in two sizes (200ml or 800ml) and in two flavours (original or chocolate).
How to order: Online, or sold at major supermarkets such as Cold Storage, and Prime Supermarket.
The easiest way to support our local farms and local production is to choose local.
Show your support for our local farms by purchasing their products from any of the major supermarkets islandwide.
For even greater convenience, you can opt to shop at the new FairPrice Xtra at Parkway Parade, with dedicated sections for everyday local produce, or if online, via Sheng Siong and Prime Supermarket, which have dedicated categories for local produce on their website.
Each local product can easily be identified with the SG Fresh Produce (SGFP) logo.
For more information, you can also check out this comprehensive list of local farms in Singapore.
The writer of this sponsored article for the Singapore Food Agency looks forward to shopping for fresh produce from her local supermarket.
Top image via the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment
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More good news for those hungry to travel again. France announced on Mar. 11 that it would be relaxing travel rules for seven countries, including Singapore.This means that individuals will no longer need to have a "compelling reason" to travel to or from "Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the United Kingdom”.However, a negative Covid-19 PCR test would be needed, taken less than 72 hours before departure.#travel #travelandtourism #france
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/france-eases-travel-restrictions/
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More good news for those hungry to travel again: France announced yesterday (Mar. 11) that it would be relaxing travel rules for seven countries, including Singapore.
This means that individuals will no longer need to have a "compelling reason" to travel to or from "Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea or the United Kingdom".
What changed
France had earlier banned all travel outside the EU without an essential reason, in efforts to curb rapidly worsening Covid-19 numbers.
According to France24, French Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne announced that the recent easing was due to the improving health situation in the seven countries.
However, travellers arriving in France from the seven countries would still have to present a negative Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, taken less than 72 hours before departure.
Travellers were also strongly advised to still track the travel advice website and limit international travel as much as possible.
The French foreign ministry added that it would extend the list of compelling, personal reasons to include all family relations, and will allow couples to reunite and children to return to school.
Templates for the exceptional international travel declarations would be updated accordingly.
Travel to resume soon?
International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief, Alexandre de Juniac, also made waves yesterday (Mar. 11) when he made a prediction that holiday-deprived people could possibly start flying again from May or June 2021.
Iata said that it planned to work with 33 states and territories around the world on border reopening and international flights, to address the pent-up demand for air travel.
It currently has 290 global carrier members, including French national carrier Air France, and represents 82 per cent of global traffic.
Top image via Unsplash
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"You have lived most of your life in a Housing Board flat and attended a neighbourhood primary and secondary school.I hope that you have internalised that the measure of a person is not from where they stay, the schools they have attended, but in the relationships that one has nurtured."As part of Mothership.sg's new series Lessons on Leadership, we invited business leaders in Singapore to contribute their insights and perspectives into life, work, management and running a business.We begin with Abel Ang, chief executive of Advanced MedTech, and an adjunct associate professor at the Nanyang Business School.He pens a poignant letter to his 18-year-old son, reflecting on his experiences and lessons learned in raising him like how he managed his business.#business #leadership #familyandrelationships
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/ceo-tiger-dad-parenting/
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COMMENTARY: "I started to accept you for who you are, and less for the grades and achievements that you were bringing home."
Writing for Lessons on Leadership, a new series hoping to inspire the next generation of Singaporeans through the stories of Singapore’s many successful business leaders and entrepreneurs, Abel Ang pens a letter to his 18-year-old son, giving him three pieces of advice.
In this letter, he shares his experiences on parenting, and how his relationship with his son improved after he was reminded that raising a kid is very different from managing a business.
Abel Ang is the chief executive of a medical technology company and an adjunct associate professor at Nanyang Business School.
Dear Son,
I never had the chance to receive such a letter from my father, who passed away when I was seven. If you had not gone to polytechnic, you would be enlisting for National Service in the next few weeks, like many of your peers.
Flawed father
At your age, 18, I was filled with an inexplicable fear of fatherhood. With no dad to model myself on, one of my lifelong fears was that I would be a bad father.
Your mom and I married with no plans for children, but as the pioneer and experimenter of the family you later proved to be, you managed to break through our resolve.
Your arrival came as a surprise to us, two years into the marriage, bringing great joy to all, but trepidation for me - given my fatherhood phobia.
You were the pick-up-and-go baby - born in Germany, but by the time you were one, we were already living in the U.S., and you had been schlepped to visit friends and relatives all over Europe, Singapore, and Malaysia. I remember flight crews calling you the frequent-flier infant.
Over the years, work has taken me away from home frequently. The worst assignment required me to do a 15,000 km commute every two weeks between my team in the U.S., and the family in Singapore.
To compensate for frequent absences, I became a “Tiger Dad” pushing you into enrichment programmes and buying armfuls of assessment papers for you to do.
My way of spending time with you was to shadow you during enrichment activities. When you fell short of my expectations, I would lose my temper at you. For that, I am sorry.
Raising a child is not like managing a business
After picking up the pieces and consoling you, your mom would remind me that raising a child is not like managing a business. She patiently explained that the carrots and sticks approach used in a corporate environment, did not work at home. The obvious example being that, unlike in business, you cannot fire your kids.
She helped me see that although I was trying to be a present and engaged father, I was actually choking our relationship. You started to behave awkwardly around me, and became withdrawn, a change from your usual outgoing and warm self.
There was no drastic rapprochement, but eventually you and I were able to spend time together comfortably.
Tempering my “Tiger Dad” compulsions helped, as I started to accept you for who you are, and less for the grades and achievements that you were bringing home.
Strong family bonds to mitigate my flaws
The intergenerational bonds on both sides of the family also soothed our relationship. While both your grandfathers are no longer with us, your two grandmothers have been ever present.
Your paternal grandmother, who lives close by, watched you after school during your primary school years and still pops in daily to check on you.
Your maternal grandma, who lives in Kuala Lumpur, would visit us several times a year, and regale you with her made up stories of brave heroes saving damsels in distress during lazy afternoons together.
How your towering 183cm frame now envelopes your petite grandmas when you give them bear hugs never fails to bring a grin to my face.
Going on regional holidays with the grannies in tow proved to be logistical nightmares, but well worth the effort, because the trips helped you to see yourself as part of a larger family tribe.
Having a strong family has helped minimise the damage caused by my fathering flaws.
I hope that you will similarly build your own intergenerational family when the time comes for you to have children of your own.
Finances and friends
You have lived most of your life in a Housing Board flat and attended a neighbourhood primary and secondary school.
I hope that you have internalised that the measure of a person is not from where they stay, the schools they have attended, but in the relationships that one has nurtured.
My best memories of time spent with you are not from exotic holidays like diving in the waters of Sipadan, Malaysia; or angling for Halibut in Alaska. Instead, I treasure the times we have just bummed around as a family in Singapore on staycations and explored our home turf as tourists, something that a lot of people have discovered to be a joy during the pandemic.
Since you were a child, we have been hosting people for Saturday dinners. During these gatherings you have chatted with an eclectic cast of overseas guests, professional dancers, tech founders and clinician innovators over the years.
You were never allowed to retreat into a device because you were expected to actively participate in the conversation at the table, in addition to serving our guests during the meal.
Each conversation has allowed our friends to start a relationship with you, and make a small deposit in your development.
I hope that in your adult years, you too will live simply, but be rich in meaningful relationships.
First job and last words
It is my hope that in your first job after school, you will spend a few years serving your country in some capacity, in addition to your National Service obligation, which will start next year.
As the eldest child, it is our family’s way of giving back to the country which has given us so much. Don’t ever forget that your paternal grandfather and great-grandmother arrived from China with nothing. Of the six siblings, your grandfather was the only one that was born in China and made the trip on the boat to Singapore. The rest of his siblings were born here.
One of the few things I remember about my own father is how he saw his service as a primary school teacher as a natural expression of gratitude for the progress that the family had made.
A the first born myself too, I too served in government for years, before leaving to explore my destiny.
When I told you that I was writing this letter, your response was “huh, why”? Your reaction reminded me of Mary Schmich’s essay in the Chicago Times on June 1, 1997, entitled: “Advice, like youth, is probably just wasted on the young”.
The essay was subsequently the basis of a popular spoken word song, "Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)", in 1997.
Do listen to the song as it has timeless life lessons such as: “Be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone” and “don’t waste your time on jealousy; sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself”.
I end this letter with important advice from the song – wear sunscreen son, you will thank me in 30 years, when you are my age, and have spots of sun damage on your face.
Loving you dearly,
Pa
Top photo courtesy of contributor.
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Grab Holdings announced on Tuesday (Apr. 13) that they intend to go public in the U.S.This will be in partnership with Altimeter Growth Corp in what is expected to be the "largest-ever U.S. equity offering by a Southeast Asian company", a statement said.The deal values Grab at US$39.6 billion (S$53.5 billion), and is expected to raise approximately US$4.5 billion in cash for the company.Grab's statement said that out of the US$4.5 billion, US$4 billion is from a group of investors including BlackRock and Singapore state fund Temasek."Grab’s decision to become a public company was driven by strong financial performance in 2020, despite Covid-19," Brad Gerstner, founder and CEO of Altimeter, said.#fintech #growth #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/04/grab-list-in-us-spac/
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Grab Holdings announced on Tuesday (Apr. 13) that they intend to go public in the U.S.
This will be in partnership with Altimeter Growth Corp in what is expected to be the "largest-ever U.S. equity offering by a Southeast Asian company", a statement said.
Raise $4.5 billion for Grab
The deal values Grab at US$39.6 billion (S$53.5 billion), and is expected to raise approximately US$4.5 billion in cash for the company.
Grab's statement said that out of the US$4.5 billion, US$4 billion is from a group of investors including BlackRock and Singapore state fund Temasek Holdings.
Nikkei Asia reported that Grab had a net revenue of US$1.19 billion in 2020 up from US$455 million in 2019. They reported a net loss of US$2.7 billion in 2020, compared to US$4 billion loss in 2019.
"Grab’s decision to become a public company was driven by strong financial performance in 2020, despite Covid-19," Brad Gerstner, founder and CEO of Altimeter, said.
SPAC merger
According to Bloomberg, this deal would make the Singapore-based startup the first "Southeast Asian tech unicorn to go public through a SPAC and give it funds to expand".
SPACs are "blank-cheque" companies, and goes public with the intent of acquiring a private company.
The merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) will also provide a faster route to the stock market as compared to a more conventional initial public offering.
IPOs typically involve a lengthier process of roadshows and extended negotiations with multiple investors, which are time-consuming and expensive.
Top photo via Grab.
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The new Milo kiosk at Machida station in Tokyo sells Milo drinks with added fruit, such as banana or kiwi mixed with pineapple.These cost JPY300 (S$3.72) per cup while a cup of original Nestlé Milo is priced at JPY200 (S$2.48).Nestlé #beverages #japan #food
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/japanese-milo/
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The Japanese people love the chocolatey malted drink Milo and they cannot lie.
A tweet on March 6 showing a new Milo kiosk opening in Machida station in Tokyo exploded with 50,000 retweets.
The tweet by @TonanLeopard showed a cup of original Nestlé Milo priced at JPY200 (S$2.48).
The kiosk also sells Milo drinks with added fruit, such as banana or kiwi mixed with pineapple -- which is very strange, but also very Japanese.
These cost JPY300 (S$3.72) per cup.
Dalgona coffee, on the other hand, which is sold for JPY180 (S$2.23) per cup at the same kiosk, is cheaper than Milo.
This underlines the premium that the Japanese have placed on Milo.
However, the Milo stall in Machida station will only be serving from March 6 to April 30.
Another shop, Nescafé Harajuku in Shibuya, will also be serving Milo for a limited period of time.
Japanese go Milo crazy
The Japanese are consuming Milo by the buckets, most likely due to pent-up demand.
The country has had zero supply of Milo since December 2020.
The low supply was due to the intense popularity of the drink almost overnight, which wiped out shelves.
Starting from July 2020, demand for Milo surged 700 per cent as a result of tweets promoting its health benefits.
Some on Twitter even claimed the drink helped them feel less fatigued, improve bladder health, and control hunger pangs, among other things.
By Dec. 10, 2020, Milo ran out of stock nationwide.
Milo powder even ended up on the black market, resold for few hundred times the price.
Nestlé Japan had to procure raw materials from Singapore in order to meet the demand with sales of the drink suspended until March 1.
For three months, the Japanese lived without Milo in their lives -- except for those who stashed some away.
Milo back
The Japanese can now get Milo at most places.
The 240g bags and five-stick sachets of Milo is now on sale in Japan.
The larger 700g bags are only available in some stores.
Anything bigger is not available.
All photos via
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Murugesan Balamurali, 28, was a champion bodybuilder back in his hometown in India. When he arrived in Singapore for work, he was determined to pursue his passion while spreading health and fitness awareness to his fellow migrant workers.In 2015, Murugesan even started a bodybuilding club with 10 other workers, teaching them proper techniques for building muscle, how to plan their diets, and of course, how to complete the seven compulsory poses required during competitions.Now, he is training with the ultimate goal of becoming Singapore’s “Champions of Champions”."My dream… is I want to be unique. I want to look different among the people, not just in my hometown but everywhere I want to look unique. That’s why I choose bodybuilding.”#fitness #health #training
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/murugesan-bodybuilder-migrant-worker/
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On Apr. 22, 2020, when the Ministry of Health (MOH) gazetted Homestay Lodge as an isolation area, a sense of unease blanketed the migrant worker dormitory.
More and more cases were being linked to the cluster at the Homestay Lodge each day, which was declared as a cluster on Apr. 18 with eight cases.
Within a week, another 92 cases were linked to the dormitory in Kaki Bukit.
Its residents worried for their health, the future of their jobs, and the loss of their freedom.
For Murugesan Balamurali, who had lived at Homestay Lodge since coming here from India in 2014, being confined to his room also meant he would be kept away from what he saw as his second home here in Singapore — the dormitory’s gym.
Murugesan is also an avid competitive bodybuilder, and had poured in hours of his time after work into his pursuit of becoming the “champion of champions”.
"During the Covid situation, the gym was closed and I felt very sad,” he told me.
But the 28-year-old air-con technician kept his spirits up with exercises in his room, working out with dumbbells, resistance bands, and body weight exercises like push-ups.
It wasn’t a perfect solution, but he made do.
He also took to creating videos for his fellow residents, showing them how they, too, could exercise without equipment.
The videos were disseminated through a WhatsApp group, which Murugesan also used to send motivational messages and memes as encouragement to the members at a time of uncertainty and growing restlessness.
It was yet another example of the positive impact that bodybuilding had on him, and the ones around him.
A dream to be unique
Murugesan first entered a gym as a skinny 13-year-old in his home town of Ramamthapuram, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
“I was just following my friends,” he said.
Over the years, he became a regular gym user, interested primarily in keeping fit.
But by the time he was 19, Murugesan had developed an obsession with lifting weights and sculpting his physique.
“My dream... is I want to be unique. I want to look different among the people, not just in my hometown but everywhere I want to look unique.”
“That’s why I choose bodybuilding,” he said.
That determination eventually saw Murugesan win two state-level bodybuilding competitions in 2012 and 2013, having attained a body that would turn a Greek god green with envy.
His hard work also earned the budding athlete the nickname of Little Ronnie, after his hero the American bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman.
Leaving his hometown for a new experience
When he turned 22, Murugesan, like many young men from South Asia, decided to leave his home and travel to Singapore to find work.
“I wanted a new experience. (In India) always I stayed my home only, I couldn't go anywhere also.”
While most migrant workers arrive at Kaki Bukit’s Homestay Lodge anxious to settle work-related matters, Murugesan couldn’t help but fixate on finding a spot to work out.
He remembered how on his first day in Singapore, he’d gone to “jalan jalan outside to find a gym”.
Unable to find one nearby, he asked around the dormitory only to be informed that he wouldn’t have to go very far; Homestay Lodge had its very own gym.
“I (was) really happy. I could continue my bodybuilding, I (was) really confident already,” he said laughing.
Six days a week
Despite working long hours, Murugesan told me that he hits the gym six days a week.
He’ll spend each day concentrating on building a different part of his body; his favourite day is Wednesday, when he works on his shoulders.
A workout typically lasts up to one and half hours, varying according to how fatigued the air-con technician is from work.
However, no matter how tired he may be, Murugesan sticks to his schedule, even if it's only for a short 30-minute session.
“My day is complete (only when I get to go to) the gym. Not coming, I feel very sad.”
However, lifting weights is only one part of bodybuilding.
Another important part, said Murugesan, is diet.
To ensure his body has the right nutrition to pack on muscle, Murugesan adheres to a strict protein-rich meal plan; “Bodybuilding is an expensive sport,” he quipped.
Starting a bodybuilding club in his dorm
In 2015, a year after arriving in Singapore, Murugesan, whose physique naturally commanded authority in the gym, began to notice that other workers were also interested in bodybuilding.
Why not start a bodybuilding club, he thought.
“I go ask the [dorm] management, to discuss about this bodybuilding [club]. They supported it.”
Before long, the club started with Murugesan and 10 other workers as its first members.
Murugesan set about teaching them proper techniques for building muscle, how to plan their diets, and of course, how to complete the seven compulsory poses required during competitions.
The group trained with a view towards taking part in an internal competition that would be held as a segment of Homestay Lodge’s quarterly variety show — a highly-anticipated event among residents.
The dorm’s management brought in judges and awarded trophies to the winners, and the competition went on to became a mainstay of the dorm’s quarterly celebrations.
In the week following their inaugural showing, Murugesan’s club found itself inundated with new members inspired to take up a new hobby.
“Even though our internal competition doesn’t necessarily give them a lot of exposure, I think performing in front of a few hundred of their own residents really spurs them on,” said Homestay Lodge manager Mohamed Fuad.
By all accounts, the event is a boisterous affair, popular with the residents at Homestay Lodge.
“They get very noisy,” chuckled Fuad.
“You’ll know who are the crowd favourites.”
Building bodies and discipline
The bodybuilding club's shift onto WhatsApp during the Circuit Breaker period was just one example of how the club had a positive influence for the workers.
“Here, so many people after work are wasting their time. They’re drinking outside, or always fighting.”
“You have free time, you give problems only,” he said, before breaking into laughter.
But Murugesan sees the gym as a place where workers can come to develop themselves, not just physically but in more holistic terms as well.
It offers a community and an opportunity for the workers to learn something new, and uncover previously-unknown capabilities.
“For me the bodybuilding, builds muscles [but also] your self-confidence and good health,” said Murugesan.
“So far my friends, [I’ve seen them] change their habits [and build] discipline.”
“Most of the residents here, they work long hours,” dorm manager Fuad told me.
“So, the fact that they are so dedicated, that they still find the time to train and all, I find that quite impressive.”
Fuad believes the club has helped its members by giving them an outlet for simmering frustrations, concerns, and anxieties.
A supportive community
It also seems to have created a brotherhood and support network among its members — the club’s founder included.
Throughout our interview, as Murugesan and I struggled to overcome a language barrier, the bodybuilder was understandably brief with his responses.
However, he was most articulate when speaking about his close friend and club member Veluchamy Muniapparaj — or Raj for short — a dormitory executive whose role at Homestay Lodge involves monitoring daily operations and looking after residents’ welfare.
After I’d posed my last questions, and as we wrapped up the interview, Murugesan asked me if he could say one more thing:
“When I came to Singapore, my salary was very low. Bodybuilding is an expensive game; I had no money. That’s why [Raj] sponsored me — my chicken, my protein. That’s why I want to continue here. If he’s no more here, I will be no more here too.”
Becoming the "champion of champions"
Homestay Lodge’s gym had just reopened in the week prior to my meeting with Murugesan.
Due in part to the real risk of virus transmission through the shared equipment, it had been the last of the dormitory’s facilities to reopen,
“I feel very happy. I want to refresh,” Murugesan said.
“Refresh to build my body.”
I watched as Murugesan went through a gamut of exercises to warm up his muscles, before removing the long sleeved sweater he’d been wearing for the duration of our interview.
It was a Wednesday — his favourite day of the week — and he moved around the gym with purpose, methodically targeting different sections of his shoulder muscles with a variety of exercises — shoulder press, front raises, and lateral raises, just to name a few.
While he worked out, the other gym goers paused, almost as if in deference, and with a hint of awe.
Many took out their phones to film Murugesan in action.
He had bulked up considerably from the photos I’d seen of him beforehand; taken when he competed at local events in Singapore in 2015 and 2016.
Those competitions saw Murugesan place second and third.
“I not enough the muscle…that’s why I need to take time, to go again,” he explained.
“I’ve been growing my muscles because I want to be the champion of champions of Singapore also."
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top image courtesy of Murugesan Balamurali and by Andrew Koay.
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The recent abuse and killing of Myanmar maid Piang Ngaih Don is prompting questions about whether maids have to live with their employers, and the amount of control that employers have over their workers.According to this writer, an obvious benefit would be that if foreign domestic workers aren't chained — metaphorically or physically — to their employers' homes, then sustained, long term abuse is much less likely to go unreported.Any abuse that occurs can thus be reported to the authorities when the workers leave their place of employment.Another benefit is that foreign domestic workers would have clearly defined working hours — they enter the house to work, and leave when their time is over.This would put an end to cases where they are forced to work beyond their limit.#singapore #society #employmentlaw
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/allow-live-out-maids-singapore/
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The recent case of the extreme abuse of a Myanmar maid at the hands of her Singaporean employer has rattled the nation.
What initially started as verbal abuse devolved into a litany of inhumane physical assaults — including slaps, punches, kicks, assaults with hard objects, hair ripping, and burns — which went on for nearly 10 months.
Then there was the mental abuse: Being made to shower under the watch of her employers, subsist on cold food or soggy sliced bread, and being restrained to a window grille.
The physical toll of the abuse resulted in Piang Ngaih Don losing 38 per cent of her body weight within 14 months, and ultimately her death in July 2016.
At the time of her death, Piang — a 24-year-old woman — weighed only 24kg.
The horrific abuse has been denounced by many, including Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam who called the actions of the employer, Gaiyathiri Murugayan, an "extreme abhorrence".
Safeguards in place, but are they enough?
Manpower Minister Josephine Teo also stressed that there are safeguards in place to prevent such an "appalling" and "egregious" incident from happening — and indeed there are.
In response to the prosecution of Gaiyathiri Murugayan, the Manpower Ministry (MOM) said that all foreign domestic workers have to go through a Settling-In Programme where they are informed of their rights — like a safe working environment, adequate accommodation, food, and medical care, just to name a few.
Employers too, go through an orientation programme where they are briefed about their responsibilities, which presumably includes not killing their domestic helpers.
According to MOM, foreign domestic workers are also subjected to a medical examination every six months.
"Doctors are informed to immediately refer FDWs with signs of abuse to MOM or the Police for help," said the ministry.
Piang passed her medical examination in January 2016, and went back to the same doctor in May 2016 — just about two months before her tragic death in July 2016 — sporting bruises around her eye sockets and cheeks, which were hidden away from public view by a face mask and sunglasses.
Those bruises were apparently explained away by Gaiyathiri as injuries caused by the maid's clumsiness. When the doctor suggested further tests of the victim's swollen legs, Piang's employer declined.
Nothing was flagged to the authorities.
In light of the abuse, Teo said that her ministry is reviewing the system, focusing in particular on safeguards against abusive employers, the reporting system for doctors, and involving the community in detecting signs of distress.
Limit the amount of control that employers have over foreign domestic workers
MOM's review of the system will no doubt help to improve things.
However, it would perhaps be even more effective to address the root issue: The inordinate amount of control that employers have over foreign domestic workers.
Currently, foreign domestic workers are required to live with their employers.
This means that these workers depend on their employers for basic needs: accommodation, food, and medical care.
Some workers also have their mobile phones and passports confiscated as well, leaving them completely dependent on — or completely at the mercy of — their employers.
And as we have seen on multiple occasions, some employers just cannot be trusted to handle this amount of responsibility.
One way of limiting the amount of control that employers have is to take away the requirement that foreign domestic workers live with their employers.
What a stay-out domestic work arrangement might look like
Consider this: Families engage these foreign domestic workers as employees with fixed working hours, visiting their houses to cook, clean, buy groceries, and so on, within a fixed amount of time — not unlike how some folks engage part-time cleaners.
This is likely to be an unpopular opinion, but hear us out.
The obvious benefit would be that if foreign domestic workers aren't chained — metaphorically or physically — to their employers' homes, then sustained, long term abuse is much less likely to go unreported.
Any abuse that occurs can be reported to the authorities when the workers leave their place of employment.
Another benefit is that foreign domestic workers would have clearly defined working hours — they enter the house to work, and leave when their time is over.
This would put an end to cases where they are forced to work beyond their limit.
Set working hours would also allow foreign domestic workers to work overtime or for multiple employers — but only if they so choose.
Speaking to Mothership, Alex Au, Vice President of non-profit organisation Transient Workers Count 2 (TWC2), added that foreign domestic workers could perhaps be managed by a cleaning enterprise — just like how cleaners are currently managed.
"A household can contract with the enterprise for a worker to come to the home, say, two times a week. If three households have such a contract, then one worker can very well serve in three households."
Such an arrangement also provide benefits for the employer in that they will have more privacy in their house and the additional room (assuming they do provide a proper room for their helper) can be rented out for more income.
In its statement on Piang Ngaih Don, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics (HOME) also advocated for domestic workers to be allowed to live outside their employers' houses.
"But I need my foreign domestic worker to take care of my baby/grandparents/pet round the clock!"
Needing 24-hour supervision does not require one person to work for 24 hours.
Citing the example of security guards who typically work in shifts, Au suggested that foreign domestic workers can do the same:
"We seem to think that just because a family member needs round-the-clock care, so a domestic worker should be on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This expectation immediately sets up the conditions for abuse — in terms of working hours at the very least."
Shift work will also allow workers who provide caregiving to take breaks. This is especially important since it has been shown that foreign domestic workers who are hired to care for the elderly are often overworked.
For elderly folks who suffer from ailments and require constant medical supervision, home nursing services, or nursing homes exist for this very reason — meeting the need for qualified care.
"Where will foreign domestic workers live, if not with their employers?"
Housing poses a major roadblock, because current policies and infrastructure do not make it easy for foreign domestic workers to find accommodation outside their employers' house.
Au suggested having hostels for women built around town centres, or additional blocks within condominium compounds.
Past President of TWC2 John Gee, who spoke previously about allowing foreign domestic workers to live outside of their employers' house, told Mothership that they might not want to live in accommodation similar to the dormitories that male migrant workers currently live in.
"They'd want more privacy, but they'd also not want to suffer a net loss of income to cover living out. It would make sense for them to stay in places that gave them reasonably easy access to their workplaces."
Gee added that such an arrangement would have to part of an overhaul of policies which would require, among other things:
More social provision for elderly care.
Creating a new category of migrant care workers, with appropriate training and a system to evaluate their aptitude.
A scheme to pay for low-cost accommodation that does not dent the already-low salaries of domestic workers.
"But won't the cost of hiring a foreign domestic worker go up?"
Allowing foreign domestic workers to live away from their employers' homes would of course generate more cost. These workers would have to pay for their own lodging, food, and medical care — things that are taken care of by their employers, under the current system.
Thus, abolishing the live-in arrangement would probably drive up salaries.
Some years back when Indonesia mulled over the possibility of not sending over live-in domestic helpers, cost was the most common issue highlighted by employers.
One even told the Straits Times that he did not mind engaging live-out Indonesian helpers as long as they do not cost more than those from Myanmar and the Philippines.
Cost, though, should not be a factor when work conditions are at stake, said Au.
"Everything comes at a cost, even the food we eat and the plastics we throw away. If beef gets too expensive Singapore would think it crazy to impose price control and let beef producers become unprofitable and starve; we just eat less of it and find alternatives. Ditto with domestic work."
Of course there are many foreign domestic workers right now who enjoy live-in arrangements because their employers treat them well. In such a case, perhaps there could be an option for employers to offer their foreign domestic helpers live-in arrangements on mutually-agreed terms. The onus then would fall on the employer to make working and living conditions attractive.
At the heart of it all, though, we should ask ourselves one question: Whether we would ourselves accept the working conditions that we subject foreign domestic workers to — living with our employers, having unregulated working hours, and having our movements restricted — and the answer would become quite obvious.
Related stories:
Top image via and Helping Hands for Migrant Workers, Singapore's Facebook page.
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One Singaporean managed to make the most of her Stay-Home Notice (SHN), and even came out of it with a wholesome friendship.#wholesome #positivementality #love
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/shn-post-its-bubble-tea/
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mothership-sg
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Serving a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) might get rather dull for many people, having to be cooped in a single place for two weeks.
One Singaporean however, managed to make the most of her stay, and even came out of it with a new friend.
Post-it conversation
Carmen Wong shared with Mothership that she and family were previously living in the United States.
Upon returning to Singapore, Wong had to serve a SHN at Fairmont Hotel.
Documenting the entire exchange in a series of Instagram stories, she said she had initially pasted some Post-its on the hotel window to entertain her two kids.
Surprisingly, someone in the hotel opposite, which was Hotel Swissôtel The Stamford, responded in kind several days later with their own Post-it message, saying "Hi!".
The Swissôtel guest then proceeded to ask how far Wong was into her SHN, with the Post-it message reading "DAY #".
Wong assumed that she was the one that the Swissôtel guest was communicating with, and replied to say that she was on her eleventh day of SHN.
The fellow hotel guest then responded with a "Yay!", perhaps expressing happiness that Wong was close to freedom once her SHN ended.
Exchanging gifts
Soon after, Wong received yet another pleasant surprise in the form of a new message from the other guest.
The guest had used Post-its to spell out the message: "bbt rm #".
Initially confused, Wong's questions were soon answered when the guest changed her message to: "bbt? rm #" — a request to gift her some bubble tea.
Wong responded with her room number at Fairmont, hoping, as she stated in her Instagram stories, that the bubble tea would be zero per cent sugar and "less ice".
The next day, Wong was informed by the concierge that a delivery was on the way.
New friends during SHN
And ta-dah, two cups of KOI bubble tea had arrived for her.
Wong shared that the guest had kindly provided her Instagram handle on the bubble tea receipt, which allows a more efficient means of communication than Post-its.
She found out that the guest was another woman named Lydia Low, who had just returned from working in Denmark.
Low was serving her SHN at Swissotel with two other colleagues, and like her, all loved bubble tea.
As Wong's SHN neared its end, Low even sent over a "farewell" cake to celebrate her last full day of SHN, and wished her a "goodbye" with more Post-its.
Low also shared how she would miss her new "bbtf (bubble tea friend)".
The whole exchange had definitely perked up her stay, said Wong.
She added that she believed she and Low will remain in contact after this, and might even meet up in person to go grab some bubble tea together.
Top photo from Carmen Wong
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From March 12 to May 3, Changi Airport Group will feature giant-sized Hershey's Chocolate installations and a pop-up retail store.This includes the Amazing Chocolate Machine and the Hershey's Chocolate Gallery, where various Hershey's-themed installations can be found.The Hershey Company #retail #shopping #installation
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/changi-airport-hershey-chocolate/
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mothership-sg
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From March 12 to May 3, Changi Airport will feature giant-sized Hershey's Chocolate installations and a pop-up retail store.
This includes the Amazing Chocolate Machine and the Hershey's Chocolate Gallery, which will feature various Hershey's-themed installations.
Amazing Chocolate Machine
The Amazing Chocolate Machine is modelled after the Amazing Candy Machine in the New York Store.
The Singapore version will feature eight varieties of Hershey's newly launched and most loved flavours in three-metre tall dispensers.
Three new flavours to look out for include:
Hershey's Kisses Filled Yoghurt
Hershey's Kisses with Hazelnut
Hershey's Kisses Filled Strawberry
Further, spend a minimum of S$60 (S$80 for supermarket) in a single same-day receipt, at participating outlets in the public areas of Terminal 1 and 3 to redeem:
Gift-with-purchase
One Hershey's Penny Press Souvenir
One S$15 Changi Eats Coupon Code
Purchase-with-purchase
One Hershey's Sweet Personalisation at S$6.90 each
One Hershey's Bucket of Happiness at S$9.90 per bucket
View the full list of participating outlets here.
Where: Terminal 3, Basement 2
Operating hours: 11am to 10pm, daily
Hershey's Chocolate Gallery
Giant-sized Hershey's chocolate installations will also be available from Mar. 12 to May 3 around Terminal 3.
The installation will feature:
Hershey's Kitchen, featuring a giant cup of hot chocolate and a jumbo stack of pancakes soaked in chocolate sauce (Terminal 3, Departure Hall, next to Dragon Brand Bird's Nest)
Hershey's Kisses Garden installation that is Easter-themed, featuring Easter bunny and colourful Easter eggs (Terminal 3, Departure Hall, opposite Skytrain station) (Ready by end-March)
Reese's Spot, featuring larger-than-life Reese's peanut butter cups (Terminal 3, ST3PS Basement 1)
Hershey's pop-up store
Hershey's will also have a pop-up retail store where you can bring home:
The world's largest Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar (more than 2kg) The world's largest Hershey's Kisses Milk Chocolate candy (almost 0.5kg) Hershey's Ice-cream Shoppe Bars in three flavours that are only available at Changi Airport from end-March: Birthday Cake, Cookies 'N' Mint and Strawberries 'N' Crème
Where: Terminal 3, Basement 2, opposite Kopitiam
Opening hours: 11am to 10pm, daily
For more information regarding the installations, click here.
Top photos via Changi Airport
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In 2008, Phra Goh became the youngest Singaporean monk at the age of 23. After being a monk for the past 13 years, the 36-year-old reflects on this monumental life decision, the numerous rules he lives by, and why he has never regretted choosing this path over secular life.When asked about the "meaning of life", he said: "This is a very profound question... [but] the whole idea is that, whatever we do, we can reduce greed and hatred and promote goodness. That would be of real value, so it doesn’t matter what you do in life as long as you have all these."#motivation #happiness #peace
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/youngest-monk-sg-phra-goh/
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PERSPECTIVE: In 2008, Phra Goh was ordained in the Theravada tradition. At the age of 23, he became the youngest Singaporean monk.
After being a monk for the past 13 years, the 36-year-old reflects on this monumental life decision, the numerous rules he lives by, and why he has never regretted choosing this path over secular life.
As told to Tanya Ong
In 2008, I was ordained as a monk at the age of 23 in Malaysia. That was after completing my National Service.
I happen to be the youngest Singaporean monk. Most of the monks in Singapore are above the age of 40.
(How did you end up getting ordained in Malaysia?)
After all the overseas retreats I went through, I realised there were lots of visa and administrative issues with becoming a monk overseas. I decided to go through a local monastery to get ordained.
When I visited Wat Palelai, the monk told me to go to an affiliated temple in Johor because Wat Palelai did not have an ordination hall yet at that time (it was only constructed in 2017).
After spending some time training in Thailand, I returned to Singapore.
As a monk, what is your daily routine like?
5am: Wake up
6am: Morning chanting
6:30am: Breakfast
(What happens at breakfast?) For breakfast, we have volunteers who prepare a simple meal for the monks, usually porridge and some dishes.
7am or so: Area cleaning
8:15am: Alms round
There are a few designated places, usually coffee shops or hawker centres, which we have been going to for over 10 years so regular devotees know about them and will wait for us there every day.
It's a different place every day. What happens is we just go to the place and wait outside. There's a group of volunteers who help us to carry the food.
The monks, like myself, will have lunch at around 10:45am or 11am.
(You don't eat after noon?) Our rule is to eat only until 12 noon.
In the afternoon, we have our own free time. Different monks will do different things like do their own practice, their own reading or research.
But at 6pm, there's the evening chanting.
Here, there's no fixed time for me to go to bed. I personally sleep around 11pm every night.
(Are you allowed to leave temple grounds for other purposes?) Yes, sometimes maybe we are invited to give talks outside. We can also go for a walk or for medical check-ups.
What was the most difficult thing you had to adapt to?
Being new to receiving donations, the transition initially felt very awkward.
We don’t call it ‘begging’, we call it ‘waiting for alms round’ because we're not supposed to speak and people would just give food items to us. It feels very weird because all along, we are used to buying our own food. This time, we rely on receiving food.
(Have you ever doubted your decision to become a monk?) I was still young when I became a monk so there wasn't much I had to give up. Besides, this spiritual life is more fruitful to me.
I've never regretted this decision.
When did you decide to become a monk? Can you share the thought process behind your decision?
During my childhood, my parents went through a period of separation before getting a divorce. The separation got my dad more spiritual and he took part in spiritual activities, including meditation workshops and getting Buddhist books from different temples.
In primary school, I thought: When I grow older, maybe I can become a monk.
I used to be a top-performing student in secondary school. Then (due to these family problems), my grades dropped because I couldn’t focus in school. It made me 'wake up' and question why this was happening. I also started to question what is true success and happiness.
My dad was a businessman and almost went broke because of the economic crisis. This also made me see that the monetary aspect of life can be so fickle. My parents' relationship also broke down, which made me see how transient everything can be.
And you felt that choosing this path to become a monk would bring you happiness?
Not exactly. I wanted to consider alternatives in terms of options in life apart from the 'regular' paths, like pursuing a 'successful' career.
How did your parents respond after you told them you wanted to become a monk?
After my O-levels, I told my parents about my plans to become a monk.
My dad was quite okay but my mum was reluctant so it took me quite a number of years, throughout my polytechnic years and even until my second year of national service, to try to persuade her before she eventually agreed.
What made you so sure that this was something you could commit to?
In my Sec 3 or Sec 4 days, I was introduced to some meditation classes so I was quite inspired and benefited a lot from it. I tried to practice it everyday and got more and more interested. After the O-levels, I went for meditation retreats, which might include staying at a temple for like maybe two or three weeks. I went for at least one every year.
That was when I discovered it was a very peaceful life, and I wanted to pursue this way of living.
(But surely going through the retreat as a layperson is different from living as a monk?) Yes, for a layperson, they wouldn’t know the monastic perspective.
Tell us more about what this "monastic perspective" is all about. What was the process of becoming a monk like?
I went through five years of apprentice monkhood training after I was ordained. During this period, we are supposed to learn from our teacher.
There are rules we had to learn about and follow.
For a layperson, you have five precepts: To avoid killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, telling lies, and intoxicating drinks and drugs.
For a person who wants to stay in a monastery during a retreat, they can extend this to a few more precepts, which includes not taking meals in the afternoon and no entertainment.
For monks, there are also monastic rules. A major one is to not accept money. Other rules are sub-categories of the eight, and there are various categories of consequences depending on the severity of the offence.
For very serious offences, they are disrobed. Slightly less serious offences might require rehabilitation, which involves a temporary removal of a monk's status.
What happened to all of your money when you became a monk? What happens when you need to pay for services like seeing a doctor?
Monks are not supposed have monetary possessions so before I ordained, I gave my bank account book and card to my dad. He basically has all the money (chuckles).
Now, if we need to go for a medical check-up, the temple staff will make arrangements for us. Or if we are seeing a GP, for instance, they might accompany us and pay in cash.
There is a monastic fund, which we generally can use for four things: clothes, food, shelter (anything to do with maintenance of this temple) and medicine. The money comes from devotees' donations.
(So you don't really have personal belongings? What about the phone that you use to contact me?) My phone was given to me by my mother.
For basic necessities, like toiletries, these are usually purchased for us by the temple.
(What kinds of things are you allowed to accept/ keep?) Initially I didn't have a phone, but it was inconvenient to get in touch with me if people wish to invite me for talks, for instance. We have to reflect whether is it useful for the spiritual life.
Let’s say somebody wants to offer me, say a Mercedes Benz, then definitely no (hahaha).
How often do you still keep in touch with your friends and family?
We will occasionally meet up if there's a function. For instance, my friends might invite me for their wedding if they get married.
Some of them might be actively involved in Buddhist organisations so they might invite me to give talks and stuff like that.
For my parents — my mum, she will come to see me, like, every week. She comes during our lunchtime and will bring me a bit of food.
I usually meet my brother over Chinese New Year.
What kind of growth do you hope to see in yourself over time and how do you think it relates to conventional ideas of 'success' in Singapore?
All this while, I think my progress has been quite consistent. Of course, everyone has their own expectations of how they want to be, but I would say [for me], it's still a work-in-progress.
There are people who, for instance, want to perform very well when it comes to KPIs. They might be a top-earner, but they are still full of greed and anger.
They might pursue everything in their material wealth and because of the lack of foundation of spirituality, when they are older, they start to ask: What is the meaning of life?
Then the other extreme is like for ourselves as monks. We pursue a religious life and kind of just ignore the material aspects.
Of course, [for a layperson], they can pursue their career and be 'successful' and not neglect spiritual growth. But it can be very tough to juggle both sides.
(So you feel that the best route for your spiritual growth is to become a monk?) At that point of time, that was my calling.
So if someone were to ask you: "What do you think is the meaning of life?" Do you have an answer to that?
This is a very profound question. In fact, I find it’s a trick question. Let’s say I take on Buddhist philosophy, then everything in life is an illusion.
The whole idea is that, whatever we do, we can reduce greed and hatred and promote goodness. That would be of real value, so it doesn't matter what you do in life as long as you have all these.
Top photo by Mothership. Quotes were edited for grammar and clarity.
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It’s been little more than a year since Covid-19 struck and halted most forms of international leisure travel. Since then, staycations have more or less become our new way of kicking back and relaxing, far away from the doldrums of daily life.If you’re tired of doing the same old things at every staycation getaway, here’s how you can make your next staycation a little more special with these hotel packages by Traveloka.#staycation #hotel #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/best-staycation-5-hotels
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It’s been little more than a year since Covid-19 struck and halted most forms of international leisure travel.
Since then, staycations have more or less become our new way of kicking back and relaxing, far away from the doldrums of daily life.
If you’re tired of doing the same old things at every staycation getaway, here’s how you can make your next staycation a little more special with these hotel packages by Traveloka.
1) Shangri-La's Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa
Nestled next to Siloso Beach and within easy reach of the city, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa is an ideal getaway for both families and sun-seeking individuals.
As the only beachfront resort in Singapore, you’ll be able to feel like you’re on an overseas island here, with breathtaking views of tropical scenery, pools, sea or landscaped gardens abound.
Besides direct access to Siloso Beach, guests can also enjoy water sports activities provided by the resort at the private beach.
There are also a wide array of kids facilities including three animal-themed water slides, children’s pool, indoor playground and outdoor playground, where children can slide down two of the longest slides on Sentosa island.
From just S$350 per package, choose between a one night’s stay at the:
Deluxe Sea View room with Breakfast or
Deluxe Pool View room with Breakfast
Slightly more extravagant packages are also available from S$452, which includes the following perks:
One night’s stay in the Deluxe Sea View Room or Deluxe Pool View Room
Breakfast for two
S$120 Silver Shell Cafe Credits
[Traveloka Exclusive] Book from Mar. 5 to 14, 2021 to enjoy an additional 10 per cent off all special packages. Prices may be subject to change.
Click here to find out more.
2) Hotel Nuve Heritage
Located just a stone’s throw away from Bugis and City Hall MRT, Hotel NuVe Heritage is a boutique hotel nestled at Purvis Street.
At this six-storey heritage shophouse, take comfort in a myriad of relaxing and rejuvenating hotel features such as complimentary gourmet mini-bars, in-room coffee machines and massage showers.
From just S$104, you’ll be able to enjoy a one night’s stay at a posh (but not pretentious) room, along with free breakfast for people who book with their SingapoRediscovers vouchers.
Click here to find out more.
3) Marina Bay Sands
Home to the world’s largest rooftop Infinity Pool as well as a wide range of dining, shopping and entertainment options, Marina Bay Sands is arguably one of Singapore’s most iconic hotels.
From a starting price of S$504, Traveloka is currently offering a Sands Weekday Supersaver staycation package which includes the following perks:
Two nights stay at Deluxe City View (Upgraded from Deluxe Lower Floor)
Daily breakfast for two or three persons (valid at RISE, Spago and In-Room Dining)
Complimentary valet parking/self-parking (one car per room)
One-time access to Sampan ride and Digital Light Canvas for two or three persons (Redemption of tickets at Hotel Concierge Tower 1)
S$50 nett dining credit per stay (valid at LAVO)
Alternatively, you can also opt for the Sands ReDiscover Staycation, which includes the following perks:
Two nights stay at Deluxe Garden View (Upgraded from Deluxe Lower Floor)
Daily breakfast for two or three persons (valid at RISE, Spago and In-Room Dining)
Complimentary valet parking/self-parking (1 car per room)
S$100 nett dining credit per stay (valid at Blacktap, Yardbird and Bread Street Kitchen)
Click here to find out more.
4) Mandarin Orchard Singapore
Situated just above Mandarin Gallery, Mandarin Orchard Singapore is a great staycation location for those looking to wine, dine and explore our island’s shopping and entertainment district.
With 1,077 guest rooms and suites, the hotel also boasts stunning views of Singapore’s skyline, along with bespoke amenities, meeting facilities, and an exciting lineup of award-winning restaurants.
[Traveloka Exclusive] Guests who book an Escape to Orchard package for stay until Jun. 30 will be able to enjoy the following perks from S$265 nett:
Exclusive Free Upgrade to Premier Room
Exclusive Access to Club Lounge with Club Benefits for two (which includes afternoon tea, evening cocktail and breakfast)
Picnic Basket for two guests
ArtJam session for two guests
From now until Mar. 14, Mandarin Orchard Singapore will also throw in an additional 10 per cent discount for bookings on all eligible packages.
This means that the price of the Escape to Orchard staycation package will only start from S$235 nett for a limited time.
Alternatively, one can also purchase the exclusive #RediscoversOrchard Package from S$275 nett, which comes with the following perks:
One night stay in the Superior Deluxe Room
Breakfast for two guests
S$80 Dining Credit at Chatterbox
Do note that prices may be subject to change.
Click here to find out more.
5) The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
Built in 1928, the Fullerton Hotel Singapore was gazetted as a National monument in December 2015.
Now, the 400-room heritage landmark is home to a bevvy of restaurants, bars, meeting rooms and more.
Traveloka is currently offering a Luxury Escape staycation package at the Premier Courtyard Room from S$344 nett, with the following inclusions:
Complimentary daily breakfast for the family, up to two adults and two children (below 12 years old)
S$80 nett dining credit per stay for redemption at The Fullerton Hotel and The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore’s dining outlets, in-room dining, minibar and alcoholic beverages
Complimentary room upgrade for Premier Courtyard room for departure during Monday to Thursday, Public holiday and eve of the public holiday exclusive (subject to availability)
Complimentary late check-out at 6pm for departure during Monday to Thursday, Public holiday and eve of the public holiday exclusive
Complimentary parking
Do note that the dining credit is not applicable for Afternoon tea at The Courtyard and The Landing Point, Jade Dim Sum Lunch on weekends and Public Holiday, Jade Set Lunch Menu and all special festive menus.
You can also search “2 nights” on Traveloka to book a two-night stay at the Premier Courtyard room from only S$459 nett.
Alternatively, there will be a 38 per cent discount on the Straits Club Courtyard room, with prices starting from only S$452 nett, along with the following privileges:
Round-the-clock personalised service
Complimentary daily Chandon breakfast
Afternoon tea
Evening canapés
Cocktails in a dedicated lounge
Blackout dates apply and prices may be subject to change.
Click here to find out more.
Exclusive coupon for Mothership readers
That’s not all.
Get an additional S$10 off with no minimum spend when you make your hotel bookings on Traveloka using the Mothership exclusive code TVLKMSHIP. Yay.
This sponsored article by Traveloka made this writer want to go on a staycation.
Top image via Traveloka
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Under an alternative pilot Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) model, Singaporean singles above the age of 35 will be able to apply for a public rental flat without having to find a flatmate to apply with, said Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim.Under current regulations, two or more singles may jointly apply for a public rental flat. They are encouraged to apply with someone they know, or approach Housing & Development Board to help source for a flatmate.However, acknowledging that some singles may find difficulty in searching for another single flatmate to apply for a rental flat with, the alternative model to be introduced will allow the individual to apply without having to find a flatmate first.According to MND, HDB will appoint a social service agency as the operator to manage these rental flats, including the flat sharing arrangements.Faishal added that the social service agencies managing the flats will have better expertise to match singles of similar profiles as well.#housing #singapore #property
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/pilot-jss-singles-hdb-rental-flat/
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mothership-sg
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Under an alternative pilot Joint Singles Scheme (JSS) model, Singaporean singles above the age of 35 will be able to apply for a public rental flat without having to find a flatmate to apply with, said Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim in his Committee of Supply speech in Parliament on Mar. 4.
Singles can apply for rental flats without finding flatmate first
Under current regulations, two or more singles may jointly apply for a public rental flat.
They are encouraged to apply with someone they know, or approach HDB to help source for a flatmate.
However, acknowledging that some singles may find difficulty in searching for another single flatmate to apply for a rental flat with, the alternative model to be introduced will allow the individual to apply without having to find a flatmate first.
According to MND, HDB will appoint a social service agency as the operator to manage these rental flats, including the flat sharing arrangements.
Faishal added that the social service agencies managing the flats will have better expertise to match singles of similar profiles as well.
The operator will assist to mediate any issues and arrange for flat mates to move to other flats, if necessary.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for a flat under the Public Rental Scheme as a single, the individual and the listed occupier must both be Singaporean citizens and single.
To qualify as a single, the individual must be:
Unmarried and at least 35 years old, or
Divorced or legally separated from spouse, with legal documents, and at least 35 years old, or
Widowed or orphaned, with at least one parent being a Singaporean citizen or Permanent Resident before their death.
Tenants under the pilot model projected to roll out later this year will be subject to the same eligibility conditions.
More details will be shared by HDB at a later date.
Top image via Darren Soh/Facebook
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Sharifah Shazza Binte Samsuri is a national athlete, who won the Silat World Junior Championship back in 2016. She is also a Business Applications graduate from Republic Polytechnic (RP), and was working a part-time job at the time of her graduation in 2020.Not only was her graduation during Covid-19, it was smack dab in April, right when the Circuit Breaker was announced.In the midst of that uncertainty, she received an email from RP regarding complimentary CET classes.She registered for RP’s Work-Study Post-Diploma (Specialist Diploma in Digital Business) course to deepen her understanding of businesses and apply it to real-life situations.RP soon connected her with a job from a list of companies that expressed their interest to digitalise, ending her four-month job search.#jobpostings #jobsearch #education
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/rp-cet/
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Sharifah Shazza Binte Samsuri is a national athlete, who won the Silat World Junior Championship back in 2016. She is also a Business Applications graduate from Republic Poly, and was working a part-time job at the time of her graduation in 2020.
All this to say, she is quite adept at juggling a wide array of responsibilities.
But even she hesitated to sign up for a Continuing Education and Training (CET) course.
"Being a national athlete, I would also have to juggle with daily training and some other additional training when competition is near. I knew that signing up for CET would mean bearing more responsibilities on my shoulders such as managing my time between work, studies, training, family and friends."
Sharifah had just graduated from Republic Poly, but had done so in perhaps one of the more inopportune years.
While she intended to further her studies, Sharifah’s priority was to gain work experience.
"I wanted to give myself a break from studying after graduation to focus on gaining more work experience. This has been my priority ever since I learnt about the importance of having work experience when applying for a job."
She was pretty much willing to grab whatever job opportunities she could.
An admirable sentiment for any fresh grad, but not enough to counter the crushing realities of a pandemic-stricken job market.
Push and pull
Not only was her graduation during Covid-19, it was smack dab in April, right when the Circuit Breaker was announced.
"In addition with Covid, it was tougher. The economy was bad. Workers were getting retrenched. Rate of hiring dropped. I was working part time, my only source of income, but Singapore went into Circuit Breaker. All these happened right after I graduated, at the beginning of my adulthood."
Her first few weeks of job searching was ultimately fruitless. In fact it would be about two months until she found a silver lining.
In the midst of that uncertainty, she received an email from RP regarding complimentary CET classes.
Despite her previously stated concerns about time management, she decided to go for it:
She registered for RP’s Work-Study Post-Diploma (Specialist Diploma in Digital Business) course to deepen her understanding of businesses and apply it to real-life situations.
It helped that the facilitator and staff at RP were there to clarify any enquiries she had through the whole registration process.
Skills for the future
During the course, she picked up skills such as creating an ecommerce site using platforms like WIX and WordPress. She was also taught how to manage social media ecommerce pages.
Sharifah also picked up other skills like applying Google analytics to such websites, and analysing these figures.
RP soon connected her with a job from a list of companies that expressed their interest to digitalise, ending her four-month job search
She would be working for Hoe Kee Hardware, a homegrown company specialising in kitchen and bathroom products that was just setting up its online presence.
Sharifah could go about putting her passion and skills for digital business to good use in the real world, while she worked towards obtaining an industry-recognised post-Diploma qualification.
But it was tough, as she had expected, juggling work, training, and studies was nothing to scoff at.
However it helped that the lecturer and mentor, Christopher Soh, was adept not only in teaching, but was also understanding towards those with perhaps less time on their hands:
"He knew that as a working adult, we have different work schedules. So he always made sure that he was available to clarify any doubts regarding lessons."
Today, Sharifah helps Hoe Kee with on-boarding to e-commerce platforms, where their products are featured and sold online. While Sharifah did not envision this particular shift in her career track, she has found it really rewarding helping a more traditional company digitalise.
"I feel good being able to play a small part in digitalising SME businesses in Singapore, and helping them work towards a digital economy."
It has been nine months since she started on her job, and Sharifah has been doing well.
And it makes sense that for someone who entered the workforce in such a volatile time, she has learnt to roll with the waves.
"I plan to explore different job scopes to gain the experience needed to know which is more suitable for me as a career. Ever since the CET Programme, my interest in digital business has grown deeper. I will definitely take up further part time classes to deepen my knowledge about it."
Check out RP’s CET course offerings here.
Alternatively, you may also attend RP’s Course Preview on Mar. 6, 2021. Click here for more information.
This sponsored article by RP made the writer miss school just a bit.
Images courtesy of Sharifah
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By his own admission, Lim Hock Chee has a stressful job.The 60-year-old co-founder and chief executive officer of SHENG SIONG SUPERMARKET PTE LTD not only works with numerous members of his family, he in essence looks after the end-to-end needs of his more than 2,500 employees.And what, might you ask, are these end-to-end needs?Most might already know about the four- to 16-month bonuses the company handed out all-in ahead of the Lunar New Year period because of its stellar 2020 financial performance.But some employees also receive bursary awards for their children's education, while others have gotten scholarships for part-time degree programmes (from Lim's own pocket).At the supermarket group's corporate headquarters and sprawling warehouse building in Mandai, all employees also enjoy complimentary lunch cooked in-house, in a no-frills dining hall. But what is Lim’s secret to all this success, all this money and rewards going round and all this welfare the company provides to its staff?We sat down with this charismatic and popular business leader at his office to gain an insight into the thinking behind all of it.#business #success #leadership
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/lessons-on-leadership-lim-hock-chee-sheng-siong-interview/
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mothership-sg
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By his own admission, Lim Hock Chee has a stressful job.
The 60-year-old co-founder and chief executive officer of the Sheng Siong Group not only works with numerous members of his family (his brothers, his wife, his sons, nephew, and niece, just to name a few), he in essence looks after the end-to-end needs of his more than 2,500 employees.
And what, might you ask, are these end-to-end needs?
You already know about the four- to 16-month bonuses the company handed out all-in ahead of the Lunar New Year period because of its stellar 2020 financial performance.
But some employees also receive bursary awards for their children's education, others have gotten scholarships for part-time degree programmes (from Lim's own pocket), and many also know anecdotally of the generous support the company provides in times of bereavement.
At the supermarket group's corporate headquarters and sprawling warehouse building in Mandai, all employees enjoy complimentary lunch cooked in-house, in a no-frills dining hall. Staff at Sheng Siong's 63 stores receive bentos, adding up to a reported S$7,000 daily expense for the company too.
Lim, a car mechanic by training, is known to play an active role in all parts of the business — having previously attended to power failures at the shops, welded supermarket trolley handles and till today also frequently spends hours at the warehouse helping his logistics teams.
But what is his secret to all this success, all this money and rewards going round and all this welfare the company provides to its staff?
We sat down with this charismatic and popular business leader at his office to gain an insight into the thinking behind all of it.
The blue pocket pamphlet
Our focus on education in the first two examples is deliberate, though — Lim, who speaks Mandarin, says he basically obsesses himself with educating his staff from the first day they are hired.
He's likened the company to a "school" before, and takes particular personal interest in every employee's formation in values and principles.
Hence the blue pocket pamphlet that every employee carries around in their pockets — which turns out to be five pamphlets folded concertina-style, the shortest detailing Sheng Siong's mission, vision, purpose, values, style, principle and belief, and the rest laying out six philosophical sayings each (in English and Chinese).
These 24 sayings touch on life, mindsets, work ethic, leadership and approaches to other people, like:
Efficient management The best method The shortest amount of time The most efficient way to achieve Time is not managed by us, We allocate the time to manage ourselves. We cannot manage time, we can only manage ourselves.
and:
10 Daily Principles Be more gracious. Make fewer excuses. Be more courteous. Take more action. Be quicker in your work. Have a mild temper. Be more efficient. Speak with a gentle tone. Have more flexibility. Smile more often. These are the fundamentals of humanity.
And once an employee has internalised these 24 sayings, there is still a bowl of rolled-up insights one can tap into at the company's second-floor reception:
Now, Lim is the first to say he knows not every single member of his staff is going to read or agree with, much less internalise these sayings.
But those who do, he does strongly feel, will have the ability to cultivate leadership qualities in themselves that are desired at the company — and in so doing, can become leaders in their own right.
Which brings us to the first of Lim's biggest beliefs about doing business: that the single most important factor is the people you have in your employ.
The 5-day management course that changed his life
It was the year 2002, and a 40-year-old Lim was in the thick of aggressive store expansion and the group's newly-opened warehouse and logistics arm when a friend of his told him about a course he simply must not miss.
"Previously this friend always attended a lot of courses; if it is good, he will ask me to go — if not, he won’t. This one in particular he said, you MUST come, you definitely must attend. You definitely will gain a lot. It was a five-day course, and cost S$888. And on the first day I sat at the back with my friend — when the prof finished talking, I also finished talking to my friend, and I had no idea what the teacher had said at all. The next day I told myself, no, I must sit in the front. This course cost me S$888. I’ve already paid it, so I better make sure I reap back more than my money's worth. And on all five days, every day he talked about the human heart. Every day he talked about the heart. Heart this, heart that, five days every day heart heart heart. And at the end of the five days he said to me simply, read more. S$888 and my takeaway was to read more. And then there was a sixth day. We were asked to return to participate (参), but I heard it as returning for a meal (餐) and was so disappointed when there was no food to be had. He wasn't treating us to a meal. As it turned out, he wanted our opinions and reflections on the course and what he had told us."
He relates that he didn't know what to say at first, apart from pitching a clarification on what the prof meant in his lessons about the heart. Was it, he asked, him saying that the human heart is a filter?
And here came the revelation: no, it was the human conscience that is the filter, and it is the conscience that guides us to make better decisions.
"Attending this course made me take a good hard look at myself, to see where my conscience is alerting me to parts of me that are not so good, and where I might have made a mistake here or there."
This also motivated him to be a better person in general — noting the example of religious figures like Buddha and Jesus Christ, who not only spoke truth and wisdom, teaching people to be good, but also set an example in the way they lived.
Lim said he had to adjust and improve how he lived and related to others, as he instructed his subordinates to do things in certain ways.
The philosophy of 'humans' ( 人) , 'big' ( 大) and 'sky' ( 天)
Which brings us to one of the first of Lim's philosophies on life and people — illustrating to us how three Chinese characters come together to explain the human condition, its development and growth into significance.
Tracing his finger on the table we were seated together at, he showed us how a human has to be brought down to earth (humbled) first, using the first left-hand stroke on the word 人 (rén for human in Chinese), which visually cannot stand on its own. A person, for instance a newborn baby, needs to be empowered with the second right-hand stroke in order to be able to stand up and come into his or her own.
Strengthening it further with a horizontal stroke (with the nurturing of family or people close to the baby or young person) makes 大 (dà for big in Chinese), and the young person becomes 大人 (adult in Chinese), who is then empowered to make decisions on his own.
Where 天 (tiān for sky in Chinese) comes into this is the notion that the sky is empty until you think of it as an entity that contains 人, hence the importance of man in making meaning of everything under the sky.
The philosophy of decision-making in leadership
And the idea of decision-making moved him to realise that as a leader (which can be interpreted as 天人), it is crucial that he makes and acts on decisions quickly, for the benefit of quick adaptation and first-mover advantage to changing circumstances.
By extension, where an incorrect decision is made, Lim says it is important that he acknowledge the mistake and change tack quickly, if that is possible.
“Once I make decisions, I act on them quickly because it is only after you act that you know if it was right or wrong — then you slowly tweak your actions. What you decide might not be 100 per cent correct but you can tweak or refine things to make your decision better along the way. Because if you decide on something but don't act swiftly on it, it will cause a mess down the chain. ... But sometimes policies change and you will have to make adjustments. Some people tell me ‘Mr Lim, you sometimes make changes to your decisions very fast.’ And I say, I have no choice, because things can change very quickly these days and if we don’t act fast, there might be consequences.”
Speed aside, Lim also stresses that as a leader, he is responsible for making decisions that make his employees' lives easier, more convenient and work more effectively.
"So every day I think about how to improve their workflow — when work gets easier, they will be happy at work. So the things I do must benefit the majority, my employees... And even though I have many problems from my staff to solve and spend days cracking my head over them, I have to solve them one by one, find good solutions so that they can live better. Then they will have to learn to solve other people's problems too, after their lives improve."
(Aside: Lim shares the inspiration behind the names of his businesses Sheng Siong and CMM with us here:)
The philosophy of earning and sharing money freely — and also finding the right people, while weeding the wrong ones out
It is Lim's fundamental principle of valuing the people who work for him that drives the almost-unheard-of generosity he and his brothers (Hock Eng, who is older, and Hock Leng, who is younger), all of whom are at the helm of Sheng Siong's management, show toward their staff.
His logic is very simple in this regard: the saying "财聚人散、财散人聚" (When you gather fortune, people scatter; when you scatter fortune, people gather).
Basically, you share the money you earn with your staff and they will continue to be motivated to perform well for the business; a win-win for all:
“As a leader, it’s our responsibility to ensure employees earn money. It is only when they earn that they will continue to follow you — if not, they will become disheartened. Right? So while money is not everything, we can’t live without money either. And that’s why we have to spend our money wisely, so we allocate part of our earnings to our employees. After fulfilling their needs, they will be more willing to cooperate and work hard for you.”
This is also why loyalty is rewarded handsomely — while the company gives employees who hit the five- and 10-year milestones weighted (20g and 30g) solid gold coins, the Lim brothers fork out their own money to give those who hit 15 and 20 years with the company 40g gold coins and Rolex watches respectively.
Naturally, such positive company policies would attract the interest of all and sundry to join the hallowed ranks of Sheng Siong's staff, bringing us to the next question of how Lim and his management team find the right people.
Sadly, he doesn't have a secret to share here — he responds with mirth, "if I can, I would be God-like!" — but he does say, however, that generally those who aren't right for the company will weed themselves out soon enough.
"If you can't fit into the culture here, you will not be able to work well with your team. If we are a bunch of sprinters, for example, and you are not, you won't be able to keep up and you will leave eventually. If you force yourself to hang on nonetheless, you won't survive either because this pace just isn't suitable for you. We also look at the poorer performers — it could be someone who takes MC quite often. But there's nothing wrong with taking MC, although it could be that their health does not allow them to keep up with the demands of work."
The philosophy of working, and passing skills and values to the next generation
Lim isn't all that unique in being a firm believer that a leader must work harder and do more than his staff.
At Sheng Siong, he stresses it is crucial that he knows and does everything from cashier duties to discharging goods, pushing trolleys, sweeping the floor — right down to figuring out which-sized hydraulic systems are suitable for moving goods in his warehouses.
This extends to what we now see as the Sheng Siong work ethic — which he explains most clearly:
"If I say you work until 6pm, you better work until 6pm and not start washing your hands and packing to leave at 530pm. If you have that kind of working attitude, we will definitely not have the bonuses we enjoyed this year in the future. We work till the very last minute, then we wash up, sweep the floor, give a little more time and maybe leave at around 6:15pm. There’s no other way if you want to get the best [bonus]. It's simply impossible to work less and expect more bonuses. You go and ask your coworkers who is willing to give you more, they surely won't either."
It is at around this point that we invite him to reflect on how and if, with the immensely valuable mindset he and his brothers, as well as the rest of management, take to the company, he hopes to preserve the work and company culture that currently exists for the next generation.
(Ahem, one of Lim's nephews and two of his sons are currently employed as his executive assistants.)
First, he jokes that he cautions them against distributing their business cards unnecessarily. But here's something that isn't a joke — his sons and nephew do six-day work weeks, which funnily enough they are grateful about because Lim himself works every day.
"We are all relatives... I’m their father or uncle so I told them, you need to help make it easier for me to run this company. If you want to join this company, you will have to report to work earlier and leave later than others. You have to be more hardworking than others — if not, I cannot run this company. If you don’t believe me, take my place and see for yourself. If this person wants to come late, and another person wants to leave early; others will say your relatives or children can do so, why can’t we? This will make things very difficult. So you don't have a choice. So we don’t have to avoid hiring relatives or family, and we don’t have to hide that either. It’s just that they must be more hardworking than others."
In conclusion, Lim says he neither encourages nor discourages his descendants to join him in the company — only stressing that if they do choose to join, they must bear the heavy responsibility of running the company on their shoulders; "just like Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, you must take up the responsibility the job entails".
A Chinese High drop-out, an ITE-equivalent graduate, former pig farmer and billionaire who shuns e-commerce
There's plenty more where all this came from, of course — Lim, for instance, is the equivalent of an Institute of Technical Education graduate (except it wasn't called that during his time in school) who dropped out of The Chinese High School, and eked out way more than just a living from rearing pigs and learning how to fix cars and other machinery.
We asked for his take on the stigma ITE graduates continue to face despite improvement over the years, and his advice is not to limit yourself to what you have studied — whether it's to be a lawyer or doctor or pig farmer or car mechanic. There is a master in every trade, and you might not find success immediately, but work at it slowly but surely, and you'll find opportunities to build up the business, he says.
Sheng Siong and e-commerce
It's also quite remarkable how stubbornly against e-commerce Lim is. Yes, Sheng Siong does operate online too, and serves a few hundred customers that way, but eventually he insists that e-commerce is a loss-making venture ("the more you expand, the more cost you incur") unless you are a platform like Alibaba that collects money from sellers for providing online real estate.
It's remarkable to him how many companies are willing to burn millions of dollars just to expand their presence online, when "I can't bear to make any losses" — besides, to his mind, the e-commerce business model will only succeed when all physical shops have died, and that's way less likely to happen in Singapore, which is small and has many nearby shops competing for business in the neighbourhoods.
And there you have it — some of the many profound philosophies that drive Lim in his enterprise and his life. He told us he hopes to impart some of this as his legacy for his children and/or the next generation of Sheng Siong's leaders to pick up from and continue.
"As human beings, we will depart this world one day — what do we leave behind? If it’s just wealth or assets, it’s easy. But if it’s particular skills or leadership, passing them down will not be that simple."
We really hope he succeeds.
Lessons on Leadership is a new Mothership series about the inspiring stories of Singapore’s business leaders and entrepreneurs, as well as the lessons and values we can learn from their lived experiences.
Stay tuned for our next interview with Sports Hub CEO Lionel Yeo later this month.
Top photo by Zheng Zhangxin
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A new private university of the arts will be set up in Singapore in an alliance between LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).The establishment of the new university of the arts was announced by the Minister for Education Lawrence Wong (MOE) at the Committee of Supply (COS) Debates on Mar. 3, 2021, as part of MOE's plans to strengthen tertiary arts education pathways.Tapping onto LASALLE and NAFA's strengths, the new university will offer cross-institution modules and projects, joint academic collaborations, and sharing of learning resources.Meanwhile, LASALLE and NAFA will remain separate legal entities and distinct colleges offering their own programmes. #university #education #art
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/nafa-lasalle-new-university/
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mothership-sg
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A new private university of the arts will be set up in Singapore in an alliance between LASALLE College of the Arts (LASALLE) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
The establishment of the new university of the arts was announced by the Minister for Education Lawrence Wong (MOE) at the Committee of Supply (COS) Debates on Mar. 3, 2021, as part of MOE's plans to strengthen tertiary arts education pathways.
MOE, with MCCY's support, will work with the two private arts education institutions to grant the alliance its own degree-awarding powers and confer it university status, Wong said.
The new institution will be a private university supported by the Government, with LASALLE and NAFA as its two constituent colleges.
Pro-tem committee led by Ambassador Chan Heng Chee
A Pro-Tem Committee, chaired by Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is working with the two existing institutions to develop the structure and operating model of the new university.
LASALLE and NAFA will remain separate legal entities and distinct colleges offering their own programmes.
Tapping onto the LASALLE and NAFA's strengths, the new university will offer cross-institution modules and projects, joint academic collaborations, and sharing of learning resources.
Other members of the committee include representatives from LASALLE, NAFA, academia, and government agencies and industry.
Top image via LASALLE's Facebook page, Pohboon Yeo/Google Maps
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Lee Chee Khuen, 60, has been an Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) teacher since 1987. In 2009, he chanced upon a job opening for an A-level Principles of Accounting (POA) teaching position in prison.Since then, he has never looked back. Lee has been teaching N, O and A-level POA, as well as H1 and H2 Economics to inmate students.Speaking to Mothership.sg, Lee tells us what it's like to teach behind bars and why he doesn't intend to go back to teaching in mainstream schools."One of my former students from prison school is actually my colleague now. After getting released from prison, he went to take his degree in a local university. Then he came back to work as a part-time teacher in prison. When I first saw him back in prison as a teacher, I was really touched because he managed to turn over a new leaf. And that's not easy, you know? I was very proud... very proud. He was my A-level student in prison school, and now he's my colleague. He sits opposite me in the staff room. It's really remarkable."#education #teaching #school
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/teacher-tanah-merah-prison-school/
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PERSPECTIVE: Lee Chee Khuen, 60, has been an MOE teacher since 1987. In 2009, he chanced upon a job opening for an A-level Principles of Accounting (POA) teaching position in prison.
Since then, he has never looked back. Lee has been teaching N, O and A-level POA, as well as H1 and H2 Economics to inmate students.
The A-level inmate students received their results on Feb. 19. Three of them qualified to apply for polytechnic, private degree courses and full-time local university courses.
Speaking to Mothership, Lee shares with us his experiences at Tanah Merah Prison School and explains what the prison school system is like.
As told to Syahindah Ishak
I've been teaching for over 30 years.
I previously taught accountings in a Junior College (JC) and a secondary school.
Things changed in 2009 when I saw a job opening in prison school.
I thought to myself that it would be meaningful to educate the students behind bars.
And I soon found it to be an enriching experience to be part of their rehabilitation journey as they work hard for their exams, and to also see them turn over a new leaf.
It's not an experience that I can get anywhere else.
What is the prison school system like?
Basically it’s very similar to mainstream schools.
The normal school hours in prison are more or less the same. We start at 8:30am and end in the afternoon. One period is around 45 minutes, and each class has about 25 students.
We have normal classrooms, with whiteboards and projectors.
The students take the same national exams as their mainstream school counterparts.
They are given textbooks and notes that they can use to study after school hours.
They also have co-curricular activities (CCAs), such as the guitar club, keyboard club, reading club, and more. This is to provide a more holistic education, just like in mainstream schools.
And in terms of curriculum and teaching materials for teachers, they are largely similar too.
Teachers require the same qualifications to teach in prison — you must have gone through NIE (National Institute of Education), and teach the subject area that you are specialised in.
When we're not teaching a class, we prepare our lessons in the staff room, or look after the CCA we're in charge of.
What are some differences between prison school and a mainstream school?
Firstly, the age range in prison school varies from as young as 18 to over 60.
The curriculum is also more compressed. The students have to go through everything in one year.
For those taking O-levels, this means that they will have to go through Secondary 3 and 4 in one year.
Similarly, for those taking A-levels, they will go through JC1 and JC2 in one year.
There's also tighter security in prison school. Occasionally, prison guards will patrol along the corridor outside of the classrooms.
And teachers are not allowed to bring things in and out of the prison easily. Like a thumb drive, for example.
We also do not cover all the subjects that are offered in mainstream schools for security purposes. For instance, prison school does not offer Chemistry as a subject as it requires certain chemicals and laboratory apparatus.
But we do offer Physics and Biology. There's a science lab in the prison for those subjects.
Teaching students of different ages within a short time sounds tough. How challenging is it for you?
We have more than 10 full-time teachers in prison seconded from MOE. But we are also supported by part-time and volunteer teachers.
As prison teachers, what we need to do is to compress our content and make it easy to digest so that the students are able to understand.
We also do scaffolding for them to catch up.
(Editor's note: Scaffolding is a technique where teachers provide successive levels of temporary support to help students reach higher levels of understanding that they would not be able to achieve without assistance. As a student masters a skill, the teacher will gradually remove the support.)
The students are differentiated. Before entering prison school, each inmate has to take an entrance exam so that we can put them at the correct level.
The differentiation also continues in their class. Those who are faster are given higher-order questions. And for those who are slower, we will provide more help.
Some of them have never touched a textbook for years, decades even. So there are remedial lessons and extra classes for them.
We also pair them with the ones who are able to grasp concepts faster, so that they can still get help from others when they are studying in their free time after classes.
Have you ever experienced any troubles or unpleasant situations in prison school?
So far, I haven't encountered any unpleasant situations.
However, if anything were to happen, the teachers have a button we can press to call for assistance from the prison officers.
But I never had to press that button because the students are generally well-behaved. They also tend to take responsibility for their actions.
These inmates — they can see whether you are sincere when you teach them. If they feel that you are sincere, they will listen to you and respect you.
The common misconception that people have is that these inmates are not easy to control, and may even be violent at times. This is actually on the contrary.
The inmates are all very motivated in their learning and are disciplined, as long as you give them a nurturing and supportive environment.
In fact, based on what I've observed over the years, I would say that the inmates are more motivated than students from mainstream schools.
Being in a prison surely affects the inmates' mental health to a certain extent. Did you ever had to offer them any help beyond their academics?
In prison school, we emphasise character and citizenship education.
As I'm also a form teacher, I would spend time with my class to inculcate values in them, such as responsibility, tenacity, and discipline.
But beyond that, all of the students have a personal supervisor, who is a prison officer. The officer's role is similar to a counsellor. For instance, if a student is going through a personal struggle, they will talk to their personal supervisor about it.
And for us teachers, we will work with their supervisor and see how we can help.
Are you aware of each inmates' background and the offences they had committed?
No, no. I was never given any of the students' profiles.
And it's not something that we, as teachers, need to know.
Basically I'm just here to carry out my core duty lah, which is to educate them without having any pre-conceived notions about them.
Can you share more about your experiences and some memorable moments from all the years you've been teaching in prison?
There are so many.
Actually earlier today (Feb. 19), my students received their A-level results.
They are happy with the results and of course, I'm happy too.
Based on the results, three students qualify for polytechnic, private degree courses and full-time local university courses.
The top scorer in prison school is my student. He has achieved 5As and one B.
Seeing my students succeed is sort of an affirmation for all of my efforts the past few years.
I feel more encouraged. I must have done something correct lah. It's hard to describe the rewarding feeling in words.
The students would also sometimes give me appreciation cards to thank me for teaching them.
These cards are special and mean a lot to me.
But really, my most memorable moments are when I get to witness my students getting released from prison and turning over a new leaf.
Seeing them thrive outside of prison is a feeling that can't be described.
One of my students had left prison and came back to be the guest speaker of a national youth achievement award.
During the ceremony speech, he sort of thanked me for what I've done.
He actually remembered what I told him in class — that he should not feel inferior in any way to students from elite schools because he too, was taking the same national exam as them.
So this spurred him on to work harder and ultimately, he realised his full potential.
That was very touching.
Would you ever go back to teaching in a mainstream school?
No, I would still choose prison school.
Actually, one of my former students from prison school is actually my colleague now.
After getting released from prison, he went to take his degree in a local university. Then he came back to work as a part-time teacher in prison.
When I first saw him back in prison as a teacher, I was really touched because he managed to turn over a new leaf.
And that's not easy, you know? I was very proud... very proud.
He was my A-level student in prison school, and now he's my colleague. He sits opposite me in the staff room. It's really remarkable.
All the success stories in prison school — you just can't get that anywhere else. And that feeling of pride is unique, it keeps me going as a teacher.
Top images courtesy of Singapore Prison Service. Quotes were edited for clarity.
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What happens after retrenchment? Our writer opines that although it may be tempting to wait until a better job offer comes along, these are extraordinary times.The way things go, there could be three paths forward:• Remain where you are, and risk it.• Get retrenched, and spend a long time out of work, looking for a job.• Start actively looking for a job while you’re still employed.#retrenchment #job #jobsearch
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/workforce-singapore-job-hunting/
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Some of you may be old enough to remember the terrible job market that awaited job-hunters during the last 2008-2009 financial crisis.
Whether you were a fresh graduate, recently retrenched, or looking to make a career-switch, the options were severely limited.
In 2020, the US-China trade war, the Russia-Saudi Arabia oil price war, and the global Covid-19 pandemic all teamed up like supervillains to batter the economy.
Not surprisingly, as a small open trading nation, Singapore has taken quite a hit.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry reported that Singapore’s GDP contracted by 5.4 per cent in 2020, with a rise in resident unemployment rate of 1 per cent.
Retrenchments, no-pay leave and shorter hours can potentially hit those with jobs. Finding a new one in this climate must feel like sailing into a storm.
A CNA article quoted a lawyer, Muntaz Zainuddin, who said that she received a “50 per cent increase” in employment enquiries, both from firms and workers. These included new hires whose companies stopped contacting them, effectively rescinding their job offers.
Your best move might be to keep abreast of developments in your industry and develop the know-how for job-hunting even when you are employed now.
Take the leap
It sounds counterintuitive. Your instincts may be to stay where you are. But remember the fable of the frog in a pot of water, on a stove. It stays inside, even when the heat is getting turned up. By the time the water is boiling, it is too late to escape.
And if you do get retrenched, time is not your ally. The longer you go without a job, the greater the financial burden.
It may be tempting to wait until a better job offer comes along. After all, a job is a serious commitment, and you naturally want the best position for yourself.
But these are extraordinary times. The way things go, there could be three paths forward:
Remain where you are, and risk it.
Get retrenched, and spend a long time out of work, looking for a job.
Start actively looking for a job while you’re still employed.
Staying unemployed is not advisable
Although this can happen through no fault of your own, a period spent unemployed makes it harder to find a job.
A study conducted by the UCLA Anderson School of Management and the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 2011 found that “unemployment stigma exists”, it occurs instantly, it is hard to alleviate, and it leads to hiring biases against the unemployed.
It also found that it didn’t really matter whether the job-seeker was laid off, or left their previous job voluntarily, the bias still existed.
And the longer this lasts, the worse it gets. According to a Forbes contributor, recruiters tend to dismiss job applications from people who have been out of work for a year or longer.
Be flexible
So if there are fewer job opportunities out there, and it’s important not to leave gaps in your resume, what’s the next best option for a job-seeker?
In fact, there are other job offers besides permanent positions - short-term and temporary jobs.
Some companies may not be looking to hire full-timers, but are still looking for people to fill temporary positions. And while this may not be your cup of tea during normal circumstances, the circumstances are not normal.
No one knows how quickly the economy will fully reopen and recover, even if everyone who wanted a vaccine got one.
In such circumstances, it may be better to start looking now and narrowing your options down to the job that’s right for you.
Also, keeping an open mind about temporary or short-term positions might be good for your own self-esteem and confidence.
Facing rejections or “ghosting” from companies can be a big blow. It may be tempting to just watch TV and sit around at home, but it may just compound negative feelings of doubt and guilt.
By engaging in productive talks with companies willing to offer a short-term position, you can be reminded of all you have to offer, and have a more positive mindset with which to face these tough times.
Streamline your search
Most commercial job portals can make your search easier if you input key details like your experience, background, skills and asking salary.
MyCareersFuture.sg makes things even easier with some settings related specifically to newcomers and people who may not have looked for a job in a while.
Check the boxes as appropriate, and find a job opportunity that is more suited for your needs.
If you’re more inclined to sift through a steady stream of job openings, they can be found through a Telegram channel, SG United Jobs. It pushes applications directly to you via your phone, so you will always be alerted to a new job offer.
And while physical career fairs are on ice for the time being, virtual career fairs are still going strong.
Organised by Workforce Singapore (WSG), there are monthly thematic virtual career fairs and fairs which are divided by industry, so you can quickly find open positions that suit your particular set of skills.
Walk-in interviews are also conducted regularly at Community Clubs across the island, where jobseekers can connect up with hiring employers virtually, through the interview platforms on-site here.
Expanding your horizons
Temporary jobs don’t have to be temporary opportunities.
If you get the job and make a good impression, you may receive a permanent offer at the end of their stint. The key is getting your foot in the door.
A temporary job may also be more suitable for this circuit breaker period and beyond - whether it involves working from home, or an essential service that is allowed to continue operating.
And even if it does turn out to be a pitstop on your professional journey, the skills and experience you pick up could be very helpful in getting the ideal job after this one.
In addition, depending on the industry you choose, you may pick up useful contacts. In the words of an NUS career advisor, networking is not a “dirty word”, but a necessary skill.
It opens doors, helps to advance your career, and it is a skill that can be learned even if you’re an introvert. Your sojourn in temporary work may be just the springboard you need to gain a better job offer in the future.
Think differently
If you’ve been laid off and are looking to get back on the job market, you could choose to switch to a growth industry, or use your existing skills in a new way.
For instance, if you’re good with social media and have a sizable online presence, you could translate those skills into running the social media accounts of a company, and extend their reach.
If you’ve been thinking about turning your passion into an online business, you could use the downtime to learn the basics and start building your empire from the ground up.
If you need extra help or coaching to guide you through your job search, Workforce Singapore can help. You can sign up now via this link for Workforce Singapore to get in touch and offer you career guidance solutions, including a possible career coaching session.
This service is complimentary for Singaporeans and PRs.
A career coach will be able to assess your skills and circumstances, and offer advice tailored to you. Retrenchment is a painful experience, and job-seeking takes a lot of time and effort, but with the proper support, you’ll be able to put it behind you and get back on your feet.
Good hunting.
Top image from Workforce Singapore’s Facebook page.
This Workforce Singapore job search advice will be useful for this writer if he gets fired.
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This year, the Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE) will review the opportunities and pathways in applied education to cater to diverse learning interests and needs of polytechnic and ITE students, as well as to better prepare them for the future economy.#education #highereducation #students
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/moe-poly-ite-cos-2021/
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The post-secondary pathways in polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) place strong emphasis on applied education to equip graduates with industry relevant skills which prepare them for the workforce.
This year, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will review the opportunities and pathways in applied education to cater to diverse learning interests and needs of polytechnic and ITE students, as well as to better prepare them for the future economy.
This was announced by Second Minister for Education Maliki Osman during the Committee of Supply (COS) Debate on March 3.
Reviewing opportunities and pathways in applied education
The MOE review, led by Maliki, will focus on strengthening institutions' curricular offerings to address industry needs and prepare students for the workforce.
Another priority of the review will be to balance immediate-term job readiness and employment against long-term career resilience in the future economy. This will help students acquire sufficient versatility to seize emerging opportunities over the course of their careers.
The review will also study ways to expand community partnerships and programming to better support and uplift students with higher needs.
For instance, MOE will look into enhancing support for disadvantaged ITE and polytechnic students to enable more of them to complete their studies with a holistic educational experience, and help them achieve their full educational potential.
Maliki said:
"Over the past couple of months, we have spoken to over 400 stakeholders, including students and graduates of the polytechnics and ITE, their parents, employers and industry partners, and the staff. Their perspectives have been valuable in shaping the review’s early work."
Enhancing curriculum in ITE
MOE will also work to enhance ITE’s curricular structure, Maliki added.
MOE has progressively expanded upgrading opportunities for ITE graduates, in line with its commitment to provide opportunities for all ITE graduates to upgrade beyond a Nitec qualification over the course of their careers by 2030.
Building on these efforts, MOE will streamline the ITE curriculum to allow more students to attain a Higher Nitec qualification within a shorter time.
This will give ITE graduates greater access to upgrading opportunities, while ensuring that they remain nimble to meet the needs of industry transformation.
More details will be released in the coming months, Maliki said.
Expansion of Common Entry Programmes
The polytechnics also have plans to expand the Common Entry Programme (CEP) offerings from the Academic Year 2023 intake.
The CEP aims to give students more time to discover their strengths by providing foundational courses before they select an appropriate programme.
CEPs in the polytechnics will be expanded to include the Arts, Design & Media and Sciences clusters.
This adds to the existing suite of CEPs offered in the Engineering, Business, and Information & Digital Technologies clusters.
CEPs have exposed students to different courses within their chosen cluster so that they can appreciate the demands of each course, and discover their interests and strengths before deciding on their specific diploma course.
Top image from Nanyang Polytechnic/FB for illustration purposes only.
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Two years on from graduating, our writer Andrew Koay can’t help but look back on his days at university with a good dose of nostalgia.Apart from the carefree vibes and abundance of spare time, there was also a sense of satisfaction that came with learning something new and complex.While much of his day-to-day work at Mothership is learnt on the job, here are five things he learnt from university that he finds useful at work.#university #learning #work
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/university-useful-at-work/
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Two years on from graduating, I can’t help but look back on my days at university with a good dose of nostalgia.
Apart from the carefree vibes and abundance of spare time, there was also a sense of satisfaction that came with learning something new and complex.
However, now that I’ve entered the working world, how much of what I’d learnt is actually useful? Was studying just purely for the paper certificate?
To be completely honest, much of my day-to-day work is learnt on the job.
But that doesn’t mean that my time at university was a complete waste.
On the contrary, though it wasn’t immediately obvious, it’s clear that much of what I learned at university helped to prepare me for working life.
So, here are five things I learned from university that I actually use on a day-to-day basis at work:
1) Learn how to collaborate
Some people love them and some people hate them, but one thing unavoidable for any university student is group work and projects.
I personally didn’t love the idea of being forced to collaborate with total strangers; in any random group of five students there are bound to be differing levels of work ethic.
There’ll be the megalomaniacal perfectionist who insists on everything being done their way to their specifications; the group project ghost who fades into the background during meetings; the last-minute man who uploads his slides five minutes before the presentation, just to name a few.
But to be honest, that’s how it often is in the working world as well.
As long as you are working with other people, there will be idiosyncrasies and varying approaches to work.
Making any project successful involves navigating — and sometimes managing — these different personalities.
University represents an opportunity to hone the skills necessary to do just that in a relatively risk-free environment.
What’s the worst that could happen if your team fails to pull it together?
At university, you might have to endure an embarrassing presentation and a bad grade. That’s still better than getting in trouble at work where your employment might be on the line, or there’s actual money at stake.
2) Build a professional network
University is a great opportunity to meet people whom you’d probably never have met other than for the fact you happened to take a class together.
The unique thing about making friends at university is that you’re probably going to run into individuals from different courses and even different countries.
But apart from making friends, meeting lots of different people is also a good chance to build a professional network.
Since I’ve started work it’s been incredibly helpful knowing people from other companies and industries who are just a text away.
Being able to sit down and have a coffee with them has provided useful insight into topics that I previously had no knowledge of.
3) See things in a different light
The other thing that meeting people from diverse backgrounds does is that when you actually have a conversation with them you’re likely to hear different perspectives on things, opposing opinions on issues, and varying approaches to problems that you may not otherwise be exposed to.
Something else that will broaden your worldview are actually the theories you’re learning about at university.
Whenever you’re reading someone’s paper or listening to a lecturer expose the merits of a certain theory, you’re actually taking in a new perspective.
Having an open mind and broadening your world view can only be a good thing once you enter the working world and find yourself interacting with different people.
Your mind is opened to seeing situations in a new light and that inevitably leads to greater creativity.
When it comes to your career, this will pay off when you encounter a work-related problem or challenge.
4) Learn how to communicate effectively
If group projects split opinion, then presentations certainly unify them — no one likes giving a presentation.
I can remember one particular presentation at university where the nerves of speaking publicly about a subject I really didn’t understand sent me stumbling from one word to the next.
Eventually, the presentation ground to halt as I tried to recall what exactly the next sentence on my script was.
The whole experience was torturous.
The problem is that presentations don’t just stop at university.
For most working adults, presentations are quite a regular part of life; believe it or not, giving a presentation to your boss can be a whole lot more nerve-wracking than presenting to your classmates and lecturer.
Once again, university provides a pretty safe space to get better at your presentation skills.
But perhaps beyond giving a slick PowerPoint show, you’re picking up the indispensable skill of effective communication.
Being able to clearly get your point or ideas across at work could be the difference-maker between having your suggestion accepted or rejected.
The reality — as I’ve learned myself — is that it’s not always the best ideas that win, but the best-communicated ideas.
And if you think about it, giving presentations and writing essays or reports is all about that: arguing for a certain point of view and doing so in a way that your reader can understand.
5) Access technology and resources
Universities aren’t just good for the pure information you’re getting fed through lectures, they’re also equipped with resources that you’d have to fork out a fortune to own yourself.
The obvious one is the university library, but don’t forget programmes and other technology that you’ll want to master as well.
Learning and experiencing how to use a Bloomberg Terminal could be invaluable for instance if you plan on pursuing a career in the finance industry, for example.
If you’re lucky, your university might even incorporate the use of these technologies into their classes.
It’ll go some distance in making those first few days at work way less daunting if you’re already familiar with the tools of the trade.
Learning at James Cook University
All these skills mentioned above are inculcated in students at the Singapore campus of James Cook University (JCU) — who are currently holding their virtual open house.
For example, JCU incorporates cutting edge technology and innovations into classes wherever appropriate with their blended learning approach.
Part of this includes having research-active academics teaching the programmes offered at the university.
This ensures that students are soaking in relevant content during lectures and learning from real-life examples.
Furthermore, JCU’s learning spaces are designed to leverage and incorporate technologies into the classroom setting. A learning centre is also available to students with full-time advisors on hand to provide centralized support and guidance.
Prospective students can find out more by visiting JCU’s Accessible 24/7 Open House here.
Writing this James Cook University-sponsored article made the writer miss his university days.
Top image by Pang Yuhao via Unsplash
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“Covid-19 doesn’t so much introduce new disruptions, as it does accelerate existing trends,” said Minister for Education Lawrence Wong. One example of a trend that was pushed by the pandemic is Singaporeans’ use of technology.Hybrid arrangements in workplaces, such as working from home and conducting virtual meetings, has been talked about for a long time.But when the pandemic started, it quickly became a new normal.So this begs the question: Will fully working from home still be possible even after the pandemic?According to Wong, 100 per cent work from home is not doable.He explained: “You cannot function effectively without that human collaboration and that social interaction. So you do need a chance for people to come together.”However, Wong also said that things do not have to go back to the way they exactly were before the pandemic, and there is room for a paradigm shift in this area.An opportunity that this pandemic presents is for companies and employers to embrace flexible or hybrid working arrangements in the future, Wong suggested.#workfromhome #technology #covid19Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
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https://mothership.sg/2021/01/lawrence-wong-work-from-home/
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Is 2021 going to be a rerun of 2020, or a sequel?
This was one of the questions discussed on Monday (Jan. 25) at the 2021 edition of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) annual forum, Singapore Perspectives.
Editor-in-chief of The Straits Times, Warren Fernandez, had posed the question to Minister for Education Lawrence Wong, asking how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect Singapore in 2021.
Will things remain the same?
Differences between 2021 and 2020
In response, Wong admitted that with the recent rise of Covid-19 cases in the community, the current situation in Singapore may seem similar to what was experienced last year.
However, there are "important differences" that should be recognised, said Wong.
Some of these differences include higher testing capabilities and better contact tracing abilities.
Most importantly, vaccines are on their way, which Wong stated is a "game changer" for Singapore this year.
He added: "There may be some sacrifices that are still needed from time to time, we still will need restrictions. But let's get through this stretch, get everyone vaccinated, and we should be in a much better situation after that."
Covid-19 accelerated existing trends
Fernandez subsequently asked a follow-up question related to the idea of 'reset', which has been the main focus of this year's IPS conference.
Reset can entail many different things, said Fernandez. What kind of reset does the Singapore society need? And will there be major changes in paradigms?
In response, Wong said: "Covid-19 doesn't so much introduce new disruptions, as it does accelerate existing trends."
One example of a trend that was pushed by the pandemic is Singaporeans' use of technology.
Hybrid arrangements in workplaces, such as working from home and conducting virtual meetings, has been talked about for a long time.
But when the pandemic started, it quickly became a new normal.
So this begs the question: Will fully working from home still be possible even after the pandemic?
100 per cent work from home is not doable
According to Wong, 100 per cent work from home is not doable.
He explained: "You cannot function effectively without that human collaboration and that social interaction. So you do need a chance for people to come together."
However, Wong also said that things do not have to go back to the way they exactly were before the pandemic, and there is room for a paradigm shift in this area.
An opportunity that this pandemic presents is for companies and employers to embrace flexible or hybrid working arrangements in the future, Wong suggested.
"Do you really need to go back to where things were, where... sometimes you don't need to be in the office and yet you still insist on being in the office?"
Singapore's status as global hub still relevant
There are still some concerns though, which Fernandez raised during the discussion.
If people can work from home, then they can essentially work from anywhere, said Fernandez.
Would this then have major implications for Singapore as a global hub, because international corporations could then work remotely with anyone elsewhere. Why would they need to be in Singapore?
In response to this, Wong said:
"I can appreciate those concerns, but I will also put the point the other way, which is that I see and even in this new normal, you will still need some physical presence. You're not going into a world where it's all just machines and we stop having face-to-face interaction. That's not going to happen. It has not happened across human history and it's unlikely to happen going forward, because, as I said, humans are fundamentally social animals. So physical presence will still be relevant. And if you ask the broader international community, 'If you have to have some presence in Asia, where would you like to be?' Well, I would like Singapore to be first on that list. And I think, if we are able to respond well through Covid positions, this will take Singapore in a stronger position. Then indeed, we can be more relevant as a hub, not less relevant."
Top image screenshot via IPS Forum 2021 & Unsplash.
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Ant Group, which is owned by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, is restructuring itself as a financial holding company under the authority of China’s central bank.The move is supposedly a response to pressure from the Chinese government to keep in line with financial regulations, according to The Wall Street Journal.Chinese regulators had reportedly told Ant -- which has mainly described itself as a technology company for years -- to become a financial holding company entirely, which means it will be subjected to more stringent capital requirements.This would subject Ant to similar regulations that banks have to abide by, which might affect its growth and profitability.#china #technology #growth
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https://mothership.sg/2021/01/jack-ma-ant-group-restructure/
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Ant Group, which is owned by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, is restructuring itself as a financial holding company under the authority of China's central bank.
Move was in response to government pressure
The move is supposedly a response to pressure from the Chinese government to keep in line with financial regulations, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Chinese regulators had reportedly told Ant -- which has mainly described itself as a technology company for years -- to become a financial holding company entirely, which means it will be subjected to more stringent capital requirements.
This would subject Ant to similar regulations that banks have to abide by, which might affect its growth and profitability.
The move was not planned by the company's top executives in its initial stages as Ant said it wanted one of its subsidiaries to become a financial holding company
Ant is the fintech spinoff from Alibaba that operates the Alipay mobile payments and lifestyle app which has more than one billion users in China.
Ant's US$34.5 billion (S$46 billion) dual listing in Shanghai and Hong Kong were abruptly shut down in November last year by regulators over what South China Morning Post reported as concerns that it posed a systematic risk and was violating consumers' privacy.
Xi Jinping reportedly ordered the crackdown on Ma's tech empire
According to another report by WSJ which cited Chinese officials with knowledge of the matter, the decision was reportedly made by Chinese President Xi Jinping himself.
Xi had reportedly learnt of the speech made by Ma at a Shanghai event, which government officials saw as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of regulators by criticising them for holding back technology development.
This apparently stirred Xi's ire, which led to the decision.
As Ma tries to get back into Beijing's good graces, similar moves to fall in line with government-mandated measures are to be expected.
Related story:
Totally unrelated but follow and listen to our podcast here
Top image via Wang He & Costfoto/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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A 12-year-old boy in South Korea who started retail trading in April 2020 is turning heads, after he gained an impressive 43 per cent return on his portfolio within less than a year.Kwan Joon is among one of the rising number of young traders in South Korea, as the unemployment rate in South Korea for young people continued to jump amid the Covid-19 pandemic.Although his mother, Lee Eun-Joo, needed some convincing at first, she now appears to be supportive of his son’s new hobby.#economy #trading #people
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/south-korean-boy-trading/
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A 12-year-old boy in South Korea who started retail trading in April 2020 is turning heads, after he gained an impressive 43 per cent return on his portfolio within less than a year.
Kwan Joon is among one of the rising number of young traders in South Korea, as the unemployment rate in South Korea for young people continued to jump amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Focuses on value investing rather than day trading
According to Reuters, Kwon talked his mother into open a retail trading account for him in April 2020, weeks after the 2020 stock market crash.
The boy, who started earning money by selling toy cars since he was seven, used his savings of 25 million won (around S$30,000) as seed money.
He said that he is not focused on short-term day trading, preferring to invest in stable blue-chip stocks such as Samsung Electronics.
This has allowed him to earn around 43 per cent on his investments, within less than a year.
He idolises Buffet, the U.S. billionaire investor known as Oracle of Omaha, who also built his fortune as a value investor.
He also has a YouTube channel where he shares thoughts on a wide range of financial issues, including topics like bitcoin.
He details other parts of his investment journey such as saving up the money to invest as well.
Kwon is one of the young retailer investors who make up more than two-thirds of the total value traded in the nation's shares, a rise from less than 50 per cent in 2019.
He's also not alone in entering the market during last year's downturn.
Reuters reported that about 70 per cent of the 214,800 stock brokerage accounts for minors at Kiwoom Securities, with a market share of more than a fifth, were set up in January 2020, or after.
Traditional college path not as secure
Although his mother, Lee Eun-Joo, needed some convincing at first, she now appears to be supportive of his son's new hobby.
According to Reuters, Lee is anxious about her son's future prospects, as the traditional college path seemed more and more uncertain.
Young Koreans have a host of employment challenges, with the unemployment rate for those aged between 15 and 29 jumping to a record high of 27.2 per cent in January 2021, according to Reuters.
This phenomenon is not new. An earlier Reuters report in 2019 indicated that it was increasingly difficult for college graduates in South Korea to find jobs, with many forced to work in neighbouring countries, such as Japan.
The Korean Herald also reported in October 2020 that the job market for young adults is "moving into the worst situation ever", with the number of employed people in South Korea falling for six consecutive months.
At the very least, Kwon appears ready for the changing trends.
"Rather than going to good schools like the Seoul National University, I would rather become a big investor," he said.
Top image via 쭈니맨/YouTube.
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For many young Singaporeans, HDB’s “Built to Order” scheme is a common topic of interest amongst those who are preparing to move out of their parents’ home.But buying and renovating a flat is a pretty big financial decision. As much as we fantasise about our dream flat, many of us are bound by financial constraints that force us to prioritise certain factors.When planning a budget, for instance, it may be difficult to resist splurging on cute furniture and decor to achieve your preferred aesthetic.However, you do not necessarily need to break the bank in order to furnish your new BTO flat.Our writer came up with five ways you can save money when furnishing your new flat.YouTrip #money #planning #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/5-ways-furnish-bto/
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For many young Singaporeans, HDB’s “Built to Order” scheme is a common topic of interest amongst those who are preparing to move out of their parents’ home.
But buying and renovating a flat is a pretty big financial decision. As much as we fantasise about our dream flat, many of us are bound by financial constraints that force us to prioritise certain factors.
When planning a budget, for instance, it may be difficult to resist splurging on cute furniture and decor to achieve your preferred aesthetic.
However, you do not necessarily need to break the bank in order to furnish your new BTO flat.
Here are 5 ways that you can save money when furnishing your new flat:
1. Look for second-hand furniture
If you are not fussy and do not mind furniture that is not brand-new, seeking out preloved furniture can be a huge money-saver. After all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
The easiest way to start is by browsing Singaporeans’ favourite online marketplace, Carousell, online classifieds site, Gumtree, and Facebook Marketplace, and world’s largest second-hand dealer Cash Converters.
If you wish to cast a wider net online, you may consider joining relevant Facebook groups. Freevo and Singapore Neighbourhood Freecycle offer preloved furniture for free. Others like Free or Below $100 Used Furniture and Barter, Sale, and Blessing have used furniture going for free or for reduced prices.
You can also consider dropping by any Cash Converters physical stores, Hock Siong, and Thrift House Marketing if you wish to check out the goods in person.
Depending on your criteria and a bit of luck, you may be able to obtain some items for free or at least much cheaper than retail price.
2. DIY (with friends and family)
You can also save quite a lot of money by doing things by yourself.
Like painting your own flat, for instance.
Both Raffles Paint and Nippon Paint offer professional painting services that start at S$1300 for a 4-room flat.
According to Raffles Paint, an average 4-room flat requires a total amount of 42 L of paint, including ceilings.
However, you can purchase 42 L of R. Coat interior paint from Raffles Paint for S$340.
Local paint brand Gush offers 42L of Cair Interior Paint for S$628, which is still well below the budget of professional painting services. Other brands that you may consider include Nippon Paint and Dulux.
If you’re thick-skinned enough, try roping in your friends and family (up to eight people!) to help share the labour load and speed things up.
Apart from painting, you can also make modifications to second-hand furniture, such as by adding a fresh coat of paint, a new frame, or shortening the legs of a bed frame or table.
For those that are more ambitious, especially those of you who are really skilled with carpentry and the tool box, you can even try making your own customised furniture from scratch.
3. Hint to your friends and family to buy it for you
People often struggle with what to give others for occasions such as birthdays and house-warming parties.
Consider creating an Amazon wishlist to share with your friends and family.
Some merchant websites like Taobao may not have the same function but you can always compile the links into a shareable Google docs format, stating your preferred design, colour, etc.
Remember to include a diversity of items with a wide range of prices to suit the budget of each individual or group.
While the element of surprise is no longer there, at least the gift will be practical (far better than chucking it in a corner of your home or worse, throwing it away).
4. Pay for online shopping in overseas currency where possible
When looking for items online, some of us may be tempted to pay for items in SGD even if there is an option to pay in other currencies since it is the currency we are most familiar with.
By paying in SGD, you will incur both the bank administrative charges in foreign currency, plus the Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) charge.
Hence, when checking out your cart, it is sometimes actually better to pay in foreign currency instead since you won’t incur the DCC charge. This means that your total shopping cost might very well work out to be cheaper.
For foreign currency transactions, make use of YouTrip’s contactless Mastercard, which features a multi-currency wallet.
Boasting the best wholesale exchange rates, YouTrip supports payments in over 150 different currencies worldwide with no extra fees.
Compared to most money changers, YouTrip’s real-time exchange rates are also much closer to the rates that you see on Google, typically with a marginal difference of 0.1 per cent to 0.4 per cent.
You can even access the live rates and lock it down at any time via in-app exchange for 10 selected currencies: SGD, USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, HKD, AUD, NZD, CHF, SEK.
For other currencies, you can check the live rates here by entering the relevant details of your transaction.
5. Look for similar products on Taobao
When it comes to affordable goods, Taobao’s prices are hard to beat. Since almost everything is made in China these days, purchasing furniture and other home decor items directly from the source with minimal middlemen involved will keep costs low.
For instance, check out this Nordic Bedside Dressing Table that costs S$209.93, inclusive of sea shipping to Singapore.
You can find very similar products on Taobao using a reverse image search.
On Taobao, for instance, I found a similar table, with the option to add a mirror and chair (that comes in two different styles).
This 90cm table costs RMB396 (S$81.71), excluding international shipping fees.
A pro-tip is to look out for customer reviews with pictures of the shipped product that attest to its quality.
For shopaholics who intend to buy more than one item, Taobao’s consolidated shipping is your best bet.
Sea freight may be a little slower than air freight, but it’s also cheaper. This makes it the ideal choice for shipping heavier items like furniture if you can afford to wait a little longer (15 to 25 days) for items to arrive.
Shipping charges for large packages via sea freight start at RMB225 (S$46.47) for packages under 0.5CBM. According to the Taobao merchant, the item measures at around 0.129CBM (0.58m x 0.26m x 0.855m).
Thus, the total cost, including shipping charges, for this item is S$128.18, saving you around S$81.75.
To save even more money, remember to check out with cards such as YouTrip, which will allow you to save on additional fees incurred from foreign currency purchases as compared to using regular bank cards.
Available on both the App Store and Google Play Store, it only takes around three minutes to register.
For new YouTrip users, sign up with the promo code <MSTAOBAO> from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28 for a guaranteed S$10 cashback on your Taobao purchase that can be used for your next Taobao purchase by Mar. 31, 2021.
If you’re reading this article after Feb. 28, sign up with this promo code <MSYT5> for guaranteed S$5 upon successful card activation. Find out more information on how to get started via their website.
This sponsored article by YouTrip has given the writer something to look forward to when she finally gets her own HDB flat.
Top images via Pexels.
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After two years, Choa Chu Kang Public Library will reopen in the second half of this year with a revamped look and a host of new futuristic features.This was announced by Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) Sim Ann during MCI's Committee of Supply debates in Parliament on Tuesday (March 2).As the first of NLB's Libraries of the Future to be designed with a theme of sustainability, the library will feature digital services that aim to promote an appreciation of natural landscapes and biodiversity.It will also incorporate augmented reality features for some of the books it will carry, allowing library users to interact with them with their mobile devices.#environment #library #innovation
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/choa-chu-kang-library-opening-2021/
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mothership-sg
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After two years, Choa Chu Kang Public Library will reopen in the second half of this year with a revamped look and a host of new futuristic features.
This was announced by Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) Sim Ann during MCI's Committee of Supply debates in Parliament on Tuesday (March 2).
It has been shut for renovations since Jun. 10, 2019.
Designed with lush green theme
The Choa Chu Kang library is the first revamped public library that will be completed and reopened since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It's also the first of NLB's Libraries of the Future to be designed with a theme of sustainability.
The library will feature digital services that aim to promote an appreciation of natural landscapes and biodiversity.
It'll also incorporate augmented reality features for some of the books it will carry, allowing library users to interact with them with their mobile devices.
Ahead of the opening of the revamped library, Choa Chu Kang became home to the National Library Board's first book dispenser.
More details about the revamped Choa Chu Kang library will be shared later this year.
Top images courtesy of NLB.
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Nur Syakirah Syazwana may be born without hands, but she was not deterred from pursuing her passion in dance as an instructor at Anytime Fitness, and even found work as a delivery rider with foodpanda.Her secret? Always being positive, and never giving up — a mindset that has brought her through multiple rejections to where she is today.The journey hasn’t always been smooth-sailing.“I keep asking my parents: why am I like this? Why am I born with no fingers? Why am I not like normal people?”However, when Syakirah turned 15, she decided that she did not want to let her condition define her for the rest of her life — a pivotal moment for her.She began to stop hiding her arms, and started to be more open to the myriad of questions posed by others about her lack of limbs.She admitted that she did not know what gave her this new perspective, although it appears that she was simply tired of hiding her true self.#mindset #motivation #inspiration
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https://mothership.sg/2021/03/syakirah-fitness-instructor-born-without-hands/
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mothership-sg
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Residents of Woodlands may have chanced upon Nur Syakirah Syazwana, a 25-year-old foodpanda delivery rider with a rare quality: she was born with no hands.
Despite her apparent disability, this has not stopped Syakirah from living a full life. Apart from freelancing with foodpanda, Syakirah also works as a full-time dance instructor at Anytime Fitness.
Her secret? Always being positive, and never giving up — a mindset that has brought her through multiple rejections to where she is today.
Growing up without hands
As one might expect, growing up without hands was not a walk in the park for Syakirah.
Without hands, basic tasks such as picking up a pen or opening doors took far longer for her to master, as compared to her peers.
When she first started going to school, she was very self-conscious about her condition, believing that she would be bullied by her peers.
Her condition invited many questions, naturally:
"What happened to your arms?" "Was it an accident?" "How do you deal with it?"
Used to fold her arms to hide her condition
As a result of this unwanted attention, she would often default to folding her arms when speaking to others, so as to hide her condition from them.
In fact, she spent a lot of time feeling frustrated that she could not do the same things that others could.
"I keep asking my parents: why am I like this? Why am I born with no fingers? Why am I not like normal people?"
However, when Syakirah turned 15, she decided that she did not want to let her condition define her for the rest of her life — a pivotal moment for her.
She began to stop hiding her arms, and started to be more open to the myriad of questions posed by others about her lack of limbs.
She admitted that she did not know what gave her this new perspective, although it appears that she was simply tired of hiding her true self.
"Somehow, they will eventually know that you are disabled. So no point hiding behind a wall," she said.
She had no problem writing in school
Newfound confidence aside, how did Syakirah manage to keep up in school, given that she was born without hands?
Syakirah said that she faced no real problems, as she'd had extensive practice in things like writing since she was young.
Although she was always given extra time to complete her exams, she said that she didn't really need it.
And while videos of Syakirah doing her exams are naturally unavailable, writing without hands is in fact, very possible.
&ab_channel=BBCNews
And if you're curious what Syakirah's "technique" for holding pens and other objects, here's how she does her makeup:
Interestingly, the biggest problems that Syakirah faces due to her condition are at home. For example, she's largely unable to use scissors or knives, making it difficult for her to cut ingredients to prepare food.
She is also unable to hang clothes out to dry, as she is unable to grasp a laundry-drying pole.
But aside from these household chores, it appears that there are very few things that hinder Syakirah's everyday life.
In fact, she beamed with pride as she declared that "there's no issue at all" for her in school, or at work.
Being rejected by prospective employers
While Syakirah may be comfortable in her own skin and confident about her abilities, the reality is that others do not view her condition the same way.
This was made painfully clear to her when she was searching for a full-time job.
In January 2018, Syakirah began job hunting.
Having previously worked in an administrative position, she was keen to try out retail jobs, in order to broaden her experience.
This was not an easy task, said Syakirah, because prospective employers would appear hesitant to hire her, often giving her looks during the interview, as if they doubted her ability to do the job.
"Whenever I go for a job interview, they will have this...'I'm not trying to be judgemental (look)', but they are actually judgemental," she said.
She did not give up, and tried to apply for many different retail jobs, although her efforts were eventually in vain, as she was rejected time and again.
Eventually, she began widening her job search, applying for office jobs as well.
She eventually chanced upon a job ad for a receptionist at Anytime Fitness, and applied — almost as a last resort, with no expectation of getting hired.
After all, being a receptionist meant that she would be in a client-facing role, something that made many other employers hesitant to give her a chance.
However, she aced her interview, and was hired soon after, a full six months after the start of her job search.
Syakirah was oozing with excitement as she recalled how the job offer made her feel.
"I was so, so happy. It took a lot of time, it took a lot of telling myself not to give up. 'Keep trying! And if there is a will, there is a way.' Am I right?"
An opportunity to lead her very own class
Syakirah's first few days of work were nerve-wracking, as she was relatively shy and had little experience facing customers on a regular basis.
In particular, she was afraid that customers would judge her for her condition, making work more difficult.
The fear and nervousness that Syakirah said she felt then stood in sharp contrast to the bubbly and carefree personality she showed during our chat.
However, it was clear that her shyness is a thing of the past, as she quickly overcame it in her first month of work, with a lot of help from her managers and colleagues.
In fact, she ended up having her probation shortened by three months, and earned herself a promotion to become an ambassador for the Anytime Fitness brand.
After her manager encouraged her to try out the various classes they had to offer, she had her first experience with Salsation, which she described as "a mixture of salsa and sensation dance".
She particularly enjoyed Salsation because it was a more relaxing form of dance, compared to a higher-intensity activity like Zumba.
Her passion for Salsation grew, and it was not long before her superiors discovered it.
One day, the management in her gym approached her with a shocking proposal: Be a dance instructor for their Salsation classes.
Syakirah was initially hesitant, having no prior experience in personal training, but soon convinced herself that she should not be afraid of trying new things.
She was sent to Jakarta to take a professional course, and became a certified Salsation dance instructor.
Being the centre of attention was a new experience
While Syakirah may have stopped being shy in front of customers entering the gym, being the centre of attention as a dance instructor was a whole new experience.
Having spent much of her childhood trying to avoid unnecessary attention, becoming a dance instructor seemed counter-intuitive, as it meant that she would have to spend entire lessons with all eyes on her.
"I started being nervous. The nervousness, I can tell you, is 100 per cent nervous," she recounts with a laugh.
With around five to six people in her first class, she told herself to simply focus on her dance, and less on her students watching her, in order to alleviate some of that stress. Still, she recalls having difficulties speaking, making it difficult for her to lead the class well — something her supervisors noticed.
Luckily for her, Syakirah's supervisors and students were understanding, with her bosses telling her that it was completely normal to feel this way for her first class.
She took feedback in her stride, and continued to act upon the comments and improve herself.
In the course of the interview, Syakirah repeated the phrase "go with the flow" several times while talking about her response to setbacks. After all, she said, there was not much point in dwelling on the difficulties.
And while she continues to experience some stage fright prior to her lessons, she is now able to flip a switch in her mind, and be natural once the lessons start.
"Right now, I might tell you I'm nervous, but when it comes to the actual day itself, in front of everyone, I'll just be like: 'Hi everyone!'" she said excitedly, the pitch of her voice rising to match her enthusiasm.
For Syakirah, who grew up loving dance, being able to work as a dance instructor was an opportunity that she never thought she would get.
Started doing foodpanda delivery during circuit breaker
Unfortunately, when Covid-19 struck last year, Syakirah, like many other Singaporeans, was affected by Circuit Breaker restrictions from April 2020.
As part of circuit breaker measures, all gyms in Singapore were closed, meaning Syakirah was suddenly unable to go to work.
For the feisty Syakirah, this was daunting for two reasons.
Firstly, she would need to find an alternative source of income. Secondly, she felt confined at home, and desperately wanted to find a way to move about outside while complying with restrictions.
And so, she decided to try being a delivery rider for foodpanda, which let her earn some extra cash, and the freedom to stretch her legs.
This decision worried her family at first, as they were worried that her condition would make it difficult for her to conduct deliveries.
However, Syakirah soon found that delivering food, just like many other tasks in her life, was not that difficult, once she got used to it.
For example, while she initially had difficulties holding the order properly, especially if it was a substantial one, I could see that she's rather adept at it now, as she is able to carry a large McDonald's bag with no issue whatsoever, by balancing the food on her arms instead.
Being an avid cyclist, she initially delivered food in Woodlands while riding a bicycle.
And in case you're wondering how Syakirah can cycle without hands, she actually grips the bicycle handles with her arms. Without fingers, she is unable to brake, and uses her feet to manually slow the bicycle down.
This is an extremely impressive feat, especially to someone like me, who has both hands and can barely cycle without wobbling.
Just as she was getting used to being a delivery rider, a small hiccup happened: Her bicycle broke down.
Undeterred, she continued making deliveries either on foot, or by taking the bus for longer distances.
Taking the bus to make deliveries might not make sense to the average person, given that the bus fare would cut heavily into her earnings. However, Syakirah revealed that she has a concession card, which is subsidised by SG Enable, an agency dedicated to enabling persons with disabilities.
This allows her to take unlimited rides for a fixed fee.
As a delivery rider with no hands, Syakirah has definitely met her share of curious customers whom she said are generally very nice.
Many are surprised that she can deliver food to them despite her disability.
The first tip she received from a customer remains a fond memory.
She didn't actually expect to get any tips at all, and turned down the tip at first, but the customer was extremely insistent on rewarding her for her hard work.
For Syakirah, being acknowledged for her customer service is reward enough.
"When the customer feel happy...I also kind of feel happy."
She doesn't consider herself "disabled"
While the Circuit Breaker may have ended almost 10 months ago, Syakirah continues to make deliveries for foodpanda in her free time, as it is a good opportunity to earn a little extra money.
As for her future in Anytime Fitness, she made it clear that she doesn't intend to leave any time soon, given that she gets along extremely well with her colleagues, and enjoys her work immensely.
In fact, she loves being a dance instructor so much that she recently turned down an offer to be promoted to an assistant manager, a role which would involve more time in the office.
The once-shy Syakirah is now extremely comfortable engaging with others, and even has a 200,000 following on TikTok.
And despite her less-than-easy childhood, Syakirah has clearly come a long way.
She has mastered many tasks that would appear to be difficult for someone with no hands, and is far more upbeat than many people without disabilities.
To Syakirah, she is not "disabled", and she does not expect to be treated as such. "I don't have any struggles," she said simply.
And what's the key to her remarkable resilience?
"All I can say is, just be yourself, keep positive. And don't give up in whatever situation you're facing... I just keep myself happy, and enjoy myself. When I dance, I dance. That's all!"
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
Top image via Lim Jun Tong & Zenn Tan, Nur Syakirah Syazwana/TikTok.
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DBS Bank will no longer be using its physical tokens from April 1, 2021. This is part of the bank’s plan to make banking more seamless with digital tokens.A digital token will replace all SMS OTPs or authentication with the use of a mobile phone.#digital #mobilebanking
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https://mothership.sg/2021/01/dbs-singapore-physical-tokens/
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DBS Bank will no longer be using its physical tokens from April 1, 2021.
About 90% already going digital
This is part of the bank's plan to make banking more seamless with digital tokens.
In a report by Channel NewsAsia, DBS said that about 90 per cent of all logins involve DBS's digibank mobile app, which has the digital token embedded in the app.
A digital token will replace all SMS OTPs or authentication with the use of a mobile phone.
The digital token can be used for digibank online, eNets and eCommerce transactions.
According to its website, DBS will stop issuing physical tokens from Feb. 1, 2021.
Where to dispose physical tokens
Users will need to set up a digital token to log in to digibank online and mobile services to authenticate bank transactions.
Those who may want to dispose of the physical token can do so at e-waste collection points across Singapore.
You can find a list of e-waste collection points here.
Top image from Google Maps.
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Guo Liang's new talkshow, "The Inner Circle", started airing on Feb. 17, 2021. The actor and host kicked off the first episode with Li Nanxing as guest.In one of the conversations, Li shared about how he was juggling both his business and acting commitments. He admitted to developing a gambling addiction after ending his business.He was looking for a quick way to pay off his debt and believed that relying on acting alone would take too long.At that time, he happened to be filming "The Unbeatables II" and he said animatedly that if one was lucky, they can easily win hundreds of thousands of dollars after a few games, just as depicted in the television series.With S$200,000 that he had raised at that time, he visited the casino in Genting Highlands — wearing his character's clothes from the television series.Despite wearing his outfit from "The Unbeatables II" to the casino, Li lost big time.He then spent the next four years doing whatever he could to pay off his debt, even setting aside his professional pride to apply for "calefare" roles in Hollywood.
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/li-nanxing-gambling/
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mothership-sg
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Guo Liang's new talkshow, "The Inner Circle", started airing on Feb. 17, 2021.
The actor and host kicked off the first episode with Li Nanxing as guest.
While Li has recently gained publicity for his hae bee hiam products, long-time fans would also have heard of his struggles with debt and gambling in the past.
The 45-minute episode also saw Li discussing the high and low points of his acting career with Guo.
Gambling addiction
In one of the conversations, Li shared about how he was juggling both his business and acting commitments.
He admitted to developing a gambling addiction after ending his business.
He was looking for a quick way to pay off his debt and believed that relying on acting alone would take too long.
At that time, he happened to be filming "The Unbeatables II" and he said animatedly that if one was lucky, they can easily win hundreds of thousands of dollars after a few games, just as depicted in the television series.
With S$200,000 that he had raised at that time, he visited the casino in Genting Highlands — wearing his character's clothes from the television series.
Upon arriving, he was immediately recognised as "Singapore's gambling king", and the casino security escorted him into the casino, treating him like "a big shot, a VVIP".
Unlike the gambling king character that he played, Li had "really lost" and it became a lesson for him.
Li looked distinctly sombre as he recounted the experience.
"There was a time when I really hit rock bottom and didn't know how to turn my life around. It was very difficult, I didn't know which problem to address first, how to deal with the debt collectors."
Hollywood calefare
The veteran actor shared how he took on backstage work and "calefare" (extras) roles.
He cited an example of one he did for a Hollywood movie that he did not name.
He only had two scenes whereby his character was shot to death shortly after the door was opened, with barely any lines.
Li repeatedly emphasises, "It's like that," demonstrating his awareness of the nature of these jobs.
According to Li, some industry people were surprised to see his name among the audition submissions.
When probed about how he felt, Li responded that he had no choice as he needed the money and had to disregard his celebrity status.
"In this sort of situation, what else can I do other than find my own solutions by earning money here and there, to accumulate the sum that I need to solve the problems in front of me," Li explained.
As audience still wished for his return to the small screen, Li eventually returned to acting, after spending four years to clear his debts.
"Eventually, I returned to my old trade as the audience still wanted me to return to acting. At that time I plucked my courage and went back to acting. I spent about four years to clear my debts."
Since returning to the industry, he has done his best for the roles entrusted to him, instead of doing a slipshod job, Li added.
Totally unrelated but follow and listen to our podcast here
Top images via meWATCH.
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Singapore's fourth desalination plant, Marina East Desalination Plant, has officially opened on Feb. 4, 2021.The plant can produce 30 million gallons of potable water daily, meeting 7 per cent of our daily demand.This is also the first desalination plant that can treat both seawater and rainwater.During dry periods, this plant will treat freshwater from Marina Reservoir, which is less energy-intensive and more cost-saving than treating seawater.Besides using land more efficiently, this desalination plant is also accessible to the public.The water treatment facilities are located underground while members of the public can visit the green roof that serves as a recreational space like Marina Barrage.#singapore #watertreatment #cleanwater
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/keppel-marina-east-desalination-plant-official-open
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mothership-sg
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Singapore's fourth desalination plant, Marina East Desalination Plant, has officially opened on Feb. 4, 2021.
Fourth desalination plant
The plant can produce 30 million gallons of potable water daily, meeting 7 per cent of our daily demand.
This is also the first desalination plant that can treat both seawater and rainwater.
During dry periods, this plant will treat freshwater from Marina Reservoir which is less energy-intensive than treating seawater. This is also more cost-saving.
This desalination plant uses land more efficiently and is also accessible to the public.
The water treatment facilities are located underground while members of the public can visit the green roof that serves as a recreational space like Marina Barrage.
Every drop counts
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his opening speech that in view of climate change, the new desalination plant was designed very differently from other desalination plants.
"The Marina East Desalination Plant is of course very different from Bukit Timah Water Works. Not just in the technology it uses, but in its scale and scope but in conceiving and building it, we too are looking ahead, planning long term, and building for future generations."
Lee added that the government will continue to invest and develop new technologies to secure water supply and urged Singaporeans to conserve water as it is a "strategic and scarce resource".
"We are always pushing the limits of our water resources. And producing each additional drop of water gets harder and harder, and more and more expensive. We require more infrastructure, new technologies, more extensive treatment, all of which inevitably means a higher incremental cost."
Recalling when extreme weather has caused water volume in reservoirs to fluctuate greatly, Lee also urged Singaporeans to conserve water and make every drop counts as "there is a real risk to our water supply".
PM Lee also thanked the staff of Keppel and PUB, the contractors, sub-contractors and migrant workers involved in the construction for pushing on during Covid-19 and completing the plant on time.
Top photo via URA/Facebook
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Yang Anlin was the top GCE O-level student at his secondary school. He subsequently enrolled in Hwa Chong Institution after being advised by his family and teachers.Although he was doing well academically, he couldn’t find his purpose in JC, and was struggling to relate to his studies.Four months before his A-level exams, he surprised everyone by dropping out of JC. Yang tells Mothership how and why he made the bold decision despite societal and familial pressure.“I took PCME (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics), but I didn’t know why I was studying them, you know what I mean? I kept wondering what was the purpose. What if all of this has nothing to do with my future?That’s the thing about JC, it didn’t really give me an opportunity to find out what I really want to do with my life.[…]Since young, I have always been interested in computers, in IT. I would explore softwares online and try find ways to overcome computer viruses on my own. It was something that I enjoyed doing in my free time. But it was just like a hobby. I didn’t really take it seriously.That was when I had the idea of turning my love for computers into an actual career path.So when I chanced upon [Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Infocomm Security Management], everything just clicked.”
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/jc-drop-out-go-poly/
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PERSPECTIVE: 28-year-old Yang Anlin was the top GCE O-level student at Tanjong Katong Secondary School in 2010, having achieved nine distinctions.
Yang enrolled in Hwa Chong Institution after being advised by his family and teachers to enrol in a junior college (JC), but he later discovered that JC life was not for him even though he was still excelling academically.
Four months before his A-level exams, he surprised everyone by dropping out of JC.
Speaking to Mothership, Yang tells us how and why he made the bold decision despite societal and familial pressure.
As told to Syahindah Ishak
There were doubts, definitely.
I didn't know what was next for me, and I was aware that if things didn't work out, I would only have an O-level certificate to survive in Singapore. But I just knew deep down that I was on the wrong path. JC wasn't for me.
Since my first year, I had a lot of struggles.
I was doing well academically, but I struggled to find the meaning and purpose behind what I was learning.
And those struggles carried on till about four months before my A-level exam.
That was when I really couldn't take it anymore. It was the built-up stress and everything.
I just couldn't hold on any longer, so I decided to drop out.
How did the school and your family react to your decision?
Everyone was shocked. I guess nobody expected it.
I also don't blame them, to be honest. After all I had decided to drop out four months before the A-level exams.
My academics were actually fine, it wasn't like I was failing. In fact, I was doing quite well.
So my parents didn't understand. They just couldn't. We also quarrelled a lot, naturally. They tried to talk me out of it but ultimately, it was my decision and I stood firm by it.
Apart from my family, my teachers and friends were also confused by my decision. In fact, my teachers actually came down to my house to hear me out and understand the situation.
So I explained to them the reason why. I told them about the stuff I was going through.
They still tried to convince me to go back, but I didn't. I stood firm.
Can you explain more about your decision to drop out?
JC life was a struggle for me.
It wasn't really like in secondary school — that was one misconception that I had. I thought it would be the same. It turned out to be harder, honestly.
First, it was more fast-paced. The curriculum was very packed and because JC only lasts for two years, things were moving very quickly as you can imagine, having to squeeze all the learning within a short period of time.
Secondly, there was more studying.
In secondary school, I spent an average of three to four hours per day studying.
In JC, I would spend the entire day studying. That was all I did. I was just studying and studying. I didn't have a life.
But the main reason why I chose to drop out was because I couldn't relate to my studies and I really didn't like it.
I didn't like what I was learning.
I took PCME (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Economics), but I didn't know why I was studying them, you know what I mean? I kept wondering what was the purpose. What if all of this has nothing to do with my future?
That's the thing about JC, it didn't really give me an opportunity to find out what I really want to do with my life.
So I felt lost in a sense. I just studied and studied and studied for the sake of it.
But what was the point?
Why did you choose to enter a JC after your O-levels?
I did really well for my O-level exams and ended up being the top student in my school.
With my results, everyone around me told me to go to JC. They said that if not, I would have wasted my grades.
At that time, I also wasn't sure what I wanted to do in the future, so I just conformed to what others told me to do.
And because of my good grades, I was also pressured into entering a 'top JC' in Singapore.
Next thing I knew, I was in Hwa Chong Institution.
What was it like being in a prestigious JC?
Everybody there was intense.
When I first entered, I was very taken aback by my peers. Everyone was smart. Like, really smart. And the environment was competitive.
Being in a JC like Hwa Chong, the students are kind of expected to be perfect, you know?
Not only did they have to do well academically, they must also take their co-curricular activities (CCA) seriously.
In my time there, I actually made a lot of good friends who were all very nice to me even after I dropped out.
When I dropped out, they texted me to make sure I was okay and all that. They also tried to understand what I was going through.
I appreciated their concerns but at that time, I don't think anyone would understand the internal struggles I was facing.
What did you do after you dropped out?
After I dropped out of JC, I spent a lot of time wondering what I wanted to do next.
As I was still unsure about what to do next, I decided to go through National Service first and take some time to carefully think about my next move.
Of course, the feeling of uncertainty was still there.
Sometimes, I would feel anxious and I would overthink a lot about my future. But just thinking about stuff won't help so I decided to proactively do something.
During my NS, my mum told me that I could still use my O-level results to apply for a polytechnic course.
I actually didn't know about that but once she told me, I spent a lot of time researching about the different polytechnics and courses.
That was when I came across Singapore Poly (SP)'s Diploma in Infocomm Security Management (DISM).
Since young, I have always been interested in computers, in IT. I would explore softwares online and try find ways to overcome computer viruses on my own. It was something that I enjoyed doing in my free time. But it was just like a hobby. I didn't really take it seriously.
That was when I had the idea of turning my love for computers into an actual career path.
So when I chanced upon the IT course in SP, everything just clicked. It just felt right so I applied for the course without any hesitation.
How was poly life for you?
Once you find a purpose, once you find a meaning, the learning becomes enjoyable so I got a lot of happiness and satisfaction in poly.
I enjoyed and treasured every single day because I was learning about something I was very passionate about. Every learning opportunity for me was precious. I didn't take them for granted.
It was a different feeling from my JC time, definitely.
And I was very surprised by the number of opportunities that poly gives its students.
Besides the usual modules and learning about my specialisation, I had a lot of opportunities to meet professionals from the IT industry, and gained a lot of insights and received advice from them.
There were also many workshops and competitions that I was able to enter, and I eventually interned at NCS Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Singtel, under an internship programme.
When I was there, I wrote scripts and programs for various cybersecurity projects, which really helped me a lot to prepare for the working world.
Looking back, I had a great time in poly in general — that feeling I had combined with my passion for IT translated to my work.
I scored good grades and graduated with a gold medal, which is something I'm especially proud of because it's related to my passion.
What are you doing now and what are your plans?
Right now, I'm working as an IT Security Consultant in an IT company. It's what I've been doing since I graduated since I chose not to pursue further studies in a university for now.
But unfortunately, in Singapore, there's an emphasis on 'paper', i.e. getting a degree.
Regardless of how good you are, if you're not a university graduate, your starting pay won't be that high.
There's some worth to the paper, lah.
I'll see how things go as I move forward but right now, I just want to continue working and learn as much as I can from the IT industry.
Looking back, do you feel like you have wasted your time in JC?
No I don't feel like I wasted my time in JC. It is that journey and introspection and internal struggles that made me into the person I am today.
Like how I'm much more resilient and focused now.
Most importantly, through that journey, I found my true passion in life.
The process of dropping out and venturing into the unknown and surviving has also made me more confident. I feel like I'm able to overcome more obstacles that come in my way.
So in a way, I'm quite thankful that I went through it. But that doesn't mean that I liked my time in JC. It was a really tough period for me, I wouldn't want to go through it again.
Till this day, I think I made the right choice. I don't regret dropping out, I really don't.
I have no regrets.
Top image courtesy of Yang Anlin. Quotes were edited for clarity.
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As part of measures to aid sectors adversely affected by Covid-19, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that S$870 million had been set aside as targeted support for the aviation industry.Singapore Airlines (SIA) Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong praised the budget announcements, along with the prioritisation of the aviation sector in Singapore’s vaccine roll-out.“The measures will help to bolster the SIA Group’s plans to navigate the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, while remaining nimble and flexible to seize all opportunities as international routes re-open and travel sentiments improve,” he said in a statement.#singapore #aviation #airlines
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/sia-thanks-budget-2021/
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mothership-sg
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Singapore Airlines (SIA) has thanked the government for its continued support, as announced during yesterday's (Feb. 16) Budget 2021 speech.
As part of measures to aid sectors adversely affected by Covid-19, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announced that S$870 million had been set aside as targeted support for the aviation industry.
SIA Chief Executive Officer Goh Choon Phong praised the budget announcements, along with the prioritisation of the aviation sector in Singapore's vaccine roll-out.
"The measures will help to bolster the SIA Group’s plans to navigate the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, while remaining nimble and flexible to seize all opportunities as international routes re-open and travel sentiments improve," he said in a statement.
"The initiatives will also help our employees to retain their knowledge and competencies, and acquire new skills if necessary, ensuring that they are future-ready during this critical period."
Jobs Support Scheme extended
In his speech, Heng extended the jobs support scheme for firms in Tier 1 sectors — which includes aviation — by six months.
Firms in these sectors will receive 30 per cent support for wages paid from April to June 2021, and 10 per cent support for wages paid from July to September 2021.
He also outlined plans the sector had in mind to upgrade its capabilities and prepare for the recovery.
Net loss of S$142 million
The relief comes after the SIA Group reported a net loss of S$142 million in the third quarter of 2020/2021.
According to a press release from SIA on Feb. 4, they recorded a total group revenue of S$1.067 billion in the third quarter.
This was a major drop from the S$3.404 billion recorded in the third quarter of one year previous, mostly due to the global Covid-19 pandemic affecting passenger numbers.
However, SIA earned revenue from cargo flights, with strong demand for pharmaceutical and e-commerce goods. SIA stepped up capacity with passenger aircraft operating cargo-only flights.
"Since the start of Covid-19, the SIA Group has worked with our partners to continue providing essential passenger and cargo connectivity between Singapore and major economies around the world," said Goh after the Budget 2021 announcements.
"We are grateful for the support of all customers, stakeholders and staff members. The foundations that we build during this crisis will put us in a strong position to overcome the current challenges and cement our leading position in a fast-changing aviation environment.”
Related Stories:
Top image by Martin Widenka via Unsplash
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While one in five employers are expected to hire more people this year, those looking for a job have had quite the rough ride. We spoke to three working adults who at one point during the pandemic had tried to secure a job.Chan, 24, took 11 months to find a job. She had actually begun searching for a job since pre-Covid days, in January 2020. That was also at the start of her final semester.But as the months went along and, even as a new normal began to take hold, she still did not manage to secure a job.In fact, it would be 10 months later, in November, that she found a job as a content creator in the media industry.The difficulty in securing a job wasn’t just limited to fresh grads either.Ng, 25, who had already been working for about two years in an administrative role, found it difficult to find another job.It took her about six to seven months to secure a new job.In fact, the time taken to find a job nearly dissuaded her from a career shift.Fong, 29, started looking for a job around October and only just managed to find one in January, 2021.#jobsearch #recruitment #jobs
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/finding-job-applications-months/
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mothership-sg
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Finding a job has always been tough.
Last year though took that difficulty to a whole other level.
Covid-19 is unique in how specific sectors were overwhelmingly decimated, while others remained relatively untouched.
While one in five employers are expected to hire more people this year, those looking for a job have had quite the rough ride.
Tough times
We spoke to three working adults who at one point during the pandemic had tried to secure a job.
Spoiler alert, all three eventually managed to find jobs, but the process was quite daunting.
Chan, 24, took 11 months to find a job.
She had actually begun searching for a job since pre-Covid days, in January 2020. That was also at the start of her final semester.
But as the months went along and, even as a new normal began to take hold, she still did not manage to secure a job.
In fact it would be 10 months later, in November, that she found a job as a content creator in the media industry.
The difficulty in securing a job wasn't just limited to fresh grads either.
Ng, 25, who had already been working for about two years in an administrative role, found it difficult to find another job.
It took her about six to seven months to secure a new job.
In fact, the time taken to find a job nearly dissuaded her from a career shift.
“After a while, you just start lowering your expectations, in case you get disappointed again. Almost gave up on switching to a career in writing/copywriting.”
Fong, 29, started looking for a job around October and only just managed to find one in January, 2021.
They weren’t in sectors, or looking to go into sectors, that were terribly damaged by Covid-19 as well.
However, the virus situation did influence one of them, Chan, to steer away from more tourism-related sectors.
Their current placement on the job ladder were also vastly different.
One was a fresh grad, another had entered the job market a few years ago, while the third had been in the same line for over five years, and was looking for a change in setting.
While the time taken might have varied slightly, their processes were almost identical.
They had applied to a host of jobs, in total they had sent out over 300 job applications.
Which meant a lot of time spent on online job portals.
Accuracy
A common gripe by some in the job hunting process, is the broad range of jobs given to them. Whether it be jobs they are wildly under-qualified for, or even jobs that fall outside their skill scope entirely.
That's why finding a competent jobs portal, like MyCareersFuture (MCF), helps to filter out these types of jobs through more precise search terms.
For example, Fong who was previously in the media sector, could try and look for a job that is similar to the rank and pay she was on before.
Similar job options are also presented for a broader scope of jobs the seeker could try to apply for.
And there’s even a search function for government support for a myriad of job seekers. Fong for example could see what support there was for mid-careeer switchers.
Range of jobs
The range of jobs they applied for was quite impressive as well, with none of them stubbornly sticking to a narrow idea of what jobs they wanted to take.
But even then, with little to no success shown, it started to take a toll on them.
Chan talked about how she had to drastically rethink her expectations for what she wanted in a job.
“I was still quite hopeful at the start of the year until covid hit the economy hard. I heard people were losing their jobs or fearing that they might lose their jobs. Then, I realised I had to basically restart my job hunt and change my strategy...”
Lower expectations on pay, applying for smaller companies as well rather than just focusing on bigger brands, and most importantly steering away from the travel industry.
She even considered becoming a swabber, but eventually decided against it as she lived with older family members.
Self doubt was also a constant theme for the other two.
Ng felt discouraged, even considering whether to change the field she was trying out for.
Chan too wondered if her resume was indeed that utterly terrible, and if that was why her job hunt had been going so badly.
A sentiment shared by Fong:
“I felt very helpless and also incompetent, like was my resume really that bad?”
Which is a common refrain for many job seekers. MCF itself has become much more than just a jobs bank, it also provides helpful tips and lessons for job seekers.
There’s also the very helpful “check resume” feature that, as the name suggests, recommends edits to your resume before you apply for your dream job.
There's even access to career coaches who dish out handy tips for anyone who is looking for a job.
Finding a job is rarely a cake walk, especially with the general uncertainty permeating most sectors in Singapore.
So do your research, don't lose faith in yourself, and don't hesitate to get some help whenever possible.
You can try out the MCF portal here.
This is a sponsored article by MyCareersFuture.
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McDonald's’s is getting a global redesign in 2021. Instead of the current strong colours, the revamped packaging will see a cleaner design with minimal words and graphic representations of the products.The new look comes from Pearlfisher, an overseas-based brand design agency.The redesigned packaging will be rolled out to all markets globally, including the U.S. over the next 24 months. It has already been rolled out to selected markets, including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.#graphicdesigns #packaging #redesigning
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/mcdonalds-new-packaging/
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mothership-sg
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McDonald's is getting a new look in 2021.
Instead of the current strong colours, the revamped packaging will see a cleaner design with minimal words and graphic representations of the products.
Global roll-out
The new look comes from Pearlfisher, an overseas-based brand design agency.
The agency, which is based in the U.S. and Europe, confirmed that they have partnered with McDonald's to redesign their "global packaging system"
Some keywords in the visual concept include "identifiable, joyful and simple." The packaging also aims to be globally recognisable, no matter where the food is being assembled and consumed.
In response to queries from Mothership, a spokesperson for McDonald's Singapore said that they are "very excited about these happy, feel-good packaging and look forward to rolling them out in Singapore later this year!”
The redesigned packaging will be rolled out to all markets globally, including the U.S. over the next 24 months. It has already been rolled out to selected markets, including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
Top image by Pearlfisher and McDonald's
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Old photographs of Singapore in 1941, a few months before the Japanese invasion, have recently gone viral online.These photos, which are from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's collection, were taken by American photographer and journalist Harrison Forman, who worked for The New York Times and National Geographic.#magazine #history #photographer
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/harrison-forman-singapore-pictures/
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mothership-sg
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Old photographs of Singapore in 1941, a few months before the Japanese invasion, have been shared widely online.
The photos, which are from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's collection and were posted to Facebook by one Leong Kwok Peng, show snapshots of life in 1941 Singapore.
Photos show Singapore preparing for war
In a Facebook post on Feb. 10, Leong shared some of the photographs, which were taken by American photographer and journalist Harrison Forman, who worked for the New York Times and National Geographic.
Gearing up for war
The photographs depicted Singapore preparing for war, but while everyday life still went on.
Some of Forman's photographs showed bunkers, such as this one at Raffles Hotel:
And this one at 1 Raffles Place.
Here's a Straits Times headline from back then:
Everyday life
There were also some depictions of everyday life back then:
Familiar sights
Some of the photographs also included things familiar to us today, such as the brands Lux soap and Tiger Balm:
And here's a fire alarm that had its instructions written in a number of different languages:
Photographs spark nostalgia
The photos appear to have sparked nostalgia and induced fascination for many on Facebook, with people sharing their memories of the places and trying to identify where the photos may have been taken.
Hairdresser at Chulia Street and Church Street
South Bridge Road and Circular Road
Battery Road
Chijmes
Tramcar
You can see more of the photographs posted by Leong, which have been shared more than 2,000 times, here:
Local history blog The Long and Winding Road has also posted other selected photographs that Forman took of Singapore.
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Top photos from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Harrison Forman Collection via Facebook / Leong Kwok Peng.
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Sometimes, love blossoms in the least likely of places. For Kevin Yap, 59, and Lynda Seah, 53, their love story began, and continues to grow, at Cold Storage.They met at Cold Storage Singapore Katong, 34 years ago.Back then, Kevin worked as a Grocery Executive, and Lynda, as an administrative assistant. However, while they got acquainted as colleagues, neither party developed any romantic interest in the other.As Kevin put it, “nothing happened.”Then, in 1996, their careers — and lives — once again intersected.Kevin and Lynda had since been promoted to Supermarket Manager and Department manager respectively, at different outlets.Through several more encounters, Kevin and Lynda’s relationship progressed steadily and naturally, as they had many opportunities for interaction while working closely together.Eventually, they tied the knot in 2000, and will celebrate their 21st anniversary this year.“If it’s meant for you, it’s meant for you,” says Kevin, reflecting on the way they ended up together nine years after the first time they met.#love #people #work
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/colleagues-turned-soulmates-cold-storage/
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Sometimes, love blossoms in the least likely of places.
For Kevin Yap, 59, and Lynda Seah, 53, their love story began, and continues to grow, at Cold Storage.
Guided by fate, as they both put it, to be colleagues-turned-soulmates.
While they have been assigned to different stores, and have had to negotiate long hours and conflicting schedules, their relationship has thrived over the years.
The couple, who are now both Supermarket Managers, tell us more about how working together in the same job has only made their relationship that much stronger.
Met in 1987, got together eight years later
They met at Cold Storage Katong, 34 years ago.
Back then, Kevin worked as a Grocery Executive, and Lynda, as an administrative assistant. However, while they got acquainted as colleagues, neither party developed any romantic interest in the other.
As Kevin put it, "nothing happened."
Evidently, it was not love at first sight, and they eventually went down their own paths.
Then, in 1996, their careers — and lives — once again intersected.
Kevin and Lynda had since been promoted to Supermarket Manager and Department manager respectively, at different outlets.
Says Kevin, "I was running Cold Storage Jelita back then, and we needed someone skilled in the Dairy and Frozen Department. Lynda's name came up, and her knowledge and experience in the area warranted her coming in".
That transfer would mark the beginning of their love story.
Through several more encounters, Kevin and Lynda's relationship progressed steadily and naturally, as they had many opportunities for interaction while working closely together.
Eventually, they tied the knot in 2000, and will celebrate their 21st anniversary this year.
"If it's meant for you, it's meant for you," says Kevin, reflecting on the way they ended up together nine years after the first time they met.
Creating time together at every opportunity
The pair credit the strength of their relationship to a few key principles — love, trust, mutual respect, and understanding — as well as a promise they made to each other when they married — to "communicate, communicate, communicate."
Despite having busy schedules — so busy, in fact, that the interview had to be done in Takashimaya after Kevin ended a shift, with Lynda video-calling in during a break — they make it a point to share everything, good or bad, with each other.
Phone calls are a daily occurrence — a comfort whenever either partner faces an issue at work. These calls, they explain, help them to work out their issues together.
Additionally, whenever Kevin works late, Lynda will travel down from her workplace at the Aperia Mall outlet in Lavender to his outlet at Takashimaya in Orchard, so that they can travel home together.
And Kevin does the same for Lynda as well.
Says Kevin,
"We are firm believers of the mindset that no matter how busy we are, we need to create time to be together. Even if it's just 15 minutes. Every minute and every second that we are able to be together, is time that we embrace and cherish."
The value of a common interest
Given that feeling disconnected can be a source of relationship stress, the couple said that sharing a common interest and passion for their job has been an important unifying factor for them.
Kevin and Lynda explain:
"If you have a relationship where there are no relatable topics you're able to share, you might find a slight rift in the relationship or feel left out." "We feel blessed that we are in the same field, because we can easily share things with each other on any topic and relate. If I share something, she understands, and if she shares something, I understand." "It's easier to communicate that way."
Quips Kevin, "In fact, many of our colleagues consider us a 'power couple'. Sometimes, it's even like 'Buy one, get one [manager]'," he says, referring to how the couple will often help each other out with issues at work and come up with solutions together.
While Kevin does not shy away from the fact that his colleagues hold him in high regard, he is also quick to attribute his success to Lynda's unwavering support for him over the years.
"My wife is my rock," he says, adding that "without her trust in me, I would not be where I am today."
"Understand and compromise" for a lasting relationship
Like any other couple, Kevin and Lynda say that the demands of work have at times posed a challenge to their relationship.
But going through these difficult times together has only strengthened their bond.
They recall a period of time when Kevin was assigned to a project which involved a five-month long trip to India, when he had to leave Lynda and their sons behind.
Says Kevin, "Back then, she did not hesitate in wholeheartedly supporting the decision, and letting me go."
And on Kevin's end, he never failed to call Lynda and his sons every night that he was away.
"It's about caring, whether the situation is good or bad. You cannot just think for yourself. Understand and compromise, and the relationship will survive."
A special celebration this year
This year though will mark a first for the couple; they will both enjoy a long weekend together, as both their work schedules are clear for the first two days of Chinese New Year (Feb. 12 and 13).
In all their years working at Cold Storage, one of them has always had to work on either of the two first days, making this year's long weekend especially precious.
Their schedules are also clear for Valentine's Day on Feb. 14, giving them the opportunity to take the time off, and enjoy the day together.
The couple share that they are elated to take a well-deserved break, sharing that they will be celebrating the new year simply with family, and having a "double date" with their eldest son, who just got married in December 2020.
And in the long term, it seems they intend to bring their journey together full circle, with Kevin speaking about their career plans in no uncertain terms: "we intend to work at Cold Storage until we retire."
Says Kevin,
"There's no other place. Both of us see this place like our home. If we are not at home, we are here. It is our second home now."
Stories of Us is a series about ordinary people in Singapore and the unique ways they’re living their lives. Be it breaking away from conventions, pursuing an atypical passion, or the struggles they are facing, these stories remind us both of our individual uniqueness and our collective humanity.
All images courtesy of Kevin Yap
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Budget carrier AirAsia is starting its food delivery service, airasia food, in Singapore in March 2021. The food delivery service had already started operations in Malaysia in May 2020, and has since clocked 15,000 delivery orders in its first three months of operations with 500 restaurants on board.AirAsia claimed it pivoted to doing food delivery after finding out that food delivery platforms in Malaysia were charging between 20 per cent and 35 per cent commission, which it labelled as “exorbitant commission rates”.AirAsia said airasia food runs on a zero-commission model with merchants being able to choose from flat-rate plans for payment and delivery.#restaurants #delivery #singapore
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https://mothership.sg/2021/02/airasia-food-delivery-singapore/
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mothership-sg
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Budget carrier AirAsia is starting its food delivery service, airasia food, in Singapore in March 2021.
AirAsia said it has obtained all the necessary approvals from the Singapore authorities to start operations.
AirAsia said it wants merchants in the beauty, fashion, fresh produce and hotel industries to register their interest to launch more products.
The food delivery service had already started operations in Malaysia in May 2020, and has since clocked 15,000 delivery orders in its first three months of operations with 500 restaurants on board.
AirAsia claimed it pivoted to doing food delivery after finding out that food delivery platforms in Malaysia were charging between 20 per cent and 35 per cent commission, which it labelled as "exorbitant commission rates".
AirAsia said airasia food runs on a zero-commission model with merchants being able to choose from flat-rate plans for payment and delivery.
Online food delivery is proving to be lucrative, as it raked in S$616 million in business in Singapore in 2020, according to research firm Statista.
Foodpanda, Deliveroo and GrabFood are the three major platforms.
They entered the Singapore market in 2012, 2015 and 2018.
New platforms, such as WhyQ, Chope On, and Pickupp have popped up.
These different platforms have provided a source of income for those who do deliveries on a freelance basis, both full-time and part-time.
Top photo via AirAsia
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