TR EMERITUS

I once dreamed of going to work like this all day Something unusual happened today. I actually put on proper pants and a new shirt to go to work. Boss told me that we were meeting an important prospect and I needed to dress up. So, instead of the usual jeans and black t-shirt, it was pants, shirt and jacket. Having to “dress up” was a surreal experience. I remember my student days when I actually dreamed about working in a profession that needed me to the suited up. I was quite specific in my ambitions back then. Wanted to be an assistant vice-president at Citibank by the time I reached 30. Wanted to be married to a Chinese General’s daughter (or at least someone who looked like Joan Chen in the Last Emperor) and have a load of kids who would be fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese (I communicate in both very badly and am Chinese illiterate) as well as English. Well, I achieved part of my goal. I am now well over 30 and its very clear that I’m not about to work in a bank or any high flying corporate job. If anything, I try to down play things. Yes, I had a few glorious moments but these things are well in the past. Sure, I haven’t achieved anything I am particularly proud of since 2014 when I joined office-land. My greatest achievement working in office land has been to avoid doing violence to its residents and burning paper files, which seem to be generated for the sake of it. When I go for client meetings, I make it a point to let people know that the boss is the clever one, whilst I am merely a carrier of boxes. One might ask why I’ve developed a preference for doing the muscle work and a paranoia of having to do “clerk” work in my late forties. Part of the reason. I guess, is simple. I’ve reached the age where I can accept certain things are not for me and to be at ease with it. My priority is now peace of mind. Sure, I will probably need to work to the day I die and so I will need a job of sorts. However, I don’t want things that will screw up my wellbeing and to stay active. The doctors have made it clear that after nearly four-decades of too much food, booze and exercise that daily exercise for the rest of my life is no longer negotiable. So, I volunteer for the task that require me to do lots of walking and staying active because non-exercise thermogenesis (NEAT) is one of the best ways to keep the heart pumping. I avoid being in the office and doing paper work because I don’t need the drama associated with them. It’s not that I don’t like dressing up. I will, especially when I still get invites to diplomatic functions or attend court as part of my day job. There are certain places that do need to be respected with your personal dressing. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to fly first class or even private jet and stay in presidential suites. However, that’s just a nice experience. The real joy is spending time learning about a new place or simply being with loved ones. I enjoy the things money can buy but I don’t believe it’s essential to sell your soul to someone else’s ideal. I don’t need to be a uniform to say that I work in a certain job that gives me a certain status just like I proudly lost my degree certificate because I don’t need a piece of paper to tell you I’m educated – that should be clear from what little manners I have. The future at 50 looks different from 20. At 50, you know that the future comes soon enough and you got to prepare for it. I’m trying to be healthy because I’m going to need to generate an income till the day I die, so I got to be healthy to do that. I’m also going to need clarity and simplicity of expectation. There’s no point killing yourself to impress people who wouldn’t bat an eyelid the moment your coffin hits the crematorium.   Tang Li *Although I’ve been based mainly in Singapore for nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of being able meet people who have crossed borders and cultures. I’ve befriended ministers and ambassadors and worked on projects involving a former head of state. Yet, at the same time, I’ve had the privilege of befriending migrant labourers and former convicts. All of them have a story to tell. All of them add to the fabric of life. I hope to express the stories that inspire us to create life as it should be.      Read More →

When the Lee family saga first erupted, Singaporeans saw it as unfortunate. As it unfolded, it became sensational, garnering not only national but international headlines. It was painful to see a family squabble turn into a spectacle. The Prime Minister’s nephew has since paid a price for his indiscretion, the Prime Minister’s sister-in-law too has paid the price for hers. Now we are told that the police is investigating both the Prime Minister’s sister-in-law and brother, and they have left the country. So the saga continues. But for Singaporeans, it is no more unfortunate and painful. It is a distraction and a disturbance. Every time something new and sensational happens, it is disturbing to families, disturbing to the community. Within families, there is arguing because people being people, they take sides. Within the community and on social media, there is bickering because there are pro-factions for the different sides of the Lee family. It also becomes a political football, especially when it makes its way into Parliament. Not to mention the own goal Singapore scores whenever it makes international headlines, ownself causing reputational damage to ownself. Unless the Lees move on, the country cannot move on. Their saga becomes our saga.   Augustine Low      Read More →

Mdm Ho Ching I read with interest The Independent Singapore’s OPINION, “Glossing over conflicts of interest, Ho Ching for President, tents as affordable housing instead of flats and other stories in review” (Feb 25). The recent Temasek's investment loss of $275 million in the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX was perceived by the people as disappointing, sad, incomprehensible and damaging for Singapore. Besides, according to the South China Morning Post, dated 16 August 2022, Temasek Holdings’ stock bets also incurred steep paper losses on BlackRock, Amazon, PayPal and Airbnb. In due course, Temasek Holdings’ stock bets shrank by about US$5.6 billion, the most in 17 years, amid Fed hikes and recession fears. Given the fact that Temasek has the necessary financial resources, a galaxy of talent in the fields of financial planning, investment and management, it should be more prudent in its undertakings/investments. If these huge sums were not lost in the investments, and therefore could be meaningfully channeled into helping the needy low-income groups or households of Singaporeans with financial predicament, I deeply believe many Singaporeans would benefit from it. Whether or not Madam Ho Ching, the prominent figure who had been helming the top leadership of Temasek Holdings for at least 18 years would take part in the forthcoming Presidential Election? Let us wait and see. As the saying in Chinese Allegory nicely describes it “Treat a ponytail as a string” - Let nature take its course. And, the possible outcome of the presidential election is also duly depicted in a Chinese Allegory as, “A watermelon is being firmly gripped in the arms”- sure win. Indeed, we have to recognise the fact that only a few Singaporeans are interested, qualified and willing to throw their hats into the ring. It is mainly due to those qualified Singaporeans are apathetic to the “dirty” politics. As of the matter - the Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling has been appointed as Grab’s Director of Corporate Development is generally perceived by the netizens as “Putting on a felt hat in the summer”; as it could have possibility of a conflict of interest with her role as a MP. Anyway, the current spiraling housing costs have been commonly perceived by most Singaporeans, especially the younger couples as “A castor is being knocked over” (they won’t be able to do anything about it). Moreover, it seems that the situation is stagnant and could get worse if no better solutions sought.   Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)      Read More →