CROSSROADS

Do I miss Singapore?

2012-02-24T14:24:00.000-08:00

It has been almost 3 months since I left Singapore for Canada. So, is the grass greener here? Even my better half is asking me if I have any regrets coming over. Do I miss Singapore?

If I change the question to "Should I miss Singapore?", then the answer is an emphatic yes.

I was living in a cozy 3 rooms apartment in a prime district in Singapore and now I am living in a 1 bed room apartment in the suburb. I was holding a high-flying job as a department head in a bank in Singapore and now I am jobless in Canada learning how to write resume & improve communication skill. I was driving a MPV in Singapore and now I am still trying to pass my driving test & getting use to bus routes and subway stations. I was regularly enjoying fine dinning in Singapore and now I am regularly looking for cheap dinning & doing home cook food.

But ironically, I don't really miss Singapore.

My 1 bed room apartment, although is small, is cozy and it literally drawn the whole family even closer together. I bought my 2 kids a nice bed each with a partition in the middle of the living room and they even joked that I cannot enter their "room". Every night we have dinner together as a family and share about anything under the sun. The children are doing well in school and becoming more independent. It is a joy for me to hear my daughter talking excitedly about her PE lesson and my son talking about his resume that he needs to prepare to get a job under the school program.

Not having a job is tough and not having the regular monthly salary is scary, especially when I have been the bread winner all these years. But the thought of going back to the stressful job & long working hours in Singapore is equally scary. I am so thankful that now I already have a job waiting for me.

Taking buses & subways may not make me feel good and important as compared to driving my own car. But the journey can be interesting as I observed people and spent time in quiet reflections. I don't need to get frustrated with slow traffic, inconsiderate drivers, passing ERP without cash card or looking for car park lot.

There is no way I can get Singapore hawker food here or afford similar Singapore-style fine dinning, but I take comfort that I am eating healthy food now. I cook for the family and they love my food. It is a joy to hear their positive comments every time I try a new dish or add some new ingredients. The food from the market here is so much cheaper & fresher than in Singapore.

But I do miss friends and families in Singapore. I missed the gatherings, the sharing, the jokes, the encouragements...etc. While new friends come into our lives here, old friends in Singapore are not forgotten.

One thing I definitely do not miss about Singapore is the hot humid weather. Although I am going through the infamous harsh Canadian winter now, thankfully this year is considered a warm winter in a long time. But it is still very cold by Singapore standard with temperature some time falling below -10%C. I love the cold and particularly the falling snow. It always thrilled me to watch the dancing snowflakes from my warm apartment window and sipping a cup of steaming hot coffee.

I am thankful for the good start so far. I know the way ahead may not be smooth sailing all the time. I know I will have new crossroads before me, but I know I can confidently cross them with God's help. I am also thankful to Singapore for giving me the opportunity to build a solid foundation from which I can be where I am now......for that, I do miss Singapore.

Surviving Immigration

2012-02-10T16:40:00.000-08:00

I have not posted a blog entry for over a month. This is not because I have fallen in my immigration journey or become too disillusioned in my new environment.

On the contrary, I have been extremely busy, much to my own surprise. The initial plan was to relax and enjoy doing nothing, at least for the beginning part of my journey. Somehow, doing nothing is just not in my blood.

I enrolled in a real estate course in early January & confidently booked the examination date in early February. As usual, I procrastinated & by mid January, I started to panic as I realised that there were a lot of required readings as well as assignments needed to be submitted before I was allowed to take the exam. Suddenly, it was like back to student days again..... homework and burning mid-night oil to prepare for the exam. On the day of the exam, I actually experienced the good old days of "exam jitters". On my way to the exam venue, I tried to do some last minute revisions in the bus. While waiting for the exam to start, I observed other candidates who were probably in the late 40s to 50s, anxiously going through their text book. It was a 3 hours paper. I completed in less than 2 hours. I felt young again.

Concurrently I was also attending a Financial Services Bridging Program organised by a government sponsored employment assistance agency. The program basically helps immigrants with professional qualifications and experiences in financials services to get a job in Canada. We learned resume writing, interviewing skill and other communication skills. We also have to do a business law course conducted by a leading Canadian University and an exam has to be taken at the end of the course.

Personally, I am so amazed at the amount of work and preparation that are required to look for a job in Canada. Every word in the resume has to be precise & appropriate. Every scenario in an interview should be anticipated and every possible questions should be prepared with answers well rehearsed. It would probably be right to say that getting the job is tougher than the doing the job! As I recalled the hundreds of interviews that I conducted in my previous job back home, I almost felt guilty that I had fallen short of the standard.

I am really thankful to God that so far my family and I have been surviving fairly well in our immigration journey. My wife is already gainfully employed & settled in her job and my 2 kids are in school and performing well. I am the only person left that is still not settled, waiting for the necessary paper work before can I start work in NY.

So, what is my verdict so far as a 2 months old immigrant?

Life as an immigrant is certainly not easy. While the government has been very supportive in helping immigrants to integrate into the society, it is not easy to relate to the new environment of people with diverse cultures, habits, outlooks..etc. Notwithstanding the differences, the people are generally very friendly, nice and helpful. You do not get abused, insulted or even commented on because you speak in a strange accent or you have a different color skin. This is perhaps contributed by the country's strong emphasis on individuals' rights & freedom which is enshrined in the Constitution. I am ashamed to confess that I am not even aware if Singapore's Constitution has the equivalent of the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms.

The most crucial aspect to succeed as an immigrant is really to be able to get a job. The longer the wait, the more desperate one becomes. The usual hurdle to getting a job in Canada is the lack of Canadian experience. It becomes a chicken & egg issue. How can an immigrant acquire a Canadian experience if every job requires a Canadian experience first? I was told the real reason for not landing the dream job is that immigrants do not understand what the Canadian employers are looking for.

I reckon the most important element to survive as an immigrant is to have a very open mindset to want to try new things and make new friends. While job may be hard to come by, new experiences never stop. As long as the mind is set and the heart is willing, it will come.

Farewell 2011

2011-12-31T19:30:00.000-08:00

As I sat in front of my window, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate and admiring the beauty of the dancing snow flakes outside, I am amazed how 2011 has panned out for me. 2011 has been a watershed year as I embarked on probably one of the biggest crossroads of my life. As the catch-phrase goes, life will never be the same again....

The year 2011 started promisingly for me following a turbulent 2010, particularly in the workplace where the new management team (which I was a member) assembled in 2009, implemented wide ranging changes to improve performance. However, as the year progresses, work life remained challenging as the economic environment continued to be plagued by major events such as the Euro debt crisis, Japan's earthquake & nuclear disaster and the Thailand flood.

As a family, we were excited about our new PR status in Canada as we planned for our first landing in June. We were uncertain if the whole family should move permanently at the same time or whether we should delay coming over or stagger our move. The opportunity cost was very high and the uncertainties of starting afresh in a new country was mind-boggling. Eventually we decided to take one step at a time. The plan was for my wife to remain in the country after our first landing since she did not have much commitment in Singapore. As things turned out, we fell in love with the country after our first landing and even my son decided to stay on instead of returning to Singapore to complete his study for the year. Only my daughter & I returned to Singapore to settle outstanding matters and we came back to Canada to reunite with the family only recently.

Personally, there were key moments in 2011 which will have a lasting memory in my life :-

Most Challenging Moment
Making our first landing in Canada. We were totally new to the country without any friends to help or guide us. Basically we needed to trust God for every step of the way. What we could do initially was simply to search the internet to book the accommodation for 2 weeks and then flew thousands of miles across the oceans to a new & unknown land (to us) without really knowing what to do or to expect. We only knew generally that we needed to apply & obtain all the necessary documents such as the PR Card & the social security card as well as to confirm the schools for my children & to get a permanent place of residence. But when, what,where, how? There were many questions with no answers as we did not know anybody in Canada to consult. And the target was to settle everything within a month. It was challenging as we solved each problem that came our way. We had to deal with the problems by trial & error with some help from "angels" along the way. Overall, we managed fairly well since we are already comfortably settled now.

Saddest Moment
When my dad unexpectedly passed away in the hospital. It was difficult for me to accept the fact initially. I visited him with my wife the night before and we were talking with him about discharging from the hospital the next day. At the wake, memories of him flooded my mind as I recalled the times that I spent with him. While he was a temperamental man who did not know how to express his love to his loved ones, he had shown it by his actions. Deep within, I knew he loved me very much and was proud of me. His demise is still hard for me to swallow & I would like to write a blog in remembrance of him when I am more ready.

Most Unbearable Moment
When I had to temporarily leave Canada with my daughter leaving behind my wife & son. I had to return to Singapore to settle some matters & tie up the loose ends while my daughter desired to complete her year of study. At the airport, I hugged my wife knowing that this would be our longest separation ever. Our past record was only for a month over a period of almost 2 decades of marriage. It was particularly difficult sitting in the plane without her. The only consolation was that my daughter was beside me.

Loneliest Moment
After sending my daughter off at the airport where she was flying to Australia for a Mathematics competition with her schoolmates. While driving home from the airport, the sense of loneliness suddenly overwhelmed me. It just hit me that I was all alone. It got worst when I reached home as the house was so quiet.

Most Difficult Moment
When I had to inform my boss that I will be resigning after more than a decade of service. There was a big struggle within me as I was doing relatively well & the bank had become an integral part of my life. I was also well aware that by virtue of my age and the job requirements, it would be extremely difficult for me to get a similar job in future.

There were many other precious & magical moments as well as disappointing & frustrating moments in 2011. All these experiences have made 2011 such a memorable year for me. The close of 2011 also signaled the end of an exciting phase of my life as an ambitious Singaporean climbing the corporate ladder and achieving some measure of success. So farewell 2011!

Tomorrow will mark the beginning of a new year and the beginning of the first full year of my life as a Canadian PR. There are many new hopes and aspirations that I desire to attain in the coming year and I am looking forward with confidence, knowing my God will supply all my needs. Amen!

Reactions to actress Quan Yifeng's court sentence

2011-12-29T09:05:00.000-08:00

Trying to get some local news from S'pore, I came across Yahoo News reporting on actress Quan Yifeng's being given a 15-month probation sentence for her clash in June last year with a taxi driver. The Judge accepted her mitigation plea based on a psychiatric report, which confirmed that the actress suffers from clinical depression, insomnia and anxiety.

Amazingly of the 460 comments from net readers, not a single comment was supportive or sympathetic of her. Neticitizens not only hit out at her, but also at the government, legal system, taxi company...etc for a sentence that is perceived to be inequitable.

Under normal circumstances, I would have thought that Singaporeans would be sympathetic to anybody who has committed an offence due to mental illness. But this is a case of a hot celebrity in the category of a "foreign talent" by virtue of the fact that she is not a Singaporean, against a poor Singapore taxi driver trying to make a decent living. To make matter worst, she is not a first time offender.

Singapore is known for its strict legal system that is quick to pass deterrent sentences on the ground that we are small and have no room for errors. Every offence has to be nipped at the bud before it escalates to larger issues. Whether this approach is right or wrong remains debatable.

Hence, the verdict on Quan's case has somehow opened the pandora box on how humane or sympathetic should the Singapore Court be. As in Quan's case, the Court has been sympathetic in taking into consideration Quan's mental conditions. Surely Singaporeans would like to have a more sympathetic Court that can understand the plight of some of the offenders who may have committed offends under extraneous circumstances. Surely we all need and want a second chance. None of us are perfect.

On the other hand, we want justice to be melt out fairly. For the recalcitrant offenders, we want them to be punished accordingly to ensure that Singapore remains a safe and law abiding country.

It will always be difficult to good strike a balance and this is what the judiciary system will have to grapple. What is really important is that the Court must not only be fair, but also seen to be fair.

In Quan 's case, I am afraid the Singapore Court has fallen short of its high standard. It certainly owe Singaporeans a clear explanation on the basis of its sentence.

And Quan will do well to keep her mouth shut instead of pointing out that it takes two hands to clap......you cannot kill a person & say it takes two hands to clap. In this case, she ought to know that both hands are hers & not forgetting her leg that was used to kick the taxi and the poor driver......

First week in Canada

2011-12-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

My daughter woke up late one morning and exclaimed cheerfully " Daddy, I am ready for lunch. Wow! life is really good". This basically summarizes our first week in Canada.

Weather wise, moving from sunny Singapore to Canada in late autumn is a big change. It is really cold in Canada as compared to Singapore.    But we are enjoying it. It is so nice snugging up in bed.   Sleep is really good in cold weather.

I spent my time enjoying a cup of hot chocolate every morning and organizing my personal stuff and updating news from the internet. I was also able to dust off my Bible and had quiet time with God. There was no rush and no deadlines to meet.   I also took time to pack my humble abode and got a system in place so that the kids know where to put their things & keep the house tidy.

There was nothing to do and yet so much to do. Nothing to do as in no deadlines or things that must be done asap. Yet so much to do because many personal things that I did not have time to do when I was in Singapore and am taking my time to do it now.

I have also met some nice people who shared their experiences with me on how they coped with their migration to Canada. They are well settled and enjoying their life in Canada now. It is heart warming to hear their stories and feel their concerns for new immigrants like myself. Sometime I find it so amazing that when we were in Singapore, everybody seems to be strangers. But when we are in a foreign land like Canada, we are immediately drawn to fellow Singapore immigrants like long lost friends.

We had wonderful Christmas eve celebration with a group of immigrants from Singapore & the Asian region in a beautiful & cozy house of one of the couples. We had pot-luck dinner by the fireside. It was heart warming as we encouraged each other and shared our personal experiences of our migration journey.

On Christmas day, we roamed the street of Toronto as a family. Unfortunately, we realised too late that in Toronto, most of the shops are closed on Christmas day. Nevertheless, I considered it a nice family outing in the cold quiet Christmas night and ended with a sumptuous dinner in a restaurant in Chinatown.

Boxing day was a great time for shopping in Toronto as it is traditionally a time where retailers will give big discounts, much better than the Great Singapore Sales. We got some very good bargains for winter clothing & leather boots. My son got his dreamed "Jordon" basketball shoes, newly launched in July this year, for less than half the original price.

The most important thing to me is seeing my wife and son happily settled in Canada. My wife is enjoying her work and there were no complaints about office work and people that I use to hear when she was working in Singapore. My son is enjoying his school life and is motivated to study. In fact, last week, he was busy preparing for his semester exam and was busy going to the library and even getting us to sleep early so that he could study in peace. This was so different from the time he was studying in Singapore where we needed to be constantly at his back to get him to study.

But of course, life is never without any problem. My first problem encountered was my heater broke down. We had to endure 2 days without hot water and heater. But thankfully, the weather was not that unkind.   The blanket and my wife were more than enough to keep me warm and soundly asleep. Not bathing for 2 nights was also not a big issue as we continued to smell naturally good since we don't sweat. In fact, the breakdown of the heater was a blessing as we discovered that the conditions of the heater and the piping were bad and could possibly lead to leakages. Things could also have been worst if the breakdown occurred during the thick of the winter.

Verdict on my first week in Canada? So far so good.

As my daughter had exclaimed, Wow, life in Canada is really good! But I am also mindful that this is only the beginning and the honeymoon period. Reality has to set in as we go through the mundane of everyday life and making a living......

Farewell Singapore

2011-12-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

To bid farewell is always never easy. This is especially so when it is bidding farewell to your home country Singapore. Love her or hate her, the fact remains that Singapore has been my home for so many years and she has given me the opportunities to become who I am today.

Life is never static. No matter how good or how bad yesterdays were, we still need to make choices today for a better tomorrow. My family has decided that we have enough of the rat race in Singapore and so we are moving to a new land where we believe it will be better for our family life .and our children's future. And so, it's time for me to say goodbye to Singapore and the friends & relatives that I am leaving behind.

To all my friends who have in one way or another influenced my life, inspired my thoughts, shared my joys & sorrows....I thank you for being part of my life experiences. While many friendships were lost along the life journey as we seek different routes in life moving from primary to secondary school, college, army, university & working life, the precious memories will always be in my mind. For those who remain in contact & have given me farewell lunches & dinners, thank you for your the kind thoughts & well wishes. Hopefully we can remain connected via technology and meet up again some day.

To my siblings and in-laws who have been a pillar of support and a fountain of overflowing joy & love, I thank God for putting you all in my life. Unlike friendship where we can have a choice to make, we cannot choose who we want to be our brother or sister or for that matter, our in-laws as they come in a package! Yet God has given me amazing sisters & in-laws who have shown much love & concerns for me & my family. I cannot ask for more. The beautiful & precious memories of family gatherings, Christmas celebrations, Chinese New Year celebrations....etc will always ingrain deep in my mind. I look forward to be able to host you all in my new home in beautiful Canada and re-visit those special moments of family gatherings & celebrations.

To my late parents who are in the best place in heaven, I thank God for the life & memories that you had given me. Some experiences were painful and difficult, but I do not doubt now that they happened only because you were also struggling to grapple with your own difficulties. As a father myself now, I begin to understand how much you loved the family. My only regret is that both of you are not around to share and experience with me this new chapter of my life. As I stood in front of your niche with your grand daughter recently to bid farewell, I know you are both at peace. We will always missed you both where ever we are.

To my country Singapore, I am grateful for the many opportunities to learn, grow and build my career. I have achieved much and experienced the high life that many would envy. But my perspective in life has changed. While you continue to re-invent yourself to be the best in the world, I have found this pursuit quite meaningless. Now, I do not measure my success in term of economic value and achievements. I am contented to live a simple life and my priority is having quality time with my family and giving my children a better future. I wish you will continue to grow & prosper and benefit every Singaporean. I look forward to visit you one day.

So, quietly I left my country of birth with a few close family members sending me off at the airport. While it was sad to end this chapter of my life with the departure from my beloved country, it also signaled the beginning of an exciting new chapter of my life in beautiful Canada.

So farewell Singapore....till we meet again!

.

Beyond the Crossroad

2011-11-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Amazingly within a short span of less than 3 months, I have turned from apprehension to anticipation as I prepare for the biggest crossroad of my life.

It began with so many concerns over how the family will adapt to the new environment, getting a job, finding a house in a right location, enrolling the children in a good school, making new friends, establishing support network...etc   Now, everything seems to fall into place nicely.   As what the late Steve Jobs had said, I am beginning to see the dots in my life connecting. I cannot wait for the day to come to make the crossover.

My family already has a cozy little apartment in a good location. My wife has got a job that she loves. My boy is settling well in a top school and excelling in his class. He is motivated & is enjoying his school work. Most importantly, he is settled in a church and is involved in the youth ministry. My wife has make friends with some amazing people from the church and work place.

I have also found a job in New York. It is exciting and a dream come true to be able to work in Wall Street, the financial capital of the world. While the unemployment rate in USA is over 9% and banks are cutting jobs in view of European sovereign debt crisis & global slowdown, amazingly I am still able to get a job and of all places, Wall Street! This is a big bonus for my family & I to be able to experience life in New York.

The Lord has certainly been wonderful in providing us everything in His own perfect timing.

So, as I enter into the final stage of my preparation for my big move, I am not worrying about what I will lose or miss after I leave. Instead, I am focusing on appreciating all that I have..... the good, the bad and the ugly.    For the good things that I have in Singapore, I learn to appreciate and be thankful for them. For the bad things, I learn to throw them away, let go, forgive..... For the ugly, I learn to accept and understand as it is from ugliness that I can better appreciate beauty.   Somehow, I am feeling satisfied with what I have achieved and experienced at this stage of my life. This has given me new strength and the motivation to run the next chapter of my life in the new environment.

I have also started to share with friends of my impending move and bidding them farewell. It has been a fulfilling time reconnecting with people who have been in one way or another touched and influenced my life.   In busy Singapore, somehow we have no time to maintain friendships. I am not sure if there is such a thing as "forever friend", but I do certainly believe that God has given us friends at every stage of our life to make us a better person. I am looking forward to new friends in my new home.

There is so much to be thankful for as I count my blessings one by one.   In fact, I have already moved beyond my crossroad and have begun on my new journey and a new chapter of my life......

Father & daughter

2011-11-19T08:15:00.000-08:00

This morning, I spent a wonderful time with my daughter over breakfast. She was so excited and chatted away excitedly, probably because she was looking forward to her oversea trip with a her friends later in the morning. She is representing her school in a mathematics competition. We talked & shared so much and yet now I don't seem to remember the content. Perhaps it is really not what we said, but how we communicate that really matters. We were just sharing freely about anything under the sun.

On our way to the airport, we continued our sharing. We were talking about topics from our past holidays to issues like being a good steward of money. It was really a wonderful time of father & daughter bonding.

At the airport, I changed some money for her. She did not want me to hang around with her as her friends were already there. I asked for a hug & she obliged, much to my surprise, as I thought she would be too shy to show affections to her old man, in front of her friends. I felt really good.

On my way home, I felt a sense of emptiness and loss. It suddenly dawn on me that I am all alone. I missed my daughter and my family. Our children are growing up very fast. In no time, they will be leaving us to study in the university. Soon, they will be working and starting their own families. We must remember to treasure every moment that we have with our children as we watch them grow.

When I reached home, I resumed my packing. I was pleasantly surprised that my daughter had cleared all her books & stuff from her cupboards and packed them neatly in her luggage,. Things to be thrown away were also put aside. She even put the laundry to wash & hang up the clothes without me having to ask her. I am just so proud of her!

Raising a child is never easy. So much time and efforts are needed to invest in their life. The heavy responsibility that comes with raising a child has caused many couples to avoid parenthood. But, to me, an experience like today makes all the sacrifices worth it........and there are many such experiences....

Stranger in your own country

2011-11-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

I have been warned by well wishers & net-citizens that the Singapore government does not take kindly to its people migrating. My family and I may be ostracized and may even not be allowed to return to Singapore if we decide to migrate. People who have migrated are sometime called "traitor", "quitter" etc.

I find this view difficult to believe or accept. While the government is not known for its compassion and sacrificial love for its people, it has certainly not gone to the extend of victimizing its people. While the government may be overly pragmatic, it is certainly not malicious in its dealing with the people.

To me, the decision to migrate is like a son having grown up, decided to move out of the family to explore his own dream and a lifestyle that best suit him. It is not an issue of who is right or who is wrong. The child is not a traitor nor a quitter in the family. Perhaps, he may return someday and decide that this is home. He may also not return as he has found a new place call home. But I am sure he will not forget his roots. He will still want to reconnect, to relive the memories, to treasure his roots.... because he is not a stranger in the family.....

I have been a good citizen of Singapore. I paid all my taxes for more than 2 decades of my working life. I faithfully served the army (National Service) full time for two & a half years and continued as a reservist over a 13-years cycle. I did not find excuses to avoid in-camp trainings, even to the extend of affecting my work prospects. Unlike some people who were contented to "go through the motion" in the army just to fulfill their national service liability, I trained hard to become an officer and maximized my contributions to the security and defence of the country.

Even as I prepare to relocate, I make sure that I can be contacted by Inland Revenue in order to pay my tax promptly. I have obtained an exit permit for my son. I am also making arrangement with the Ministry of Defence to put up a bond for my son's exit permit. I have kept my obligations to my country.

For years, Singapore has welcomed strangers to our land with open arms. Many of these highly qualified immigrants have excelled in our schools and work places. While they have contributed to our economic growth, they have also displaced and replaced many of our less talented Singaporeans. As seen from the last general election, they have caused some disquiet among the locals due to differences in culture, lifestyle, habits ...etc

If Singapore is willing to welcome these strangers with open arms, why would she treat her sons & daughters as strangers, even though they may have taken the step to relocate overseas? Will we treat our own children as strangers when they grow up and decide to leave the family to start their own in a new place? Will we not welcome our prodigal son with open arms when he decides to return one day?

Singapore is my birth place. She will always have a special place in my heart no matter how much it has transformed over the last 4 decades. I may not like her present form and the pressure & demands that she has of her people, she is still my country of birth. She has nurtured me, given me many opportunities and provided me with all the material gains that I have achieved over the years. I have wonderful memories of this country. I will always be proud of her no matter what her destiny will be in future. I may not know if she will still be my home or my children's home in future, I know I will speak of her with pride.

The decision to leave this country is a difficult one. But I have already decided on this major crossroad of my life. I am assured that this is right for me and my family. I have no plan to return, whether I will be welcomed back or not. But if I do return one day, I wish I will not be a stranger in my own country......

Will I miss Singapore?

2011-11-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

As I make my final countdown to D-day when I will leave Singapore for good, the nostalgic feeling started to creep in. After all, Singapore is my birth place and I have lived here for almost 5 decades. I have explored almost every corner of this small island. I was a scout during my school days and had hiked and camped around the country. During my army days, I had trained in remote parts of Singapore, some of which were not open to public. After I came out to work, I was in marketing jobs and had visited clients in industrial estates and posh offices all over Singapore.

I have witnessed the miraculous transformation of Singapore from a messy dirty backward country to a beautiful cosmopolitan garden city.

I grew up in the countryside where our toilet was only a shed with a hole & 2 wooden planks for squatting. There was no flushing system and the shits just piled up. We could literally see germs crawling all over the shits and there was certainly no way to avoid the stench unless we were prepared to be suffocated. My family reared chickens & pigs for living. Even as young kids, we had to help our parents to feed the chickens, collect the eggs, dispose chicken drops. We did not have air-condition but were fortunate to have a black & white TV. Telephone was a luxury. I could still remember vividly the first time I used a the phone when I was a young boy. I was so excited and when the line got through, I asked proudly to speak to "Ah Chay (meaning father in hokkien). My cousin laughed & made fun of me for expecting the person on the other line to know who my Ah Chay was. I was basically a country bumpkin.

While I did not have the luxury of modern day technologies, I led a spartan but carefree life. I did not have to worry too much about school works except during exams. I had so much fun climbing trees, plucking rambutans, picking durians, catching fishes and spiders, kicking football, playing in the rain with paper boats.....etc. My toys were things like marbles, discarded boxes, matchboxes...etc

Over the last 3-4 decades, Singapore has completely transformed. My children now do not even have the opportunity to see a rambutan tree, a durian tree or even a rubber tree, not to mention to climb a tree. They would probably not even dare to touch a chicken, not to mention slaughtering one which I am proud to have done as a child. Their toys are computers and their hobbies are computer games. They are under tremendous pressure to perform academically. While they have excelled academically having obtained excellent national examination results and successfully entered one of the top secondary schools in Singapore, I am not sure if that is all that matters in their growing up years. Somehow I feel that they may have missed a part of their precious childhood life that I had the privilege to go through.

While Singapore is now transformed into a beautiful island state, somehow the feeling is that these are all so artificial. It is like a facade. Life seems to revolve round physical and material things. Perhaps the small island and a growing immigrant population make the place even more congested and stiffing. The work demand, in the name of excellence and world class standard, is like a pressure cooker without an outlet. Nobody knows when it will explode. There is really no time to care, to love or to smell the roses. Although there is time for coffee, but it is only to help to stimulate the weary mind and get it to over work again. This is perhaps what progress is all about.

So, I do not think I will miss Singapore, at least not in the short term. I am escaping and taking a long deserved break with my spouse. We are looking forward to walk hand-in-hand and enjoy our first autumn in the midst of beautiful falling golden autumn leaves. I hope my children will rediscover a part of their missed childhood.

But I am mindful that one day, we may just want to go back to our roots.........I am certainly not cutting it off.

Long Distance Relationship

2011-10-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

Since our marriage some 2 decades ago, my wife & I have not lived apart for more than a month. The only long stretch of separation was when I was sent to Africa to work for almost a month. She was unable to join me because she was bearing our first child. We were not prepared to take any risk for her to be in a strange land with me.

That is until now. For almost 4 months now, I have not physically seen and touched my wife. Thanks to technology, we have been communicating through phones and skypes. However, this is scarce comfort to us. Being separated physically is difficult. The feeling is as if the relationship has broken down. We don't know exactly what the other party is doing. We cannot comfort and be comforted when we needed most. We cannot help and be helped when problems arise.

I know this is particularly difficult for my wife who has been very dependent on me.

Yet, over the last 4 months, I see that she is becoming stronger while I have become weaker. In the past, she would want to know what I did & where I went, now she did not seem to care. While I hated her constant nagging and queries in the past, now I longed to hear from her. It is as if our role has reversed.

How do we survive in a long-distance relationship?

Much effort is needed to maintain the relationship. No relationship can survive on bread and water alone. It has to be showered with love & care, kept warmed with loving kindness and protected with patience and humility. Can this be done when both parties are thousands of miles apart?

While it is difficult, it is not impossible. In fact, there are advantages in long distance relationship. For one, there is definitely less of the daily bickering. We learn to treasure each other more. As the saying goes, "ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART FONDER", I also learn to express my affections more.

The key to survive a long distance relationship is really for both parties to be clear and committed to the purpose & goal for the temporary separation. Otherwise, doubts may arise and temptations may set in. Discouragement may destroy the relationship. With a clear goal and commitment, the long distance relationship may even grow and strengthen.

After all, if both parties are separated and yet remain committed to each other, this should surely provide great assurance that they will remain faithful when they live under the same roof.

While long distance relationship does not signal a relationship on-hold or even the death of relationship, it should certainly not be an option if we have a choice.

I am doing my countdown to reunite with my wife.......

Remembering Mother

2011-10-22T19:14:00.000-07:00

This was mother's favorite Hokkien song. It is a love song about a young woman's love for a man, but would rather keep it in her heart instead of expressing to him. She waited & hoped to marry the man but in vain. In the night when she heard somebody at the door, she rushed out hoping to see the man, but instead the moon was there there laughing at her for being stupid to be tricked by the wind. How poetic! A very sentimental song that in some way reflected mother's personality.

Mother left us in 2005. I was away on business trip & by the time I rushed back, she was already in coma, after suffering a massive heart attack. Amazingly, she hang on till all my sisters and I were back from overseas, before passing way peacefully.

She came from a poor family where her father was a servant working for the "ang mo" (a hokkien term used to describe European which literally mean "red hair") & her mother was mentally unwell. She had to work at a tender age. She stopped her studies prematurely in order for her brothers to pursue further studies overseas.

A passionate woman, she fell madly in love with my father who came from a rich family. I recalled her story on how they persisted in their relationship despite of parental objection. They had to meet secretly & my father would fetch her on his bicycle. That was probably in the early 1950s when she was not even 20 years old!

Her marriage life was not blissful unfortunately. She had to work very hard in dad's family. Her mother-in-law and sister-in-laws were not kind to her. Her relationship with dad also deteriorated overtime and ended in divorce. She left the family & had to fend for herself, working as a washer, hotel cleaner & all sorts of odd jobs.

After we grew up, we reconnected with her. She was always a live wire during family gatherings especially during the Chinese New Year. Nobody would have guessed that we were separated for an extended period of time when we were young. These gatherings have never been the same since she left us.

As I looked back, I am extremely grateful that I had the privilege to live & reconnect with her during the later stage of her life. She was helping me to take care of my 2 children.

She was a great woman who dare to love & hate. Her infamous quote "Kia le hou bo kia le pai" which literally mean " afraid you good and not afraid you bad" simply summarized her philosophy towards people. For those who are good to her, she would reciprocate much more in return. She was strong against those who are nasty.

In spite of her tumultuous life, she remained cheerful & full of life. She never gave up on hope. She preserved on when odds were against her, when she was all alone feigning for herself........

On her death bed, my father visited her in the hospital.

To me, this was a beautiful closure for a strong woman and a great mother who just did not quite get what she deserved in life.

I take great comfort that she is now in a better place after she miraculously accepted Christ at the later stage of her life.

The confession of a non-Apple fan

2011-10-07T09:19:00.000-07:00

I have never owned an Apple product. The closest I came to owning one is when my sisters bought an i-pad for my wife as a present. I suppose as her better half, I have half the share of the i-pad. However, I did not get the chance to use it so far.

While everybody around me talks about i-phone and i-pad, I have never been moved to want to join the crowd. Perhaps I am just the old fashion guy who is happy with my old laptop and my Starhub sponsored Anroid phone.

The demise of Steve Jobs shook the cyber-world. Apparently rumor has it that the internet traffic was jammed after the news was released yesterday. I also received many emails about the great man who has given the world the Apple that cannot be eaten. I can only scratch my head in amazement.

But lo & behold, when I read Steve's 12 June 2005 commencement address at Stanford University, I was totally swept by this man's ability to bring out such profound truth about life in such simple and impactful manner. I guess it is in many ways similar to Apple products.

I like his first story about connecting the dots in our life. We will never be able to clearly connect the dots looking forward, but we must trust that the dots will somehow connect in future. It will be very clear when we look back years later. Never be disheartened when we cannot see the dots connecting now. This is a great assurance to me as I begin a new chapter in my life come December. I will be trying to connect the dots, knowing that the real beautiful picture will only become clear years later.

His second story was about following your heart. The only way to do a great work is to love what we do. This is what I am pursuing.

His third story was about treasuring life. Our time on earth is limited and we must not waste it living out somebody's life. We need to learn to number our days so that we will live wisely each day.

I am indeed inspired by this great man who is not only a great inventor, but also a great thinker who have appreciated life to the fullest.

Perhaps it is about time that I buy my first Apple.

10 REASONS WHY I SHOULD BE ANGRY WITH STEVE JOBS

2011-10-07T08:13:00.000-07:00

Reason 10
My teenage daughter warned me not to write anything bad about Steve Jobs.

Reason 9
I have to argue with both my kids about not buying an Apple product at every computer show.

Reason 8
Everybody is telling me how good and cool the i-phone is when I already have an Anroid

Reason 7
My son thinks Steve's advice to "stay hungry, stay foolish" is inspiring, but my advice to "take regular meals, be wise" is nagging.

Reason 6
My daughter thinks Apple is cool and her father is cold.

Reason 5
My wife spends more time with i-pad than with me.

Reason 4
Even my father-in-law who is in his 70s knows more about i-pad than me.

Reason 3
Everybody thinks I am abnormal because I don't own an Apple product.

Reason 2
I did not buy Apple shares.

Reason 1
Steve Jobs left this world without giving us i-TV.

Migration : Is the grass greener at the other side of the fence?

2011-09-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

During a recent forum, Singapore's founding father & ex-PM Lee Kuan Yew shared that Singapore required 60,000 immigrants to replace our aging population. Our little red dot Singapore can probably absorb only 20,000 to 25,000. What was not said is that many thousands more PR applicants were unsuccessful.

Why are there such overwhelming number of people interested to migrate to Singapore? As a cosmopolitan city state with world class infrastructures, strong economy, healthy employment rate, low crime rate, top education system...etc, many will probably consider this is the land of milk & honey.

Yet, each year, thousands of Singaporeans choose to walk away from the land milk & honey. By year end, I will be added to this seldom reported statistic.

So, is this a case of grass is always greener at the other side of the fence?

I am fully aware of the challenges that I will have to grapple with in the new land. I will need to start all over again in re-establishing a new social network, rebuilding my career, adjusting to varied & extreme weather...etc.

Perhaps this is the price I am willing to pay to achieve the freedom to experience life in a different way, to achieve self actualization, to grow & bond with my family in more wholesome environment ...etc.

Singapore has given me a solid foundation and provided me the opportunity to achieve all the physical and material well being. In many ways, I have almost reached the peak of my corporate ladder. I have experienced the high life, eaten the best foods in top restaurants, flown in the 1st class airline, traveled across the Asian regions & been to places where normal tourist will have no access, stayed in the 6 stars hotels, rubbed shoulder with high-profile executives, CFOs & CEOs...etc

But Singapore cannot give me the space to have quiet enjoyment, the freedom to express and make mistakes, the time to grow spiritually, mentally, socially...etc.. The feeling is almost stifling as each day is slotted away chasing after the never ending deadlines. The strive for excellence is always never enough. There is constantly a need to put up different masks because the system and environment are unforgiving. We are perpetually on our toes and somehow we seem to lose our humanity......

Will my new home give me what I cannot find in Singapore? I am mindful of the horror stories of immigrants that did not make it in their new country. Even for the many immigrants that made it to the land of milk & honey, many are still struggling to be accepted, to make a decent living, to keep pace with excellence....

The important point is not whether the grass is greener at the other side of the fence, but whether we are prepared to water our grass at whichever side of the fence we are standing.

Cash is king?

2011-09-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

In a financial turmoil or volatile global environment such as now, often we will hear analysts telling us that cash is king. Sell your investments and hold cash. When you are cash rich, then you are king.

Theoretically, the principle is right. But practically how do you execute that?. Do you really sell all your investments to hold cash & wait for the market to recover? When do you go back into the market? The problem is that once you sell, it will be very difficult to get back into the market until it is already too late when prices are already hitting the highs. In another word, we just cannot time the market because it is impossible even for the professionals. We will likely to end up selling low & buying high.

So, what should we do?

Most importantly, we should not panic. If we have started investing correctly by using only long term funds to invest, then really there is nothing to worry because what goes down must go up (but with 1 caveat, that is the fundamental of that investment is sound).

Next is to plan and research. We must have a view of what is the future outlook in general and then zoom down to regions (ie. USA, Europe, Asia..etc), countries, industries and companies specifics.

With that outlook and investment targets in mind, we can adopt the various appropriate investment strategies. In a volatile and uncertain environment such as now, it will be wiser to :-
a) focus on blue chip companies with good dividend yield. During a market recovery, these will be the counters that will move first, driven by the big funds.
b) adopt a dollar-averaging strategy where we incrementally invest in an identified company instead of full investment in 1 go ie. if we are prepared to invest 10units, start with 2 first. So when prices fall further, we can buy more to average down the costs.

While there is virtue to buy & hold for long term, it is not wise in the current environment. Hence, if the prices move up, especially if the increase is fast & big, it will make sense to take some profit off the table. This may sound like speculating, but that is the nature of the market in the current environment. Basically the strategy is to invest in the long term trend but taking some profits during the short term fluctuations.

Is this the right time now to invest? Nobody knows. But if we adopt the above strategy, we should be relatively safe in the long run.

Should we not play safe, do nothing & hold cash and be king? Yes, that is also a good strategy in the short run. Enjoy what you have and let the market bleed further before you come in to cherry pick. My view is that this quarter should still be a tough market. In fact, I just had dinner with the boss of a Singapore based broking firm and we both shared the same view. For the conservatives, wait for another 10 to 15% fall before making any move.

What is important is not to let inertia set in. Do not give up the market & regret later when market recover and then start to chase after the prices. That will end up in a typical scenario for small investors where we buy high & sell low.

For those with lots of cash, you are the king.....but be mindful that you are getting poorer each day with your cash earning less than 1% while the inflation is running at more than 5%.

To follow your head or your heart?

2011-09-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

When we are at the crossroad of our life, somehow the decision ultimately seem to always end up with the question of whether to follow our head or our heart.

I remembered during my National Service, I was struggling whether to go overseas for further study or to remain in Singapore & study at the National University of Singapore. My heart was telling me to go overseas to experience a new life but my head was telling me to remain since I had already been offered a place in NUS. Eventually, I chose to remain in Singapore in order not to burden my parents with additional financial commitment. I will never know if that was the right decision and even if I had gone overseas, I will still not know if I had done the right thing. All that I can say now is that I know I had done the sensible thing but deep within me, I do feel a missing heart beat till today.

Today, I have a similar issue to face. Do I follow my head and work out an option with my employer to return back to work? Or should I follow my heart and just abandon what I have in Singapore and start afresh in a new country? While my mind was made up to follow my heart, the turn of event yesterday has caused my head to work doubly hard now.

Is it possible to convince my head to follow my heart? Unfortunately not. I think we have all been brought up in an environment where we have been trained and conditioned to work very hard, to excel and to build our material wealth for our family & our nation. This has become our head value.

Our heart's desire somehow become very self centered. To follow our hearts seem to make us irresponsible and selfish. Do you follow your heart knowing that you may not be able to provide sufficiently for your family? I can almost feel guilty if I do not chose to come back to Singapore to work and provide a comfortable life for my family.

On the other hand, I am sure my family will need me to be around and I do certainly want to spend time with them.

Perhaps the real issue is not between the head or the heart. There is no right or wrong. It is that perfect time that God will make it happen ....as the song goes....IN HIS TIME, IN HIS TIME, HE WILL MAKE ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL.....I only need to trust & obey....

Crossing my Crossroad -- A life changing first step

2011-09-15T09:06:00.000-07:00

Today, I took my first big step in crossing my crossroad and opening a new chapter of my life. I informed my boss that I will be tendering my resignation. I have decided to give advance notice beyond the required notice period in order to give the bank more time to search for my replacement.

It was a rather nostalgic moment for me, as I will be leaving the bank after more than a decade of service. The bank has become my second home. I have had many exciting and challenging moments driving the business, competing for new deals, recovering delinquent loans...etc. During the period, I have also seen bosses and colleagues "come and go". New friendships were made but unfortunately old friendships also died a natural death as everybody is busy chasing after deadlines in cosmopolitan Singapore.

I was pleasantly surprised that my boss was quick to ask me to reconsider my decision. She offered to let me go on no-pay leave to settle my family. This gesture was unexpected as she has always been tough and demanding to the extend that I sometime wondered if she would fire me anytime because my department was not performing to her standard. I was almost expecting her to show a triumphant smile, glad that she has finally managed to get rid of me. I could not be more wrong.

It was a good feeling that my efforts and performance have been recognized. Here is one of the most demanding bosses that I have worked for and she is trying to persuade me to stay on.

I am glad that I have been careful not to burn my bridges. Instead of formally throwing in my letter of resignation and declaring gleefully to everybody that I am out of "hell", I chose to be respectful to my boss by clarifying my reasons for resigning and even offering to help her to get a replacement for my position.

While I was glad that my boss tried to retain me, the fact is that it has created more trouble for me. I have already made up my mind to re-locate and have already made most of the preparations. While job is important to me, my family will always come first. I am looking forward to my new environment and spending quality time with my wife and kids.

After so much efforts in taking the first step to cross my major crossroad, it looks like I have encountered yet another crossroad. Do I take the offer & go for no-pay leave or do I just move on & take the faith journey? It is again a case of whether to follow my head or my heart. I have 2 weeks to decide but I am inclined to follow my heart.

Staring at the biggest crossroad of my life

2011-09-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

As I stare at the biggest crossroad of my life, I know the time has come for me to make my move.

After building my banking career for over 20 years and moving up the corporate ladder to be part of the senior management team, I will be calling quits and moving to a new country with my family.

Family members and close friends were shocked at my decision. I have a successful, well paying and stable banking career in cosmopolitan and safe Singapore. I live in a comfortable private apartment located in a sought-after neighborhood. My wife can easily get a comfortable job and both my children are studying in top schools in Singapore.

I am fully aware that life will not be easy in the new environment. Overnight I will probably become a 2nd class citizen. I will miss my support network. I will have to make new friends. I will never be able to get a job that is anywhere close in term of my current seniority or salary. I may even end up jobless or doing menial job. Basically I will have to start all over again.

So what had happened that has caused me to be at this crossroad? Am I being naive to embark on this route?

Logically, I do not have an answer. I know it does not make sense, especially if I look in terms of dollars & cents or the physical & material well-being that I have now and may have to forgo. The opportunity cost is really high.

Could it be mid-life crisis? Perhaps I am getting tired of my work-centric life, leaving home at 7am & returning after 8pm? Maybe, after more than 2 decades of working in a fast pace environment, I just need to slow down & take time to smell the rose?

One thing I am sure is that I need a change. Perhaps a new challenge in life. Doing something that I will find meaning and fulfillment. After all, I have just one life. How much more time do I have in this life journey, I will never know. I must therefore make the best of the time that I have now in appreciating life and living life to the fullest.

What does all these entails in concrete terms, I also do not know. What I know is that I will enjoy spending time with my wife and two children. I know I will enjoy drinking a cup of coffee whether in the heat of summer, the bloom of spring, the breeze of autumn or the freezing cold of winter. I know I will find peace in doing my own things or even doing nothing.

Will this move turn into an illusive dream? or a nightmare? I am confident that it will be a dream come true because it is a change that I am looking forward to. I am not dreaming of a successful new career. Neither am I dreaming of walking on streets of gold. I am just dreaming of a simple life with my family.

There will always be many questions about the unknown future. But I take great comfort in one of my favorite Christian songs .."I don't know about tomorrow......but I know who holds the future and I know who holds my hand".

If things just don't work out, I will still be proud that I have done it. I will then be staring at another biggest crossroad of life!

This is life.....

Institution of Elected President at a crossroad?

2011-09-04T03:58:00.000-07:00

Personally I am at a major crossroad of my life, hence my blog name "crossroads". To me, being at the crossroad would require major decisions to be made and major changes to be expected.

Therefore I am surprised and dismayed to hear that the institution of Elected President is at a crossroad and will evolve over time. Isn't the institution of Elected President enshrined in the Constitution? How could it be at a crossroad? What major decisions and changes are needed at this crossroad?

Perhaps the recent closely fought presidential election has created this crossroad. It is time to tame the created monster before it returns to haunt?

The drivers of the evolution will possibly come from 2 sources:-

1) The President himself. The way he engages the government and the people of Singapore will likely set the precedents for future presidents to come. It will be a gradual and painful process of testing the boundaries, getting the feedback and taking the next step. The President will be moving in uncharted territory. He will have to be proactive & engaging, determine & persuasive, objective & independent....etc. I am really not sure if Tony Tan is the most ideal person to carry out this all important task which will determine the credibility and the fate of the presidency. On one hand, his track records & close association with the ruling party is an asset in engaging the government, yet at the same time, this has made it difficult for him to be seen to be independent of the government.

2) The Ruling party. After all, this is the same ruling party that has created the role of the elected president to be the "goalkeeper" for Singapore. It has probably not expected that the "goalkeeper" may someday want to be the "striker". After all ex-Manchester United goalkeeper, Peter Schmeichel had regularly vacated his goalpost to venture up field to score goals.

The most powerful tool the ruling party can use is of course to change the Constitutions. It still has the majority vote to move any Bill in Parliament. Typical of the government's working style on long term planning and scenario analysis, it has probably concluded that it must tweak the rules now and tame monster before it gets really nasty.

Signs are already there as the PM has said that "the Institution (presidency) will evolve to take into account new circumstances". So, what are the new circumstances and what will be the evolutions?

Whatever actions to be taken, let's hope that it will not be a case of "using a machine gun to kill an ant".....that will probably miss the ant, particularly in the current environment.

As I reflect on the political landscape of Singapore, I think Singapore has certainly come a long way from a politically apathetic nation to a politically vibrant nation. We have not arrived, but we are certainly on the way. While we like to complain a lot, we must also give credit to the government which have gradually allowed the political space to open up. While the government may be high handed in many aspects, it has also mellowed down in many ways.

Not only is the Institution of Presidency at the crossroads, the ruling party is also at the crossroads after the recent watershed general election. The tiny red dot Singapore, is certainly at the crossroads as well, with the global problems from the major developed economies of USA, Europe, Japan and even potentially China. The decisions to be made and the way to take going forward may well determine the fate of our future and the generations to come.

Are you at a crossroad too? I am staring at mine, the biggest crossroad of my life.........

Singapore Presidential Election : Who is the real winner?

2011-09-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

As I sat in front of the TV this evening to watch the swearing-in of Singapore's 7th President, I wondered who is really the real winner after the hard fought campaigns by the 4 Tans.

Tony Tan?
He is probably the obvious choice since he won the election and tonight he is officially the President of Singapore. But with his pathetic winning percentage of 35%, one wonders if he has really won over the hearts & minds of Singaporeans. While he has garnered the most votes among the 4 candidates, he cannot claim to have won over the majority of Singaporean.   In fact, this result has in a way dented his impeccable public service records of over 3 decades. With his credentials & track records as compared to the other 3 Tans, he ought to be disappointed with his own performance. And the worst is yet to come. If there is really a global crisis and the government needs to use our reserve, what will he do? If he agrees to the use of reserve, the likely reaction would be that he is beholden-ed to the government. If his answer is no, then he will probably be blamed for any fallout from the crisis. Why would a man who has already achieved so much be willing to be in the hot seat at a nice ripe age of 71? I don't envy his position.

Cheng Bock?
He was so near & yet so far to becoming the elected president of Singapore. His career has never reached anywhere near to the position of the highest office of Singapore unlike Tony and it must surely be very painful for him. In fact, on hindsight, if he had formed an alliance with Kin Lian, he could have been the man sitting beside the PM & the CJ tonight. At the age of 71 now, the game is effectively over for him. Big loss!

Jee Say?
He is the face of the Opposition. Anybody in Singapore who is against PAP would probably vote for him. While the Opposition garnered 40% of the total votes during the recent General Election, he only managed a disappointing 25% votes. While the end result is poor, he has certainly gained good experiences and may yet be the winner in time to come.....and time is what he has as compared to the other 3 Tans.

Kin Lian?
Obviously he lost big as he himself confessed that he was shocked at the result.

PAP/ruling party?
While the party succeeded in getting its "preferred" candidate to become the president, the slim win is effectively a snub from majority of the people. It is a common believe that Tony = PAP.   If there is anything that the ruling party can gain from this presidential election, it must be the knowledge that a lot of work still need to be done to convince the people that their interest & well being are of utmost importance to the government.

Singapore?
Certainly the presidential election epitomizes the spirit of democracy in action. Singaporeans can be very proud of our unique democratic system which is largely contributed by the ruling party. However, in the aftermath of the election, we are none the wiser as we continue to grapple with the issue of national unity and a polarized society. Singapore will be the real winner if the 35% voters are right.....and we all must pray & hope so.

So, is there a real winner?

Probably Andew Kuan is the real winner. He could not get the eligibility certificate and that saved him the trouble of a hard campaign and the $48K deposit that would probably be forfeited if he had stood for the election. The moral of the story : IF YOU DO NOT GET WHAT YOU WISH FOR, IT MAY NOT BE A BAD THING AFTER ALL.

However, I strongly believe that the real winner is YOU AND ME, THE BLOGGERS! The presidential election has given us so much content to blog & gossip, share & argue, enlighten & confuse...etc.   I am pleasantly surprised that my blog audience has shot through the roof (by my standard as a newbie in blogging), thanks to the presidential election and Singaporedaily! This is probably my last blog on Singapore presidential election & I hope you bloggers out there will continue click on my site & share my life journey.........

Singapore Presidential Election : Evaluation

2011-08-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Singaporeans woke up this morning to a new President, Tony Tan, who was also the ex-deputy PM of Singapore.

The battle of the 4 Tans ended with 2 ex-long serving-PAP men fighting neck-to-neck for the highest post of the land. Eventually, the ex-deputy PM (prime minister) won over the ex-MP (member of parliament). Basically what does this tell us about Singaporean in general?

If you are an optimist, you will feel pleased that Singaporeans were wise enough to have voted with their head and picked the most qualified person to lead Singapore in the midst of a hostile global environment. If you are a pessimist, then you will probably feel disappointed and conclude that Singaporeans are still very "kia su" (afraid of losing), "kia si" (afraid of dying) & "kia jing hu" (afraid of government).

So, what are the factors that were in Tony's favor? Obviously, being the ruling party's preferred choice, he already had the die-hard PAP supporters in his pocket. The ruling party was smart not to officially endorse Tony so as not to portray him as a PAP man, but the messages conveyed to Singapore prior to the election was clear ie. elect the best man who can help Singapore through the current global uncertainties. We cannot afford a president that may cause a paralysis in working of our government machinery. This was a very powerful message especially in the current global environment. Creating this "siege mentality" ie. that Singapore is going to fall part if we do not do this or that..etc. is a typical PAP strategy that has worked well since it came into power in the 1960s. This is likely to have won him many votes, especially among the elites & upper income earners.

However, the slim margin of victory should be of grave concern to the ruling party & the elected president. The 35% votes is a far cry from the total votes of 60% garnered by PAP in the last election. It suggests that Singaporeans are prepared to vote for a creditable alternative that is seen to be independent from the PAP. The question remains whether the elected president with only 35% votes really has the mandate & endorsement to run the highest office of Singapore.

Cheng Bock was the natural choice for the moderate who does not like the ruling party's supreme control over the government (Tony is seen as part of the ruling party). His track records of speaking out & even voting against PAP in parliament when he was a PAP MP convinced many of his ability to engage the government. If Kin Lian or Jee Say did not stand for the election, he would have probably won.

Jee Say unfortunately started on the wrong footing by being very out spoken and confrontational. He was quick to change tack at the tail end of the campaign to assure Singaporeans that he will work closely with the government. But it was a case of "too little too late". If the campaign period is longer, he would have been able to do more. However, time is certainly on his side. He has established a very good foundation from this campaign. If he continues to work the ground and present the right persona that Singaporeans expect of a president, he is certainly the man to watch in 6 years time.

Kin Lian got his strategy all wrong. He wanted to be the voice for the people, but he was creating a lot of voices that were obviously not credible. While Cheng Bock followed by Jee Say were quick to change strategy when it became obvious that confronting the government and promising changes were not going down well with Singaporeans, he was still vocal and promising to increase NS pay (that is not a president's job!). His attempt to talk down on his opponents during the election broadcast would probably not go down well with the voters.

The Singapore Presidential Election has drawn to a close after an eventful 9 days of campaigning. So, did the best Tan win? We will know in 6 years time. The real evaluation has only just begun........

Singapore PE : May the best Tan win

2011-08-26T08:28:00.000-07:00

In today's paper, "The Business Times", its editorial column titled "May the best Tan win" is exactly the same as the last sentence of my blog dated 24 August. I am somehow thrilled that the editor of Singapore's leading newspaper used the same phrase as I had used in my blog.

I don't think he copied me or its just "great mind thinks alike". This must be the wish of every Singaporean.

As the dust settled after all the hustle and bustle of the campaigning, Singaporean will have to make the all important decision tomorrow to vote for our 7th president. Which Tan should we vote for?

One interesting observation I have made during the campaigning is that all the 4 candidates tried their best to disassociate themselves from the government and claimed that they are independent from the government whether in the past or the future. Are they truly independent?

Obviously all 4 Tans were linked to the government or the ruling party in one way or another. Tony Tan was a PAP member & ex deputy PM. Tan Cheng Bock was a PAP MP for many years. Tan Kin Lian was ex-NTUC chief, a trade union that is linked to the government and has a cabinet minister (without portfolio) as its leader. Even Tan Jee Say was a government scholar & previously worked under the ex-PM, Goh Chok Tong.

Even when one of them is voted in as President of Singapore, can he be truly independent? The very fact that the power of the president is limited by the Constitution, there is really very little that a president can do except for 5 key areas. Even in these 5 key areas, how much can the president really do given his limited resources and power. Can the president truly make a better decision than the Cabinet which has the full weight of governmental machinery support?

Ultimately, there will probably be 2 scenarios :-
a) An obedient president who will depend on the government & endorse their every decision. This is really not a bad things as we have a capable government with solid track record.

b) A confrontational president who will challenge every decision by the government. In all likelihood, he can achieve nothing, except to create a paralysis to the decision making in those 5 key areas. As a Chinese saying goes, one mountain cannot have two tigers.

While the concept of elected president is good as it provides a second layer of power under the elected president to protect our reserve, practically I don't think it is going to work. At best, nothing is going to change but at worst, it is going be a pain in the ass.

Was it really wise for the government to amend the Constitution to have an elected president? Perhaps, the ruling party may have created a monster that is coming back to haunt them!

I hope none of the Tan is that monster and may the best Tan win........

Presidential Election in Singapore

2011-08-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

The Singapore Presidential election fever is rising.....This election will certainly go into Singapore history record as the Battle of the 4 TANs, as coincidentally all the 4 candidates have the surname TAN.

Voting in the right TAN is crucial..... otherwise we will end up with a president who is "BEN TAN" or worst "HUAI TAN" and will only "DAO TAN" and Singapore will "WAN TAN". We will then have to "BAN BAN TAN for 6 years to vote again.

So, who is the front runner now? I heard from the great vine that TT is losing ground. Though he is the most qualified of all and has the charisma, his long association with the ruling party ironically has put him in a disadvantage position. The ground is still pushing for change and he is not showing that he is willing flow with the masses.

TJS is the dark horse & certainly galloping fast. He performed well during the TV debate & has intelligently assured the audience that he will work with the government. He certainly has the support of people opposing the ruling party for one reason or another. That is about >34% of the voters based on the recent GE! However, those sitting on the fence may have reservation if he takes a confrontational approach against the government. WE want checks & balances but certainly not war, particularly in the current economic environment.

TCB is probably the best option if you are sitting on the fence. He is close enough with PAP to work with them, yet not close enough to go to bed together. He was not particularly impressive, eloquent or intellectual during the TV debate & but do we really need such a President?

TKL is lovable, but he just doesn't look right.....sorry.....high 5!

If you are placing a bet, take TCB. I have a strong gut feeling about that. Latest I heard, the bookies are also pointing to that.

May the best TAN win.

Global Financial Crisis Brewing?

2011-08-24T06:30:00.000-07:00

During the last one month, the global financial market has been a roller coaster due to the downgrading of USA "AAA" rating, concerns of Europe's massive debts, possible hard landing of the Chinese economy, Japan falling back into recession...etc. It is scary as all the major economies in the world seem to be in trouble one way or another.

Particularly as a banker and having the opportunity to talk to businesses and other bankers, I have more reasons to worry. The banks do not even trust each others' credit standing, hence are not willing to lend to each other. The European banks are pulling back as a result of European sovereign risk. The Chinese government is introducing endless measures to slow down its economy and only God knows when it will explode.

So, as a man in the street, what should you do?

If you have not invested in the financial or property markets so far, thank God for it. Now is the opportunity for you to make a difference in your personal finance. You must remember that you can never be financially independent if you just depend on your monthly salary, unless you are a big shot in a big company. It is only through wise investments and building a portfolio of passive income that can help you to be financially independent. Having said that, do not jump in now.

The first step is to build up your cash. Try to turn your unproductive assets into cash. You can refinance your home & raise long term equity loan from the bank. Interest rate is low & should continue to be low for the next 2 years as promised by US Federal Reserve (of course you need to watch out in case Uncle Sam changes his mind). Perhaps you can sell your car & take public transport which is very good in some countries. Save as much as possible from your salary and budget your spending wisely. Secondly, you must do your home work & be prepared on what you want to invest. Only when the market is really bad (one good indication is when you see many companies in financial troubles) that you should start investing. Don't worry about missing the boat as you have nothing to lose in the first place. Even if the market start moving up, it is alright to catch the uptrend which is safer. Start with equity first which normally move 6 months ahead of property prices. Invest incrementally & do not be greedy as we will never know exactly where is the bottom. I can bet with you that many of us will not dare to go into the market when it hit the bottom. The key is really to think long term & invest with your long term fund.

For those of us like myself who are already invested, we need to be pro-active. I was fortunate to have divested part of my portfolio before the recent clash. Of course I wish that I have done more. My strategy now is to sell into strength to build up my cash. I will only start to accumulate when more bad news are out. This is also a good time to re-balance my portfolio and put more weight on blue chips and high dividend stocks.

The financial market is just like our life journey. It has its ups & downs. When it is "down", we must not be disheartened but make adjustments and prepare for the "up". When it is "up", we must not be complacent but appreciate what we have and strengthen what we have built and be prepared for the "down".

Of course financial market is easier to manage than life.... at least we can take the chips off the table if we are not comfortable, but the same cannot be said of our life. We must treasure every moment.

The Best Place to Start

2011-08-22T06:54:00.000-07:00

Personal investment is not an area reserve only for the rich. One of the richest man in the world & arguably the greatest investor of all time, Mr Warren Buffett, started as a poor young man.

Many would argue that during his time, it was easy to invest and make huge gains as seen from prices today. Anything you bought 50 years ago would probably appreciated exponentially.

That is a myth. Many companies existed 50 years ago may not exist today. If you have invested in such a company, you would have lost all your money.

So, where do we start, as a man-in-the-street surviving on a fixed salary and hopefully some windfall from year end bonus?

First, we must get some facts right :-
1) Investment is not speculating or gambling. It is definitely the case if we buy low & sell high. Ironically, there is great temptation and tendency to cut profit & take loss. It means when there are some profits to make, we quickly sell to take profit (or I call cut profit because there is great potential for the profit to grow further). On the other hand, when there are losses, we hold on hoping that prices will rise, hence continue to take more losses when it is quite obvious that prices are likely to fall further.

2) Investment is hard work. We need to understand what we invest in. We need to know both the macro trend as well as the micro view. We need to know some basic accounting, but really nothing that complicated. If we seriously want to manage our finances to achieve financial independence, we must acquire knowledge.

As a small investor, the best place to start is really the equity market. Remember, when you buy shares, you are first & foremost buying the business. You must ask yourself whether you like the business & of the view that the business will grow & get stronger. For example, if you buy Dell shares, then you must really believe that the Dell computer is the best in the market. All your friends are crazy about Dell computer, or at least going to be because Dell has a new product that can better Apple. Warren is so successful in his investing because he invested in businesses that become global leaders such as Coca cola.

While financial text book will advocate diversification, I would argue that as a small investor, concentrate on the few counters that you have researched & strongly believed in the business. The important thing is to use only your long term fund & stay invested through the volatility of the market. Again, it is the business that you believe in, hence do not sell even if you have made some money. The time to sell is when :-
a) you do not believe in the potential of the business anymore (example cassette tape manufacturers)
b) you do not believe in the ability of the management running the company. You get the sense of how good they are by comparing their performance with the competitors as well as through attending the annual AGM.
c) The overall economic outlook is not good. You can have the best business but if the overall environment is bad, then the business will not prosper, no matter how good it is.

I wish you luck!

Birthday

2011-08-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

Recently I celebrated my 40+++ birthday in front of the TV & computer with a packet of fried rice and with my daughter by my side. My wife & my son were away. My daughter had totally forgotten my birthday.

Most people would pity me for such a miserable birthday. I did not. I thought it was one of the most memorable birthdays that I have had.

My beloved wife,who was still angry with me for losing my temper at her, sent me an online birthday card. I tried for almost an hour to open the link, but somehow could not. Subsequently, I skyped her & told her that I probably did not deserve her birthday wish for me. To me, it is really the thoughts that count. She had forgiven me, remembered my birthday and sent me her blessing. That is all that matter.

I also received 2 lovely gifts, a birthday card & an email from my 2 amazing sisters. I was touched my their thoughtfulness and love. Many of us may have very close relationship with our siblings, but how often do we express our love & concern for each other? I am learning to understand that to love without expressing it is like keeping the light in the cupboard. So what if the light is extremely bright if it does not take away the darkness and bring the warmth to the surrounding.

An old friend also sms me to send his birthday wishes. It was a pleasant surprise as we were almost losing contact. Sometime I just marveled how a simple sms can just brighten up a person's day.

Normally I do not get sentimental about my birthday. To me, it is just another day and perhaps a good reason for a nice meal with the family.

This birthday was different. Half of my family was not with me. I had more time to reflect. Age is catching up. How many more birthdays do I have?

Suddenly, it dawn upon me that deep within us, we all need to love & to be loved. That is really the whole meaning of life. After all, what is the point of material gain if there is nobody to share with? We can't bring it along to the grave.

I already have the best friend ever in Christ, a beloved wife & 2 lovely children (who have forgotten my birthday.....life is not perfect), wonderful siblings and many friends (though most of them do not remember birthdays just like me), why should I not be contented?

Crossroads

2011-08-14T03:52:00.000-07:00

This is my first ever blog, after existing on this earth for almost 5 decades! Why? Perhaps, age is catching up and I just want to leave behind my thoughts & life experiences for my descendants, if they are ever interested in wanting to know their dad, grand dad, great-grand dad...... Perhaps, it is really for myself to look back and reminiscent the things that I had done, the hurts & joy that I had gone through, the failure & success that I had experienced.....

The title "crossroads" aptly summaries our life journey. We are perpetually encountering crossroads in our life journey, which determined our life experiences. Is there such a thing as taking the wrong road? Many will say yes, because of the unpleasant experiences and hurts as a result of making that wrong decision. The Chinese has a saying that "one miss-step will result in thousand year of hurts". But, if an opposite or different decision was made, will that be the right decision? We will never know.

I have learnt never to look back my life journey to regret about taking the wrong road. I have learnt to treasure every road that I have chosen to travel, no matter how bumpy, uncomfortable or painful it may be.

When I have the courage and inspiration, I will share some of the major crossroads of my life -- my childhood, study, marriage, work, family....

My life has never been a bed of roses, but I have enjoyed the sunshine and the rain. I believe this is the same for all of you, except some of you may not have counted your blessings because of the overwhelming pain that you are experiencing. This is the crossroad that you must take the courage to cross now.