House of an Old Guard off Holland Road

I accidentally stumbled onto this driveway with a wounded mushroom somewhere off Holland Road during one of my KTM railway explorations last year. Do you know the significance of the place? Clue: one of the Old Guards is living or used to live here. Today, there are reputedly four members from Singapore's first cabinet in 1959 still with us: one needs no introduction, he is the Primus inter pares; another was spotted at a recent Old Guard's passing; the third keeps a low profile; the last vanished without a trace. Who am I referring to?

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Our Prime Minister Lee, Singapore's Chief Railway Fan

Source: MAS

The end of KTM railway operations between Tanjong Pagar and Woodlands and the consequent return of railway land to the state triggered an outpouring of memories and lamentations from the public, of the once active railway line and stations. The last few weeks stretching into July marked the largest photography documentation of the rail corridor, including Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah Stations. Suddenly everyone becomes a rail fan, in one way or another. Interestingly if there is such a title as "Chief Rail Fan", much like the scouting movement has a Chief Scout, then one person would be most deserving of this label. Do you know who is he?

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A Heritage Planted by Lee Kuan Yew Outside the Railway Station

While the enlightened prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia are credited with moving bilateral relations forward with the return of railway land to Singapore, we must not forget the genesis of the land exchange started with our Former Primer Minister Lee Kuan Yew. I was acutely reminded of this today while walking along Spottiswoode Park Road back to Si Pai Por, after checking out the former railway station.

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Chiam's Thank-You Parade and Farewell to Potong Pasir SMC

My mission to find Chiam See Tong's makeshift cubicle at Potong Pasir Blk 108 led to an unexpected surprise. Not surprisingly, the first person I saw at the void deck was shooting away - he was probably conscious of Chiam's fast disappearing legacy like me - and after I whipped out my camera to do likewise, a lady approached me, "do you know when Chiam See Tong will arrive?" I was taken back.

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Our Cabinet Ministers Then and Now - The Old and New Guards of Singapore

The swearing-in of the cabinet last night formally marked the end of this watershed election, a most memorable fortnight for the folks following political affairs in Singapore. Members of Parliament were elected in and declared by the Returning Officer after Polling Day; Non-Constituency Member of Parliament seats were offered to the best losers and taken; the sudden resignation of the Minister Mentor and Senior Minister caused a mini-tsunami in the cabinet, as a result ministers were reshuffled or dropped, the latter joining before them those slated to resign and those who lost the elections in their constituency.

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Chiam See Tong's Legendary Makeshift Cubicle at the Void Deck

As a minority in the nation celebrated the euphoria of opposition victory in Aljunied and Hougang, a pall of gloom descended on the SPP supporters in Potong Pasir. Their ex-MP has lost his gamble: by moving out of his fort to contest in a GRC, he and his team failed to secure Bishan-Toa Payoh and his wife failed to retain Potong Pasir. As I woke up late on the morning of May 8, having followed the election results into the wee hours of the morning, I knew Chiam See Tong's legacy in Potong Pasir would soon disappear. The seeds of destruction were sown by the MP-elect even before polling day.

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From Nomination to Polling Day: A Short Election Campaign

Emotions and temperature ran high at Serangoon Stadium on the last day of the election campaign, no wonder a cooling off day was mandated.

Today is cooling off day, a time for us to simmer down, a time for us to use our head to decide the party we will vote for. It will not be an easy decision for many; consider this: voters in GRCs have to evaluate between 8 to 12 candidates from both parties in a short period of 10 days, to assess their track records, to dissect their arguments, to buy their promises and be charmed. Our vote is sacred, it is a secret weapon; the burden is therefore on us not to misfire.

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2nd Shot: Bedok Stadium Then and Now (Opposition vs. PAP)

Our government has had a good track record for the last 5 years. If numbers are any indication, we have the highest-paid head-of-state and cabinet in the world working assiduously for our welfare workfare and also high GDP growth. The influx of talents from overseas have also transformed Singapore into the most overpopulated country in the world. Kudos to the PAP who gave us a first-rate government.

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Our Minister Mentor’s Very First Election Speech in Mandarin

As Singapore went gaga over PAP’s youngest candidate Tin Pei Ling in the election line-up, less attention was paid to the candidate at the other end of the scale. The party’s oldest candidate at 87 years is in the league of world’s oldest parliamentarians; he has served his constituency faithfully for more than half a century and has indicated his intention to run again. For our battle-hardened Minister Mentor, the upcoming general elections would be his 14th; for new candidates like Tin Pei Ling they would be facing their baptism of fire. As I look back at MM Lee's first elections in 1955, I could not help but feel amused and yet am full of respect for the man.

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