Marriage Certificate of Parents

We found the marriage certificate of our parents. They were married for more than 59 years. The cover is red with the wordings Marriage Certificate printed in gold. Red of course is an auspicious color. It is made of hard board with blanks for the various names and dates. From right to left - the village (county) that our parents came from, their ages based on date/time of their birthdays - were 'introduced by' at the location (resident) 'witnessed by' to be married - our parents' signatures with the other signatories as witness, introducer and our paternal and maternal grandfathers as presiding over the ceremony.

An interesting snippet - our maternal grandfather's name is quite rare (as in not commonly used or found in dictionary). I was told that if we were to visit the Registry of Marriage today, we might be able to have an official copy - since our parents were married during the British colonial period. This copy must be even more official though ;-p

A piece of history for posterity ;-)

Why George Yeo should not stand for the Presidential Elections in August 2011

Fresh (and for many raw) from the very heated General Elections in May 2011, Singaporeans are bracing themselves for the Executive Presidential Election due in August.

Dr Tan Cheng Bok has offered himself as a candidate and this afternoon, collected the forms for this purpose. Understand from news reports that 7 sets of forms were collected. Other than Dr Tan who went with his wife, Cecilia and his team of supporters, there was Mr Ooi Boon Ewe - a failed independent candidate in the recent GE. A Mr Lee collected on behalf of someone whom he mentioned is a businessman.

Dr Tan Cheng Bok has shown himself capable of standing up to the government even while he was a PAP MP. He has over the years won much adulation with his openness and directness. He also clearly has Singapore in his heart. I hope there will be a contest - and I hope it will be one that is clean, spirited and deserving of this high office - more so, I hope it would be one befitting of the evolving Singaporean electorate.

Former Aljunied GRC anchor Minister George Yeo has also posted on his Facebook that he is reconsidering his earlier decision not to contest in the Presidential Election following much support expressed by friends and others.

I think Mr Yeo should not contest. He has just emerged from a bruising political battle. He remains closely associated with the PAP too as a CEC member. I feel those who encourage him have good reasons to do so but their respect and love for him might be misplaced. He had, with the exception of those comments made 3 days before polling day, not been really 'independent' though he might have been viewed by many as being capable of it. We all recognize ala Nicole Seah that the number of Likes on Facebook do not necessarily translate to - ditto the opposite for Tin Pei Ling. The risk of losing in this election too cannot be ruled out.

Furthermore, he had expressed that he would be ill-suited for this position given his free-spirited temperament. Though he was defeated in the GE, he left office on an exceptional high moral ground- he displayed true gentlemanliness during the hustings and was magnamous in his loss.

I would like to add that he is far too young for this post. His potential for greater things would be better served in other capacities - out of the trappings (pun unintended) of this august office of Singapore. He would do very well to garner the positive energies of the young as well as the wisdom of like-minded Singaporeans to influene the vision of a new Singapore compact.

He is obviously enjoying his 'freedom' after 23 years in politics. Perhaps, he can bring to fruition his undertaking made during his exit press conference, that he would be willing to lead the cause for change in a new Singapore. I think he should keep this promise. Singapore will benefit greatly from his high intellect, and personal conviction in this role.

Perhaps when he is much older (say, in 20 years' time?) the elected presidential candidacy would still be up for contest.

Well, until all the cards are shown, - just my thoughts :-)

Spike in Foreign Purchases of Private Properties in Singapore

This is another unpublished letter to ST Forum sent on 29 May 2011.

Hi

Please refer to the recent reports and commentaries regarding the spike of foreign buying of local private properties. I would like to seek clarification from MAS and the lending institutions how the loans of such purchases are granted. What guidelines are used in allowing such purchases. How do lending institutions check that these buyers are able to service their loans? In the event of any default, besides re-possession of the property involved, what recourse do these institutions have to recover the outstanding loan amounts from these buyers? If any collateral was listed as the basis for these loans in the first place, is there legal provision and enforceability across national boundaries to undertake such debt recovery?

If the safeguards are not in place, are lending institutions undertaking unnecessary risks to encourage a property bubble looming in our own backyard?

Ambulance Blocked From Parking Near Bedok Polyclinic

This is an unpublished letter I sent to Sunday Times on 29 May 2011. Three photographs were attached to support my comments.

Hi

I would like to share some photographs I took at the carpark near Blk 212 Bedok North Street 1, where the Bedok Polyclinic is located. It shares the same building as an NTUC Fairprice Supermarket. This is also the clinic many elderly residents visit. As the photographs show - an ambulance's way was blocked by many vans/trucks doing delivery to the Fairprice outlet. This was in the afternoon - and in the morning, there are even more delivery vehicles. As you can see, the medical crew had to push the stretcher by foot to get to the polyclinic. I had to reversed all the way out as my car was also blocked by other lorries in the front.

I had some months ago written to HDB, NTUC and the Polyclinic to raise this concern. Each department had referred to each other organization. Finally, HDB mentioned it was going to discuss with the other two parties on how to resolve it. Obviously, this has not progressed. In the light of the recent discussion regarding the failure of motorists to give way to emergency vehicles, I thought it is timely to also re-surface this.

Perhaps the various organizations can now see how this situation can be quickly resolved before lives are endangered by the behavior of selfish vehicle owners.