MyStory

Mr Tan Kwee Peng
Logistics Manager

Do you know that you share a very important birthday with our country? 3rd December is the date when Singapore’s National Anthem, the new flag and Coat of Arms (State Crest) were first unveiled to the newly-self-governing state. How do you feel about that?

I know. My mum told me once that, it was free delivery on that day, because it was Merdeka (Malay: Independence) day. I feel good actually, to be born on a special day. It’s no ordinary day. I know Yusof Ishak was sworn in.

Do you think it’s important for Singapore to be independent? Why?

Independent is correct. Of course, independence is correct because our progress has been great. What we are today is very hard to achieve, and we have achieved it. A small country like us, with no resources, to become what we are, this is fantastic.

We have six national symbols - the Flag, National Anthem, Pledge, State Crest, the Lion Head and the National Flower. Which of these symbols mean the most to you? In what way, and why?

The Pledge. It calls for equality among people, races, to have peace, prosperity, as one people. It’s very meaningful and straightforward. We just need to work towards that.

What were your growing-up years like?

When I was young, we were very poor. We stayed in a three-room walk-up flat in Dawson, Queenstown. We didn’t have much to eat. When I was young, I would go to this bread stall downstairs at about 5pm. The stall sold bread at night time. They would cut off the burnt parts of bread loaves and throw into the basket. Actually I went there to pick them and eat -  hungry, what to do.

There are seven of us in the family. I have three brothers, three sisters. I’m the second last child. My father was a hawker, and later became a taxi driver. My mother took up small jobs, like cleaning up and washing clothes for families.

It was tough growing up. All my clothes passed down from my brothers to me, and so many years of washing, the clothes were like paper. One pull and everything was torn. So whether shoes or clothes, they were passed down. We didn’t even have money to buy textbooks, always had to borrow from relatives. Sometimes the books didn’t even match our lessons.

I went to Hua Yi Integrated School at Queenstown. it was within walking distance. Later, I went to Queensway School. I got robbed once in Secondary Two, walking to Queensway School with one of my friends. He happened to have a nice watch. So two guys came, and brought us to Mei Ling Street, and showed us a knife under a piece of newspaper. So my friend was robbed of the watch. Then they robbed me, but when they opened my pencil box, nothing to rob. So he closed it back.  We were scared.

During the racial riots in the 1960s, I remember my father kept a parang (Malay: long knife) at home, just in case. Nothing really happened, but we were told to stay at home.

My place was safe, but ‘Lam Po Leh’ (Hokkien: Blue glass, colloquial name for Strathmore Avenue) and Redhill was not safe. My neighbour downstairs joined this secret society. It was very hard to get out, so he was whacked before they allowed him to leave. There were drug addicts in my area too. And there was this guy who rode a trishaw, and he hid drugs there. One day, the police came and searched the place, the trishaw rider. I used to see this girl wearing office attire coming. And slowly, I could see her deteriorate, and she started wearing jeans. And she became more desperate, and would just sit there and stone. So actually those days you could see a lot of things when you were young. It was very obvious. Now laws are so strict, it’s not so open.

I remember last time, in the afternoons, there were these peddlers selling ondeh-ondeh (a kind of Malay sweets). We were staying on the third floor, and my neighbour, would just lower a basket, put the money there and tell the guy, ‘I want this, this, this.’ And the peddler would put the food in the basket and collect the money. It was very common.

After secondary school, I went to the Vocational Institute for a year, and started working after that. My first job was as a pub assistant at Holiday Inn. The pay was about $140 or $160 a month. The money was just enough for myself, because they provided food and uniforms at the hotel. And Holiday Inn was quite near my place and bus fares were cheap. So I worked from five p.m. to one a.m.

Thereafter, I worked as a waiter in Hotel Equatorial. There was a big flood in 1979. The flood was so bad that nobody could go home from the hotel, so all of us had to stay overnight in the hotel’s premises. All the children were stranded, and the water came up to car level. The school children could not go home and they had to ask for food. I remember that because it happened to be on my birthday. Floods were common then. Once, there was this big flood. My brother was studying in Toh Tuck School then, so my father took his taxi out and went to search for him.

I served in the Vigilante Corps (VC) instead of National Service. It was quite simple. We would go to the community centre, take the patrol cards and go on our patrols. So if we see people fighting, we would call the police. So I was in the VC for four years. I would patrol once in ten days, and later, once a month.

Later on, I joined Orchard Hotel as a bartender. And slowly, from bartender, I became Assistant Manager. After ten years in this industry, I changed lines and joined shipping as a Logistics Manager. Meanwhile, I bought my own flat in Yishun, before moving to an executive flat in Woodlands.

I’m happy with what I’ve achieved. I feel the happiest about bringing up my family. My children, one is now 15 and the other 17 years old. Achievements in work is one thing, but at least, spending money on my family, I can see where it is going. Today I stay in a condominium.

What are some of the biggest changes between the Singapore of your childhood and now? Could you share more about them?

Housing. That was the biggest change. Environment has changed too. People stay at home more, and close their doors. During our time, it was different, all doors were open. But actually I think it depends on you. If you want to be friendly with others, you get friendly people. So, staying in a HDB, if you stay in your own flat, nobody will bother you. Maybe last time, people were more free, and they talked more, so you feel more warmth. Nowadays, people are so busy with their work, a few words, enough already.

Would you see Singapore as your home? Why is that so?

50 years here, if it’s not home, then where is home? I have a good family here, and I have achieved what I set out to achieve. Because of that, I call it a home. Maybe those who did not achieve what they want to would not call it a home.

When you think about Singapore, what are the first things that come to mind?

It’s about security. Singapore is safe. That is what makes us so relaxed here.

Since us becoming a self-governing country in 1959, Singapore has overcome many different challenges. Even now, we still face challenges in different forms, such as SARS, H1N1, terrorism and economic downturn. For a small country, we are actually quite resilient. What do you think is the main reason Singapore survives challenges and difficulties time and again?

The main reason is very simple. It’s the people. If the people don’t follow the government’s instructions, nothing can be achieved. Some countries, there are people who oppose for the sake of opposition. In some countries, people don’t follow. Leadership is one thing, but it’s the people. Our people follow, whether it’s right or wrong, so it’s easy to achieve things.