Dr Allan Ooi’s farewell letter and last words before his death: Questions for SAF to answer
March 12th, 2009 | 
Author: By Eugene Yeo
(LATEST: Sin Ming was forced to publish Dr Allan Ooi’s letter in Chinese today. Read how it tries desperately to add a different spin to it to make it appear as if Dr Allan committed suicide due to relationship problems here)
Attached below is an extract of Dr Allan Ooi’s email sent to his family and friends before his death. It was sent to us by his friend:
To: Wayang Party Editors
His suicide letter attached. Blackout from media on this. An inquiry into his supervisors and the whole scholarship process in the SAF should be demanded, someone lost a precious son/friend/brother.
We have elected to reproduce only relevant parts of Dr Allan Ooi’s email. In the last few days, the mainstream media, especially the Chinese dailies have been speculating about the cause of his death.
The Straits Times suggested it was due to over-indulgence in online war games. Lianhe Wanbao claimed that he committed suicide because he lost heavily in gambling. Shin Ming wrote that it may due to some relationship issues. None of these were true.
Like the smear campaign directed against David Widjaja, the mainstream media had been concocting all kinds of unsubstantiated tales to distract attention from the authorities which have yet to provide us with a satisfactory explanation.
The SPH journalists are aware of the content of Dr Allan Ooi’s email. Why didn’t they report the real reason behind his suicide and instead throw all kinds of smoke-bombs to mislead Singaporeans?
In his email below, Dr Allan Ooi stated explicitly that the main reason why he decided to end his life is due to work-related issues:
(NOTE: The letter was dated 4 March because Allan timed it (via a website providing the service) to be sent out 24 hours after his death, presumably so that no one tried to stop him. We have checked the content of the email with Allan’s friends before publishing. The content was an exact replica as the letter read out by his brother during his wake. It is authentic. )
SAF needs to answer the following questions arising from Dr Allan Ooi’s email:
1. What does Dr Allan Ooi mean by his statement “How can a bond be unbreakable?” Did he inform SAF of his intention to break his bond and was told that he was not allowed to do so?
2. In the next sentence, Dr Allan Ooi wrote “How can it be extended at will by an administration simply by passing a paper?” SAF needs to explain why Dr Allan Ooi’s bond was extended. Did they consult Dr Allan Ooi and seek his acquiesence before the decision was made?
3. Dr Allan Ooi was very angry at the unfortunate turn of events - the extending of his bond and not allowing to break it, which drove him into utter despair and hopelessness culminating in his eventual decision to end his own life to get away from it all. What was the nature of his work at SAF? Who was his immediate superior or supervisor? Did he detect the problems his subordinate was having at work? Is there any system in place to attend to scholars who have encountered problems in the course of their work?
4. Dr Allan Ooi made the fateful decision to end his life 5 months after leaving Singapore. SAF claimed it was unable to contact him, but surely the authorities must have emailed him and what were the contents of the email? Dr Allan Ooi left Singapore initially to escape from the pressure-cooker environment he was in. Were there any other factors which cause him to come to this decision in the end?
How can a promising young doctor who went through 6 rigorous years of medical studies and housemanship be so traumatized by his work that he had to AWOL and leave his family and friends to be alone by himself in a foreign land?
We have not heard a single official statement from SAF. Dr Allan Ooi was a SAF scholar. He worked in SAF as a medical officer upon obtaining his medical degree and most importantly he was driven to suicide due to anguish, despair and stress arising from his work. How can SAF exonerate itself from its pastoral responsibility as if it has nothing to do with him?
As one of our readers, Agape Xue wrote on our blog:
“There seems to be a recent trend that many young scholars are taking their lives for granted, and commit suicides at the instance of meeting obstacles in their studies or career pursuit.
This is a very worrying phenomenon seemingly having its undesirable influence on today’s bright youngsters. This trend must be checked. Young people need to treasure their lives more,, need to know that they not only have a responsibility to themselves, they also need to know that they have a responsibility ensure that their parents live no guilt in raising them.
What pain is there more destructive to all parents to have to see to the funeral of their children.”
There is nobody to blame for Dr Allan Ooi’s untimely death and now is certainly not the time for pointing fingers. We need to know what exactly happen so that we will not see a repeat of such tragedies again.
To recall the cryptic last words of Dr Allan Ooi:
“To the people within this system, please change it to better benefit yourselves and future generations, instead of creating a self-perpetuating cycle of at best, painful obligation, and at worst, utter despair.”
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Sad….
To end one life…
bond unbreakable ? hm..
I do know you have to compensate (a lot) if you break any gahmen bond… Yes, i know a few of people who did that. Now they are happily doing things they liked.. JOB SATISFACTION
Thank you for bringing up this matter. This is the reason why we cannot trust the msm; they pick and choose what to write depending on the calls of the political masters.
While I can’t understand te logic why Dr Ooi would choose to end his life (was there really no other alternative better than ending his life), I certainly feel very very sorry for him and his family.
I believe SAF owes Singaporeans a lot of answers. This whole country seems to be going to the dogs, with cracks showing up everyday.
I wish other than casting the right vote, there are other things I can do…
omg is this letter for real? it is such a tragedy that we lost such a good looking young man, but if we have lost him for a reason that is not truthfully reported, i think it is really unjust!
I’m very shocked after reading his suicide letter.. He’s so young, and a man like him should have a very promising future. Surely many people will miss him. I hope SAF can give us some statement regarding this event and not pretending of being unaware of his suicide letter. To Spindoctor Press Holding, I can only say ‘Shame on you!’ What a stupid idea to suggest he committed suicide because of playing online games. The journalists who wrote baseless article about his reason commiting suicide are no more than a bunch of retarded scums
This is indeed very troubling. Not only do we see his frustration at what seems to be an “unbreakable” bond (which to me is ridiculous), but also the deliberate obfuscation by the SAF and the media.
I’d like to hope that this email – or at least the relevant parts of it – get released by the mainstream media, but then again I dare not.
Hi wayangtimes,
The email is authentic to the best of our knowledge.
Unlike the mainstream media, we do not concoct myths out of the blue.
Eugene
[...] allan ooi Dr Allan Ooi’s farewell letter and last words before his death: Questions for SAF to answer : … he came from a family of doctors..surely he knows what it is like to be a millitary doc? this is a [...]
lets observe a minute of silence for another promising Singapore son…..He fought a good battle but sacriface himself to the system.
ST owe the nation a clarification of justice for this young man!
This is so so sad. A promising young Singaporean, driven to despair and desolation thanks to bureaucratic officers and an uncaring organisation. So much for the so-called “Positive NS Experience” crap in the SAF.
How can they just change the terms of the contract? Isn’t that illegal?
How many more of our “bonded” medical officers are there? Are they also facing the same stress and helplessness that Dr Allan Ooi faced?
Thank Wayang party and Dr Allan Ooi’s friends for telling us the brutal truth. It is the pathetic system that indirectly cause the suicidal death of Dr Allan Ooi and many talented people who are disillusioned with superficial inhumane and coldness of PAP system.
PAP and its machinery have been putting words into people’s mouth and make their own speculation and lies as gospel truth to the benefit of themselves, twisting the fact and truth to their liking in their pathetic mainstream media.
Time and time again, instead of admitting that there is problem and there should be solution for the gov to solve, they chose to deny it and blame on the victim. They try to make it as though it is the victim that is incompetent and inept where in fact, the government and its useless farting system that are the culprit.
Notice the kind of similarity that the government treat the Singaporean by extending the retire age, special account, ERP, GST, COst of living, CPF etc without giving people’s choices and voice out.
People have no say in their lives.
“How can they just change the terms of the contract? Isn’t that illegal?”
Since when the gov see their own double-standard action as illegal ? They do as they please and as they like. This is type of government the world should get rid of.
Allan said his job is terrible. 10-14 hours a day of nothing. Now we are really hearing from the horse’s mouth. How can a scholar military officer bonded for more than a decade and doing nothing every day. This speaks volume of our scholar paper Generals and Admirals in our Defence Force. I believe they are also doing nothing every day when they are serving the bond. But after serving their bonds by doing nothing, they are still helicoptered to hold high position in the Temasick, GLC, GLCs and other civil ministries without any real prior working experience. No wonder, Temasick and GLC lost so much money.
“if you are reading this, you know who you are.” no doubt about it he is br… (someone came into my room, aiyoh help!
btw is this letter real.
What does darkness of the brotherhood think about all this?
btw is there a connection here?
http://dotseng.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/even-love-can-kill-you-dead/
I am just kaypoh, god bless his soul.
Oh comon…everyone who went to NS should know by now how retarded most of your superiors are. Half of those that’re still stuck in there and enjoying it probably can’t survive in the outside world, the other half who’re also stuck in there and serving it unwillingly probably wants out but either can’t break the bond or can’t bear to part with stable income.
It’s sad that Dr Allan had to end his life, which I deemed a wrong move, as I always emphasized that survival was the one most important thing in life. There’s nothing you can do once you’re on the other side.
Anyways, ST has alot of explaining to do linking games(again) to his suicide. And seriously, if they’re going to keep this up, I, an avid gamer, is going to take up verbal arms and flank this stupendously stupid bunch of fools who thinks everyone is dieing due to games.
And at admin, from the letter we can see that it’s definitely not the only reason that’s driven him to suicide. But yes you should give a check up with friends at CMPB on what happened to his bond if he hasn’t already stated it in the letter. But my advice is to leave this matter at rest. It’s not the first time SAF had suicide cases, though this is indeed the first one that I’ve heard of a regular doing it. I’ve heard and seen many unhappy regulars who’ve either left SAF or are leaving son for a better place. If it’s of relevance on of them states that he feels he’s not appreciated within SAF. I’ve only just ORDed so I know what I’m talking about. I’ll now leave it to you for your research with the many other friends you should still have in the army, and not meddle anymore in this affair.
Thank you. And God Bless Allan, rest in peace.
To my mind, there is more to it than meets the eye. The problem with Singaporeans is that we are a nation of “softies”. We cannot take much hardships, physically and mentally. At the slightest sign of distress, we choose the easy way out. Maybe it’s due to too many good years from birth. Maids to do everything. Need anything? Just ask the parents. Contrast this with the Baby Boomers. They are a really tough bunch. Some are literally living from hand to mouth but they live on and survive.
Natural attrition laws sieve out the weak from the strong.
It is easy to blame the system when you can’t take it. By this logic, more, much more “promising young doctors” would have chosen the easy way out, not just one.
Why so angry over a bond. It means you are guaranteed with a good job.
Or he wanted to work in a polyclinic or hospital instead?
Of course, he never needed to worry about unemployment, did he?
OVer expectation in life will lead one to end it too soon.
AWOL and so on is not what a man should be doing and not for a medical officer.
Bad example.
Regular NCOs can take the stress and toughness. An MO cannot?
“But after serving their bonds by doing nothing, they are still helicoptered to hold high position in the Temasick, GLC, GLCs and other civil ministries without any real prior working experience.”
Yeah, helicoptered into high paid GLC companies and doing nothing as well. No wonder, Singapore land it in dire strait. In army, if you do nothing, it is not serious because there is no war in Singapore, only Mas Selamat to catch. In business world, you are in war every day trying to fight and win with money, but these lacklustricial scholars who land into these government finance body and do nothing and yet still pay ridiculously high, then they should be booted out.
We don’t understand your rationale of publicising excerpts. The full email is already floating around on the internet and someone somewhere would have published it in full already.
i feel sad for him and his family. i am also sad to see this gahmen has becomes so uncaring and unloving and behaving like they owned the whole damn country and we all own them a living. it’s so sickening, frustrated and tired of living the way we are now – struggling like hell from the first thing in morning and so stressfull and worry end meets before go to bed having difficulty to sleep. and it goes on and on…… at once stage during the struggle period, i do comptempleting such foolish act but i overcome. it’s a damn sickening frustrated kind of living standard in sg with so many FTs, risng costs to no end, changes of policy to trap and tie you further and more..more…sigh!!
i tot he can break bond by paying back gahmen… his family background can surely afford it… but this show i cant trust the msm… feel sad for cpt ooi, tho….
Hi Civic Advocator,
Thanks for your feedback.
To the best of my knowledge, we are the only blog which have published the email so far. One of his friends did put it up a few days ago, but was taken down on the same day.
We have chosen only to publish what is relevant to our discussion here: that there are questions for SAF to answer.
The second half of Dr Allan Ooi’s email contains personal content about his family and friends which should not be in the public domain.
In fact, we will probably take down this excerpt after a few days. Our aim is simply to make a point, to refute some of the myths being spread by the mainstream media about Dr Allan Ooi and perhaps to seek some form of justice for him.
Eugene
I think it is very interesting how u blame everything on SAF.
Please do remember that committing suicide is a personal choice and with his family background, it is not impossible for him to break his bond. I do not see any legal possibility for any of the government ministry to refuse bond-breaking as long as you are willing to pay the money.
I like to express my suspicion to the authenticity of this email.
Please do not use an individual’s death as an oppurtunity to hit on the government. It is not intelligent and unkind.
To use his
Hi Boon Seng,
The email is authentic to the best of our knowledge. We have received a few emails from Dr Allan’s close friends already. Unlike the mainstream media, we do not publish anything here which cannot be substantiated.
If you read my article carefully, the gist of it is to request for SAF to shed more light on what happened. Nowhere in the article did I blame SAF or accuse SAF of anything. Please do not put words into my mouth.
How can asking questions be tantamount to hitting at the government? Are you saying that we shouldn’t question the authorities at all?
Or do you simply just accept everything which is published in the papers as the gospel truth?
Eugene
Hi there,
I am a colleague of Dr Ooi and it is truly saddening. What he wrote there was similar to what he confided in me as well. He was unhappy and desperate to leave.
Whatever he wrote in the letter about having his bond extended against his will etc is true. It has happened to many saf docs… there are many of us stuck in this system now. Locked in at age 18, promised the moon and given excrement instead. Some are not unhappy, some are. The problem is, no one is allowed to resign. Dr Ooi’s family has more than enough $ to pay his bond but the SAF is afraid that if one is allowed to leave, all their docs will leave and they will have no-one left to work for them.
Some of us have tried to leave, but even after they sending resignation letters and talking to the highest levels of superiors, the answer has always been “no, we don’t want to discuss the bond” or simply “no, you cannot break”. No further discussion. Short of employing expensive lawyers to fight the gahmen… we’re stuck for 18-21 years after signing the bond.
It is truly saddening and SAF should be ashamed of bullying and deceiving young, bright doctors into a permanent sad future.
Hi Eugene,
I do not accept everything on the paper as the gospel truth and likewise I do not accept everything on the net as the gospel truth. I honour your right to express disbelive over mainstream media (which I agree, especially regarding ST’s ridiculous report) and mine should be honoured too.
How can asking questions be tantamount to hitting at the government? Of course it can be. Rhetoric. When questions come with subtext and when you already have answers. Questions is just a paraphrasing of statements.
Are you saying that we shouldn’t question the authorities at all? Of course we should. And I am very very supportive of online media for doing so. But not so for this case: although you say it is “certainly not the time for pointing fingers”, this bolded line “How could he not detect the problems his subordinate was having at work?” just sounded otherwise.
I would like to revise my words, I apologize for questioning your kind intent. Perhaps, I just do not believe that the SYSTEM is the main culprit for a individual’s suicide case.
Cheers,
Boon Seng
wayangparty suddenly seems to have alot of new very well connected friends lately. I mean really well connected. I have also noticed the number of commentators have jumped by ten fold.
ST claimed that gaming may have been responsible for the death of capt Ooi. This angered many gamers. Now that this letters comes out, providing is it authentic. A very different picture is forwarded.
This goes to show ST may be the master of hype and spin after?
Having read his letter in its entirety, I doubt the SAF played a significant decision to his suicide.
Hope he rest in peace.
Never join SAF in the first place. A lot of my friends who signed on are now leaving. Not only that, if they want to retrench you, they just do it (by not extending your contract). Kind of ironic with the case here.
Also, the experience in the SAF is considered as NIL in the outside world. Some companies even have an extra question in their application form for you to answer asking if you were an ex-SAF personnel and the reason for leaving it.
And who the hell wants to do all those jungle shit as a job?? Crazy!
I think channel news asia forum thread just got closed down re: allan.
can someone check? Sudden clampdown?
For those of you who have cast doubts on Dr Ooi’s resilience and mental fortitude, I will suggest that you do not speak without knowing him.
Going through 6 years of medical school and housemanship is truly one of the most gruelling periods in a doctor’s life, yet we know there is an end to it, as long as we persevere. Moreover, we are, at the very least, working for the benefit of people who are unwell, people who need and appreciate our help.
SAF is a different ballgame altogether. Meaningless, insignificant doldrum that we are put through, more so than the normal NSF. For one to take such extreme measures as Dr Ooi did….as he clearly articulated in his letter, his decision to go was not spontaneous; it was clearly thought through and decided upon, possibly after considering all options. For one to be able to experience the hardships of being a doctor, yet now forced to end his life in a seemingly impossible dead-end…..You decided what SAF is doing to the regular medical officers.
As for the media, you guys have hit a new low. Online games? Gambling? Stop spouting nonsense. You all are not fit to be called journalists. I can only hope there remains a conscience to plague you.
While I don’t usually like SAF scholars due to the fact that some of them have their heads up their asses but my deepest condolences go out to this promising SAF medical officer whom has left us because of the stupidity in the system. It is just not the system which needs an overhaul, the entire mindset, social structure and thinking of this place needs a major overhaul. While Singapore has progressed by leaps and bounds economically, how much have we moved ahead together as a society, as a group of people we can identify ourselves with? The younger generation is getting increasingly disillusioned with the MSM propaganda and the double standards that the government subjects us to. Think about it, this society is built upon the caste system. In primary school, in secondary school and JC, poly and ITE, all the way up to University, is there not segregation and streaming? Isn’t there the constant hounding and drilling of, If you go to em3/ITE, next time you can’t get a good job? This place reeks of nothing more than an elitist system which is failing and failing fast. I strongly urge everyone to be re-considering their mindset. Is this the kind of legacy you’d want to leave to your children? The kind of society where kids grow up, only taught to excel and end up killing themselves when they find out that there’s more to life than just trying to win at everything?
SAF Doc
We read your comment. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing what you say is true or otherwise. Any proof?
Hi SAF Doc,
If what you say is true, then why didn’t anybody bring up the issue earlier?
Are we living in a modern or feudal society? While scholars are obliged to serve the organization which supported their course of study upon graduation, they should be allowed to break their bonds and leave should they discover what they are doing is not their cup of tea.
Now, if SAF scholars are not allowed to break their bonds or be charged for AWOL, then they should state the terms down explicitly before the bond is signed that it is a chargeable offence to break the bond and see how many will sign up for it.
This is absolutely unbelievable! If there are any SAF docs or friends of Dr Allan who are reading this, you may like to write us an article on this systematic infringement of human rights. Do not suffer in silence anymore. Rest assured your identity will be kept strictly confidential. Email us at wayangparty@hotmail.com
Eugene
Anyway, suicide is for weaklings
And the seow people.
The brave will fight it out in life, however tough.
The society at large cannot have too much sympathy for suicide, otherwise it will become a trend for the depressed to do likewise when they meet problems in life.
If one claims he is not depressed but still takes his own life, then he must be insane.
How come the letter is dated 4th March when his body was found on 3rd March?…….
Am i mising something here?
Boo Hoo… I signed a contract with my eyes open, regretted and killed myself.
Boo Hoo… I could’ve engaged a lawyer to see how can I break a contract, but I chose to kill myself.
Boo Hoo… I have a wonderful life and career as a doctor, compared to those retrenched blue collar workers in Singapore, and still I chose to kill myself.
Hi all,
The letter was authentic. I was at Allan’s wake where his brother read out the letter, word for word. Really appreciate the editors for leaving out the second part.
RIP, Allan, we miss you.
Merv, you’re asking for it if you keep up remarks like that. It’s one thing to be sarcastic, but this isn’t the time…serious.
The core is rotten. The system is broken. They cover it up. Singaporeans will only know the truth when the end is near.
The letter was dated 4 March because he timed it (via a website providing the service) to be sent out 24 hours after his death, presumably so that no one tried to stop him.
I have heard many stories of people being “unable” to break their bond – there seems to be a large conspiracy of silence. I thank you Wayang Party for raising the right questions; I hope people do come forward and share their true stories.
Here’s a simple question. Why take the SAF scholarship in the first place and get bonded? Especially if the family can afford med school fees. It is very sad for the parents to have to lose him.
Why do you have to take down the letter?
Dear Eugene,
Firstly I would like to say that I respect the fact that you have a lot of balls to publish this article. I am an ex-Singaporean that went to JC with Allan and spoke to him on a few occasions. He was a very confident, arrogant, some might say but exctremely intelligent and athletic and I greatly admired that about him. That he dared to be this huge persona. When I found out about his death I thought there was no possible way this guy would kill himself unless he had absolutely no options. I am absolutely disgusted that all these lies have surfaced about him without a way for him to defend himself. What else will the Staits Times be puppeted into saying by the government next? That Allan was a crack-addict prostitute? Let’s face it, Singapore is a fascist country. And the Straits Times Newspaper is an ass-wipe of a piece of democratic journalism. I am also appalled by some of the responses to this article written by you. Cordan Tan, Mick and Exposer, are you guys like the Singapore Goverment’s Bitches or what? SAF doc, Thank you so much for shedding some much needed light on how the SAF operates. The handling of this incident reminds me of why I left this country in the first place so that my children and I would have freedom of speech and to think for ourselves and always ask questions. I wish “Reporters” in the Straits Times’ would maybe try “reporting the truth” sometime. Allan ooi does not deserve to be de-famed this way. Thank you.
Well I have a few friends bonded to such scholarships and of course it seems like such a good idea at the time, with the prestige and the guaranteed career progression attached. Of course it doesn’t negate the irresponsibility of suicide but it explains why someone would take an SAF scholarships regardless of their means.
Slavery in this modern age. SAD. Let this be a warning to prospective scholarship chasers.
“I was angry, angry which stemmed ultimately from a sense of waste and imprisonment”
Tell that to those people holding a sense of waste and imprisonment from being jobless.
I don’t understand. According to newspaper reports, he passed away on Tuesday, 3 March. This email was sent out on Wed, 4 March.
Doesn’t seem to be a forward-ed email either. And the timezone difference doesn’t apply too, Australia is hours ahead of Singapore and America (if it is original gmail timecode).
And emails log the date and time that it is sent, not downloaded into the inbox?
If this was penned by the deceased. I just want to say thank you very much for shedding light into the mind of Dr Ooi. This may or may not have explained his untimely death. But what it demonstrates is a very disturbing trend in the ST of late to draw simple lines just to sell newspapers even if it brings grief to the Ooi family and those who were once acquianted with Dr Ooi. I wonder where is the content, conscience and even the pride one usually takes in doing a good job as a journalist in the ST? Did we not go through the same gamut of nonsense with Widjaya as well?
I just wish to clarify a few points here Eugene. Dr Ooi was very well known in the gaming circle. How did you manage to get this letter? Was the brotherhood involved in any way?
I have just come here for the very first time. And I just want to say I will be staying. As what I often read about wayang in the press is also ditto as above.
I hope he finds peace on the other side.
Please remember Eugene, there are alot of brotherhood press readers here. More than you can possibly count. Please believe me. So I hope my post will not disappear mysteriously. We all know wherever they go, they have tremendous influence for some reason over the host of sites. So I hope my post will not mysterious disappear or this thread will not simply disappear into thin air. It would be a great disappointment for my BP readers if they are not allowed to ask legitimate questions which I believe everyone has a right to know.
Hi ex toc reader,
It was emailed to us by his friend. I do not think the Brotherhood is involved.
Hope that clarifies.
Eugene
Hi strange,
Please refer to the post by Questioning above:
“The letter was dated 4 March because he timed it (via a website providing the service) to be sent out 24 hours after his death, presumably so that no one tried to stop him.”
We have checked the content of the email with Allan’s friends before publishing. It is authentic. We have doctor friends from Allan’s graduating class of 2005 and from his sister as well though we do not know him in person.
Eugene
Dear Merv,
You sound very envious of Allan. Were you rejected by the SAF because you didn’t possess Allan’s qualities? Or maybe you just have the mentality of a neanderthal and cannot comprehend the complexity of being fed propaganda by the SAF when you’re 18 and you’re a kid who probably watched ‘Top Gun’ and thought that could be you. You were not allowed to watch a movie with naked breats when you were 18 in Singapore but you were supposed to understand all the fineprint in a contract that binds you for all of your 20’s when you’re that age. And you talk about how he should be over-the-moon about having a job that makes you work more than half a day for the rest of his 20s as long as he has a job, that’s what is important. No you don’t need contact with your loved ones as all you probably want to do is sleep once your workshift is over as having a job is the reward in itself.
I can empathize with Allan as I harbor thoughts of running away too during my housemanship. It’s a terrible period for everybody. I am just shocked beyond words that he has chosen to end the fight like this. I was thought he was strong.
Good job wayangparty on providing the hidden side to the news! Soon the MSM will be forced to report on these kind of matters if they don’t want to be left in the dust by online media.
1) Bond can be broken – just that he tried it too early. There are other ways to “get your way” in life.. Wait till one becomes LTC (6-8 years for a scholar), finish specialist exams, then break the bond and go into private practice. Many SAF doctors I know have done that!!! Little difference from your peers outside after 7 years in the SAF… maybe lose 2-3 years of private practice pay, no big deal for this guy
2) SAF MO of course not exciting, especially in Air Force where pilots are kings. What to do? Hello, your SAF MO pay is 40% more than other officers of the same rank, but money no enough?!?
3) Suffering? Sure, having to provide medical support for CAF during IPPT is siong, so is being medical party for LIFE runs….. c’mon lah, there are worse things in life.
Want excitement? Join Commando or SOF lor – get to do real things ST will never dare report – get to kill people on mission somemore. Or join civil defence. Why be a doctor?
I do not speak for the SAF nor anyone, just my 2cents……
This really gets me down. When the media chooses to be blinded to the truth that is when you know Singapore is now oficially back in a 3rd World mentality. Really saddens me that they are looking the other way then to address the real concerns…
An SAF bond is unlike others. It comprises of your NS liability. Even if Allan broke his bond, he will have to serve the rest of his NS liability as an NSF. If he has trouble working as a regular MO, I think he will have even more trouble as an NSF.
NS is a place where you put your dreams, aspirations on hold for 2, 2.5 years. It is indeed like a prison. Sorry to say, Allan did not have the fortitude to survive it.
There are people out who is suffering too. What makes him think that he is the only one? If everyone think this way, more than half the population would have been long gone…
“You were not allowed to watch a movie with naked breats when you were 18 in Singapore but you were supposed to understand all the fineprint in a contract that binds you for all of your 20’s when you’re that age. ”
Wow. Cry me a river.
This really is a big tragedy that is worth losing your life for.
There are death row convicts with greater optimism than this guy.
I feel sad a doctor with so much potential and so much to live for decided to check out of life. It appears he was fighting his demons alone and saw himself trapped.
If we are to benefit from his passing we need to examine his grievances with the SAF. The SAF needs to be transparent on how it handles such grievances.
It almost appears the late doctor is telling the SAF, “You can have my dead body.”
To Merv, I take your points. They are valid but your manner really lacks sensitivity.
i am curious on the point “How can a bond be unbreakable?”, perhaps SAF Doc can shed some lights.
when you sign the bond with SAF, you are not informed that you cannot break bond?
i thought one can break bond by paying back full amount or partial amount?
with these news, It makes me even less sympathetic with this guy.
So he needs to be talked off a ledge just because he hates his job?
People in war-torn Iraq, with bullets flying over their heads, have higher optimism and backbone.
People should just call a spade a spade. It is really a stupid reason to die for.
allan’s bond was unbreakable. he exhausted all the options (from breaking the bond to changing jobs) that would not jeopardize his integrity (as a person and as a doctor) and still felt cornered because there was no way out. its either DB or losing his medical qualifications. money couldn’t pay his way out. AND ALLAN WOULD KNOW BECAUSE ALLAN DISCHARGED THE ONLY PERSON TO BREAK THAT BOND.
and the fine prints within his bond states that the govt has the choice to extend his bond at the govt’s discretion.
allan was of type A personality and when u misuse their talent and give them no job satisfaction whatsoever, it will definitely be unsettling to say the least. especially when other aspects of your life appear to be as bleak.
as a well trained doctor, pilot and scholar, he was subjected to a desk job, treating mild ailments at best, and writing magazine articles for the SAF magazine & reports on most other occassions. repressing someone’s ability to achieve stifling when they’re just waiting to soar and contribute to society.
his calling was to heal and help others. he had the means to but not the chance to.
his tenure of housemanship saw him at his happiest. even though he worked very long hours and slept very little (because he also had a life) working at the A&E… and although he’d winge about it occasionally, everyone could see that he was happy because he was at his calling.
the SAF may have had plans to groom allan for greater things in the long run, however, being a doctor isn’t exactly like any other skill set. you can groom a mathematician to be a politician, but a doctor being a politician is another story. doctors go through aptitude tests before entering medical schools to weed out unsuitable candidates. the fact that allan is a doctor showed his aptitude. and to groom him to be anything else but save lives would be a total misuse of talent.
what worked for singapore 30years ago obviously isn’t working anymore. we need change. we need to re-evaluate the way things are done because some things just aren’t working any more
AND BY THE WAY, he was a “gamer” more than half a decade ago. he is hardly on the computer wiling away his time. and if he so happened to get really good at a game without much effort, it is his abilities and not his time he wasted getting there.
allan was happy being a doctor. he was upset because he wasn’t able to be one. money is and never has been a factor for his job dissatisfaction.
The young and restless with suicide on the increase. 2 at NTU and what a waste on Dr. Alan Ooi.
Well I don’t get it. Why end a life when not depressed? Lived a good life but end it at 27? Well, if I would like to live a “new: life, I would just disappear and go live in a new identity somewhere else. The world is a huge huge place. Anyway, I don’t think this letter is authentic.
The young and restless with suicide tendencies on the increase….. 2 at NTU and what a waste for Dr. Alan Ooi. Really sad news!
Dear Derek Bird,
for the sake of the public, I’d like to humbly correct your statement 1).
I challenge you to give me ONE name of ANY doc who has broken his 12 year bond (after housemanship, ie. 18 years incl. med school) when he became an LTC?
What you have heard is of docs who signed an older 6 year bond that no longer exists, precisely because, people where leaving right at the end of their 6 yr bond. SAF didnt like this, hence the longer bond and in fact the arbitrary extension that Allan was forced into (15 years, EXCLUDING another 6 years of med school)
ORD Loh!
Foreigners on Spore gahment scholarship at NUS Medical Faculty do NOT have to sign a bond with SAF. They are free to work in the hospitals in Spore as long as they serve out their working bond. They can fully apply their medical skills set almost immediately upon graduation from NUS Medical School & make continuous career progression which is denied to our Spore citizens medical doctors who have to serve it out with SAF first which slows down their progression in applying & continuous learning in the medical field. The medical field advances by leaps & bounds and just serving another 2 to 10 years will seriously retard their medical career.
Is this fair? Do you see the glaring differences between that of a Spore citizen medical graduate & that of a foreign scholar medical graduate both from the same institution on Spore soil & AND YET Spore citizen gets the worst & lousiest raw deal.
What is the point of being a Spore citizen?
It wrenches my heart to see a talented & good person like Allan disappear from this world. There is something very wrong with the education system in the world. We are taught to pursue academic achievement but do we really use most of it in our daily lives? Why are we not taught in depth how to deal with stress, relationships, toxic people, ethics, emotional stength, personal well being & how to lead a fulfilling and happy life? Allan still have some hope in the last sentence of his letter & I wish he finds it with his chosen path. God bless and rest in peace Allan.
Perhaps allan did not want his parents (sureties) to have to pay the bond penalty, which was substantial because the government’s stand was to charge punitive interests when someone decides to break bond.
Understand that the government would charge excessive loan-shark like interests (10%) to punish the singaporean bond breaker.
No matter what the circumstances the army put him through, suicide was a personal decision and I don’t think that we can hold the SAF directly responsible for his death.
All of us go through trials and adversity in life, I’m certain that there are many people in developing countries that are suffering much more than Dr Ooi has. With all due respect, I personally believe that suicide is escapism and one should not put the blame on any external influences.
Taking his own life is a dumb thing to do. At the very worst, he could have just run off to another country and turn over a new leaf. Why, i bet Australia can accept his medical experience in singapore. His parents can fly over every year to meet him. He can even claim asylum because clearing the terms he is made to accept is a human rights abuse
I find it very hard to buy the claim that the SAF ‘won’t allow’ regular docs to break their bonds. What if you just walk off and leave sg? Challenge it in court? You didn’t sign a bond extension so the Ass-A-F will look stupid trying to enforce it.
Hi Daisy,
Dr Allan Ooi’s letter has been published in full in Sin Ming today. There is no need to doubt its authencity anymore.
We just receive tip-off that TODAY may be publishing it tomorrow.
allan worked at paya lebar airbase. he and e mo working dere haf to provide 24/7 medical support for e staff. how many mo do u think dere r? not a lot. in fact gt so much shortage for mo tt they recall those civilian dr for ict and commision them so dey can be nsmen mo too and help out those saf mo. allan did shift duties thru e nite. dat sux when u are those outgoing kind and fan of warcraft (and all ur game kaki only can play after office hr).
problem is mo onli switch camps once every few yrs n even that only within army or within air force etc. sum camps work office hrs and others are 24 hr. its not fair that allan ended up working 14 hr days in the week and other mo same rank and pay only work office hrs. then if he transfer how. just go 2 another 24 hr place. wtf. mebbe some other mos can tahan, but Allan got ‘exciting’ social life. datin dawn yang leh. but he can’t keep up with it. y? cos of his job. and bcos he’s diffrent and bcos he got a more balanced life than other ppl. i ask u fair or not??
other militry ppl in the saf (regulars n nsf) working hrs are worse of cos. sum got to stay in for a few days n LL suk thumb. but e ‘farmer’ regulars can ‘buang paper’ after a few yrs and the nsf only need to waste 2 yr of their lives. plus regular can switch from ops jobs to staff offr or instructor job, but for mo no such thing. juz mo mo mo mo den later staff offr. 4ever is juz a fukin mo. yeh dey on scholaship. but dey is stuk dere 15 yers. outside sholar bond how long onli, mebbe 5 yers. even nsf mo is 5 yers. saf is 15 yers. u say fair or not??
fair or not?
Hmmm seems from here
http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090312-128084.html
Work is not the only reason. Love + best friend adds up.
We will not and cannot talk about this matter as the time is not right; our primary concern now is to share this moment of profound grief with the Ooi family and their friends; all we will say is SAF cannot be held responsible for this tragic incident – we have made this very clear.
My friends there is a reason and season for everything; this is not the time for finger pointing and recriminations; now let us just allow them to bury their loved one and our hope is the Ooi family can close this chapter and move on.
It is bad enough that the Ooi family had to bear the slings of the reckless press; our goal now is to ensure they are able to close this tragic chapter under their own terms with dignity and some privacy.
Dear readers of the brotherhood press, this I do not believe is too much to ask.
Please let us not speculate and allow the relevant authorities to do their job – I am certain the truth will come out.
None of you have any idea how sad we all feel abt this incident – no possible idea.
SD (Internet liaison officer of the brotherhood)
no matter how, it’s silly to end his life this way.
His parents will be so sad!
would like to see how SAF will respond to this event.
I empathise with him, because I am also bonded (not in SAF, but in another govt agency), trapped in a meaningless job.
Everyday, I regret the moment I put pen to paper to sign the darn contract when I was merely 18 years old. I am not as blessed financially as allan, at that time, it was for the money to put me through uni. Now, as I plough through meaningless work which does not fulfil me intrinsically, I watched in sadness as my friends excel at the work they love and rise through the ranks.
All my close friends know I am unhappy in my job because of the bureacracy, red tape, inefficiency and favouritism i see here. I am unable to move forward yet unable to change things. The environment is very family-friendly, but it is not suited for me and i have zero interest in this industry. After 4 years, I will go out and have to start from scratch again in the field I like. Meanwhile, I turn to hobbies, friends, family to keep me mentally sane.
The bond has brought me only money, for living expenses and school fees. i am now paying back everything I received ‘in kind’. My only advice to 18 year olds out there is NEVER to sign a scholarship with strings attached. The end result is only regret.
And to SPH, I can only say – shame on you for being a puppet.
Hi SAF Doc
I’ll like to stand by my statement on 1) — in fact, one of the doctors is on Allan’s list of facebook friends, why don’t you run a scroll. I know not 1 LTC but two who did that, its not without a big fanfare, plenty of fist slamming with the CMO; but they did it – and are in private practice today. They left with 2-3 year remaining of their bonds – which were respectively elongated thanks to additional overseas training. If you’re senior enough to just stroll into CMO’s office at a whim, you might find negotiating a lot easier… but since you mentioned “email”, I gather you’re still way down the food chain. You’ll have your time.
There are ways to negotiate around things in life, you just have to put yourself in the right position to, and not try to be a hero with a lowly rank of Cpt. What’s so bad about being an SAF doctor? Yes, you become a rather ineffective clinician, to borrow the words of one my two LTC friends… but you have time to do other things, like achieve a better golf handicap, do charity work etc
The fact that life isn’t lived “my way or no way”, means its a “prison” – it may boil down to downright spoilt golden spoon upbringing, and fist banging like a small child (like you see them screaming “I want I want” on the playgrounds) -> I’m making a general statement here with no particular reference to the deceased.
Feel free to reply with your own opinions, because what I’ve stated above clearly isn’t perfect… but again, no system in the world really is…. ?
Time to consider Civics / Moral Education or Religious Education in schools
Wow seiko, the amount of rubbish in your internet speak post just speak volumes to be honest.
Just want to put things in perspective.
Fact… he AWOLed (and hence must face the consequences of DB, just like any other AWOLee).
Fact…. he signed a contract (& based on his background, I believe he was not forced into it).
Fact… he has resources/options to overcome challenges (compared to countless others in less privileged positions).
Fact.. he was a commissioned officer (who must know that rules are paramount in a military organisation; who shd put others/team/family before self; who must understand that AWOL will never solve anything).
Speculation… there may be a case where he AWOLed on impulse, but was unable to face the consequences, hence the tragedy. A like is wasted no doubt, but it is a long shot to blame the organisation.
I can’t believe people (esp the admin) can be so gullible and be convinced of the authenticity of the letter simply because ‘it was published’ in mainstream media (newspapers), or being read during the wake…
Hey, not all articles published in the media are authentic. The media could be as gullible as everybody else. My take is that it was simply published cos it’s newsy/controversial. Come on.. it is only SinMin… not TIME!?! LOL. Nothing else.
Just want to put things in perspective.
Fact… he AWOLed (and hence must face the consequences of DB, just like any other AWOLee).
Fact…. he signed a contract (& based on his background, I believe he was not forced into it).
Fact… he has resources/options to overcome challenges (compared to countless others in less privileged positions).
Fact.. he was a commissioned officer (who must know that rules are paramount in a military organisation; who shd put others/team/family before self; who must understand that AWOL will never solve anything).
Speculation… there may be a case where he AWOLed on impulse, but was unable to face the consequences, hence the tragedy. A life is wasted no doubt, but it is a long shot to blame the organisation.
Why are you always speculating & bringing other parties to this matter? Cant you give some respect to Allan Ooi and his family during this difficult time?
Before you speculate further about DY or his love life, why dont you read these 2 websites first?
http://theliesofdawn.blogspot.com/
http://www.dawnwayang.com
Let the family have some peace and quiet time to mourn.
The bond is “unbreakable” because Allan has not fulfilled his NS liability. If I am not wrong, it is 2:1 ratio i.e. for every 2 years as a regular, you fulfilled 1 year NS liability. Allan has worked for at most 2 years? If the bond can be broken the moment you graduate from university, then anyone who have the money can use this loophole to evade NS.
Everyone who serve NS have to do put their aspirations on hold for 2, 2.5 years. Allan and other SAF bonded doctors are not alone. I have seen Masters degree holder from Cambridge clearing cups from meeting rooms. Diploma holders taking bags of rubbish to the rubbish dump. We all want to put our knowledge and skills to good use but the fact is that we have to bide our time. This is the nature of NS.
If being a SAF doctor, who get to draw a regular salary, and practice medicine is tough, then what about my friend? He is disabled (one leg is bad), yet has to serve NS. He still has to work part-time at night to supplement his family income. Did he take the easy way out?
Hi SAF Doc
JohnnyKid made an excellent point… probably a reason how my friends got out – they finished their NS liability.
Didn’t the Singapore population agree with the government that scholars could not break bond at all costs? The whole agreement about moral contract? What about the sponsoring company’s moral contract towards a 18 years old making a life commitment to a company? Is it a marriage? Divorce is a resolution for unworkable relationship. Why not breaking the bond with contractual penalty? What is this talk about morality? and the people buying into it?
Don’t we know we humiliate Bond Breaker ??
Don’t we know we have only one way ticket to the top ??
Don’t we know we have very rigid bureaucracy system ??
Don’t you know once you accept the prestige scholarship, it’s unbreakable ?? till the day you serve finish ??
It’s a sad to hear that.
Why are we debating whether or not Dr Ooi’s bond is unbreakable?
We should be all directing this question to the SAF!!!
Cantonese have this saying: You got pressure, I got pressure. Everyone has pressure.
Privilege Kid with a WEAK MIND
We all serve NS, and we know how sucks NS system is inside.
From nus saf to regulars to high ranking officers.
A bunch of talk down system that cripples the whole organisation.
local media? I don’t trust them. Also i don’t trust the author who wrote this article.
Let me say something. I have gone through army, served my time and ORDed. Like Dr Ooi, I was offered the SAF scholarship while in NS. It is actually termed a Local Study Award(Medicine). I still remember the time I was offered it years ago in the SAFTI OCS auditorium as an 18 year old army cadet prior to disrupting for studies. A LTC doctor came by, presented some slides to us, told us that should we sign up, we would be guaranteed an income while studying with confirmed specialisation as a doctor. It didn’t seem too bad then. I didn’t take up the scholarship because of the 12 year bond.
I think Dr Ooi made a mistake in signing a bond that was so difficult to break, in an organisation for which absence without permission results in DB.
Thoughts:
After an argument with CAMO(chief airforce MO), one leaves Singapore. What now? AWOL, facing a certain charge on return(they intercept you at customs on return once you are reported AWOL)facing imminent DB. After a life of being at the top, relative luxury and success, how can one come back to all that? Plus the potential ruin of future career. After a few months, one finally decides to call it a day. Return is not an option. Staying away permanently may be one, but the problems remain. Add that that he has no finances. Where to get money? Note his email where he noted his father to have “excellent values and incredible purpose, traits my brother has inherited well, and I respect them both for it…” Reading between the lines, I don’t think he is going to get much support off them. So, ultimately, ending one’s life was the road to take.
condolences for his family, friends and loved ones.
i feel its such a pity for such a promising young man, probably at his peak, that it came to an end.
his reasons/unhappiness must be so empowering, forcing himself to succumb to such a point.
it is really unfair for the deceased, and his loved ones. I believe the reported/unreported cases tell a different tale. eg: this case, death during training etcetc.
dont get me wrong. saf is good. but if what they are doing (what the public can’t see) is wrong,they should revise their techniques and system.
Dear Allan,
We will remember you and your words, rest in peace.
Friends and strangers passerby like myself have left our heartfelt condolences and outrage at the injustice that can be seen and expose at the cost of your life.
Cowards and dogs may bark for their master and grovel in delight of chains and bondage. But when the time comes, the right is right and the wrong is wrong. No more sugar coated lies. Let the tyrants be exposed for what they are and true justice be served.
A sad thing,
for his love ones a prayer of comfort
for his memories some respect
and for his life do not let his words go to waste.
Lets be fair to the family people, and refraining from any judgement of character on Allan’s part. He has passed on, lets leave it as that. The Ooi family are good people, and they deserve support and strength right now, be it from friends or fellow Singaporeans like ourselves.
It has become a media circus and we can’t fuel it.
In retrospect, Allan must have felt really lost and afraid during his time in Melbourne. One first step (impulse perhaps?) of escapism leading to possibility of dire consequences and finally, into the abyss.
Angry with Job -> AWOL -> possibility of DB and losing everything, plus letting Family down -> tossed up with relationship issues of the past = a choice to end it all.
He had five months to think about it and finally came to this decision. I say we respect that, although it is extremely unfair to his family. :\
Pls don’t say he was weak minded. It is an irresponsible statement. We don’t know what goes through the heads of humans when they’re in their darkest of moments. We all have different limits of tolerance.
I’m sorry but he is weak minded. There are a lot of people who chose to do others things while serving a bond. Allan Ooi is not the first person to feel this way. Do you all think he is the first person bonded who may want to explore since the 1960s. Enquiry for SAF? Who are you kidding? Such simple minds. To kill yourself over job dissatisfaction and bond is a joke.
And the SAF Local Study Award which SAF does not call a scholarship has only a 4 year bond, not 12. Allan’s medicine ‘colleague’ please don’t bluff chewren. Its in the SAF website. or i think SAF took it down since they don’t consider it a scholarship but you can still find it on sites like Brightsparks for JC students that reproduced it before.
who may want to explore other options.
To the patriot pls don’t talk so much cock when you don’t know what SAF scholars do. Allan Ooi isn’t a SAF scholar. You have no idea what the SAFOS do and how they spend their freaking work day and i’m quite you’ll pee in your pants just imagining it.
Everyone knows that SAF doctors are cor boh and the only real work they do and the only patients they see are a bunch of malingerers.
Actual SAFOS scholars remarked “Allan Ooi isn’t even a SAF scholar. Haha whats wrong with these people?”
Please wake up and find out more FACTS about something and how it works before you talk so much.
Everyone knows that only SAFOS are considered scholars in the SAF.
To thedoc: You said “about winning everything”. Sorry to break your heart he didn’t win. If he did, he’d be the Presidents Scholar who does medicine. Yes there are President’s Scholars who do medicine. Please read up more before you shoot your mouth off.
The SAF local study award for medicine isn’t even coveted or considered a scholarship. SAF scholars (SAFOS) are laughing their balls off.
Am a friend & have a few things to say:
1) in order to work (continue to be a doctor)anywhere else but SG, Allan will need to be underwritten, but as he’s an awolly, that’s just not quite possible.
2) he did not make his decision based on something as frivolous as a girl. And for the final time, definitely not Dawn Yang (please stop linking it’s really just getting annoying, how baseless even)
3) He and the best friend might’ve have had a minor fall out, but that is not a reason to do the do.. think about it, would u? “oh no, u don’t friend me, i’ll go die” it’s just ludicrous for anyone to even think that it could be one of his main reasons. How far do u wanna spin? u that bored?
4) Allan discharged the only ONE that managed to break the bond. He couldn’t do the same, as he wanted to continue to practice Medicine; all he wanted to do was to do what doctors are meant to do, save lives.
5) SAF needs to answer why Allan’s grievances to his superiors were never answered. Giving the benefit of the doubt that they were looking for a solution; why wasn’t he updated or kept informed? Why are they not deploying their talents properly? (and they wonder why our local talents are not staying in SG? *sighs*)
6) Not that I’m a big fan of mainstream press — but let’s be objective and factual here, all I’ve been seeing are flames thrown at ST when truth is that out of all the papers – TNP, LHZB, SMWB, RB – it was the lesser evil, and 2 out of 3 of its articles were pretty factually written; We have to be fair.(but obviously the game linking article in the Sunday Times was a joke of an article and i do hope the conjurers feel really foolish after it was published).
7) How could SMWB, of the whole letter, pick out the 2 lines that were of single sentences and totally omit the crux of the letter i.e. The questions posed by Allan to the SAF. — self-censorship
9) i think he would’ve rather have starved than to have felt so trapped. imagine, not being able to quit nor get fired, imagine u’re on top of ur game, but yet u’re trapped within a 3×3 doing brain numbing paper pushing with no light at the end of the tunnel and all u wanna do, is to do what u know best, to treat and save; which was what they promised u when u signed ur soul to them at the impressionable age of 18 but they short changed u with no way out.
It’s like caging a wild tiger, soon it’d loose its zest & zeal, getting mentally tortured and worn down and soon no fight left in it — it’s worse than death.
10) The SAF must answer why he, trained as a doctor, was not doing the duties of a doctor. One becomes a doctor to save lives and help people … true most get jaded after a while, but while the passion & enthusiasm is still there, why not strike it while it’s hot? Why the editorial board of a fluffy in-house magazine and drafting policies?
11) This is what I think happened:
Unable to free himself,after countless months of research and tries and pleas to his superiors, he felt it fell on deaf ears. Desperate to get out, he packed up and left, to start a new life, but soon realised that he wasn’t able to get work unless big brother released him, yet, he didn’t want his family to pay for his decisions, and he could not come home to face DB and potentially the the inevitable true imprisonment – not being able to practice ever again.
He therefore took it upon himself, to end the realised “mess” he made and felt that this was the only way to get their attention, since they’ve been ignoring him for a while now.
11) He was also not just concerned about himself, but of his fellow SAF mates that were sufferig in silence. He felt the injustice. And being the superhero wannabe that he is, wanted to save them all.
Life can be tough in the SAF if you are not one who tow the line. And it is often the intelligent, upright know what you want type who suffers. There are always those above you who may not like you for your frankness and self confidence or arrogance. Step on the wrong toes and you are marked.
I recall my NSF days decades ago. Because I have my own set of values, I refuse to partake in the many nonsense and was given a life of hell. Luckily, I was only an NSF and I could see the time when I can get out of hell. I was never promoted, which helps shorten the time I have to serve.
The SAF system had a Captain signed on my leaving certificate, as if he knew me when he did not. I tore it up and never looked back since. Just in case any forummer will say I suffered because I cannot make it, lazy, bo chap etc, allow me to cite just three out of the many examples why I refuse to comply with what goes against my value system then.
1. The superior officer used the camp premises to screen porno, collecting money from the NSFs and I simply refuse to participate.
2. The superior officer wants me to sign takeover papers certifying everything is in order when many critical items were missing. There are regular audits and these regulars practiced a system of rotating the missing items from other camps so items are present during an audit.
3. A superior officer called up at night asking for the telephone number of the manpower officer but I refused to give it to him because I am not able to authenticate his identity over the telephone and I was put through alot of abuse the following day.
Many other ridiculous and horrifying incidents such that I can write a book.
I can emphatise with those who refuse to simply do things the SAF way just because SAF says so because any self respecting individual wants to lead a meaningful life and not just exist for some other people’s purposes.
My condolence to the family of Dr Ooi. You trusted in the system but the system let you down. No words can express the sorrow we all are feeling now.
I went to Asiaone to read their spin.
Awful.
While Wayang party has taken efforts to keep quiet about his personal life, and highlight the SAF role and unbreakable bond, Asiaone has gone ahead to reveal his personal life.
This is really sad and worthy of their 154 position in the free press!
Amazed: SAF LSA (Medicine) is a 12 year bond – unlike the normal LSA which carries a 4 year bond, all the facts are correct.
Life is tough in Australia where you’re asian, no longer regarded as good-looking compared to Hugh Jackman, don’t speak with aussie accent & stripped of all the local power, fame, money and popularity back home… and faced with prospect of DB (real prison), loss of medical practice license, loss of face (more than loss of job) – to avoid speculating on the deceased, just let yourself think that you’ll do….
Anonymous: My take is SAF doesn’t have to answer for this. You never served NS before? How much shit does everyone go through?
I served in a siong unit with hell week ages ago (I’m 40+)… CCB, wanna compare what’s siong? What’s tough? It was one of the earliest batch with hell week. C’mon man, Army/Navy/AF doctors all around the world do admin work, planning, staff and logistics work – get real man. If you want to do purely hospital work, then don’t sign on!
SAF probably answered to his queries, which is NO to bond breaking… so, what more to explain?? One can negotiate to post out etc.. want action? want to impress zah bor? can join commando as a doctor – serve in afghanistan as a field surgeon, just have to be imaginative.
Do you find out how deep the pool is before you jump? I do, don’t know about you.
just a small piece of the puzzle… he left sg on oct 13 and killed himself on march 1, which means he was an overstayer in oz. oz tourist visa is for 3 months. he probably knew sooner or later he would be caught and deported back to sg.
there’s no way he could possibly have migrated to any other country in those circumstances, short of seeking asylum. and personal problems do not qualify an individual for asylum.
stuck in a foreign country, unable to legally move to any other country and/or practise medicine there, living every day with the fear you will be found out and deported…
essentially he had run out of all “legal” options.
the issue is not really about bond breaking here. nor is it about the deceased’s mental fortitude. all those are irrelevant.
its about the inflexibility of the system.
and how the system misles and leads naive 18 year olds into signing their lives away, because its what every parent wants for their child, and what all the other elites do.
we can argue all we like on the internet, but this is the reality of the system nowadays, and his death (and my personal experiences) has proved it.
if you believe that is a good thing for this country, that we drive our exceptional local-born talents to their own deaths, people who could have contributed greatly to this country in other capacities, then go ahead. this country is not my problem anymore.
re/derek : i’m sure he must have negotiated but was refused. lets say maybe even his CO vetoed it.
what would be his recourse then?
how to run when there are brick walls everywhere?
he can extend his visitor visa for another 3 months whilst in Australia and he can also travel overseas to apply for a work visa to work in australia. however he may have a problem with PR as it requires a NS release letter.
His scholarship should have been given to some poor chap who would have appreciate it more. Are we sure only one life is ruin?
MY HEARTFELT CONDOLENCE TO DR OOI’S FAMILY
This is a good website. Very informative, with many contributions from people who know Dr Allan and/or his family personally. I don’t know him or any member of his family. Actually, I thought of dropping by at their Moonbeam Terrace to give my condolence. But later, changed my mind.
Well, I am getting to understand the matter better, and hope to be writing to RADM Teo Chee Hean with some feedbacks on what can be fined tuned. Well done to Admin of Wayangparty for their excellent report and for this thread.
Meantime, let more people write in here to give their condolences to Dr Allan’s family to help share their grief and burden after losing such a fine son. It definitely is a great loss for Singapore too, as Allan is really a very talented, very smart and an outgoing person—gathering from MSM and internet reports. What makes his suicide so painful is Allan is such a promising young man with great leadership qualities also.
Given his star-quality looks, I am sure many a pretty girls would be sighing why didn’t they have the luck to get to know such a handsome and promising young man? If they had the opprotunity, I’m sure things will turn out very differently.
If he had to choose suicide, then something is very, very wrong not only with SAF, but with our society as a whole.
He took an oath to save lives.
Why would he end his own? What’s going on here.
I’m no fan of certain organisations, but I’m sure there’s more to it than the SAF and the other problems of his life.
And about the letter…I don;t think it should be posted for everyone to see. After all, it was addressed to his friends and family only i suppose.
But that aside, and with an open mind, has anyone considered maybe the media have their own reasons for choosing to publish what they did? Like maybe citing blame on organisations and other thing isn’t the best thing for everyone right now?
Writing the story as is, is important. But global society today has seen to it that the media also has the responsibility to publish what’s best for everyone, AS MUCH AS telling the truth.
And in this case, would assigning blame help anyone? or cause more people find mroe reasons for themselves to hate this and that? I think it’s pretty much the latter. What is important here is that his family has closure. NOT US.
I quote Anonymous:
“But that aside, and with an open mind, has anyone considered maybe the media have their own reasons for choosing to publish what they did? Like maybe citing blame on organisations and other thing isn’t the best thing for everyone right now?
Writing the story as is, is important. But global society today has seen to it that the media also has the responsibility to publish what’s best for everyone, AS MUCH AS telling the truth.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you condone the media censoring certain sections of the suicide letter or focussing on the sections of lesser importance in order to avoid blame to the government (or anyone), as this is BEST FOR EVERYONE. Does anyone else see an inherent fallacy here or is it just me?
GET REAL, MAN!
“Singaporean”, you are wrong if you think only in SAF is life like “hell”. The real world we live in is generally like what you have described. If you think you can write a book about “such ridiculous and horrifying incidents” in SAF then, you should.
I also was charged sometime before my ROD (now called ORD). Was humiliated under “CO’s Order”, over the abuse of authority by one Sgt (a signed-on t’an jia peng) on a L/Corporal who was allowed on medical grounds to dress-up in PT kit. The whole matter back-fired for the reasons you had highlighted—regulars covering up for each other’s backside. Fortunately, I had the spiritual strength to endure the years in a place you called “hell”.
Well, it was not only me. PM Lee’s son, then 2Lt Li Hongyi, had also been court martialed. Like him, I was an officer too. But I was an uneducated poor man’s son. So it was a really jaw-dropping news when I read in MSM that he was court-martialed like that! Don’t they know that he was PM’s beloved son?—another young man with star-quality looks!
Poor fella! My sympathy has always been for 2Lt Li Hongyi, as there is a common identity we all shared (like you)—-to be ‘persecuted’ for righteousness sake. His grand-uncle Dr Lee Suan Yew had rooted for him; and both of us felt proud of what he did and wanted to do. I’m sure you feel the same way too.
Good that his mum Mdm Ho Ching did not interfere as most mothers in Singapore are wont to do in such cases—rightly or wrongly. Well, I think the matter would turn out to have a positive impact on 2Lt Li Hongyi, as what he (and all of us who suffered ‘righteously’) really need is for wise people in the background (people like you, me, Dr Lee Suan Yew, his mum, etc) to show understanding and to give strong moral support. How I wish Dr Allan Ooi had many such people in the background to prop him up for the agony he was obviously being tortured within!
After all, we still need our SAF, and it is very unrealistic to expect a perfect SAF. The most we can and should expect is, it MUST always be a self-improving one, and be ALWAYS open to feedbacks from concerned people, especially from people like us who had suffered
We will always need our SAF, just as we will always need gallant and passionate young people like those in wayangparty admin (great fellas like Eugene Yeo).
-
{”Singaporean” wrote on Fri, 13th Mar 2009 6:31 am: Life can be tough in the SAF if you are not one who tow the line…often the intelligent, upright…. who suffers. There are always those above you who may not like you for your frankness and self confidence or arrogance. Step on the wrong toes and you are marked.
I recall my NSF days decades ago Because I have my own set of values, I refuse to partake in the many nonsense and was given a life of hell. Luckily, I was only an NSF……. I was never promoted, which helps shorten the time I have to serve.
The SAF system had a Captain signed on my leaving certificate, as if he knew me when he did not. I tore it up…… I suffered [not that I ] cannot make it, lazy, bo chap etc, allow me to cite just three out of the many examples why I refuse to comply with what goes against my value system then.
1. The superior officer wants me to sign takeover papers certifying everything is in order when many critical items were missing. There are regular audits and these regulars practiced a system of rotating the missing items from other camps so items are present during an audit.
2. A superior officer called up at night asking for the telephone number of the manpower officer but I refused to give it to him because I am not able to authenticate his identity over the telephone and I was put through alot of abuse the following day.
Many other ridiculous and horrifying incidents such that I can write a book………}
whatever the cause, suicide is pure stupidity.
Avantas on Fri, 13th Mar 2009 9:15 am
“the issue is not really about bond breaking here. nor is it about the deceased’s mental fortitude. all those are irrelevant.
its about the inflexibility of the system.
and how the system misles and leads naive 18 year olds into signing their lives away, because its what every parent wants for their child, and what all the other elites do.
we can argue all we like on the internet, but this is the reality of the system nowadays, and his death (and my personal experiences) has proved it.
if you believe that is a good thing for this country, that we drive our exceptional local-born talents to their own deaths, people who could have contributed greatly to this country in other capacities, then go ahead. this country is not my problem anymore.”
I thank u for this statement. U got it spot on.
Oh Tham Eng on Fri, 13th Mar 2009 10:49 am wrote:
“GET REAL, MAN!
“Singaporean”, you are wrong if you think only in SAF is life like “hell”
Now I wonder where you get this idea that I think only SAF is life like hell.
Of course, many places have all sorts of nonsense too but the main difference is that you can just disassociate with it if you choose to. In the SAF, the system binds you to a minimum period. For example, if you face with the problem of your superior officer screening porn and collecting money, you can call the police and he will be taken care of. Not so in my experience then. As a 19 year old I was taking my much needed rest at the bunk when his lackeys came and collect money. I told him that I needed to rest after my duties, it was a public holiday then and my only option was to move elsewhere, away from my bed, to rest as I did not pay to watch porn. Of course, my unco-operativeness would have been reported to this superior officer. I called the police too in that instance but the reply from the police is that they are unable to gain entry into an SAF camp.
Or the case about signing takeover papers for logistics not present, I reported it to a higher officer too but in the end the regular is ticked off but since I am still in the camp, the revenge came back to me since I am not able to leave in the name of national defence.
Nobody is arguing about the fact that we need the SAF to defend Singapore. That is not the point. The point is that our lives are dictated by the unscrupulous in the various units and our conduct is certified by someone high up in Mindef in the form of our leaving certificate which will have a bearing in our lives later. For want of a better system, the pen pushing officer in Mindef will have to rely on the inputs by the people on the ground, and because of military requirements, what they say is law, so they can do anything they like. We become the victims while at the same time providing the backbone for the military. The SAF has the uncanny ability to put the wrong kind of people in charge of 18 year olds, who lack the wisdom and fortitude to resist temptation, and in the process lay the groundwork for further distress for those who have a value system.
And again I am not expecting a perfect SAF, you tend to be quite assumptious in your writing. I also do not expect such an imperfect SAF, especially when it is dealing with young lives and our collective futures.
Of course you are free to engage Teo Chee Hean, those incidents happened during the time when Goh Chok Tong was the defence minister. Do you think Teo will be more effective than Goh?
it’s very sad that journalists in singapore can only write articles to help deceive the public…and that lawyers are mere tools to help the rich and ultra rich……..what’s next? ….singapore seems so good in everything rite?..but why do we “complain” so much? the govt does nt bother…no one does……..
The point: It is not about why he did it, but WHAT HE DID IT FOR?
He did it so that people like him — the sufferers in SAF — can be heard by those who’ve been ignoring or feigning ignorance as they think that the current inflexible system works well. This needs to CHANGE!
in the end. You just down end your own life. NO MATTER THE REASON.
First of all, my condolences to the Ooi family on their bereavement.
I have worked with Allan on a few occasions being his colleague. His untimely demise is indeed shocking but what is disappointing is that this issue is being used to drive other agendas and interests. I hope non-involved parties, including the press demonstrate some self-dignity and respect for the late Dr Allan Ooi and his family. All these speculative views on online gaming, lost love, job dis-satisfaction and bond seems to have taken on very polarised slants.
I would like to clarify some points in a personal capacity, since I have noticed some not so accurate or fair points in previous posts.
Working as a junior doctor in the air force is different from that in the acute hospital setting. Clienteles are mostly healthy personnel and hence preventive and occupational medicine are the main contexts. For airman and ground crew, the main issues are to optimise performance and safety. Military flying has its inherent physiological and environmental challenges unlike the shirt-and-sleeve environment of the commercial airliner. Even for the latter, news of mishaps are not uncommon, unfortunately many a times involving multiple fatalities. Hence alot of the doctoring work involves putting hours into research, teaching, planning and policies. On top of these, the scope of clinical work include seeing report sick, running clinics, managing the job dispositions of crew who developed ailments and the deployments for humanitarian missions. Our KPIs are not the number of surgeries or patients treated but the number of mishaps prevented. It can be said that if one is able tp prevent an aircraft mishap, he or she would have justified his entire career’s pay (and perhaps many fold).
It is very regretful that Allan was unhappy with the job and aggrieved by his bond, amongst other things. To be fair, the 12 year bond includes 6 years of specialist training in the hospital. In addition, I am quite puzzled by why he penned his bond to be potentially 15 years as his separate bond for his UK course runs concurrently with the 12 year bond, not consecutively.
He’s only 27, how many “real” years had he been “suffering” ?
I like this post:
Cantonese have this saying: You got pressure, I got pressure. Everyone has pressure.
Privilege Kid with a WEAK MIND
He wasn’t smart enough signing on the bond at 18, neither is he smart ending his life at 27.
@ Passing Comments
You said everything I wanted to say. Thanks.
He is smart to post his real letter, so the real reasons can be revealed. His death need to be probe.Too young and wasted.May the truth prevails, and the lies lead to damnation.RIP Dr Allan!
Hi there,
I don’t think it’s fair to cast aspersions on Allan’s character when we do not really know what happened.
While everybody has the right to express their views, let us spare a thought for the feelings of his loved ones.
Eugene
[...] Click on the above link to see the full PDF file. Below are some quotes that clearly pinned his troubles squarely on the SAF.(credits to wayangparty) [...]
UK course = in addition to, not concurrent to current contract/bond.
job dis-satisfaction = right from the horse’s mouth not speculation.
Couldn’t the SAF be a little more sensitive/aware?
They didn’t even offer him an alternative i.e. serve the rest of this bond in a hospital or something. if they did i’m sure he’ll be happy to take it up and serve out his bond in peace.
I’m sorry to hear that some would just rather just be sheeps/robots. We are of a different era now, have an opinion, have a mind — Question what is not right. That’s how things evolve, move forward. We are stagnant as a nation with little or slow advancement and slowly falling behind due to a lack of real talents and minds as is.
See beyond the micro level and open your minds a little more, it’s not just about what his personal decision was in the end, it is about what the driving factor was. We cannot run from the fact that he felt trapped by a government body so inflexible and that it potentially drove him to such extreme measures.
What are ur gripes about what he did on the micro level, does it genuinely concern you? Maybe he just wanted people to start talking about it, to create an awareness of what’s happening, so the right people will sit up and listen.
Yes, what he did may not be the best solution but in desperation? And as much as all u finger-pointing-self-righteous-beings flame and taunt, what would you have done? All u can say it’s the wrong thing to. IF u’re so brilliant why don’t u come up with some solutions that he already did not try.
Do u really want to be stuck in a system so flawed or have u already been sucked in and brained washed being trapped for so long?
We’re just asking for answers to to help move things along, so that something so unfortunate will never happen again, where the next generations to come or present generation even, will feel inspired to serve the nation with little or no resent to help improve and move things forward especially when we get through this bleak climate.
Please move on from the, god bless his soul, minor point of why he did it, move beyond him. It IS something beyond him.
It involves potentially one of ur own. What if ur child, now or future, decides on signing a bond so inflexible, so unbreakable and 6 to 8 years in decides he’s in for a higher calling.. what then? Will and can u fork out an exuberant amount (e.g. SGD$1 mil-ish) just to buy him out of it just like that? I bet i good percentile of Singaporeans cannot afford to do so, i know i can’t.
Forget what He could’ve done because he is from a family of such and such. See past that, it involves YOU.
Some of u gripe about the blue collared worker and how he should be thankful he had a job, but what if he was a blue collared worker that wanted out. Could he then? What is to say if he was, this end won’t be the same? Don’t judge or finger-point from your self proclaimed high moral pedestal.
if he had a better way out, he would’ve taken it.
In all fairness: Not all of Straits Times articles about Allan were untrue. As a friend of Allan, the articles in the Straits Times by Jermyn were at least as factual as it could go.
We are mostly disturbed by the other medias, Sin Min Wan Bao, Lian He Zhao Bao, Ri Bao, The New Paper, the Sunday Times, 938Live (who even staked outside the house we heard) and AsiaOne.com. But they all belong to different news rooms I believe.
So attack all and not just ST – Straits TImes.
ESPECIALLY the tabloids.
Most of which, we are utterly disappointed with AsiaOne.com for their direct translation of Wan Bao’s article. They did not even have the integrity and decency to do their own research. Not only did they get the facts WRONG that he killed himself over love, but they even retranslated his letter from Mandarin as opposed to trying to get their hands on an original which by now, is everywhere. I hope u’re proud of urselves AsiaOne.
Additionally, we would like a formal and public apology from all the medias that have gotten their facts wrong. Its the least u could do, to save ur credibility.
Have not seen such blatant blunders.
Avantas is so deluded, but crap like hers get approval from the masses because it is populist mambo jumbo, crowd-pleasers. The type sell out DJs play just to keep his job.
There is nothing wrong with the system. Lots of people enjoyed it, felt emotional rewards in their bond/job and service to country and lots have thrived on it. The ones who prefer to do other things leave after their bond term.
He is the not the first SAF MO since the 60s. SAF does not have to answer to anything about him.
Its what a man is made of. Just because a weak one comes along, populists like you cry foul and say it must be the system. Bullshit.
Why him? Bullshit.
I just checked the SAF local study award (medicine) and it says 4 years, not 12.
I checked with a few SAF soldier-scholars (real type) who said that the pick up rate of the local study award (medicine) is very bad. The LSA in general is given out readily but there is a larger pool of candidates that apply to LSA since most do not get into medical school. In any case, its well known that they only treat malingerers.
Another thing. MOs are but part of Combat Service Support like Logistics. The Chief Med Officer, the highest appointment is only a COL estab, who gets the star at the end of his tour. It’s only a COL estab nia, about the same level as the chief of a small formation, which means it’s below Joint or General office.
To the patriot, you are obviously a girl who hasn’t experienced NS. You don’t know the first thing about what real combat scholars ie SAFOS,SMS do at work. Nothing to do at work? You dont know the who they are, the fires they fight everyday, what they do at work everyday, how they don’t see their wives for weeks or months on end, and you don’t know your arse from your face. So suggest you STFU.
P.Oed, your BS and accusation of “inflexible government body” and how it “drove him into such extreme measures” smack of so much delusions i think you should see a shrink.
All i see in your sentence is “me me me me”. Drove him. Only him?? Wow!! He is so special neh!! He must be the FIRST regular MO in SAF’s history!!
All you people are making Allan Ooi’s memories look worse and tainted. You aren’t defending him or demonizing his ex employers. You’re just highlighting how ’special’ he was. Wow! The First and ONLY regular MO in SAF ah??
No no it can’t be anyone else’s fault! It MUST be the organisation! It can never be my fault! I am always blameless! I can’t possibly be weak cos I made it to med school. Wow big whoop. Give me a break.
You are sullying his name actually. The mambo jumbo. Sure for awhile you will capture a bit of attention. Such populist rhetoric sounds a bit nice for awhile for the myopic in the masses. But the sensible and intelligent in society will see it for what it is.
Uncle “oh please”:
http://student.brightsparks.com.sg/profile/mindef/scholarshiptable.php
SAF LSA (Medicine) bond = 6 years. Speciality training 5 years. Housemanship 1 year. Total SAF “time”? = 12 years.
You talk loud, but do your homework before you do so please.
We are talking about basic human rights here. Nobody should be subjected to having their freedom taken away like this. Cant you read from his letter how cornered, desperate & sad he was?
You should be focusing on making sure the same thing will never ever happen to any person in Singapore perhaps suggesting reforms to the employment laws. Imagine one day if this happens to you and your child.
For those who are still confused (esp to derek), bond starts after completion of the qualification and the effective deployable time in the organisation. If it says 6yrs, it means 6yrs. No point trying to argue it is x+y+z yrs.
Anyway, I feel that it is immaterial what the duration of the bond is. Cos the crux of the issue is that it is a contract which the individual agrees with his eyes open – Nobody forced him to sign, so be a man to face up to the challenge.
I feel sad for his family.
I am disappointed by the quality of thinking in this forum.
Yes, a life is wasted. But it is an individual’s decision ultimately. And I believe the decision in not in the best interest of his family/love ones.
No point cry father cry mother… blame organisation blame society. It just shows the world that Singaporeans are sheltered and has to fortitude to rise up to face challenges. While the system may/should try to accommodate the individual (in an ideal world), but (in the real world) the onus is ultimately up to the individual to adapt & survive the life knocks.
I feel very sad for the family.
“Oh Please”, you just said everything I wanted to say !
U know, I could have had more sympathy for him if this is really because of a woman (aka asiaone’s story). we all know love is not something logical
I hope what has transpired, sad it may be, will bring positive outcome to Singapore. Change is obviously needed regarding the award of scholarship and the breaking of bonds. Why do smart rich fellows want to take up a bonded scholarship? And then ask their parents to pay for them to break the bond? I understand that students want scholarship because it is good for one’s resume and it is an ego thing. The rich ones will work themselves towards breaking the bond and pay up, thereby depriving the poor of a chance for further education. Rather cruel isn’t it? If this is the case, may I suggest that the Government create a new scholarship called “ego scholarship” which has no monetary value but just what they want … ego and pride. Leave the bonded monetary scholarship to the less fortunate students who probably be very very grateful for the opportunity to go to university.
In this way, you help the poor and please the rich.
Hey QWERT
What quality are you talking about? You think everyone is so qualified. Anyway, for your little understanding, medical training for SAF medical officer are usually broken up into a 3:1 module ratio – e.g. monday and thursday you train at the hospital, the rest, go back to unit… structure depends on speciality, hence making the full 12 years, all in. But no blaming you, how are you to know? (but proclaim others ignorant)
this guy is just a pussy who doesnt cherish his life
I agree with Eugene. It is really very sad. His death is so unnecessary and tragic!
{Eugene wrote on Fri, 13th Mar 2009 4:24 pm
Hi there,
I don’t think it’s fair to cast aspersions on Allan’s character when we do not really know what happened.
While everybody has the right to express their views, let us spare a thought for the feelings of his loved ones. Eugene}
to those saying nobody forced him to sign, you do not understand the pervasive scholarship-chasing culture in the elite jcs. anyone who comes from those institutions will understand why he accepted the scholarship.
it speaks volumes about our society, how some of us seem to be unable to empathize with the problems of our fellow human beings.
these people are probably the ones who proudly claim “welfarism is a slippery slope”, “if you’re not good enough, life will kick you in the balls” and “get out of my elite uncaring face”.
even in death, there can no compassion or understanding for the deceased, only ridicule for their weakness.
“i am strong, i can do it, why can’t you?”
in fact, a lack of compassion is being glorified as “intelligent behaviour”. that is how far we have fallen.
if you think singapore can be emulate sparta and publicly endorse the survival of the fittest, do pick up your history books and find out what happened to sparta in the end.
this is the society which we have created. in a small way we are collectively responsible, each and every of us, for this tragedy.
“It just shows the world that Singaporeans are sheltered and has to fortitude to rise up to face challenges.”
it just shows the world Singapore is a heartless nation which does not care about its own citizens.
trying to push the blame on the individual does not absolve this society from its responsibilities.
“I don’t think it’s fair to cast aspersions on Allan’s character when we do not really know what happened.”
You are alone here Oh Tham Eng; solitary even: with zero support it seems; the issue here is really whether wayangparty redressed a wrong that was inflicted when the MSM attempted to smear the name of Dr Ooi with negative references pertaining to gaming, gambling and an rumors of unrequited love; why didnt they forward the facts? It seems, it is very easy for Jeremy Au to write negative things abt the net, but he doesnt seem so quick to do the same when he sees the same injustices being perpetrated by his peers – I wonder why? Maybe he needs to be sent to Beijing? – I think most people here will agree including the Ooi family; and I happen to know this as a fact, as they were indeed griefed greatly by the irresponsible press and their callous reportage; that justice has been served by wayang in more ways than I can choose to elaborate.
Thank you wayang for doing the right thing and putting another nail into the coffin of the msm.
I think now all of us will just have to wait for the apology to come forth.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
If there is no apology within 7 days to the Ooi family, then we will just have to escalate the matter to the next level; it seem Ong Tham Eng, this is the way to conduct net politics – go and tell your masters that – we are not afraid of you.
You need to consider how many rounds can the press endure bfr its credibility crumbles to dust – one thing is clear, their days of free willing are trully over.
SD
I warned you Oh Tham Eng, you thought you were very smart; now you are swarmed – check mate.
Go back to your master, plan again, we will fight you to the very end, tell them that – and it will all be bc of you Oh Tham Eng.
SD
WHY I CAN SLEEP EASIER
Hi “Singaporean”, thanks for sharing with us your life in the army. I wrote “if you think”……Okay, you agree with me then. So we are thinking alike.
Yah, really bad. That’s why those going into army must be armed with spiritual and mental strength. Physical strength is not enough. I should know, since I went through it up to the very tough Officers Cadet course.
But after I became an officer, I never believed in taking revenge on others, nor treating my subordinates the way we were treated. Tortured even. Thank God I survived the “hell” you wrote about and came out in one piece. Only some minor bone fractures.
That’s why I have been telling and re-telling others , especially the girls, that Singapore is the best place for girls to be born—so pampered by parents as their baobei. They can have everything they want, including two or more years ahead in the job market. Every night, they can return home late, and do not need to fear being raped and kill, or molested, etc, etc. Not so in many other countries.
Seeing it positively, it is also true a guy goes into army a boy; and he will come out a man. It is the rite of passage to manhood! And I can sleep easier too knowing that many of those guys are protecting my country, and doing great humanitarian work overseas.
Majulah Singapore!!
{”Singaporean” wrote on Fri, 13th Mar 2009 1:10 pm: Oh Tham Eng ….I wonder where you get this idea that I think only SAF is life like hell….many places have all sorts of nonsense too but the main difference is that you can just disassociate with it if you choose to. In the SAF, the system binds you to a minimum period.
For example, if you face with the problem of your superior officer screening porn and collecting money, you can call the police and he will be taken care of. Not so in my experience then. As a 19 year old I was taking my much needed rest at the bunk when his lackeys came and collect money. I told him that I needed to rest after my duties, it was a public holiday then and my only option was to move elsewhere, away from my bed, to rest as I did not pay to watch porn. Of course, my unco-operativeness would have been reported to this superior officer.
I called the police too in that instance but the reply from the police is that they are unable to gain entry into an SAF camp.
Or the case about signing takeover papers for logistics not present, I reported it to a higher officer too but in the end the regular is ticked off but since I am still in the camp, the revenge came back to me since I am not able to leave in the name of national defence.
Nobody is arguing about the fact that we need the SAF to defend Singapore….The point is that our lives are dictated by the unscrupulous in the various units and our conduct is certified by someone high up in Mindef in the form of our leaving certificate which will have a bearing in our lives later…..We become the victims while at the same time providing the backbone for the military. The SAF has the uncanny ability to put the wrong kind of people in charge of 18 year olds, who lack the wisdom and fortitude to resist temptation, and in the process lay the groundwork for further distress for those who have a value system…….Of course you are free to engage Teo Chee Hean, those incidents happened during the time when Goh Chok Tong was the defence minister. Do you think Teo will be more effective than Goh?}
derek,
no point responding to QWERT if u (still) don’t understand the definition of bond, which he’s is referring to.
this applies to rest of the people (18yrs-old & above) to jolly well check dictionary & do the mental sums (if they are still confused) BEFORE signing any contract. any attempt to interpret it other ways is an effort in futility (in the eyes of the law).
btw, u must be truly confused cos you earlier posts states bond = 12yrs; then corrected via the link that bond = 6yrs; but later still insists on inflating to 12yrs.
conclusion, ur quality of thinking is below 18 hence the confusion.
my assessment is you actually understand, but just don’t hv the courage/maturity to admit & concede.
i forgive people like u.
haha….
My maid has a better life than any bonded elite scholar in this country. Her “bond” or contract is only for 2 years, and even then, she can choose to break it at ANYTIME she wishes, without any penalty whatsoever! (Not only that, but MOM requires us to pay for her airfare home even if she breaks her contract after only 1 day of working)
Why are the foreigners in this country treated with such leniency and generosity but our own precious sons and daughters bound by such punishing laws and obligations??
My foreign-born friends, who studied and qualified overseas and then came here to work as doctors and dentists, get to enjoy many more liberties and privileges than the folks here who went thru the local education system. And they don’t even have to serve NS, darn it!
allan was a friend of mine….i cannot emphasize enough how saddened and depressed i have been with the news. he was a great guy and i feel that his reputation is being ruined by all these false rumours flying around. there are so many ignorant people out there and the media just feeds it to them. people need to know the truth. i would not like to think that him losing his life was in vain…
it makes me so so so angry to read what the press has done with the contents of his letter. i am glad it was leaked, however, the papers have left out the most imporant parts of it! all to protect their name and the SAF. is this what Singapore has become? I feel ashamed that our first world country has third world policies. i feel ashamed that this country has forgotten about humanity and chooses name and reputation above everything, at the grave cost of others.
i feel ashamed that there are people that sit there and accept it, and do nothing, say nothing, feel nothing….
allan had a message. he may have had other problems going on, but there was a very very clear message. this needs to be addressed. its incomprehensible how the SAF can just ignore this and try to shove the whole thing under the rug.
i am still in disbelief. i hope people can help to spread the truth. and also, that more singaporeans WAKE UP and realise that we DO NOT have a voice in this country. WE ARE ALL DENIED OUR OPINION and the censorship of the press in favour of an government bodies is simply RIDICULOUS.
allan, we will all miss you.
Go Oh Tham Eng. Go and tell those who sent you the type of capabilities you have develop to project online inorder to interdict and further your agenda is inadequate.
Go Oh Tham Eng. Go and tell them it is no fight.
Go Oh Tham Eng. Or do you want me to write directly to your bosses to tell them what a lousy job you people have been doing? As I fear there may be so many post here; they may miss out on the really important bits. Perhaps I should compile all your post and then give them a lightning analysis on why I dont believe it serves the greater good for our govt.
What do you think Oh Tham Eng? Is this the new internet capability our PM was talking recently about?
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
everyone in the uniformed groups know that if they try to hire doctors to work for them from the regular manpower pool available in singapore, it will cost them a lot.
so the only way these organisations can cut cost significantly is by locking in their pay at a seemingly-attractive level, including promising them the chance to specialise (which would otherwise in real life involve a lot of boot-licking and string-pulling and not real ability).
at that age, most people don’t know that the promised salary isn’t really that good. and they also don’t fully appreciate that the years spent working for these uniformed groups end up being stagnation in their skills as a doctor because it’s irrelevant mostly. and when they finally go into private practise people they won’t have as many clients cos nobody would think you’re that great having so much air force experience.
“WAKE UP and realise that we DO NOT have a voice in this country. WE ARE ALL DENIED OUR OPINION and the censorship of the press in favour of an government bodies is simply RIDICULOUS.”
it depends on who you are. if u’re owner-level in singapore, e.g. businessman, high-ranked administration etc. it’s good that people don’t talk so much so that things are easier to govern and the ultimate aim of generating wealth is attained more smoothy. the elite uncaring faces of singapore and their fathers prefer we just tow the line.
if u’re servant-level in singapore, you’d prefer to improve your quality of life in this aspect. but since u’re only servant-level, unless all the servants work together, it’s hard to make any change.
servant-level people in singapore have no experience in working together and think that they will be targetted piece-meal and swallowed up by the adminstration’s mechanisms if we make noise. the adminstration tells us it’s not like that. so let’s believe them – it’s not like that. we can make noise. together. they don’t mind.
When I first penned my thoughts and feelings on Wed, I did feel that what I was reading before from the mainstream and other sub journals were nothing more than red herrings and wild guesses, some were insinuating and degrading, others unsubstantiated and finger pointing at wrong targets.
Whether or not there were hidden agenda from the official channels to side track the issue, hoping to avoid having to explain what could be more inside stories of the ways things work in various administrative units, I am not sure, but I do hope time and justice will cause to reveal more truth. This is also the wish of the deceased to want highlighted, alongside with other reasons of his death.
The public needs to know the truth. This is not just a personal matter of the deceased or his family , now. It has become a public issue, a serious social problem, with a social stigma, and it involves nepotism practice, leading to sectorial maginalization, people being ostrasized in work, people are made silent without help, and some of them become mad, and some decide to commit suicide. This is social degradation.
The society need to reflect on this. You cant just say,, oh this is just an individual issue, just the foolish act of an over pampered child, .So, after considering the need to protect the confidentiality and the sensitivity of the deceased’s family so there will not be further hurt caused to them, we could now look at the subject with a different perspective. The deceased has through his death blew whistle to what is considered, in his own view, also now supported by many other contributors to this blog, of possible flaws in the way scholarship programmes are being planned, structured, offered , and administered
Would the promotion of such scholarship to bright scholars at the age of 18 be looked at in a similar light akin to the selling of lehman bonds in the financial markets? Should there be more control on the way these are being offered, and that there should be more explanations and time given to the potential candidates to think over?? Is there cooling period for one to opt out of a contract once it is signed?? Are there provisions for breaking bonds?? I think this may be time for the relevant authority to review and evaluate on subject.
It was gratifying and mind nurturing to read all the contribution of many quality threads this blog has attracted from people of different walks of life. Most of them are very objective and sensible..
Now, the facts have all surfaced about the circumstances leading to Allan’s taking his own life.
What is still outstanding in this issue is an answer from SAF…They owe the public a reply. And honest reply.
Agape Xue
Hi anon… haha… I think I know the game/system better than you think – after all I was involved when both my SAF doctor friends left the service after breaking the remainder of their bonds.
Its 12 years of service post med sch, call it bond or whatever way. 18 years including med school. Juggle the words around and you can say I’m wrong, or confused, or sound like an 18-year-old (gone are those days) etc, its inconsequential.
Bottom line is, the system can be broken: unfortunately, if one doesn’t play the game well enough, it wouldn’t work. For the higher command in SAF, there’s a chinese saying “eat soft but wouldn’t eat hard” – this is an example of eating soft. My friends now provide private specialist service to NSmen at the military institute next to NUH as part of their bargain, and better still, don’t have to go back for any in-camp. Who says one cannot negotiate? Know the system, play the game and both sides come out the winner (because SAF needs certain med spec support on a regular basis – and my friends got a “deal” – terms of which I’m not sure, but both sides are happy – and the remaining years of the bond was paid back at a certain sum after discussions with MINDEF legal services). My friends know I love writing bullshit in these columns, they don’t care as long as I don’t mention names.
And if you’re a SAF doctor (or a doctor) – of which unfortunately you sound like neither, time to look & learn. You saw how arrogant the SAF Doctor’s reply was way up this thread – challenging me to give two names on this public forum (I may not be smart, but I’m not that silly either)… for all you know, he may have already been tracked down by MSD.
Its more often the lack of communication – or should I say lack of timely and proper communication, that leads to disaster.
As the saying goes: “Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” So, in reality, readers of reasonable sound mind would know right from wrong, with an adquate level of reasonableness.
What Allan had done for himself throughout his journey dies with him alone; what he has done for others and his incredible sense of self worth & responsiblity remain & is immortal. I would go further to remark that Allan, as a human being, as accepted and played his cards presented to him; in his own hands, he alone has decided the way in which he could trump and ultimately WIN: To be at PEACE with himself. This, I believe, noone has the right to pass judgement on. Never judge a man’s action until you know his motives. And we surely did with the honourable,courageous,talented and utterly honest, Allan, who knew his own pain and renunciation.
In the mist of living an unsatisfied and often unhappy life, he remained true to his convictions and fought till the bitter end with himself, and rightfully, for his fellow men. He bravely fought his own war but was also acutely mindful that it was dangerous to be right in matters on which the establised authorities were WRONG!
Ironically, We human beings do have some genuine freedom of choice and therefore some effective control over our own destinies, and Allan did just that, take it or leave it ! SAF chained his body, but NEVER his mind right to the very end. PREJUDICES ARE WHAT FOOLS USE FOR REASON BECAUSE REASON IS THE ONLY INSTRUMENT FOR LIBERATION FROM PREJUDICE ! The world knows full well how our nation is governed and ruled- WE NEVER SUFFER FOOLS GLADLY, I`ll say !
Any law which violates the inalienable rights of man is essentially unjust and tyrannical; it is not a law at all! The World has no place for WAR let alone the deprivation of a man’s freedom of choice right from the start!Nothing turns out to be so oppressive and unjust as a feeble system/organisation/or even Nation as a whole !! Let this be magnified for the full glory of those who have suffered and is suffering from the plain injustice within our system as TRUTH IS THE ONLY SAFE GROUND TO STAND ON !!
Bless ya soul, Allan………..sadly missed:-(
I am very saddened by the news of Allan and utterly shocked.
There is something bothering me a lot for many days. Why didnt Allan discuss his problems and work out a solution with his friends and family before deciding to go overseas? Wasnt there any support his could seek even in Melbourne?
Allan’s suicide has caused sadness and pain to his family and friends. He also knows that it will cause sadness and pain to his loved ones. Why then did he do it? What troubles is he in that his rich and influential family cannot help him? Or is it he simply chose the easy way out for HIMSELF knowing fully that he will simply transfer his pain to his LOVED ONES?
And to patriot, too bad you’re a nobody so your opinion isn’t going to matter. I guess your maid, also earns $15,000 in her early 30s and is going to be a minister? Must be..
{”Singaporedaddy” wrote on Sat, 14th Mar 2009 7:22 am: Go Oh Tham Eng. Go and tell those who sent you the type of capabilities you have develop to project online in order to interdict and further your agenda is inadequate.
Go Oh Tham Eng. Go and tell them it is no fight.}
GOD BLESS YOU, SIR!
Hi SD,
Why are you wasting your time ranting and raving against me? What wrong have I done or posted? Better if you lay out your arguments coherently, instead of ranting away like a crazy guy. You may even suffer a heart attack as such displays of mental instabilities are certainly not good for your cardiac.
If you got the point, then I will certainly turn out wiser listening to you, as your point(s) will be lapped up—with my profound gratitude for your kind deed to me.
But please don’t expect me to be an idiot lapping up mindlessly all and any of the trash that you or anyone in cyberspace is spewing or vomiting. Remember, you and I/we are all created in God’s image. And staunch Buddhist MOH Mr Khaw Boon Wan was correct to have said we were born as a human being—not as rats or cockroaches—for a purpose. So I have the right to choose not to behave as any lowly creature other than as what I was born to be—as a human being, who has an ability to learn, to think and to self-correct.
Maybe you may want to tell me where and when I have offended you, and how so, that I can apologise to you too. I really care for you, sir, as your senseless rantings and ravings against me—I repeat—is just very bad for your cardiac!
But you don’t have to apologise to me when and where you have wrong me. Just remember that it is in your own interest to see and realise your error(s) and make the necessary correction(s). Otherwise, you will also lose some or many of the friends in this blog, as you will accentuate your lack of credibility to them with your senseless ravings. This forum is for us to debate and argue, not rant and rave, sir!
God bless!
-
{”Singaporedaddy” wrote on Sat, 14th Mar 2009 7:43 am: Go Oh Tham Eng. Or do you want me to write directly to your bosses to tell them what a lousy job you people have been doing? As I fear there may be so many post here; they may miss out on the really important bits. Perhaps I should compile all your post and then give them a lightning analysis on why I dont believe it serves the greater good for our govt.
What do you think Oh Tham Eng? Is this the new internet capability our PM was talking recently about? SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
It’s sad that Singapore’s children have to go through this torment.
do not glamorise suicide….
his loved ones do not deserve to inherit his troubles/problems.
There are many ways to overcome challenges in medicine:
http://www.jhu.edu/~jhumag/0499web/ortho.html
http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/mar/30spec.htm
But whatever his/her choice of strategy to overcome a difficulty: it remains the individual’s choice, and quite frankly, none of our fcuking business… but of course, as humans (esp Singaporeans), we choose to kay poh…
{”Derek bird” wrote on Sat, 14th Mar 2009 7:05 pm: Hi anon… haha… I think I know the game/system better than you think -…was involved when both my SAF doctor friends left the service after breaking the remainder of their bonds…..
Bottom line is, the system can be broken: unfortunately, if one doesn’t play the game well enough, it wouldn’t work…an example….My friends now provide private specialist service to NSmen at the military institute next to NUH as part of their bargain, and better still, don’t have to go back for any in-camp.
Who says one cannot negotiate? Know the system, play the game and both sides come out the winner……And if you’re a SAF doctor (or a doctor)…..time to look & learn. You saw how arrogant the “SAF Doctor’s” reply was way up this thread – challenging me to give two names on this public forum….I’m not that silly…..
It’s more often the…..lack of timely and proper communication, that leads to disaster.}
WHY, ALLAN? WHY?
Hi “Derek bird”. Your post is helpful. I agree: “often lack of timely and proper communication leads to disaster.” Having read Dr Allan’s letter explaining why he had to commit suicide, it certainly raises more questions than providing the solution Allan thought that he had found. With his star-quality looks, his great talents, intelligence, energies and zest for life, and being a gifted communicator, there are many questions we want to ask. Alas! he is no longer around to answer them!
How I wish he had written to Dr Lee Wei Ling (make it anonymous if he didn’t feel comfortable revealing his identity) to sound her out what he had in mind about taking his life. If suicide is such a great idea, Dr Lee would have had many strong reasons to do so long time ago!
This caring doctor is really passionate about championing the underdog, the small people, the poor and the needy. She has tremendous empathy. Many can see and are so moved by her narration of her own very difficult struggles in life, just trying to maintain some normalcy, because of her terrible ill-health. She had said she could hear her clock ticking away too!
We are so moved by her courage and strong determination to make her life counts for others, before she conks out—for those poor, suffering, wretched souls who need her leadership, her expertise, her tender care and that of her doctors and nurses in NNI.
If Allan could have similar passion to make the needs and sufferings of those wretched people his raison d’être, I am sure he would have the determination to carry on living, as he wasn’t struggling against any ill-health that Dr Lee Wei Ling has to. Yet Dr Lee has never been ashamed to tell us that she stinks and suffers like hell from smelly flatulence—because of a leaking intestine, etc. She really touches many hearts with her attempts to open up her life to us, and consequently has become such a great inspiration in terrible times like these
So Allan has broken my heart too as he did for his parents’, his brother’s and sister’s, who cherish him so much! Why, Allan? Why? Why did you not make contact with Dr Lee Wei Ling? She could be just the agony aunt you needed before you took the fateful final step to eternal perdition?
As for “SAF doc”, please grow up. You are no longer a mummy’s boy. So you shouldn’t be reasoning things out like a school-kid.
That’s not to say that SAF does not need to look into this matter and fine-tune it. Many concerned citizens are like me—waiting for some words from RADM Teo Chee Hean.
-
{”SAF doc” wrote on Thu, 12th Mar 2009 12:58 pm: Hi there, I am a colleague of Dr Ooi and it is truly saddening. What he wrote there was similar to what he confided in me as well. He was unhappy and desperate to leave….
Whatever he wrote in the letter about having his bond extended against his will etc is true….Dr Ooi’s family has more than enough $ to pay his bond but the SAF is afraid that if one is allowed to leave, all their docs will leave and they will have no-one left to work for them….
Some of us have tried to leave, but even after they sending resignation letters and talking to the highest levels of superiors, the answer has always been “no, we don’t want to discuss the bond” or simply “no, you cannot break”. No further discussion. Short of employing expensive lawyers to fight the gahmen… we’re stuck for 18-21 years after signing the bond….
It is truly saddening and SAF should be ashamed of bullying and deceiving young, bright doctors into a permanent sad future.}
Thanks for your post Tham Eng.
But I might disagree with your opinions of Dr Lee Wei Ling – the whole saga of how she whistle blew on Dr Shorvon left me with a lingering (& permanent) doubt on her character.
http://www.shorvon.eu/singapore_chronology.htm
especially pts 2. & 4. which were substatiated by many in the neurology circles in Singapore then (although none formally spoke up – she’s after all daugther of the SM and sister of the PM – nobody wants to risk their jobs for such a stupid reason of standing up for your ex-boss vs your NEXT boss –> Lee Wei Ling took over as head of NNI during the saga)
Remember when SMC took the Shorvon case to the UK, it was overturned. Subsequently, Shorvon won an EU prize last year for his contribution to neurology – some award of that sature Dr Lee Wei Ling has yet to achieve on her own merit (although both of them share the same research interest)
As always: my own opinions, feel free to disagree
RALLYING PRAYER SUPPORT FOR DR LEE WEI LING AND DR CHEE SOON JUAN
Thanks, Derek. I am not very clear about the matter of Dr Shorvon—the moral implications arising from the matter. So I am not competent to comment. In any case, I may not always agree with everything Dr Lee Wei Ling said or do. Like for example, her criticism of AG Walter Woon on Mr Tang Wee Sung’s case, and her vociferous open argument with Mr Philip Yeo of EDB some years ago. But I do appreciate the motivation and passion behind what she said and did. It was good.
As Dr Lee is in such bad physical state, we must rally more people to pray for her well-being. I am also praying for Dr Chee, that God can provide a way out for him to lead a meaningful life. As it is, I feel Dr Chee is terribly misguided, and no one I have met and talked to about Dr Chee has any good words for him. However, I am sure God can find something meaningful for him to do. At least he did not opt for suicide as a way out of his very bad situation.
Thanks, Derek!
When Allan decides to leave, he knew it would blow up and affect his mom and dad.
He did it anyway.
When Eugene decide to publish this, he knew questions about SAF would be raised, but alongside it, the issue about his family and love live would be raised.
Eugene did it anyway.
Allan is an adult. He took this path. We may blame the SAF, but we also may want to ask – why not CIQ and MHA for allowing him to fly off?
Why not his parents and elder brother. When he was an 18 years old, did they not know that this was going to be a bond of 12 years, and it might not be a bed of roses.
If they had tried to prevent him from taking this path, is it the parents’ fault or SAF fault that he insisted on taking this path.
I am not supportive of conscription, and I am not happy about the SAF and many things they have done. But I think our need to be angry with someone, something, somehow needs to be tempered.
He is 27. It is an insult to say he does not know what he is doing.
He Awoled, he needs to face detention barrack.
Yes, have an opt out cooling down scheme, like Lehman brother bomds, if it can make sense.
Remove conscription if it make sense. If we don’t, more people will migrate out, and more from China and India will fill their places.
Life goes on. Go in Peace, Allan.
As a parent, I feel angry too. Not sure who. And I am angry my sons have to be ‘jailed’ for 2 years.
Without a doubt, this is a tragedy that could and should have been avoided.
Sandman, you seem to have known Allan quite well. The only doubt I have in your article is where you said that he was a pilot. As far as I know, they don’t train docs to be pilots. Another interesting comment you made was that Allan discharged the only person to have broken his bond. Perhaps we could take this offline as I am interested if you could provide further details.
I hope his death will bring forth a reckoning.
{”mon” wrote on Tue, 17th Mar 2009 12:33 pm: “Of course, Dr Ooi’s death was a tragedy which the authorities should look into, and take actions to prevent it from being repeated.”
They would not do it the usual way, we understand. They will select harder and threaten more}
-
CLARIFICATION FROM RADM TEO CHEE HEAN IS ON THE WAY
He has just replied me some hours ago to thank me for my input, and desire for him to say something and clarify on this matter. Because yesterday, I wrote to him an open letter/email entitled: “PLEASE FO NOT LET DR ALLAN OOI DIE IN VAIN!”
Just now, I had also forwarded this email to WYC Chief Editor Eugene Yeo for his “Daily Musings”. I leave it to Eugene to decide whether to publish it or not under his “Daily Musing”.
So let’s be patient. RADM Teo’s response and clarifcation/answers to our many questios will certainly be forthcoming.
-
{”Saywatyou`vegot” wrote on Tue, 17th Mar 2009 9:14 am: SAF Bond:
Precisely ALL the questions the public is asking! Arbitrary is and has always been the word of calling. Do they seriously think this works even in such a small imaginary almost non-existent system? You might be spot-on- the question is whether we might even get an honest non-censored response based on FACTS. It goes without saying that censorship reflects a society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime!}
I am saddened by these fortunate people who are given the chance to study medicine. Yet they do not want to serve when graduated. They are lucky to be able to serve in the SAF, the most important institution in the country for without its strenght S’pore cannot be independent and walk tall.
Selfishness is what I can think of their behaviour.
Some even claim to be ex-singaporeans. They must have preferred to call the ang moh country their home. Good luck to them
He has gone to reside in the house of lord. Please leave him alone.
As the saying goes: When the coffin is covered, the matter is sealed.
Human beings who leave behind them no great achievements, but only a sequence of small kindnesses, have not had wasted lives.” – Charlotte Gray
The the intricacies of human nature is a gem on it own. No one kills himself for any love but for himself, because the greatest love of all – reveals us in our nakedness, our misery, and our vulnerability! To be alive is to be vulnerable in times of uncertainty and challenges- such is HUMAN NATURE.
“People that live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” – how many sincerely appreciate and blissfully able to apply in reality?
How easy it is to judge on impulse after one sees what evil comes from judging wrongly even without knowing it, I wonder? To those who judge another through rose tinted glass, you`re only merely defining YOURSELF as a character! Each of has a particular idea of concept that best suits “us” in which we define by our OWN experiences- who is to judge who?
Like Allan, some prefer to live completely free with self worth, honesty, and respect- above all, value and live by the essence of TRUTH & JUSTICE than to live in vain! The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself and simply follow the herd blindly when push comes to shove. LOL
What matters is not what others see in us but what matters most WITHIN US. And Allan, good on you brother because PEACE & TRUTH live in you eternally – what more to expect on earth ?
albert tye:
“coffin is covered, the matter is sealed” – I hope you seriously appreciate and believe what you`ve just preached!You`re obviously poorly informed or have chosen to ignore the gist of this matter- who deprived who of anything? Did he qualify because he came from a privileged background? What has his highly respected family background got to do with his own achievement? Where and how does money come into the picture in his particular case? And above all, it is wrong to enjoy the fruits of one’s OWN labour ?
LOL
Merv: I think you are a little harsh with the way you speak,AND THIS IS MY 2CENTS:try not to take your insecurities out and lash out at a man who has already died.
It doesnt matter what his real reasons are for ending his life, the fact is that it has brought alot of pain and anguish to the people who love him, and his death is a permanent move that can never be reversed. YOU on the other hand, can still live, breathe,eat, laugh, play with your wife and kids and make silly sacarstic comments on a man who, even though through his own actions, can no longer do forever.
Indeed there are alot more people in 3rd world and war torn countries suffering and trying to fight for their lives and survival every single minute of the day, but it doesnt negate the fact that there are other people living in very developed educated societies like ours who are presented with DIFFERENT set of problems and are suffering greatly as well, physically, emotionally or mentally.
Merv, assuming you are a blue collar staff who got retrenched and are living in a small box you call an apartment with no LCD plasma tv to watch HBO or drive a maserati to eat at fancy restaurants, doesnt give you the utmost right to slam a man, despite his family background, who chose to end his life. A life he CAN NEVER get back, never mind if it was a rash, foolish, or noble action on his part. Whatever. FACT IS, he is dead, and we ( yes you Merv as well * hello * )are all alive and are able to enjoy the living, I think this calls for some form of sympathy if not regret if you have a heart.
I can understand the need for people to sometimes get all smart alecky or write terribly drastic dramatic responses to new NEWS hoping to bask in 5 mins of online media glamour, be reminded that MERV: you are hurting the people who truly love and care for him, be reminded that DR ALLAN OOI has a father and a mother, just like YOU , WHO ALSO HAS A FATHER AND MOTHER, who I am sure loves you very much too. So before you decide to take your sacarstic unnecessary selfish remarks to another level, i want YOU to think of that.
Dr Allan wrote:” I AM NOT DEPRESSED AND NEVER HAVE BEEN”, i do believe that he was trying to point out that the assumption as to why he committed suicide ( having the foresight before he died that pple will be wondering WHY ) shouldnt be that he may have only possibly be ” just depressed ” but that there were bigger resounding issues that HE WANTED SINGAPORE to address, sit up and notice, and hopefully cause ripples enough to make an objective positive changes for the future.
I personally believe that yes he was depressed, but pls people dont take what he said out of context to blindside what he was really desperately trying to say.
My heart ultimately goes out to his family and his friends, to all who love him, and although it is wrong to end a life that God has given to every one of us, it is still unrefutably very sad and regrettable, the day Dr Allan Ooi decided to end his life permanently.
As an overseas Singaporean who had served my NS and all obligations of a reservist, I read with sadness that Singapore’s youths and talents do not find the fulfillment that they are expecting after an illustrious academic path.
This however is not uncommon a complaint that I hear from those who have been here away from Singapore. The scholars and talented find themslves stradddled down to conforming and dull existences in the civils service and the military.
This has been the legacy of the armed forces and the civil service as long as I have been in them many years past and it seems that nothing has changed.
When will they ever learn!!!! sigh….it seem the lesson for us citizens is to stay clear from all Govt bonds and scholarships if you can afford it!!!
honky tong:
You bet unless and until you become one of “them” where two hearts become one: The Iron Rice Bowl !
History proves that all dictatorships, all authoritarian forms of government are transient. Only democratic systems are not transient and shall thrive forever more, with law and order.
Seek freedom and become captive of your desires and liberty- The World is your Osyter and rightfully, your STAGE- go forth and celebrate LIFE. I am encouraged to learn many have taken this path positively with no turning back.
Foreign talents? Cause & Effect- the simple equation that no system OR goverment could control, like it or not.
The World is not blinded by much of self perpetuating imaginary ideologies, and in Allan’s words, “utter despair” at best.
LOL
Dr. Allan Ooi was my houseofficer and NS mate and I knew him personally from the brief time we spent together.
He was an outstanding individual – good looking, charismatic, well spoken and well groomed with impeccable manners. He was good in sports and athletic, certainly someone who left an impression. He was also hard working, honest and a good chap.
During our time in NS together I frequently asked him what his motivation was in joining the SAF, something most people avoided unless they needed the financial help from a scholarship. His reply was simple – to enjoy the rigors of an army life, extra motivation to keep fit and of course, to do his job as a doctor and help people.
I suppose he may have been reckless in his decision made to join the SAF without fully appreciating the nature of work or the fine print stating that a bond may be extended at will or is potentially ‘unbreakable’ and perhaps also in his ultimate decision to end his life but I respect that he was also under considerable duress when he made the latter decision and hence hope that this will exonerate if not partially mitigate him from this rash and senseless act.
Allan Ooi would have been successful in life, as a doctor or otherwise. The SAF should have treasured and nurtered this gem of an individual instead of alienating and untimately condemming him to this fate.
His reasons for suicide were multifactoral but the prominent message in his letter was that of unhappiness in his work. A potential unhappiness that could occupy 15 years of his life, this was certainly mind numbing. Yes, those of you less fortunate may boo boo him and say he should have been grateful but one man’s meat is another man’s poison.
The SAF should have paid more attnetion to him, noted that he was unhappy and seeked ways to address this issue. Sadly they either ignored or didn’t do a good enough job.
Let’s hope we do not have a repeat of this lesson and the SAF take this as a serious wake up call and learn from their mistakes.
I think enough is enough.
SAF is needed to encourage foreign talents to work in Singapore and save Singapore from degenerating to a land filled with peasants and lesser mortals.
We need SAF more than SAF need us.
Let us not smear the reputation of SAF and instead believe in SAF if we choose to remain in Singapore!
First of all, it is sad to learn about the untimely passing of a talented young man. I do not know Dr Allan personally. Therefore, my subsequent comments are aimed at him.
I was shocked to read about the various comments, especially by professionals, and I believed many are doctors.
Charles Handy once said, (paraphrase here), in this world, truly, there are plenty of people who are unhappy about their jobs their work. But one need not change job just because one is unhappy. One can find meaning outside of one’s job even meaning in the most difficult situation.
I think most doctors would know Dr Victor Frankl, a Holocust Survivor, who was captured and tortured in the German concentration camp. Prisoners were deprived of food and basic necessity amd dignity. Dr Victor would keep himself busy in the Camp, helping other prisoners. And sometimes in his free time, he would imagine that he was conducting lectures to audiences. He asked one question while in captivity: “Why did some people died while others manage to survive in the most trying situation?” Because those who survive has something to live for……….”
Meanwhile, i would like to end with a short story told by Abraham Lincoln.
Once, there was a robber attempting to rob passing motorists. During a robbery attempt, he held several hostages and told a motorist to hand over his money and valuables. Failing which, he would kill the hostages one by one. And he said he is not to be blamed for the killing. Why? Because according to the robber, he had to kill because the motorist refused to give what he demanded. ….. the robber’s action is no different from terrorists.
I would like to ask those who blamed the SAF, whether is it right? Is it right to kill oneself just becuase we don’t get what we want? Is it right to let money do the talking? There are many people out there don’t have rich parents.
People who are blessed with talent, intelligent, rich parents should use their blessing to bless others…
Henry
Retired Major.
Singapore citizenship is very SUAY as they have to suffer from 2 years of brain deadening boredom that drive even the most resilent doctors to death.
PR no need to serve NS and reservist.
Is there a legal channel to upgrade my citizenship to PR ?
I have encounters with a few SAF majors and after every encounter I feel like jumping off the nearest MRT station.
Behind every major problem in Singapore there is a SAF Major.
Dr Allen Ooi death point the accusing finger at them directly.
Henry:
If you`ve read the various well informed posts, you would find your “questions” answered relatively well. But yes, your questions are totally generic and out of context to the specifics in Allan’s case. We KNOW the answers even without using our brain cells. What has your so called “rich parents” got to do with this issue, if at all? One can come from an average normal family background and still might have taken Allan’s route- so ? Some just don`t get (if at all) or get totally sidetracked to the point of no return.
Let it be clear that times have certainly changed; what worked in the past is obsolete- there is no such self perpetuating ideology as “one for all, all for one”- not in this tiny place anyway. Open your eyes and see the NEW HORIZON. The desperate need for foreign talent is one CLASSIC example. Where are our local talents? The answer is plain clear.
There is nothing left to ’smear” about “them” as the reputation is MORE OF THE SAME! And WE know the genuine reason behind Allan’s passing and it is certainly NOT multifactoral !(God pls no….can`t people comprehend at all?)
“honky tong” as expressed the ultimate point clearly: Steer clear of all Govt bonds and scholarships! People, this is the message – if you are not one of “them” and have the desire to strive on your own two feet, then go for your life!
I will say it again, THE WORLD IS YOUR STAGE -Seek freedom and become captive of YOUR desires and liberty! Who needs to be fed by the establishment and become their servants or mouthpieces, and be TIED TO THEIR BELLY BUTTONS? Certainly NOT Allan and many others. Only the simple-minded have it all too easy, i`ll say !
I am a Singaporean doctor who has quite recently finished serving as Medical Officer in SAF as part of my NSF liability. I do not know Allan Ooi personally, but I can empathise with his discontent for his daily work in the SAF.
The work of a regular SAF MO is really quite mundane: lots of meetings / emails / projects – mostly to address issues stemming from the SAF’s culture of general paranoia and an incessant obsession with planning for all kinds of contingencies. (e.g I was once asked to provide two (!!) Medical Officers to stand-by for a IPPT simply because the base commander was taking the IPPT that day – and there are many other examples too.)
I definitely agree with Oh Tham Eng that the worst thing to happen is to have Allan Ooi die in vain. It will be a great tragedy if there is no public recognition of the flawed way in which the SAF treats their own regular MOs, and worst still – if the SAF does not change it’s policy on how it retains its pool of regular MOs.
I worry about the regular SAF MOs that are still trapped within the system and unable to find a way out. The SAF contract is ironclad and water-tight. I fear that Allan Ooi may not be the last person to perish from this tragic situation.
@Civil servant:
I do hope u realise one fact that the reputation of SAF(or was there none at all in the 1st place?) was nv smeared. Those that had entered and finally ord-ed(including you i hoped) have more negative experiences compared to positive ones, which meant to portray the fact that its not us who are smearing their rubbish reputa..erm i meant just “reputation”, but the fact that the organisation n the superiors are the ones who are imposing this on us instead.
Of course i do know that we need the SAF more than they need us, in terms of at least a frontline defense, but does that account to the very little or close to none “appreciation” that they had showed to us during our NS liability?
If your overall past NS experiences was positive, good for you bro. Other than that you can just keep your comments to yourself.
All the Best..
To Those “Insiders” (ex or not):
Thank you all for your FACTUAL input- nothing has more depth of truth than the ACTUAL people inside. Let there be LIGHT at the end of the tunnel- but above all, let people see things are they really are, not as we (or misled to) imagine they are! Live TRUTH and let us be messengers of it, and all the flaws would be revealed.