Friends of Dr Allan Ooi speak out in defence of him
March 13th, 2009 | 
Author: EDITORS’ NOTE: The following is collated from some comments left on our blog here. We must admit there is no way we can verify if the posters were indeed friends of Dr Allan Ooi.
By SAF Doc:
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.
By LOKUN:
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.
By Pandora:
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.
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.
By Sandman:
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 you 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.
Asa 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 30 years 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.
From anonymous:
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
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To SAF Doc…serving your bond in the army after this Country gave you the scholarship and money to be what you are today – a professional medical doctor!..you are shameless to mention
that is truly saddening and SAF should be ashamed of bullying and deceiving young, bright doctors into a permanent sad future. I am sorry! where the gratefulness and loyalty to the hand that built YOU!….Allan is a rich spoilt kids…Cars! Paul Smith clothes…so unable to take a rejection to live his glamourous life?…so take his own life..I am sorry that I personally do not pity or feeling sad for him..just another loser!…now everyone blame SAF and NTU all over again!..Grow up! as the world do not owe anyone a living and takes responsbile of your decision! lah…SAF is our defending tools against all invaders of our nation!..
To Kuching:
I have no idea which pile of ambulatory fungal decay that you slithered out under from, but you need to crawl back to whichever one of Lau Lee’s eunuchs that’s holding your leash and take some lessons in logic 101.
1) What gratefulness to the “hand that built you” can you be possibly referring to? If, as you claim, that Dr. Ooi is a “rich kid”, then he should have no need to take on the bond to pay for his studies. The fact is that he was lied to when he was 16-17, and conned into signing a bond. He believed that in doing so he was serving his duty both as a doctor and a Singaporean and that should be applauded and not condemned. He really thought he was doing the right thing then. He had no need of funding to do his studies because as you say “He’s a rich spoilt kid”, so how can you turn around and claim that the SAF and Country built him? When he could have easily funded his studies through his parents and NOT be bonded?!
2) SAF as the defender of our nation? Don’t make me laugh at your pathetic adherence to national brainwashing. No, in fact, I WILL laugh. Hah hah pui!
The SAF has the rough combat ability of an anemic pigeon and in all likelihood will lose a tavern brawl with a bunch of drunken nuns so don’t talk to me about them being defenders of the nation.
National Service only serves as
* A means of regime control
* Providing a jobs program for the never ending stream of eunuch scholars
* Serving as an employment program for useless brain damaged fungi like yourself who can’t survive in the private sector
* Wasting the best 2 years of our lives and handicapping the Singaporean male when they enter the workforce.
Get a life, or better yet, grow another brain cell and learn to think for yourself instead of mindlessly spouting propaganda and you might yet not be a waste of the air you breathe.
To Kuching,
I agree with you that it is foolish to commit suicide. However who are you to judge do you know dr ooi personally? Given his circumstances presented to him, he might have no choice. Even then I am in no position to comment.
You commented on the role of the saf as guarding against invaders. What invaders ? Warfare is changes according to contemporary affairs. With tigger economic linkages no country can afford to go to war without hurting it’s economy. There is a paradigm shift in strategic thinking when wars are conducted.other than states like north Korea and Iran modern states cannot go to war against each other. So your comment is uncalled for
The doctor has become another suicide stats.
The doctor has serious medical problems.
Too bad, he has chosen to end it all.
It takes someone special to be a doctor just because of the interview? What a joke. Lets look at interviews that happen at all levels from the lowest to the highest. There are interviews for all jobs, into many courses in all universities (not including distance learning unis), even in mediocre unis like NUS. When we go to NS there are interviews to determine if we are better for OCS or SISPEC, then there are more interviews when someone applies for a scholarship or in Allan’s case a Local Study Award. How many interviews do you think there are to get something much better than what he got?
what’s so special about your medicine interview? Get off your high horse. Its not as if you are some national Olympic hero.
Sandman,
Get the facts right. Allan wasn’t a pilot. He was an RSAF doctor trained in flight medicine.
Giving a Govt scholarship to one of the elite’s offspring. This seems to have now backfired.
If the scholarship had been given to one who really deserves it in the first place, then such a tragedy could have been avoided.
wahlau..so many emotional response to my comments!…why so emotional???…because the fact hurt real bad lah!….so emotional….can not take the fact..kill yourself lah just like what this loser did to his life..bottomline—he is gone!
we can failed in many attempt to improve our life but can not failed to live life.
Invader and defend tools…wake up ..you think the who;e world owe you a living if there no stromg defensive foce..look ar WW2…what the Japanses invader did to the womans and childrens! They rape your mother, sisters and all the families!
Wake up my dear fellow country men!..you guys should spend time in Israel..where many young men take up arms to to defend their country with their life…unlike like bunch of you…spoilt brats and losers!
I knew Allan personally and when I first heard the news that he had AWOLed, I couldn’t believe it. But then again, he’s been known to do/accomplish things quite out of his character. I think most people who knew him would have at least a smitter of respect for him, because he had most traits that people desire. I was surprised he actually signed on as a regular MO, since his family couldn’t definitely afford to put him through med school.
I knew he would definitely not be able to practise medicine overseas, whichever country he went to. So what then was the point of fleeing the country? I guess it was just a matter of time before he realised that it was between coming back to Singapore and going to DB/getting decommissioned/discharged/paying liquidated damages and serving another 2 yrs as a NSF and staying overseas for good and not being able to practise medicine. Obviously he couldn’t take both options and chose to end his life instead.
Please don’t blame SAF. I was once at the crossroads too like Allan and I chose the first option of being beaten down to ground zero again. And now, I’ve managed to rebuild my life and come out stronger for it. I don’t know if combat officer bonds are different from medical officer bonds (6 vs 12 yrs), but I’m pretty sure if he had asked the right people, he would have found out that there actually really was a way out of the bond.
I feel sad that he actually hated his job so immensely that he ended his life for it. Throughout my darkest days, I always felt a sense of relief by thinking that there were a lot of people worse off than me. You really decide your own future. Do you think a person having to beg on the streets is better off than a doctor writing articles for magazines? I wish he had the clarity of thought to put things into perspective.
And the part about him not being depressed, I think that’s def incorrect. If he hadn’t been depressed and ended his own life, he must have been utterly stupid and I don’t classify him as such.
My only grouse is that someone should have spent much more effort to get in touch with him in Australia and tried to talk some sense into him. Maybe he didn’t need to come back if he couldn’t take the shame of having to re-serve his NS as PTE Allan Ooi. At least he could still be alive and doing something useful somewhere else.
Just my 2 cents’ worth.
Guys, anyone noticed that his email was sent out supposedly from his email account a day after he had passed away?
to kuching:
i served my 2.5 years of mandatory NS. i did my share of IPPT/SOC, and till today have to clear my IPPT yearly(should i be in singapore).
the problem with the saf is that most of us don’t respect the people running the organisation. are they at the top because they are good and capable. or are they at the top because they passed this SAFOS interview at the age of 18 over 2 decades ago?
not too long ago, this high ranking officer was a medically downgraded personnel with bmi that was suboptimal and he was later moved on to become director of a stat board and there are many more stories.
why should i(or we) listen to them? just coz they have higher rank? that they have more stars on their shoulders than i have bars?
the crux is: many of them don’t earn our respect.
if you want your men to clear their soc and get an IPPT gold, YOU DO IT FIRST. if you’re downgraded, or you can’t do it, DON’T ASK THEM TO DO IT.
That said, I wonder who’s the one person who Allan discharged from the bond. That may have been the tipping point for him.
Hope my views as a ex-regular officer help to enlighten all who may be unaware of the situation. The main point is that:
1. The bond is breakable, depending on how badly you want it. If he had done something worthy of a discharge, SAF won’t be in a hurry to keep him.
2. Since it obviously wasn’t a issue with money, obviously his reluctance to break the bond through unconventional means must have been a question of pride. Not surprising for someone like him. He definitely would not have been able to take the immense shame/rigour/dread in having to serve another 2.5 yrs of NS again. Particularly if it entailed him losing his rank.
3. If he had really hated work so much, then he could have just committed suicide in Singapore. Instant resolution. Why waste another 5 months of a good life whiling away in Melbourne? Evidently, not enough research was done before deciding to AWOL. I know of guys who fled the country and they went through all kinds of legal loopholes to seek political asylum in their host countries.
4. SAF work is mundane, true. Most times, you’re doing things for the sake of doing them. Little progress is made. Few innovations are pushed through. A bright young mind would do best in a more dynamic environment. But if he had really really asked for it, surely he would have been posted to somewhere more to his liking?
At the end of the day, you can’t deny the fact that being born with a silver spoon does have its downsides. Put someone from a poor and broken family into a similar situation and I’d imagine him being more resilient than this. Ending your life because of work is seriously way not worth it.
Why couldnt Alan practise Medicine overseas ?
How come nobody was able to get in touch with him in Australia or knew where he went?
Non doctor: I have some elaboration on the previous threads on how to get out of the bond. You are right, he just didn’t talk to enough people nor know the people at the top well enough. In medicine, you earn respect by doing real stuff, doing real operations and really saving people’s lives – if he could impress the right people and strike a bargain later when he is a qualified surgeon etc…. things might have been different. But a doctor at 27 is little more than a commissioned medical student: can’t do surgery, know too little about internal medicine. Doctors correct me if I am wrong, but I haven’t met a 27 year old consultant surgeon before.
Practice: Given his credit card bills (he could have been using his Singapore cards) etc.. PIs can track where he roughly is… but still, Melbourne is a large place with lots of handsome asians walking around… making the task quite tough still, just imagine.
I’m not a doctor but I can tell you for sure you can’t be a 27yr old consultant. In S’pore, you’ll need to undergo 5 yrs of med sch, 1 yr of housemanship, 1 yr of MO-ship BEFORE going back to serve as an MO. Assuming you start all this at 19, you’ll only enter the real medical world at 28, whereby you still have to serve as a registrar first. I suppose the earliest you could be a consultant would be 34, and this is for normal Singaporean male doctors.
For regulars, you can specialize in the midst of your 12-yr bond. But certainly, your currency with medical knowledge would be lacking. The 12yr bond that has been lambasted so often in this thread and others actually consists of 3yrs of specialisation training and 3yrs of hospital attachment. So you get a pretty decent deal, only having to actually serve 6yrs within a SAF camp, or “prison” as described by Allan.
And yes, Derek bird, you’re right. They could have traced his credit card bills to find out where he was. If they had extradited him, at least he may still have his life today.
This incident may really serve to make SAF seem like the bureaucratic unsympathetic organisation, but in truth, it takes 2 hands to clap. I’m going out on a limb by saying this, but I think the good life that he led throughout his days prior to work failed to prepare him adequately for a situation whereby things didn’t go his way. He probably couldn’t take the fact that he had to do things he didn’t like by listening to people he didn’t respect. Sadly, that’s what most of us have to go through daily, but for someone like him who’s been accustomed to greater things throughout his life, it was probably too much to bear.
Thanks to what Non Doctor has posted in this website. After reading so many people’s expressing their views, I appreciate what Non Doctor has written.
In fact after reading the obituary on the newspapers, I began to think and re-think what is happening in Allan’s life. He had a life which many people would envy from head to toe. He had the good brains to finish his studies all the way from primary school to medical school. He had all the determination to go through his houseman year. But the ability to get out from something really difficult, is something that built up over the years. I could see that in people who lived through very difficult early years. It is more than resilence. A great deal of character building could be developed through hardship years, and in fact one should reflect on what one has developed through overcoming all the failures and disadvantages one faced.
I believed bright mind like Allan would have pondered over and over again what else could be done, but before his farewell letter he concluded that he could not find a way out, so he preferred to leave it entirely. I think in life many people had gone through what he had felt before, and yet many continued to struggle through, yes, I used the word ’struggle’, because it isn’t as easy as ’sailing through’.
I just wish that through reflecting on what Allan has said, we could have a closer look at life. When life isn’t that promising, even in the next 12 years, would you like to continue to live on? Would you like to strive hard? Not everyone will be in his shoe, but we each have our own circumstances and conditions to live in. We all need to look close at life, including all the constraints that we may face. I believe we all would have the strength to go to the very last minute, and the strength comes from within. But once you set your mind saying that there is no other way out, you would be depressed, and depressed. We certainly would need help. And to ask for help, perhaps may not be easy for anyone who has pride.
Saabster, emails can be tweaked around such that you can program an email to be sent out at a certain date/time.
This email was obviously made to be sent out 24 hours after his suicide.
After reading this article, I felt relieved that I did not sign up for SAF at 10 years ago.
I felt very sorry for him. I think it serve as a biggest “warning” to those who have ambition before signing bond with the SAF.
What does those SAF “big shot” done for the past decades?? I think their great acheivement is producing the “Singapore National Day” event every year. other than that, they are the most wayang members at all times.
Kuching,
Singapore definitely need more people like yourself. Absolute imbecile and oblivious,perfect material for the country.
Sad that this young Allan took his life just becos he unable to handle his job and bond with SAF. Do you think that he is already emotional unstable and confused? People start to blame SAF but not themselves lah!
Read his last message – he mentioned ” I can happily say that I have led a full life, despite it ending at the age of 27 ” How can that be when you have such a glamourous and blessed life and end it?..He do not believe in God but yet he mentioned that he has such a “blessed” life with Madza sport car and Paul Smith clothes. reckon he try to reach GOD but turn away or denied God..at his last hours of his life.
I reckon this guy is just being too shelter all his lives and so unable to handle such a minor set back. I am very sure this Allan guy should be alive and stronger if he believe and turn to God in his last hour.
Here some God words- as bible is like a specification of a product – in this case human being is a product he created.
1 Isaiah 40:31 (New International Version)
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Lord almighty will forgive him!
It was sad that a life was wasted like that. That said, it was also a waste that another would be doctor was deprived, another long training subsidised by the government was wasted, another who could have climb up the social ladder (no family of doctors) denied. The younger generation’s mindset is always “me first”. Have they ever spare a thought for the consequences of their action? Allan was already blessed in life, try conparing to those living from hand to mouth with children to support, I’m sure they wanted their kids to be doctors. I would say Allan did not know how lucky he was.
Hey Kuching,
are you in the SAF?
If you are not (NSF doesn’t count), then shut the hell up and stop sprouting words from the Bible.
It is seriously bad inside, that many people are thinking of leaving.
But not many have the courage to do something about it.
You shd try signing on a 12-18 yr bond doing something that you did not know you were supposed to do, and see how it feels.
Good luck
To Dan : you said it all in a very much gentle manner! Salute you!…a young man from SMU..gave back 100K to sponsor
needy students in SMU …another young singapore promising doc pluck his young family from full comfort zone to serve in NGOs for abandon aids babies in China…these good young men live life with passion!..not all about sport cars or Paul Smith clothes.. I salute them all.
To WWD ; Buddy..getting too emotional will get you no where lah!..but reflecting on yourself as another spoilt brat!.like Allan ..I am previously from the elite from SAF…my washer woman mum taught me to live life with passion leh!…Sorry if you do not accept the fact of my quote from the bible..if you do not like it or denied GOD..that your choice and your decision..my intention is simply good for all if they want to see my feedback positively!..Good Luck to you then!
This is a green neighbourhood and envy is the name of the game being played out frequently lest we’re unaware.
We all need the SAF, like it or not – to project the deterrent & the power across to any would be aggressor that we’re are not the second class citizens they have.
We owe it all to our honorable men and women in green, past & present, for securing the peace for our present lifestyle; the safety of our daughters, girlfriends, wives, mothers, nieces, etc.
We’ve lost a good combat medical officer. But the show must go on . . .Peace is something not predictable. We have to pay for it in sweat, tears & even in BLOOD.
The SAF is improving every day. It’s still a learning organism.
My sincere condolence to the family of the late Dr Oei who have certainly contributed in no small part to the sustenance of this vulnerable island called home. May his soul rest in peace.
the saf is made up of officers who only care about their bonuses and they themself know that this is their careers and not because they feel that serving the country is good and therefore they subject NSFs and lower ranking regulars to produce results that is not worthy of a pay check rounding around $500SGD. There is no human rights in the SAF for people who are less fortunate in aspects of family, mental and financial problems and the officers subject them to do more work than themselves who are happily doing less work and earning a good income with bonuses off the sweat of the men from taxpayers’ money and they still can be proud of themselves as soldiers. This shows the poor, pathetic and narrow mindsets of this so called ‘leaders’. ‘Parasites’ would be a better word. Even if it is the army that requires regimental order, it is too absurb the way the army works as all NSFs with problems will know. Enough is said as nothing will be done as long these ‘parasites’ are in command as they block all interference through their lame army laws like the chain of command or is it a pussy washing their dirty laundry? In order to protect their own rice bowls and leech off the government money doing minimal work. It isn’t going to change and all we good people can only do is to look down on its pathetic ways and not respect SAF men. You can have my 2 years but you show your selfishness and worthlessness.
Dan & kuching:
We ALL know full well that Allan appreciated and knew he was blessed and therefore LUCKY in everyway- it was evidently expressed in his late e-mail letter. So, you guys really don`t get it, do you??
Nobody deprived ANYONE of any education or even a chance with the SAF (whatever it might be)as Allan had EARNED his way and worked wholeheartedly until he discovered he was ultimately deceived and robbed in broad daylight! If anyone has the attitude, ability, and character, i`ll say go for your LIFE and earn your way to realise your dream/s. Who has denied who of nothing? Who is fooling who, I wonder?
The fact remains that Life is and has never been “fair”- so why the comparison? If anything, i`ll say, GET REAL !
Saywatyou’vegot – I agree with you.
You cannot compare with others Dan.
There will be no end to comparison. You can always compare yourself to the less privileged and make yourself feel content.
If everyone does this, no one will feel the need to progress or strive for better conditions won’t it ?
The world won’t advance, scientists won’t invent anything new because they are content, countries will stop trade because they are content. There will be no progress, because there is no drive to improve.
Yes, knowing that you are luckier than others is a start, but you cannot allow yourself to rest on your laurels and stop there. A person needs to be grounded and follow his dreams.
If no one does that, everyone will be doing jobs that they dislike, and everyone will be happy.
Kuching – I’m not emotional, just maybe disturbed that there are people with your mindset. Who cares if you were from the elite? I never did mention anything about that. It doesn’t matter if you were or were not from the elite, what matters is that you understand the situation inside, or if you understand the choices that Allan was faced with.
vwd:
Agreed, too!
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 justice within our system as TRUTH IS THE ONLY SAFE GROUND TO STAND ON !!
Bless ya soul, Allan………..sadly missed:-(
Yo!
the saying goes: “Wise men speak and do the right things; Fools because they have to say something and end their life! over some set back.So, in reality, readers of reasonable sound mind would know right from wrong,lah! and some fools get so hot up and emotional!…such weakness can killed oneself when there rejection or set back in life! wake up and lesson learn from Allan ’s death..here!
Losers at their best deserve no attention at all – CLASSLESS !
his family’s relatively well off, i’m sure they could have helped him realise his medical calling
so why sign the bond with SAF?
(1) You seem very enlightened and educated from all your quotes, but your English is atrocious. It puzzles me.
(2) You are an antagonizer. You say things like Allan is “shameless”, “a rich spoilt kid”, “a loser” and then you comment that people who reply to your posts are “too emotional”. Regardless of what you think of Allan, the man is dead. Do have some respect for him. You do not know him personally and he will never be able to defend himself against any of your personal attacks. Showing disdain for his actions are one thing, shameless personal attacks on him makes me wonder what the bible has really taught you.
(3) The SAF is NOT the “defending tools against all invaders of our nation”. The SAF provides a false sense of security to the people of our nation. You wouldn’t know that. You are a perfect product of Singapore and she should give you a national day award this year for your patriotism. Singapore, in an all out invasion, may last at most 1-2 weeks, if that. The SAF is used as a deterrent so that an enemy will not feel inclined to just walk in. If the enemy is walking in for any other reason (as also pointed out by commonsense) other than our economy, the SAF is going to be helpless. So, I am really sorry I had to burst your bubble but the SAF is not really going to save you in an enemy invasion.
Allan is gone. A young promising (and I know you don’t agree kuching, so, don’t bother commenting on this, it’s a matter of opinion) life has disappeared into thin air. Allan blamed the SAF. I am not as inclined. I believe there are always alternatives to taking ones life. However, to explore those alternatives requires a state of mind where you don’t feel trapped. Allan was in a different state of mind. He, for whatever reason, felt there was no other way out. That is incredibly unfortunate. To continue to bash him (or for that matter, the SAF) is pointless. The SAF’s responsibility now is to explore ways they can handle similar situations going forward. More power to them if they can. And if they can’t, well, that is the country we live in.
just a quick comment about tracing the credit card bill…he may have withdrew cash from the atm instead of paying via credit card. This would prevent his family from locating him more so than atm withdrawal.
many questions lingering and opinions abound for his death. nevertheless, hope that it’s a reminder for us to treasure our love ones and especially for working parents to invest more quality time on their children to build up that loving relationship.
maybe a support group for scholars in the govt sector should be set up.
wow!..poor loosers…. ..first come with emotional responses and now come with personal attacks.. just becos I do not agree with you guys on Allan ’s decision to end his promising life..you guy are worse than anything else! Blame everyones , SAF. LKY , PAP , NTU but not yourself.,,sorry but just tell what I am thinking…by the way ..my England maybe is atrocious but I am alive and living life to the fullest.
Bible teaches everyone to love life..as mentioned ..May the good lord forgive Allan and rest his soul although he denied GOD his creator.. Good Evening everyone and do a good self reflection on ourselves..including me!..let put Allan to rest!
Kuching,
I think you need to understand that he made a choice.
Ultimately, the choice was his. You cannot blame someone for making a choice that you would make otherwise.
There is such a thing as freedom of speech, and the right of making a choice, regardless if it is right or wrong. It is all subjective, and I’m sure everyone has made choices that other condone or criticize on.
However, only with the appropriate moral courage, will one be able to stand by his decision, and take action.
I feel that is something that is lacking in Singaporeans in general. We are afraid to go against the flow, to buck the trend, to go where none has ventured.
Frankly, most people in his situation would have resigned to their fate, and lived the rest of their working lives unhappily. I guess this was something that he did not want to do, so he took action.
As again, whether it was the right or wrong choice, we are not in the position to judge, unless you are God.
I do not know this Allan personally and neither do I know kuching…Whatever it is He make a choice…in this case to end his life.
With all due respect to his friends and family,Let’s not make him out to be a Hero which he is not…
Thanks vwd
Your post more or less sums up the final gist of what I feel is of utmost importance as clearly expressed in my earlier post- he did make a CHOICE of his OWN. It is also all too easy to sit in front of the screen and ASSUME that he had other alternatives given his circumstances (anyone can do this), with should haves, ought to have etc. We know, in reality, life is never a bed of roses but the COURAGE is in the making of a DECISION with reason/s & STANDING BY it come what may – this, to me, is sheer BRAVERY which has no boundaries.
What must be made clear is that he was a “hero” in his own right, and he did NOT require anyone’s endorsement for his OWN action from the time he signed on 18 years ago right till the very end- this is the mature and responsible character in him. I hope this is fool proof to us all and really, those who knew him personally, COUNT EVEN MORE !
To those who did not know him, allow me to say this: “People Who Live In Glass Houses Should Not Throw Stones!” And let us not sit in judgement on a man whose circumstance was inevitably against his better judgement. All of us will come to a cross road in life and there will always be sacrifices made- Facts of Life !
I shall not comment on the acts of dr ooi since I do not have any association with him.
However, let me clarify on my scope of discussion. This is a socio-political website. Thus, I think it is suitable to discuss the factors relating this from a social point of view-examining the role of SAF, Press, Government etc. We can blame the individual but we can also examining the system. Our government pride singapore as a nation of rules and laws. What I find disturbing is that his bond was extended by passing a paper. Sounds familiar? This is almost like a royal decree and it seems no further consultation on this matter by any independent committees. The only government that passes laws by “decree” is nazi germany and perhaps singapore? I think the authorities should highlight the institutional systems to clarify whether Dr Ooi’s statement was a false accusation.
I think we all need to understand that the social contract between us and the government is that we serve ns as free citizens protecting our freedoms and family. The role of the SAF is a psychological one, providing a sense of security and certain form of retaliation if need be.
Kuching, you mentioned about Israel going to war against its neighbors. In fact if you were to read up about the matter, the war wasn’t about the terrorists, it was largely a political move to stir the electorate as elections are coming. Much like how Bush used the Iraq war to display his capabilities so that he can have a greater chance in winning the reelection which he did. As mentioned, the geo-political situation had changed dramatically, no state can afford to go to war against another state. WW1 and WW2 were battles of ideology democracy vs fascism, however, from 1980s onwards international affairs are increasing being overshadowed with religious ideologies. Islamic fundamentalism is the real threat today and it calls for asymmetric action. There is limited role for the military unless of course you are mentioning Iraq or Afghanistan whereby it is not religious fundamentalism that they are combating but an insurgency. Even states like North Korea and Iran have no capacity to go to war, their actions are largely to exploit benefits from the international community. Even taiwan has since downsized its military. From local perspectives, I think we can all remember Mahathir’s threats against singapore. In any case, it was largely rhetoric and meant to unify his electorate and unify the country, which he did a great job at. There was no real plan attacking singapore. Wars are conducted to control resources, what do we have in SIngapore? 4 millions mouths to feed and additional foreigners? A stupid lighthouse on Pedra Branca?
Kuching, I dislike your name calling bible quoting acts. I find it extremely offensive. I am a christian but honestly you are just distasteful.
Anonymous: Support group for scholars? You serious?
All SAF scholars (LSA medicine inclusive) are assigned a mentor that is at least 2 ranks above you. If buay song, you can even request to change mentor (but put in a tactful excuse like “oh he seems too busy, I don’t want to trouble him” or “I’ll like a fresh viewpoint from another unit as I’m thinking of this project XYZ etc” blah blah)
wat decisions allan has taken, he must have thought for four months, so let his soul rest in peace.
the saf and govt should learn from this incident so as not to lose any of our own bright and limited talents we have on this small dot. (we do not need to import foreign talents if they know how to fully nurture than push them to sucide). why can’t allan serve his remaining bond working in hospital where he can help to save life than in an environment he hated and wanted to leave? wake up saf, do something so we will not have to lose more sons again through frustrations.
commonsense — standing ovation
I think you are a minority who actually know why we have NS and SAF.
Allan made a choice to end his own life. I will not say I am in favor of that.
Allan was a bright young man. That is a fact.
Allan was frustrated with the system. That is a fact.
Allan felt trapped in the system, maybe somewhat betrayed. That is a fact.
Allan had choices. That is a fact.
He made his decision based on his choices (or lack of). That is a fact.
Unfortunately, in my lifetime, I have gotten a chance to see several suicide notes. I don’t believe I have ever seen something as coherently written as Allan’s suicide note. Which leads me to believe that he was actually trying to make a statement with his choice rather than taking his life due to depression. However, that being said, I will not speculate any further. What he has done is to draw attention to a break down in the SAF system. Something the SAF may or may not fix.
Like mentioned in my earlier comment, this is no longer the time to attack Allan nor the SAF. This is the time for the SAF to rethink it’s policies. They might not want to do anything about it because they feel there is nothing to be done. They may want to apply a softer approach. Whatever the case, the ball is in their court. As the government constantly ponders on the question of “brain drain”. This IS definitely going to be the cause of more “brain drain”. A potential scholar reading about this incident may now see their choices a little clearer. (1) sign a scholarship with a government entity and be bonded, where the bond period can change with just the stroke of a pen. And there is no “out” clause in the contract OR (2) don’t sign it and, if and when one has had enough of this democratic country, they can pack up and leave (provided they have served their NS). OR (3) just leave, as a citizen, never to return as a citizen. Many will pick (2), but the government is worried about those who have chosen (3). Ultimately, more of (1) will lead to more of (3).
Lastly, out of curiosity… kuching, why should we blame ourselves for Allan ending his life (”Blame everyones , SAF. LKY , PAP , NTU but not yourself.,,”)? And in agreement with commonsense, I think you should really stop quoting the bible as you are a very poor representation of a Christian, supposing you are really one. The bible also says to love one another… for you it means, Allan too, regardless of the decision he made. Think about this for a second, if Allan was a close friend or relative, I wonder whether you would feel the same amount of hatred. The act does not depict the person.
People are leaving or have even left this country for FREEDOM OF SPEECH & CHOICE that is one’s birth right! Why seek and almost desperate to invite foreign talents??? LOL
How many cases of similar nature and content were already published and debated in the World, including the real risk that public confidence in the administration of justice has been impaired and condemned by journalistic freedom groups ? What is or was the solution/s or answer/s?
When there is a cause, there is an effect. The modern educated generation will not hesitate to LIVE THEIR LIVES they way they deem fit, gone are the days of authoritarian regime! Chain one’s body but never one’s mind. LOL
The World is one’s oyster- The World is your Stage- Go forth and let it be FREE.
Some birds just aren’t meant to be caged.
RIP Doc ooi.
lil birdie.. so painfully true, mate
He really didn`t deserve to have abandoned all his loved ones, and above all, himself had he been taken seriously enough. We know…I grieve…:(
Kuching, with all due respect, I think you should not continue in this thread. You are causing a lot of disruption to what is an otherwise good discussion. I am also a Christian and I am ashamed to be associated with such bigotry.
I just find it puzzling why someone would kill himself over being unable to get out of a job, to me at least, or from the top-view of this whole incident.
I mean if one can be so desperate, that should force one to fight harder instead forcing one to commit suicide. Or perhaps he got too tired of fighting? Sigh.
“Desperate times call for desperate measure(s).”, I wonder.
Just my thoughts.
Dear All,
I do not know Allan and there no reason for me to hate him.
But just truly disappointed of this bright young man decision to end his life without considering for the feeling of his
parent and loved ones. I can see many of you felt sorry for him but I do not!..sorry as there are so many old Aunty and Uncle got cheated of their whole life saving by the Banks here..so do they jump into the MRT track to end their life???No!. The old Aunty /Uncles continued to live on without their saving to finish their race in life!
To the fellow Christian bloggers ..sorry if you felt ashamed of me of my tough and honest comments. But you must not be ashamed of God word’s…I am sure if Allan reach to GOD. Allan could be the young men that will not stumble and fall.
Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
puzzledgoat:
“Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape” ~ Burroughs, William S.~
Allan did just that! THINK- If there was the slighest hope PRESENTED to me, would he have done what he did given his capacity as a person? God no, he wasn`t least ‘depressed’!
kuching:
You still do not get it, do you?
There is only ONE Allan and let this be fool proof.Fundamentally, he is BEYOND comparison, let alone your mediocre hypothetical “example” (if anything at all).
Secondly, let it be unequivocally clear and REINSTATE that he did NOT believe in “God”, afterlife (or post death) or particularly religious, if at all. Thus, logically, he died without reference to it all, other than knowing he was and is, at PEACE !
In reality, your point is irrelevant and does not apply to him at all.
I’m currently in JC and am wondering if someone can shed some light on the SAF bond. From what i know, most government scholarships provide you with the option of breaking your bond, but you have to repay a substantial amount that decreases with each year you serve, with some scholarships having a flat payment within the first 3 years and a decreasing schedule thereafter. Bonds for students in NUS Dentistry/Medicine also have such an option.
What is the clause in this particular SAF bond that doesn’t even allow repayment of the bond? If an extraordinarily inflated repayment amount is specified to deter people from breaking that’s one thing, but to not have any opt-out clause is strange.
I did not know Dr Ooi personally, so i can’t comment on his choice or whether SAF did/didn’t do enough for him, but it is surprising to me that SAF would completely ignore Dr Ooi’s request for a transfer, which i’m sure he made since he was unhappy in his department. Almost all scholars are sent for some kind of secondment at some time during their bond, and if what non-doctor says about the 3 year hospital duty is correct, it wouldn’t be too much trouble for SAF to bring forward or extend the date of this secondment if Dr Ooi did request for one, barring manpower shortages. Or even if a transfer was not possible, they could have told Dr Ooi when his rotation was due to provide some light at the end of a finite tunnel.
And the arbitrary extension of his bond is ridiculous. No other government agency would do that or risk widespread bond breaking (oh wait SAF scholars can’t break bond). What reason could there possibly be for the extension?
I would like to hear an account from SAF, but i suspect we’ll never hear an answer from them.
To All:
RE: KUCHING
People, stop being flame baited by this obvious example of national programming. This piece of ambulatory excretement has obviously been brain damaged from watching too many renditions of “Red Army Day” a.k.a NDP. For all you know, he’s another clone of Gerald “I Love NS” Giam from TOC.
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!
Ok, I’ve been keeping mum till now, but the silence from Mindef is deafening. I’m an ex-scholar who “paved the way”, so to speak…
The SAF medical local scholarship award for officer cadets and post grads is a very very very “prestigious” award. Only 5 cadets are awarded, and once they’re in the system, the bond is 5 yrs med school + 1 year housemanship (HO) + 8 year SAF Medical Officership (MO). Unfortunately, the bond cannot be shortened, but only lengthened e.g. when the scholar is sent for further courses to groom him/her to take higher leadership roles, or sent for overseas missions. Like I said, there is no opt-out clause, and the LSA award is “special” i.e. extensible.
The scholarship does allow one to study for a further medical speciality, but it also means that he/she may still be called back as medical cover for SAF exercises and operations, even when on medical training.
When the scholar is posted back to the SAF, administrative and bureaucratic duties await him, often to the exclusion of his/her medical clinic hours. SAF is their paymaster, not the MoH or the hospitals, so oftentimes we get to practise real medicine 1-3 times (a few hours) a week (not days per week), if at all.
In my experience, most LSA medical scholars go through disappointment and anger once the reality of the situation hits them. As a lot, medical scholars are a thorn in the SAF’s side and a constant bane to the SAF, over this issue.
Some scholars resort to moonlighting, which recently has been “legalised” provided official sanction has been given (due to another scholar who “paved the way”). Most choose to grit their teeth and bear it, while some go through official channels to debate this unfairness, but simply earn for themselves a blackmark label from the central authorities.
A last group of scholars may be kicked out of the bond due to a offence committed, but the penalty is extreme:
$180,000++ to be paid back to the SAF (NOT including the liquidated damages owed to the MoH if the MO bond has not been repaid i.e. if one is booted before 3 years post-HO is up).
Service of the remaining NSF liability on a 1:2 ratio i.e. the NSF service liability is doubled once the scholar receives the award, and if he/she is booted before the 4-5 years is up (post HO), he/she still has to serve the remaining bond in the SAF.
This does not include the other disciplinary measures meted out to the scholar which is dependent on the offence committed.
Let’s not cast stones at Dr. Allan Ooi. He was be rich and highly intelligent. But I have personally experienced, that even if a man is intelligent and rich, it does not mean he is wise. Allan, probably, did not realise that there were people who felt the same way, or who have gone before him and broke the bond. By running AWoL, he was setting himself up for severe punishment, and the anguish of leaving his homeland forever must have weighed heavily on his heart.
Let us look forward and speak up as a people. The SAF scholars are suffering in silence due to the perceived shame that they believe they will face, particularly from ignorant patriots and blindsided party supporters. They believe they have no recourse from within the system, but we as a people do have the right to speak up for them. Should we demand justice and fairness for them, or let sleeping dogs lie and not rock the boat? The question is: what will you do, for them and for your country?
{”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’ve read Dr Allan Ooi’s last letter.
My deepest condolences to his family and love ones.
I do not know Allan personally.
The fact that he had not leaped off a building in Singapore make him free from facing the legal system here. ie. the immediate family will be make liable for certain penalties if a member attempt or committed suicide.
The fact is that WHO noted that over a million people committed suicide every year around the world and succeeded. 10-20 million people tried but failed.
Two people may commit suicide over 2 opposing reasons. ie. one may commit suicide because she thinks she is too fat and the other too skinny.
Self sacrifice to save others is not usually consider as suicide, as the goal is not to kill oneself but to save others.
His action had since made news and bewildered many with an element of surprise.
I regard Allan as an idealist after reading his last words. At a young age of 27, he knew many things. If he were to live in Japan long ago, he sure make a good samurai.
We have to accept that All earthly systems have flaws. A good system is one that have the least. Some corrections takes correction tapes, some, took lives.
I saw comments not to make him into a hero, well, we all need time for his action to prove those who had said otherwise.
I urge you to read his letter again if you are concern abt the system. I hope that “what comes next” will be things that are both contributing and beneficial to the system and lives that are at stake.
May his soul be at peace now.
Be it suicide or self sacrifice, may God, my heavenly Father, which he had not known, have mercy and be compassionate on his repented soul.
Amen.
“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 ?
Allan, YOU COUNT !
To kuching – do not bring god into the picture. I think he will be punishing you for being a disgrace.
Btw from the posts, i will think you are the effectual loser who cannot accept others’ opinion instead.
(Erm…go check out what is btw if you do not know)
To Mr Cow’s last post – Haha..you are right.
And to Saywatyou`vegot, i agree with you.
Same feathers (losers) flock together….I am sharing God’s word with everyone…and eveyone decision to accept or not.I will be ok with God. I reckon you are the one that want to punish me lah!..bcos you do not accept the fact and the truth ..hurt..lah!..Allan is not a hero..so do not make him into one!
Every coin has 2 sides to it, so does every story… every clap takes 2 hands to clap, so does a conflict. Allan may be at the ‘mercy’ of SAF, but he was definitely not at the ‘mercy’ of life. He had chosen the way he had, but I am not sure he really had every right to choose that way. He was not the person he was, on his individual merit… there were many people who have had contributed to his 27years of life, especially his parents, his family, his friends and basically everyone else who loves him.
On that note, I wonder if he thought about any of those people before he decided to leave this world. If he did, perhaps he would have more courage to face the challenge (as daunting as it is) ahead of him in the form of the SAF bond.
To me, his decision to seek a solution in death instead of any other options that include living in challenges simply hints too strongly of his lack of resilience or overdose of vain pride. He was able to go through med school & housemanship becos there was honour attached to it. But he couldnt go through a deskbound thankless job during his bond; couldnt face the shame of returning after AWOLing; couldnt face the loneliness of asylum abroad. But he is not the only one out there I know, that is too afraid of the challenges in life.
Fearlessness instead of caution when it comes to taking arrogant risks, cowardice instead of resilience when it comes to daunting challenges. And yet such qualities seem to strike a respectable chord in all that knew him… That worries me, as people seem to only see the surface of his decisions…
He was too fearless, and honestly a little too ‘ambitious’ and ‘honourable’ when he signed he bond. I put those words in inverted commas because those were his intentions…but his actions have proven him otherwise.
At my best thoughts of him, I think perhaps he wanted to make an example of himself – stir up this controversy to uncover what the SAF is doing to scholars like himself, hence forcing the government to react (and hopefully change), and more importantly serve as a warning to youngsters who may be on their way of committing the same mistakes.
I think the scholarship system in Singapore based on pure meritocracy alone is no longer working… Granting scholarships to people who deserve but dont need them is simply digging the hole of bond-breakers (the best being those who pay it off, the worst being those that left not just the world less of 1 talent, but parents less 1 very very precious child).
I feel my deepest regrets for Allan’s parents.
It is truly not your fault in any way. I pray that you feel only grief and not guilt. And that one day that grief would be replaced by a strong belief that God is there to care for him now. He is safe now and eternally.