Hello Happy Tay,
On behalf of Elias Mall especially our Freddie and your long time buddy Douglas please allow me the privilege & honour to send our greetings to your good self; a great distance from Sg. I believe you are currently based in Vancouver; Canada.
They hope you are doing fine and as your name suggest ‘Happy’ always!
Please forgive me for this sudden intrusion! Kindly allow me to briefly introduce myself first before I move on to the main thrust of my intent.
I live at Elias Rd. My parents bought this flat from HDB in 1994 and we have been living here since then. I got 2 younger brothers who are both graduates. My younger brother James is a school teacher. He’s planning to migrate to Vancouver, Canada. That’s where I shall need your favour even though we never met before. Between us, we have our excellent mutual friends i.e. Freddie and Douglas as a bridges that link us. We are also at one time fellow brother officers in blues!
I joined the Force after my ‘A’ levels in Mar 1983. Left in Aug 1994. I was posted to many places e.g. ‘B’ Div, TP, SB, ‘J’ Div and ‘G’ Div. My last posting was in GSB/CID before I called it a day. I then found a job in SMRT as a train officer (driver) and got comfortably settled down for the past 15 yrs! I’m still with SMRT.
My brother James having taught in government schools for more than 20 years suddenly told me that he is bringing his family ( wife and three kids with the youngest in pre-sch and oldest in Sec 1) to Vancouver. He just obtained PRs for all of them. He told me the news some time after this CNY.
Being confined to tiny Sg all my life, I really got no inkling about this faraway enigmatic place at the other corner of the world! I then started asking around amongst my friends, acquaintances etc about that strange elusive faraway paradise which must have possessed such a strong magnetic pulling force that attracted my brother whom is already is his middle age with three young kids and also the tens of thousands of Asians especially Hong Kongers to seek a better life there?
When I broached the subject with my good friend Datuk Freddie about my brother’s imminent migration to Vancouver by the end of the year, he mentioned without hesitation about your good self, ‘Happy Tay Eng Soon’ right away. He spoke highly and fondly of your good self! Datuk Freddie says that he lives on the even numbers of the same street in Pasir Ris private estate as your good self whom used to live on the odd numbers of the same! Datuk Freddie even proudly proclaims that he ever flew over to the other end of the world to pay you a visit when you migrated to Vancouver! That gesture clearly exudes his immense fondness for your good self!
When Datuk Freddie spoke about your legacy you left behind, he enunciated to me in no uncertain terms your exceeding munificence and unsurpassed gregarious nature! Your innnate propensity to organise community based get-together, wholesome family orientated activities for residents and friends clearly struck a chord with him! That must have motivated him to fly over to pay homage to your good self! He is confident that your good self’s legacy will perpetuate in your adopted place of abode. Datuk Freddie strongly endorses my brother’s acquaintance with your good self when he migrates over.
Alas, our Datuk Freddie insofar as he remembers fondly of your good self has lost all contacts with you. He was not able to furnish me with any of your contact details!
Lo and behold ! God willing, when our Datuk Douglas who is a much respected elder amongst the Elias Mall brethrens, got wind of my brother’s flight of fancy; he deftly produced the most important name card of the year – your full contact details! Details as follow…
Happy Tay
Transportation Fleet Supervisor
vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Next, I alerted our Datuk Freddie about your whereabouts. He beamed with joy and insisted that he be kept in the loop in the event of your next periodic visit here!
Our much respected elder, Datuk Douglas has briefed me at length on your legacy in the Force. It seems that your good self used to be a frequent visitor – 2 to 3 times a year cuz your son was serving NS here. Whenever you are here, a congregration of ex-senior police officers except yourself and Douglas whom were not in the senior ranks will gather for a home coming feast!
Datuk Douglas mentioned so many ex-senior police officers whom once ruled the underworld in Sg especially the Red Hill & Queenstown areas. (yourself, Douglas & his buddy Sunny were from the Secret Society Branch) Maybe due to the big generation gap between our times, I only heard of Chan Soo Wah whose last posting was Director Police Academy and Ang Chiang Teck who was Head Major Crimes in CID when I was an IO in GSB/CID. My Head Specialist Crimes was then Mohd Noor and Teo Hong Guan! (at one time also Dir PA).
Those senior police officers were certainly not from the scholars’ mould. Those were the hard core tough crime busters in the early days of Sg when SS was then notorious and rampant! By looking at the tough pockmarked faces of Ang Chiang Teck or my former OC DSP Law Ah Kaw will strike fear amongst those terror gangsters. Datuk Douglas and yourself were frontline comrades in arms in the line of fire when he shot dead a notorious Headman of the Johore secret society branch who was also a martial arts exponent! Datuk Douglas told us when he identified the body in the mortuary, he saw the Headman’s knuckles were all black & cow hide tough!
I have posted a link to that case. Those were the glory days of raw policing on our streets with the ever omnipresence of SS activities where they could just simply walk into a shop to demand and extort ‘protection’ fees!
Before I go any further, I must beg your good self’s forbearance on the above unwarranted soliloquy rambling.
Fast forward to the present, I hope we have come a notch closer with the blessings from our mutual friends especially our Datuk Douglas whom implores me to seek your good guidance. I was reluctant to seek you out. I relented after repeated nudgings from him. He assures me time and again that your good self will surely extend your generous hand anytime.
Thus, I would; with some unabashed audacity, like your good self to assist my brother to source and secure a simple house either in the middle or western regions of Vancouver by end of May 2010 since his family shall be going over in June. My brother will fly back to Sg to continue teaching until Dec 2010. He will then join his family again permanently from Jan 2011.
My brother with his wife and 3 young kids in tow are allowed to carry only 10 luggage bags. As such, they will have to begin their Canadian dream from scratch. Your kind compassion in extending a helping hand shall be remembered and much appreciated. If fate decreed, we shall meet and celebrate our cyber meeting over a couple of drinks!
Thank you for spending time reading. Looking forward to your reply.
Dated : 28 April 2010
Pls take a look….
Detective Douglas Low in action.
The top right hand picture is Douglas Low of Elias Mall (NOT ‘Loh’ – printed incorrectly) with a goatee ! The photo below Douglas is his partner Sunny.
Short exact reply from Happy Tay.
Quote
“Helloooo??? can someone refresh my memory as to what’s going on and who’s who in this scenario??
Yes, I’m still with the RCMP. I would appreciate for all personal emails to be directed to my private email add in future, as my work email add. is for official use only” Unquote
PS: Freddie Tan also wrote an email to Happy Tay. After few rounds of email with cc amongst us, Happy Tay gave that short retarded reply and then is heard no more.
Through my discreet enquiries in the Fellowship, it was confirmed that there was an indeed such a character in the said Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He was a civilian employee in charge of the police vehicles.
Every detail was conveyed to Douglas. (He is a computer illiterate) Some time last year, Happy Tay came back and as usual a small fraternal police officers organized a dinner for him at the Senior Officers’ Mess. Douglas refused to attend or have anything to do with him. More than four decades of friendship and comrades in arms threw out of the window just like that. What a pity!
Naturally, I felt guilty conscious. I told Douglas not to take it seriously and forget about the matter. Let it be and move on. Douglas retorted, “Brudder, if that ‘arsehole’ didn’t care a damn shit about my friend (refers to me) I recommended him why should I bother about him? Clearly, he’s not giving me any face and made me “malu!” by “seeing people with nothing” or in Hokkien saying, “看人无 !”
Douglas and myself converse in Hokkien.
Ah! My good friend Douglas whom I only know for less than 5 years who is always ever so efficacious!
Ah Kow scolded a uniform man in the cabin of a aircraft (no air con)which crashed after take off for not putting on his peak cap.”You better put on your head dress”Until today,this uniform man still wonder he should put on his head dress when on duty under shelter and away from public eye .
Hi agongkia,
Welcome back. According to PGO, no need peak cap or headdress if under shelter. It’s clearly stated there. No need to worry about the public view or any superior officers. If you do the right thing and you know your rights or rules well no need to fear anything. If he is not sure just need to check it out.
Thks.
Not me lah.I happen to know this hard working and dedicated uniform man who was task to do cabin search.If he put on his peak cap,he will have to raise his head 50 % to check the upper deck compartment.If he take off the peak cap,he only need to raise 5 % .If he bend down and check under the seat,the peak cap may drop off when he bend down,very clumsy and inefficient.He was telling me why can’t a Tua Kow understand this problem but need shout at him.Hurt his pride .Priority is to do a proper search or PGO ,some more not in public and inside the cabin with no ventilation.Uniform man should be respected.
But Shhh…….dun tell anyone,,Beside him oso got one smaller Tua Kow oso no peak cap on leh .Bo Tai Chee .See?How important is rank .hehe.
I say Tua Kow hor.Never mention any name.He should know who he is.
OIC ! You referring to active duty like checking on suspects in a building or cabin. In that case you need to put on your peak cap or headdress. No choice. It’s the rule. Got to live with it. Just like visiting girls in Geylang u need to put on protection right?
Checking on item lah.Just becos of Tua Kow.Everything he do consider right now.PGO no pakeh or not verse in PGO.I rest my case.
Dear agongkia,
You must understand that it has got nothing to do with that ‘Tua Kow’ or anybody for that matter. It’s in the rule book. If the parking attendant issues you a summons for not displaying a parking coupon can you blame him? He’s just following the rule. Got it?
Just becos he is your former Towkay he is right.Ask him then why is he himself not putting on his peak cap?How to show a good example if he only know how to shout?Just becos he is Ah Kow?
Parking warden is doing his duty if he summon me for not displaying coupon.No argument on that.There are also those who summon me even with valid coupon or illegal parking even I dun. .LL still got to pay. I understand your position.No more Langgar with you.
Ok. I got your point of view. I didn’t know you referring to that DSP Law Ah Kaw. So you know him right? Yes he likes to shout around. It’s his nature. We just treat him like mad dog. Just ignore him. He only shouts and scolds but he won’t take action.
Hahaha…..
anyone who goes strictly by the book with no initiative
and reasonable flexibility must be a cyborg that works
as it is programmed.
Uniformed(disciplinary) personal and the Civil Service
are especially afflicted with Cyborg Syndrome.
patriot
Patriot,
Nice to see you here again. I worked in the civil service for more than 10 yrs. I can tell you that what you said is very correct. Just follow by the book and you will be safe. If you deviate from the book anything happens they will throw all the books at you! That is typical of the civil service. If your record is clean promotion will come sooner than you expected!
If you langgar with those above you then you will be condemned forever no matter how capable you are! Not only you must follow the book, you must also know how to “puji!”Make sure you puji at the correct angle, proper place and with appropriate stroke!
If you perfect the art of puji coupled with CYA – Cover Your Arse then you will survive and a trouble free smooth sailing career in the civil service.
You know my character is such that I can’t resist to langgar tiang or langgar terus! Even I got perfect vision and sometimes ppl pointing to me there is a pillar right in front of me, mati mati or die die also I must walk straight and langgar the tiang resulting in so much injury and got condemned! I just can’t do the opposite even though rewards or incentives offered to me. I know my life or career will be in jeopardy if I contd to langgar but I just can’t change – mati mati must also langgar. Even though u offer me promotion or whatever, I will still langgar if I have to. Am I normal or weird? I sometimes also dont understand myself!
That is the main reason why I left my previous job. I better stick to driving train where I don’t have to face any such problem. I’ll blog on this subject one day. Hopefully they won’t go after me under the OSA – Official Secrets Act! Langgar lagi!
I’ve moved to Metro Vancouver for 1+ year now. I can say that Happy’s terse response is understandable. He never say “don’t email me”, or “I’m not helping you”. He just asked you to send personal request to personal email, which makes sense.
Please excuse my bluntness here. Your email is super-long with so much details that is irrelevant to your seeking for a local (Canadian) contact for your brother, and finally add in a personal request to an OFFICIAL EMAIL “your good self to assist my brother to source and secure a simple house either in the middle or western regions of Vancouver by end of May 2010″ … Sorry lah, in Canada, gotta keep things professional at work… don’t mix work and personal life, else easy to get into trouble. (Also the same in Singapore, right?) E.g. “Scar-ly” Happy’s boss who don’t know may think that Happy is corrupted and you’re asking him to use undue influence to secure your brother a place to stay leh. You’ve been in the force before, surely you know how much trouble that sort of langgar can be.
As for your friend Douglas response, please consider the above possibility behind Happy’s response. “Give face” cannot feed one’s family. Happy has to do what is right for himself and his family. Why don’t you try email to Happy’s personal email and see what follows thereafter?
Lastly my 2 cents: If your brother did the immigration application himself, then he already has a taste of the way things work in Canada. He is probably able to navigate his way around. Just Google around, there are other Singaporeans who have landed in Canada with their family and rebuild their lives here.
http://www.sg-quitters.blogspot.ca/
If want to be kiasu and kiasi, Canada is not the place to migrate to. Don’t come here expecting others to lay out a smooth the path for the new immigrant to settle in. If one is lucky, and one meets nice people who help, i.e. count one’s blessings. If not, then make one’s own survival. Our forefathers did that when they migrated from their countries (China, India, Arabia, etc) to Singapore. That spirit of adaptability runs in our blood, don’t let our forefathers down.
Hi WinkingDoll,
I know Sg quitters Wing Lee Cheong. I used to read his blog. I even borrow some of his cartoons. Thks for your comment. So you are living in Vancouver. It must be awfully cold there. I can’t take the cold. I prefer hot climate than the cold. I have nvr been there.
There are certain things need to clarify. Firstly it was Douglas who insisted that I got in touch with Happy Tay. After more than one month Douglas still reminded me almost everyday I met him. He kept saying that I must made the effort to contact him. To quote Douglas, “Brudder listen to me get in touch with Happy Tay. Just mention my name. He is my buddy. We are close like brothers.” At last I wrote to him. Of course my brother got his group of frens already there. Of course he could survive on his own there. If he is kiasu or kiasi then he won’t migrate there. I was just being kaypoh. But if he is not my brother I won’t bother.
How do you know that I or we i.e. myself and Freddie did not email to his personal email? The fact is that we did. You see nobody owes us a living in this world. I’m well aware of this adage. But at least reply in a proper manner. Just say oh I’m sorry I can’t help or not in a position to help. Send my regards to my two frens etc etc. Is it very difficult? Is that asking too much? The issue is not you did not help. Is is the way he responded to all our emails. Hope you see this point.
As for Douglas like I said in the post I told him to forget it. He has got his own set of thinking and rules where he lives by. Who are we to tell him how to live his life? He’s in his mid 60s. His thinking and mine sometimes also do not syn on the same level. He was very hurt, disappointed and pissed off by his “brother”! I did mention in my post that I felt guilty conscious.
My character is such that I never never like to owe others any favor. I do not wish to be beholden to frens or others. In Chinese we say, “欠人情＂I dont borrow or owe money. I live within my means. I live a simple life. I will also nvr emigrate even though there is a pot of gold waiting for me there. I will still not go there to get it! That is my nature.
Just to summarize. We do not expect special treatment like you hinted. Like I say earlier no one owes us a living. It was the repeated promptings from well meaning frens ie Douglas and Freddie that I made to effort to ask for a favor. If my letter is too long then I must learn from you how to write to a total stranger in one or two paragraphs? I need your help to teach me how to write in short and sweet letter to an unknown person. I’ll be very happy to learn from you if you are gracious enough to teach me.
I hope you are happy living there. Do keep in touch. If I happen to go there, I may visit you if you don’t mind me as fren for coffee? Thks.
Please don’t be offended. My feedback about your email request is based on my 2 cents opinion. I am a direct person (直肠人). As a result, I like people to come straight to the point when communicating with me.
E.g. A stranger wrote to me early last year (2011) asking about migrating to Canada, (I lost her original Facebook message) something short and sweet like, “Hi WD, I got your name from the Facebook group and saw that you have migrated from Singapore to Vancouver. My husband and I want to migrate to Canada with our children. Will appreciate if you can share information about life in Vancouver.”
We didn’t know each other before that. I had time back then and she seems genuine, so I replied her and we got in contact. Her family is now settled in Vancouver. But if I were to receive the same request now, I’d probably reply, “Sorry, I’m busy with life here and am not able to help.” Any difference in my response has nothing to do with the request but what’s happening in my own life (of which the requestor wouldn’t know about). That’s why it all boils down to luck. When the stars align (天时，地理，人和), things will work.
Sure can meet for tea, always good to make 1 more friend in life. But please don’t take pic and post on your blog. I like my privacy
p.s. Vancouver is not that cold once one adapts to it. Consider this: I was someone who wears cardigan (sweater) even in MRT trains and shopping malls when I was in Singapore. Yet I am ok with Vancouver’s winter now. The ability to adapt — it runs in our blood.
Thank you once again for your reply. I’ll take note of your advice. I still feel that it’s too cold there. I understand that the highest temperature in Summer hovers around below 20 Deg C. I can’t even withstand that. What about Winter it’s minus 15 Deg C or so. I can’t just suka suka wear my slippers, T-shirt and shorts and go to the void deck or coffee shop. I got to wear gloves, hat, thick winter clothing and shoes before I can leave the house in your place. No thanks. But I may in my lifetime provided “When the stars align (天时，地理，人和), things will work” then I may visit your place in Summer. If fate decrees then maybe we shall meet. I respect your privacy. No worry.