Arthur H K Lee and Zulqarnain Bin Zainol Rashid
Step Out For Glory
Arthur H K Lee:
A school cert student of SJI in 1960 and while waiting for results was asked by the Director to teach the Form V students in preparation for their year end exam. It was terror and pride to take up the job and for 3 months was happy to work with my teachers and able to have friendly chit-chat with them in the teachers’ room. What a joy and pride to be with them. Happy time ended too soon and the next assigned job was called to teach in Countryside Chinese Primary School at Thomson Rd. I specialised in teaching English, Art & Craft and PE classes. At the same time, I polished up my Mandarin and worked well with my fellow teachers grouping.
During my teaching jobs, I took up night classes for PSCxHSC at Catholic High School, the Pioneer Centre of Adult Education Board, 1961. There, I was the students’ leader to organise the printing and distribution of study notes with my team of volunteers. There were 6 classes and we organised picnics and functions for them at times to kill the dead learning of night studies. In 1962, I joined the Govt Service and was posted to NDB (MND) and deployed to the Abattoir Pig SlaughterHouse. There for 5 years watching the killing of pigs for market sales and also many parties with the young vet inspectors for health control of meats. Happy Years.
In 1967, April, on taking the volunteer call for serving officer to join the set up of the New Singapore Currency Board, was selected to report at Empress Place, the Govt Building where Bank Negara, Malaysia was situated. There, I realised I was one of the 24 invited to start off the new board to prepare for the issue of Singapore's own notes and coins for the nation. OH DEAR!! I was a pioneer again to learn the processing and printing of Singapore notes and the minting of coins by Singapore Mint. I started off in learning the full processes of notes & coins from the recalled Chief and Deputy Chief Cashier, who were brothers. I was taught all the hands-on processes and became a trainer to teach the new staff, fresh from school.
In the process of setting up the various units, namely - Notes, Coins, Cancellation, Verification and Destruction. In addition, to handle the banks, we have the Issue x Receiving Units plus the Sub-Imprest Unit to control counter services to the public for exchanges. At Sub-Imprest, verification and assesing value for mutilated notes and forgery notes for authentication. Currency advice service to banks chased cashiers on mutilated notes and forgery notes action. Deployment of staff was on regular rotation, so able to master all units requirements. In the 80s, I was posted to the printing plant at Joo Koon, Jurong, the Thomas De La Rue from the UK. I was the Govt Representative, stationed at the plant to monitor all printing processes as stated in the SOP & IM control by me.
Suddenly, I realised that my life’s purpose was to take care of our Singapore currency notes as I was the sole handler of the entire production. After knowing all the control process & progress, I was given an overseas assignment to UK & Canada to check & destroy all printed wastes and materials of each completed job. Each assignment lasted for 1 to 1½ month. I was given escorting duties to follow the consignment of valuable cargoes from UK to Singapore by SIA and another one - following the NOL cargo around Europe ports until France, before leaving for Red Sea and home to Singapore. I flew back to London, with the NOL officer, the Captain. The next greatest job in my life was to solely control the printing of our $10K notes for the Ship & President series at the plant. Special arrangements of control were done for the daily printing and packing and locking up at the end of day. I have done my special duty in my life. When I retired and left BCCS, soon after, the plant also closed - order ended.
Zulqarnain Bin Zainol Rashid:
Being in the Early Childhood sector does make me realise how important education is. We help lay the foundation for education and discovery. It is not only about learning basic skills but also learning critical social and emotional skills. Throughout my 8 years of service, there are different challenges that I faced, but there are also lessons to be learnt. At the end of the day, the passion, commitment, educating and lessons learnt is something which you could not learn elsewhere. And I dedicate this to all teachers who have taught me. As a teacher, I thought that I would be the one teaching. But instead, the students taught me something meaningful: being myself.
It takes a village to raise a child. It is still true to this day. Nowadays, we are often caught up in the reality of constant “busyness” that we don’t take the time to know our neighbours. Social media has redefined “connection” and “friendship”, leaving us with staring screens more than engaging with the people around us.
Being a grassroots leader enables me to connect the community and bond them closer. Collaborating with stakeholders, neighbours, friends and even residents results in sharing resources, gaining more insights and creating a supportive, safe and wonderful community for everyone.
Caring for the low income or needy families is next on my list as they are part of the community and should not be left to fend for themselves. Being in ComCare and being guided by the late Uncle George had made me realise how many of them are suffering silently, unknowingly of any form of assistance or help they could ask for. I would still remember the day where it was my first visit with Uncle George and when I went home, I literally cried, not knowing how fortunate I am when compared to other families. This changed my perspective and encouraged me to help those in need.
Being a Mosque Management Board (MMB) in one of the mosque has definitely opened my eyes in a new sight. Engaging with our grassroots organisation and government agencies to help and outreach to our Malay Muslim Communities. Being a MMB for the 3rd term has enabled me to do strategic planning, learning journeys and team building, developing more streamline processes in providing services to the community. As the batch of young MMBs, I appreciate the knowledge shared by others and will continue to serve our Malay Muslim Community.
So now the question is what’s next? How can I further help the community and my students? Well, firstly it is to educate our young generations to understand the importance of respecting and helping the community. It doesn’t have to happen overnight and nor should it. Building a community is like growing a garden. You will need to plant the seed and tend to them slowly and carefully with small steps. See what grows in your environment - not all relationships will be “the one”. But with care and attention, likely you will feel safe and supportive.
