Joseph Phang and Lee Wei Yang
Moving Together to the Next Lap
Joseph Phang:
“My Career With The Union And Its Challenges”
Completed my National Service in 1971 and then joined the marine industry as an ex-national service trainee for 2.5 years. Became a Technical Officer for about 10 years and was later seconded to serve full-time as gen-secretary of the Union as I was every active in the Union, championing for the workers’ rights in all aspects, such as better working conditions, fair wages and bonuses, etc.
As a House Union, we were affiliated to NTUC. Served in the labour movement until retirement at 60. During my work as the Union Gen-secretary, I face toughness and difficult times was the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and also another financial crisis in 2008. The first Asian financial crisis was a period of financial crisis that gripped much of East Asia and South East Asia beginning in July 1997 and raised fears of a worldwide economic, Singapore was not spared from this crisis.
A government convened committee called for cuts in wages and other business costs to help Singapore remain competitive and cope with the recession. There was also another financial crisis in 2008 more global in nature. There was retrenchment that was prevalent in many companies in Singapore. The shipyard that I worked was also affected by this retrenchment.
As a Union chief, I had to negotiate with the Employer for fair and just retrenchment benefits for those retrenched employees. In 1998 the government accepts the CSC’s recommendation to reduce the employer CPF contribution by 10% points. Of this, 6% points will come from the Ordinary Account and 4% points will come from the Special Account. In effect, the Special Account contributions will be suspended for the time being. For older workers whose CPF contribution rates are less than 40% and pensionable civil servants receiving partial CPF, the reduction in their employer’s CPF contributions will be prorated. The CPF cut will take effect from 1 Jan 1999. It will remain in place for 2 years. Thereafter, the government will review the situation.
The government agrees with NTUC that the rate of employer contribution should be adjusted upward when the economy recovers. The CPF cut will reduce costs by about $3.9 billion p.a. Because of the NTUC and PAP having a strong symbiotic relationship, hence we were able to overcome these two financial crises and eventually become more resilient. We have laboured MPs working in NTUC and these laboured MPs help to raise issues that affect and concerned our workers in Parliament. Our strong tripartite relationships between the Union, Employer, and Government created a good industrial relation climate, hence reducing many labour disputes…
“Contributions Beyond the Grassroots Organisation”
I also served as a volunteer with the RSVP, mentoring the lower-income family children, befriending and helping dementia inmates with their daily activities. I also served as the Changi Airport Snr. Ambassador. I am also a CDAC volunteer, helping out the less fortunate in our community. I am also a volunteer of the Silver Arts and finally is a Silver Generation Ambassador, reaching out and touching the hearts of our seniors. I am also a YMCA volunteer, helping out the youths at risk. “Volunteerism have no Rewards and is not Glamour. But it brings satisfaction and a meaningful life to you!”
“Serving In The Community”
Started serving as a RC member in early 70s when I was living in Tg Pagar Plaza. During that time, RCs were not that financially sound. I remembered I have to go round all the house to collect old newspapers and clothes, and then sold to the karang guni man for money. And from these collections, the RC was able to organise some activities for the residents. I always remembered the 3As that a GRL should possess. And that is ‘Attitude’ with a passion and positive mindset. Next, ‘Application’, to be able to make a difference, and finally is ‘Action’, to strengthen the outreach to the less fortunate in our community.
Hence, after I left Tg. Pagar Plaza, I sunk my roots in Bishan as I needed a big flat after marriage and later having a daughter. I continued my community work as an RC member in Bishan North Zone B until today. During my term of service with the RC, I hold various appointments, from an executive member to Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Auditor. Besides serving in RC, I also sit on many various committees, such as a CCC Secretary for about 2 terms and then as a Committee member, an auditor of the C2E, INC Champion, CACC Vice-Chairman, member of AAC, leader of COP. During the Haze, SARs and currently Covid-19 pandemic, I helped to distribute masks, hand sanitizer, and deliver food to residents who are on stay-home notice. Doing house visit is the one that brings joy, satisfaction because I get to know the residents better.
Lee Wei Yang:
Fostering an Interest
You have read about Joseph Phang’s long yet eventful career in the marine industry and his fulfilling time serving in the community. Here, I take over the torch from Phang and run the Next Lap in this book. As a rather rhetorical preface, I am several decades Phang’s junior and hence, I will not claim to possess as many experiences as he has accumulated. In fact, my interest in current affairs and serving the community only began to blossom in my junior college days studying for General Paper for A-levels in 2016.
During that time, to my own surprise, I began to take a liking to reading books on politicians, particularly autobiographies. As a result, I got my hands on found PM Lee Kun Yew’s two-volume memoirs and former President SR Nathan’s autobiography upon enlisting for NS in 2017. In the same year, at Homecoming Day at my alma mater, Catholic High School, I got another book and had it spread by its author, fellow alumnus, and then Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng. More recently in 2018, I had the honour of meeting ESM Goh Chok Tong at the launch of the first volume of his biography, where he graciously signed my copy.
I have since gone on to read many more autobiographies of other politicians outside Singapore. I find it fascinating to read about and understand things from politicians’ points of view which have been especially useful in learning about our history-rich island nation.
Marching For The Nation
Like every Singaporean son, I served in the SAF for two years, from 2017 and 2018. It was extremely eventful, especially during my final year when I was in the RSAF in 608 Squadron. I volunteered to be part of the RSAF Guard of Honour Contingent for 2018 and went on to march four parades that year, including NDP 2018 which was President Halim Yacob’s inaugural NDP as Head of State with then-LTC Shawn Huang, now MP for Jalan Besar GRC, as Parade Commander; and RSAF50 Parade where PM Lee Hsien Loong was Gust-of-Honour. Throughout most of my service in the RSAF’s Air Power Generation Command, I have also indirectly benefitted from the leadership of then-Commander BG Gan Siow Huang, now MP for Marymount SMC.
In June 2018, I was deployed to Paya Lebar Air Base for security operations to ensure the safe and momentous arrival of then-US President Donald Trump for the historic 2018 North Korea-United States Singapore Summit. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Air Force One land in Singapore up close in person. Looking back, I am glad to have been able to serve my country in such a meaningful and varied way.
Serving In The NUS Students’ Union
As of this writing, I am in my third year in NUS, double majoring in political science and communications and new media. Inspired by my readings and experiences in NS, I started serving in the NUS Students’ Union in 2020 as Deputy Welfare Secretary (Retail and Dining), overseeing all things related to the retail and dining scene on campus. When COVID-2019 flared up into a full-blown pandemic, the retail and dining businesses on campus took a heavy toll, as was the case nationally.
Many students, especially campus residents, were impacted as businesses struggled to stay afloat. As a result, I had to work closely with the university’s offices to ensure that students’ needs continue to be met and that the campus remained a safe place despite occasional Covid-19 outbreaks. I had a taste of what policymaking was like and how to negotiate and work with various stakeholders to solve real-world problems.
More recently in 2021, in the spirit of making NUS a safer and more inclusive space for all, my colleagues and I campaigned and proposed to install sanitary dispensers across campus for emergency use by female students and staff. The proposal received strong support and generous funding from NUS Provost and 100 dispersers have been slated to be installed campus-wide by 2021. This complemented NUSSU’s contributions to a joint university report, as well as ongoing conversations on Women’s Development in Singapore.
Championing Active Citizenry and Engaging Youths at the NUS Students’ Political Association
Profoundly believing that it is important for youths to speak up on issues that they care passionately about, I joined the NUS Students’ Political Association in 2020 in addition to my NUSSU duties. NUSPA, Singapore’s leading student organisastion for political engagement, aims to cultivate political awareness in youths. As a member, I have represented the association and participated in events organised by NUSPA and other organisations, including hosting a dialogue with Minister Lawrence Wong and facilitating a focus group discussion on public housing at another dialogue with Minister Desmond Lee in April 2020.
That said, my portfolio centred on leading a new, inter-university initiative called Varsity Voices. Jointly organised by NUSPA, the NTU Current Affairs Society, and SMU Apolitical Society, and supported by REACH; the initiative aims to promote a platform for constructive, consultative, two-way discourse between youths and policymakers. I served as the Organising Committee’s founding General Secretary and the groundbreaking Statement of Cooperation was signed in July 2021, witnessed by MOS Tan Kiat How. In September 2021, Varsity Voices Dialogue 2021: The future of Singapore Policies was held with Minister Edwin Tong and MOS Gan Siow Huang.
On The Ground At Marymount
Rewinding back to October 2020, with my already-ongoing involvements in NUSSU and NUSPA, it only seemed natural and apt that I finally took the initiative to volunteer at my constituency, Marymount SMC, when in GE2020 I voted for the first time and a new - yet familiar from my NS days - face by the name of a certain Ms. Gan Siow Huang, became my MP. Since then, I have had many eye-opening experiences on the ground from helping out at MPS weekly and at various branch events such as distributing food, providing free haircuts, and making spectacles for residents of Marymount SMC.
Phang and I hope that this book will give an insight into how we have and will continue to, contribute in our own unique ways - the laps we have run. To the young, we hope this will inspire you to come forward and serve the community in whatever you’re comfortable with. To the not-so-young, thank you for all your hard work and selfless contributions. Continue if you are happy to; otherwise, be there and support our younger ones in spirit so that we may continue Moving Together to the Next Lap.
