Lum Weng Sun and Jonathan Chua
Lum Weng Sun:
My journey to living in an HDB flat.
Like so many living in squatters, without piped water and electricity, I yearned for a more decent home. So soon after entering the labour market, I marched to HDB to register for a 3-room rental flat (there were no home ownership schemes or BTO flats then). Within days, we were asked to attend at its office to select a flat, surprisingly! What a contrast to the present day scenario where it appears to take an eternity to get a rental unit.
When we moved into the flat which was in a 10 storeyed block, we noticed that there were still a number of vacant units. I learned later that few could afford the rental which explained the low demand. Life was challenging and like many, I had to work and work, as they say, time and tide waits for no man, so when the time came, I got married…. To someone who also had to work. Meanwhile the public housing environment had evolved to one where citizens could buy a unit.
My better half, desirous of living a life free from the friction from in-laws, dashed to HDB alone and booked a 3-room flat. Unprepared and with little hindsight, she put only her name as buyer; I was merely a member of her household. Within months, she secured her flat which became our humble abode for over 40 years. Our children barely lived there as they were cared for by nannies and/or grandparents because we had to work. Domestic maids had not come into the scene yet.
When our financial stability was within sight, we looked for a bigger and better apartment. We tried various means over a period of 12 years but failed to secure one near my parents. Then came the public outcry of the skyrocketing prices of DBSS flats, a type of flats designed and built by private developers for HDB because the then PM commented the Board’s apartments were too boring a sight. As a result, many on the queue for such flats gave up their booking.
My wife and I seized the chance and managed to acquire one such unit - a 5-room flat which was better embellished both internally and externally. Finally, after almost 50 years, I am a co-owner of a piece of real estate albeit one that is on 99-year lease!
Jonathan Chua:
Soon after I graduated from my studies in law, I applied to a firm for practice training (Part of the requirement to pass the bar exam). My dream finally came true. Then when the first day started, I realised the working environment is far from what I have imagined! It took me quite a while before I could finally adapt to the workload that was being thrown at me; working till the wee hours at times and I literally had to dedicate my entire self to the firm.
A year flew past and my practice training contract has come to an end; I'm called to the bar and officially declare myself a certified lawyer! Some of my peers unfortunately did not pull it through and switched to an alternative industry. It didn’t come easy for me either, my relationship had taken a hit and fallen. At my lowest point, I wondered if it was worth it… As an individual who is emotionally hardened from adversities I had dealt with, I pulled myself together & sought employment at a medium-sized firm as a junior associate.
Nothing has come easy, It took me years to finally clear off my student loan. On hindsight, I have also started to cast a wider net to plan for my future. This includes spending with prudence and starting my financial investments. Years later when I could finally achieve a better work-life balance, I found the one that I have always been dreaming to meet. It was a regular Saturday afternoon when I chanced upon Sarah while I was volunteering. I recall it was my first daring move to ask for her IG handle and to perhaps chat (very very shy haha).
In a blink of an eye, 6 years have passed since passing my bar exam; I’ve managed to excel in my field of work with reputation and I have successfully proposed to my fiancee! Everything was smooth sailing until things started to pop up. First came the sudden closure of the firm; should I opt for a different career or find another firm and continue my legal career? Then another option also popped up - I was offered a political pathway to be a politician. What was the right & best choice?
Well, I am thankful to have a supporting partner and with regards to which path I have chosen. Well… see you next time.
