A stroll down memory lane

Sin Ming district is one place in Singapore that shares an abundant history and is
home to many of our countrys pioneers. Located near Toa Payoh and Bishan, it is
surrounded by old residential estates and has a thriving and close-knit community of
senior citizens.
Mr Tan Ken Sai, 69, is a long-term resident of Sin Ming since 1973 and also the vicechairman of the Residents Committee. Clad in a simple white shirt with multicoloured stripes, he humbly shares his experience of the neighbourhood during its
early days.
As a vice-chairman of the Residents Committee, Mr Tan used to organise events for
the elderly on a weekly basis. He would take them out on outings for walks and
sightseeing. He shares his likeness for the community but mentioned that there are
lesser members now. From 500 to 100, many of our old members have passed on
and nobody is willing to join, said Mr Tan.
Mr Tan came from a poor family and did not have the chance to receive a proper
education as a child. He recalled that education back then was not as valued by
society. Instead, he had already begun working when he reached just over 10 years
old. People in the past did not think that education was very important. My
grandmother used to tell me the same and I was convinced because of my lack of
education, he shared in Mandarin.
With most of his life spent in Sin Ming, he had seen major changes in the district
over the years. There were only few housing estates and many kampungs that existed
until further developments which new buildings then sprung up. In the past, most of
the roads were closed off and vehicles had difficulty entering the area. Walking was
considered the easiest way to get from one place to another.
Mr Tan used to live, also in Sin Ming, near a primary school that was later
demolished. His children would attend the school by themselves as both Mr Tan and
wife are working, with him juggling two jobs. As he grew older, he continued to work
two jobs tirelessly for years and became a sole breadwinner of a family of seven. He
explained that the reason to continue working was to support his family and provide
his children with proper education. It was never a choice as I was afraid that money
would be a problem. I could never borrow or steal and the only way was to engage in
additional work, he said.
However, Mr Tans hard work for the past years have not gone to waste. Another
reason of why he worked hard was to show his children that education was important
and worth every blood, sweat and tear to provide them with one. He now proudly
shares that his daughter is a teacher at a school.