Dec 21 - 22 1976 Triangular Swim Meet Sanya Samaki Manila Post 2

Swimmers doing the March Past at Manila Polo Club Dec 21 - 22 1976

The year was 1974, the month, December approaching Christmas. I had just turned 14 years of age. This trip was the reward for all the training we had the whole year, and to compete in a regional meet was the highlight for all of us teenagers.

We were all decked out in the nice tracksuits of our Singapore Swimming Club. I had just been nominated as the Boys Swimming Captain, by our Head Manager, Mr. Henry Chan.

Those days we felt invincible, and we wanted to see how we ranked regionally. I believe this was the first time many of us had taken a flight overseas (I was fortunate to travel I believe 2 times before to Europe (June 1974) and (possibly) Hong Kong (June 1975).   

All in all, when I was a Club Swimmer, we had taken part in 4 regional Sanya Samaki tournaments to (if my memory serves me correctly) : 

a) Penang - 1974

b) Bangkok - 1975

c) Manila - 1976

d) Jakarta - 1977

 

                                   From left : Kelvin Wee, Carl Chan, Yours Truly, Boatman 

The cammaderie amongst us swimmers and non-swimmers was great. We had loads of fun, and these memories I will take all the way to the end of my days.

There was the competition, then the evening dinners, the friendships made, (we exchanged addresses, and promised to write to our new found Filipino friends) and all the wonderful memories singing campfire songs and just being boisterous kids out of the country creating all kinds of havoc.

Our generous hosts were the Manila Polo Club (Swim Section), so we handily beat them as we were and still are the premier Swim Club in Singapore. 

Bangkok Story 2  (1975)

I was just 13, and a playful teenager. We had travelled by bus to Bangkok all the way from Singapore to swim against the Bangkok Sports Club. The bus ride from Singapore to Bangkok took 2 full days, and we had an overnight stop at Hat Yai.

At the Hat Yai Hotel, once we finished our dinner, we headed back into our rooms to play and chat with our swim mates. 

All of a sudden, we heard what sounded like huge metal cabinets falling over 

"Bam Bam Bam"

We were all frightened and stayed in our rooms while my Mum the chaperon went down to investigate.

She came up ashen faced, and said there had been a gun fight, and one businessman pulled out his revolver and fired at somebody.

The next day, down at the lobby we saw 3 bullet holes.

Till this day, I do not know if any one had been killed or injured from those shots.

It just goes to show, we had no idea how 'cowboy' other countries were in the 1970s.

Carpe Diem 

Dec 21 - 22 1976 Triangular Swim Meet Sanya Samaki Manila Post 1

 

Malik Addressing the Swimmers, or is it singing ?  

Sanya Samaki Bangkok Story (Part 1)

----------------------------------------------------

In Dec 1973, we had travelled to Bangkok for the meet with the Royal Bangkok Sports Club.My Mum was chaperone to a number of girls and boys, and she asked her colleague Maria to join us. I was a cheeky 13 year old then. Maria was a pretty 20 something Malay or Boyanese lady and she was a real sport.

During our arrival, I noticed a Thai man, our driver I think had taken a liking to Maria. He was always smiling at her and would make eye contact with us and especially her.

Me, Kelvin Wee, Wong Ken Tuin and Felix Cheong 

So, one day, after we had finished the swim competition for the day, I casually told Maria that there was a visitor at the door of our room (we were bunking in and just monkeying around at that time). Maria was curious and said "who would want to see me ? I am just a tourist on a group tour with Anna and the boys ? ".

She went to the door, and there was the driver smiling at her sheepishly. Earlier I had gone down to tell him, she wanted to meet him at the room, and then I bolted upstairs. When Maria opened the door, she literally jumped out of her skin "Aaaaah !", there was a lot of awkward blushing and I literally ran and hid myself and rolled around the floor with so much laughter.

Bee Khim, Me, Front : Gary Wee and Gan Yan Piao 

At the end, they discovered it was me who had pulled the prank and the ladies had to tell the confused man to go away and then they proceeded to give me a good telling off.

I just wanted to look at the expression on Maria's face.

It was priceless. 

Carpe Diem. 

Getting ready for 1,000,000 views by August.

With a very good friend Tom Gan for lunch yesterday 

When I first started my blog way back in May 2008, I was on the mend from a health scare just one and a half years before that where I had blacked out during a training session at karate class at the Tanglin CC.

I had realized that life is truly short, and I decided to keep an online diary of sorts so I could one day read and laugh or cry at my past mistakes, glories and disappointments. As the views started to grow, it became apparent that there are people actually visiting the site and  the world can be a small village through digital and social media. A lot of values from all over the world are similar with some distinction between the cultures but essentially people exhibit the same traits worldwide.

We hit 3000 views some 2 years on (that is about 1500 views per year), and the eyeballs and readership grew. I was keeping score to make any sense of it, but the fact of it, is that the global connections are vast, and there are many people visiting, not all for good intentions.

Regardless, I put my content on my blog in the hope that this scribe can one day look back at his life and regale to his grandkids (if we are fortunate to have them) about what his life was like way back in the mid 20th century.

 

Travel Pictures 1974 and 1976

Mum with Noreen Lim and my brother John (circa 1976) 

                                              Mrs. Lee, June Lim and Johnny 

Here are 2 more untitled photos from days past. I believe they were taken when my Mum went to either KL or Bangkok (1975 and 1974 respectively) though I can't verify for sure.

John has grown taller, and I estimate this is when he was around 12 years of age.

 

Growing Up 1966 - 1970

 

                                    Long Time Ago 1969 at the Marshall Residence. 

Those early years (the first 16) growing up at 6 Adis Road, Singapore 9 (there was only 1 post code number back in those days nearly 60 years ago) were in my opinion best characterized in one word :

"carefree"

Primary School - St Andrew's Primary (Woodsville Close) 

Homework was very rare, if any. My brother and I had Chinese tuition, from Primary 3, and my eyesight developed myopia from Pri 1 to Pri 3. I have 6 long time very clear recollections 

1) Eye Check

 the Nurse from MOH who came to check us with a visual chart, was shouting at me and sternly said " Dont bluff !" when I couldn't see properly past the first few rows.

2) Communal Brushing outside the Class.

we had dental hygiene daily, and all the Junior Primary school boys would squat outside the classroom and with their appointed toothbrush, and some toothpaste, brush vigorously and rise with their appointed tumblers.

Once, my then best friend Edward Ong and I came late and we rushed to the side to see that everybody has started their routine and we quickly assumed our places at the end of the line and brushed and gargles like nothing happened. 

3) Ting Xie 

my Chinese teacher was a Mrs. Pang, a huge heavy set woman and she would always conduct "Ting Xie" or spelling. Every time I failed, which was often. I would be summoned to the front to explain why I couldn't even remember 5 of the 10 words she told the class during spelling test. 

   She would then proceed to twist the living daylights of my ear, and I can still head the membrane crackling and the pain from the twisting punishment.

4) Taxi To and From School 

I was fortunate enough in Primary 3 to be ferried by taxi to and from school. My form teacher Miss Ang happened to also 'tompang' in the same yellow top and black bodied taxi. She was always dressed in very bright clothes, bright blouse and skirt and the smell of her perfume permeated the entire taxi. 

 

                                         1966 Sitting atop my father's Simca SU 7867 

5) Tuckshop Time 

Everyday in the morning, we would have our half hour recess or tuckshop time at 9.30 to10.00 am in the morning and from 3.30 to 4.00 pm if we were in the afternoon session.

   The place would be a regular mess, we had the drinks stall at one end and I recall having a drink (glass with Bandung, or glass jelly or some green stuff) for 5 cents. In those days, 5 cents went a long way, we could buy 3 sweets for 5 cents so the phrase "5 cents 3" became a catchphrase till inflation caught up with us. (We didn't know about inflation, it was just play, football and school all the time). A Mee Siam or Mee Goreng cost all of 10 cents, and a plate of Char Kway Teow cost 20 cents. 

   One big recollection still to this day is this. Whenever anybody had dropped the bowl of noodles, (mee siam, yellow fish ball noodles or char kway teow), the entire tuckshop would break and shout in unison.

  Picture this :  > Smash ! (the sound of breaking glass or bowl)

  All the Boys : " Awwwwww Paaaaaaaay !!!!!! ".                      

6) Dental hygiene Programme 

  In those days,  it consisted of regular checks of the boys' teeth, and the dental clinic was located beside the tuck shop at the bottom of some stairs. We boys took it as a 'death sentence' every time our names were called. My favorite impression all these years (or should I say depression) was that of the earlier boy who went to the clinic and had his tooth( teeth) extracted. 

He would walk up slowly with the orange card which had the next boys' history, and extractions. When he reached our class, the entire class would fall silent and the teacher would call out the name of the next 'victim' to go to have his teeth examined and most likely extracted if there was rotting or something wrong with their teeth. 

The tension was palpable, made worse with the antiseptic from the injection the previous boy had coming from his mouth. 40 boys would wait with dread until the teacher called out the next victim's name, the boy who kena (got) called would grimace, while the rest of the 39 boys would heave an audible sigh of reliet ! 

On looking back, I think this was the most hilarious experience of my Primary School days at St Andrew's School ! 

Carpe Diem ! 

A short pictorial of my first few years. No text just pics.

 

1965 3 Years Old at Raffles Place Fountain

Robinson's Store was in front of me. 

1963 at Adis Road

1 Year Going On 2 Years 

1963 at Adis Road.( 1 Year Old) 

The HIdden Pitfalls of Buying Malaysian Property.

 

With Karate Mates after class 4 years ago 

This is a post to remind people of my vintage, the young old of this fact. Right now, we are on the cusp of getting our CPF funds, and some of us would receive bonus funds from inheritance, or Singtel preference shares. 

Recently I have had some interest in Malaysia, and there are schemes called Malaysia My Second Home which intends to attract people, especially retirees. There are essentially 3 categories. I will delve into the top 2.

Platinum

-------------

Age (Min) 25+ ; 

Fixed Deposit : USD 1 M

Property Purchase : RM 2,000,000 +

Pass Duration : 20 years.

One Off Participation Fee :  RM 200,000 (S$ 55,000)

Gold

-------

Age (Min) 25+

Fixed D : USD 500 K

Property Purchase : RM 1,000,000+ 

Pass Duration : 15 years

One Off Participation Fee : RM 3,000

SEZ Category 

-------------------

Age (Min) 21 + 

Fixed Deposit : USD 50,000

Pass Duration : 10 Years

One Off Participation Fee : RM 1,000

Property Purchase : Direct from Developer.

Lets get to the chase. If someone from Singapore purchases a property (for example) for 

Purchase Price : RM2,000,000

Foreign Buyer 

Stamp Duty (8%) : RM 160,000

Other Fees (3%)

(Legal, Processing) :  RM 60,000

Total Purchase Price : RM  2,220,000 (estimated only)  (S$710,000)

Foreign Buyers MUST HOLD for minimum 5 years, else there will be Real Property Gains Tax. (RPGT).

Sell Within 5 Years. 

RPGT : 30%  

IF sell at RM 2,200,000

Tax is 30% of 200,000 ; which is RM 60,000 

Agent Fees (2%) : RM 44,000 

Total Extra Expenses : RM 104,000

Therefore, NET Profit / Loss :  (RM 124, 000)  (S$ 40,000)

Opportunity Cost

While this still appears to be a sensible move to some, do look at the opportunity cost if the buyer only has one home and he sells it to move to Malaysia. This may not be a wise move, if the property in Singapore still has 60 or more years left in the lease (for HDB properties which are 99 year leases), and in actual fact, the price might appreciate over the 5 years of living there.

Most Properties Depreciate in Value over Time in Malaysia.

With abundant land, developers always build new and push the envelope and price levels slightly higher (but not too high). So after 5 to 10 years, there will be newer condominiums and houses aplenty nearby with newer features and practically at the same price point.

If your property price drops, then its a nett loss regardless.

Currency Depreciation - Fluctuation 

After selling,there is the currency fluctation, so RM has been strengthening these past 6 months whereby the last 12 months it was weakening. If the resident can afford it, then he can hold it. If the RM when property is purchased is S$1 to RM 3.1 and 5 years later, it is S$ 1 to RM 3.5.

Using the example for  RM1,000,000. The purchase price is S$ 322,580 at S$ 1 to RM 3.1

If the property is sold at exactly the same RM1,000,00 at S$ 1 to RM 3.5. The sales price would fetch $285,700. 

When he changes back to S$, he effectively loses $36, 880. 

Bottom Line.

Retirees must be flush with cash to opt for the MM2H (for Gold Status, it is USD 500K or close to S$ 700K in liquidity to park in Malaysian approved bank) ; Only 50% maximum can be used to purchase the property (that is USD 250K or S$320,000 or RM 990,000), so the remainder must be borne from the MM2H resident to cover, and that would be easily another RM 500,000.

Bottom Line, S$ 750,000 in FD and another $150,000 for property purchase, so that is close to S$ 900,000 or even $1,000,000. 

With so many factors weighing in on foreign ownership (MM2H fees, RPGT, Stamp Duties and Excess Fees, and potentially disadvantageous exchange rate), perhaps, in the overall scheme of things, it might be better for the foreign investor to rent the property for a duration and understand all the pitfalls first hand then decide to buy under MM2H or SEZ plan when he feels comfortable.