Ben Cao GanG Mu - NUSS

pResIdent’s MessAge
Dear Fellow Members,
Season’s greetings!
I hope you had a good time
over the festive holidays and
are looking forward to the
New Year.
The last quarter of 2009 has
been eventful for NUSS.
We continued to build
upon Intellectual Pursuit
initiatives. In October, Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS provost
and Deputy President (Academic Affairs), shared with our
members on the challenges faced by NUS, and how the
education at the University has evolved over the years. In
November, we had the privilege of hosting His Excellency,
Dato’ Md Hussin Nayan, High Commissioner of Malaysia to
Singapore, as part of the Meet-The-Ambassador Series. The
session with His Excellency was enlightening, as the topics
centred upon issues faced by both Singapore and Malaysia.
If you missed out on these dialogues, you will be pleased to
know that there will be an upcoming dialogue with Dr Ng Eng
Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence
on 22 January. In this session, Dr Ng will discuss the future of
Singapore’s education. I am sure many of us will be keen to
hear him speak.
We had two significant sporting events in the last quarter. In
October, we saw the finale of the ITIS-NUSS Games held at
Singapore Polytechnic. This bi-annual event involves NUSS,
NUS, NTU and other tertiary organisations in Singapore.
In the same month, we hosted the 24th NUSS-PAUM
games where our sporting members and Persatuan Alumni
University of Malaya (PAUM) competed in seven different
sporting events. Even though PAUM emerged the overall
champion, the games were a great way to maintain the close
ties between the Society and PAUM.
On 5 November, we organised a special dinner with NUSS
members who were recipients of the National Day Award
2009, to acknowledge their contributions to the nation.
I am also pleased to announce the creation of two special
NUSS awards, the Distinguished Member Award and the
Outstanding Member Award, to recognise members who
have contributed to NUSS as well as the society at large.
The judging panel will be chaired by Mr Gerard Ee, NUSS
Advisory Panel Member and I look forward to receiving your
nominations of fellow members for these awards.
We constantly try to reach out to the wider graduate
community outside of NUSS. Through initiatives by the
iConnect Sub-Committee and www.nuss.meetingplace.
com.sg, we hope to engage this segment through relevant
and interesting programs and events. At the last networking
event themed ‘Prime for the Upturn’, held at Union Bar on 24
November, the feedback and turnout was very promising, and
we hope to organise more of such functions in the near future.
It is also our desire to support worthy causes. The Sails
for Smiles fundraising dinner event on 13 November was
organised in support of two NUS medical students, Jiang
Lei and Yee Onn participating in the Clipper Round the
World Yacht Race 09-10. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister
of Community Development, Youth and Sports honoured
us with his presence as Guest-of-Honour. An auction on
the same evening also saw over $12,000 raised for Club
Rainbow. We are touched by the sailors’ bravery in testing
themselves against the elements and their passion to do
good for the underprivileged. I certainly hope this will motivate
many others to step forward and contribute to society. More
details of the event are available on page 13 of this issue of
The Graduate.
We also met with NUSSU leaders to strengthen bonds
with our future potential NUSS leaders. At the meeting, we
announced the signing of an agreement with the National
Youth Council (NYC) to start the NYC-NUSS: Singapore
2010-ChangeMakers Grant. Funded by NYC and SYOGOC,
this grant will allow both NUS undergraduates and NUSS
members under the age of 35 to apply for a subsidy of up to
$4,000 for community activities that promote and celebrate
the upcoming Youth Olympic Games. We believe this initiative
will not only enable us to reach out to younger graduates and
undergraduates, but also encourage further activities centred
on Singapore’s biggest sporting event in 2010. Further details
of the grant are also available on page 16 of this issue.
Looking ahead to 2010, I wish to update you that difficult site
conditions have resulted in a slight delay to the completion of
Phase 2 of the KRGH Re-development. However the project
committee has been working very hard to ensure that we
obtain our TOP within the first quarter of 2010.
The year ahead is filled with much hope and many
opportunities for us to strive for ever greater achievements.
Just like a family, we seek your support to stay connected with
us. Let NUSS continue to be your ‘home away from home’.
I wish everyone a Happy 2010 ahead and all our Chinese
members a prosperous Lunar New Year!
Johnny Tan
President
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The Graduate is the quarterly publication of
The National University of Singapore Society (NUSS)
Kent RIdge gUIld hOUSe
9 Kent Ridge Drive
Singapore 119241
T : 6779 1811 F : 6778 8095
Email : secretariat@nuss.org.sg
SUnteC CIty gUIld hOUSe
3 Temasek Boulevard
#05-001 Suntec City Mall
Singapore 038983
T : 6779 1811 F : 6887 3802
bUKIt tImAh gUIld hOUSe
1F Cluny Road
Singapore 259602
T : 6779 1811 F : 6469 6019
AdAm PARK gUIld hOUSe
7 Adam Park
Singapore 289926
T : 6463 4528 F : 6463 4529
edItORIAl
Managing Editors : Audrey Chong
Art Director : Rendy Aryanto
Designer : Genz Lim
Contributing Writers : Andri Tanubrata
Christine Chong
Joan Chew
Travis Teo
Li m Say Liang
Vivien Khoo
For editorial contribution,
Email : thegraduate@nuss.org.sg
mARKetIng & OPeRAtIOnS
Advertising Sales : Diana Teo
Photographers : Clarissa Dias Cavalheiro
Enrico Tanubrata
Rendy Aryanto
Sandra Darwis
For advertising enquiries,
Email : diana@lancer.com.sg
The Graduate is produced for NUSS by
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All rights reserved. Copyright 2009
Reproduction in whole or part of the magazine is strictly prohibited without the
expressed permission of the publisher. the views of the contributors are entirely
their own and do not necessarily represent those of nUSS, the management
Committee and lancer design. nUSS does not endorse all products and services
featured in the magazine’s advertisements, except for its own advertisement(s).
Printed in Singapore by fabulous Printers Pte ltd
mICA (P) 152/03/2009
nUSS AdVISORy PAnel
Gerard Ee, Professor Tommy Koh, Professor Arthur Lim, Wong Ah Long
nUSS mAnAgement COmmIttee 2009/2010
OFFICE BEARERS
President : Johnny Tan Khoon Hui
Vice President : Chong Hoong Sang
honorary secretary : Lai Kim Seng
honorary Treasurer : Siva S Retnam
honorary assistant secretary : Edward S Tay
honorary assistant Treasurer : Wong Peng Meng
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mohan Balagopal Joshua VM Kuma (Dr) Ong Pin Sam
Vincent Rasa Benedict Lau Kwong Chung Toh Yong Soon
Fong Poh Him (Dr) Keith Alan Liew (Dr) Yip Kum Fei
Rosemary Khoo (Dr) Chandra Mohan K Nair
SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
alumni development & University relations : Chandra Mohan K Nair
Community Care : Ong Pin Sam
Cultural : Fong Poh Him (Dr)
disciplinary : Chandra Mohan K Nair
Finance : Siva S Retnam
house, Food & Beverage : Chong Hoong Sang
iConnect : Yip Kum Fei
intellectual Pursuit : Joshua VM Kuma (Dr)
Membership : Edward S Tay
s-Connect : Rosemary Khoo (Dr)
sports and recreation : Vincent Rasa Benedict
SPECIAL PROJECTS/TASKS
alumni Complex/KrGh : Lai Kim Seng
BTGh official opening : Chong Hoong Sang
BTGh Project : Lau Kwong Chung
Constitution & regulations : Mohan Balagopal
editorial/Communications : Lai Kim Seng
SOCIETY’S REPRESENTATIVE
alumni international singapore (ais) : Mohan Balagopal
reaCh (Feedback Unit) : Joshua VM Kuma (Dr)
People’s association : Toh Yong Soon
SeCRetARIAt mAnAgement teAm
Chief executive officer
Chao Ye Peng
Finance director
ceo@nuss.org.sg 6586 3700
Ong Cheng Lee (Ms)
operations director
chenglee@nuss.org.sg 6586 3702
Sasidharan Pillai
Membership director
sasi@nuss.org.sg 6586 3755
Jenny Ng (Ms) jennyng@nuss.org.sg 6586 3718
Corporate affairs & new Media director
Tong Hsien-Hui hsienhui@nuss.org.sg 6586 3735
head, Corporate & Membership Communications
Almeta Chia (Ms) almeta@nuss.org.sg 6586 3766
information systems Manager
Ho Weng Wah
hr & Training Manager
wengwah@nuss.org.sg 6586 3711
George Chua georgechua@nuss.org.sg 6586 3758
sports & events Manager
Richard Chitrakar richardc@nuss.org.sg 6586 3712
sCGh Club operations Manager
Desmond Lim
Purchasing Manager
desmondlim@nuss.org.sg 6578 9827
Vincent Ng
Maintenance Manager
vincentng@nuss.org.sg 6586 3742
Mike Chan mikechan@nuss.org.sg 6586 3738

projeCT
updaTe
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re-deVeloPMenT oF
kent RIdge gUIld
HoUse pHAse 2
The Gym – interior fitting works in progress
External View of New Sports Hall
View of New Squash Court
We crossed a significant milestone in December 2009 with
the completion of the superstructure for Phase 2 of the
KRGH Re-development project.
In the following weeks, good weather permitting, we hope to
see good progress on the remaining items of work involving
internal M&E services, interior design and architectural
finishes as well as external works and other related
supporting services.
The current temporary Secretariat office will shift to the
office in the new building sometime in mid Jan 2010. We
target to receive the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) for
the entire project by the end of 1 st quarter 2010.
New Secretariat Office

ura aha Winning projeCT
bUkIt tIMAH gUIld HoUse
1F Cluny Road
Class of its own
2009 Awards
Category A
Built in the late 1920s, this two-storey Art Deco bungalow,
once used to house the teaching staff of the former Raffles
College, has been meticulously cajoled back to life and
transformed into a classy sanctuary, the Bukit Timah Guild
House, that cultivates camaraderie.
Firm Foundations
One of the four identical bungalows in the area, this
bungalow has aged gracefully. Except for strengthening
works on the upper storey timber floor slab, it was structurally
sound, giving the project team a good foundation to perform
a marvellous revival of tropically-inspired architectural and
design concepts.
Crowning Glory
The original clay-tile roof was duly repaired. A false ceiling
that had been previously added was removed to uncover
the original timber ceiling joists, a smart move that recovered
much of the original charm and character of the house. To rid
the old house of its water seepage problems, a secondary
roof was discretely incorporated right under the main roof
without affecting its original character.
Owner: National University of Singapore Society
Architect: RichardHO Architects
Engineer: JS Tan & Associates
Contractor: U.SAGE Contracts Pte Ltd
Photography by Raymond Toh, courtesy of RichardHO Architects
The contents of this article is by courtesy of The Urban Redevelopment Authority
A Nostalgic Air
The team did an outstanding job in reviving the tropical
appeal of the house, bringing back the natural ventilation
that once flowed through the very same doors. Open
verandahs with exposed roof eave rafters and timber doors
lining the outer corridors at the rear of the house were
carefully recovered and reinstated. The door leaves were
painstakingly recreated to fine detail in the pattern of the
original leaves based on remnants uncovered. All of the
original timber staircase and balustrades were also retained
and lovingly restored.
The new alfresco terrace added atop the original flat-top
portico further enhanced the charm of the house. It gives the
bungalow a new niche that takes full advantage of its tropical
setting, reinventing its appeal for modern guests who love a
little tête-à-tête under the stars.
Overall, the team has successfully brought to light the old
house’s many rare and inherent features, and ensuring the
new elements added suit its present day purpose as an
elegant and exclusive alumni clubhouse.
projeCT
updaTe
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Shifting PercePtionS:
tRAdItIonAl
cHInese MedIcIne
if you have Made a Trip To Tan ToCk
seng or singapore general hospiTal
reCenTly, you MighT have CoMe
aCross a speCialised TradiTional
Chinese MediCine (TCM) uniT. WhaT
Was onCe seen as an unorThodox
TreaTMenT MeThod is noW Widely
aCCepTed and reCognised by boTh The
Masses and The insTiTuTions. WhaT has
Caused This Change in perCepTions?
AUdReY cHong and tRAVIs teo
unravels The reasons behind The rise
of TCM.
The Beginnings
In modern-day Singapore, most people would have at some
point or another taken TCM. This could be in the form of
‘Essence of Chicken’, ginseng tea or chrysanthemum tea.
However, few people would have known the roots of TCM or
what TCM constitutes.
In truth, the exact origins of TCM is vague as much of its
development occurred before written history. Human activity
in China began over 1.7 million years ago. The use of plants
as medicine can be dated back to the origin of mankind.
When man experimented with new plants in search of food,
he also discovered the effects they had on the human body.
Similarly, the exact origin of moxibustion and acupuncture
are unknown, but it is believed when the ancient Chinese lit
fires to warm themselves that they found that heated stones

and sand wrapped in animal skin or bark could reduce pain.
In turn, this led to the discovery of moxibustion treatment
methods. As for acupuncture, it was deduced that it was
discovered in their process of using stone instruments.
Whether these theories are accurate, it is quite certain that
the use of medical tools dates back well into the Stone Age.
This is because, when written history began, much has
already been known about Chinese Medicine. The advanced
knowledge that were recorded in the first medical books
suggests that there was a great deal of medical development
before 2500 BC. Particularly, in one entry, it was noted that
Hua Tuo was using herbal anesthesia to conduct surgery in
the second century AD.
However, it was Li Shizhen (AD 1517-1593) who brought
about the continued advent of TCM into the modern era.
By writing Ben Cao Gang Mu, ‘the General Outlines and
Divisions of Herbal Medicine’, he made it possible for people
to track the past knowledge and cumulatively increased the
wealth of knowledge in the area. Today, records of medicinal
substances have grown threefold from 1,900 to nearly 6,000.
An Overview – TCM Practices
Tracing its roots from China thousands of years ago, it is
natural that TCM is most established in the East Asian cities
with heavy Chinese influences, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan,
and Singapore.
Since then, TCM practices have evolved substantially.
Today, TCM is more than just Chinese herbal medicine
(Zhong Yao), moxibustion (Jiu) and acupuncture (Zhen Jiu), it
includes dietary therapy and Shiatsu massage. Its combined
therapeutic effects with Qigong and Taiji are also very much
drawn upon from time to time.
Basis of Theory
In theory, TCM is a method of healing and strengthening the
body. It is rooted in the observation of nature, the cosmos
and the human body. Underlying these are the major theories
Yin Yang, the ‘Five Phases’, the human body ‘Channel
system’, ‘Organ theory’ (Zang Fu), ‘Six Confirmations’ and
‘Four Layers’.
While these theories are derived very differently on varying
grounds, the foundation principles of TCM are largely based
on the concept that the human body is a whole universe
in seeking balance. This universe consists of various
interconnected systems that are constantly working to strike
equilibrium in the body.
Differences between TCM and Western Medicine
The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of
Western Medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human
body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe
as described in Taoism; medical treatment is based primarily
on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.
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Another way of looking at the difference between Western
Medicine and TCM is the direction magnification takes. With
Western Medicine, technology is used to isolate the smallest
possible particle that may be diseased – all the way down to
the electrical charge of a molecule. For Chinese Medicine,
through the eyes of the ‘human organism’, the big picture
is perceived to be of a greater importance, not the electrical
charge of a particular molecule or a cell with a leaky wall.
Treatment and Diagnostic Techniques
In TCM, prescriptions are usually focused on the individual,
centred on the principle that every person is unique in our
physical make-up. The prescription of herbal medicine is
usually preceded by a diagnosis that observe symptoms. It is
comprised of four methods – observe, hear, smell, touch and
ask (medical history).
These techniques are frequently used in conjunction with
pulse-reading by TCM practitioners to comprehend the
ailment and symptoms suffered by the patients. In some
instances, this has led to the overall criticism that TCM is
mainly based on treatments for counteracting the symptoms,
without largely understanding the cause of the ailments. As a
result, this hindered the acceptance of TCM in most Western
societies, where understanding and distilling the science of
diseases and ailments is key.
The Comeback of TCM
TCM however, is growing in popularity in some contemporary
societies like Singapore. The main reason being, next
to Western Medicine, it is increasingly considered as an
‘alternative’, or ‘complementary’ treatment by a growing
number of patients turning to TCM when Western Medicine
fails to treat or relieve chronic disorders.
This is especially so in the turning to acupuncture in relieving
chronic pain such as backache or migraines.
According to a My Paper report on 2 July 2009, Terrence Ng,
an engineering manager, relied less on his doctor after taking
TCM classes at the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine and noticing a marked improvement in health.
This ties in with the theory that TCM is both a form of healing
and also a treatment that works to strengthen the body. The
rise in the number of practitioners can also be attributed
to a cultural backlash where the younger generations
are progressively seeking to embrace their roots with the
modernisation of society.
The number of applicants for courses at the Singapore
College of TCM has jumped from 120 in 2008 to 200 in
2009. The increase in the applicants, particularly of those not
already in the industry, also accords a growing trust in the
effectiveness of TCM in Singapore.
TCM – Is It Really Effective?
The effectiveness of TCM has always been a subject of
contention. While traditionalists advocate TCM’s efficiency
as an effective treatment method for various ailments,
scientists claim there is no basis to the purported relieves
that TCM can bring.

Indeed, where herbal medication is concerned, there
are numerous factors which affects the effectiveness
of the medicine. For one, the authenticity of the herb’s
signature impacts the effectiveness of the treatment. Other
environmental factors that the herbs are subjected to during
its growth might also potentially have negative or reinforcing
impact on its overall effectiveness. Despite the criticism,
research in the area is not advancing sufficiently to ward
off detractors because of the high costs and specialised
expertise required.
Of course, herbal medicine is not totally without its
contribution to the medical industry. For instance, the
Chinese Wormwood is now used globally to treat malaria
and Chinese Ephedra has been attributed to the discovery of
treatments for asthma and Hay Fever.
Contrary to herbal medicines, acupuncture drew much
research interest. One area where acupuncture is deemed
to be convincingly effective is in the treatment of nausea
and seasickness. Increasingly, there are seasick armbands
available in the market that works by essentially pressing
on an acupuncture point on the wrist. Scientific and
anecdotal evidence have shown that this is effective in
preventing nausea.
A 2008 study also suggested that combining
acupuncture with conventional infertility treatments
such as IVF greatly improves the success rates of
such medical interventions. In a recent report, The
World Health Organisation has also issued favourable
observations on acupuncture in the areas of “adult
postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting
and in postoperative dental pain”.
Beyond these, however, the rest of the research results
are more often than not controversial. In Edzard Ernst’s
words, Professor of Complementary Medicine in the
United Kingdom, “research in the area is growing
but emerging clinical evidence seems to imply that
acupuncture is effective for some but not all conditions.”
Most chronic ailments, for example, such as back-pain,
neck-pain and headache, have conflicting anecdotal
evidence with acupuncture.
Given the ongoing debate surrounding TCM and its
continued rise in popularity, medical practitioners are
cautious in using TCM as the sole treatment method.
Rather, TCM is often recommended as a means to
strengthen health and as a complementary form of
medicine to conventional treatment.
TCM – Is it Safe?
Even then, patients who are contemplating to seek TCM
as a treatment to should be wary of some of the potential
safety issues.
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Practitioner is Key
Undeniably, the practitioner plays a pivotal role in ensuring
that the ailment is diagnosed correctly and that the treatment
endorsed is appropriate. At this juncture, although TCM
training courses are aplenty in China, few of them are
accredited. To complicate matters, the training duration of the
practitioners vary from months to years.
The Risk of Allergy
As TCM usually involves the consumption of herbal medicine,
that are made up of a concoction of different elements within
the herb, it is hard for patients to ascertain the exact harm
that might result. In some mild instances, the patient would
experience allergy; in some severe cases, this could mean
poisoning. This necessitates consultation with a trained
person prior to dispensing medication.
Lack of Standardisation
Chinese herbal medication are often not standardised from
one pill to the next, or from one brand to the next, and
can be reformulated, remixed, or altered by any company.
Essentially, this means the same dosage for one brand may
be heavier compared to the other. Consequently, it makes
the effectiveness of Chinese medication unpredictable.
Regulating TCM
Due to nagging safety issues and incidents of herb abuse,
governments and health organisations are recognising
the need to regulate the industry. The Traditional Chinese
Medicine Practitioners Act passed on 14 November 2000
provides such a form of regulation for the industry.
The Act stated that practitioners of TCM must register with
the TCM Practitioners Board, and with effect from 2004,
registered practitioners must also possess valid practising
certificates. (For a listing of registered TCM practitioners, visit
www.tcmpb.gov.sg)
Along with recognition and the installation of proper
accreditation guidelines, the stature accorded to TCM
industry and the practitioners are now elevated. Having
a governing body and an accredited degree programme
ensure that the practitioners will have a uniform standard of
practice. Implicitly, this provides a platform for faster growth
and maturity of the industry.
That said, while regulations and accreditation provide the
launchpad, it is really the research discoveries and equipping
practitioners with the appropriate knowledge that will propel
the industry forward.
Currently, TCM training is provided at three different colleges
in Singapore, the Singapore College of Traditional Chinese
Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Studies and the
Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Although the degree offered in NTU is not a specialised
one, but a double degree in Bachelor of Science (Hons) in
Biomedical Sciences and Medicine (Chinese Medicine), it is
momentous to have a government affiliated university, offer a
TCM-related course. This signifies the acceptance of TCM.
With Singapore poised to be a biomedical hub and medical
tourism hotspot, the prospects of moving the industry one
step closer to being a reliable source of treatment worldwide
is slowly but surely manifesting.
Shifting Perceptions
This one small step is part of a paradigm shift of perceptions
in the medical industry. The Westernised world used to be
bounded by the limitations of technological advancements
and the speed of laboratory discoveries – a signature of
Western medicine. With the growing acceptance of TCM as
a legitimate treatment method, a rich plethora of possibilities
have been unearthed.
In its infancy, Singapore’s medical industry is looking at TCM
as complementary treatment. Judging from Hong Kong and
Taiwan’s medical industry, which are ahead of Singapore in its
adoption of TCM treatments, TCM is set to be fully integrated
with Western Medicine in the very near future.
Certainly, the future seems to be bright for TCM practitioners
as it evolves to encompass a more research-grounded
industry. Perhaps soon, a new reference will be coined in
place of ‘Traditional Chinese Medicine’ to better represent it.

UPClose:
dR koH HWee lIng
in relaTion To The TheMe For
This issUe oF The GradUaTe,
AUdReY cHong GeTs a PeeK
inTo The world oF herBal
MediCine By CaTChinG UP
wiTh dr Koh hwee linG,
assoCiaTe ProFessor FroM
The naTional UniVersiTy oF
sinGaPore, deParTMenT oF
PharMaCy.
Dr Koh harvesting Panax notoginseng roots on her field trip in Yunnan (China)
TCM – A Natural Inclination
For a veteran who has been researching on herbs for more
than 12 years, passion is certainly still running high. Dr Koh
shared, “It was a natural decision for me to want to find out
more about herbs especially since I grew up taking them.”
A Bigger Mission
What started off as a means to quell
her curiosity on the subject matter
has now taken on a different spin
as she has a bigger mission. That
is, to address the controversies
surrounding the subject matter
– efficacy, quality and safety issues.
According to her, these three
issues will always be close to
the hearts of many healthcare
professionals and patients alike
when they are considering to adopt
TCM as complementary treatment.
Realising a Holistic Treatment Model
Asked what she sees TCM’s role in the future, Dr Koh
explains that in Singapore, Western Medicine is still the
primary form of healthcare despite the popularity of TCM.
However, she predicts that integrative treatment methods
“I would always encourage
my students by telling them
that research work cannot
stop because we must
continue to find a better cure
and to improve the quality
and safety of complementary
medicine in order to harness
the potential benefits.”
– a patient would be diagnosed and prescribed with both
Western and TCM medication by qualified practitioners
– would gradually gain popularity in the future. To
educate students (our future healthcare professionals and
consumers) in TCM and herbal medicine, Dr Koh runs a
course on Complementary and Alternative Medicine for
about 400 students. A little medicinal
plant garden has also been set up on
campus for teaching and research
purposes. She has also published a
book entitled “A Guide to Medicinal
Plants: an illustrated, scientific and
medicinal approach”.
An Uphill Task
The journey ahead is long and winding.
Beset by the inadequate research
this area has, as well as the previous
occasional bad press that was
generated, there is certainly much work
that needs to be done. To complicate
matters, funding issues are perennial.
Fortunately, Dr Koh’s determination remains
unwavered through it all. She truly exemplifies the
altruistic spirit of a healthcare professional that we
should all look up to.
upClose

Club
neWs
2
one, two, three –
lIgHts Up to A
MeRRIeR cHRIstMAs!
22 noveMber 200
An annual affair, NUSS members and NUS alumni, with their
family and guests, gathered at Kent Ridge Guild House to
witness the Christmas light-up. The event that was jointly
organised by NUSS and NUS Office of Alumni Relations
promised a night of entertainment and good food for everyone.
Some of the kids took the chance to exercise their creativity
by making pretty Christmas cards, or took turns to have their
caricature drawings made into a keychain. Many though,
seemed to find more fun running around playing with their
balloons or under the falling “snow” produced by a snow
machine outside the Guild House. However, it was the
puppet show that came on later in the evening that captured
everyone’s attention.
Among those seen enjoying the show with their children was
Mr Chee Kong, an NUSS member, who enthused, “I brought
my brother’s and my family with me because I think the
children will like to see the Christmas tree and the lights and
they can really have a good time here.”
Other entertainment
included a live band
performance with
a rendition of both
Christmas songs
and popular oldies.
Seated at tables,
guests enjoyed the
performances while
helping themselves to
the array of delicious food. Madam Lee Yin Mei, an NUSS
member for seven years, shared, “I think this year’s light up
is by far one of the best because there are many activities
and games.”
The culmination of the night’s event was when everyone
gathered at the lobby with great anticipation to see the
Christmas tree being lit up. Signifying the collaborative effort
between NUSS and NUS Office of Alumni Relations, NUSS
President, Mr Johnny Tan and team, as well as Consultant at
Office of Alumni Relations, Professor Loh Hong Sai and team
triggered the light-up mechanism together.
The lights on the two-storey tall Christmas tree, adorned
with silver and gold baubles and ribbons, began to light
up. Starting from the bottom up, as soon as the tree was
completely lit up, the delicious-looking gingerbread house
– covered in colourful candies and Christmas cookies – and
the garden at Alumni Terrace also lit up, rousing the audience
to break into a round of applause and cheers.
Enraptured by the spectacular sight, everybody had their eyes
fixed on the blinking lights. At that precise instant, the NUSS
Choir descended the stairways singing a medley of Christmas
Carols, adding to the magical moment. Thus inspired, some
guests sang along while others took the opportunity to have
their family photos taken under the Christmas tree.
Still high on the joyful Christmas spirit, the guests ended the
night with a free screening of the movie “Elf” at the Shaw
Foundation Alumni House.

Sail for SMileS
FUndRAIsIng
dInneR 3 noveMber 200
“Jiang Lei and Yee Onn, by sailing
the distance, you send a powerful
message that the Rainbow families
too can brave the rough seas and
turbulent weather in their lives and sail
the distance in terms of overcoming
their child’s illness. And they can do
so, with smiles on their faces and not
despondent dispositions.”
President of Club Rainbow (Singapore),
Mr Gregory Vijayendran
What do sports and charity have in common? For
fourth-year medical students Jiang Lei and Kok
Yee Onn, their love of sports and passion towards
charity was achieved in one unforgettable night of
fundraising activity.
Organised in support of their
upcoming endeavour in the
Clipper Round the World Yacht
Race 09-10, the Sail for Smiles
Fundraising Dinner saw about
230 attendees gather at Kent
Ridge Guild House.
The event began with an
electrifying live band performance
that set the tone for the evening.
Following which, the arrival of
the Guest-of-Honour, Minister
of Community Development,
Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian
Balakrishnan, pushed the
ambience of the event up by
another notch.
Addressing the attendees, NUSS
President Mr Johnny Tan paid
tribute to the courageous duo
and their passion to do good for
the less privileged. “We hope
that their pursuit will motivate
many others to step forward and
contribute to the society,” he said.
Truly, Jiang Lei and Yee Onn
echoed Mr Tan’s vision. As Jiang
Lei explained during the video
presentation later, “The Clipper
Race is a great platform for charity.
Throughout our medical postings
at Club Rainbow, we came to
understand the importance of
community support for children
with chronic illnesses.”
“Children
have a lot of
potential and
Club Rainbow
is one
organisation
that provides well-rounded
support, socially, medically and
educationally,” chipped in Yee
Onn, showing his desire to build
a brighter future for the children.
The highlight of the fundraising
dinner was the charity auction
where items like Club Rainbow’s
children’s paintings, Tian Po
jewellery and a half-day cruise on
board The Admiral were up for
grabs. The flurry of raised hands
demonstrated the crowd’s clear
appreciation for the little artistes’
works of love and their support of
the activity.
Mr Kwek Chok Ming, in his 50s,
was one such bidder. Having
been an NUSS member for
30 years, he is no stranger to
charity contributions, Mr Kwek
went home with more than a
full stomach. He had with him
something extra to decorate his
house – a painting by a 6-yearold
child, titled “A Bug’s Life”.
The father of four children said,
“I’m glad to be able to contribute
to a good cause while enjoying
myself tonight. Youngsters
should not only be focused on
their academic achievements,
but should also do their part for
the less fortunate, like what the
sailors have done.”
A total of $12,720 was collected
from the proceeds of the auction.
These would benefit the children
of Club Rainbow in a range of
social support activities and
serve as financial assistance for
needy families.
Club
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