'Nonya' Dumplings Anyone? - Singapore Polytechnic

SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC ALUMNI NETWORK NEWS MAY 2003 ISSUE 14-2003 MITA (P) NO. 159/10/2002
Passion
for R&D
R&D in Biotech
A Yen to Venture, An Eye for
Brain Metal Imbalances
‘Nonya’ Dumplings Anyone
Eastern Rice Dumpling Boss Uses
Grandma’s Recipe
An Independent-minded Tomboy
Polo Foo in Sydney finds Working
with Soil is no Toil
Comfort in the No-Comfort Zone
Kelvin Tan Swims Towards Challenges
First Class Hons. in Engineering for Edward
finally, after Two Business Degrees

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
contents
02 SPecial
Mention
Graduate Employment
Surveys 2002
04 SPear
• Dr Vivian Balakrishnan’s
National Education Talk
• Phase V Opening
06 SPAN
• BE Alumni Dinner
• SMA’s visit to IMH
• EEE Enrichment for
EEE Alumni
10 SPotlight
Polo Foo in Sydney finds
Working with Soil is no Toil
13 Kelvin Tan - Marine
Engineer and
Businessman Swims
Towards Challenges
16 In Pursuit of R&D:
• Dr Wong Boon Seng has
an Eye for Brain
Mineral Imbalance
• Dr Lau Soo Khim
Grows with more
Polymer Projects
19 Love and Music in the
Air …at the Poly
Concert Band
20 Alfred Shee Goes
Places with Figures
21 First Class Hons. in
Engineering for
Edward …after Two
Business Degrees
22 Eastern Dumpling Boss
Uses Grandma’s Recipe
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
24 SPEC
Lohei Dinner
26 SPjob News
Advice from MOM - Importance
of career management
Advice from Adecco – Make
your Job Application stand out
28 Calendar
Let’s Go Eco
Workshops
30 SPecial
Health Quiz
31 Continuing
Education
Centre
32 Update Form
33 SPGG
• Message from
new GM
• Fission Restaurant
Offer

SPear
A note from the editor...
Times have really changed. Children are learning to take their own daily
temperatures; we carry our own thermometer; we can’t visit an ailing friend
in hospital; and we just don’t feel like buying the yellowing parsley leaves
in the supermarket. Some even worry how long they can hold on to their jobs.
We began 2003 by acknowledging China’s might and bracing ourselves for
the fall-out from the Iraq war. We now have to brace ourselves for a more painful
fall-out from the SARS breakout. We had to postpone a few events, like the SPEC
bi-monthly cocktail and the EduFair, which we were collaborating with SPGG. But
more than that, we are worried for alumni. With more than 100,000 in the job market,
surely a sizeable number will be affected.
The fact remains that we have all changed but is it all for the worse We may
be less confident but surely we are stronger. The rain is still on us everyday but we
have learnt to cope. As Helen Keller put it, “Although the world is full of suffering,
it is also full of the overcoming of it.” Our endurance is already now well tempered.
We know now our weaknesses and strengths. So, what say you, let’s get moving;
let’s get on with LIFE.
It’s not all gloom as you can see in the stories of alumni that we have put
together. In our theme of ‘Passion for R&D’ we bring you face-to-face with two
alumni who are happily in the thick stream of R&D. They are uncovering things
about viruses and polymer. Also, read about Lim Cheng Hwee who after his studies
at SP and NTU, used his grandmother’s Nonya dumpling recipe to expand the
family business.
We have also included a new section, JobNews, to offer tips from the experts
from the Ministry of Manpower and Adecco.
Do write back to us and give us feedback, suggestions, news and even
business/professional advice for other alumni. You can make SP Alumni a strong
and interactive network. Also, do give us ideas on how Singapore Polytechnic can
celebrate its 50 th Anniversary. Yes, we will be 50 in Oct 2004. Email your suggestions
and we will send you a car decal for viable ones. Our celebrations start now!
Pearly Gan
Editor/Alumni Manager
PearlyG@sp.edu.sg
EDITORIAL
ADVISOR
Roland Tan, Director
Student & Alumni Affairs
EDITOR
Pearly Gan, Alumni Manager
Tel:
E-mail: PearlyG@sp.edu.sg
CONTRIBUTORS
Peter Ng
Singapore Maritime Academy
LIm Chwee Eng
Sch. of Built Environment
Bernie Khoo
Dept. of Corp. Comms.
See-Tow Pak Cheong
Sch. of Electrical & Electronic
Engineering
EVENTS
Joey Chew
Tel:
Email: Joeychew@sp.edu.sg
ADVERTISEMENTS
Angelvin C. Parma
Tel:
Email: angelvin@sp.edu.sg
DESIGN & PRINTING
Grace Communications Pte Ltd
PUBLISHER
Dept. of Student & Alumni Affairs
Singapore Polytechnic
Dover Road Singapore
SPAN News is published four times yearly, twice
in magazine format and twice in The Straits
Times. The view and opinions of the authors are
not necessarily espoused by Singapore
Polytechnic, nor can the Singapore Polytechnic
be held responsible for the claims made in the
advertisements.

SPecial SPear mention
Graduate Employment Surveys
SP Graduates are still in demand
Despite the economic downturn, survey shows
that Singapore Polytechnic graduates
commanded similar starting salaries as in
2001. This reflected the strong demand of polytechnic
graduates in our economy.
by Singapore Polytechnic to ascertain the employment
status of Year 2002 fresh and Post-National Service
graduates.
The surveys also found that engineering courses overtook
science and technology and business courses for the
highest mean starting salaries (See Table 1 below).
Table 1: Mean Starting Salary Across Course Types
Courses Fresh Poly Post-National Service
Graduates Poly Graduates
Engineering
Courses $1,557 $1,910
The mean gross monthly salary of fresh polytechnic
graduates entering the job market dipped by only 2.1%
($33) from $1,542 in 2001 to $1,509 in 2002. Polytechnic
graduates who had completed their National Service and
entered the job market in 2002 were paid a mean gross
monthly salary of $1,847, 7.0%($139) less than the $1,986
received by their counterparts in 2001.
About 88% of the employed respondents in the 2002
polytechnic graduate employment surveys had found jobs
within two months of active search. At the same time,
73.1% of employed polytechnic graduates who had
completed national service had also found employment
within two months of active search.
The overall employment rate stood at 69.7% for fresh
polytechnic graduates. This represented a decrease of 6.4
percentage points when compared to the employment rate
of 76.1% in 2001. As for the Post-NS graduates, the
overall employment rate stood at 88.2%. This represented
a decrease of 5.9 percentage points when compared to the
employment rate of 94.1% in 2001.
Above are the main findings from the 2002 Fresh Graduate
and Post-National Service Employment surveys conducted
Technology
Courses $1,523 $1,725
Business
Courses $1,413 $1,763
Survey Background
1,402 fresh graduates responded to the 2002 Graduate
Employment Surveys, while 781 graduates responded to
the Post-National Service Employment Surveys. They
were asked to respond based on their employment status
as at 1 September 2002.
The respondents for the 2002 Graduate Employment
Surveys consist of Polytechnic graduates who had
completed their studies in 2002 and were not liable for
national service after graduation. Respondents for the
Post-National Service Employment Surveys were
polytechnic graduates who had completed their full-time
National Service between 1 April 2001 and 31 March
2002.
The mean monthly salaries of the Year 2002 and Year 2001
fresh graduates and post-national services graduates of
Singapore Polytechnic are given in Annex A for reference.

SPecial mention SPear
despite the economic downturn
ANNEX A
FRESH
POST NS
TECHNOLOGY COURSES 2002 2001 2002* 2001+
1 Architectural Technology 1,476 1,525 1,718 1,952
2 Biotechnology 1,509 1,534 1,813 2,110
3 Building & Property Management 1,407 1,440 1,729 1,824
4 Chemical Process Technology 1,454 1,524 1,612 1,844
5 Computer Information Systems 1,417 1,613 1,655 1,950
6 Information Technology 1,514 A A A
7 Maritime Transportation 1,427 1,540 1,784 1,837
8 Medical Technology 1,540 A A A
9 Multimedia Software Engineering 1,366 1,604 1,597 A
10 Nautical Studies 2,894 2,400 2,350 2,780
11 Optometry 2,449 2,508 2,667 2,791
BUSINESS & FINANCE COURSES
12 Accountancy 1,384 1,513 1,589 1,610
13 Banking & Financial Services 1,484 1,529 1,874 1,663
14 Business Administration 1,398 1,456 1,652 1,798
15 Marketing 1,403 1,483 1,931 1,904
ENGINEERING COURSES
16 Chemical Engineering 1,682 1,475 1,972 2,119
17 Civil & Structural Engineering 1,567 1,513 1,832 2,008
18 Electrical Engineering 1,504 1,581 1,798 2,042
19 Electronics, Computer & Communication Engineering 1,594 1,562 1,948 1,992
20 Instrumentation & Control Engineering 1,336 1,457 2,187 2,301
21 Manufacturing Engineering 1,404 1,514 1,886 2,030
22 Marine Engineering 1,620 1,791 2,055 2,249
23 Materials Engineering 1,471 1,575 2,204 2,100
24 Mechanical Engineering 1,602 1,520 1,899 1,980
25 Mechatronics 1,571 1,587 1,947 1,990
Notes: A - There were no Fresh or post-NS graduates to be surveyed for that year.

SPear
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
engaged our students on
the topic of Strategic
and Personal Choices for
Younger Singaporeans
at a National Education
Talk recently.
Dr Balakrishnan exchanging views with SP students after the talk.
Dr Balakrishnan presents choices
to SP students
Over 500 SP students had the
opportunity to hear what Dr
Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of
State for National Development and
Chairman of Remaking Singapore
Committee, had to say about Strategic and
Personal Choices for Younger Singaporeans
recently.
At the same time, the students used the
National Education Talk on 19 March to
voice their opinions on the matter. The
National Education programme at SP aims
to get students to appreciate the challenges
and vulnerabilities facing the nation. Dr
Balakrishnan prefaced his talk by stressing
that it was not just about the choices young
Singaporeans have but also about how best
they can contribute to Singapore.
When talking about strategic choices,
he said that when a choice was made;
consequences would follow. He gave the
example of the different choices the
government had to make in the past such
as the nation’s independence, the nature of
the economy and even women’s rights, with
women given equal rights to vote and to be
educated.
In relation to this, he touched on the
challenges that lie ahead. Dr Balakrishnan
also highlighted several strengths that
would help Singapore overcome the
challenges: meritocracy, the rule of law, and
international links.
On personal choices, he iterated that the
government would continue to create
opportunities but that it was up to the
students to grab them. He urged them to
pursue their dreams and aspirations and to
make the most out of the opportunities that
would come before them. They could choose
what Singapore would become, he added.
Organised by SP’s National Education
Organising Committee, the talk was part
of a series of National Education lectures
that were first launched in 1998. Mr Peter
Chen, then Senior Minister of State
(Education), started the ball rolling. Other
past speakers included Mr Lim Swee Say,
Minister for Environment, Mrs Lim Hwee
Hua, MP for Marine Parade GRC, and Mr
Othman Wok, a former Minister of State.
- Taken from e-SPIN, SP’s online staff
portal.
SP Library Membership
for Graduates
SP Graduates from any of the SP full-time diplomas, part-time five-year full-time
equivalent diplomas or advanced diplomas may apply for SP Graduate Library
membership. The annual subscription fee is $52.00 (includes GST $2.00).
As a graduate member of the Library, you can benefit by keeping abreast with new
developments and have access to up-to-date and accurate information resources. The loan
entitlement for graduate members is six items, including 2 multimedia CD-ROMs.
For enquiries, please contact Jennie Lee (Tel: 68790348 or 67721575) or visit the Library
Home Page at http://www.sp.edu.sg/lib/member/member.htm#grad for more
information.

SPear
Grand opening for
Phase Phase V building V project
Grand opening for
Fireworks heralded the opening of
the $31.5 million Phase V building,
which was officially launched by
Rear-Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean,
Minister for Education and Second Minster
for Defence.
With the theme A New Engineering
Experience for our students, of course the
students just had to perform. The Daiko
Drums, Lion Dance, and Dance & Cheer
teams took their turns and bows while the
abseiling and stunt biking groups gave some
flutters during the launch on 24 January.
“Known for its strong engineering
curricula, it comes as no surprise that SP
has devoted the entire Phase V expansion
to providing facilities that support the
teaching and learning of fast-emerging
engineering disciplines,” said Rear-Adm
Teo in his speech. “The new facilities in
this Phase V expansion will enhance SP’s
efforts to make engineering and its related
fields even more exciting and fulfilling to
prospective students.”
In his address, Principal Mr Low, noted
that the Phase V project is the final phase
of our campus development programme.
But redevelopment of the campus has
started in earnest with the construction of
the Plaza and a Convention Centre in
progress, he added.
“
Joint effort: (from left)
Chairman Mr Tan Kay Yong,
Rear-Adm Teo, Deputy Chairman of
the Board Mr Leong Charn Huen, and
Mr Low jolt the light-up sequence
into action.
The new facilities in this Phase V expansion
will enhance SP’s efforts to make engineering
and its related fields even more exciting and
fulfilling to prospective students.
This would be followed by the
construction of a new building, the
Technology Centre for Life Sciences, by
demolishing Workshops 6 and 7. It will
house state-of-the-art facilities to support
multi-disciplinary R&D work of staff and
students in areas such as bioengineering,
biosensors, biomaterials and biopharming.
Besides the EEE-designed flash bulb
light-up sequence for the launch of the
building which ended with the fireworks
display, various interesting engineering
projects were also showcased including
a dancing robotic dragon, a jukebox robotic
band and various R&D projects by staff and
students of the Schools of CLS, EEE
”
and MM.
The VIPs, who included Chairman of
the Board Mr Tan Kay Yong and other board
members, as well as guests, were also
brought on a tour of the high-tech facilities
in the Phase V project: the Microfabrication
Centre, the Display Technology
Centre, and the Tooling & Design
Engineering Centre.
– Adapted from e-SPIN, SP’s online
staff portal
Fireworks atop the new
Phase V Building

SPear SPan
SCHOOL OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT & DESIGN
Homecoming for
DCSE graduates
at SPGG
I
ndeed it was a very pleasant surprise for the school on
Thursday, 13 February ‘03 when an unexpected crowd of
63 graduates from the Civil & Structural engineering
course, staff and invited guests turned up at a get-together held at
the Grand Ballroom, Singapore Polytechnic Graduates’ Guild.
Invited guests included Mr Lim Kong Meng, the Senior Manager
of the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at NTU and
Mr Ng Cheng Kiat, the Principal of NCK Associates Civil &
Structural Consultant Engineers.
It was a mixed crowd of alumni who attended. Some of
them are currently studying in NTU, some had graduated from
NTU or from overseas universities and some are already in the
workforce.
It was a very appropriate farewell for Mr Tng Jin Kit who
was the DCSE Course Medallist and holder of the Lee Kuan Yew
Gold Medal for 2000. Jin Kit was all set to leave for the airport
that night after the gathering, for his flight to Australia, and his
friends and classmates came to bid him farewell. He had earlier
obtained a scholarship from the University of New South Wales to
pursue a Bachelor in Civil Engineering.
The team of lecturers, led by Mrs Josephine Lim had
expected a turn out of 50 alumni and were pleasantly surprised to
see the large turnout. They had to bring in extra chairs and order
extra food at the last minute! It was a mini reunion for alumni who
had not seen their classmates since their graduation. Mrs Josephine
Lim says, “Our school has always been very active in organising
events for alumni and they appreciate our arrangements and
activities. We have always enjoyed this level of closeness with
our alumni and many of them are still very affiliated to their lecturers
even after they graduate. We often have graduates dropping by to
say HELLO.”
CONGRATULATIONS
First Class Honours
Kevin Cheong Yu Hsin,
Dip in Electrical Engineering,
BE (Hons) Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
University of Western Australia
SINGAPORE MARITIME ACADEMY
New specialist diploma course
coming up!
Course Title: Specialist Diploma in Ship Operations
and Management (SSOM)
Description:
To impart additional knowledge and
skills, techniques and knowledge, which
the graduates will need at a later stage of
his/her career. Upon obtaining the Specialist
Diploma, graduates will be able to perform in
their jobs as junio executives or higher with
better competence. Modules include
Marketing of Shipping Services, Container
Management and Dangerous Goods,
Maritime Economics and more.
Target
Participants: Polytechnic diploma graduates who are
working in the shipping or logistics industry.
Start Date: 7 July 2003
Enquiries: Capt. Mohd Salleh Ahmad Sarwan at
Tel: 68790417,
Email: MdSalleh@sp.edu.sg or
Capt. Yeow Kok Kean at Tel: 67721865,
Email: CAPTYKK@sp.edu.sg
SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL
& MANUFACTURING
ENGINEERING
June Workshop for Children of
MM Alumni
Title:
Basic Injection Moulding
& Mould Making
Date: 25 June 03
Time: 9.00am - 1.00pm
Participants: Secondary 4 student (max. 15 students)
Workshop fee: $12 (includes light refreshments)
Lecturer: Tan Cher Hwee
Contact: Ms Faridah at tel: 68704754 or e-mail:
Faridah@sp.edu.sg

Exciting Enrichment Programmes
during the December Vacation (4th Run) for
EEE Alumni & Families
SPear SPan
Hi EEE alumni,
Are you on the look out for the 4 th series of enrichment
programmes for you and your family in this coming
December vacation These programmes provide good
opportunities for parent-child learning and life long learning. And,
what’s more…the Dover MRT station is just next to our campus.
What are the types of Enrichment Programmes for the
December 2003 run
For this run, we have lined
up seven different
programmes, including
some NEW ones for you
to select. Please refer to
the table below for quick
reference.
More details will be
posted in the EEE
alumni website when the
event dates draw closer.
Enrichment Programmes (Dec 03)
S/N Programme Name Tentative Date Target Participants
1 Fun with Lego Robots Early Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
(Children who are able to click the mouse)
2 PC (DIY) and Networking Early Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
(Sec 2 & above)
3 Introduction to VB.Net Early Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
(Diploma in EEE & above)
4 Fun with Biomedical After 21 Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
Instruments
(Secondary school & above)
5 Fun with Basic Electricity After 20 Dec 03 EEE Alumni’s children
- for Primary School Pupils (Pri 4 & above)
6 Introduction to Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
International Chess
(For Beginners, age 8 & above)
7 Controller Programming Early Dec 03 EEE Alumni and/or family members
with Lego Bricks
(Sec 3 & above)
For Enquiry / Registration: Call Ms Siti Marina Masduki at 68706113 or email: eeespan@sp.edu.sg for more information or to
indicate your interest on these programmes. Visit http://www.sp.edu.sg/schools/eee/alumni.htm for more details.
Closing date: 21 Nov 2003

SPear SPan
SMA Alumni and Staff bring
Joy in Service Project
Agroup of 25 alumni and staff members of the
Singapore Maritime Academy (SMA) visited two
wards in The Institute of Mental Health of
Woodbridge Hospital in January 03. They brought cheers
and nonya snacks to about a hundred long-term geriatric
female residents and 70 long-term male residents who were
born with mental defects. The alumni and staff helped to
feed those who were invalid. The female residents were
coaxed into playing an improvised version of netball and
the male residents played ‘penalty kicks’. All were
rewarded with lollipops for their active participation. It
was indeed a good time for all. SMA alumni and staff hope
to make this service project an annual affair. They have
certainly displayed one of the five SP Core Values – Care
and Concern to the community.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Looking out for bursaries or scholarships
* To be eligible for the following two, you must be
eligible for overseas fee status, fully or partially selffinancing,
and possess/expect excellent academic results.
Also, you must select one of these universities as your
firm (UF/CF) choice of university through UCAS.
1. University of Leicester -
Bursaries for International Students 2003
Engineering courses – £1,000 to £2,500 per annum
All other subjects –£1,000 to £1,500 per annum
2. University of Newcastle upon Tyne -
Undergraduate Scholarships 2003
Engineering – up to £2,500 per annum
All other subjects – up to £1,500 per annum
* Special offer to Polytechnic diploma holders in Singapore
(including international graduands) for 2003 entry into EEE
Undergraduate (Honours) Degree Courses
3. University of Strathclyde
Stipend of up to £1,500 and work placement earnings of up
to £2,500 is guaranteed. Strathclyde EEE accepts students
with good grades into the 3 rd year of Strathclyde’s EEE
undergraduate four-year (Honours) degree courses.
For further information about the bursaries or for more
details on the programmes above, please call 67321728 or
email: tancw@insworld.com.sg or write to:
Tan Cheh Wuei
Manager
Insworld Consultant Services Pte Ltd
190 Clemenceau Avenue
#05-16 Singapore Shopping Centre
S (239924)
SCHOOL OF
CHEMICAL &
LIFE SCIENCES
Calling all CLS Alumni to
join in Series of
Entrepreneurial Talks
Are you a CLS alumnus Come and share
your experiences in the upcoming series
of entrepreneurial talks that are scheduled
for July/Aug 03. Inspire our students with your
knowledge and experience! Interested Please
contact Mr Lau Hua Huat at 68706147 or e-mail:
lauhuahuat@sp.edu.sg
Upcoming CLS gathering
Looking forward to a CLS gathering Want to meet
your classmates that you have lost contact with Join
us for this gathering that is exclusively organised for
CLS alumni in Nov 03. Log on to http://
www.sp.edu.sg/schools/cls/ for more information or
contact the representatives listed below:
1. DCP (polymer option) & R&P Technology -
Mr Lau Hua Huat (Tel: 68706147)
2. DCP (Food option) -
Mr Samuel Aw (Tel: 68790473)
3. DCP (Industrial Chemistry) -
Ms Audrey Chen (Tel: 68790474)
4. DChem Engineering, Dip in Process
Engineering -
Mr Chidambaram (Tel: 68790604)
5. Dip in Biotechnology & Medical Technology -
Ms Shirlena Soh (Tel: 68704879)
6. Dip in Optometry -
Ms Vivien Chiang (Tel: 67721052)

SPear
SCDF AD

SPotlight SPear
An Independent-minded
Tomboy
Polo Foo Keng Boon, 24, couldn’t
get into the Architectural course
in SP and gamely studied Civil
Engineering. After a working stint with a
water treatment contractor in Malaysia,
coordinating all types of filtration
systems, she discovered the importance
of environmental issues related to water
and decided to switch to Environmental
Engineering in the University of New
South Wales.
She is now an environmental engineer
working in Sydney. She knows a whole
lot about cryptosporidium, the waterborne
parasite that can cause
gastroenteritis and even death in children
or HIV patients whose immune systems
are weak.
On a typical day in Sydney, you can see
her bent over at a construction site, amid
excavators and drillers, and collecting soil
and water samples for laboratory testing
and field reporting. She also conducts
assessments of underground storage tanks
and prescribes bioremediation for the soil
and comparison.
”
or containment strategies for the sites.
Leading investigations into hazardous
materials like asbestos does not faze
her too.
She was offered this job even before the
completion of her final exams. She is
totally not desk-bound which suits her
real fine.
Catching up with the Boys
As a child, she felt most comfortable,
tagging behind her two elder brothers and
male cousins. Her parents put her into a
convent school, but that did not do
anything to her tomboy nature. She
determinedly caught up with her brothers
and cousins to “play with toy guns, and
cycle here and there especially at
Grandma’s place in Yio Chu Kang, and
uncles’ homes in nearby Thomson. After
cycling, it would be Nintendo and Atari
games which they would normally let me
play when they didn’t want me to follow
them around.”
This catching up with the boys has
certainly moulded her independent
thinking. She managed to complete the
course in two years by cramping more
subjects into a semester. That meant she
had to manage her time better; and apply
self-discipline and hard work.
She is now well and trained to make up
her own mind on anything. She says: “I
guess many people don’t really know
The “The culture back home is to have the
tendency to be more self-centred and
directed towards unhealthy competition
what they want but know what they need.
I just happen to be lucky and have many
bizarre dreams. I believe I would prefer
to be the type of person who knows a little
of everything rather than know a lot about
only one thing.”
Life in Sydney
Totally absorbed and interested in her job
and life in Sydney as a permanent
resident, Polo finds that the pace in
Sydney though definitely slower than in
Singapore, has been catching up recently.
It is getting more and more common to
work six days a week, or at least 50 hours
a week.
But she says: “Comparing Sydney and
Singapore would be comparing apples
and oranges. In Sydney, I tend to have
more time for myself to concentrate on
working on things other than thinking or
stressing myself about work.
Furthermore, I have noticed that people
here are more open-minded and are
supportive of other people’s ideas and
have no problem voicing out opinions or
sharing personal and work experiences
(i.e. not ‘kiasu’). The culture back home
is to have the tendency to be more selfcentred
and directed towards unhealthy
competition and comparison.”
Full Circle
It is not just about water. Water forms only
part of the environmental problems
around the world. Polo reckons that
environmental issues would always
evolve quicker than solutions can be
found. She finds it a constant challenge
to keep the environment healthy to make
human beings live comfortably without
compromising lifestyle. So she is coming
back to her first love, Architecture. Multidisciplinary
environmental landscaping
and architecture is the next item on her
‘to research’ list.
She says: “Being involved in the
construction and environmental side of
things and given the Principle of Waste
Minimisation, I think it might be
interesting to combine science and art/
creativity/aesthetics from the start of every
process (eg. Product Design). This would
minimise the waste output of the process
(e.g. waste water, extra energy usage etc)
right at the start of the design stage.”
Polo will certainly head back to
Singapore if opportunity knocks on her
door though not for the next two years.
She says, “I guess companies in
Singapore will probably take me more
seriously when I’ve gathered more years
of experience in my field.” As always,
she wants to be taken seriously. – PG

SPear
AD SIM full pg

SPear
AD TMC full pg

SPotlight SPear
Comfort in the
No-Comfort Zone
Kelvin Tan
Swims Towards
Challenges
Kelvin Tan, 43, practically grew up in the shipping
industry. The ports and wharves were his playground
when he was a young boy. By the time he was a
teenager, he was the family’s resident errand boy servicing the
tugboats & barges.
After graduating as a Marine Engineer from SP and fulfilling his
national service duty, his quest for knowledge took him to
Scotland to get that additional engineering degree and an MBA
from Strathclyde University. Kelvin spent the next 10 years
building his experience in highly demanding Oil & Gas Industries
in the Asia Pacific Region. Focusing his attention on providing
project logistics services to all the Oil Majors and Drilling
contractors, meant being able
“
to respond swiftly to their
demands with detailed
planning and precise
execution of the jobs.
“Recalling those challenging
days still makes my adrenalin
flow. When you get a
thankful pat on the back or a big smile from these tough
customers, you forget about the hard work and the long hours
put in. You have this deep satisfaction that you have met the
world-class service standards set by this industry.” Kelvin
continues, “It’s like sailing in the vast ocean. You never know
what will hit you next, but you know you will … give your best
shot.”
In 1998, he joined Bayswater Shipping & Forwarding Pte Ltd
as a director. Bayswater specialises in the movement of goods
between Singapore and Batam Island routes. Kelvin was invited
to take on an executive role to grow Bayswater into a total onestop
world-class logistics company. The challenge was for
Kelvin to start with providing world–class logistics services
for Bayswater’s existing customers and also expanding beyond
the Batam and Singapore route into the international arena. “We
aim to provide a total service to support our customers in their
business internationally. If our customers require us to include
servicing or repairing their vessels apart from mobilising and
demobilising their oil rigs, we have the capability to do so. Being
in this shipping industry for so long, we have many friends and
business partners,” Kelvin said.
Asked for his view of the business environment and what
is required to be successful in the next few years, Kelvin reveals:
“Given such an uncertain outlook, companies can improve their
bottom lines in three ways - increase revenue by increasing
prices, widening the range of goods and services, or cutting
their costs. But in today’s sluggish and competitive economic
environment, cost-cutting is the main profit-booster. We run
the company in very lean ways and try to maintain all costs,
from entertainment to office relocation. The new office is now
less than a three-minute drive to Jurong Port where our
operations and warehouse are located. Productivity has
increased as staff can serve
customers better as the port
is only a stone’s throw
away.”
Efficiency and meeting
”
deadlines after all, are key
to success. For any project
undertaken by the company,
Kelvin will personally be involved to ensure that the project is
completed on time. He strongly believes that teamwork plays a
very vital role in the success of any project.
Kelvin attributes the success of the company to teamwork and
to the long-serving staff who have grown together with the
company. He believes in sharing his success with his staff. Now,
with the support of his reliable and happy staff, he is able to
concentrate more on overseas ventures and projects.
Knowing that the Singapore pie is too small for the shipping
industry, he has recently spent more time looking out for
overseas opportunities and projects that are related to the
shipping industry. Like the true seaman that he is, he feels at
home in every country.
Busy as he is, this father of two spends his weekends coaching
his children swimming. He wants them to learn survival skills.
His constant reminder to them is “Let money work for you, do
not work for money”. Being a former water-polo player who
represented SP and the Chinese Swimming Club, he wants to
instil discipline in his children. Kelvin remembers swimming with
the national swimmers in the good old days and his 4x100m relay
running record of 46 seconds in 1978 is still unbeaten in SP.
His advice to SP students: “Businesses are no longer evergreen.
Venture out of Singapore, if necessary.” - ACP
It’s like sailing in the vast ocean.
You never know what will hit
you next, but you know you will
… give your best shot.

SPear
SHRI AD
CHAMBER AD

SPear

SPotlight SPear
A Yen to Venture, An Eye for Br
In Pursuit of R&D in the Glamour Sector of Chemical and Life Sciences
Interested in a research career Researchers are a special breed. But what whet their appetite and keep them
glued to their lab benches SPAN News comes face to face with two alumni from the School of Chemical
Life Sciences.
Did you know that brain
mineral imbalance could be
the culprit in the
development of Mad Cow Disease
Discovering that mineral imbalance was
likely to be involved in the development
of prion diseases, which include the
notorious mad cow disease was certainly
a very high point in Dr Wong Boon
Seng’s career as a researcher. The study
was done in the last five years in
collaboration with a team of esteemed
scientists that included Dr. David Brown
at Bath University in UK, Prof. Ian Jones
at Reading University in UK and Prof.
Man-Sun Sy of Case Western Reserve
University in US.
Who ever said that research was dull It’s
a life of exciting discovery, creative
solution-seeking, focused writing of
papers and spirited sharing with fellow
scientists. It is also a life of dogged and
“ To build a
mature research
environment, you
need to have a core
supply of research
scientists, not just
”
technical support!
arduous investigation. Still, it is a life of
awards and grants, a kind of patronage
and recognition from institutions and
governments.
Thus another high point in Dr Wong’s
career was the Medical Research Scientist
Award from the National Medical
Research Council (NMRC), Singapore,
in 2001, which he received while he was
still at the Institute of Pathology, Case
Western Reserve University, Cleveland,
Ohio, USA.
He received his very first research grant
in Case Western two years ago. He says,
“Although the awarded sum was
small, it nevertheless allowed me
to do work of my liking, which
felt good because it showed that
I could sell my ideas!” At this
point of being interviewed for
this article, Dr. Wong received
news of an award by the
International Society of
Neurochemistry to present his
research at an international meeting this
coming August.
Dr Wong admits, “Prior to that, I had
never received any scholarship or award.
I was
just an average
student when I was
in SP.” It was his love
for chemistry, catalysed by
Mrs Lee Cit Looi, an exlecturer
in SP that started it all. He
enrolled in the Chemical Process
Technology Course but with so much
government publicity on biotechnology,
he strode into the second year of the new
Biotechnology programme. At that
time, he had no idea what Biology was
all about and the switch was quite painful.
Today, his research interest is in the
interface of biology and chemistry, more
specifically, biochemistry and neurochemistry.
After his National Service, Dr Wong, 32,
did his undergraduate studies in Molecular
Biology at the Queen’s University of
Belfast, Northern Ireland. He then returned
to Singapore and worked with the National
University of Singapore (NUS) as a Junior
Research Fellow. After a year, Dr Wong
went to England, this time to work as a
Scientific Officer at the Institute of Virology

SPotlight SPear
ain Metal Imbalances
in Oxford. At the same time, he also
registered as an external PhD student with
the Open University. He obtained
his Doctor of Philosophy in 1999 and
moved on to Case Western Reserve
University, Cleveland, Ohio, as a Research
Associate. His term there is ending and he
is soon returning home in July to take up
the position of Senior Research Scientist
at NUS.
Eureka!
When asked what gave him satisfaction
as a researcher, Dr Wong replied, “My
initial satisfaction is derived from being
able to say ‘Eureka’. Complete satisfaction
for me comes with the acceptance of my
findings by my peers and being able to
influence the direction of my field of
research, no matter big or small.”
Like many other junior scientists, Dr
Wong started off his career by doing
purely bench work and reading research
papers. Soon after, writing of manuscripts
and presenting his research at scientific
meetings began to creep in. Now, his
portfolio includes writing research grants
and serving as a reviewer and editorial
board member for several international
journals. He is also the proud author and
co-author of almost 30 research
publications.
His view of the Research Industry
Dr Wong says that industrial research is
still in its infant stage. In contrast,
Milestones
-
-
-
-
-
-
Jul
academic research in life sciences has
long been established in Singapore. Most
drug companies who have a footing here
are mostly involved in development and
manufacturing operations. However,
many of them are beginning to beef up
their research capacity. “To build a mature
research environment, you need to have
a core supply of research scientists, not
just technical support!”
While it is true that scientists involved in
industrial research generally command
much higher salaries than their academic
counterparts, they have much narrower
focus and the management and the market
usually define their research objectives.
Academic research, on the other hand, is
very much in the hands of the researcher,
although sometimes it can depend on the
interests of the funding agencies.
Academic researchers should also not look
at their work for financial fulfillment. In
Europe, academic scientists are earning so
much less compared to other
professionals. But one of the main
motivations in academic research is the
desire to uncover the laws of nature. The
discovery element means that research
cannot be a nine to five weekday job.
Schedules largely will depend on
investigations, which cannot be shelved to
a more convenient time.
Research in life sciences gets Dr Wong’s
thumb up. He says, “While information
technology has eased our daily life, life
sciences will help to enhance and extend
our way of life. The Singapore population
is greying and increased attention to
medical care can be expected.”
Family support
Dr Wong has the full support and
blessings of his mother and siblings. They
are behind his decisions, which include
the move from Europe and US. They
supported his decision to remain in
biological science long before the current
campaign on promoting life sciences. His
wife, Kelly, equally supportive, gave up
her career in securities in Singapore and
followed him to England.
A word for SP Alumni Interested
In Research
Admitting that he was never an
academically excellent student, and had
never received any scholarships or
awards in schools and the Poly, Dr Wong
has this advice for younger SP alumni:
“Follow your heart. Be confident of your
decision. In competitive research, simply
possessing knowledge of your field is not
enough. It is important to stay creative:
identify a new area of research and have
a broad perspective. Have lots of
persistence and be firm with your focus
and convince those who doubt your
findings. Next, have patience as
confirmation of your research may come
fast or slow. Believe in yourself and
success will come, sooner or later.”
- JC, PG
Dip in Biotechnology
Bachelor of Science, Molecular Biology, Queen’s University of Belfast, UK
Junior Research Fellow, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), National University of Singapore
Scientific Officer, Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology (now CEH Oxford),
National Environment Research Council, Oxford, UK
External PhD student with the Open University
Research Associate (-), Instructor (-), Institute of Pathology,
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Medical Research Scientist Award from the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) in Singapore
Senior Research Scientist, National Medical Research Institute, National University of Singapore
A growth in job demand can be observed in the Chemical Life Sciences Industry. In the recent eJobFair that the Alumni Office organised between
February and March , companies in the research, pharmaceutical and life sciences were recruiting more staff. Some of these companies
included P & G Co, Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, Genome Institute of Singapore and Schering–Plough Singapore.
In the Fresh Graduate Employment Survey of , or .% of the respondents indicated that their present jobs were involved in research
work to a moderate or large extent. This was an increase of % compared to the survey done in .

SPotlight SPear
Polymer Lady Gets Confident
with More and More Projects
For Dr Lau Soo Khim, her
motivation and satisfaction is
derived from the many nonrepetitive
projects that she handles as a
Research Fellow with the Singapore
Institute of Manufacturing Technology
(SIMTech). She is involved not only in
cutting edge technology but also in
industry projects. Every day at work is a
new challenge. Learning curves are steep
and each is a constant test of skills in
picking and applying new knowledge
quickly. There is also a lot of room for
creativity in R&D in the course of her
work. She simply enjoys her job as the
job nature fits her personality very well.
She is one young lady who likes
challenges and variations.
“In In order to feel good at the end of the day, you need
to do your best in whatever you undertake and adopt
a positive and open altitude. Last but not least, be
willing to take hardship and never stop learning.
to do your best in whatever you undertake and adopt
”
She selected the Chemical Process
Technology in SP from which she
graduated in 1983 because Chemistry was
her favourite subject in secondary school.
After she obtained her PhD degree, she
had the option to go into the R&D field.
She says: “It was not easy to get a job in
the private sector if I wanted to stay in
the relevant field i.e. Polymer. I am glad
for the opportunity to stay in the R&D
sector as it has given me the opportunity
to sharpen my research and analytical
skills further. It constantly builds up my
confidence in facing and solving
problems not just at work but also in life.”
Her job requires her to identify
technologies that would be useful to the
local industry, lead a team of researchers
in building up competency in the
technologies and promote the technology
to the industry through seminars,
presentations and company visits. She
also helps to identify and establish project
collaborations with other research
institutions on cutting edge technologies
and works with industry partners on
various projects. In line with the recent
call for Research Institutes to provide
manpower training through cosupervising
students for their PhD and
MSc. degrees, she is also actively
involved in manpower training for R&D.
Dr Lau has led a team of multidisciplinary
researchers in developing
Milestones
Diploma in Chemical Process Technology
Advanced Diploma in Plastic Technology
Msc in Polymer Technology, Loughborough University, UK
Sponsored by a British company to do a PhD in
Urethane-Acrylic Coating
Joined Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology “SIMTech”
(formerly known as Gintic) as an Associate Research Fellow
Promoted to the position of Research Fellow
core-competency in Manufacturing
Plastic Optical Lenses, and a team of
SIMTech researchers to work on a nationwide
project on development of
lightweight scaffold system for the
marine industry. She has also initiated a
collaboration project with Nanyang
Technological University on the
development of nano-composite PEN
(Polyethylene Naphthalate).
Dr Lau is upbeat about the growth of the
Chemical Life Sciences industry here.
She says: “With competition coming
from countries that offer lower
manufacturing costs, I see this sector as
the next phase of development that the
government has for Singapore to go into
in order to continue to do well. Compared
to competing countries, Singapore’s
current strength is in its largely educated
population and enforcement on copyright
protection laws. These will place
Singapore as an attractive alternative
source for companies to set up R&D in
the Chemical Life Sciences industry. This
could be a good strategy and competing
countries will also find it hard to emulate
this new direction as it takes years to build
a population of educated manpower and
to enforce copyright legislation.”
Her message for fellow alumni is: “In
order to feel good at the end of the day,
you need to do your best in whatever you
undertake and adopt a positive and open
altitude. Last but not least, be willing to
take hardship and never stop learning.”
- JC
Seconded to Resin & Pigments Technologies as R&D Manager

LOVE AND MUSIC IN THE AIR
BERNETT AND PAULINE FOUND
LOVE IN THEIR POLY DAYS
SPotlight SPear
Their love for music was what brought them together.
They first met in their first year in the SP Concert Band.
Pauline was performing on the French horn while
Bernett played the saxophone. Bernett found Pauline to be warm
and friendly and she was impressed with his humility. With
friends’ enthusiastic encouragement, they finally admitted to
falling in love in their third year.
Bernett recalls, “Our relationship is not love at first sight but
rather one that grew strongly from friendship. And, our
involvement in the Concert Band had certainly helped us to
know each other better. Our friends played a positive part too.”
Eight years on, they tied the knot last November. When asked to
elaborate more on their long relationship of eight years, Bernett
says: “We had our fair share of ups and downs but we have always
stayed true to each other. We support each other to grow in our
profession. Pauline has been very encouraging in my passion
for Bioinformatics. Likewise, I have seen her teach and I can
feel that she derives great satisfaction from teaching.”
Biology in his Genes
Yes, they have seen each grow. Bernett was originally interested
in biology. He graduated from SP with a Diploma in
Biotechnology. He applied for a place in National University
of Singapore and was accepted for a Bachelor of Science
programme. He was pleasantly surprised that he was given
exemption for five modules because of his SP Diploma. Bernett
then realised that his education in SP had provided him with a
broad range of knowledge that would help him through as an
undergraduate.
With hard work and determination to succeed, Bernett qualified
for the Honors programme. It was during this time that he was
introduced to the field of Bioinformatics. This was when he
discovered that Bioinformatics was just the field that could
marry his twin passions of computers and Biology.
Currently, Bernett is pursuing his PhD in Bioinformatics at the
Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore
on a scholarship programme. Bernett explains, “Bioinformatics
is part of the Life Sciences and it deals mainly with the
application of computational methods and technologies to
biological problems. Basically it is the application of the
computational techniques to solve biological problems. For
example, you may have heard about the Human Genome Project
(HGP) with its high tech machines and molecular biology
techniques. Bioinformatics is very much responsible for its
success. Managing and analysing such large amounts of data
would not have been possible without Bioinformatics.”
of forty rowdy kids is no joke. Still, she is a strong believer that
each child has his or her potential, and that the goal of education
is to bring out this hidden potential which may not be in the
academic aspects. Pauline shares, “The child may have other
aesthetic talents and it is the role of a teacher to nurture the child
such that he or she fully develops to the maximum.”
They flew to Bangkok for their honeymoon and took a romantic
cruise before Pauline indulged herself with shopping in
Bangkok. Bernett exclaims, “You will not believe the amount
of stuff that she bought! But, it was great fun and was a pleasant
escape from our usual busy schedules.” - JC
1/4 ad
A daily affair with 40 rowdy kids
After her Diploma in Electronics course in 1997, Pauline worked
as a trainer at an IT school. That was when she discovered her
true vocation – teaching. Teaching is a natural choice for her
with her love for children. She derives great satisfaction from
being with them. Although it seems like second nature to her
now, she admits that trying to maintain discipline in a classroom

SPotlight SPear
Figures that Take You Places
Figures, calculators and tons of
documents that you have to face
and analyse daily.
Do you start to see “stars”
Certainly not for Mr Alfred Shee
who was in one of the earliest
batches that graduated from SP
with a Professional Diploma in
Accountancy. Figures in fact have
fuelled his love for travelling.
various management positions in his 26-
year stay. Besides helping his division to
gain ISO 9002 certification in 1999, he
also spearheaded the control and risk selfassessment
projects of OUB.
“Also, I got to travel frequently to our
branches throughout the world to conduct
and supervise internal audits. That was
certainly a fantastic exposure,” Alfred
shared.
Alfred Shee’s professional
credentials are impressive. He
is certified either as a fellow or
member of many prestigious professional
institutes in Australia, Singapore, UK and
USA.
Not disturbed by the little pay that he
drew from his first job at Peat Marwick
Mitchell & Co Singapore and Melbourne
(it is now known as KPMG) and of the
late nights at work, Alfred motivated
himself by telling himself that he had to
be exposed to the various accounting and
management systems of the different
companies that he had to audit. He gained
tremendous experience in how British,
European and American multi-national
companies and banks functioned.
After about eight years with Peat Marwick
Mitchell & Co, Alfred decided for a change
and joined the then Overseas Union Bank
(OUB) as the Manager for Corporate
Planning and Accounts in 1975.
With a knack for figures and a love for
doing accounts and audits, Alfred saw
himself climbing the corporate ladder
steadily in OUB. He was involved in
Towards the end of 2001, Alfred chose
to opt for early retirement to set up his
own business when OUB was bought
over by United Overseas Bank (UOB).
He left as the Executive Vice President
(Audit & Inspection Division). After that,
he started a public accounting and
consulting firm.
“Rather than to stay idle after my early
retirement from OUB, I decided to take
this opportunity to kick-start my own
business”, he explained.
When asked how his education at SP
helped him in his career, he explained that
the foundation he acquired at SP was
valuable. It had helped too when he took
external examinations to qualify as a
Chartered Accountant and as a Certified
Public Accountant.
Alfred has also been very active in
volunteer work. He was the President of
the Rotary Club of Raffles City (‘93/‘94)
and of the Institute of Internal Auditors,
Singapore (‘88/‘96). Presently, he is
serving as the President of Gan Eng Seng
School Old Students’ Association,
Auditor of the Pioneer Constituency
Citizens’ Consultative Committee and
Vice President of the Australian Alumni,
Singapore. In the Institute of Certified
Public Accountants, Singapore, he is
serving on the Editorial Committee and
the Continuing Professional Education
Committee. In the Public Accountants’
Board, he is a panel member of the Board
of Enquiry.
Married with two children, Alfred enjoys
travelling occasionally. “In August 2001,
I went to Switzerland and the scenery was
just really awesome.” The travel bug has
not quite left him.
Message for alumni in the accounting
profession
“Find a niche and enjoy what you do. For
starters, try not to pay too much attention
to your starting pay. Aim for a job that
offers breadth and width to gain as much
experience as you can. With diversified
experience, you will make it one day in
your profession.” - JC
With high postage and printing costs, the Alumni Office has been facing an uphill task of augmenting our funds to print and
mail SPAN News to all alumni in our database. We are gratified to announce that for the past 2 magazine issues when we
ran appeals for donations, we received more than $1,000. We would like to say a very big THANK YOU to the following graduates
for their generosity:
THANK YOU
Eddy Chee Wing Onn Cheong Eng Kiat Yeo Cheng Sim Ang Biang Soon, Francis
Soh Kim Hock Benedict Belinda Lum Chua Wang Hwee Dennis Lin Ziqin Tan Mei Siah Lee
Siang Lim Gan Hui Beng Ho Yip Seng, Clive Look Chee Kiong Kwah Siong Inn
DONORS!
Pang Kian Fatt Kua Cheng Huat Tan Ai Kiat Haw Chee Siong Ng Lai Soon Vincent
Derrick Tan Liu Wei Teck Chua Yew Seng
For All Donors: Please approach our Students & Alumni Affairs Counter (Gate Two, Dover Rd) to collect your sling bag donated
by BT Services.
For All Readers: Why not join them in giving back to your alma mater Give us a call (Angelvin - 6870 6091), write us a cheque*
or drop us a note (email: angelvin@sp.edu.sg).
*Please fill in your details on the cover slip and send it together with your cheque.

SPotlight SPec
Hungry for Lifelong Learning -
First Class Hons. in Engineering …
finally.
Chan Kwong Mun, 46, finally
received his Engineering degree
after acquiring two degrees in
Business. He was the top student at the
University of Southern Queensland
graduation ceremony in March. What
took him so long Here’s his story in his
own words.
Life back in 1973 was tough. My father
had retired while I was in primary school
and he passed away in the second week
that I started my Dip. in Mechanical
Engineering course. My two elder sisters
supported the family and my two elder
brothers were still studying. I was the
youngest in the family.
With three distinctions in the ‘O’ Levels,
I was accepted for pre-university, but I
chose to go to SP. I won the Public
Service Commission merit bursary which
helped to cover my course fees and daily
expenses. My mother could not afford to
give me pocket money.
My first year of Polytechnic life was at
the Ayer Rajah Campus and we had to
jostle with workers going to Jurong on
the bus. All first year engineering students
had to go through the first year Common
Engineering course and fight to get into
the 3-year Diploma course at the Prince
Edward Road Campus. The rest were
channeled into the 2-year Industrial
Technician Certificate course at the Ayer
Rajah Campus.
It was a joy for me to get into the Diploma
course and study in Shenton Way! It was
fun getting into the lunch crowd with the
office workers in the central business
district. Going to the movies or a bowling
game after class was very convenient.
“
After my national service, I was posted
to the Ministry of Health to serve my
eight-year bond. I found myself at the
renal unit of the Singapore General
Hospital as a Technical Officer. I worked
for two months but didn’t like the place
because that was the ward that my father
died in while he was
hospitalised for
kidney failure.
When Singapore
Airlines offered me
the job of trainee
workshop engineer,
I borrowed some
money to pay off
the government
bond. Later, I
worked as QA
engineer, QA
Manager, Customer
Service Manager,
Operations Manager and Engineering
Manager in the aviation industry. Now, I
am employed as the Quality Manager
with an American aerospace company.
My time at SP was an enriching
experience and had provided me with a
good engineering foundation in
understanding the intricacies of the
aircraft.
Subsequently, I pursued the business
administration degree and masters’
courses because there were no
engineering courses available for parttime
studies. When I heard about the parttime
Engineering degree course by USQ,
I jumped at the chance. The course had a
four-week residential component in the
mother campus in Australia for practice
units. Staying on campus was a fruitful
and rewarding experience although I had
to take my annual leave to fly to Brisbane.
Yes, I was one of the oldest students, but
I never allowed that to affect me. Most
of the participants on distance learning
courses are matured students anyway.
Achieving the First Class Honours in the
Bachelor of Engineering degree involved
sacrifices and achieving it is like reaching
the peak of Mount Everest. Sacrifices
meant less time with family, no time for
television or movies and little sleep.
Going to bed after midnight has become
a norm. I can’t remember the last time I
sat down to watch a movie from
beginning till end. Besides reading my
textbooks and course study materials, I
had to find time to coach my son in his
school studies.
There are many like me, who did not have
the chance to continue at the university
right after Poly. But as we learners look
for help from educational providers,
whether online or on campus, we should
not upgrade our competencies blindly.
We should regularly review our
competencies, to remain employable. The
issue now is whether the educational
community will accept the challenge of
providing this kind of support to help
lifelong learners decide what they need
to learn. While new technologies offer
greater potential for meeting the demand
of these learners, higher education
providers will need to put in greater effort
to help mature students realise their
potential.
I am not stopping here, but I will take a
break before deciding on the next course.
I am also spending more time coaching
my son for his Mechanical Engineering
course at SP too (but of course!). My wife
Gina and I have one child. I always tell
my son that if Daddy can make it to the
university, you should be able to do better
with all the opportunities available. - PG
”

SPotlight SPec
‘Nonya’
Dumplings
Anyone
Eastern Rice Dumpling’s secret ‘nonya’ recipe started
more than 30 years ago from Mr Lim Cheng Hwee’s
grandmother. At the age of nine, he would help to wash
the bamboo leaves for one and a half hours before going to
school.He now proudly shows off the minute scar on the
underside of his left thumb – a badge of courage from his days
of bamboo leaves.
Cheng Hwee (DME 1986), now the Managing Director of
Eastern Rice Dumpling, proudly invented a cooking timer, a
mechanical meat cooker and a multi-purpose mixer to automate
and control the process to produce delicious nonya dumplings.
Visit his 1,600 square feet shophouse and you will see the
cooking timer, which he proudly declares, was “singlehandedly”
built. The timer is used to assist his employees to

SPotlight SPec
“ ”
ahead of time and be able to respond as it is happening.
Be skilled and equipped so as to be able to recognise the change
control the consistency levels of the eight boilers in his kitchen.
Merit Performer
Learning can never stop for the late bloomer who graduated
with a merit certificate from Singapore Technical Institute (now
known as ITE). Determined to make the business more efficient
and less labour-intensive, Cheng Hwee proceeded to pursue his
studies in Singapore Polytechnic. Armed with a Certificate of
Merit in Mechanical Engineering, the dream of expanding his
family business spurred him into achieving a B Eng (Mech)
Second Upper Honours at Nanyang
Technological University. He could
now marry his technological expertise
with his grandma’s exceptional handme-down
dumpling recipe.
“Many changes are enabled by
technology, which can add greater
value by doing it cheaper, better and
differently.” He is quick to add that, it
is not just a question of blindly
adapting to the myriad changes. “It is
all about abstracting what’s happening
and figuring out what is applicable to
be able to lead the change and stay
ahead.”
pix
Benevolent Inventor
Five years into the business, Cheng Hwee has brought many
changes to the traditional business. Designing most of the
machinery, he customised the equipment to suit the specific
needs of various processes. Twice, he gave the opportunity to
final-year SP students as projects to work on his ideas. Knowing
the commitment, enthusiasm and capabilities of the students,
he truly believes in sharing his knowledge with them. During
such periods, his kitchen would be turned into a mini-lecture
theatre as he warmly welcomes them into the working
environment where their innovations would be used.
Cheng Hwee also never passes up the chance to recommend
young companies who find purchasing new machinery too
costly, to work with SP and give the younger generation a chance
to develop their ideas and concepts. With a twinkle in his eye,
he whispered, “I’ve learnt so much myself, it’s eye-opening to
see how a business is run. It’s one thing to learn about
mechanical engineering in school, and another to actually apply
it to running a business.”
Flexible Entrepreneur
Today’s rapidly changing business environment has not left
Eastern Dumpling unscathed. It had its ups and downs, like the
1999 pork crisis. But it was quick enough to replace pork with
chicken and that saved the business. Focussed on expansion,
Cheng Hwee is making headway in his branding and promotion.
Since last year, Eastern Rice Dumpling no longer serves
takeaway dumplings in conventional plastic bags. It has its
own colourful and brightly laminated box. The box also comes
with an information leaflet on the ingredients of various
dumplings and the story behind the Dumpling Festival. He
strongly believes that branding is very crucial to bring the
business up to the next level.
Certain that there are many business opportunities in the region;
he is currently looking into expanding his business regionally.
A self-confessed perfectionist, he understands his kitchen
capabilities and with calculated
risks he will take the region by
storm in no time.
Over the years, his business has
picked up tremendously. With
more than five outlets island-wide
and the main shop house under his
belt, how does the jovial thirtysomething
deal with change
“Be skilled and equipped so as to
be able to recognise the change
ahead of time and be able to
respond as it is happening.” Not
complacent with his signatory Nonya and other dumplings
surpassing 1000 unit sales a day, Cheng Hwee yearns for that
extra market share and has already invented a new dumpling –
yes, our very own Singapore curry dumpling – the first in
Singapore. The curry dumpling will certainly work its way up
to our Singaporeans’ hearts (and stomachs). It will hit the shelves
just before the Dumpling Festival.
So, will the three-in-one entrepreneur pass the family business
on to his children Well, he would only reveal that his wife,
who oversees the operations as the production planner,
occasionally brings their two boys to the shop house to help
out. -ACP
Special for SP Alumni!
For every dumplings purchased,
you receive dumpling free.
Only redeemable at:
Eastern Rice Dumpling,
Balestier Road
(Opp. Balestier Point)
Present this coupon
Valid till July

SPec
Trying Times or
not, Lo-hei Dinner
Confirms Strong
Tradition
Singapore Polytechnic Entrepreneurs’ Club (SPEC)
held their annual Lo-Hei Dinner on 13 February 2003
at Kippo Restaurant, Keppel Club.More than 30
members from SPEC and SPIMA (Singapore Polytechnic
Industrial Management Alumni) were present for the
traditional “Lo-hei” (a Cantonese term for a special Chinese
New Year good-luck ritual of tossing a raw fish salad with
chopsticks high in the air).
Businessmen believe that the higher the toss, better fortune and
luck would beckon in the New Year. Without fail every year,
members of SPEC would get together for this auspicious
occasion and toss really high.
Joining them this year were distinguished guests Mr Alfred
Shee, Mr Lawrence Chua (President of ASME), Sir Dr
Melvin Lim (CEO of Asiainstitut of Management) and newlyrecruited
member, Mr Ng Chin Hock (Managing Director/
Principal of Ashford Management).
Mr Kenny Yap (Chairman and CEO of Qianhu Corporation Ltd.)
who also recently joined as a member could not attend the event.
The night however provided the other entrepreneurs many
networking opportunities.
If you are an SP graduate and have started your own business,
why not join our Singapore Polytechnic Entrepreneurs’ Club
Email angelvin@sp.edu.sg or call 6870 6091 for a SPEC
application form.

SPec
N2 ad
TMC ad

SPJob SPec News
Importance of
Career Management
To help alumni job seekers, SPAN News approached Ms Tan Susan, Assistant Centre Manager, Manpower
Deployment Department, Ministry of Manpower, to contribute an article.
In recent years, we have seen changes
in our economy and development of
new technology happening at a
lightning speed. New technology creates
new jobs and changes old ones. Some old
jobs are being replaced forever, making
some skills redundant for life. The
changing employment landscape has
made the low unemployment rate of
2% as of the 1990’s a thing of the past.
The old mindset of lifetime employment
within a company is no longer relevant
in this era of knowledge economy.
Good career management has never been
so important. Every individual has to plan
and manage his/her own career starting
from one’s teenage years, to ensure
lifelong employability. The continual
acquisition of new knowledge, skills and
competencies, lifelong learning is an
essential journey that everyone has to
cruise through in order to ensure lifelong
employability in this knowledge economy.
Career management is, essentially, a
lifelong process comprising a cycle of
activities. It makes you reflect on your
employment experience and significant
events in your life; unfolds your work
values, skills and interests; identifies your
work preference and your ideal job; and
lastly leads to a comprehensive action
plan. If job search falls under one of the
activities within your action plan, this
article will help you to be better equipped
for your job search.
First Step: Self-Awareness
Some people think that flipping through
job advertisements is the first step in their
job search. They are mistaken. The first
step to any job-seeking project is to
understand oneself better. A thorough
self-assessment on one’s interests,
personality, skills, and work values is the
essential first step. Job seekers can choose
to embark on their self-discovery
journeys on their own or do it with a
career coach. For those of you who would
like to try on your own, you may visit
www.employmenttown.gov.sg/
careersmatch for a start.
Second Step: Job Application Tools
Having understood yourself better, you
may proceed to the next step of your job
search by ensuring you have the
necessary tools for your job search. You
will need a set of different application
letters and résumés for different job
applications. A well-written cover letter
with a convincing résumé is essential in
order to attract your potential employer’s
attention and create interest, thereby,
getting you an interview. It is your
marketing kit. Forget about modesty; be
confident, enthusiastic, and focused; and
sell yourself. Remember to use high
quality white or off-white A4 size paper
for your cover letter and résumé;
and show them to at least two people
for feedback.
Besides the published job advertisements,
you may want to hunt for suitable jobs
from the various online job sites, attend
job fairs, register yourself with private
employment agencies and headhunting
firms, broadcast for unadvertised
job opportunities, and tap on your
network for job opportunities.
For more information on online job
sites, private employment agencies,
and job fairs, please log on to
www.employmenttown.gov.sg.
Third Step: Job Interviews
Interviews can be nerve-racking,
intimidating and stressful for some of
you. However, it is your last and crucial
step into that job. Being equipped with
some basic skills can ensure a smooth and
successful interview. In addition,
outstanding performance in an interview
leaves a deep impression on your
interviewer, which in turn increases your
chance to get that job. Preparation is a
critical factor for any successful
interview. Learn pertinent facts about the
company, such as history of company,
range of products and services.
You must also know what you want, what
skills you are selling and who you are
selling them to. Prepare answers to
common questions asked during
interviews to prevent being caught offguard,
as well as some common questions
to ask the interviewer to show your
interest in the organisation. Employers
like positive individuals with enthusiasm
for their work, therefore show enthusiasm
and confidence, be aware of your facial
expressions, and avoid any negative
comments about your current or previous
employers or co-workers.
The manner with which you end the
interview should strengthen your position
in the interviewer’s mind. It is a make-it
or break-it point. You should summarise
your core competencies and strengths.
Inform the interviewer of your interest in
the position, and ask if there is a second
interview or when you will know the
outcome of the interview. Don’t be
discouraged if no commitment is made.
The interviewer will need to interview
more candidates before making a
decision. Thank the interviewer for his
time and consideration, and end with a
firm handshake. Send a brief Thank You
note immediately after every job
interview. Crafted properly, it can be a
powerful selling tool. The letter should
clearly outline your interest and ability
to succeed in the new position.
Secret of Successful Job Search:
Stress Management
You should not forget to schedule time for
relaxation in the midst of your job search,
as job search can be a rather stressful event.
A relaxed self enhances your ability to
cope with the demands of job search.
Relaxing activities do not necessarily need
to burn a hole in your pocket. You can go
for a slow and soothing walk by yourself
or with your loved ones and playing with
your pets is one good way to relieve stress
too. Exercise, music therapy, and
aromatherapy are other alternatives which
can help you unwind.

SPJob SPec News
Make your
job application stand out!
This article is contributed by Adecco, the world leader in staffing services with offices in
countries, including offices in Singapore, providing temporary, contract, permanent and executive
recruitment. Website: www.adecco-asia.com
Your letter of application is
perhaps the most vital tool that
you will utilise in the initial
application process when hunting for
your new job. In many cases, you will
not have spoken to someone prior to
submission of your “paperwork”, so this
introduction must make you shine and
stand apart from the pack!
Put yourself in the employers’ shoes. If
you had the choice of reading a lengthy
letter or a concise career summary, which
one would you choose Which one is
going to appeal to you and help you digest
information quickly about the person to
offer the job to
There are three simple rules that can apply
to either your letter of application or
resume. These are: Keep It Simple, Keep
It Honest and Keep It Balanced.
THE FIRST STEP
Read the job advertisement carefully and
ensure that you understand it. Highlight
key criteria, competencies and required
qualifications and then play the devil’s
advocate with yourself or enlist the help
of a friend in this process. Do you really
have the abilities, skills, experience and
personal attributes to successfully carry
out this job role If yes, then continue
with your application. If you can’t “tick
all the boxes” in that checklist, don’t
worry! Carefully consider if the role may
still be right for you if the employer is
able to accommodate some learning and
growth on the job. Remember, nothing
ventured, nothing gained.
Keep It Simple
Always use plain good quality paper if
you are submitting a hard copy of your
application and whether you email, fax
or post your application, ensure that full
contact details are included with correct
title and spelling. Identify and refer to the
position you are enquiring about using
reference numbers as stated in the
advertised position.
Don’t forget to include your own details
at the top of the letter of application.
Provide contact numbers where you can
be reached at during the day and in the
evening , seven days a week (you don’t
want to miss out on a job opportunity
because you were only available during
business hours!)
In a few sentences, provide a snapshot of
your past experience and/or
achievements, outlining your academic
qualifications and the reasons for your
commitment to that level of study.
Continue with a summary of your current
employment and academic status and
complete the brief synopsis by
commenting on your future aspirations
to apply your qualifications, experience
and knowledge to the job role, in line
with the corporate commitment of the
potential employer.
In this way you have already painted the
benefits of employing you!
The next paragraph should comment on
your knowledge of the employer’s
company and the job role you are
applying for.
Don’t overstate your knowledge - you
should have researched them on the
Internet to gain an understanding of the
company but you should display a
balance of knowledge and a desire to want
to know more.
Ensure that you conclude with a clear idea
of how to contact you and when you could
start the job.
Keep It Honest
When outlining your past relevant
experience to the advertised position,
remember that what you state in your
letter is what the employer will ask you
to expand on at the interview. You will
also be asked for referees so any
overstatements of tasks, duties or
responsibilities will be discussed in detail.
This letter is only one of the
opportunities to present yourself to
potential employers, so remember to
follow the A.I.D.A principle:
Attention:
You must grab the reader’s attention with
relevant information.
Interest:
You must hold the reader’s interest for
the duration of the letter.
Desire:
You must create a desire for the reader to
meet you.
Action:
You must give the reader enough
information to springboard into action -
that is to contact you for an interview!
Keep It Balanced
Maintain a degree of balance between
selling yourself in the best possible light
and remaining humble in your
achievements and successes. Whilst
selling yourself in a letter may not come
naturally to many people, “selling
yourself short” will not result in an
interview. The balance must also extend
to what you know about the company -
displaying knowledge of its background
and core business demonstrates that you
have actively researched the employer.
However, making assumptions that you
understand the company culture and
intimate business strategies is
presumptuous.
* Want more information on finding the
RIGHT job Join us for a talk by ADECCO.
For more details, please refer to page 29.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○
Calendar SPec
Let’s Go Eco! Get away from it all
with family and alumni friends. Qualified adventure
Guides provided.
Choose from the three programmes below:
Choice 1 : Endau-Rompin National Park,
West Malaysia (Code:SN1401a)
Dates : October 23-26 (4 Days/3 Nights)
Programme:
Day 1: Arrive at Kampong Peta base camp & visit the Park’s
education centers. Take a Night Jungle Walk in the evening.
Day 2: Start on a 2-Day Jungle Trek, first by boat to Kuala
Jasin and hike through lowland forests. Arrive at Batu Hampar
Campsite.
Day 3: Arrive at Buaya Sangkut or Trapped Crocodile
Waterfall. Trek downhill to Kuala Marong and spend the night
by the Jasin River.
Day 4: Leave by canoe & longboat to Kampong Peta before
transferring at Kluang to catch bus back to Singapore.
Price: $ 350.00 per person*
Choice 2 : Krabi, South Thailand (Code:SN1401b)
Dates : October 23-26 (4 Days/3 Nights)
Programme:
Day 1: Transfer to hotel located at Ao Nang Beach. Visit Rai
Lay Beach and Phra Nang Bay. Swim, explore caves, try rock
climbing or go trekking.
Day 2: Go island hopping, snorkel or have a picnic lunch on
Chicken Island. Pamper yourself with a traditional Thai
massage at the hotel spa in the afternoon.
Day 3: Take the Jungle Trail to the Emerald Pool and on to
Klong Thom. Enjoy yourself at the Hot Spring & Hot Waterfall.
Visit Wat Tham Sua, best known for its Tiger Cave. Climb up
the mountain to a pair of Buddha’s footprints and enjoy the
breathtaking view.
Day 4: Free & Easy… zoom down the countryside,
its paddy fields or its local villages.
Leave for Singapore in the late afternoon.
Price: $950.00 per person*
REGISTRATION FORM
Activity Code No:_____________________________________________________________________________
Name of Alumnus:________________________________________________I/C No:_______________________
Course Graduated/Year:_________________________________________________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________________________________________
Contact No:__________________________ Email:__________________________________________________
No. of Adults:_______
No. of Children:________
*The Alumni Office reserves the right to cancel any course which has a low subscription
*All payments are non-refundable unless the course has been cancelled or if there are no vacancies.
Choice 3 : Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai,
Northern Thailand (Code:SN1401c)
Dates : October 23-26 (4 Days/3 Nights)
Programme:
Day1: Venture to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Thailand’s
most famous pilgrimage sites. Enjoy dinner by the Ping River.
Check out the city’s famous night bazaar.
Day 2: Leave for Elephant Camp & visit the Palong hill tribe,
en-route to idyllic Tha Ton city on the Kok River.
Day 3: Take a river barge or canoe down the Kok River. Leave
for Chiang Rai in the afternoon and stay at a hotel overlooking
the mighty Mekong River.
Day 4: Visit the famous Golden Triangle Thailand, Myanmar
and Laos. Take a boat ride down the Mekong. Leave for Chiang
Rai Airport, with a flight change in Bangkok to return to
Singapore.
Price: $1,100 per person*
*Price include air fare/coach, twin sharing accommodation, insurance, taxes,
park entry permits & most meals. Prices are subject to changes and can only
be finalised on your confirmation and payment of a 50% cheque deposit to
‘Eco-Centricpeople’.
Closing date for registration: 25 July 2003
Min. no. of participants per group: 20
(Children must beat least 10 years old and able to track for 8-10 hours.)
Physical Grading of each programme: 1.5 (Generally Easy)
Students’ discounts are available for under 12 years old.
Call: Vimala at 68706034 or email vimala@sp.edu.sg or
Chin Soon at 68706068 or email cs_low@sp.edu.sg
Pls send your registration form accompanied by your cheque (made payable to ‘Eco-Centricpeople’) to:
Low Chin Soon
Department of Student & Alumni Affairs
Singapore Polytechnic
500 Dover Road, Singapore 139651

SPec
CALENDAR of
EVENTSCalendar
Entrepreneurship Training Workshop (SN1402)
Aspiring to be your own boss
Join us in this entrepreneurship workshop that will give you more insights into the following:
a) Key factors in starting your own business b) Five Entrepreneurship Styles
c) Styles of Superior Risk Takers d) What it takes to succeed
Speaker: Mr Kannappan Chettiar
Date: 14 June 2003
Time: 9.30 to 11.30 am
Venue: LT12D
Cost: $10 for SP Alumni, $15 for friends/relatives
Closing date: 4 June 2003
Contact: Vimala at Tel: 68706034 or email: vimala@sp.edu.sg
About the Speaker : Mr Kannappan Chettiar is the Chairman of the Stansfield Group. Stansfield Group
was recently ranked No. 32 on the Enterprise 50 Awards. Mr Kannappan was one of the finalists in the
Rotary-ASME Entrepreneur of Year 2002 and Phoenix Award 2003. He was also a speaker in the
Singapore Business Congress 2003.
Finding the Right Job in a Challenging Market (SN1403)
Economic downturn. Retrenchment. Lay-offs. These are the buzzwords of challenging times. How can
one find a suitable job in this tough market Which industries are recruiting What types of jobs are
available out there What skills are sought after by employers Find out more about the current
recruitment trends and useful job-hunting tips at this talk by Ms Zalina Ariffin, Corporate
Communications Specialist of Adecco Singapore.
Date : 21 June 2003
Time : 9 to 11 am
Venue : MLT12
Cost : $10 for SP Alumni, $15 for friends/relatives
Closing date : 11 June 2003
Contact: Vimala at Tel: 68706034 or email: vimala@sp.edu.sg

Health SPec Focus
Health Quiz
How health wise are you Take this questionnaire to find out and win prizes sponsored by
Student & Alumni Affairs, SP. Fax your entry to Alumni office at 67721960.
Your Name:______________________________________ Contact Nos:_________________
The first 20 all-correct entries will each receive a sling bag and an umbrella.
Q 1.
Q 2.
Q 3.
Q 4.
Q 5.
Q 6.
Q 7.
Name the number one killer in Singapore
A) Heart disease
B) Accidents
C) Cancer
D) Stroke
Which of the following ‘women’s conditions’ can
also occur in men
A) Osteoporosis
B) Breast cancer
C) Eating disorders
D) All of the above
Which of the following risk factors for heart
disease can be reduced through lifestyle changes
A) Smoking
B) High blood pressure
C) Obesity and lack of physical activity
D) All of the above
The best time to perform a breast self-examination is:
A) The week after your menstrual period
B) During your menstrual period
C) When you are ovulating
D) The week before your menstrual period.
What breast changes should be brought to the
attention of a health care provider
A) A lump or thickening in or near the breast or
under arm area
B) A change in the size or shape of the breast
C) Puckering, dimpling or redness of the breast
D) All of the above
Which of the following signs are indications that
you may be addicted to nicotine
A) The need to smoke everyday
B) Having a cigarette soon after arising from sleep
C) Unsuccessful attempts at quitting
D) All of the above
To prevent impotence, what should men avoid
A) Eating steak
B) Smoking
C) Using cellular phones
D) Playing sports
Q 8.
Q 9.
When you smoke a cigarette, how long does it take
the nicotine in the cigarette to affect your nervous
system
A) 10 seconds
B) 30 seconds
C) 1 minute
D) 10 minutes
Stub out. How long do you think it takes for your
body to realize some health benefits from not
smoking
A) Within 20 minutes
B) At least 24 hours
C) More than two days
D) About a year
Q10. In what forms does Nicotine replacement therapy
come in
A) Patch, spray, inhaler and gum
B) Pills, liquid and powder
C) Liquid
D) Cream, pills and liquid
Q 11. Caffeine intake has been associated with:
A) Sleep disturbances
B) Stomach ulcers
C) Calcium loss from bones
D) All of the above
The quiz is provided by the Singapore Cancer Society. It relies entirely
on the benevolence of various organisations and the public to help keep
their free services running for the community, in particular the cancer
patients. Today, their free services have extended to providing welfare,
screening (Pap Smear, Breast examination and stool occult blood test),
rehabilitation & patient support, health education and hospice home care
for advanced cancer patients. Corporate or individual donations may be
made to ‘Singapore Cancer Society’. Kindly ensure that cheques are
crossed. All donations are tax deductible.
Rally For Life (CAR TREASURE HUNT)
July , SUNDAY
Go around Singapore with some pals and family, win
exciting prizes, visit places of interest, do your bit
for charity and take a step towards your health! All
on one Sunday morning! Log on to http://
www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg to find out.

SPed SPec
Continuing Education Centre
Call our hotline 6772 1288 or email us cec@sp.edu.sg for more information
Couurse Information & Online Registration http://www.sp.edu.sg/department/dis/-cec.htm
Jul ‘03
Course Commencing on Duration Fee
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO FOOD SAFETY: HAZARD ANALYSIS Thu, 3 Jul ‘03 2 days (Total: 12 hrs) $ 338.00
CRITICAL CONTROL POINT (HACCP) IMPLEMENTATION (11 th intake)
Thu & Fri, 9.00 AM - 5.00 PM
CERT. FOR EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES (CEA) COURSE (14 th intake) Thu, 17 Jul ‘03 24 sessions (Total: 72 hrs) $ 832.00
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN BASIC SCIENCE OF FENG SHUI (20 th intake) Tue, 1 Jul ‘03 24 sessions (Total: 72 hrs) $1,591.20
$1,502.80 per participant for SP Graduates 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN BUSINESS TRANSLATION Tue, 17 Jun ‘03 11 sessions (Total: 33 hrs) $ 520.00
* Broad-based Skills Training Course (SDF Assistance) * Tue & Fri, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING - MM1208 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 754.00
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN COMPUTER-AIDED DRAFTING Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 936.00
- MM1208 ADVANCED 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING DRAWING Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 45 hrs) $ 759.20
(MANUAL DRAFTING)
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE II Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 45 hrs) $ 936.00
- 1ST GRADE 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE II Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 45 hrs) $ 780.00
- 2ND GRADE 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING MATERIALS I Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 780.00
- MM1305 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING MATERIALS II Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 936.00
- MM2307 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN ENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 45 hrs) $ 936.00
- MM3405 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN MECHANICS I - MM1107 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 499.20
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN MECHANICS II - MM2105 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 660.40
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN MECHANICS III - MM3105 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 45 hrs) $ 936.00
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN THERMO FLUIDS I - MM1401 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 499.20
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN THERMO FLUIDS II - MM2406 Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 15 sessions (Total: 60 hrs) $ 670.80
6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
CERT. OF PERFORMANCE IN WEB APPLICATIONS PROGRAMMING Mon, 7 Jul ‘03 10 sessions (Total: 30 hrs) $ 774.80
WITH ASP.NET FOR BEGINNERS (July intake)
Mon & Wed, 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
OPERATION & MAINTENANCE OF STEAM BOILERS Tue, 8 Jul ‘03 14 sessions (Total: 42 hrs) $ 468.00
* Broad-based Skills Training Course (SDF Assistance) * Tue & Thu, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
PROJECT RISK MANAGEMENT (2-day Workshop) Tue, 1 Jul ‘03 2 days (Total: 14 hours) $ 395.20
* Broad-based Skills Training Course (SDF Assistance – for SMEs only) * Tue & Wed, 9:00 AM to
* PEB CPD Accreditation - 14 PDU points * 5:00 PM
Jun ‘03
PROJECT MANAGEMENT USING MICROSOFT PROJECT 2002 (68 th intake) 16, 17, 23, 24 Jun ‘03 4 sessions (Total: 14 hrs) $ 572.00
* IT Training Assistance Scheme (SDF support) * 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM
SAFE PRACTICES IN FOOD MANUFACTURING: Mon, 30 Jun ‘03 2 days (Total: 12 hrs) $ 338.00
PRE-REQUISITES TO HACCP (6 th intake)
Mon & Tue, 9.00 AM - 5.00 PM
Companies requiring tailor-made courses may contact our SP CEC officers at Tel: 67721288 or Fax: 67721957 or write to us
cec@sp.edu.sg

SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC ALUMNI UPDATE FORM
Please help us to update our records by completing this form and send/fax to:
The Alumni Office Department of Student & Alumni Affairs
Singapore Polytechnic 500 Dover Road Singapore 139651 Tel: 6772 1699 Fax: 6772 1960
Alternatively, you can update your particulars through our website at http://www.saa.sp.edu.sg
Full Name (as in NRIC/Passport):
(Please use BLOCK LETTERS & underline surname)
NRIC / Passport No: Marital Status: Sex: M / F* Date of Birth:
Place of Birth: Citizenship: E-mail address:
(dd/mm/yy)
Home Tel No: Office No: Mobile/Pager* No:
Year Graduated:
Course:
MY CURRENT ADDRESS
Postal Code:
MY CURRENT EMPLOYMENT
Name of Organisation:
Designation:
Address of Organisation:
Postal Code:
Office Tel No:
Office Fax No:
MY POST DIPLOMA QUALIFICATION/S
Institution:
Year Graduated:
Qualification obtained:
(Please use a separate sheet if there is insufficient space)
RECEIVING TOO MANY COPIES OF SPAN News
My family is receiving more than one copy of the SPAN News. Please remove the following name/s from your mailing list.
NOT RECEIVING SPAN News
I have not been receiving the SPAN News. Please send future copies to my home address.
FEEDBACK SECTION
We’d love to hear from you! Please give us your ideas or feedback about alumni matters in the form below. Thank you!
Favourite Section:
Favourite Article:
What I would like to see in subsequent issues:
*Delete where applicable Thank you for your valuable update/feedback!

Message from SPGG’s
SPGG
New General Manager
This issue of SPAN News is a milestone issue highlighting my debut as
General Manager of SPGG as well as my management directives for
2003/2004. A former SP graduate in Civil Engineering and have held key
positions in marketing and communications in premier clubs.
As SPGG enters into a new era of growth and change, I aim to leverage on its
infrastructure and resources to engage all its members, build and establish relationships
with its partners, especially Singapore Polytechnic and its external public through a
strong networking force moving towards a common vision.
Being a member of SP Alumni, I share this vision to empower both graduates and
students in their personal development, innovation, entrepreneurship, life-long learning
to serve our community better. I believe that this mission can and will be accomplished
with SPGG’s close fraternity and community.
Last but not least, with the support of the Executive Committee, Singapore Polytechnic
as well as my able team, we can look forward to an ever-dynamic membership and
vibrant Guild.
Millicent Loo
General Manager
Singapore Polytechnic Graduates’ Guild
Email: gm@spgg.org.sg
Lunch - .am-.pm,
Dinner - .pm-.pm
For reservations, contact:
Fissions at
FISSION @ SPGG
When the going gets tough, the
tough gets going. When the juices
get going, the going gets juicy. So
come to FISSION, SPGG’s
restaurant on Level Two and relax
over succulent grilled king prawns,
soft shell crabs, seabass combo,
and baby lobster and chicken
combo. Best of all, it’s the perfect
place to renew acquaintances and
meet your ex-classmates.
FISSION is managed by no less
that Marco Polo International
Management Pte Ltd, which has
many years of experience,
managing other clubs’ F&B outlets
like the Chinese Swimming Club,
the Aranda and the Jurong Country
Club.
Their specialties are steak and
seafood. Local favourites include
Hainanese cuisine. Set lunches are
a real value for money, priced from
$8.80 to $12.80 and set dinners are
from $12.80 to $18.80. But hear
this:
SPECIAL for
Alumni and Staff of SP –
Set Lunches @ $7.00 flat!
You get a main dish, soup
of the day and dessert
May/June Promo: Steak
July Promo: Seafood
Combo

Industry
Services
• Product Development • Incubation • Consultancy
• Technology Licensing • Short Courses • Customised Courses
Singapore Polytechnic Department of Industry Services
Tel: 6772 1055 / 6772 1288 • Fax: 6772 1963 / 6772 1957
http: //www.sp.edu.sg/department/dis