SINGAPORE: He used to drink seven bubble teas a day, paced out every two hours on average. If he returned home at night, and there wasn’t that seventh bubble tea in his fridge, he would be “so mad”.

“I’m not kidding … That’s how bad it was,” said Mr Gerard Sebastian Raj.

That was not the only reason he ended up in hospital recently. A type 2 diabetes sufferer for three years, he began treatment only at the start of this year but skipped his medicine when he had “no time to be consistent with (his) meals”.

When he discovered an ulcer on the little toe of his left foot, his sister told him to have it checked. Mr Raj, a dancer, choreographer and instructor, procrastinated.

With that, he had put his career – which included working with celebrities like Anita Sarawak, Aaron Kwok and Andy Lau as well as co-choreographing Singapore’s bid for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games – on the line.

Amputation had become a possibility. 

DANCE GAVE HIM SO MUCH

Dancing had started out as a hobby but “took on a life of its own”, shared Mr Raj, who is in his 40s, on an On The Red Dot episode about Singaporeans living with diabetes. (Watch the episode here.)

“Like what people say, I dance as if no one’s watching… because it’s such a great stress relief,” he said. “You’re in a world of your own, and everybody needs that.”

“When you dance, it’s with passion, it’s with energy, and energy is a driving force for everything,” he added.

At the Television Corporation of Singapore, Mediacorp’s predecessor, he choreographed dances for English, Malay and Chinese audiences. He also managed the cast for Disney’s High School Musical Summer Tour at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

As a trainer, he works with little children up to junior college students. “In this day and age, it’s vital to connect with teenagers,” he enthused. And to connect with them, Mr Raj, who started with dances such as ballet, Broadway and tap dance, has gone into hip-hop, K-pop and Bollywood numbers.

“(Dance) is all-encompassing,” he said. “It brings people together. And that’s my main aim.”

One of the most favourite connections he has made in his career began in 2005. With a group of “very dedicated” parents, he co-founded a performing arts troupe, D’Artistes, comprising mainly children with Down’s syndrome and autism, and their siblings.

“We knew that there was this gap … for dance classes to be given to children with special needs,” explained Mr Raj, who is single.

Dance had given me so much, I just wanted to do something to give back to society … (It) turned out to be bigger than I could have ever imagined.

The group, which has around 20 members, is now a charity with Institution of a Public Character status. They average two to three shows monthly and do their own biennial showcase. “They really can dance,” Mr Raj avers.

This whole world threatened to come crashing down when diabetes left him with a calling card.

A SILENT KILLER

One-third of Singaporeans have a lifetime risk of getting the disease. But as a dancer, Mr Raj thought it would never affect him because he was “so healthy that there couldn’t be anything wrong”.

“I felt superb. There was no feeling of weakness or whatever. I just went on as usual, either training or choreographing or even performing in some of my events,” recalled Mr Raj, who is also an events planner.

He admits that he was asleep at the wheel on diabetes, “a silent killer”.

He kept applying plasters to the ulcer on his toe because he thought it was “just a wound”. He reasoned to himself: “I didn’t fall. I didn’t bang into any dancer. I didn’t cut myself.”

But it got increasingly worse, so he got his general practitioner, who was treating him for his diabetes, to dress the wound. After that did not work, the doctor told him to see a podiatrist.

When he finally had his appointment, there was a “gaping hole” – a 1.5 centimetre gap – in his toe. “The moment the podiatrist saw my wound, he said, ‘You have to check yourself into the hospital’,” Mr Raj recounted.

He went into hospital in early September and was warded immediately. It dawned on him that the situation was serious. And what came next was “very painful” for him to hear as a dancer: The surgeon’s advice was to amputate.

When I heard that my diabetes was so bad that my toe had to be amputated, and that was at the very least, I wasn’t angry, but I was very disappointed with myself.

It could have meant hanging up his dancing shoes forever.

HOLDING ON TO HOPE

He resolved to “stop being ignorant” and “passive”, and to bone up on options that might save his career. Amputation was not one of them, he told the doctors.

He went online to find solutions and talk to people who have had experience with diabetes. Then he learnt about oxygen-rich water therapy.

While some diabetic patients are known to drink oxygen-rich water to manage their condition, this was not the only thing that interested him. With the water therapy, patients are immersed in a tub for 50 minutes each time.

It is meant to treat diabetic foot wounds, though clinical trials are still ongoing. “I thought I’d give it a go because… there was nothing to lose,” says Mr Raj.

The first time he went for this water therapy, after he came out of the tub, there was “blood all over the mat” from his wound. It shocked him.

Holding on to hope, he kept going for two weeks and started his second therapy cycle. The results have been “startling”, he describes, as the hole in his toe has “totally closed up”.

The surrounding skin, which had been blackish, is healing, and there is no need for an amputation. “I’m really glad that I had this option, that I took this option,” he says with relief.

He is one of the lucky ones. Singapore has one of the world’s highest rates of lower limb amputations owing to diabetes. An average of nearly four amputations take place daily.

About a fifth of diabetics develop foot ulcers. Many do not seek treatment early, unaware of the risk they are taking, as 85 per cent of major amputations are preceded by such ulcers.

EASING HIS WAY BACK

Mr Raj’s condition put a brake on his dancing for nearly two months. In his first two sessions back with D’Artistes, he could not wear his dance shoes and was in slippers instead.

On his third session, he decided to give them a try. “I was really happy that I was able to even put on (my) dance shoes and really train the kids,” he exulted.

Of his hiatus, he said: “It sounds like a short time, but to me it’s an eternity… To be able to teach, to be able to just share (my) knowledge and talent is what I’ve always dreamed of.

Some people say, ‘Oh, so dance is your work?’ No, dance is my passion. I don’t think I’ve ever worked a single day in my life… I love every moment of it, so can you imagine when I was in hospital?

He had spent that time in “quiet reflection”, something he needed. He did not tell his friends he had been hospitalised nor even his mother, as he did not want to worry her.

His friends found out “in dribs and drabs” later. “They were a little bit mad at me for not telling them,” he admitted, referring particularly to those whom he has known since their days in the National University of Singapore’s Kent Ridge Hall.’

A NEW GERARD

The support from his family and friends has since been “tremendous” as he adapts to his new lifestyle, which includes exercising with his mum and a change in diet.

“Because of all the lessons learnt, there’s a new Gerard,” he said, citing the fact that he cooks his own nutritious breakfast like quinoa, which was so tasteless the first time he prepared it that he “couldn’t even go through half a bowl”.

“I’m now with a renewed hope. I work healthily, I eat healthily, and most important of all, I’m getting back my energy. And it’s just been amazing because the new Gerard has thrown away the habits of the old Gerard.”

His friends will be sure to remind him of it. At a recent Deepavali gathering, they sang a song for him:

Seven bubble teas give me diabetes

Seven bubble teas make one sickly me

To which Mr Raj said: “If I was at the hospital at that time, I’d have been so angry. But look, it’s… like a slogan of my life.”

Watch how three profiles grapple with living with diabetes, on the full episode of On The Red Dot here.

SINGAPORE: Train operator SMRT on Tuesday (Oct 31) revealed that maintenance works for a water pump system at Bishan MRT station were not properly carried out on three occasions. 

This went as far back as December 2016. Investigations showed that the maintenance team in charge of the pump system had signed off on works that were not done. 

Because of the poor maintenance, a stretch of the North-South Line tunnel was flooded on Oct 7, forcing SMRT to cut off trackside power supply as a precaution, disrupting train services for an unprecedented 20 hours.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Tuesday that it takes breaches of all rail operating licences seriously and would make its recommendations on penalties in due time.

Here’s what our readers on Facebook are saying about the matter:

Don’t just blame the technicians, blame management too: Victor Chew

“Don’t put the blame fully on the technician, they have to work very hard (into the) night when all of us are sleeping soundly at home. Did they have enough manpower or time to complete the task of servicing the train and the pump? They are very hardworking people who work through the night. Don’t blame the technicians only, blame the management also since big cooperations only focus on profit and efficiency of the job and not (the people) on the ground.”

Only right for personnel to be suspended: Nicholas Ng

“Sure, the buck stops at the top – but only to a certain point. This seems to be a pure case of job dereliction and dishonesty, if true. So let’s be fair – it is only right for these personnel to be suspended.

Hopefully this also proves to be the catalyst for further improvements in the maintenance checks, processes and oversight by SMRT.”

We can’t afford mistakes that can be avoided: Zhaoxing Lin

At least be honest to the public. Let’s get it over and done with. Don’t repeat the same mistake again. We can’t afford mistake(s) that can be avoided.

Make up for mistakes: Nurul Farahin

“Mistakes made, make up for it.

Whether you are maintenance staff or management. If there really was an attempt to fake maintenance records, then the crew members in charge should be accountable.

Let’s give the new chairman a chance. He has already taken full responsibility … and wants to make things right. Give (him a) chance and hope it will get things back on track.”

Everyone must play their part: Malcom Xaiver Tan

“Never easy to announce the wrongs. Now (that) we found a proverbial ‘weak link’, time to either shape them up or ship out. Everyone must play their part to make improvement plans work, and cannot blame management for setbacks.”

SOPs there, but implementation lacking: Teow Loo Shuin

Many a times the manuals or SOPs were there to cover backside, but actual implementation was lacking.

Staff training needs to be looked at: Fadly Azad

“The problem runs deeper than the maintenance team. The staff training also need to be revamped. Training department head sleeping? (The) maintenance department head should bear the brunt of the punishment. He failed to ensure his staff had done the job properly.”

Problem lies with lean corporate structures: Brian Cheah

“That’s the problem with our lean corporate structures. They fail to recognise and properly pay people to do routine jobs. It’s so overlooked that management takes checks for granted and pile workloads on checks. Such tasks must also have … cross checks. Switching teams regularly ensure(s) checklists are not missed. The management team needs a good look at themselves before blaming their subordinates … managers who can’t lift a finger in an engineering company (are) not a (good) fit.”

Issue of work ethic: SK Tan

“It is no longer about SMRT’s culture, it is now an issue of work ethics and possibly criminal negligence. What if … (it is) not just the pumps but other maintenance work are also ‘conducted’ this way … and could possibly endanger commuters?”

What happened to the checks?: Matthew Teo

“Ownself never check ownself.”

Profits over people: Ng Ek Ngee

“I’m deeply concerned by top management – only care about profits, than people.”

Does not explain issues with other train lines: Lee Beniot

“Still doesn’t explain why the other lines still have breakdowns. It is a systemic rot and not (an) isolated one.”

If you too have something to say on the issue, leave a comment on our Facebook page. 

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah have reaffirmed their commitment to the special relationship between the two countries, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Saturday (Nov 4).

Mr Teo is leading a delegation of younger Singapore political office holders on a three-day visit to Brunei for the Young Leaders’ Programme, an annual exchange to deepen ties between younger leaders from both countries.

The Singapore delegation had an audience with the Sultan on Saturday, during which Mr Teo congratulated him on his Golden Jubilee celebration last month, marking 50 years since he ascended the throne.

Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, is leading a delegation that includes ministers Grace Fu, Ng Chee Meng, Ong Ye Kung as well as senior ministers of state Janil Puthucheary, Koh Poh Koon and senior parliamentary secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

They also called on Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Al-Muhtadee Billah who hosted them to lunch. Mr Teo and the Crown Prince reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening relations among the younger generation of leaders of both countries.

In addition, Mr Teo and Crown Prince Billah witnessed the launch of the Brunei leg of an exhibition titled “Abode of Peace and the Lion City: A Brunei-Singapore Exhibition”.

It showcases historical and contemporary perspectives on Singapore-Brunei relations, said MFA. Held at Brunei’s Waterfront Art Gallery, this leg of the exhibition will be open until the end of April next year.  

SINGAPORE: On November 3, 1957, about a year after he resigned as Singapore’s first Chief Minister, David Marshall launched the Workers’ Party.

On Friday (Nov 3), the Party celebrated 60 eventful years with a dinner and the launch of a commemorative book. While the event was dominated by Low Thia Khiang’s announcement that he will step down as secretary-general, there was also plenty of reflection on the progress made by the party, which is reflected in the book.

Titled ‘Walking with Singapore’, it documents the party’s journey so far – from its inception by Mr Marshall, to Mr JB Jeyaretnam’s revival of the party only to face a series of setbacks and Mr Low’s entry into politics and the party’s breakthrough of winning a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in 2011.

“There is no reveling in glories, no indulging in righteous indignations here,” said editor-in-chief Daniel Goh in the book’s preface.

“This book presents the facts in a history of growth and decline, disappointment and revival. By looking back honestly at the past, while celebrating the present and modest achievements against massive odds, it is hoped that we would learn to do better to empower Singaporeans for the future.”

With black and white pictures and numerous interviews with the senior party leadership as well as its pioneer members, the book offers an insight into its achievements and failures.

Here are some highlights of the commemorative book.

THE EARLY YEARS: OF MARSHALL, JBJ AND THE ‘ANSON AWAKENING’

The book goes into some detail of Mr Marshall’s foray into politics, from his idealistic convictions to his victory in forming a government that led to his appointment as the first Chief Minister.

It also documents the events leading to his stepping down in 1956, after his failure to secure self-government for Singapore.

When the party was formed in 1957, Mr Marshall saw great scope for the Party playing a “moderate and alternative role to the left-wing PAP and the right-wing Labour Front”.

“This is perhaps the last chance for many years for the workers and people of Singapore to seek strength in union in a truly nationalist party,” Mr Marshall is quoted as saying.

While he would go on to win the Anson seat in 1961, Mr Marshall resigned from the party just two years later, and lost when he stood in Anson as an independent candidate.

Mr Marshall’s leadership void in the Party was filled by fiery lawyer JB Jeyaretnam, and he and his team went to work immediately.

The book accounts his contributions, including the launch of the party’s newsletter, ‘Hammer’ in 1972.

While Mr Jeyaretnam would go on to lose elections and was sued by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew for slander in 1977, his perseverance paid off. Ten years after he joined the party, Mr Jeyaretnam won the Anson seat in a by-election in 1981.

His time in parliament was marred by several legal battles, and in 1986, he was disqualified from office. With the introduction of the GRC system in 1988 and the detainment of some party volunteers under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for their alleged roles in a ‘Marxist conspiracy’ a year before, it would take the party many years to re-establish itself as an opposition force.

And that would come when a Chinese-educated teacher, who joined the party in 1982 and had volunteered as Mr Jeyaretnam’s driver, would make party history in 1991.

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH: MR LOW ON WINNING HOUGANG

Perhaps the most illuminating details of the party’s milestones come from a series of interviews with Low Thia Khiang.

The book’s narrative is complemented with Mr Low’s thoughts in three separate interviews, and provides a first-hand account of its achievements as well as how past and current challenges have made an impact.

Mr Low, who joined as a reluctant member in 1982 only did so to improve the Chinese edition of the party’s newsletter. But eventually, he rose through the ranks and became Organising Secretary in 1988.

It was also the same year that he stood in Tiong Bahru when the GRC system was implemented. But his entry into the political fray was not without challenges.

“It was a nightmare… On nomination day, 3am in the morning, I still did not know who was confirmed as my partner,” Mr Low is quoted saying.

Mr Low said the third potential candidate, a legal adviser for a “group of companies” could not make up his mind about standing.

“His boss had told him, that if he stood under the Workers’ Party ticket, he would be sacked, because their company had projects with the government… That was the situation of the day.”

So when it came to the 1991 election, Mr Low convinced Mr Jeyaretnam to let him contest a single seat instead – in Hougang. Running on the theme of, ‘Power to the People’, the book describes the party’s shift towards an alternative form of governance.

Mr Low won the Hougang seat from the People’s Action Party’s Tang Guan Seng with 52.8 per cent of the popular vote. And with that, he sealed the Party’s stronghold over the constituency.

BUILDING UP TOWARDS A GRC WIN

Mr Low eventually became secretary-general in 2001, after Mr Jeyaretnam stepped down. And with a change in leadership came a shift in the party’s style, from aggressive to “acting as a moderate opposition”.

The elections in the 2000s were marked by several attempts at garnering a GRC win, but were marred by disqualifications due to the filing of incomplete papers and controversy surrounding the submission of minority-race papers by candidate James Gomez.

But the period was also a time for leadership renewal, the revival of its newsletter and the formation of the Youth Wing.

While the WP lost the 2006 election in Aljunied GRC with 43.9 per cent of the votes, the result meant a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament seat for Sylvia Lim.

The 2006 election would set the stage for the battle for Aljunied come 2011. In the book, Mr Low says the party “went for broke” with the decision for him to move out of Hougang, which the party had held comfortably for many years, and into Aljunied GRC, which was then helmed by the PAP’s Foreign Affairs Minister, George Yeo.

“There was a lot of secrecy about who was going to contest in Aljunied,” recalls Vice-Chairman and Aljunied GRC MP Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap in the book.

“I can recall one time, we had just finished our house visits in Kaki Bukit area. At that point it was myself, Pritam and a few others. Sylvia told me to meet at her place later in the evening…In the end when I went to her house, there were five of us; myself, Sylvia, Pritam, Show Mao, and… Mr Low.”

Mr Faisal said it was only then, late at night, that Mr Low told the team he was going to be that fifth candidate, a move that surprised him.

“Mr Low did share with some of us that he was heavy-hearted leaving Hougang. He knew how much people there have been supporting him, and, you know, how much the Hougang residents have sacrificed and their difficulties just to keep supporting Mr Low. So I think… it was a very sad thing for him to do, to leave the people he had served for many years, to make the sacrifice and to open up a new path – to break into Aljunied GRC.”

2011 turned out to be a watershed election for the party, as it secured a GRC for the first time with 54.7 per cent of the popular vote against the PAP’s 45.3 per cent.

TOWN COUNCIL ISSUES AND THE WAY FORWARD

The high of winning a GRC was short-lived. In 2012, a government report singled out the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council for “poor corporate governance”.

The party also faced issues in selecting a managing agent for the Town Council, and eventually awarded the contract to FM Solutions and and Services (FMSS).

In 2015, the Party just managed to retain the GRC, and the long-drawn saga over the alleged mismanagement of the town council has been cited as a reason by observers for its narrower win.

Still, the party said it is looking forward to the future.

“We have different people doing different things. There is more than one driver, and that’s the difference. We are moving more towards of an organisation base rather than personality base,” Mr Low said.

On whether the party can eventually form an alternative government, Mr Low said he is “realistic” about it.

“We do have that foundation now and for the next milestone, if there is one, is to see if we can win another GRC. That would be a sign. It’s not easy. People think it is (easy) and it’s like domino theory, but that is not the case! If the government of the day has done well, people will usually not want to change.”

The commemorative book is available at bookstores and during the Party’s 60^th anniversary open house at the Party’s headquarters every Friday from Nov 10 until February next year.