SOME time in the 1970s, a boy stood on a small hill in Lorong Ah Soo, pointed to a faraway distance and asked his little sister: "Do you know what they are going to build there? They are going to build a new airport."
The little sister looked in awe at the brother and both stared into the woods for a long time.
The little sister was me - I was born in 1965, Singapore's year of independence.
In 1972, our family bade the villagers farewell and moved into a three-room flat in Circuit Road.
It was truly an eye-opener for our family.
There was a flushing toilet - a far cry from the stinking shed in the village.
We found new friends and started our new lives.
A few families would gather at one home watching TV on the black and white set.
We will never forget the day our father bought the first colour TV in the neighbourhood - it sparked flurries of excitement and curiosity, and neighbours flocked to our house every night after that just to catch a glimpse of TV shows in colour.
The years flew by, and we grew up witnessing Singapore's rapid advancement, its social stability, as well as its economic and political success - even through economic crises - in becoming a recognisable red dot on the world map.
This success crept up on us silently, safely enveloping us all, ensuring we lived in harmony, peace and prosperity.
The soon-to-be-built airport my brother pointed out became the acclaimed, award-winning Changi Airport.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, was a man who had, in his head, a three-dimensional vision of Singapore today, even way back in 1965.
We have lost a great leader and it is a loss of indescribable magnitude.
Chan Wei Sum (Madam)
The little sister looked in awe at the brother and both stared into the woods for a long time.
The little sister was me - I was born in 1965, Singapore's year of independence.
In 1972, our family bade the villagers farewell and moved into a three-room flat in Circuit Road.
It was truly an eye-opener for our family.
There was a flushing toilet - a far cry from the stinking shed in the village.
We found new friends and started our new lives.
A few families would gather at one home watching TV on the black and white set.
We will never forget the day our father bought the first colour TV in the neighbourhood - it sparked flurries of excitement and curiosity, and neighbours flocked to our house every night after that just to catch a glimpse of TV shows in colour.
The years flew by, and we grew up witnessing Singapore's rapid advancement, its social stability, as well as its economic and political success - even through economic crises - in becoming a recognisable red dot on the world map.
This success crept up on us silently, safely enveloping us all, ensuring we lived in harmony, peace and prosperity.
The soon-to-be-built airport my brother pointed out became the acclaimed, award-winning Changi Airport.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of modern Singapore, was a man who had, in his head, a three-dimensional vision of Singapore today, even way back in 1965.
We have lost a great leader and it is a loss of indescribable magnitude.
Chan Wei Sum (Madam)
