Recovering from stroke but Chiam is sharp and lucid
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi 8 February 2009
When Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong spoke in Parliament during the Budget debate last week, he caused some eyebrows to raise and jaws to drop.
Last Wednesday, the 73-year-old walked slowly to the rostrum to speak. For about a minute, he stood there, hunched over, in silence. When he finally began reading from a prepared text, his voice was barely audible.
The next day, the opposition MP walked to the rostrum again, to pose a question. This time, still barely audible, he spoke so slowly that his time was up before he could finish his query.
On Feb 6 last year, the leader of the Singapore People’s Party suffered a mild stroke. Although he was up and about soon after, his frail physique, hunched posture and slurred speech since have caused some to question if he can still carry out his MP duties.
Mr. Zainudin Nordin, Mayor of Central Singapore District, said that before last week’s parliamentary debate session, he had last seen Mr. Chiam several months back.
‘His condition does not seem to have improved. He looks like he is struggling. But I’m sure he is doing his job at his own pace.’
The Sunday Times polled 50 Potong Pasir residents, all of whom were concerned about his health.
Nineteen felt that with his ailing health, maybe it was time for Mr. Chiam to call it a day.
Said retiree Gea Ban Guan, 56: ‘He should take a break. It’s time for him to stop taking care of the people and start taking care of himself.’
However, 14 others wanted him to stay on as their MP. Mr. Remigius Dabarera, 56, a resident of 16 years, said: ‘Having a stroke doesn’t mean he cannot carry on with his work. All that matters is that he has the courage and faith to carry on.’
The other 17 residents said they left it to Mr. Chiam to decide whether he wanted to continue working.
The Sunday Times spent two hours with Mr. Chiam and his wife Lina, 59, over supper last Thursday and found that even though he is still recovering, he is still sharp, lucid and determined to fight in the next General Election.
When asked if he has any plans to retire, he said: ‘I’m not quitting any time soon. I’m fighting for a GRC next.’
Mrs. Chiam said that Mr. Chiam’s slow movements, hunched posture and slightly slurred speech were a result of his stroke. But his condition has improved a lot in the past year and he is going for therapy sessions and acupuncture treatments. The couple are also busy preparing for their daughter’s wedding in two weeks’ time.
Mrs. Chiam is constantly by his side now, driving him to his Meet-the-People Session and picking him up again later. In November last year, she was voted into the central executive committee of the Singapore People’s Party. She was already the Potong Pasir Town Council vice-chairman.
Despite having had a long day in Parliament last Thursday, followed by a two-hour Meet-the- People Session which ended at 10pm, Mr. Chiam had energy for supper with his grassroots helpers.
Since his stroke, he has been watching his diet, which means having to cut back on his favourite food such as rojak and ice cream.
He has lost 6kg since last year, he said.
Although he speaks and walks slowly, he made an effort to shake hands with almost every other patron at the Potong Pasir coffee shop.
While he let Mrs. Chiam do the talking most of the time, he was chatty and excited when the topic shifted to politics and elections.
He said: ‘The best feeling you can get when you are in politics is the feeling of winning an election.’ He has been MP for Potong Pasir since 1984.
Said technician Lim Ah Meng, 43: ‘He is the soul of Potong Pasir. As long as he still wants to help residents, he should continue his good work.’
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Recovering from stroke but Chiam is sharp and lucid
By Nur Dianah Suhaimi
8 February 2009
When Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong spoke in Parliament during the Budget debate last week, he caused some eyebrows to raise and jaws to drop.
Last Wednesday, the 73-year-old walked slowly to the rostrum to speak. For about a minute, he stood there, hunched over, in silence. When he finally began reading from a prepared text, his voice was barely audible.
The next day, the opposition MP walked to the rostrum again, to pose a question. This time, still barely audible, he spoke so slowly that his time was up before he could finish his query.
On Feb 6 last year, the leader of the Singapore People’s Party suffered a mild stroke. Although he was up and about soon after, his frail physique, hunched posture and slurred speech since have caused some to question if he can still carry out his MP duties.
Mr. Zainudin Nordin, Mayor of Central Singapore District, said that before last week’s parliamentary debate session, he had last seen Mr. Chiam several months back.
‘His condition does not seem to have improved. He looks like he is struggling. But I’m sure he is doing his job at his own pace.’
The Sunday Times polled 50 Potong Pasir residents, all of whom were concerned about his health.
Nineteen felt that with his ailing health, maybe it was time for Mr. Chiam to call it a day.
Said retiree Gea Ban Guan, 56: ‘He should take a break. It’s time for him to stop taking care of the people and start taking care of himself.’
However, 14 others wanted him to stay on as their MP. Mr. Remigius Dabarera, 56, a resident of 16 years, said: ‘Having a stroke doesn’t mean he cannot carry on with his work. All that matters is that he has the courage and faith to carry on.’
The other 17 residents said they left it to Mr. Chiam to decide whether he wanted to continue working.
The Sunday Times spent two hours with Mr. Chiam and his wife Lina, 59, over supper last Thursday and found that even though he is still recovering, he is still sharp, lucid and determined to fight in the next General Election.
When asked if he has any plans to retire, he said: ‘I’m not quitting any time soon. I’m fighting for a GRC next.’
Mrs. Chiam said that Mr. Chiam’s slow movements, hunched posture and slightly slurred speech were a result of his stroke. But his condition has improved a lot in the past year and he is going for therapy sessions and acupuncture treatments. The couple are also busy preparing for their daughter’s wedding in two weeks’ time.
Mrs. Chiam is constantly by his side now, driving him to his Meet-the-People Session and picking him up again later. In November last year, she was voted into the central executive committee of the Singapore People’s Party. She was already the Potong Pasir Town Council vice-chairman.
Despite having had a long day in Parliament last Thursday, followed by a two-hour Meet-the- People Session which ended at 10pm, Mr. Chiam had energy for supper with his grassroots helpers.
Since his stroke, he has been watching his diet, which means having to cut back on his favourite food such as rojak and ice cream.
He has lost 6kg since last year, he said.
Although he speaks and walks slowly, he made an effort to shake hands with almost every other patron at the Potong Pasir coffee shop.
While he let Mrs. Chiam do the talking most of the time, he was chatty and excited when the topic shifted to politics and elections.
He said: ‘The best feeling you can get when you are in politics is the feeling of winning an election.’ He has been MP for Potong Pasir since 1984.
Said technician Lim Ah Meng, 43: ‘He is the soul of Potong Pasir. As long as he still wants to help residents, he should continue his good work.’
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