Liang Chye 梁才

I remembered my career as an OS

I remembered that in end-1966, open applications were published in the local newspapers to recruit Organizing Secretaries (Trainees). Young Singaporeans aged 18 years and above were invited to apply for a 3-year residential training course. They were required to go through training on the job at the National Youth Leadership Training Institute (NYLTI). Applicants went through physical and fitness tests at NLYTI followed by written IQ test, essay writing and interview by Board Members. The assessments were used to select suitable candidates as Organizing Secretaries (Trainees). They were subsequently known as OSs (T).

The late Minister Lim Kim San was the Chairman of the NYLTI Board of Management and the late Mr Arieh Levy from Israel was the Consultant and Advisor in the early years.

Following the successful recruitment of the First, Second and Third Batch of OSs (T), the 4th Batch OSs started our Basic Residential Training in early 1967.  During this period, the Second Batch OSs were required to attend their Intermediate Residential Training while the OSs (T) from the First and Third Batch were deployed to manage the Community Centres (CCs) in the field with the expertise they acquired from their training at NYLTI.

Every OS (T) had to spend 6 months each for the Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Residential Training Courses within 3 years. In-between our three residential training courses, we were suitably deployed to do our practical works at the CCs. Some OSs (T) and NYLTI trainers were seconded to the National Service (NS) Vigilante Corps (VC) as Program Officers (POs). As POs, additional trainings were provided for them. The NSVC amalgamated with the Singapore Fire Services was renamed as Singapore Civil Defence Force subsequently. Some CCs were renamed as Community Clubs much later.

With the expertise and experience they acquired, some OSs (T) shifted their career path half-way through their training. Mindful of these, they were by no mean less qualified than any OS though they chose to make their contribution as pioneers in different areas of works, such as the Army, Police and various Government Ministries. Others practiced law, worked as professionals or ventured into businesses of their own choices before graduation. However, I would like to make special mention to those who sustained their interests all through these years and remained dedicated and loyal to the first job they had chosen.

I enjoyed being a committed OS in the PA where everyone had to be a capable organizer in order to work closely with the people. Very seldom, one was able to work in the same CC for a long time because one had to be able to work happily and amicably with practically everyone in the same locality.

As an OS, one must be an enabler, a doer, a catalyst, a helper, a supervisor, a planner, a negotiator, a fund-raiser, etc. I strived hard to have these qualities in those years. The PA expected us to be instrumental in spearheading many community projects with the support of the local Members of Parliament, community leaders and local residents in and around the CCs where I worked wholeheartedly with other fellow colleagues.

In those years, I had to be self-supporting, prudent and helpful so that I would not easily antagonize others in the process of carrying out assignments or made changes in the villages. One had to take full responsibilities and be solely answerable for the mistakes one made. There was a saying “Do less or do nothing to avoid any mistake”. That was commonly practiced if one wanted to take a safer and easy way out to earn a living. Despite these fears, I continued to do my best and never failed to devote myself for my career with the PA. 

I remembered as a school boy, I was already actively engaged in the local marketplace, earning pocket money for myself in the remote Nee Soon village in the 1950s. I developed a character of my own, making me a tireless and persistent person. That’s why I remained a survivor despite all the difficulties I faced.

I learned the ropes through teaching in the kindergartens in Nee Soon as early as 1964.  I had to struggle my ways in areas which were strongholds of leftists and gangsters. They created troubles from time to time. Working there had not been easy but I chose to work hard for a good cause.

After serving a long period in the rural area, I kept abreast with the changing needs of the society and the general population. Since 1978, I had been given an assignment with higher responsibilities to take charge of the modern Ang Mo Kio Community Club in Teck Ghee Constituency. Things became more sophisticated but I continued to make adjustments to meet the new demands and challenges. I sustained my effort until I retired at the age of 60.

Because of my long association with the rural communities in Nee Soon, I was selected to attend 26 interviews touching on a wide range of subjects for the oral history with the National Archive. I hope my response had contributed as an important part of histories many would benefit for a meaningful learning experience.

To-date, I am still active in serving the society through my commitment for voluntary constituency works. Because of my experience and willingness to serve the community, I was invited to share and render my service as grassroots leader in the CCC, CCMC, Constituency Sports Club and other local non-grassroots organizations.

On PM’s facebook in 2014, I was surprised that he also took personal interest to highlight me.