Happy 24th Birthday, Vui Kong
Dear Vui Kong, Happy birthday, in advance. You’ll be 24 on the 19th of January. It’s a huge milestone. Outside here, your supporters are celebrating the fact that you’ve lived another year. Last time we met, I asked what you were planning to do on your birthday. You said you’d spend it thinking about your...
In Search Of The Tiger Mother
What was your childhood like? If you’re Chinese, was it filled with after-school tuition classes, piano and swimming lessons, ballet and homework? Did your parents tell you it was all for your own good? Do you now agree? Cram school in Hong Kong Recently, we spent three weeks in Hong Kong visiting schools and talking...
Help Liyana Help Atiqah
This is Liyana. When we met her last year, she was living in a tent in Sembawang Park with her husband Fazli, mother, and two young sons. She was also seven months pregnant. Life, as you can imagine, was pretty damn awful. We could tell you so much more about Liyana’s ordeal, but for now,...
Hoping For The Best
I still remember what it was like the last time. The Chief Justice’s measured tones, my clenched fists gradually going numb as it became clear the verdict wasn’t going to be in Vui Kong’s favour. The haunted look in Yun Leong’s eyes. The way the judges stood up and walked out without looking back. Vui...
Yong’s Story
At first it was just a name. Yong Vui Kong. We first heard it in 2009, at a forum on the death penalty in Singapore. Yong Vui Kong. We were told he was a convicted drug mule from East Malaysia. He had been caught with more than 15 grams of heroin. He would most likely...
Happy Birthday, Yong Vui Kong
Happy Birthday in advance, Vui Kong. When we first heard your name, we never thought you’d live to see 23. Never, at one stage, thought you’d even see 22. But here we are, three weeks into 2011 and you’re still alive. Hope is still alive. Today, a bunch of us got together to sing you...
Second Chances
I remember the first time I heard Frankie’s story. We were sitting in his tiny flat, his little dog staring out at us from the kitchen. Frankie’s voice was calm, his tone, almost self-deprecating. But the tale was a brutal one. Armed robbery, drug peddling, illegal moneylending, a jailbreak, gang fights… the man’s done it...
Where There’s Smoke
The phone rang just after 11pm. It was James. “Come to Fei Fei,” he said. “Something’s happening here.” “What?” “Just come.” And so, because documentary filmmakers are inherent busybodies, I headed down to the noodle shop near where we live. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. Two fire engines blocked the road outside the...
Second Chances
Lovely video by our young friends from the Second Chance campaign. Yay to hope! Yong Vui Kong will never get to dance barefoot in the park, or jam with his friends, or even play tourist at the Merlion. We made sure of that when we condemned him to death for a non-violent first offence. Never....
A Family’s Plea
Yun Leong had bags under his eyes. He told us he’d been up all night, writing a personal letter to President SR Nathan, pleading for his brother’s life. He was sleep deprived. Had lot his voice. But despite the fatigue, he’d gone and gotten a smart new haircut. He wanted to look his best. It...