AMEERALI, Abdeali
Communities of Singapore (Part 2),
Accession Number 003945
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 6
Total Reels
- Santanu Gupta
Interviewer
- 05:46:00
Total Running Time
- English
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 6
Metadata
- 17 Nov 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His date & place of birth.His parents & siblings.Cohesion in family. Childhood life in Lorong 14 Geylang.His parents’ approach to his upbringing. Simple pleasures in childhood. Picnics at Changi beach.Shift to Katong.
His primary school & teachers who inspired him. His favourite subjects.Secondary school. Love for Mathematics on inspiration from teacher. At age 19, sent to boarding school in UK.Life in boarding school. Entry into 3-year engineering course in the UK. Why he chose engineering. Transformative experience in the UK. Applied for civil service job in Singapore on return. Appointed to Ministry of Labour (MOL) as Factory Inspector. His first day in MOL and his job scope.
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Reel/Disc 2 of 6
Metadata
- 17 Nov 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His first encounter with Ministry of Labour (MOL) Minister Ong Pang Boon.Serious Spyros explosion – drove home to him his job responsibilities. Appointed Secretary of Committee of Inquiry(COI) into explosion which took many lives.Findings of COI a wake-up call.Other instances of industrial accidents. First promotion to Higher Executive Engineer. Posting to Occupational Health Centre in 1990.A very enjoyable experience. Thought of an Annual Safety Performance Award.Anecdotes about Ministers & Permanent Secretaries in MOL. The “teeth” his unit had to pull up recalcitrant employers. Felt education,rather than prosecution, was a better way to promote safety.
Change in safety culture over the years. Training of staff in occupational safety.Leadership changes.Sharing of success stories within industry. Representing Singapore at international meetings. State of occupational safety in Asean. Change of name from MOL to Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
Talked about 4 industrial accidents in 2004.Outsourcing of training functions.His guiding philosophy in MOM.His “achievements” and “disappointments” over his 32-year career in MOM.
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Reel/Disc 3 of 6
Metadata
- 20 Nov 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Felt thankful about his career in Ministry of Manpower (MOM) . Why safety audits were necessary.Talked about 3 categories of employers.His philosophy on human resource management. Climate surveys in MOM.Felt counseling far better than using the stick on errant staff. About the MOM Staff Association.His involvement in other MOM committees. About his role in PS21 & how successful MOM was. Child-Care Centre in MOM. His role in Staff Canteen Committee. His other commitments.His learning experiences in MOM. About he chairing Committee of Inquiry(COI) on death of a soldier. His retirement in 2006 and reasons for it.Setting up his own(very successful) consultancy on occupational safety.
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Reel/Disc 4 of 6
Metadata
- 20 Nov 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Teething issues in starting consultancy. Purchase of an IT company. His investment in properties. Starting a Trust in his father’s name & his first interest in social & community work. His involvement in organ transplants mongst Muslims. About the Muslim Kidney Action Committee (MKAC). Working with the National Kidney Foundation. Formation of Muslim Kidney Association(still called MKAC) in 2004. Teething issues in setting up MKAC. Healthy financial position of MKAC today. Mechanics of assistance rendered by MKAC. Why he felt should not be overdependent on govt for funds. MKAC’s donors & beneficiaries. Success in getting committed volunteers. His thoughts on succession planning.
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Reel/Disc 5 of 6
Metadata
- 2 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:58:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
Sources of Muslim Kidney Action Committee (MKAC)'s funding. Surplus every year.Why on-going fund-raising necessary. Challenges he faces as President MKAC. His views on rewards for volunteers. Services open to all Faiths.
Problems of Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) with Muslims. Intensive campaign to win over the community to HOTA. Mufti’s issuance of fatwa on organ donation. His involvement in other Muslim voluntary organizations. Position of Indian Muslims vis-à-vis Mendaki/Sinda. Challenge of outreach of self-help groups. Talked about means test in Singapore.
His grassroots work & learning experiences. Explained the work of Citizens’ Consultative Committees(CCCs).His learning experiences from MP’s Meret-the-People sessions in Pasir Ris. His involvement in Inter-Racial & Religious Circles.
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Reel/Disc 6 of 6
Metadata
- 2 Dec 2014
Recording Date
- 00:52:40
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
His role in the National Safety First Council. Formation of regional safety first councils.
His first involvent with Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO). A life change for him.Served in IRO from 1996 to 2012.Very passionate about religious harmony. His role as Advisor to Lorong Tua Pe Kong temple. As mediator in the Subordinate Courts. His work in the Family Court & some cases he handled. His appointment as a Justice of Peace(JP) & visit to penal institutions. The work he has done as a motivational speaker. Felt strongly about respect for older generation & had disdain for the grumbling minority. How he managed his time.
About his wife & son. Spoke highly about his extended family.
Talked about factors that contributed to Singapore’s success and what could have been done better. His thoughts on challenges facing Singapore in the future. His wish to “wind down”.
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