MPA TIMESFriday July 11 2014 A Unique Publication for NUS and LKYSPP

Time flies. Faster, perhaps, when we want it to slow down a bit. As we finish our MPA tenure at the LKY school, one can’t help but wonder how momentary the year gone by has seemed to be. One year is not a very long time. After all, it is just a matter of a few months. In a school, however, it seems to be an even shorter duration.

There is something about a school, college, or university that students, regardless of their academic prowess, do not seem to have enough of. I have not come across a single person who doesn’t wish his or her student life prolonged, who doesn’t speak fondly about the times spent in a school, or who doesn’t want to relive the school days. People are possessive about schools like they are about no other institution they have been part of. In a certain, though admittedly limited, way, schools define a person. Tell a little bit about who they are. (The reverse is true as well. The quality of its students says a lot about how good a school is). Not surprisingly, therefore, most students leave a part of themselves on the campuses, and carry a lot many parts of the schools with themselves for the rest of their lives.

When we began in July last year, we were told that our batch was being exposed to a newly designed course curriculum. I don’t think that it mattered to many of us. After all, we did not have a

yardstick to compare it with, since none of us had been a part of the previous curriculum. What did matter, I think, was what we would be able to take back from here after a year.

For most of us, I guess, this part of our student life was qualitatively different from other years spent in an educational institution. Since all of us are mid-career professionals, I don’t think many came here looking for a degree. The idea was to add value to our education and work experience. It was therefore important that we were able to learn from each other as much as from the professors and classroom lectures. It was, therefore, heartening to see professors relying as much on classroom discussions, group talk, and exchange of ideas as on lectures and presentations. In fact, sometimes the complaint was not that professors were not allowing us to speak but that they themselves were not speaking quite enough.

In all, I think, it has been a fruitful year for all of us. I would not be wrong if I say that all of us are feel ourselves better off than a year before. And, it is not just because of what we got on the professional front. The football matches, the walks, the evening socials, the cultural festivals, the

parties, everything together has made LKY a memorable year. It is sad that the year has now come to an end!!!

A Gainful Year By Amitabh Sinhaamitabh.sinha@gmail.com

Unity in Diversity

By Mrinalini Kaur Sapra and Wei Zheng mrinalini_sapra@yahoo.com, snzhengwei@yahoo.com

It is an honour to represent the MPA 2014 class as Valedictorians for our classmates, who hail from twelve different nations. Each of us brings different perspectives to enrich our cohort experience and be part of a diverse community in vibrant, cosmopolitan Singapore.

This past year we have all worked together, sharing the trials and tribulations of CBA fisheries, Alusaf smelter, 48-hour examinations and trying to rescue the drowning maharajah. Our TED Talks helped us to know each other better, understand our motivations and driving forces and work better as a team.

It wasn’t always assignments and group work. Informal dialogue and friendly conversations enabled us to share our personal experiences to arrive at a common ground that truly bound as one family. Where we needed help – it was always there. Anita and Ekroop shared their homes for our class dinners; and we all shared in “Lo Hei”, the Prosperity toss.

As time goes by, we will forget the stress, and our grades, but we’ll still remember the night chats at CG, eating chicken rice at Adams, walking in Botanic Gardens, our Map Ta Phut visit and travels together around the region. We are the first cohort to do a flashmob dance outside the Manaseh Meyer building and we’re sure we won’t be the last to continue the tradition of innovation at LKYSPP.

Regardless of these good memories, we need to reflect on what the future holds for us. What kind of public policy managers will we be? How has LKYSPP changed us? Are we “mindful” enough for life’s challenges? We have learnt different skills and now know more about ourselves. By practicing mindfulness and initiating change from within, we are becoming better people contributing to our families and the workplace.

We came here with a passion to change the world. After our one year, do we find this easier or more difficult? Whether in the case studies, or in real life, change is never easy. No matter how paramount the difficulties ahead, we will keep on trying.

2

Borrowing from the poet Robert Frost (1874–1963),

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.”

Thank you for a wonderful year and best of luck for the future.

Mrinalini Kaur Sapra and Wei Zheng

We are the first cohort to do a flashmob dance outside the Manaseh Meyer building and we’re sure we won’t be the last to continue the tradition of innovation at LKYSPP.

We have learnt different skills and now know more about ourselves...By initiating change from within, we are becoming better people.

Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times

First MPA cohort graduates under revamped course structure at LKY School of Public Policy. Surviving students reflect on the year gone by

EDITORIAL

3

Message by Dean Kishore Mahbubani

I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the MPA Class of 2014. You are members of an historic cohort. You are the first MPA class to experience the new MPA curriculum. Your MPA predecessors are envious that you did not have to take the Capstone examination. Instead, you undertook the governance study project which armed you to apply the core concepts and tools you learnt to a life case study.

When you first arrived, I remembered vividly telling you that the year will go by fast. If you do feel that the year went by quickly, this is a good sign. It is one sign that the School succeeded in meeting its objective of creating a rich and fulfilling year for you through classes and guest lectures, and a special visit to Map Ta Phut industrial estate in Rayong province, Thailand to understand its unique challenges.

I know that many of you made sacrifices to come back to School for this degree. It may have been difficult to come back to school after a long absence to meet the

rigorous academic requirements of the programme. I hope you found this re-immersion into active learning to be a worthwhile experience. Through all this intense learning, you also made many new friends and developed a global network which will prove valuable for the rest of your lives. I am sure you will soon realize, if you have not done so, that you learnt as much from your peers as you did from the professors.

This yearbook reflects the completion of your academic journey at the LKY School and hopefully captures the wide array of experiences you had during your time here.

As you leave the School, my hope is that you will continue your personal learning journeys and also pursue your passion to inspire people, transform the lives of the people around you and make an impact in the world. These were the traits that brought you to our School and will also drive you forward. Our School is lucky to have been a part of your intellectual journey.

Do remember that you are now a part of the LKY School family. Please stay in touch with us, keep us informed of your accomplishments and do participate as active alumni whenever you can. I look forward to learning from you how you have touched the lives of others in your communities and the world.

I also wish you great success and happiness in the years ahead.

Prof Kishore Mahbubani

Parting words from the eminent Dean on the cohort’s completion of MPA course 2013-2014 and academic journey at the LKY School

Do remember that you are now a part of the LKY School family...I look forward to learning from you how you have touched the lives of others in your communities and the world.

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014

by Prof Kishore MahbubaniDean, Professor in the Practice of Public Policy

OP-ED

TO THE MPA GRADUAKnowledge, Skills

and Networksby Vice Dean (Academic Affairs) &

Associate Prof Kenneth Paul Tankennethpaultan@nus.edu.sg

Please accept my heartiest congratulations on successfully completing the MPA programme, an achievement that you should all feel very proud of. Your batch was the first to read the recently revised MPA curriculum, featuring the Governance Study Project as a year-long capstone module integrating the different parts of the curriculum with a study trip and conference. I hope that the new curriculum has gone some way towards enriching your experience at the LKY School, where you will no doubt have gained the knowledge, skills, and networks to advance your careers and equip you to face the difficult challenges of today’s complex world. I am honoured to have had the opportunity to know you and hope that you will stay closely in touch with us. I hope to see you at some of our alumni activities!

Serve the Peopleby Assistant Prof Henry Yee Wai-Hang

sppywh@nus.edu.sg

Be creative, go into the crowd, and serve the people - It's been my pleasure to serve you this year. All the best!

Make the World a Better Place

by Assistant Prof Joo Yu Minsppjym@nus.edu.sg

Congratulations, Class of MPA 2013-2014! I hope your learning experience at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy has been a fruitful and exciting one. I really enjoyed getting to know you, and appreciated your hard work. Hopefully, some of the “policy analysis” techniques we explored together in class will come in handy in your work. I wish you all the best in your future career endeavors, and I look forward to many of you becoming the future policymakers and leaders, who will contribute to making our world a better place!

Learn to Unlearnby Assoc Prof Ashish Lall

ashish.lall@nus.edu.sg

Time flies. Another year has gone by and it seems only like a few months ago that I met you all for the first time - ready for a new experience but also somewhat anxious - particularly about Economics (I have never understood that!). Ready with the usual excuses - my English is not good; I have never studied Economics before; I have been away from university for too long; I am not good with numbers and math. Of course with some

Vice Dean & Associate Prof Kenneth Paul Tan

4 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times EXPERTS’ OPINION

Assistant Prof Henry Yee Wai-Hang

Assistant Prof Joo Yu Min

Assoc Prof Ashish Lall

Assistant Prof Ora-orn Poocharoen

I wish you all the very best for the future and hope you got what you came for.

ATING CLASS OF 20145

prodding and cajoling - few weeks into the course and everyone could not wait to discuss the next case! One of many transformations I am sure you have experienced during your time here.A few people deserve particular mention. Wei, for organizing the get-together in the first term - that’s when I discovered that the ladies in this batch can outdrink the men. Naohiro - for taking all the classes I taught this past year - that does not happen very often. And thank you for keeping me on Japanese time. Thank you all for the wonderful card that Fenny gave me on your behalf at the end of the second term. I wish you all the very best for the future and hope you got what you came for - the most memorable one this year was: “I have come here to unlearn”.

Be of Service to Your Community

and Beyondby Assistant Prof Ora-orn Poocharoen

spppo@nus.edu.sg

I have tremendously enjoyed teaching and working with your cohort. All of you showed

great dedication and teamwork towards your collective learning journey in the MPA program, especially for the Governance Study Project. I am sure you will make good use of the knowledge and wisdom that you have gained. Don't forget to have self-awareness, stay mindful and spread nothing but happiness to the people around you. Do stay in touch by sharing with us how you are being of service to your community and beyond. I wish you all the very best in your journeys ahead. Lots of love, Ora

Develop Innovative Practices

by Assoc Prof Wu Xunsppwuxun@nus.edu.sg

Congratulation to MPA 2014! I hope that it has been a fruitful and memorable journey for all of you in the past year. I know that some of you may soon forget about experimental design, difference-in-difference, and contin-gent valuation, but hopefully we've helped to strengthen your capacity not only to learn new techniques, tools and skills but also to develop innovative practices.

Stay Hungry!by Assoc Prof Zeger van der Wal

sppzvdw@nus.edu.sg

Dear MPA 2013/2014 Class, I had the privilege of teaching you a crucial core module in a professional degree program in Public Administration: Public Management (which you will remember for the rest of your lives as "PP5803"!).The 19 weeks we spent together were very memorable, rewarding, sometimes challeng-ing and overall a great learning experience for me. I hope you will say the same a few years from now.So many different viewpoints, backgrounds, and attitudes towards classroom engagement and behavior all in the same classroom is an extraordinary example of diversity and inclusiveness that you will most likely not encounter again in your daily working life.You have been a collegial and dedicated cohort that appreciates hard work but at the same time enjoys a bit of fun and laughter as well, like it should be.As you well know by now, I usually end my classes with at least three (sometimes even seven!) key take-aways but here I'll end with just one: Stay Hungry!

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 EXPERTS’ OPINION

Assoc Prof Wu Xun

Assoc Prof Zeger van der Wal

Assistant Prof Ora-orn Poocharoen

by Maria Esperanza Frio Alconcelmaes.alconcel@gmail.com

Lessons from GSP: Build Trust, Mutual Respect and Understanding

6 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times PRIME NEWS

“It’s not so much the journey that’s impor-tant; as is the way that we treat those we encounter and those around us, along the way.” - Jeremy Aldana

Having four people in a group with diverse cultures was tough, but we managed to come up with a single thought. I would say it was a harmonious group because we shared a common interest. Hence, we were happy to stick together and work until the end of the Governance Study Project (GSP) course, although we said we would be flexible whoever we would be assigned to work with for the final groupings.

However, when things turned out into something we didn’t expect, we requested Prof. Ora to reconsider her decision of reshuffling the local government teams. Apparently, we wanted our old mates because we became comfortable working with one another. But Prof. Ora highlighted that we wouldn’t always be able to choose the people we work with, nonetheless we should learn to adjust. Hence, we eventually accepted the new consortiums.

Initially, our new group blended well with one another. We argued but we were able to come up with a good outline for our GSP report. Afterwards, we became too lax and decided to just divide the work among the three of us. We only met two days before the deadline to consolidate our respective assignments. However, the integration was pretty tough because we had inconsistent thoughts on how to approach the report. And as expected, we got an unfavorable feedback from Prof. Ora. This therefore initiated the struggle among us.

While others were done with the report, our group would be at the MPH everyday to discuss and finalize our core topic. Being the de facto leader of the group, I would always criticize their work, pushing them to work

The GSP Experienceby Assistant Prof Ora-orn Poocharoen

"The GSP module serves as a platform for students to work on the same real public policy problem in the region. The projects require students to integrate many lessons learned in the MPA program to come up with viable solutions.

Students will remember this learning experience for the rest of their lives. The experience will influence how they lead and make policy decisions in the future."

Bonding time for Maes, Boni and Wang B

harder. I remember even walking out on them because of frustration. But Prof. Ora was always there to remind us that we shouldn’t focus too much on the outcome, but rather on the things that we learned from the experience of working in a team.

On the day of the GSP internal presentation, although ours was not the best, we were so happy with the product of our hard work because we were able to work as a team, and not as three individuals. We agreed to go to Universal Studios before the end of the program to celebrate our success and to spend quality time together.

The GSP is a new curriculum in the MPA program and our class (MPA 2013/2014) was the guinea pig on which it was tested. However, it had taught me a lot of things that are equally, if not more, important than the academic aspect. First, the success of a team lies on its ability to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of its members, but nevertheless, respects and treats everyone of great importance. Relatedly, like our GSP report emphasizes, the initiative of every individual is useless if there is no direct and

open communication among the members, which promotes trust, mutual respect and understanding over time. Lastly, the GSP taught me to be more assertive, articulate and exercise leadership if you really want to achieve something meaningful.

by Cindy Gohcingoh1057@gmail.com

7

Our Favourite Electives MPA students give the inside track on preferred elective selections

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 PRIME NEWS

The 1-year MPA programme requires students to take four core modules (Economic Analysis, Policy Analysis, Public Management and Governance Study Conference) and six electives. Out of the six electives, students have to choose at least two from the Public Management & Leadership track. The remaining four electives can be selected from other all specialisation tracks that includes: - Economic Policy & Analysis, Politics & International Relations, Social Policy and Sustainable Development. Following is an interview with some MPA students sharing on their favourite elective:

Arecio from the Philippines strongly recommends the module “Economic Growth in Developing Asia” to all students from developing countries. The module gave him a clearer picture of his country’s economic potential and provided recommendation on how to move it forward. There is a close fight between “Ethics and Global Governance” and “Advanced Negotiation” for his country mate Anna. The former provided great insights on global issues from ethics perspective while the latter was a practical module that where she learnt useful negotiation skills. She recommends both modules to all LKYSPP students and public managers to increase their awareness on global issues and be equipped with negotiation skills in finding solutions for a better and peaceful world.

“Evolving Practices of Governance in Singapore” is the favourite elective of Peck Wan from Singapore. The module gave a critical and insightful perspective of politics and policies of Singapore. It is recommended for civil servants in Singapore. Joyce from China, on

Having fun at Advanced Negotiation class

the other hand recommends “Liveable and Sustainable Cities – A Singapore Case Study”. The topic is relevant to her work and she

enjoyed the lectures of very experienced guest speakers from the Singapore civil service. She will recommend the module to students with passion for urban development.

Anele from Botswana loves her “Exercising Leadership” elective. The module gave her the opportunity to be aware of her leadership and interaction skills. She also learnt a lot about the influence people have on each other. It is a highly recommended elective for those in leadership position or aspires to be. To sum it up, the elective is ‘simply beautiful!’

“Cost Benefit Analysis” and ‘Decision and Game Theory and the Social Choices” are the favourite electives of Gaurav from Indian. The former provided a platform to analyse the impacts of small and big projects, while the latter provided an opportunity to understand the various behavioural dilemmas around people. Gaurav said: “The professors’ engaging teaching methods made the electives simple and highly interesting. In fact, these were the driving forces for me to take one extra module (11 modules in the one year course) in the Special Semester, which was not mandatory otherwise.”

Kirsty from Australia chooses “Policies for Urban Intervention” as her favourite. She loves how her learned professors had taught her critical thinking skills and helped her see the world issues through the lens of cities and their development. She strongly recommends the module to be made a compulsory module for all MPA students, especially those interested in challenging and questioning dominant paradigms in public policy making.

To sum it up, the “Exercising Leadership” elective is ‘simply beautiful!’ - Anele from Botswana

Kirsty from Australia chooses “Policies for Urban Intervention” as her favourite... She strongly recommends the module be made compulsory for all MPA students.

Project Eldercare

by Teo Pek WanWanwan33@gmail.com

Applying Skills to the Real World Taking principles from the page to the people is never as simple as it sounds

8 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times PRIME NEWS

For middle managers in MPA, the ability to apply what is acquired in class to their work environment is integral to their role and credibility. It translates to the competence to guide junior managers and officers in ways that work, and providing implementable policy advice to higher level bosses.

My classmates from the Leadership and Teamwork elective embarked on an ambitious video project for the MPA Valedictory Dinner – where no one has the technical capability to shoot. It simply magnifies teamwork dynamics where individual vulnerabilities can be exposed and leadership opportunities, capitalized upon for a greater good. It mirrors a common managerial call, be it in the private or public sector. This is where one is thrown into a deep end with a project of unknown territory or with a team from different disciplines to manage, and is still expected to produce a miracle of public benefit.

For myself, it was planning and implementing Project Eldercare with three other classmates, Ee Lin, Ann and Anna, under the Negotiation and Conflict Management elective. Project Eldercare is formulated as an opportunity for LKYSPP students to engage in eldercare work in the community. It also constitutes an academia dialogue with practitioners and the planning Ministry to appreciate social policies relating to aging issues.

The project puts our management skills to test especially the ability to negotiate with different stakeholders to bring them on board, towards fulfilling a social cause. The negotiation marks the process and creation of social impact, the objective of this group project.

To augment negotiation, a compelling cause is the first essential step to creating the project’s value proposition. The team made an effective pitch on the project significance vis-à-vis the aging trends and service gaps which help in garnering social support.

Equipped with this ammunition, a slew of

negotiations ensued. Academic Affairs was the first negotiation party, the eldercare organization the next, followed by the Ministry of Social & Family Development, the public policy students and the faculty staff. Using the Value Negotiation framework to work on the parties’ values and interests moved us closer to the putting the project together.

My key takeaways are not only confined to applying and converting skills to social value in the real world, but also to witnessing the chain of impact in the wider community of stakeholders. For instance, the students have learnt that policies are almost immaculately crafted in the Ministry with splendid frameworks and best practices in aged care but they actually suffer from outreach issues that can be messy and can spin out of control in implementation. These were lessons from the dialogue and the eldercare service that policy students can bring back to their own policy implementation context. Another instance is how the Ministry can cross-fertilize policy innovation and development ideas with the eldercare agency and academia and vice versa. The concentric circles of impact and possibilities are certainly rippling outwards and will only grow bigger.

The project puts our management skills to test especially the ability to negotiate with different stakeholders to bring them on board, towards fulfilling a social cause. The negotiation marks the process and creation of social impact, the objective of this group project.

Asif witnessing law in action at Botanic Gardens

by Asif Muslimasifmuslim@gmail.com

9

Wish Afghanistan Would Be As Developed As Singapore One DayWish Afghanistan would be as developed as Singapore one day

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

After one year of living in Singapore, I almost forgot about my country, as I feel pretty safe here. It is not surprising for a person coming from a war zone, where people have got accustomed to bomb blasts and suicide attacks.

Currently, Singapore is known as the model city of the world and has been selected as such by the United Nation in 2008. Just a few decades back, it was in pretty bad shape and reliant on international help after it emerged as an independent nation in the mid 1960s. It has developed remarkably fast from a third world city to a first class city, one of the most efficient in the world.

I have always thought about Singapore’s progress - how could such a small country with extremely limited resources rise as one of the most developed countries in the world. I must confess that Singapore has amazed me about its safe environment, and as a person coming from a war zone, I can count on Singapore to be one of the safest places on the planet.

The difference I found between my country and Singapore is the quality of education, rule of law and zero tolerance against corruption.

I must confess that Singapore has amazed me about its safe environment, and as a person coming from a war zone, I can count on Singapore to be one of the safest places on the planet

The difference I found between my country and Singapore is the quality of education, rule of law and zero tolerance against corruption

The implementation of law became evident from real life example when I saw a security personnel charging a smoker in the Botanic Gardens. The garden is a no-smoking zone and it is written quite clearly at every entry point. I saw it with my own eyes a policeman charging a smoker with a fine of $400 on the spot.

Apart from the rule of law, Singapore’s political stability, good governance, environmental consciousness, social harmony, and divergent cultures have also struck me. There are many lessons I will take back from here and try to use them when I work to change the future of my nation to the extent I can. I hope, one day, I can see such development in my own country.

The “Kopi Tiam”

10 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

by Fenny Kalarvitafenny.karlavita@gmail.com

What unites Singapore, a city of many races and cultures and nationalities? To me the answer is Kopi Tiam. Literally, Kopi Tiam means a coffe shop. Kopi in Malay means coffee while Tiam in the Hokkien / Hakka means shop (店). The main course of this coffee shop, is the drink, the coffee or tea with milk. The uniqueness is in the way they make it. Usually the drink is placed in a glass, and poured into another glass. They do it for several times, until it is ready to be served. We can ask for our own taste as well, such as bigger size, no sugar or less sugar, or just Tea/Coffee Kosong (no added of milk and sugar). To give more sensation, usually they sell with nasi lemak, or kaya bread. The stall can be found everywhere, hawker center, mall, or even in the campus, and the price is quite cheap. The range is about 70 cent up to S$2. I just wonder, why the seller is always an uncle, I never found aunties are selling at the Kopi Tiam.

For me, Kopi Tiam is more than just a coffee shop. It is a lifestyle. I feel very relaxed whenever I have it. But, like I said previously, it unites the culture. During my year as a student in LKY, my classmates are from many countries and cultures. I learnt a lot from them. From the South Asians I learnt how to express opinions and lead discussions, East Asians taught me how to think in a structured way, and of course the Singaporeans showed me how to be efficient. It is really exciting to have classmates from different cultures, but, all of us love the Kopi Tiam. Whatever the time, during lunch, or during the break, we always have this Kopi-Tiam with us. See, how Kopi Tiam unites us…And, my Kopi Tiam’s experience will reach to the end; it is always nice to make it as memorable stories in every one of us, good luck class in your future paths… and of course for sure, Kopi Tiam never failed us.

Kopi-time at the school canteen

11

Relaxing and Recharging in Soccer Pitch“Guanzhong strikes, and he scores!” Hear the rush of the crowd and the chants from the adoring fans...or experience the LKYSPP version

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

by Li GuanzhongBat101222@hotmail.com

Guanzhong shines like a superstar in the soccer field

Having left school and soccer for almost ten years before coming to Singapore, the feeling of energization and hunger for victory remains the same from the moment I stepped into the green soccer pitch of Bukit Timah Campus of LKYSPP.

I love playing soccer here because I am myself in the pitch. Chasing the ball, running to the limit, shouting like lions, laughing as kids, I am free of the real world. The moving football is everything in my eye, my mind, and my world at this right moment. I am addicted to the pains when falling over the grass, the joy when dribbling past opponents, the bitterness when the game is lost, and the happiness when victory is ours. Being 100% self helps me to relax, recover, recharge, and prepares me to be ready for more challenges after stepping out of the playground.

I love playing soccer here because I feel like stars in the pitch. The intense body contact and confrontation in matches leave us no time to think. We act instinctively and creatively to deal with the incoming ball.

Sometimes we can be Ronaldinho, looking to the west but passing the ball to the east. Sometimes we can be Zidane, keeping the ball under feet with reasonable moves, and passing it out to the right person at the right place in the right time. Though we are no comparison to them, I feel we are all artists, masters, and geniuses, shining like those superstars in our pitch.

I love playing soccer here because I am not alone in the pitch. I have teammates, I have friends. I may miss the ball, but they stand out for me to get it back. We may fall behind, but they never give up our will. We may lose the game, but they never blame and shoulder the responsibility together. I am not alone in this pitch, we cooperate and fight together, and we trust and watch the back of one another.

Before this match ends, I want to tell you: I love and enjoy playing together with you.

12 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

HKG vs SIN?

by Chan Wing Sze Maranda Maranda_sze@yahoo.com

Despite many similarities between Hong Kong and Singapore, my settle-down experience in Singapore is a bit rough. I find that Hong Kong people, at least those I know, either love it or hate it.

Let's first talk about the weather - what I love Hong Kong is the four seasons! The variety of weather enables you to involve in different leisure and activities, and gives people, especially women, an excuse to shop and change their clothes! Whilst in Singapore, it's all about hot and humid, even though there are certain months you can feel the cool temperature. So the only thing to keep you "sweat less" is to put on sleeve-less tops and short skirts. Are these "eye candy" or "sore thumb" for men?

The next is living environment - I must admit Singapore offers a much more spacious living environment than Hong Kong. You can easily tell by looking at the rocket rise of house prices - "The median cost of a flat in Hong Kong is almost 15 times the annual household income". As well, I would consider it a plus, particularly for family with kids, to live in Singapore as most condos seem to have the facilities of swimming pool.

Whilst in terms of food and transport, I would say Hong Kong still enjoys the upper hand. Everyone loves dim sum in Hong Kong, no matter young or old. Despite being the place of "west meets east", dim sum still remains an important part of Hong Kong life. Apart from quality and variety, I find it strange not easy to find a place in Singapore that offers dim sum in the morning! That said, hawker centres in Singapore do have a niche in terms of catering those with a tight budget like to me to have a quick and affordable but tasty supper.

Thanks to the hot weather and "convenient" transportation in Singapore, we are reluctant but still decide to have a car for the sake of the baby, despite the ridiculously high Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices. Many of my classmates would find it strange when I say the public transport in Singapore is not that efficient. Indeed, Hong Kong is a hustle and bustle city where all is about "efficiency". For example, during peak hours, frequency of Hong Kong underground (MTR) would be every minute while in Singapore it may be 4-5 minutes. Taxi drivers in Singapore can "choose their customers" while it is a totally different story in Hong Kong. There are so many transports, e.g. tram, train, bus, mini-bus, that compete with each other, and free market just provides Hong Kong people with many more choices!

Don't ask me my concluded feeling to Singapore, I guess it would evolve over time, but at the moment, I still love my HOME.

Maranda and her happy family

13The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

Interesting South Asian CurryHow to win friends and influence people? Combine unlikely ingredients in a dorm, stir and turn up the heat...then wait for the adventures to begin

by Sanjeewa Dharmasenadharme77@gmail.com

@CG37

I must go on record that I was coerced to write this article by Lini and Amitabh. In fact I was threatened, cajoled and pushed...... and thus the creation of this masterpiece!!! I was unsure about what I should write, grappling with many thoughts and it was taking a toll on me as the deadline coincided with one of the busiest periods of the semester. I, together with my policy analysis team, was in the midst of deciding whether to cultivate more “mullet” or “tilapia” for the CBA assignment and at the same time I was also wondering whether the Indian government was right in bailing out the Maharaja (Air India) using tax payer’s money. But I have come to learn from my Indian friends, that most of the tax monies in India were used by the previous ministers to fund their own ventures hence not to break rest over issues pertaining to the Government of India.

Ok, let’s get in to my story now, going back 12 months to the start of the course. It was the Orientation Week and I felt like a fish out of water. For the first time I was to be away from my family for a long period, hence I was missing the pampering, the friends (especially the ladies) and the food, because of which I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle the loneliness. Being the only Sri Lankan in the group, I was feeling rather lost, as I didn’t have the luxury of the others who were able to find common ground through language or culture.

Of course “time is a healer” they say and my housemates helped, as it was an interesting time to get to know the varied, the interesting and the scary! It was indeed an all new experience, as there was an Indian, a Pakistani, Sri Lankan and a Philippino in the same unit. An Indian and a Pakistani will always be an interesting curry and add a spicy Sri Lankan to that and it’s a whole new soup!

Master Ji, the economist, helped me greatly in my struggles with demand and supply curves, while the Pakistani gentleman always found

his mojo during the wee hours of the morning. And when our Afghan friend joins him in the room, all our imaginations work over time and we actually start contemplating on the techniques of bomb disposal. The Philippino meanwhile had an aversion to mornings in general and we learnt very early on that we must avoid him at any cost till noon, when he becomes human again.

It has being an incredible journey, witnessing the love and care that an Indian and a Pakistani share in our unit, although

this usually changes when heated discussions takes place on our most talked of topic, which is India. I tip the odds, when I make sure that the tea loving Pakistani gets the world’s best Sri Lankan tea! Playing pool late at night with these two gentlemen has greatly improved my ability in sharpening my hand eye coordination as well. The Philippino, amidst all of this, is usually missing.

As Albert Einstein said, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learnt in School”. Therefore, although I greatly appreciate the enhancement in education I received in the classroom, it’s truly the friends, the experience of diverse cultures which I will treasure in the years to come. I’m sure the friendships born within our unit will keep us connected through time.

An Indian and a Pakistani will always be an interesting curry. Add a spicy Sri Lankan to that and it’s a whole new soup!

14 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

Life as a Full-time Student in SingaporeWhat do students really get up to all day long?

by Kirsty Leongkirstyleong@me.com

despite the hassles of trying to find times to meet, the fear factor of having to rely on and work so closely with people you barely know, and the frustrations of occasional cross-cultural communication break-downs, group assignments really were a great way to get to know people, and force us out of our comfort zones. Depending on our time availability, skills and prior knowledge; in some groups we gave more, and in others we took more.

There is a great Australian saying, that in the end it is all “beer money”. Which basically means that if you buy someone a beer, you do it in knowing that at some point, someone will probably end up buying you a beer, so it all comes around in the end. A karma reference might have been more appropriate there, but you get my drift. Give and take, beer money, karma. Not bad lessons in life.

So to all my MPA friends - thank you - especially those of you who bought me a metaphorical beer. It was great spending a year’s sabbatical with you all. Keep in touch and don’t forget to contact me if you’re ever Down Under!

Despite the workload (“I’ve got 2 papers and a presentation due this week!”) and content (Economic Analysis! CBA!) of the MPA course being stressful at times, it is still with some despondency that I contemplate a return to working life. Being a full time student in Singapore has certainly been grand. Here’s my “Dean’s List” (three things; but not the Lee Kiang, Wei Liang and Joyce variety) of why:

1. Students love to eat. And in Singapore, (when not forced to eat at the canteen or Canopy because you had classes) MPA students got to indulge in one of the world’s best food cities. Char Kway Teow, chicken rice, chilli crab, popiah … you name it, we gobbled it up.

2. 10am starts in Semester 2. The wonder that was 10am starts for only an hour-and-a-half of class! So civilised. Then of course it was back to Monday morning 9am starts for cost-benefit analysis - a bit of a rude awakening. Still, how will we ever adjust back to the grind of 9-5 (or worse!)?

3. Group projects. You’re thinking - she’s got to be kidding - right? But

@ Mr Prata

15The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

How Diverse is MPA Cohort 2013-2014?A brief look a the global origins and traits of students at LKYSPP

by Nguyen Thi Trangcauliflowervn@yahoo.com

We all come a long way to be here together and to all of us, this is a valuable opportunity not only to study about public administration and policy but also to learn from one another and to build up our friendship. To me, this one year is so amazing. I gain much more than I think.

I want to visit all of my friends’ hometown after graduating from LKYSPP. I want to explore the beauty of your countries and understand more about your culture. I want to go to Colombo, Botswana and Japan. I want to visit Taj Mahal, Bali and Manila. And of course, I want to invite you all to visit my city, Hanoi. Thank you very much for your friendship, hospitality and support. See you some days in near future. Keep in touch!

Trang and friends on a mini-tour at Rayong, Thailand

Do you know how many nationalities there are in our MPA cohort? The answer is 12, yes 12 flags representing Afghanistan, Australia, Botswana, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam.

I think I have to express my sincere thanks to LKYSPP for designing the syllabus with so many group work assignments that gave me opportunity to work closely and understand my classmates better. We have studied, argued, cooperated and had fun together. I will never forget my Indian friends, who are very hard working and can stay the whole day in library. My Singaporean classmates, who are very friendly, creative, a little bit cold outside, but very warm inside. My Filipino friends, who are enthusiastic, love dancing and singing. My Indonesian guys, who are friendly and very supportive.

16 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

It all starts from college green to the stairs, going up, cross the street and down again.

I enter the large steel gate and begin my journey to some place different every time. The steel arcs greet me. They welcome me with surprisingly warm steel hands. The vast green fields of grass slap me in the face like a tossed refreshing drink. I turn right and walk with bamboos eagerly waiting to embrace me like a long lost friend. Hello my friend I say.

I reach enclosures of plants on four corners, top down left right. Entering its cavity I walk in stupor and blankly stare at the light at the end of the tunnel. Routes going up and down, the walking representing emotions and moods experienced far away from home. The blur of memories wanting and shifting from the past to the now, I smile.

I reach a lake with turtles and a large shell. Singing emanating like hollowed souls from the depths of time, haunting sounds of men and beasts. I continue my walk and become enamoured by people watching people watching other people. The pleasures of watching become me and this I see. Walking this incline I reach the orchids and the smell of cooking. The full spectrum of my senses in use, sound and smell assaulting.

The rainforest towers over me and I salute it. I march onwards under its ribs. I reach its heart on top of a hill. I sense its beating the nearer I am. This is the centre where time stands still. I bow my head.

Alas, I proceed and leave to another garden in a different place and time. I have enjoyed the walk in this garden of my heart. Now, I bow my head to you and say thank you.

EVENING WALKS AT THE BOTANIC GARDENSby Arecio Casing areciocasing@yahoo.com

17The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

by Anna Kristina Abadanna828@gmail.com

At the heart of the bustling metropolis, lies Bukit Brown. To many it is just a cemetery. To others however, it is more than just an artifact. It represents the three “H” as symbolized by the “Bukit Brownies” – Heritage, Habitat and History.

My trip to Bukit Brown together with my MPA cohort showed a different side of Singapore that I was not aware of. Bukit Brown is not your typical cemetery. The first thing that struck me was the untouched greenery – trees that date back to the 1800s, when the cemetery opened – that allowed birdlife to flourish, a good indicator for a healthy ecosystem.

I then took notice of the intricate details of the tombstones. Each was unique and had a story to tell. I was particularly amazed at one grave that was the size of half a football field. Along its perimeter were elaborate stone and marble carvings of filial piety – depict-ing how life was back then. To a modern day person, it may look odd, but it is in sculptures and monuments such as these that you actually learn the history of a country and how their culture has evolved through time. Bukit Brown is also home to “heroes” that played a pivotal role in Singapore’s history. There is something surreal in visiting historical places. No textbook can capture the feeling

that our five senses can experience, and that magical moment when you let your imagination run free to what it was like hundreds of years ago.

As a foreigner who spent a brief moment at Bukit Brown, I felt connected to Singapore’s history. Listening to stories of famous people

that are buried there offered a different perspective on the country’s history. I marveled at the lush greenery that was unspoiled and home to many different flora and fauna. I was impressed at the heritage that was being preserved and protected by a group of nature lovers that (like me) have connected with the mystic place.

Sadly, plans for an 8-lane highway are afoot, and will be converted to another concrete jungle dotted with mini parks. Bukit Brown, Singapore’s last frontier – a place that links the past to the present – will soon be a memory to the Singapore generation of today.

There is an old Chinese saying,

“Drink water, but remember the source.” I hope that as the country develops and welcomes the future, it retains a hand in the past, for it is only when you are attached to your roots can you truly grow as an individual and as a nation.

Bukit Brown Cemetery

SINGAPORE’S LAST FRONTIEREngaging with a hidden part of Singapore’s past, soon to be torn apart to make way for its future

It was a unique experience of Singapore replica with only four senses. And the feeling after the journey was beyond words. It was a mix of unusual, uncertain, a little uneasy, lots of fun, full of insight, and a thought provoking experience.

Dialogue in the DarkHow does one see without looking? This and other soul searching questions posed and answered at a very unique Singaporean Experience

by Prashant Hiranprashant.hiran@gmail.com

Experiencing Dialogue in the Dark

“Sight is what we see with our eyes; Insight is what we see with our mind.” This is perhaps a message that will have lasting imprints in the memories of MPA 2013-14 cohort. On February 12, 2014, the MPA batch had an unforgettable, memorable experience of “Dialogue in the Dark” at Ngee Ann Polytechnic College in Singapore. This was a unique experience to visualize the world of those who are visually impaired. It was one of the activities in the year-long series of Singapore Experience, wherein the cohort explored different attributes of the city nation. It was also an experiential learning exercise under Governance Study Project to appreciate the need for effective verbal communication.

In the Dialogue in the Dark journey, groups of 7-8 people were led by a visually impaired (actually differently abled) person, and were navigated through some of our daily encounters and some features of Singapore. Imagine riding a boat through Singapore river; crossing a busy traffic junction; strolling through a grocery market and garden, exploring architectural features along; finding ATM, decoding car plate number, reading word inscriptions; shopping, munching and sipping at café; and many more things in a complete dark. It was a unique experience of Singapore replica with only four senses. And the feeling after the journey was beyond the expression of words. It was a mix of unusual, uncertain, little uneasy, lot of fun, full of insight, and thought provoking experience. The groups also created a masterpiece by scribbling the above message in the dark! It was a simple yet deep message that people with sight often fail to read. The guides shared their experiences of overcoming impairment challenges, and explained how they live just like

any other ordinary person. The dialogue with these champions left many including me speechless and thinking.

The inspiration was refreshed recently during U@LIVE event at NUS on May 28, 2014, wherein Dr. Yeo Sze Ling, a visually impaired NUS Alumnus, an A*Star Research Scientist and also adjunct faculty at NTU, shared her personal journey of navigating through school, college, all the way upto PhD from NUS, and now working just like an ordinary person at a premier research center of Singapore.

The key takeaway form these two experiences is that with strong determination, one can surpass any challenge in life.

18 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

19The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 SINGAPORE EXPERIENCE

Mrinalini Kaur Sapramrinalini_sapra@yahoo.com

Amidst The Monitor Lizards And Crocodiles… Love and longing in the swamps of Singapore

Picture captionPicture captionPi i

need for companionship doesn’t affect just us humans!! Sungei Buloh is well known for its monitor lizards (not to be confused with the komodo monitor/ komodo dragon). These roam around freely in the reserve and appear to have adapted to us humans, because they literally don’t blink an eye when they see you. They have almost a bored expression on their face as they watch you take endless pictures of their four feet scale-covered bodies. They’re probably thinking, “How boring… Tourists yet again… Yawn!”

We had the company of our younger generation that day as well. Two toddlers – Adrian and Nathaniel were also there to lower our 30-something age average! I really envied their ability to play just about anywhere – whether on the floorboards of the huts or the boardwalk!!

It was a lovely day out, and one can truly appreciate how well Sungei Buloh has been preserved. This is a must-see place for anyone in Singapore.

You don’t always associate Singapore with its tropical climate, considering the amount of concrete that awaits you when you step off the plane at Changi airport. Apart from the incessant rainfall and the lush greenery, four foot lizards and devious crocodiles aren’t what you picture with the Singapore Sling.

So you can imagine our surprise when our National Parks guide, Teck Chye showed us our first crocodile in Singapore!

We aren’t nature enthusiasts, but seeing a white crane perched in the distance, with Malaysia hovering in the background and the mangroves emerging from the beach, you get a better sense of the larger eco-system that we are all a part of.

I particularly liked the story of the mudskippers that make a little mud pool and wait to attract the females. When we saw one up close, it did look like the little guy was sad and indeed waiting!! So romance and the

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MP

20 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times ACCOLADES

Amitabh SinhaIndia

Anele NCubeBotswana

Anita Tan LangloisSingapore

Ann VerbeekAustralia

Anna Kristina AbadPhilippines

Dicky FarabiIndonesia

Ekroop CaurIndia

Fenny Karlavita SiregarIndonesia

Foo Ee LinSingapore

Gaurav AgarwalIndia

Li GuanzhongChina

Maria-Esperanza-Frio-AlconcelPhilippines

Mohammad Asif MuslimAfghanistan

Mrinalini Kaur SapraIndia

Naohiro KajiJapan

Syed Iftikhar Ali Shah BukhariPakistan

Takahiro YokotaJapan

Teo Pek WanSingapore

Wang BoChina

Wu YingyunChina

Abdul Latif Bin ZainalSingapore

Koh Pei WenSingapore

Ong Chee KeongSingapore

Sandra TanSingapore

Roberto Salvador SalvaPhilippines

PA GRADUATING CLASS OF 2014

21The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 ACCOLADES

Arecio Abuton Casing JrPhilippines

Bonifasius Aung NugrohoIndonesia

Chan Chin KaiSingapore

Chan Wing Sze MarandaChina

Charandeep SinghIndia

Goh CindySingapore

Hettige Don Sanjeewa DharmasenaSri Lanka

Khawaja Khair Ud DinPakistan

Kirsty LeongAustralia

Lee Wei LiangSingapore

Nguyen Thi TrangVietnam

Poh Qiu ShiSingapore

Prashant HiranIndia

Quek Lee KiangSingapore

Zhu JianzhengChina

Yang ZhuominChina

Zhang HaoerChina

Lee Woon LinSingapore

Sim Soon Lee LeslieSingapore

Vikas SharmaSingapore

Zheng WeiChina

THANK YOU, LKY...By Ekroop Caurekroopcaur@gmail.com

The time has come as it always does to bid adieu.... and while we part on our separate ways, the images and the memories of our time together will stay with each one of us. I take this opportunity to record a deep sense of appreciation for the ideas and sheer impetus of individual character and distinctive persona that each and every participant in the MPA - 2014 course brought to the milieu. It has been an extremely engaging and a meaningful year for me, and I am sure each one of us has in some significant way changed through our experiences, learning and interactions over this period. We have been a diverse collective, coming as we do from several distinct cultures and backgrounds but united in our approach to seek knowledge and newer kinships.

Perspectives and attitudes that we came in with, the processes which shaped our thoughts and ideas on things and about people are now reshaped by the new worldview that we have acquired through our association at the LKYSPP. Our understanding of reality is now more differentiated and the realm of thought broader and our souls more kindred. What we learnt was to see beyond the obvious and in plain sight, to be able to critically analyze and challenge the status quo – it’s a lesson that has been a common thread in many subjects taught in school. The course has sensitized us to the evolution and changing context of public management, and we as public managers need to appreciate this the most and learn to function according to changing expectations. The year also had us live in and experience the beautiful Singapore first hand, an experience enriched by our field visits lending deep insights into the how Singapore created and delivered new development paradigms and dealt with expostulations involving ameliorating the human condition - a story more contextual, relevant and current to the similar challenges faced in our own countries.

As I look to the future I find huge opportunities to apply the learning that I had. Increasingly public policy has to work to satisfy rising public expectations which are less patient and allow private ambitions to create public value. Asia, including my own country India, is today placed on the cusp of a change which hinges around greater urbanisation and growth. As we move to urbanize and develop smarter and more liveable agglomerations in the near future to ensure a high quality environment, a high quality of life for the citizens, where they can live, work and play- thence lies both the opportunity that we have and the challenges that we have to meet as public policy professionals.

Wish each one of the faculty members and MPA cohort the very best for all their future endeavours.

Friends From Diverse BackgroundsKoh Pei Wenkoh_pw@hotmail.com

It has been an amazing experience the past one year, from being accepted

22

into the LKYSPP MPA program to engaging in stimulating discussions to going on the Thailand study trip. Getting to know friends from diverse backgrounds and cultures has been a great opportunity made possible through the MPA program. It was not all work and no play, with the many activities such as Cultural Night, potluck and movie nights at College Green that allowed us to bond together.

Thank you all for the great fun and experience!

Best Learning ExperienceAbdul Latif Zainallatif79@gmail.com

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

These famous words by Mahatma Gandhi sum up my experiences in Lee Kuan Yew School during MPA program in 2012/2014. The cohort, which comprises students from Asia Pacific, has made learning fun and engaging amidst the intellectual discussions we had in class.

Despite being part of the minority “part-time” group, not once did I feel out of place amongst the great leaders. In the classroom, we made intellectual discussions seem like coffee-shop talks and enjoyed each other’s company. On informal occasions, the friendship seemed to have formed decades ago. It is truly one of the best learning experiences I have had in a long time.

GREAT JOURNEYOng Chee Keongock79@live.com.sg

It has been a great journey traveling with the best and brightest minds. While we leave to pursue our aspiration, we bring with us the many wonderful memories and friendship that we have acquired during our stay at LKY School. It has been a life changing experience for me and I am sure it's the same for you. I wish all my friends the very best in their future endeavour.

Beyond Readings And AssignmentsSandra Tan tan.sandra@hotmail.com

The LKYSPP experience has been a great one for me. I’ve learnt a lot from the lecturers and gained a lot from the work experiences and knowledge that was shared by everyone in class. The Thailand trip has been a great highlight to the school year, and I’ve benefited lots from the trip. Though I have to add that I have hated, and will still hate, the thick pile of reading and assignments that we have plough through every semester.

Of course, this is not forgetting all the new friends that I’ve made. Thanks for the great time, both in class and outside class.

Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times VOICES

23

"Welcome to Nanning, China!"Wu Yingyunwyy1975@163.com

Good memory and friendshipZhu Jianzhengob216 @hotmail.com

The module I can easily recommend as the best to incoming students is “Security in Asia Pacific”. Professor Huang Jing will open your eyes by leading you to the world of knowledge. No abstract theory, no nonsense talking but only insightful comments and sharp judgment. And he even gave a beer party in class. Imagine yourself drinking beer and eating pizza while enjoying the lecture given by a world-renowned professor. How wonderful is it!!

Before I came to Singapore, my impression was that Singapore is very clean and tidy city. But I did not have much idea about how Singapore transformed itself from the backwaters to a modern economic powerhouse in such a short time. Now I have realised that the secret is the people, institutions and culture. Singaporeans are very efficient and capable of learning new things, and have an undying drive for contributing to nation's development. Good examples are our Singaporean classmates. They have always amazed me with their outstanding performance in assignments and through insightful comments in class. And I also appreciate their kindness and generosity toward other people, in particular Madam Ee Lin. I did learn a lot from them during this past one year. I will cherish this good memory and our good friendship in the rest of my life.

TERIMA KASIH, MARGARETBonifasius Agung Nugrohonugrohoboni@gmail.com

I have attended many public lecture events, maybe more than 30 times. The one that impress me most is the one by a famous author, Margaret Heffernan, on 19 March 2014. The title was: A Bigger Price; Why Competition isn’t Everything and How We Do Better.What? Competition is not everything? Come on, we are in Singapore now, one the most competitive country in the world and this lady speak about the unimportance of competition? Surprisingly, the seminar room 3-5 in Manasseh Mayer was packed with people. Some people even did not get a chair and just stand inside the class. Wow, this was the most crowded public lecture event that I ever attend. During her lecture, she described the perils of competition and how the over emphasis on competition is damaging our society in everything from big business all the way down to everyday family life. Instead of breeding innovation, new ideas and inspiring us to do better, competition regularly produces instead more cases of fraud, cheating,

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 VOICES

stress and inequality whilst suffocating the creative instinct we desperately need to nurture.

So, what is the alternative? Margaret has found many examples of individuals and organisations who have implemented creative, cooperative ways of working together. Methods which don't set people against each other but which establish supportive environments that leads to success and happiness. "They are the real winners, sharing a bigger prize."

For me, this is a very counter intuitive story but also very encouraging. She brings a new perspective in this over competitive age. Terima kasih (Thank You) Margaret.

Mission Well AccomplishedVikas Sharmavsharmafb@gmail.com

This marks the culmination of my 4-year long association with LKYSPP as a part-time student. Juggling coursework with the demands of a growing career as a management consultant was mighty challenging, and I would be lying if I said I never felt overwhelmed. However, I can look back today with great satisfaction at a mission well accomplished. While my work commitments kept me from attending several social dos, guest lectures and study trips, I have plenty to be thankful for to the MPA program - • I saw gains in my professional credibility and more open doors when dealing with government clients regionally• I had the privilege of learning from some exceptional teachers like Prof. Charles Adams, Prof. Dodo, and Prof. Lam Chuan Leong• I made some good friends and useful professional connections from among my classmates• I got invited to the Dean’s home for a lovely dinner, great conversations, and some stiff drinks �I expect to hear great things about the school in the years to come and wish all of you continued success in all your pursuits.

Wonderful Learning Experienceby Leslie Simleslie.sim79@gmail.com

Thank you LKY SPP for the wonderful learning experience. Despite the challenges I faced in being a part time student, balancing the demands at work, studies, family and kids, it was the good company of my fellow class mates and also great professors who carried me to the completion of the MPA programme. As I close this chapter of my life, I know that I carry with me the depth of thinking in tools, theories, frameworks to help me stay ahead at work, wonderful cross cultural exchanges of class mates from around the world and most important the memory of remembering graduation from LKY SPP.

Thank you NUS.

JAPAN TRIP 2014

By Naohiro Kaji and Takahiro Yokotakajinaohiro@gmail.com, teptep5@yahoo.co.jp

The trip led 24 LKYSPP students, including 11 MPA students, with 2 faculty to deepen their understanding of Japan and Abenomics, a newly launched economic policy, via meetings with different stakeholders from the public, private, and people sectors.

The students visited 5 prefectures – Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tokyo, and Kyoto – from 22 February to 2 March 2014 to enhance their understanding of the challenges and opportunities for Japan and the current government’s solution. The trip was designed to address three policy challenges: disaster recovery and crisis management, international relations, and economic policy. The visit to Miyagi and Fukushima included discussions with local residents and the mayors of Onagawa-town and Minamisouma-city, one of the heavily damaged cities from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011. These discussions offered a chance to realize the difficulties in implementing disaster recovery policies due to contradicting interests among victims, local and central governments. In Tokyo, more than 10 meetings with politicians, government officials, economists, and entrepreneurs provided the participants with invaluable insights: Tokyo Olympic 2020, Trans-Pacific Partnership, ageing society, and political tension with neighboring countries. In particular, discussions with central government officials and high-ranking politicians from both ruling and opposition party, including Mr. Ishiba, the Secretary-General of LDP, and Mr. Mabuchi, former Minister from DPJ, were a great opportunity to see the dynamics of Japanese policy making process. The 9-days intensive learning experience in Japan was

24

rounded off with the visit to Kyoto, the culture heart of Japan.

Learning about the challenges and opportunities for one of the most developed economy will be a meaningful asset for the 24 future policy makers. In the trip report, Dean Kishore Mahbubani said, “the students have obviously had a rich and deep learning experience during their trip to Japan.”

Naohiro Kaji, the chairperson of the trip said “because of cost and distance, most of the students have rarely been to Japan. Through the trip, we would like many more classmates to study Japan’s policy challenges with primary information on the ground, to make friendship with Japanese policymakers, and hopefully to become Japan’s fan. I hope that Japan Study Trip 2014 would share core experience of the future leaders of Asian policy and contribute to the future of Japan and Asian region.”

Takahiro Yokota, the vice chairperson of the trip said “I think one of the values of this Japan trip is visit, see, hear, discuss, and taste the real on-going cases of Japan together with our classmates. I hope this trip becoming good opportunities and memories for our classmates to know, feel and enjoy current on-going Japan. This trip was hand-made trip initiated by students, not school led program. Therefore it was a little bit tough for us to prepare and coordinate this trip program during our many assignments days. However, this trip was also very good chance for us to share experiences in Japan with our precious classmates. I really hope our trip mates enjoyed this kind of opportunity together with us.”

Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times

A tour of five Japanese prefectures to deepen 24 students’ understanding of Japan and Abenomics, share new experiences and strengthen rapport

TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS

Japan trip 2014 Our MPA classmates

Just spending a couple of days is enough for you to fall in love with this vibrant city

25

My Hong Kong Experience

In March 2014, I was given an opportunity to present my paper ‘Measuring Innovation: How feasible it is?’ at the international conference on ‘Business, Economics and Management’ in Hong Kong. Although this paper was selected for conference in Boston, Istanbul and China, my personal preference was to present in Hong Kong. The paper was also selected for their annual publication. This paper also got published in prominent journals like ‘Athena’ of the Madras School of Economics, ‘Quality India’ and Indian Railways journal. The conference was attended by distinguished guests from both Public sector and universities mainly from China, Taiwan and SAZ (Hong Kong and Macau).

Being an engineer, I have a passion for carrying out technical innovations in my sphere of work. Some of these frugal innovations have been benefitting my organisation and in turn my country in a big way. In spite of the success of such innovations, I used to wonder that if there is a mechanism to measure the innovation and to assess its efficacy. The LKYSPP, NUS, provided me a platform to assimilate my views and write this paper. The paper tried to analyse the field of ‘innovation’ from a quantitative perspective, which is generally believed to be a qualitative concept.

Besides presenting at the conference, I had the chance to do some sightseeing as well. I could also see the iconic brands Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan in virtually every nook and corner of Hong Kong, be it T-shirts or ice cream shop or an advertisement billboard. I could also find some time to visit Madam Tussade Museum, Avenue of the Stars, Asia’s longest cable car in Bantau Island, Light and Music show and Night market. While Hong Kong has lot of similarities with Singapore in terms of size, economic focus, infrastructure and cultural origin, there are few differences as well, particularly in terms of the weather, food and film industry.

I am really grateful to the LKYSPP, NUS for this wonderful opportunity.

The school’s policy of funding students for conferences has offered the facility to a lot of students to travel to conferences to different parts of the world including Japan, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, etc. I got an opportunity to travel to Melbourne, Australia to present a paper in the EUSAAP Conference on Geopolitics of Asia and how that represents an opportunity for EU. Participating in the EUSAAP Conference, was a wonderful learning opportunity to know more about European Union, the geopolitics and economics related with EU, internal dynamics of the grouping, Eurozone crisis and the importance of Asia to EU.

The EU story, I felt, holds a number of lessons for the emerging regional groupings in the Asian region especially on how to manage friction and differing aspirations. Though the nature of two regions is quite different and reasons for countries coming together in Asia are more economic than political or social, yet there are substantive continuities and learning that can be had for Asia from EU. The two-day conference touched upon various such issues of relevance to both EU and Asia. It was packed with talks from various academicians and practitioners including luminaries like Prof Richard Griffiths, Prof. Philomena Murray and many others.

Besides the proceedings of conference, it was also the draw of activities on the side lines which made the trip to Melbourne so memorable. The drive on the Great Ocean Road, one of the most picturesque drives in the world, and walks down the streets of the Victorian town and by the riverfront of river Yarra. The city of Melbourne is a wonderful mix of tradition and modernity. While the CBD has a few high rise glass-façade buildings – representative of the modern look, it is the old buildings including the Parliament House, State Treasury, Central Library and St Paul’s Cathedral that really make the city have the charm that it has. Added to this is the cultural vivacity, delicious food and very warm and genteel people of Melbourne. Just spending a couple of days in the city is enough for you to fall in love with this vibrant city.

The LKYSPP deserves a special kudos for offering this opportunity to all students who are willing to engage a chance to experience student life on a different scale entirely. Creating such opportunities as it does definitely makes the school experience more complete, fulfilling, valuable and memorable.

The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014

by Gaurav Agarwalgauravagar@yahoo.com

Memorable Melbourneby Ekroop Caurekroopcaur@gmail.com

TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS

by Wang Bo wbo5503@163.com

I am a travel enthusiast, and have travelled to many places during this unforgettable year. However, the most wonderful trip was the one to Macau, in April, 2014, together with my friends, Li and Joyce. This trip was for an international forum held by University of Macau, on “The internal and external factors on the modernization of governance system and ability”.

I enjoyed this trip for a number of reasons. First, the theme of the conference was interesting. As a MPA student, this theme gave me the chance to carefully think about how to combine the knowledge acquired in the class with the practical needs of China. I carefully prepared the conference papers, and the presentation on the forum. Together with Li, I gave a presentation with the topic “Enlightenment and Thinking on the National Governance of Singapore”. We shared the ideas with the scholars on public management and national governance. Furthermore, we attended lectures given by some renowned experts in the related fields. I learnt a lot from this conference, which is beneficial for my study.

Second, it was a good opportunity to network. As representatives from LKYSPP, NUS, we received warm hospitality from the friends of University of Macau, and met many other enthusiastic friends from

Macau, Taiwan, Hongkong and Guangzhou. So nice to meet and talk with so many peers studying the similar majors. It was easy to receive good ideas, help, and friendship from them, which is a warm memory in my mind.

Third, the scenery and food of Macau is wonderful. As a former Portuguese colony, mixing of the Chinese and Portuguese cultures and religious traditions for more than four centuries has left Macau with an inimitable culture and unique appeal. Of course, Macau’s attraction includes its distinctive food. Local cooking in Macau consists of a blend of Cantonese and Portuguese cuisines. I did enjoy the food a lot.

A Wonderful Conference Trip to MacauA detailed report from the conference titled “The internal and external factors on the modernization of governance system and ability” in Macau

26 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times TRAVEL HIGHLIGHTS

So nice to meet and talk with so many peers studying the similar majors. It was easy to receive good ideas, help, and friendship from them, which is a warm memory in my mind

Wang Bo sharing on Governance of Singapore

27The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 POETRY

by Anele Dudu Ncube aneleduduncube@gmail.com

Time is constant you may sayTime is relative you may sayI don't know about youI don't know about them

All I know is that destiny is sureSure as the rising sunThe sun that blazes in the dayThe sun that sets in the evening

From all the corners of the earth we convergedOne purpose and one purpose only To drink from the fountain of knowledgeTo drench ourselves until we soak wet

Wary, starry eyedWowed by the ever flowing knowledgeWowed by the ever curious mindsBewildered by the ever flowing concepts

Now it is that time againNow it is time to say goodbyeGoodbye is not foreverGoodbye is but a good morning!

Go out and soar like an eagleGo out and shineShine like a diamond in the darkShine like an oasis in the desert

Time

From your waters let thirst be quenched From your bosom let comfort comeStretch forth your arms for strengthStrength for the weak and heavy ladenStrength for a brave new world!

Our lovely MPA class

Remembering Public Value

28 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times POETRY

Pursuing a higher degree to better our lives and us,

we came to LKYSPP to learn and grasp.

Unlearning, relearning and learning anew we tried,

Alusaf, Arcadia, Kitai and Colbun we studied and cried.

Blending with cultures from shores afar,

we mastered in harmony with all on par.

Learning together we achieved much more,

laughing, cooking and eating together bonded us all.

Influencing change we hope to achieve back home,

improving the lives of many who are suffering alone.

CBA and memos made us feel “I’m so silly!”,

GSP and MTP made us serve public wisely.

Valuing the memories we shared together,

the many friendships we will cherish and remember.

Achieving dreams will take us all further,

creating value and remembering Strategic Triangle.

Living up our lives to the very fullest,

searching inside ourselves to be better for all our dearest.

Unlock the potential of ours and others,

unleashing the good that we can all bring together.

Enabling lives is a mission we will always continue,

together we will remember Ora and her PUBLIC VALUE!

by Foo Ee Lineelinfoo2702@gmail.com

Remembering Map Ta Phut, GSP and Public Value

A Tribute to the MPA Cohort

So the story goes that upon receipt of the call

for contributions to the MPA Times by the

editorial team, Wei Liang and I were so

elated that we could finally demonstrate our

creativity that we had wanted to work on our

separate pieces. However, something stopped

us when we “searched within ourselves”. We

were reminded that to achieve things bigger

and greater than ourselves, we have to evoke

the power of “co-production”.

Hence, with newfound clarity of our

mandate, we invited the rest of the Singapo-

reans in the cohort to join us in

co-producing a tribute to the MPA class that

we had spent the best part of our last one

year with. So despite the initial misstep, we

did finally arrive at a more inclusive solution

with high moral legitimacy after some

“muddling through”.

At least this is what we want you to believe.

The (true) fact is that we were simply

looking for the most efficient way of

fulfilling our commitment and we somehow

succeeded in conning the rest of the Singapo-

reans to come onboard. :)

A Tribute to the MPA Cohort

Strangers we were at the very beginning, it was that friendly smile that broke the icing.

Shy and uncertain we were at first,we learnt to value our differences.

Friendships emerged in a year and more, with memories as footprints in our hearts for all.

27 July 2013 was the day our journey began,from Econs to Map Ta Phut, together we stand.

But it’s really more fun to have fewer numbers to crunch, and instead ask "Hey, what’s for lunch?”

Yet upon the achievement of palatal gratification,we embark once more on cerebral augmentation.

But this time we traverse together to set new heights,whether it’s solving the CBA, saving the Maharajah or dancing to our delight.

Clearly there were ups and downs, and often analysis paralysis,but the fun and laughter never ceased

As we go our separate ways and bid adieu,May we not forget our responsibility to create more Public Value!

Foreword by Chan Chin Kaichanck79@gmail.com

29The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 POETRY

Poem by Anita Langlois, Chan Chin Kai, Cindy Goh, Foo Ee Lin, Jaslene Poh, Lee Wei Liang, Quek Lee Kiang,

Teo Pek Wan, anita.langlois@gmail.com, chanck79@gmail.com, cingoh1057@gmail.com, eelinfoo2702@gmail.com,

jaslene.poh@gmail.com, staphylo.aureus@gmail.com, quekleekiang@yahoo.com.sg, wanwan33@gmail.com

Singapore Without You

30 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times POETRY

Invitation,Wearing cherry-red necklace,Engraved with coupled names, abreast,An only empty row-- Beside me.

Gift,Onion skin envelope,Containing soaked movie tickets,Draw one—Another one appears.Restaurant,Transparent looking,Adorned tables and chairs, rainbow-like,Couple set is—The last day of special price.

You left, since,Contact lost—Between the cityAnd me.

Never mind, however,Moments after,Even I, the lonely oneWill leave—As well as.

What an equality!

Without you, the cityWill no longer have me,And No one knows—When we appear again,What day it would be.

by Zhang Haoer, Jessicajessica6557@126.com

Branding of Public Policy

by Yang Zhuominjoyoungzm121@gmail.com

31The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 ART & DESIGN

The MPA 2013/14 class has a designer among us, who contributes to the branding of our GSP, including T-shirt & conference booklet design. The MPA Times Editorial Team (MET) had a chance to interview Yang Zhuomin (Joyce) to know the story behind her cross-boundary arts. Here are some excerpts of the interview:

MET: How do you think your design adds value to our public policy?Joyce: I just thought it as a personal interest, which can add more fun to the learning until one day Prof Ora told us in Public Management class that branding is an effective strategy to manage public perceptions. When I explained the meaning of our GSP T-shirt design to local officials in Map Ta Phut, from their facial expression, I knew that I made it. Since then I am more willing to influence public opinion through this way. It is also an innovation in the public policy field, isn't it?

An Interview with Our MPA Designer Yang Zhuomin

MET: Can you share some of your challenges in the designing process?Joyce: Well, the arts part is fine, as long as I have ideas. But the decision-making part is a headache, since it is difficult to cater for all tastes. I even regretted that I came up with four desgins of GSP T-shirt and invite democratic voting. It proved that I was asking for trouble. Fortunately, class committee, who I should be grateful to, helped to mediate and finally make the whole class come into terms with one option with reasonable modification. Anyway, this is the process of 'public value creation' in spite of its inefficiency. In comparison, GSP booklet cover page design was less painful, since it is the only option so that I could help AA complete the task in a most efficient way without any public participation.

MET: Do you paint in your leisure time? What is your favourite art work?Joyce: Actually, I like Chinese style oil painting, a hybrid of east and west, which I practice in China. It is painted on rice paper and could be as large as 100*100 cm. But it needs complex instruments and takes time, so I am not able to do that during my study in Singapore, given tight learning schedule and limited resources. Instead, I will draw some quick portraits. Here are two of them. Can you guess who they are?

Painted by Yang Zhuomin (2009)

32 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times WINE & DINE

Good Food, Good Ambience and Good by Dicky Farabid_farabi@yahoo.com

During our fruitful journey of MPA program, we had opportunities to meet up and had so called “Social Dinners” amongst our batch as well as with our distinguished economic professor, Ashish Lall. We need some rendezvous from assignments, group meetings, group projects and many fancy things which made us stressed. Though, usually the social dinner most likely ended with a tipsy of wines. : )

@ 6 December 2014To wrap up our Semester 1 and before our Map Ta Phut trip, we held social dinner at Leonie Hill Apartment, known as John Wayne aka Zhang Wei residences. The most hilarious things was Wei and Ekroop are staying in the same apartment complex, and they only realize that after we announced this social dinner. See, Social Dinner made us even closer with one another. And oh, Gaurav was very drank and he accidentally hit the window glass…ouch!

@ 4 October 2013We were delighted that Anita invited us to her beautiful house at Sunset Way for the first Social Dinner. First thing that crossed my mind was the amazing architecture of the house, and wondering if one day I will design this kind of crib. We also conducted interactive games created by our gorgeous lady Jessica. She was entertaining us with picture puzzle and some of us voluntary sang a song with Karaoke Set provided by Maes. What a night!

@ 15 October 2013Following our first social dinner, we had an opportunity to mingle with Professor Ashish Lall at NUSS Bukit Timah Guild House. Good things about the dinner was, we ordered pasta set menu, well it is good for energy however you want to groom those belly bigger. : ) It was such a good time, we can share our difficulties with Professor especially when we were struggling with supply-demand, equilibrium, Taylor's rule etc. There's nothing better than good food, good ambience and good friends… Surely we gonna miss Monday madness.

33The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 WINE & DINE

Friends An Overview of Social Gatherings and Dinners in Singapore

@Birthday CelebrationsOne thing in common for our Social Dinner was, we also have a birthday bash and wishing our classmates good luck, fortunate, and more success in the future endeavor!

@ 8 February 2014During Semester 2, we had two Social Dinners. The first Social Dinner was held on 8 February 2014 at Anita’s house, we were celebrating Chinese New Year , and we Lo Hei (toss Yusheng) to bring good luck for the new year and this dish is usually eaten on the seventh day of the Chinese New Year. This is Chinese tradition, where families and friends gather around the table and toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying auspicious wishes out loud to mark the start of a prosperous new year. It is believed that the higher you toss, the greater will be your fortunes. It was very fantastic night!

@ 16 April 2014The second Social Dinner was held on April 16 2014 at Ekroop’s Apartment at Leonie Hill. Rich of spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits from Indian cuisines were serving deliciously, and of course there was alcohol too! We enjoyed the night with some dances, drinks and building our friendship amongst MPA 2013-2014.

Reflecting back, then… and now

34 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times RACK YOUR BRAIN

Compiled by Mrinalini Kaur Sapra, mrinalini_sapra@yahoo.com

Ever think back on how things were? When we used to just enjoy life and our biggest decision was which toy to play with? Let’s look back and look forward – with this collection of photos from our past and our present (the next generation). Just reflect back about how great it was to be younger!! And don’t we always stay forever young? We won’t give the solution to this puzzle… but leave it to your imagination…

35The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 RACK YOUR BRAIN

Guess Who?

36 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times RACK YOUR BRAIN

Compiled by Anita Tan-Langloisanita.langlois@gmail.com

Match up the memorable quotes with the correct speaker

This is your own learning journey.

You decide how much or how little you want to learn.

He says: “What did you buy?” She says: “I bought

medicine for Maes.” He says: “Oooh, what is wrong with

your ass?” Who is he?

This is the only CHANGE we believe in.

My health has been corrupted!

Where does the number come from!?

We do our jobs without fear or favour!

I like to help those who are less

endowed…

I am like the peacock in a room of

penguins.

I am not a female…

ALRITE!

This is not China!

Singapore got culture MEH?Prof. Ashish Lall

Prof. Zeger

Khawaja

Chan Chin Kai

Prof. Henry

Dicky Farabi

Jaslene Poh

Prof. Ora

Zheng Wei

Anele Ncube

Pek Wan

Prof. Nuno Delicado

QUOTE.........................................................................................................................................................................BY?I am not a female.............................................................................................................................................Dicky FarabiSingapore got culture MEH?........................................................................................................................Chan Chin KaiThis is your own learning journey. You decide how much or how little you want to learn....................................Prof. OraThis is the only CHANGE we believe in................................................................................................................KhawajaThis is not China!.............................................................................................................................................Prof. AshishI am like the peacock in a room of penguins.......................................................................................................Jaslene PohALRITE!...........................................................................................................................................................Prof. HenryMy health has been corrupted!...........................................................................................................................Prof. ZegerI like to help those who are less endowed….....................................................................................................Teo Pek WanHe says: “What did you buy?” She says: “I bought medicine for Maes.”He says: “Oooh, what is wrong with your ass?” Who is he?.................................................................................Zheng WeiWhere does the number come from!?..................................................................................................................Prof. Nuno We do our jobs without fear or favour!.............................................................................................................Anele Ncube

37The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 MEMORIES

Our Journey...

Compiled by ?xxx

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” Ernest Hemingway

Bukit Timah Campus, fondly known as BTC, this is where we begin

our journey…

Strangers at the very beginning, we simply looked stiff…

Japanese men and Vietnamese ladies in their traditional costumes, what a Culture Galore!

A walk at the Bukit Brown, before we discuss about the value of Public Participation.

Turban power! Kudos to the mastery skills of Charandeep!

We read, we researched, finally we were there at Map Tat Phut to meet their people and hear their stories.

Leaders of the Master of Public Administration 2013/14 Cohort

38 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to the two class committees

Semester 1 Class Committee

President.............................................................................Hettige Don Sanjeewa DharmasenaTreasurer...............................................................................................Fenny Karlavita SiregarAcademic Representative............................................................................................Zheng WeiSocial Representative.............................................................................................Dicky FarabiSingapore Representative..............................................................................Jaslene Poh Qiu Shi

Semester 2 / Special Term Class Committee

President.................................................................................................Mrinalini Kaur SapraTreasurer.......................................................................................................Nguyen Thi TrangAcademic Representative......................................................................Mohammad Asif MuslimSocial Representative..............................................................................Roberto Salvador SalvaSingapore Representative...............................................................................Anita Tan-Langlois

39The MPA Times Friday July 11 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The MPA Times Editorial Team

Quek Lee Kiangquekleekiang@yahoo.com.sg

Hmm… The most difficult part of the MPA programme? I will say it is a tough fight between Economic Analysis and this MPA Times project...By the time, you have read till this page, it means the project has been nicely completed. Apologies for the endless email and reminders I have been sending to all of you, when I know you are busy with fish culture in Kyberstan and saving AI or is it this AI0 and IC?

In all good faith, I am glad I have contributed to creating Public Value for the class, through this yearbook project. Many years down the road, when you happen to pick up The MPA Times from the book shelve, I hope it will warm your heart and bring a smile to your face.

Joyce Yang Zhuominjoyoungzm121@gmail.com

When you organize the Year Book, you are probably organizing the memories of the class. In the memory, people bear joy and sorrow, and face life challenges together. It is hard to tell which memory should be selected as a shared one into this 40 pages book and which would be out. Even though, all the memories lasts forever, never will it die.

It is also true... and very hard to accept the reality that you may never see or hear some persons your entire life. You can only remember them and mesmerized the days spent with those persons... So sad but it is reality we have to live with those memories. In this sense, goodbye may seem forever.

However, goodbyes may not to be all sad about. Goodbyes are new journeys of life waiting to be discovered. Or let me make it easier: let me tell you hello in advance for the next time I get to see you. Maybe in China?

Amitabh Sinhaamitabh.sinha@gmail.com

Ha... I have been the non-functional journalist of the editorial team. Lee Kiang and Joyce have handled more than 95 per cent of the responsibility of taking out this booklet. Initially, I was preoccupied with an assignment and by the time I turned my attention to this, I realised my colleagues had already planned everything in detail. I found it difficult to keep pace with the movements after that, and Lee Kiang and Joyce continued to carry on the burden. Without ever complaining. So much so, even my own contributions were sent very late. So this class, and me especially, must be grateful to Lee Kiang and Joyce for putting in a lot of hard work and commitment in taking this booklet out. Cheers, both of you. And thank you.

MPA GRADUATING CLASS OF 2014

40 Friday July 11 2014 The MPA Times GOODBYE