My dad was born into poverty and job opportunities were practically non-existent back in his hometown of Paloh in Kluang, Johor. 

Many young men in the rural village had to leave their hometown for cities like Kuala Lumpur to work to support their families back home. My late grandfather had to venture to Penang to work in a rubber plantation.

The dire financial situation at home also meant that my dad was forced to discontinue his education after primary school. On the advice of a friend, he decided to come to Singapore by train with his two elder brothers in 1980 when he was 13.

It was the first time in his life that he ever travelled out of his hometown. My dad was awed by the modern high-rise buildings when he first arrived in Singapore in 1980. He had never been to a city in his life, not even one in Malaysia.

Being in his early teens also meant that he was not of legal age to work and could not get a work permit. To avoid suspicion, he would work in Singapore as a dishwasher for 14 days, then go back to Johor for a few weeks before the cycle continued.

However, as his Paloh hometown was still over 130km from Johor Bahru and a train ride was the only viable transportation option, my dad did not want to spend the money on a train ticket. Instead, he would loiter around Taman Johor in Johor Bahru to do odd jobs and make occasional brief phone calls home to keep in touch with his mother.

In Singapore, as he was forced to work in the shadows, he was vulnerable to exploitation by unsavoury employers. He recounted to me the times when he was underpaid and yet he could not do anything about it.

With his meagre salary of S$200 per month, he was forced to sleep on the streets as he could not afford rental accommodation. He had to endure this for five months before his elder brother managed to get a place for the three of them to live in.

Those early days were tough for him as he suffered from homesickness. 

To compound his problem, his two brothers eventually went back to Malaysia to get married and left him alone in Singapore. My father was tempted to return to Malaysia too but what kept him going was his burning desire to build a better life for himself — a life where he could have his own home and three proper meals per day.

So he kept his dishwashing job in the hope of getting a better job later.

His life improved when he turned 18 and managed to get a job with a legal working permit at a chicken rice shop, chopping chicken.

My dad initially found it tough to adjust to his new job as he had yet to master the skills needed to chop chickens.

He might not have been as smart as others but he made up for his shortcomings with his hard work, putting in 15 hours a day, seven days a week. He hardly took leave and gave his best to the company. Due to his dedication, he rose quickly, progressing from a work permit holder to an employment pass holder.

He also became a Permanent Resident and then a citizen in 2007. By then, he had been married for 10 years with two kids (me and my sister).

The author holding a photo of his father receiving his citizenship certificate on Nov 3, 2007, from then Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen.   Photo courtesy of Maa Zhi Hong.

As a child, I grew up in a three-room flat in Whampoa. Then, as my family's financial situation improved, we moved to a four-room flat, before upgrading to our current five-room flat in Bishan in 2005.

My dad was most proud of this and used to tell me: “Dad doesn’t have a degree but I can afford a flat in Bishan!”

A dark period for my family came in 2008, when my dad was retrenched by the very company to which he had dedicated his best years because of the global financial crisis.

Thankfully, he managed to find another job — albeit with lower pay — within a few months and our family’s financial situation stabilised thereafter.

From my dad’s life, I learnt the importance of conviction. My dad could have taken the easy option of going back to Malaysia with his brothers but he chose to stay here.

He knew what he wanted and he kept chasing it until he attained his goal.

I also learnt the importance of grit and perseverance. My dad came to Singapore with nothing. Life was tough for him but he didn’t give up nor make excuses for himself.

Through hard work and having a never-say-die spirit, he managed to carve out a new life for himself in Singapore.

My dad is not wealthy and he doesn’t have a business for me to inherit. However, I have inherited his determination to pursue a dream; a dream to be a world-renowned motivational speaker, with the same wit and insights as Alibaba founder Jack Ma. 

The journey ahead will be tough and I know I will face countless setbacks as I have been on this journey for two years. Whenever I thought of giving up, my mind will instantly remind me of my dad's journey. My dad's inspirational story gives me the courage to press on.

All of us are bound to face challenges in our life and I am sure there are others with equally if not more compelling stories than my father’s.

But to me, he is an inspiration and I hope that my sharing of his story will also inspire you to have the strength to face whatever adversities you have in life.

After all, JK Rowling once said: “You control your own life. Your own will is extremely powerful.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maa Zhi Hong is an accounting graduate of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He is looking to build a career in public speaking and writing.