Rip-Roaring Tune (Doubtless)

The old Malay uncle clearing the plates at Al Wadi was indeed a Singaporean. Therefore he well remembered the old song Di Tanjong Katong that featured in the gala for the local PM at the White House in the U.S. yesterday. If you asked a Malaysian they don't know, Malay uncle declared. He knew. Down near Amber Road the Embassy Hotel…. Last time there was ..... something.... how to say?... children's many.... Immediate recognition of the tune nonetheless perfectly obvious. The picture of the red carpet reception of the PM on the steps of the grand old house took half the page of the newspaper, clearly visible. For the mention of the song itself the uncle bent low, three inches from the sheet that had been turned around for him. Sure enough, Di Tanjong Katong, uncle read, luckily at the top of a column. On the corner up west not one hundred metres away sat Tanjong Katong Complex on Tanjong Katong Road, the older style mall presenting to the traffic a cylindrical front inspired by a water tower possibly. Hang a left you would get to Amber Road. The former terrace houses and bungalows there, the former children's garden (it seemed) no more ready.  Last time have. Could the uncle recognise Lee Hsien Loong in the pic? (Apparently even the accomplished orator Obama had stumbled over the name, understandably.) Uncle did not watch TV or read the papers. Lee Kwan Yew? he surprisingly asked…. Was he slyly joking? Habis, gone. Suda, done, uncle. No more ready. Raised a smile over the Malay uncle’s creased face, jaws always working, blinking and tossing his head like a colt. Ya, but son now. Money many.... cannot finish one.... many. Well it did stand to reason there would be dough and plenty of it for the best paid pollies in the world, the celebrated duo pere and fille reigning for almost an entire half century between them. Uncle played 4D and Toto with some kind of arcane knowledge and insight. Like many others, the man could often be seen nights bent low over a fan of tickets. Big Beefy Mohammed consulted sometimes with the wise old mentor uncle. One would have said older than 1950 — the former carting, present day ciggies and hollow cheeks added another decade at least to look at him. Fine little to-do in Washington, State dinner no less, toasting and pledges. The "anchor" (Barak O.) in the S-E Asian tropics assuming greater importance as the global re-balancing continues. (Will there be war? a bookish chap was often asked. Pushy Chinese, it was often commented, by the Malays usually.)

NB. PM Lee was keen on the TPP Agreement, free trade; Don Trump giving some cause for concern clearly between the lines. The great benefits in a nutshell, as enunciated by the PM Mr. Lee: “I am spending, I am consuming, I am importXXXing and, because it’s freed up trade I am getting a wider range of products, of services, of opportunities. Consumerist heaven.  (Originally read as important.)

                                                                                                         Straits Times, pA8 Aug. 4 2016