New post, same approach for new MP Lui Tuck Yew

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Saturday May 27, 6:17 AM

New post, same approach for new MP Lui Tuck Yew
He may be a public figure now — and an up-and-coming politician — but Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui Tuck Yew had no qualms about hopping onto a train yesterday to get to town for an interview with this newspaper.
While the newly-appointed Minister of State for Education owns a car, he said it was simply easier to take public transport into town from his home near Joo Chiat.
Besides, the Tanjong Pagar GRC MP has successfully remained incognito in public since the polls.
"My wife and I were quite worried about a loss of privacy at first, but most people don't really notice you," said the former Navy chief, who has also helmed the Maritime and Port Authority and the Housing Development Board (HDB).
Ironically, the only time RAdm Lui was recognised in public — while he was in the midst of getting a haircut — was after he had presented his first HDB annual report earlier this year.
"There was a snippet of me on the TV set in the Parkway Parade barber shop where I was having my hair cut. My barber looked at the TV and said 'Hey, that's you!' That's about the only time I was recognised," recalled RAdm Lui with a laugh.

This comes in handy for the unassuming father of two young girls, who said he enjoys visiting malls with his family and tucking into his favourite food — fishball noodles — at hawker centres around Marine Parade.
But RAdm Lui, who just returned from a diplomatic trip to China with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, will soon become a familiar face to his constituents.
"It's a really busy time; you've got to establish yourself quickly as an MP on the ground. Being a Minister of State for Education is important but we mustn't forget that there are some 30,000 to 40,000 residents in your constituency looking forward to meeting up with their MP and expecting their MP to address some of their very local issues," he said.
He has identified some issues to address, including the need for more frequent bus services, differing reactions to lift upgrading and various appeals residents have personally made to the MPs. He has also been tasked with the upgrading of Tekka Market and appointed as secretary to the People's Action Party General Election review committee chaired by Mr Teo Chee Hean.
"I tell my grassroots leaders and branch members not to adulterate anything. Let's hear it as it is — we've got to know things as they are before we can tackle the right issues," said RAdm Lui, who added that talking to people during house visits was an important avenue for feedback.
The same open attitude awaits him at the Education Ministry, where he has been tasked with overseeing everything to do with schools, from the primary to junior college level.
"Minister Tharman (Shanmugaratnam) met us last Friday, when we were told of our portfolios, and told us to give new ideas even if they were to go against the grain of current convention, and to look at things from a fresh perspective — which is very good," said RAdm Lui.
He said that his knowledge of the Education Ministry is "only to the extent of being an interested parent" — and the husband of an adjunct teacher.
While both are Cambridge graduates who met while studying overseas, the couple does not push their daughters, aged 10 and 13, to perform at school, encouraging them to pursue their interests instead.
RAdm Lui — who used to catch spiders, black ants and guppies growing up in Tiong Bahru — also encourages his daughters' fascination with living creatures. They now have two cats, a dog and two terrapins.
The family once bred a hundred butterflies by prying caterpillars off plants, feeding them leaves and setting them free when they were able to fly.
RAdm Lui said Singapore's education was "really good" in terms of infusing knowledge and giving people the right paper qualifications, and is moving in the right direction of equipping students with "life skills", in terms of analysis and communication.
He stressed that teachers are one of the most important aspects in the whole education set-up.
"When we look back at our school days, we may have forgotten all the maths and science and geography, but we'll still remember a bit about the teacher who taught us well and invested a part of their lives in us, and helped to build in us certain beliefs and convictions," said RAdm Lui.
"For teachers to be able to do that and move beyond trying to finish the curriculum and co-curricular activities and all that, I think they need a little bit more empowerment as well as space and time."
He added that the Ministry was moving toward this with its efforts to increase the number of teachers in each school.
Said RAdm Lui: "An enquiring mind, inquisitive spirit and passionate heart are things that I think will continue to be relevant regardless of changes in the economy and society. As long as these values are in place, I think we'll be all right." - /fa