Together, For Vui Kong
It drizzled all afternoon. The ground was wet and squishy. We thought no one would show up. But we were wrong. Photo by Nicholas Leong As I type this, Yun Leong is visiting Vui Kong in prison. I’m sure they’re talking about our little gathering yesterday, about all you good people who bothered to stand...
The Boy’s Mother
We visit on our third day in Sandakan. She looks surprised to see so many of us. But we’re even more taken aback by the state of her little two-bedroom flat. Vui Fung had told us earlier that she lives alone. We’d half-expected her home to be gloomy and untidy. But the place is immaculately...
The Good Fight
My heart leapt when I saw this status update on Vui Fung’s Facebook page a couple of weeks ago:“I try my best to face all of this… I never wanna try to hide it again…” It was a huge step for her – this shy, awkward girl who hates being in the limelight, hates talking...
The Suicide Bomber’s Family
It’s hard being the suicide bomber’s family. No one has any sympathy for you. You’re the father who screwed up so bad, your son decided to go blow himself up. You’re the brother who dropped out of school so your younger sibling could have an education – only, he chose martyrdom over a university degree....
Dowry Deaths
At first we couldn’t believe the statistics. Nearly 200 deaths in 2009. 48 in the first three months of this year. Women – most of them, young and in the prime of their lives – beaten, strangled, burnt, kicked, tortured, drowned, starved, hacked… to death. Because of their husbands and in-laws’ greed. What on earth...
Maestro’s Daughters – The Film
It was a real privilege making this, and getting to know Ruba, Tungtang, Ama and the Maestro. A huge thank-you to Fiona, for helping us tell this story.
The Great North Korean Picture Show
Spent my birthday in Pyongyang. At a film studio. On the set of the next North Korean blockbuster. We’re still trying to process the experience. Everyone was warm and surprisingly open. Yet our shoot was unusually difficult – the entire experience, incredibly trying and energy-sapping. Off to Jakarta today. More on our project there in...
June Update
Hello. It’s been a while. We’re sorry we’ve been scarce. Things just got a little hectic here. We’re buried in work… slowly trying to dig our way out. And of course we’re still reeling from the outcome of Vui Kong’s case. Mad, sad May. We’re hoping June will be a little better. We also spent...
A Letter To Yong Vui Kong
Dear Vui Kong, Thanks so much for your letter. I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to reply. Your brother Yun Leong tells me you are amazingly strong. That you’re prepared to accept whatever happens next. That you want to live, want so much to live, but are ready to face death. I saw what...
The Maid’s Room
My brother and I spent a recent weekend house hunting with my parents. We had fun poking our noses into other people’s homes, making up stories about their lives, and swapping design ideas. My little nephew especially, has enjoyed the whole exercise. We’ve all loved listening to his suggestions as to where Mah-mah and Yeh-yeh...
Onwards To Rio
This might come as a surprise to some, but when we first learnt about the Homeless World Cup, we found the whole idea kinda, well, ludicrous. Why spend all that money on a bunch of losers? Why not use it so they can find… HOMES instead? But then we went to Hong Kong. And hung...
Problem-solving, MOM-style
It’s an open secret. The global trade in low-level labour is a dirty one. And Singapore is a willing participant. We import tens of thousands of migrant workers each year ostensibly because no other Singaporean will do the jobs they do, for the kind of pay they’re willing to accept. But the truth is that...
