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ONE is a house painter. Another, a pre-school teacher. And both are in mourning for a man who had touched their lives.
With voices clogged with emotion, they spoke about the late Dr Balaji Sadasivan.
Neither used colourful words or impressive phrases when they talked about the Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs who died of colon cancer yesterday morning at age 55.
Instead, they spoke simply, describing deeds of kindness and generosity with an intensity that outshone the carefully planned words of prepared speeches.
PainterTan Eng Peng, 49, put it plainly.
He said: “If not for Dr Balaji, I would not be able to walk today.”
In 1998, doctors had told him he could lose his ability to walk due to a problem with his spine. The condition had resulted from a bad fall in his childhood.
Said Mr Tan in Mandarin: “By the time I was 37, I couldn’t work because of the crippling pain. I was broke as I had not worked fortwo years as I had become bedridden. My wife also could not go to work as she had to take care of my bedridden father-in-law full-time.
“My daughter was newly born at that time and we were deep in debt. I owed relatives and friends more than $10,000 for my medical fees.”
His family doctor at that time referred him to Dr Balaji.
Said Mr Tan: “I was afraid of the cost, afraid for my future and that of my family. I was desperate. But when I went to see Dr Balaji, he was very cheerful and reassuring. He told me he could perform surgery to solve the problem.
“I was very worried and told him I had no money to pay him, but he simply said, ‘I didn’t ask you for payment. You are my patient, I will make sure you are able to walk out of my clinic.’”
MrTan said the operation was a success.
But a few months later, he received a lawyer’s letter demanding payment for his hospital bill.
Recalled Mr Tan: “I was very nervous when I received the letter. It said I owed the hospital $19,000 in fees.
“I was frantic and I went to see Dr Balaji at his clinic. When I showed him the letter, he smiled and said he will not ask me for payment. He told me not to worry and that I could put the letter aside.”
MrTan did not hear from the hospital after that.
Said Mr Tan: “I owe Dr Balaji a debt I can never repay.My children owe it to him. If not for him, I would not have been able to walk again and be able to find a job to support my family.”
Pre-school teacher Kristy Wong, meanwhile, had to ask for a moment to compose herself before speaking.
‘Very sad’
After a few minutes, she said in a voice filled with pain: “I am very sad today.”
Dr Balaji had always made a point to visit her pre-school for the children’s graduation and pose for pictures.
And he did so again two months ago, despite the cancer ravaging his body.
Ms Wong, 36, teaches at the PCF Cheng San-Seletar Education Centre at Blk 435, Ang MoKio Ave 10, which takes in children from 4 to 6 years old.
Dr Balaji, an elected Member of Parliament for the Ang Mo Kio GRC since October 2001, had often visited the school and had been a guest of honour at many of the school’s official functions.
Said Ms Wong over the phone: “My colleagues and I have been very sad today. I saw many of my colleagues walking around with their eyes all reddened.
“I avoided looking them in the eye as I was afraid I would break down.
“We all had to control ourselves as we cannot let the children see us cry.
“... I found it difficult to accept the news as it was only two months ago in July that he visited our centre to take photographs with the graduating batch of six-year-old pre-schoolers.”
She added: “Every year without fail, he had photographs taken with the graduating students.
“He was always very patient and would wait while the students were organised into groups for the photos.
“But we were surprised he still came this year as we were aware he was not well.”
Ms Wong said many of her colleagues were dismayed and saddened to see how much weight Dr Balaji had lost when they saw him in July.
In a faltering voice, she said: “He showed so much dedication for the work he did and concern for others, even at a time when he should have been resting and taking care of his own health.”
Ms Wong said one of her memorable experiences was watching Dr Balaji and his wife perform an old Mandarin love song duet at on e of the grassroots dinners a few years ago.
She recalled: “People were often surprised when they heard Dr Balaji speak in Mandarin because he was quite fluent. But that time it was even more special because it was one of the rare times we got to hear him sing.
“He held hands with his wife while they sang and it was very touching to watch and hear them.”
Madam Ong Choo Huay, 50, the branch administrator for the centre, is also a grassroots leader and helps out at the Meet The People sessions.
Shesaid:“Many of the Mandarin-speaking residents often worried that they could not speak English and would not be able to communicate their problems to him. They were always surprised when he spoke to them in Mandarin.
“He was very dedicated to helping the residents.
“There have been times when he returned from overseas trips on the same evening as the Meet The People’s sessions and he would still rush to meet the residents.”
His time in politics
§ NOVEMBER 2001
Elected Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC and appointed Minister of State.
§ AUGUST 2004
Promoted to Senior Minister of State.
POSTED TO: Ministries of Health, Environment, Transport and Information, Communications and the Arts.
LAST POST: Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
§ DECEMBER 2006
Appointed Chairman of the National Aids Policy Committee.
§ MAY 2007
Elected to the post of Chairman of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Executive Board, Singapore’s first in its 40 years of WHO membership.
What is colon cancer?
COLON cancer is the number one cancer here, with 1,200 to 1,300 new cases a year.
In terms of numbers, it has overtaken lung cancer for men, but breast cancer is still the most common cancer among women.
Said Professor Eu Kong Weng, head of the colorectal surgery department at Singapore General Hospital: “In the early stages of colon cancer, chances of a cure are very good, which is why we are encouraging screening.”
Screening, via a colonoscopy, is recommended from the age of 50, if you have no symptoms.
If everything is normal, then it is recommended that you have a scope every five to 10 years.
But if there are symptoms, don’t wait. And one can get symptoms at any time.
“Once you have symptoms such as blood in the stools, a change in bowel habits or pain, you should get screened,” said Prof Eu.
Another indicator for screening is family history of colon cancer, especially if it is a first degree relative (parents and siblings) who has had colon cancer.
“For such a person, we recommend screening at 40 years of age,” said Prof Eu.
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