Comments on Khoo Swee Chiow's Latest Record Breaking Feat

last SG · 2005-12-30T08:41:13+00:00

If Khoo really loves Singapore then he should pay for his own "self-glorifications" and give the money raised to some charities or causes instead.

BillyBong SG

Evidently, you still blindly believe that he 'used' public funds.

Have you established the facts for yourself or are you contend to believe what others simply sprout?

Are you like many others so eager to crucify him over something he DID NOT DO?

Check the details of the North east CDC fund he 'used' instead of simply following the mass condemnation. Again, draw the distinction between actual sponsership vs charity funding.

The original purpose of my thread was to illustrate the fact that people never bother to ascertain the facts before conveniently jumping on the 'flame him' bandwagon.

Now it seems you people are ready and poised to do the same.

nanren4ever SG

Seriously, i don't know why he got funded for doing a thing like staying under water. What does it prove? It just boasts his ego, that's all. And what? that he has good lungs? If he is doing this out of his own pocket, then fine, but keep in mind, he is doing this using public funds, and the money could have been used for better use, such as giving it to sports association like gymnastic. They won gold medals for singapore, despite it not being a core sport. And now, they can't even go Asian Games.

The 'feat' done by Khoo is all about personal glory, rather than bringing glory to the nation. For that, i see no reason why we should celebrate his accomplishments.

Kenashi SG

damn bo liao Laughing
if he is so gd, tell him to do it in the open seas, then it won't waste our money n he can break all the stupid record he want

BillyBong SG

Again, where is the 'public funds' he used? Are you so smitten by Robert Yeo's claim that you so eagerly chastise him for it without determining the facts?

Or is this more sentimental angst that spilled over from the NKF saga?

Kenashi SG

Originally posted by BillyBong:

Again, where is the [b]'public funds' he used? Are you so smitten by Robert Yeo's claim that you so eagerly chastise him for it without determining the facts?

Or is this more sentimental angst that spilled over from the NKF saga? [/b]

errr, please correct me if i am wrong, North East Community Development Council (CDC)'s Dare to Dream Fund -> where is the source??
Taxpayer money distributed by the govt?

BillyBong SG

Typical cynicism.

Performing such a feat in open waters requires even more resources to combat the ocean currents and to duplicate the controlled environment. You probably need a hyperbaric chamber, a support vessel and a crew with diving experience.

Then again, i guess you had no idea....

Kenashi SG

he can die there to prove his worth as if i care.
if a person want to seek death why stop him Laughing

charlize SG

What if he had done the "pushing the orange with his nose" stunt, what would you guys think about him? Laughing

BillyBong SG

True, why stand in the way of a determined man?

Conversely, why berate him for things he is doing? Why 'bother' to offer him any attention at all if this feat accomplishes nothing? This accordingly to numerous posts so far.

Are we so cynical as a people now that we will take any and all opportunities to criticise others for doing things that do not even affect the livelihood of others? Is that the freedom of speech you are looking for?

Because ironically, i liked it better when we exercised restraint.

LittleTiger SG

Wah... if every year he think of one stunt and got the sponsor then is he right on track.

150k /12 months = $12,500 paid per months. Good thinking... easy money, quick buck. Work few days and get the whole year paid.

Or 150k/$4000(average paid for 40's) = 37.5/12 months = 3 years of salary.... woo... good investment and great return leh.

Earn much and leave name also. No pain, no gain... anyway he did what other might not think of or wanted to do. Pro and cons.

mistyblue SG

I see no purpose other than self glory so I didn’t think much of his acts

SnowFlag SG

I dun u'stand why.....

CDC anyhow spend money, but u all blame khoo.
Judge did not jail the pianist for not serving NS, but the blame is on the pianist.

Laughing

snow leopard SG

NKF board anyhow approve durai's pay, you more dulan with NKF board or more dulan wih durai?

snow leopard SG

I do not depend on charity and public funds for a living. My income is derived from giving motivational talks (to corporations and schools), book royalty, sponsorship and product endorsements.

cashing in on your fame aren't you?

Sponsorship is not a donation. I have obligations to sponsors in return for their investments. In receiving sponsorship, the same business principles apply - marketing and sales, cash flow, crisis management and customer satisfaction. For major expeditions, there are legal contracts involved.

so it's all about money isn't it?

North East CDC has been very supportive of my endeavours, partly because I live in the North East district. By doing what I do best, I hope to inspire residents of the district to step out of their comfort zones, try something they have never dared to do, learn to take some setbacks and, in the process, become stronger people.

as you've admitted earlier, it's all about money isn't it? inspiration? that's part of the whole bullshit isn't it?

Standing on the summit of Mt Everest and reaching the South and North poles were some of the proudest moments of my life. I was proud to be a Singaporean. The reward was extremely enriching and spiritual.

this is like someone who brags about having gone to some exotic country on an all expenses paid holiday with porters to carry his luggage.

Did I do it for self-glorification? The answer is yes if it means trying to prove to myself and pushing my own physical and mental limits.

the example you set for the rest of the country is this. self glorification comes above all else, including the lives of your comrades. they can rot and die or become paralysed later on but they won't stop you from achieving self glory.

But if it is thought that I was out to make a name for myself and to be famous, it would be the secondary outcome. There are many easier ways to be famous than risking my life. There is no gold medal or cash reward waiting at the summit or the South Pole.

if not for your sponsored trip up the mountains, you would still be a lowly employee. what else have you got to show for easier ways of making money? no gold awaited you at the top no doubt, but gold as you've shown us all, is for your taking that has everything to do with that one single deed.

When I die, I want my son to be inspired by me. I want him to know that his dad is a person of courage who dared to stand up for what he believed in, and one who did not give up easily. I also believe that this is my way to contribute to the Singapore I love.

well, you weren't there when your pregnant wife needed you the most. for your own selfish glory, you chose to forsake your family. what a father you are. contribute to singapore? sounds more like living off singapore.

nanren4ever SG

Khoo applied for the Dare to dream fund to do the underwater feat. The rules state that people who were successful in applying for the funds before cannot apply, but it seems that no one applied except Khoo, so they gave it to him AGAIN. If the money had been given to someone who wants to bring glory to the nation, by all means, do it. BUT he is doing it to get HIS name into record books, it doesn't benefit the nation at all.

I am not criticizing Khoo, but i am trying to say that if his glory had nothing to do with Singapore, he should not apply at all.

FireIce SG

the next thing he wannna conquer is the desert

SnowFlag SG

i think both parties are at blame. Mr. Green

Kenashi SG

i want to go to outer space.
can apply or not Laughing
first singaporean in space Mr. Green

BillyBong SG

It's narrow-minded to think everything that Khoo is doing is merely for the pursuit of self-glory alone.

Just as honest folks earn a decent living through profitable work, so does Khoo earn his living by giving motivational talks, writing books etc. A man's gotta earn a living. Just because you disapprove of his line of work does not mean he's scum. The money he earns is legitimate and also through hard work. The way you preach sounds like you're the only honest-living person in SG.

And only a fool would self-finance himself for ardous trips to the south pole or to climb seven of the highest peaks. Unless you're a Donald Trump or Bill Gates, its not even feasible to consider such expensive enterprises. The fact that he actively seeks the necessary sponsorship for his endeavours indicates a form of entrepreneurship mind that few of us exhibit. Isn't that what our beloved gahmen is attempting to develop?

And it seems that you're conveniently overlooked the difficulties and life-threatening situations each of his task requires. As he already mentioned, there is no 'medal or cash incentive' for each of his journeys, evidently a snipe at SSC's cash incentive scheme for sportsmen. He is clearly differentiating himself from the average sportmen that SG has developed.

If that isn't enough, he has proven that certain dreams don't require a a huge cash flow to realise, but merely requires the right approach through appropriate channels. Campaigning for sponsorship is a win-win situation for both the campaigner and the provider. After all, you think Lance Armstrong or Amelia Earheart held decent jobs?

And as to your cynical remark: so it's all about money isn't it?, my question to you is quite simply: What isn't?

snow leopard SG

Originally posted by BillyBong:

It's narrow-minded to think everything that Khoo is doing is merely for the pursuit of self-glory alone.

he is portraying himself to be a doer of good for singapore. i'm merely flipping the coin around to show what he is really up to, which is nothing more than self glory.

Just as honest folks earn a decent living through profitable work, so does Khoo earn his living by giving motivational talks, writing books etc. A man's gotta earn a living. Just because you disapprove of his line of work does not mean he's scum. The money he earns is legitimate and also through hard work. The way you preach sounds like you're the only honest-living person in SG.

a couple of hours of "motivational" or should i say self glorifying talk earns big bucks for him. that's hard work? using public funds to pursue his hobbies is an honest way of making a living? i may not be the only honest living person in the world, but i don't use public funds to perform clown acts in public.

And only a fool would self-finance himself for ardous trips to the south pole or to climb seven of the highest peaks. Unless you're a Donald Trump or Bill Gates, its not even feasible to consider such expensive enterprises. The fact that he actively seeks the necessary sponsorship for his endeavours indicates a form of entrepreneurship mind that few of us exhibit. Isn't that what our beloved gahmen is attempting to develop?

arduous to some extent perhaps but not extraordinarily so. south pole and highest peaks maybe. but cooped-in-a-tank gimmick? that deserves sponsorship? that's entrepreneurial endeavour? more like waste of public funds isn't it? you mean garmen is agweeable to sponsoring any kind of silly act?

And it seems that you're conveniently overlooked the difficulties and life-threatening situations each of his task requires. As he already mentioned, there is no 'medal or cash incentive' for each of his journeys, evidently a snipe at SSC's cash incentive scheme for sportsmen. He is clearly differentiating himself from the average sportmen that SG has developed.

what life threatening situation is there in the cooped-in-a-tank gimmick? any time he wants to he can surface right? it's not as if he is tied up and performing some houdini trick.

sports is something you can identify with, something you approve because it involves graceful skill or extraordinary human abilities. we all can run, but we can't run as fast as shyam so we respect him for that. we play badminton, but we're not as skillful or graceful as susilo so we applaud his achievements. cooped-in-a-tank act? who gives a damn? just about anybody can coop-in-a-tank, with oxygen, liquid food, sanitation provided, the whole gimmick is designed for any average joe to last in that tank. what testament to human spirit or ability is there?

If that isn't enough, he has proven that certain dreams don't require a a huge cash flow to realise, but merely requires the right approach through appropriate channels. Campaigning for sponsorship is a win-win situation for both the campaigner and the provider. After all, you think Lance Armstrong or Amelia Earheart held decent jobs?

that cooped-in-tank gimmick isn't exactly cheap and it uses public funds. win-win? he won, the public lost. he got his fame (which would lead to fortune), what did the public get in return? Lance Armstrong is a testament to human spirit and triumph. i don't know what that cooped-in-a-tank act signifies. Amelia earhart had to work hard to save for her adventures. our friend? open mouth only money pour in like rain. so easy, hardly the true pursuer of dreams and passion that amelia is.

And as to your cynical remark: so it's all about money isn't it?, my question to you is quite simply: What isn't?

cynical to you perhaps, but nevertheless appropriate. he sounded as if he's doing some wondrous good for singapore when in fact he is merely doing it for his own glory while hypocritically claiming to be contributing to the country. what good has he done for the country submerging himself in a tank? so to answer your question, why claim to be doing something noble when in fact you're actually doing it for your own selfish reasons? and if it is selfish endeavour why use public funds?

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