RSAF pilot
trainee who died in Brunei remembered as outstanding student
leader
By Heather Tan/Chio Su-Mei, Channel
NewsAsia | Posted: 13 June 2008 2049 hrs
SINGAPORE : Friends of Clifton Lam, the Republic of Singapore Air
Force pilot trainee who died during training in Brunei on
Wednesday, fondly remember him as an outstanding individual.
His alma mater, Temasek Polytechnic, paid tribute to him during
its Students' Awards Ceremony on Friday.
Edmund Khoo, Deputy Principal, Temasek Polytechnic, said,
"Clifton's passing is a very painful loss to all who knew him, and
we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
But while we mourn his passing, perhaps we can draw some comfort
from the very fond memories that we will always have of him."
Last year, Clifton received a Co-Curricular Activity Leadership
Merit Award.
The pilot officer cadet had been active in student activities,
organising camps for juniors and the Polytechnic's dinner and
dance.
His lecturers and schoolmates had nothing but kind words for
him.
Kyle Sim, Student Development Manager and Lecturer, Temasek
Polytechnic, said, "He had proven himself to be one of the shining
stars to the student union and personally I knew him as one of my
student leaders. He is indeed definitely one of the jovial students
that I know."
Cai Yuting, Clifton's former classmate, said, "I would say he
was one of the best leaders I knew because he had a passion in him
that seldom or never ran out. He also had a gentleness in him that
encourages people, inspires them to go on further."
Another former classmate, Chai Yuan Long, said, "I remember him
as a cheerful, friendly and playful guy..."
His schoolmates are also waiting to find out more about his
death.
Former classmate Thomas Seah said, "I just hope they (MINDEF)
will find out what really went wrong, and (ensure that) something
like that won't happen again, because my friends and I, we're all
going into the army in a couple of months, so we hope that with his
passing, something will be improved in the army."
MINDEF is reviewing all procedures during a three-day suspension
on all physical and endurance training activities across the army,
navy and airforce.
Meanwhile, Clifton's army friends and former schoolmates have
rallied around his bereaved family.
Many of Clifton's friends - from secondary school to polytechnic
and the army - have started paying their last respects at his
funeral wake.
On Friday afternoon, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean and MP for
Pasir-Ris Punggol Michael Palmer also visited Clifton's family to
offer their condolences.
Channel NewsAsia understands that MINDEF has offered a funeral
grant to Clifton's bereaved family and that the family is awaiting
the outcome of the Ministry's investigations.
Clifton's funeral will be held this Sunday. - CNA/ms
