Initially, he stayed with a distant relative to help him settle in the foreign land. But when his younger brother joined him in Singapore later, the two moved out on their own into a rented apartment. Despite being just 13 then, Soo Lai was able to manage schoolwork and looking after the home. The spirit of independence and sound time management, displayed at such a young age, has certainly served him well. After going through the Singapore education system, Soo Lai now works as a process sustaining manager at Soitec, a French-headquartered semiconductor manufacturer specializing in the production of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers. His job requires him to manage a team of engineers, along the production line of the SOI wafers.

“The semi-conductor industry is highly-specialised. As a key driver of economic growth, it is definitely a good place to be working in.” He confesses with a shy grin that the bonuses are indeed quite attractive. But for him, the largest bonus is that his life need not revolve around work alone. “I do a lot of sports, especially basketball. I still try and play twice a week,” says Soo Lai, clearly excited at the mention of his favourite sport. He still plays for his alma mater, Anderson Junior College’s alumni team and also frequents the Beach Road community centre and Toa Payoh area for a shoot-out or two. “I was fortunate to meet a lot of good friends throughout school, from junior college to university.” Soo Lai believes that this is one of the contributing factors that has compelled him to remain in Singapore after completing his education.

Having been away from his hometown in Kedah for nearly two decades, he still keeps an ear out for news from Malaysia. “I know some Malaysians in Singapore who have totally alienated themselves– but not me.” Part of the reason is that his immediate family, whom he maintains close ties with, is still living there. His parents are comfortably settled in Kedah, while his three other siblings are working professionals in various parts of Malaysia. “My older brother, an architect, is hoping I’ll go back to help out in a family business,” reveals Soo Lai. He has no such plans, at least for now. For one, he is married to a Singaporean and has two young children and their needs to consider. “It’ll be quite hard for my wife to adapt to life back there in Malaysia.”

On the whole, he thinks that the education system in Singapore is “competitive but extremely fair”. And having been through it himself, he knows it will be good for his children. Moreover, the standard of safety and security in Singapore is incomparable. No wonder the ever-optimistic Soo Lai is actively enticing his family back in Malaysia to taste life in Singapore. Only time will tell if he succeeds.