A Chat With Dr Ang Peng Tiam

               - the New President of the ACS OBA

We recently caught up with Dr Ang Peng Tiam, who was elected President of the ACSOBA after a keenly contested election at the ACS OBA AGM on 30 March.  A true blue ACSian and now a full time medical oncologist in the private sector, Dr Ang is no stranger to the ACSOBA Management Committee, which he has served since 1998.  In recent years, he has also been a member of the ACS Board of Governors and the ACS (Independent) Board of Management.

Echo:  First of all, congratulations on your election as President. As it is very obvious that you are very committed to the alma mater, can you share with us how ACS has influenced your life?

Dr. Ang: The biggest impact that ACS made on my life is that it exposed me to the Christian faith.  I come from a traditional non-Christian family.  My parents sent me to ACS with the belief that it would offer me a good education.  That it did.  But more importantly, the Monday chapel service, daily devotion and the Christian role model, which teachers provided, prepared my heart for accepting Christ. 

The ACS education is unique.  Academics were important but what was more important was the ACS Spirit.  The never-say-die attitude carried us through in our studies as well as in extra-curricular activities.  Be it in the swimming pool, at science quiz or on the parade square, ACSians always trained hard and represented the School with pride.  We face life's challenges with zest.

Many friends I made in ACS remain friends till this day. Despite the distance separating those overseas and less than frequent contact, we remain connected through fond memories of our school days.  When I told two friends that there was going to be an election for the post of ACSOBA President, both responded enthusiastically and rallied old friends to come by and vote.  When my daughter went for an exploratory trip of American universities, two former classmates went out of their way to ensure that she was taken care of every moment of the day.  These bonds of friendship made at school are everlasting.  ACS boys can always count on one another! 
About Dr Ang Peng Tiam

Dr Ang is a medical oncologist who is widely regarded as one of the best in his field in Singapore and the region. A Singapore govern-ment scholarship holder in 1986, he formed and headed the Department of Medical Oncology at the Singapore General Hospital in 1991.

He maintains a keen interest in research having published and presented more than 100 papers and abstracts; and sits on several national cancer related boards and councils.

At school Dr Ang was president of the LDDS and was named both best actor and best orator.  He excelled academically and was made a President’s Scholar in 1977.

Like many old boys his ties to the ACS family run both deep and wide. He met his wife, Siok Lin in ACS and their two sons are studying in ACS (Independent). The family are members of Barker Road Methodist Church.

For more on Dr Ang's
profile, please click here.

Echo:  Dr Ang, in your pre-election speech, you said that you "would like to see changes to the OBA, as we are ready to re-invent ourselves".  Can you please elaborate on this?  

Dr. Ang: I believe that the ACSOBA has not done enough to communicate with old boys.  This has led to mis-information, half-truths and rumours being circulated.  I intend to change this and will try my best to reach out to all ACSians, be they members of the ACSOBA or not.  I shall do this through the ACSOBA website (www.acsoba.net) and the ECHO magazine.  Old boys can also have access to me.  I have made available my e-mail address (ang_peng_tiam@acsoba.net) as well as started meet-the-old-boys session, held after each Management Committee meeting.  In fact, the response to our first session on 21 April has been most encouraging.

My Action Plan includes:

  • improving the ACSOBA secretariat

  • preparing amendments to our Constitution for next year's AGM

  • raising funds to support projects aimed at "achievement of excellence" in our schools

  • promoting SCRUM to facilitate networking, Christian fellowship and social interaction

  • organising social activities for old boys

  • promoting use of the ACSOBA lounge located next to ACS Barker Road Swimming Pool

  • offering prayer support for our schools and old boys

  • remembering the contributions of retired teachers and provide fellowship

  • providing welfare support for some of our retired teachers who may be in need

  • liaising with the schools on needs such as provision of homestay for overseas scholars, on-the-job attachments or career talks for students

  • supporting sports in the schools.

ACS OBA Management
Committee 2004/2005

President

Dr Ang Peng Tiam

2nd Vice President

Dr Teoh Tiong Ann

Hon. Secretary

Mr Eric Teng Heng Chew

Asst. Secretary

Mr Lim Jen Howe

Hon. Treasurer

Mr Benson Puah

Asst. Treasurer

Mr Eugene Lim

Committee Members

Mr Timothy Chew

 

Mr Lim Tat

 

Mr Jimmie Tay Wee Hiong

 

Mr Albert Ng

 

Mrs Mildred Tan

  Mr R. Chandra Mohan

 

Mr Woon Chet Choon

Echo:  As the ACS family grows from strength to strength, how do you see the ACS OBA playing a greater part in making it a greater school?

Dr. Ang: The ACSOBA is committed to bringing the five schools closer together.  We have 5 ACS schools but only one Old Boys Association.  We do not discriminate on the basis of how many years he has spent in ACS or which ACS he comes from.  Even the girls who enjoy only 2 years of ACS education are eligible to join the OBA.  In a similar way, the schools must begin thinking like one.  Despite being at 4 physical locations, we need to think of ourselves as being in one virtual cluster, capitalising and building upon the strengths of each school.  We need to share resources and help one another. 

Old boys are the beneficiaries of a good education, which ACS offered.  Some of us are now in a position where we can give something back to the school.  This contribution may be money, time or resource.  The ACSOBA hopes to serve as the conduit through which old boys can make a great school even greater.

Echo:  Since its introduction in the Echo magazine, the Alumni Roundup section has fired up nostalgia and fond memories of OBA members, who are on the mailing list for the magazine. What plans do you have to reach out to non-OBA members?

Dr. Ang: I always remind myself that as ACSOBA president, I serve not only the members of OBA but also the larger community of ACS old boys who are not members.  ECHO has proven itself to be a magazine through which the ACSOBA and the schools can effectively stay in touch with the students, parents and old boys.  I plan to make the Alumni Roundup section, which covers the activities of ACSOBA, available through our website www.acsoba.net.  All old boys can access it by simply logging on to this site.

This may be the last issue of ECHO that all members receive by mail.  After making the Alumni Roundup section available on the website, those members who wish to continue receiving a hard copy of ECHO can either pick it up at the OBA Secretariat located at ACS Barker Road or request for one to be sent (call us at 6259-7860 or e-mail to admin@acsoba.net).  This exercise would help us to cut down on mailing costs and allow us to put the savings (estimated to be $10,000 per year) to better use. 

 

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