Liu Thai Ker’s Handover and Curiosities Captured by SJR Media
Liu Thai Ker has passed away. People remember his achievements, city planning, and far-reaching contributions, as well as his influence across Singapore and China. Yet for some, his presence lingers in quieter moments—snippets amidst busy days, tasks handed over with care, and questions that remain unanswered.
When Ms. Dai Kai’s book <Spot them young in sharing “students Rules”(Dizigui)《亲子共学弟子规》: Stories of Virtue was published, it had not yet gained widespread coverage in mainstream media. Liu Thai Ker was among the few who actively sought it out. He personally called Ms. Dai Kai to purchase a copy and arranged for his secretary to bring her to his office on Orchard Road for a brief meeting in the Mo Rui conference room.
The meeting was short. Throughout, secretaries entered and exited, consulting him on ongoing work. Even amid a packed schedule, Liu Thai Ker carefully examined the book and sincerely remarked, “This is not easy. Expressing through short nursery rhymes—it’s very difficult, truly remarkable!”
He admitted he did not have time to read it thoroughly at the moment, but his purpose was clear: the book was intended for his son. Believing it essential for his child, he arranged for his son, Liu Keyuan, to be brought into the room, and formally handed the book to him in front of the author—a quiet yet deliberate act, a handover completed in the midst of busyness.
The conversation moved to education and language. Fluent in both English and Chinese, Liu Thai Ker asked Ms. Dai Kai how to teach children to learn Chinese effectively. He spoke candidly about his concerns, noting that he was not entirely satisfied with the younger generation of Singaporeans at work, yet found it awkward to directly criticize.
“Sending them out to do tasks is often met with carelessness, requiring repeated follow-ups. It’s frustrating.”
Consequently, some young staff from China now form a core part of his company’s team.
“In Singapore today, ministers with Chinese education are gone, and it’s the same in business. Singaporean children start on the same footing as Chinese children, yet their Chinese deteriorates over time. The government has promoted Mandarin for decades, but results seem limited. What’s your view?”
Ms. Dai Kai responded with a smile: “Indeed. Everyone starts with similar potential. Local newborns have good nutrition and health. Real differences come from education. The key is to focus on crucial learning stages. That is precisely why I wrote Parent-Child Learning of Di Zi Gui—to provide young parents and students with guidance that might otherwise be missing.”
She also emphasized that Singapore has many outstanding children; with the right approach, educational outcomes remain promising.
Liu Thai Ker then shared his idea of writing a “Planning San Zi Jing” (Three-Character Classic of Planning), condensing his essential urban planning principles so future planners could master the core concepts by heart. He asked Ms. Dai Kai if she would like to participate, suggesting that Ms. Ou, a senior colleague from China, could collaborate. Ms. Dai Kai readily agreed.
He acknowledged the difficulty of the task:
“Writing three characters at a time is really challenging!
This made him admire even more how Ms. Dai Kai completed her book in seven-character nursery rhymes. He then inquired about practical teaching methods and implementation.
Ms. Dai Kai shared her current approach: using the book for Chinese language initiation, moral education, and literacy, starting with children aged five to six. Parents take the book home for parent-child learning, storytelling, and character development. It also helps young parents fill gaps in their own early education. She hopes to organize “co-learning reading clubs” in the future, where people of different ages and backgrounds can study together, exchange ideas, and continue to create works suitable for collective learning.
Note: The author’s official name is Dai Kai. Some library catalogs or academic databases may list it as “Dai, Kai” due to standard last-name-first conventions. This does not reflect the preferred or legal usage and should not be mistaken for an alternative name.
