SINGAPORE: Turning 100 on National Day

SINGAPORE (Today News), August 9, 2006: Chia Ah Hin may have turned 100 on the same day Singapore celebrated its 41st birthday. But those who know him say he is still very alert and spirited — thanks to mahjong. The former carpenter, who celebrated his birthday at the Golden Years Day Care Centre in Hougang on August 8 with about 50 family members and friends, plays mahjong almost everyday with other senior citizens at the centre. The healthy Mr Chia has no illness, other than a weak heart, said his son Seng Pui, 52. Mr Chia lives with his youngest son and his family in a 5-room flat in Sengkang. But when first introduced to the idea of the day care centre five years ago, he did not want to go — thinking that it was an old folks' home and that his children were going to abandon him. "But when he came here and realised he could play mahjong, he grew to like it," said his son. Mr Chia was born in Canton, China, in 1907 and came to Singapore to work when he was 15. He later got married and raised seven children in Lorong Sungei. For many years, Mr Chia did not know when his birthday actually fell. But while his son Seng Pui was cleaning his mother's closet several years back, he found a piece of paper with the Chinese birthdates of his family members written on it. According to the Chinese lunar calendar, Mr Chia's birthday falls on Aug 9. On Tuesday, sitting at a table with a big birthday cake surrounded by shou tao, or longevity buns, a solemn-looking Mr Chia broke into a grin, then cackled and displayed two "V"signs with his fingers when prodded by several of his grandchildren to smile for the camera. Asked what he liked about the day care centre, Mr Chia — a man of few words — grinned and bellowed heartily in Cantonese: "Play mahjong lor!" After eating his cake, Mr Chia and three of his friends proceeded for a short game of mahjong before heading home. By Ansley Ng Copyright ©2005 MediaCorp Press Ltd