[News Clippings] [Press Releases] [Speeches]

Speeches

Mr Lim with reporters:
I think in terms of serving as an inspiration to Singaporeans in fact I would say whether they reach the peak or not what's important is their spirit of getting there. I think in itself serve as an inspiration by setting themselves a very high target. Adopting the most difficult way of climbing to the top. That would not only bring the mountaineering standard in Singapore to world class but more importantly in the process I think they will be able to inspire young Singaporeans.

But firstly we need to set new targets all the time. Secondly having set these new targets, we must have the determination and the discipline to prepare ourselves to strive for this new targets. But more importantly knowing that at the end of the day through teamwork that we can succeed.

So I think by getting here today, in itself I think serve as an inspiration to everyone of us. But of cause we all hope that they'll be able to reach the top because when they reach the top I think everyone of us will be cheering with them. Because not only all these months and years of preparation would have led to the success but more important it would have lead the standard of mountaineering in Singapore to new height and put Singapore into a world class nation in mountaineering.

And I think hopefully that will inspire many more young Singaporeans not just in mountaineering but in everything that we do. In everything that we do that we think world class. And not just thinking world class but actually have the determination and discipline to strive for success.

His speech:
About a year ago, Robert and his friends came to my office ask me to be a patron to this expedition. I asked them what do I have to do. They say very simple, nothing much --- all you have to do is just give us your encouragement and support. In the last sometimes we met sometimes we changed e-mail sometimes...

In the last 5 years I must say that whatever encouragement I managed to give them which is nothing compared to the calm inspiration I was able to draw from them. I would say I draw from them lots of inspiration firstly of all setting a setting a higher target for themselves, challenging themselves to do better all the time.

Mountain climbing is actually very difficult. To climb a mountain of more than 8000m for many of us is an impossible task but for Robert and his colleagues in fact they've decided not only to climb this mountain by using Alpine method -- without supplementary oxygen, pre-built camps, ropes and so on. I think the question will be what, why are they doing all this?
I think they do all this is not so much of setting themselves higher target, higher challenge but more importantly through this expedition they want to bring the standard of mountaineering in Singapore to a higher place. In fact I believe that this are the kind of spirit that is very much in Singapore. The young Singaporeans no matter what they achieve they will never be satisfied with what can we do to world class nation or world class people. I am also very inspired by their spirit of ability to be highly discipline and their determination. I think for many young Singaporeans it's very easy for us to set ourselves high targets, high goals. To be world class and number ones. But at the end of the day it's whether its our ability to turn all this high targets to real actions. I think it in this particular case we see that they are serious about doing it they do not underestimate how difficult it will be up there in Alpine Style.

So they trained very hard for the last many months, many years and I think looking at the slides we are assured of that. In fact the Robert sitting here ----- the Robert of today versus the Robert 8 months ago before the launched of the expedition was 2 different person. 8 months ago he was a bit fair, a bit rounded is entirely different person. I can imagine the kind of effort they put in and the kind of determination they put in to prepare themselves for teh expedition because the expedition is not something that just go up and don't take failure lightly. there's no guarantee for success but they want to make sure they give themselves, members of the expedition and everybody else who are behind them a fair chance to be up there. This spirit of determination that inspired me a lot. I think throughout the whole last one year we have heard a lot about Robert, about Ying Jang about Edwin but there's one individual I'm inspired by to is Lulin-the person who's always behind the scene that don't want to take front stage, don't want to give any speech, don't want to be MC but she's always the one behind the scene worrying whether about whether the three of them have enough resources, to carry the expedition.
Whether they are well trained, well supported. And she's the one always sending e-mail --- 'Mr Lim things are ok, we managed to do this, to do that and so on'. And making sure that I am always should they need help.

I think this are the kind of individuals that are difficult to come by nowadays where they are a part of the team but they work behind the scene, very much like a motherly figure..... Last but not least, I think their selfless spirit which I think I am very inspired because within planning for this expedition I asked them how much money do you need? $685,000. I said very difficult because last year was the year of the recession and to raise $685,000 very difficult. They say they not raising money for themselves but do something for the students too ---expose them to mountaineering. I think this is the kind of selfless spirit where at one end they are up against many challenges, preparing for the expedition, raising funds for the resources and yet at the same time they want to do whatever they can to further the sport to spread the spirit. I think with this such spirit they will put us very well for the future of Singapore.