by Lim Weixiang 21 May 2014 11:39 AM
Lim Boon Kheng, 61, driving on the Seletar Expressway (SLE) from his home in Sengkang to pick up students in Jurong (Photo: Lim Weixiang)
Meet taxi drivers who have big hearts of gold.
Three of them have been ferrying children from the Singapore School for the Deaf to and from their homes as a free service.
Every weekday morning before the sun rises, taxi driver Lim Boon Kheng, 61, drives from his home in Sengkang to the Jurong area to pick up Chee Zi Xiang, 11, Khoo Si Tian, 13, and Lim Junhao, 14, from their homes.
He then drives them to Mountbatten Road where their school is located.
In the afternoon, when the students get off school, another taxi driver Wong Chin Fatt, 48, picks them up and sends them home.
A third driver, Andy See, 44, fills in the duty whenever Lim and Wong are unable to make it.
BIG COMMITMENT
The three taxi drivers have been working as volunteers like this since January 2013.
Lim said in Mandarin: “It’s a big commitment, fetching them from Monday to Friday.”
Lim, who is on the road an average of 15 hours a day, ends his shift at 11pm.
There is not much time for rest before he has to leave his home at 5.30am to pick up the students.
He admitted that it can be very taxing and there are days when he struggles to stay awake while driving.
When asked about the loss to his income, Lim said that he does not see it as a loss. He feels blessed that he is able to contribute.
The students arriving at the Singapore School for the Deaf at 7.30am (Photo: Lim Weixiang)
Lim was initially reluctant to be interviewed, but finally agreed as he hopes that this volunteer service may be expanded and more drivers will come on board to help.
“Most of the drivers we asked wanted to be compensated for their petrol, but we want it to be completely pro-bono. If you want to do charity work, you should not focus on money,” Lim reasoned.
This service was self-initiated and the three drivers, who are also friends, do not drive taxis from the same company. They decided to do it for free after learning that these students were unable to find affordable transport.
Lim said: “Because there are only three students, they were unable to get a school bus to pick them up regularly.”
He had learnt of their plight when he was called in on a regular assignment to pick the students up after school in October 2012.
Lim Boon Kheng with the students he ferries for free to and from school (Photo: Lim Weixiang)
Wong said: “Lim asked me to join him, and I said okay since we are friends and it is a meaningful endeavour.”
Amy Chua, 47, who is mother to the student Chee, said that there was a van that used to ferry the three students, but the monthly cost of $250 for Chee alone was a drain on the family’s finances.
“The van stopped offering its services and we had to rely on taxis, which was even more expensive. Thankfully, Mr Lim, Mr Wong and Mr See stepped in. We are very grateful to them,” Chua said.
Lim said: “I am a Buddhist and Buddha teaches us to be kind to the less fortunate. We are parents too, and we understand the importance of education. We may not be rich people, but we hope to contribute to society in our small way.
“If more drivers join us, it will be less strain on us. And if we have enough drivers, we can expand the service to other students living in other areas.”
Drivers who wish to help out may contact inSing News at 98328009
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