SINGAPORE: Jamus Lim is a Member of Parliament (WP—Sengkang GRC) who is also a bonafide foodie, as his posts that feature delicious dishes show. Interestingly, his food-related posts over the years are as closely followed, at times even more, than his political ones.
Assoc Prof Lim’s latest post—about roti prata and his beverage of choice to go with it—starts with an admission that he “probably” indulges in too much coffee. When it comes to the well-beloved flatbread, however, he wrote that he chooses teh halia, ginger tea.
“There’s something about teh halia that warms the inner recesses of the soul… It’s not just about the restorative benefits of ginger, of which there are many,” the MP wrote.
His preference for this particular tea began when he was young and pursuing a degree via distance education, which he called “a leap into the unknown.”
While he had, prior to that point, gone the traditional route through the PSLE, O, and A-level at the “best schools (he) could get into” when it came to the external degree, he had chosen a school that was not well-known, despite having qualified for the National University of Singapore.
Assoc Prof Lim recalled that while it had been scary to enrol in an unknown school, he said, “it forced me to take stock of my own abilities and to stop staking my identity on borrowed honour from the institution that I was affiliated with. So every cup of teh halia was, in an abstract way, a fresh bet on whether I could make it on my own or not.”
After sharing his insights, he added that “of course, the prata—from our neighbourhood prata shop—was amazing, as always.”
His post has drawn praise from commenters, many of whom took the time to express their appreciation for the MP.
“Eating in hawker centres and neighbourhood coffee shops is normal for you as I was told you were seen regularly at these places,” wrote one, who wished Assoc Prof Lim the best for the upcoming election.
“Love something something and the allusions throughout, and am also happy that in the political arena, despite your diet, you’re not one to tread too gingerly,” said another.
One commenter noted, “Thank you for contributing your time and effort in good governance, when you could have had an easier time (and higher pay) elsewhere,” and added, “One more pun- This read was like the eggs on my prata. Without it, my morning would be ‘kosong’!”
“Jamus, what a trip your teh tarik has set you on. Life is a journey, and it is good to face life squarely as u have done,” a commenter chimed in. /TISG
Read also: Jamus Lim: Progress in society depends heavily on all of us listening to each other
