Book discussion on "Short Stories by Xi Ni Er" by Taxi Drivers (In Mandarin)

Reported by Ivan Chew, Manager, Services Management

28 May 2005. Saturday evening, 11pm to 12am. Ang Mo Kio Community Library (AMCL) hosted about 100 taxi drivers (yes, that many!). The book-talk session was the last leg of the READ! Singapore 12-hour marathon.

I have newfound respect for these cabbies. I shall call them Taxi Sifus ("Sifu" is cantonese for "teacher") from now on.

Supper was Teochew porridge. My colleagues expected maybe 30 Taxi Sifus at most, so the porridge quickly ran out some time before the start of the session at 11pm. Mr Wee Siew Kim (MP for AMK GRC) graced the session. I discovered later that the author, Singaporean Mr. Chia Hwee Pheng, was there as well (Xi Ni Er's his pen name).


AMCL Programme Zone. Supper before the session.

The session was conducted in Mandarin. Five Taxi Drivers (three men, two women) were in the panel, each sharing their thoughts on a chapter or two from the book, "Short Stories" by Xi Ni Er.


NLB Call No.: SING XINE (Singapore Collection, Chinese)
Click here for item availability.

Most in the audience had not stepped into libraries in years. Some later registered as library members. Copies of the book were distributed during the session. It was heartening to see the cabbies flipping to the chapters being discussed and reading the book.

I would have loved to see greater audience participation, as in questions or comments from the floor, but that might have been asking too much. It was good enough to see them read the book, and stay till the end of the session.


Taxi Drivers/ Cabbie Sifus reading in a group settting, and it was not their exams for the cab license.

Some of the cabbies took the initiative to get the author's autograph. It became an author signing as well! The author, Mr. Chia, said conversations with Taxi Sifus formed part of his inspiration and material for the book.


The author, Mr. Chia Hwee Pheng, is seated on the extreme right of picture.

The Taxi Sifus in the panel took their task seriously without any of the awkwardness you might have expected. However, it turned out they were highly enthusiastic and had obviously spent a great deal of effort in preparing for it. One took time during the day to write an essay. Another spiced his reading & sharing with dialect, much to the amusement of his fellow Cabbies. One of the women cabbies reflected on communication issues in marriages.

Ah! I forget -- most cabbies have no problem talking. Take a cab and you'll agree with me. I think what they need is opportunity.


NLB Programmes Executive, Mr Peter Lee, facilitating the session.

I'm thinking, "How can the library create more of such opportunities in future?" And would all Taxi Sifus respond as they did like tonight's audience?

After the programme, one Taxi Sifu joked with me that it cost him $60 for the night to attend the session. Well, I won't deny that there are opportunity costs to such activities. I guess that is why there is a need to inculcate a habit of reading.


Library tour after the session.

The event was a first for NLB, to have so many Taxi Drivers in one sitting, attending a programme in a library. The book sharing ended at 12am, but the participants didn't leave until about 1am. Even the Taxi Driver who joked with me earlier left with a book borrowed from the library (his first in many years).

Tag: readsingapore