“I remember that there were some people who didn’t know much about Chinese traditional medicine but they wanted to test it as an alternative health treatment. Most of them are Myanmar people and there were even some Indians.”

Myanmar nationals living in Singapore have varying levels of proficiency in the English language so it is easy for Singlish to creep into their speech. This is to be expected but what I have found surprising is the enthusiasm with which Myanmar nationals embrace Singlish, lapsing into phrases such as ‘Bye bye lah’.

U PHONE Myint Aung (48), is a veteran director/producer who worked for MRTV channel for 20 years before retiring to make comedy programs in partnership with MWD television channel. His first comedy program “Lu Shwin Daw Shwe Phalar” for MWD channel attracted a very loyal following and now the director is back with another similar program “Har Tah Yote Sone”, which is currently being filmed.