After the customary caning, I recall my father’s lecture. “Boy, if you don’t study hard, you’re not going to have enough money to live properly, get a wife or buy your own house.”

That was his threat.

No financial ability to marry, or to buy your own flat from HDB.

And I think that was the worst thing he thought he could scare me into studying with.

And although his threats worked, I was curious. Who did not own their flats in modern Singapore?

And all through my life, I’ve never met someone who did not. Sure, I read about them in the newspapers.

But like all things not personally experienced, the memory simply fades away. But 80,000 Singaporeans do not easily fade away.

23-year-old Noor Aini, 23, looks on as her son, Saliqin tries to read his Bahasa Melayu children’s book.

Mdm Lily Ong makes Chinese New Year goodies as a means to earn extra money for the festive season.

Mr Ramah Arif supports his mother to move around the flat because of her weakened condition. He is now looking for a job as his mother’s condition has stabilised.

Mdm Lee Ah Hoong, 86, enjoying the festivities at a Christmas Celebration Dinner thrown for the elderly folks of Chinatown.

PHOTOS BY: ALEX TEH

Read Alex and his fellow NTU school mates' full report on people living in one-room flats in today's edition of The Straits Times Saturday Special Report.