Goh Chok Tong says he turns his back on time, recycles himself as an 18-year-old

On his 81st birthday, Goh Chok Tong wrote that he had decided to turn his back on time.

The Emeritus Senior Minister added: “I recycle myself as an 18-year old teenager”. In a Facebook post on Friday (May 20), Mr Goh said that one’s attitude to life determines their age, not a biological or chronological clock.

“Next year, I will be 28. Have time for family, friends, humour and laughter. Thank you all who have been following me on social media”, Mr Goh wrote, sharing a photo of a meal in a restaurant.

Age has been a common theme in Mr Goh’s Facebook posts.

Last January, retired, and talking about his health, Mr Goh indicated that he plans to try to live till at least 93 years of age, much like his Malaysian counterpart Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday (Jan 6), he wrote about the former chairman of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Mahmud Awang who died on Monday (Jan 4) at the age of 93.

Mr Mahmud was a founding member of NTUC, serving as caretaker president and the union’s first chairman.

Mr Goh wrote: “I always made it a point to say hello to him (Mr Mahmud) whenever I saw him at NTUC’s May Day celebrations”.

“When asked how he kept so slim and fit, he explained he “curi makan”. He meant eating sparingly, even for food which he liked”, Mr Goh added.

“From now on, I will have to “curi makan” to increase my odds of living till 93 like him”, Mr Goh quipped.

We were right: Much like Mahathir, Goh Chok Tong does plan to live till 93

On his last birthday, when he turned 80, he said his birthday wish was “to stride on to be a nonagenarian”, a person who is between 90 and 99 years old.

In a Facebook post, the former Prime Minister and Emeritus Senior Minister shared a photo of himself with his cake that had the words, “Standing Tall at 80”.

“I seek good health, warm family relationships, genuine friendships, purpose through serving the country and community, and tranquillity in the process”, Mr Goh wrote.

He thanked everyone for their birthday wishes and said he was “touched that so many of you care, including people whom I have never met”. /TISG

As he turns 80, Goh Chok Tong wishes he was 90