Singapore nonagenarians line up for cash rewards

Agence France Presse. November 27, 1999

ACTIVE nonagenarians in Singapore have flocked to clinics to get themselves a clean bill of health to qualify for awards of $1000 (US$598 dollars) offered by a former top banker, a news report said Saturday.

Since Tan Chin Tuan's offer of $1000 for every Singaporean aged 90 and above who is still living an active life was publicized several days ago, excited children and grandchildren of nonagenarians have burned up phone lines calling organizers for details, the Straits Times newspaper said.

Tan offered the awards to coincide with the city state's upcoming Senior Citizen's Week.

The report said many of the candidates for the rewards were certified fit and active by a chosen panel of doctors at several clinics.

In an interview, the 91 year-old Tan dispensed his formula for youthfulness: "The secret to staying young is to be happy, and to be surrounded by others who are happy."

One in 14 Singaporeans is aged 65 years old and above, and by 2030 the ratio will surge to one in five.