“Computer science back then was like how artificial intelligence is today – it was up and coming. It was the ‘in’ thing,” he explained.
“But I realised that the discipline was very much software-based and competition to get into this course was incredibly stiff. This was why I decided to study engineering and later major in computer engineering instead because this would allow me to gain a holistic understanding of computer technologies.”
Choosing this path evidently paid off for Kia Yong, who landed himself an undergrad internship at multinational electronics giant NEC Corporation. Again, he found himself in front of a highly advanced technological device. This time around, it was the NEC supercomputer on which he got to do vector programming, which enabled parallel processing for fast computational speed.
Following his graduation, Kia Yong worked for a German pneumatic systems company called Festo, where he helped develop a physical model of an electronic car park system – something that had yet to be implemented in those days- that could determine the number of available lots.
He then went on to obtain a Master of Engineering (Elect) degree at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where he got to do research on voice-controlled applications that leveraged neural networks, a technology he described as “practically unheard of” in the early 1990s.
“I was really thrilled when I got to use my voice to turn light bulbs on and off. I also got to call someone using a hand-free telephone dialer powered by my speech recogniser!” he quipped.
Kia Yong’s rich and diverse experience has made him an expert in all things related with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). (Photo: HTX)
Still eager to broaden his knowledge, he decided to pursue a doctoral degree at NTU, and this was when he got to add power systems engineering to his burgeoning repertoire. The decision to pursue a PhD, he explained, was also largely due to a desire to stand out as a pioneer and voice of authority in his field of work, given that not many people in the world had such qualifications at the time. He also found the prospect of becoming an academic who could shape the minds of future generations highly attractive.
This aspiration, however, did not become a reality because he decided against a life as an academic after local universities started hiring lecturers exclusively on a contract basis.
“As a young adult looking for job security, I didn’t think contract-based employment was for me,” he said.
Empowering the Home Team
In 1996, upon his return to the industrial workforce, Kia Yong joined Singapore Technologies where he was involved in developing an incident management system for the Singapore Police Force. As advanced encryption algorithms were not readily available at that time due to tight export controls imposed by the United States, Kia Yong had to lead a team to develop an entire security system, including its networking middleware, from scratch.
Despite having no experience in the field of cybersecurity, Kia Yong excelled in the role and was eventually given greater responsibilities, including managing all hardware delivery matters related to this massive project, after only about a year. Right after the world crossed into the new millennium, Kia Yong was promoted to the position of project director.
After making the move to the Singapore Police Force, he was involved in a project that involved upgrading the Police Coast Guard’s sophisticated training simulator and surveillance capabilities. In his role as program manager, Kia Yong oversaw the implementation of advanced radar systems and state-of-the-art electro-optic cameras. Completing this project ahead of schedule, he pointed out, was something he was particularly proud of.
Kia Yong (left) speaking at a staff engagement session alongside HTX Deputy Chief Executive (Operations) Chen Yeang Tat. (Photo: Lim Kia Yong)
Always invigorated by a good challenge, Kia Yong in late 2008 joined the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) with the aim of managing innovation projects and initiatives related to other Home Team Departments. Over the course of the next decade, he was deeply involved in many projects, including the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system, public broadcasting systems, as well as those to do with wireless communications and lightweight UAVs.
The most memorable project during his time here was the one in August 2015 that saw him lead efforts to set up a system that could calculate the time needed for drivers to clear the Woodlands land Immigration Checkpoint after they started queuing at the Causeway. This project, he added, was particularly memorable because he and his team had just 10 days to complete it.
While many would describe such an endeavour as stressful, Kia Yong felt otherwise.
“I thought it was really exciting,” he laughed. “I’m the sort of person who loves excelling at a tough challenge.”
Navigating through Covid-19
His next big challenge came shortly after he joined HTX as the director of its operational systems in 2019. Just three months after the agency’s inception, Kia Yong had to lead efforts to swiftly set up virtual conferencing capabilities in MHA due to the implementation of distancing measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
His team was also involved in installing monitoring systems at quarantine facilities and expeditiously setting up virtual courts via Zoom between the state courts and prisons to ensure continuity of criminal court proceedings during the pandemic.
The most arduous task during this trying period, he recalled, was having to manage the whitelist of ICT vendors who were allowed to move around during the circuit breaker phase.
“We were dealing with thousands of contractors and sub-contractors. For about a week, our team had to work from around 7am to as late as 11pm just to make sure that these essential workers were allowed to be out maintaining our systems,” he said.
Kia Yong visiting staff who were providing technical support for an event. (Photo: Lim Kia Yong)
Following the pandemic, Kia Yong provided expert guidance to his team and vendors on system management, including advising on initiatives that prevented the reoccurrence of the 31 March 2023 outage which affected multiple immigration checkpoints in Singapore.
The outage happened when a trial for the upgrade of the Multi-Modal Biometrics System (MMBS), which is used in immigration clearance, caused the system to overload due to rapid and massive data migration. Ensuring that this incident did not happen again, said Kia Yong, was a “mission near impossible”.
“In a nutshell, the upgrading of the system involved migration of data from the old database into a new one. If we performed the migration too quickly, the system would crash. If we did it too slowly, the migration process would essentially go on forever because new data from the checkpoints would be added to the old database every day,” he explained.
“What we needed to do was find a delicate balance; the sweet spot at which to perform the migration. It was hard work, but we persevered and ultimately found the solution.”
During his time at HTX, Kia Yong also played a key role in shaping the design and implementation of the flagship Sustainment Centre initiative, part of which was featured in the 2024 TechX Summit.
Looking back at HTX’s journey over the last five years, Kia Yong singled out the resilience that Xponents showed during the pandemic as the agency’s most extraordinary achievement.
“Mind you, we were only a few months old. To be able to pull off what we did; to be involved in so many operations that supported the fight against Covid-19 despite many of us having only worked with one another for a relatively short time – that was truly remarkable,” he said.
“Yes, Covid-19 was a dark period for many, but it also provided HTX with an opportunity to shine. It showed that we managed to hit the ground running, and I think we’ve only gathered pace since. Just look at how quickly our profile has grown, not just locally but globally as well. Today, we have partners all over the globe and many of them hold us in high regard,” he added.
A contrary personality
Despite his illustrious track record of getting to handle highly sophisticated technology, Kia Yong conceded that he isn’t the least bit adventurous when it comes to his personal life.
“Truth be told, I'm quite a dull person,” he laughed. “I'm not the kind of person who would search for new hobbies to try. I’m not into trying new foods – I simply eat to live. When it comes to my personal life, I like things to be simple and routine.”
This disposition, he added, is why his wardrobe selection is nowhere near as diverse as his professional expertise. This fact is exemplified by the fact he always goes to work in a polo tee.
“I used to wear long-sleeved shirts all the time,” he shared. “The only reason I’ve changed my dressing is because our Chief Executive Chan Tsan once quizzed me about why I’m always dressed so formally in a workplace that prides itself on being fun-loving and exuberant!”
Kia Yong on holiday in Dusun Bambu, Bandung, Indonesia. Away from the office, Kia Yong’s idea of adventure extends only as far as going on leisurely walks and jogs. (Photo: Lim Kia Yong)
But the switch to wearing polo shirts isn’t so much about fitting in, he added. Rather, it is more about doing his part to champion the vibrant agency culture, which he cites as an important element in HTX.
“Having the vibrant agency culture we have now makes HTX a great place to work, and it is no secret that happy people produce good work,” he said.
“Why is it important to do good work? For starters, I’ve always believed that we should all strive to do our best in whatever we do. Personally, I never aim to just make the grade. I always aim to ace whatever I do with flying colours.
“And then there’s the fact that the work we do here at HTX has profound ramifications. What we do doesn’t just force multiply the Home Team – it actually affects the lives of everyone in this country!”