RIP, Beng Hock

I do not know Teo Beng Hock. Not until yesterday when he fell to his death.

I read from the papers that he, like me, was also a journo-turned-aide who took up the new challenge after the last general election. Like me, he was in his 30s. And we hail from the same hometown. His boss also happens to be my assemblyman.

Beng Hock and me may work for bosses who are on opposite sides of the political divide. Still, I feel like a member of the Aide Brotherhood has gone. Yes, I am saddened over the demise of an individual I probably haven't met before, let alone know in person. It feels like a journalist reading about one of their own being killed while covering a war. Or how politicians react to news about the public pressure that led ex-South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun to his suicide last May.

I think it's not fair to speculate over how Beng Hock died. But his death has underscored one important point: we aides live a pressure-cooker lifestyle. Well, at least me and my colleagues do.

We often associate stress and pressure with high-profile jobs, with politicians and CEOs being among the first to come to mind. Of course, I cannot compare my work pressure with that of my boss', which is many times worse. But it doesn't take a mechanical engineer to figure out that the parts in a high-performance engine, like the gasket or spark plugs, tend to wear out faster than those in a mediocre one.

I believe aides are like a seafarer, fireman and a surgeon all rolled into one. Sometimes, we need to sail into uncharted, choppy waters. In between, there are intermittent fires to put out. The skillful surgeon could help remove knives on our backs -and that of the boss. Oh, I left out being a good actor and a juggler too, which actually goes without saying.

OK, Beng Hock is gone prematurely, and perhaps unnecessarily. It's time to get to the bottom of this. It will not bring Beng Hock back nor ease the pain for his family and fiance. But it is the only right thing to do.

Rest in peace, Beng Hock...