Best loser’s life a bestseller

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SINGAPORE: Two years ago Steve Chia was a hot news item for all the wrong reasons, but now his soul-baring book about his travails is selling like hot cakes.  

STAR POLITICIAN: Chia autographing his book for a supporter at a pre-election rally in Singapore on Monday.

Chia, who is contesting a seat in the coming elections here, has been promoting his book, Called to Served, with much success at rallies in the run-up to the polls.  

The controversial Workers’ Party candidate was a rising star in the opposition until he was hit by a couple of scandals in recent years. He admitted to taking topless photographs of his Indonesian maid as well as nude pictures of himself in 2003. 

However, the 35-year-old Chia – known as the “best loser” in the 2001 polls for garnering the most number of votes received by an opposition candidate – is determined to move on and does not think his scandalous past will come back to haunt him.  

In fact, the former National University of Singapore student union president has even put details of his “delinquent” history into the book, which has already sold more than 2,000 copies since hitting the streets two weeks ago.  

Apart from disclosing “sins” he has committed such as vandalising school property as a student, the 224-page book, priced at S$10 (RM23), also talks about his love affairs as well as his work as a nominated MP.  

“I was sent to a boys’ home and placed under probation.  

“In Singapore politics you have to be willing to come forward to tell the truth. If not, the ruling government will dig it up,” said Chia as he autographed copies of his book at a rally on Monday. 

The book also talks about how he was a late bloomer who did poorly in Mathematics, Science and Chinese in secondary school and how his life changed after he made a pact with God to become a useful member of society if given another chance.  

Chia, who left a S$130,000 (RM299,000) job a year as a remisier to concentrate on building up his party, also talks about how 2003 was a challenging year for both him and his wife, as the marriage was on the rocks and he was close to quitting politics.  

The book is dedicated to his two-year-old daughter Rebekah and he hopes his honesty will win over voters. 

At the rally, dozens of people bought the book before flocking around Chia for his autograph.  

A woman who only wanted to be known as Wong said she was not bothered by his past as everyone makes mistakes. 

“I just hope he has repented and will carry out his duties if elected as an MP,” she said.  

However, Tan Eng Guan, 47, who was also at the rally said he would only give his vote to a person with strong morals.  

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