A Pioneer in Safra Radio
A Pioneer in Safra Radio
Contributed by Moh Teck
Safra Radio is a radio broadcaster established by the Ministry of Defence, Singapore. It focused on music, defense-related information and sports
Above: Front Cover of Pioneer Magazine (Chinese Edition)
What Does Its Name Stand For?
Safra Radio is the short name for "Singapore Armed Forces Reservists'Association Radio. The two stations under the wings of SAFRA Radio were 88.3Jia FM and Power 98FM. The official establishment date was 6 May 1994.
Whose Idea Was It?
The concept for the station was the brainchild of Lieutenant General Ng Jui Ping who was the Chief of Defence (1992 to 1995). He wanted to have a radio station specially dedicated to NSmen.His idea was supported by Dr Lee Boon Yang, who was Minister for Defence 1995 to 2003.
What is It For?
The following stated the aim of starting the 2 radio
stations.
The above: Appeared in Issue No 9/95 dated 2 May 1995 of
Defence News
Start Date
I joined Safra Radio on 12th April 1994. I
joined the station as its pioneer staff and was the second person to come on
board the station. I was interviewed by Jenny Teo Poh Suan, who was the
Assistant General Manager and the first personnel of Safra Radio. In later
years, she was to become the station’s General Manager.
The station was so new, my appointment letter was dated 23
April 1994. I was appointed under SAFRA National Service Association as a
Personnel Executive, with my appointment letter signed off by Colonel R. Menon,
Acting General Manager of Safra Radio. Just a note: Colonel Ramachandran Menon
was the Director of Public Affairs, MINDEF and MINDEF Spokesman and was active
in promoting Total Defence.
Location
The station was located at Defence Technology Towers, Tower
B, #12-04, Depot Road, Singapore 0412. It is a military facility with a
dedicated estate management office. What the pioneer team took over was an
empty unit. We not only have to set up the office but also the studios.
At completion, we had 2 studios (On-Air 1 and On-Air 2), 2
production suites and 1 announcing booth.
Rather than using analogue broadcasting equipment like the
existing radio stations of Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (name which
Mediacorp was known as from 1980 to 1994), the new stations were equipped with
digital broadcasting equipment. I had the chance to watch acoustics consultants
at work building the studios and testing them for acoustics.
This is the first time that I also heard of audio
engineering and sound production. I watched the installation of radio studio
equipment such as sound mixing consoles, microphones, studio monitor speakers,
It was the first time that I understand about radio
programming; the use of RCS Sound Software to schedule radio programs and
Protools to mix sounds.
First Crew
Both Jenny Teo and myself shared the honour and experience
of hiring the first crew for the 2 radio stations. Other than
producer-presenters, we hired the soundman, the newscasting crew, the technical
team and the corporate support crew.
A number of well-known Mediacorp’s radio presenters today
have their start (or roots) at Safra Radio.
As the years past, a number of the staff from the back-end
technical team as well as the Newscasting team would join other broadcasting
stations in Singapore.
Vacancy Appearing in May 1995 Issue 211 of Pioneer
Magazine
As Safra Radio was set up as a non-profit organization, and
because it served NSMen, the stations took in both radio producers-presenters
and news reporters from the group of young men that were serving their national
service.
I was responsible for pre-screening those who applied and selected ones with interesting background and life experiences, with hopes they will not only bring their enthusiasm but also their fresh perspectives into the radio presentation and production. Some of these young men become outstanding individuals in Singapore society today.
The above: Appeared in May 1995 Issue 211 of Pioneer magazine
Launch of Power 98 FM and DongLi 88.3 FM
The Above: Appeared in The New Paper 12 June 1995
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