”Do my duty, do what is right.” This belief guided Tuan Sabeer Zain through his 30-year career with the SPF. From quelling riots to championing community causes, his legacy continues to inspire!
By: Low Ee Ching
Early Life and Career
Born in Sri Lanka, Tuan Sabeer Zain began his career as a Sergeant in the British Army’s military police unit. In 1947, he was transferred to the General Army Headquarters in Singapore.
While in Singapore, he was offered the opportunity to join the Singapore Police Force (SPF) as an Inspector and underwent six months of training at the Police Training School. The selection process was rigorous as only the 15 candidates were chosen out of 1,500 applicants to undergo training, and only seven officers would go on to assume the rank of Inspector.
Guiding Principles
After completing his training, Mr Zain was posted to Tanglin Police Division’s Crime Branch, where he investigated criminal cases involving stabbing, burglary and theft.
Throughout his service, Mr Zain demonstrated great courage and loyalty as a Police officer, guided by a simple yet profound belief: “Do my duty, do what is right.”
As one of the many officers deployed to quell the Maria Hertogh riots of December 1950, Mr Zain fearlessly ran towards a mob of 200 rioters on Orchard Road after yelling “Charge!”, so determined was he to restore order during those chaotic days.
He found himself in grave danger when his fellow officers hesitated to follow, torn between their loyalty to their community and their British supervisors. Mr Zain, however, remained steadfast in his conviction that the Police must remain neutral in enforcing the law and maintaining public order.
His guiding principles later propelled him to take on other, equally challenging postings in his career, including stints in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the Police Prosecution Branch.
Giving Back to Those in Need
Mr Zain was also deeply involved in community work. As a Probationary Police Inspector in 1951, he helped the newly formed Singapore Association of the Blind to raise funds and organise activities such as the annual charity bazaar. In 1953, he joined the Apex Club of Singapore City and participated in its charity projects, even representing Singapore as the President of the Apex Club at the Zone Convention held in Albany, Western Australia.
In his personal capacity, Mr Zain also played a key role in providing underprivileged children with the opportunity to pursue their education through the Children’s Aid Society.
For his many contributions, Mr Zain was recognised with honours such as the Public Service Star, which he received in November 1992 as its only Malay recipient that year. Other notable awards that he received included the Public Administration Medal in 1967, the Long Service Medal in 1977, and the Community Service Medal in 1986.
A Legacy of Dedication
In 1980, Mr Zain retired from the Force with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police. Reflecting on his career in an oral history interview with the National Archives of Singapore in 2011, Mr Zain said, “I carried out my job with honesty and integrity; I had the respect of my colleagues and the public.”
Mr Zain passed away on 11 August 2014, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.
Oral History Interview Series
Our officers have incredibly interesting careers, and for the past decade, our team has been meeting retired officers of all ranks to uncover their stories and learn from them. Through these sessions, we built a rapport and deeper respect for the men and women who overcame challenges to keep Singapore safe. We hope this series will inspire officers in their service and carry on the legacy of those who have gone before them. – Metta Yang, Head, Heritage and Social Responsibility Branch, Public Affairs Department
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