From picking up fresh skills to bonding with his family over music and travel, CPL (NS) Azmi Bin Dollah shows that age is no barrier to discovery.
After more than 30 years in the hard disk manufacturing industry, CPL (NS) Azmi Bin Dollah was offered a retrenchment package. Instead of slowing down and staying home, he chose to treat it as a passport to new experiences — a chance to broaden his skills, explore the world and spend more time with his family.
Azmi, who turns 61 in October, accepted the package at 58 and became a part-time private hire driver. The flexible schedule has given him more time with family and allowed him to travel. “We went on our pilgrimage, and had a taste of snow in South Korea. Our latest trip was to the Great Wall of China!” he shares with a smile.
Beyond travelling, Azmi has been immersing himself in lifelong learning outside his engineering expertise, exploring areas such as computer programming and marketing. It’s a value he hopes to pass on to his three sons and one daughter. “I remind them to always keep themselves relevant,” he says. “It’s important to pursue your career goals and upgrade yourselves whenever possible.”
Azmi’s lifelong learning journey began after his National Service (NS). Having enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces in 1982, he later had his vocation changed to the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), where he trained as a section commander and attained the rank of CPL.
After NS, he worked as a lab technician for three years. At the time, several of his friends were attending night classes for polytechnic diploma courses. Inspired by their example and wanting to complement his existing skill set in chemical processing technology, he decided to take up a diploma in a different field. “I chose mechanical engineering because I also felt that jobs in engineering would be more abundant in the future,” Azmi recalls.
His decision paid off. After graduation, he started out as an engineering assistant working in machinery, robotics and fixtures, and eventually rose up the rank of senior engineer. Along the way, he never stopped sharpening his skills, attending courses in areas like Application Oriented Programming Techniques and GE Fanuc Programmable Logic Controllers. “Every minute, technology is changing,” he explains. “Enrolling in various courses throughout my career was how I stayed relevant in the workplace.”
He also honed his people skills through a Diploma in Management Studies, which introduced him to different management styles and shaped his approach as a leader. To balance work and studies, he made it a point to spend quality time with his family — his way of destressing from a hectic pace of life.
That same spirit of growth carried him through life’s changes. After retrenchment, Azmi took up a Python programming course in 2022, exploring big data analytics, AI and machine learning. While he never aimed to pursue a career in tech, he relished the challenge of logic-based exercises that kept his mind agile. “It was interesting to learn how to pull data from online sources and generate the required statistics and insights,” he adds.
More recently, he has been tapping into SkillsFuture courses. “I enjoy programmes that expose me to new skill sets and enable me to help others who might need these skills,” he shares. “For example, I attended a digital marketing course, which came with a training allowance of up to $1,500.”
Azmi shares that his children have been encouraging throughout, offering not only financial support but also reminding him to pace himself between classes and work.
In his spare time, Azmi, a qualified senior security officer, takes on ad-hoc assignments at venues such as the Sport Hub, Star Vista and Marina Bay Sands. He notes that the role has grown far more professional. “It’s not like the old days when security officers were called bhai jaga (brother watchman),” he says. “There are now hundreds of courses related to security. Having the right knowledge helps us keep Singapore safe.”
At a recent pop culture convention, Azmi was kept busy managing excited fans clamouring for limited-edition collectibles. Concerts, he says, are just as demanding, but also more rewarding. “We get the chance to see international artistes and celebrities perform, while taking pride in doing our duties well,” he says.
What began as a side job has since become a family affair, as Azmi persuaded his wife and daughter to train as security officers. His wife now joins him regularly at concerts, while his daughter tags along for artistes she enjoys — such as Taylor Swift, whose Singapore Sports Hub performances saw the trio working six tiring but memorable days together. “Security work has become something we share as a family,” he says. “We enjoy the performances, and at the same time, we know we’re contributing by keeping events safe.”
When he isn’t working or travelling, Azmi stays active by swimming at HomeTeamNS Khatib and attending clubhouse events at HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok, such as the carnival-themed National Day celebration with games and goodies.
Looking ahead, Azmi — who is already anticipating a family holiday in Taiwan this December — hopes Singapore will continue strengthening senior-friendly infrastructure in areas such as healthcare, transport and attractions. His advice for peers entering their silver years? “Continue working as long as you can, enjoy life with your family, stay healthy and seize every chance to explore new courses through programmes like SkillsFuture.”
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