MR RAJOO Amurdalingam, 48, is all too familiar with the brutal effects of an economic downturn. As Singapore reeled from the fallout of the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, he was out of work and burdened by heavy debt.

New staff, no cuts MILLIONAIRE Rajoo Amurdalingam, 48, is the managing director of air freight company, The National Forwarder. As many companies retrench staff or cut salaries, the father of four is bucking the trend. ... more

In a case of bad timing, Mr Rajoo, aged 37 at the time, had just left the air freight firm he had set up with his friends a decade earlier.

As the chill winds of the crisis swirled, he was unable to service his mortgage and pay back personal bank loans. He had no choice but to sell his terrace house in the West Coast and an Audi in 1999.

But close friends and family helped him to pull through financially. In late 1999, he set up another freight company, The National Forwarder, which now racks up a revenue of $20 million a year. And he wants to pay it forward. With a recession hurting people today, there is no better time to help.

He has been funding a variety of causes since 2004. Teaming up with peers and business associates, he has donated five-figure sums to organisations such as Sinda, NuLife Care and Counselling Services, the Down Syndrome Association of Singapore, the Ramakrishna Mission Singapore, the Singapore Children's Society and the Handicaps Welfare Association.

Going further, he presented non-profit NuLife, which offers counselling and tuition to youth at risk and needy children, with a $3,000 bursary last December. It paid for school books, uniforms and stationery for 10 children. Since February, he and his friends have also footed the $1,600 monthly rental for NuLife's Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 office.

The father of four children, aged between 13 and 21, aims to generate greater awareness among his peers on the need to give to charity, especially as the public cuts back on donations amid the slump. 'If more well-to-do folk make an effort to contribute, the shortfall for non-profit organisations will not be as drastic,' he says.

Today, Mr Rajoo, extends his compassion to the workplace. When placing recruitment advertisements, he adds a note that the retrenched will be given priority. He also employs physically and mentally challenged individuals and youths with a troubled past. 'Paper qualifications do not matter as much to me. I look for those with drive,' he says. Many of his team of 40 follow his example and take a caring approach to the more challenged employees in the company.

Although the company has had to tighten its belt in recent months, Mr Rajoo said he will not be retrenching staff or dishing out pay cuts. 'I don't want to add to my employees' financial woes. I want them to feel secure in their current vocations and lead stable lives with their families. As far as possible I don't want to be the one responsible for causing a lifestyle upheaval.'

Together with his peers and business associates, Mr Rajoo aims to raise about $100,000 annually for charities that effect change in the lives of people. 'Money is just a tool for me to get by every day. If I have more at a certain point in my life, I'm in the blessed position to give to those who need it more than I do.'

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times

melodyz@sph.com.sg