DR GOH Poh Seng can be called a Singapore pioneer for his writing alone. If We Dream Too Long (1972) is widely regarded as the first Singaporean novel, while his play When Smiles Are Done (1965) is one of the first instances of the use of Singlish in drama.

But the 71-year-old is also a medical doctor, an entrepreneur and a visionary. Born in Kuala Lumpur and trained in medicine at University College Dublin, he came to Singapore in 1961 and practised medicine here for 25 years.

During that time, he served as chairman of the National Theatre Trust (the predecessor of the National Arts Council), founded Rainbow Lounge, Singapore's first live music club, and drew up the blueprint for the revitalisation of Boat Quay. He also brought British rock star David Bowie here in 1983.

However, he left Singapore for Canada with his wife and four sons in 1986, misunderstood and thwarted by the authorities as he pushed boundaries in a conservative society.

This self-imposed exile lasted until last month, when Dr Goh, now stricken with Parkinson's disease, returned for last year's Singapore Writers Festival.

He has published four novels and five volumes of poetry and is working on an autobiographical quartet titled Bite A Bitter Wind. He lives in Vancouver and Newfoundland.

Stephanie Yap