Radio DJ Flying Dutchman quits MediaCorp to focus on his businesses

The Flying Dutchman plans to focus on his six business ventures in Singapore and Indonesia, including an events company and a bar in Bintan that is slated to open in March. -- PHOTO: GOLD 90.5FM
The Flying Dutchman plans to focus on his six business ventures in Singapore and Indonesia, including an events company and a bar in Bintan that is slated to open in March. -- PHOTO: GOLD 90.5FM

SINGAPORE - Popular radio personality The Flying Dutchman is saying goodbye to MediaCorp radio after 18 years with the station. He wants to concentrate on his business ventures.

"I believe life is about evolving and change, and you need to embrace change. I've given it an amazing 18-year run. Now it's time for chapter number two, FD the businessman," says the 58-year-old DJ, whose real name is Mark van Cuylenburg and is affectionately called FD.

He hosts his last The Gold Breakfast Show on radio channel GOLD 90.5FM on Wednesday.

The eloquent Van Cuylenburg tells Life! that he plans to focus on his six business ventures in Singapore and Indonesia, including an events company and a bar in Bintan that is slated to open in March.

"It's all a business move to prepare for retirement. I can't let my other partners do all the work all the time. It's time for me to start pulling weight as well.

"I want to retire in five years, and I want to be sipping pina coladas on the beach, next to my bar. That's my dream," says Van Cuylenburg, who is married with four daughters aged 20 to 34.

Van Cuylenburg first hit the radio waves as a DJ with Rediffusion in the the early 1980s. In 1996, he joined Radio Corporation of Singapore (which became MediaCorp), and went on to host Class 95FM's The Morning Express for 17 years there. He switched over to Gold 90.5FM, another of the company's radio stations, last year.

What he will miss about his old job is the banter with Vernetta Lopez, his partner on The Gold Breakfast Show, and his listeners.

He says: "I'll miss that interaction with people, because I am who I am because of the listeners. I wouldn't be anywhere near where I am today if it wasn't for them."

There is hope for his fans, though. Van Cuylenburg does not rule out the possibility of making a comeback to the airwaves.

He says: "When all my companies are settled, when I'm ready to retire from working, MediaCorp would be a good retirement option. Never say never."

nggwen@sph.com.sg

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