The SMU community is known for its diversity, with students and faculty coming from different backgrounds and adding their own unique flavour to the fabric that is the SMU family.
Besides preparing setting students for academic success through the laying of strong foundations in the classrooms, SMU encourages students to take up non-classroom opportunities to build wonderful “annexes” to their knowledge castles. Students may join the many clubs and student associations, or like Malcom Seah, pave their own way.
A School of Economics undergraduate, he has penned a fascinating coming-of-age story, Swimming Lessons, published by Penguin Random House SEA on 29 April 2025.
His debut novel, the book deals with themes like identity, resilience and the challenges that we come face-to-face with while growing up – mixed in with the thread of the supernatural, influenced by Singapore’s varied cultural and mythological heritage. He calls it a meditation about humanity and our complex interpersonal relationships.
Writing during transit to school
Malcom is candid in admitting the challenge he faced but attributes his passion for creating everlasting stories as a big driving force. What works for Malcom is writing when inspiration hits – sometimes even during his commute to SMU.
An active participant, contributor and leader in economics and literary groups and activities at SMU, he says: “I don’t think that writing has ever interfered with my education. I’ve learned to delegate time and mental capacity for both, depending on which is a more urgent priority.” Malcom has even been on the prestigious Dean’s List for one academic year.
He explains, “When it’s a crucial period for school, I drop my books. When the semesters are over, I say ‘Hello!’ to my imagination.”
How SMU shaped Malcom’s perspective
Malcom's studies at SMU influence his perspective and writing. Courses under the SMU Core Curriculum, such as Big Questions: Wealth and Poverty, encouraged him to explore privilege and personal agency. Professors including Dr Ngoei Wen Qing, Dr Darlene Espena, and Dr Chris Tan contributed significantly through their insightful discussions.
"Their classes challenged me to think differently, and I think that inevitably found its way into my writing," Malcom reflected. “The process of writing can be an incredibly isolating experience. It’s discouraging, all-consuming and extremely spontaneous. Thankfully, I adore the chaos.”
Challenging times
As for his personal experience that has influenced the story, Malcom shares that his mother experienced an abrupt medical episode, a stage 5 subarachnoid brain haemorrhage a month into his developing of the story.
“For the next three months [after that time], I spent alot of time in the hospital as my mother was bedridden and unconscious,” he says, reflecting on this tumultuous period of time.
“People manage anguish in different ways. Mine was through my words. These tumultuous three months formed the backbone for Swimming Lessons’ raw, incisive prose and Michelle [the novel’s protagonist] allowed me to fully articulate myself.”
With that novel finished, what else can we expect from Malcom? He shares that he has also written a Singaporean/Scandinavian-inspired crime novel, The Lizard Man, that he describes as both “gripping and delicate”.
As one can see, he doesn’t intend to be restricted to specific genres. Rather, he hopes to continue crafting stories with the ambition to convey specific feelings, with each manuscript acting simply as a medium for him to express them.
Swimming Lessons can be pre-ordered on Amazon.sg and Kinokuniya Singapore.
