MOST OF YOU would recognise his voice in an instant. Over the past two years, between 9pm and 11pm on the radio every weekday, he has dished out advice on school, friendship, family and mostly love matters to his vast following on Ha Ha Ha Siu Yeah Jim. Commercial Radio DJ Jim Yan Chi-hong is not only every teenager's best friend, but a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on and an influential figure. So influential that he started a new lingo among local teenagers. 'Sometimes teenagers would wait for me at the entrance of the radio station. When I chatted with them I noticed they used odd phrases,' recalled the 24-year-old, better known as Ah Jim or Siu Yeah Jim. 'Then I realised that they were words that I used in my programme ... and what effect I could have.' Though his evening show ended earlier this month, Ah Jim has already re-entered the airwaves at primetime every weekday from 5 pm to 7 pm. The new show is more infotainment in nature and he has held on to many of his phone-in listeners, aged mainly between 15 and 24. Most callers to his phone-in show want to talk about love and relationships. The DJ attributed the popularity of the show not to his expertise in interpersonal relations but to a lack of genuine communication in society. 'Every generation needs this kind of programme ... people of all ages need someone there to help them solve problems,' he explained. He said the fact that he was only a voice on the radio encouraged listeners to be more open when they called in. 'They are willing to tell me their problems [anonymously] because they know that I wouldn't repeat what they said to someone who knows them,' said the Polytechnic University design graduate. With a passion for communicating but no formal training in counselling, some may question whether he is qualified to give advice on serious life matters. But Ah Jim believes that qualifications are not what is most important. 'I think what matters is that you really have the heart to do it,' he said. Ah Jim understands that paying undivided attention to others is important in communication - and his secret of success. 'Some of the callers were really young and they presented their problem in a way you might consider naive and unimportant. In fact, the problems they experienced were similar to those faced by adults,' he said. Besides his broadcasting career, he is the author of nine books - including short stories, sketches and some simply about his thoughts on the world. Ah Jim also fronts the band Wildchild, which released their debut album last month. Realising the extent of his influence on the community, the DJ said he hoped to use his 'power' to promote peace on earth - despite it being a cliche. In the meantime, his celebrity status has already led him to the director's chair, shooting a music video for Canto pop sensation Twins. 'I would like to try anything that I haven't done and that I would be capable of doing. And I would put all my effort into finishing it,' Ah Jim said. In the hot seat tomorrow is legislator and role model Audrey Eu Yuet-mee.
