Walking
Through History
by MIKOspace
On yet another
hot Spring Wednesday, the skies waver between gloom and shine midweek in the
time of national mourning
over the
passing of our beloved MM Lee, Founder of Singapore and
Father of all Singaporeans.
For none
desiring him to go so soon before their children and grandchildren could know
the Man without whom, there is no modern Singapore as the World knew us. I did not know that I would be walking through
History as I join the queue to pay my last respect to MM Lee Kuan Yew as he lays
in state at Parliament House.
My Q
position was only 3km long from the House and the journey took almost 6 hours.
The Q
snakes along both banks of the Singapore River from South Bridge Road through
Clarke Quay along UOB Plaza through Battery Road, to swing around Standard Chartered
Building and MayBank, passing by Bank of China whose staff passed out bottled
water, before
crossing Cavenagh Bridge at One Fullerton arriving at the Asian Civilisation Museum
next to Parliament House.
Along
Clarke Quay, I looked out at the Singapore River; saw flashes of the tongkangs
and bumboats that once dominated the River so central to our economic survival
those early days. They are gone now. Looking ahead beyond Cavenagh Bridge, the skyline
of Opera House and Marina South loomed, flanked by One Fullerton, formerly the
General Post Office; the old and new have co-existed as Singapore developed
from 3rd World to 1st in just 40 years led by MM Lee Kuan
Yew.
He
promised in 1965: “I will make this a Metropolis in 10 years!”.
He
delivered as he always does in whatever he promises.
As the Q
moves at a snail pace, at times only 15 meters in an hour, I could only begin
to grasp the true meaning of the moment; for just a stone’s throw away, the
Stock Exchange and Banking Sector continue
their hustling and bustling wheeling and dealings
amidst
other commercial and trading activities, seemingly oblivious of the solemn
ceremony taking place; Singapore
as a global financial hub continues in vibrancy unabated with the heartbeats of
the Man whose own heart has ceased; for as he laid in state, MM Lee’s energy
and vitality continue in the daily life of Singapore. The Man
has not just given his life and all to Singaporeans; MM Lee has in fact
interred in the Singaporean soul the embodiment of his spirit, dreams and
aspirations of an exceptional Singapore nation in the global community, of a
free, prosperous, racially harmonious, sovereign nation deserving of respect,
admiration and friendship by all.
And after
nearly 6 hours, I arrived; to walk past his body with a momentary pause of
respect and remembering our first meeting in 1983; this last mile’s walk with
him will always be cherished. Even in death, he has reminded me and all
Singaporeans, Singapore in not easy; it takes hard work, dedication, vision, perseverance,
resilience and Leadership. And so he
left as he has lived, not a monument to his name nor his image on any
ornaments, with just the grateful hearts of millions of Singaporeans privileged
and honoured to know and have him for many seasons of his life.
“Goodbye,
my Leader, Mentor, Brother and Friend”.
I could still
sense his heartbeats continued strong as he laid resting at last; his work
unfinished but for us to build upon by remembering his pillar legacies based on
social peace with justice, regardless of race, language or religion, on this tiny
sunny island by the sea.
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3 comments:
Wah piang now already 08.54pm (2054 hours) and still no comments ah???
Must be the longest mile!
my mind is still lining up at padang.
meditating as I walk.
agreed with mikospace it's like walking through history.
Great pictures @ Mikospace!
Suddenly, VERITAS so quiet,eh?!
Where are u, man?
Taking a walk at Padang?
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