LKY - A moment in history

As if he did not think the people know who he was, how powerful he was, he made the nation stood under heavy downpour for a solid one whole hour, to wait for him, even when he is dead. The area around the Padang was thronged with people to be with him on his last journey from this mortal world. The streets that his cortege would pass were lined with people to keep him company, to let him know he was not alone.

The man god of Singapore, where his name was not to be spoken freely, like YHWH, not to be spoken, was affectionately called LKY. And heaven opened up, wept for him with the people of a country he helped to found. They braved the tropical monsoon rain, all soaking wet, my two cameras ‘konked’ but not before taking a few shots for this post. I was prepared for shooting in the rain but not the kind of downpour this afternoon, as if by clockwork precision, on his command, it fell dogs and cats at 12 noon until his cortege went past City Hall, the very same spot he aroused a people to bring him into power for the last 50 years. He was the god of this island, have no doubt about this.

Singapore lost its most illustrious son, son, man or god, it is the holy trinity. The world lost an elder statesman they would miss for a long time to come. There would be no more Oracle to consult should any leader needs that badly needed words of wisdom. Yes, the Oracle is gone forever. But he would remain in the hearts of many Singaporeans. Today is history in the making, the final chapter of a man god who would not come again, maybe he would, if his words were to be believed.

Tomorrow Singaporeans would wake up in a Singapore without LKY.

The photos above were the last moments of this man god’s presence on this island, on earth. The photos were touched up to give a little brightness and colour. The originals were all dark and grey.  The sadness in the air was pervasive and a bit depressing. The people were there to witness this moment of a life time, to see the passing of an extraordinary man, a brief moment in history.

Captions of photos from top to bottom
1. Students and  spectators arriving at the Padang while the rain just started to fall
2. WW1 Cenotaph with umbrellas all up
3. City Hall and the former Supreme Court
4. Gunners preparing the gun in a flooded Padang
5. Water everywhere in the Padang while cortege passing in front of City Hall
6. Cortege passing St Andrew Catheral towards the Recreation Club
7. First salvo of the 21 gun salute
8. Spectators opposite the Durians
9. Spectators lining the whole of Benjamin Sheares Bridge

Thank you Mahathir

Mahathir is the political enemy that is worthy in character and tenacity, across the causeway, to take on LKY. There was no secret that the two did not see eye to eye in many things and often the enmity became quite personal. They were worthy of each other, both never gave an inch. They fought, they made up, and fought again. I must say Mahathir had many strings to pull to make life very difficult for LKY at times. But the master eventually triumphed and brushed aside whatever obstacles that were placed in his way and made Mahathir to raise his hands in frustration. The water threat, the crooked causeway, the Malayan Railway land, to name a few.

Mahathir made two important points in his tribute to LKY in his blog. In the first he unravelled and confirmed a controversial fact during the troubled times when Singapore was in Malaysia. The cause of the racial riots in Singapore was never admitted officially and both pointed the fingers at the other. And this is what Mahathir has written.    

‘I first met Kuan Yew when I was a member of Parliament in 1964 after Singapore joined Malaysia in 1963. We crossed swords many time during the debates. But there was no enmity, only differences in our views of what was good for the newborn nation. He included me among the ultra Malays who was responsible for the racial riots in Singapore. Actually I never went to Singapore to stir up trouble. Somebody else whom I would not name did.’

The last sentence should settle the issue once for all. His second point is about the value of independence. The founding fathers fought hard for the independence from colonial rule, to become independent countries, to rule ourselves for the good of our own people, not for the colonial masters or for foreigners. This is what Mahathir wrote.

‘Now Kuan Yew is no more. His passage marks the end of the period when those who fought for independence lead their countries and knew the value of independence.’

The value of independence must not be taken lightly. Singapore’s historical record is there to warn the people not to take our independence for granted. It was under the British Empire, then conquered by the Japanese, voluntarily joined Malaysia only to find the marriage painful to bear. We are now independent, masters of our own destiny. Would we lose it again, by our own stupidity or negligence, to be ruled by foreigners from other land? Would the people become subjects all over again or be forced to leave this island inherited from their forefathers who fought hard for it?

Thank you Mahathir, for the timely and rude reminder. We need it before some fools give this island away one day, on a silver platter.

The awakening of the discriminating Singaporeans

Over the last few days we have witnessed the awakening of a new Singaporean, thinking, discriminating and appreciating the good works done by the government. They knew who was the architects and movers behind the good life that Singaporeans are enjoying today. They are anything but daft. And they are grateful and respectful to the man that made it happened.

The people are marching with their feet to show their approval and gratitude to the last and most formidable founding fathers of modern Singapore. From the young to the old, parents retelling the successful stories of Singapore’s tranformation and their admiration of LKY for being there to make it happen, with his able peers.

Do not be mistaken by this spontaneous rise of a people that are not known to show their emotions openly, apolitical and apathetic. They are not. Count on them when they are needed. They may not say much, not express much, they may not march on the streets, but they know what is happening and what is going on. They give credit when credit is due.

They will not be cheated or shortchanged. Since the days of Hougang, Aljunied and Punggol East, the Singaporeans have clearly shown a very astute level of political awareness. The glimpses of this awareness are encouraging and will do well to a people and country as we move forward. They will not blindly follow or believe, or be misled by the pretender pied pipers. They will only follow the true leaders that have their interests at heart and will deliver to them what they want, not what they do not want.

Telling lies to them would not do. They think and they will decide for their own good and their own future. They will line the streets tomorrow to say farewell to the last hero of yesteryears. It will be a scene that may not be repeated for a long time to come.

LKY – Dancing on the world stage

The world was his stage. He was one of the key actors playing his part brilliantly and at times to eclipse the roles of many big players. In a way he usurped the roles of other bigger players and claimed the stage as his own when others faltered or could not continue to stay on and were replaced. His endurance made him a permanent cast to provide the continuity in an unending play. He was there when new players were introduced into the stage to show them the rope, how to play their roles without tripping on stage.

At home he had a smaller stage, in fact too small for him that there was no room for anyone else except himself. The years of honing his skills pushed him to eminence as the undisputed master in the trade, both at home and in the world.  Now the master is gone. The students have learnt, but not too well. Oops, some thought they have learnt enough to be able to carry the candle and pass it on. None of the students are in his class, to level up with him, but could be masters in their own right, in the smaller stage back home.

LKY is the equivalent of Huang Fei Hong, and his disciples will remain his disciples, with none able to achieve and attain his level of skills to play at the highest level of the game.

The students will play their parts but would not excel to propel them to the international stage like the master, not at the moment. Perhaps some might hone their skills to keep the flame burning and find their place in the international stage as a major player, perhaps. Perhaps left on their own, they would grow and fight their way onto the world stage. They would have to prove their worth to be there, no one will be there to offer them a place on stage. They must earn it.

What is worrying is that the smaller stage, the home stage maybe too small for the students but not in the same way it was too small for LKY. In their blinded ignorance or arrogance, they brought in bigger players to play in the small stage with a false sense of security. Little did they realize that when the master was around, no outsiders would dare to usurp their role to upstage the disciples. The master was still keeping a keen eye on the stage. Now master is no more.

Would the students be able to hold on to their prominent role in the home stage? Or would they be ousted from the stage by the bigger and more ruthless players from afar, without the protection and watchful eyes of the master? The students have a small stage to play on. Would the stage be too small that there would be no standing ground for them to stand on?

The students have learnt, or may have learnt, but may not have mastered much of the master’s prowess and shrewdness to stay on the stage. It looked easy when the master was around. It even looked easy to be calafare on the international stage, as stand ins or guest stars. Minus the master’s overwhelming presence and aura, the big stage would be too crowded for them. Hopefully they can keep on dancing on the small stage and not be taken away from them. Dancing on the small stage can also prove perilous to the naïve, innocence and daft.

Would they lose the stage? Would they lose their pants? Forget about dancing on the world stage when the master is gone.

LKY – A time for celebration, a happy funeral, a 喜丧

喜丧 pronounced as xi sang, I hope the Chinese character is the right one, is an expression used for someone who has lived a good life and departed at a ripe old age. To qualify, I think the deceased must be past 80 while some would accept 70. The other conditions are a good life, a big family with children and grandchildren and a lot of wealth, fame and fortune, the more the merrier.
 
According the Chinese custom, a 喜丧 or ‘happy funeral’, is a combination of happy and sad emotions but more of the former, happy that the person had lived well and to a ripe old age and died peacefully and naturally. The sadness comes from the separation or departure of the loved one and not be able to have the person around to continue to enjoy the blessings.
 
The processes of a ‘happy funeral’ are a reversal of the normal funeral processes that are all about pains, griefs, despair and sadness, all drapes, sack clothes, white and black and crying. A ‘happy funeral’ is about celebration, celebrating the deceased’s good life. Red is the colour for the occasion, not black. Joss sticks are red as well, not the colour of green. Entertainments are provided in the form of opera or in today’s version, stage show or ge tai, 歌台, to entertain the deceased and the living. There will be joy and feastings as well, firecrackers too I think.
 
I am a bit disturbed by all the grievings and the calls for dressing in the usual mourning black and all the expression of misery. Yes there will be some sadness. In this case, how many people can live the life that LKY has lived and to depart so peacefully, with a big family of children and grandchildren, with a big fortune, jiat buay liao, with the citizens and statesmen of the world saying all the kind words about him?
 
LKY has live exceptionally well and it is time to call for a celebration for ‘What a life!’ he was blessed with. This is a ‘happy funeral’, a 喜丧. Don’t have to make it a sad occasion. Cut off the solemn music and the look like it is the end of the world. Put on some cheerful tunes and put on the smile. You can’t be mourning and grieving about a life well lived and a life well spent!
 
‘He is an extraordinary man, lived through an extraordinary time, and did some extraordinary things. ‘ Redbean