Rilek1Corner

Tag: Lee Kuan Yew

  • Allow Victims Space And Emotions Too

    Allow Victims Space And Emotions Too

    I am thousands of miles away but even so, I can sense the grief. The immense sadness over the passing of what is no doubt, a remarkable man. Online, there are tributes and stories of his achievements, expressions of gratitude and sorrow, even a few (badly written) poems. All this is understandable – he meant a lot to millions of my fellow Singaporeans.

    But what I cannot comprehend is the condemnation that greets anyone who dares say anything negative about his rule. It is not right to speak ill of the dead. It is rude. You’re not being human. Think of the family. Allow the rest of us our grief. Shut up. Look at what he’s done for us. Stop being an asshole.

    But why? Why should those who believe they’ve benefitted from his actions think they have right to silence those who feel they’ve suffered? Is gratitude the only emotion allowed at his passing? What about the people he jailed, bankrupted, persecuted, destroyed? Are they to deny themselves feelings of relief, anger, perhaps even glee?

    I am not sad today. Neither do I rejoice. After all, his life was long and fruitful. He was adored, feted, handsomely rewarded. Along the way, he destroyed a few people. He undermined our fundamental liberties. He never once showed he was sorry. Maybe he did all this to bolster his own power. Maybe he was just being a politician. Maybe it was necessary. After all, look at Singapore now.

    But why should we all be grateful? Why is it not patently obvious that there will be diverse reactions to this man’s death? He was controversial. He was not nice. Some of his ideas were pretty fucked up.

    Yes, for most of us, life’s been good. But for some others, it’s been less than ideal. Grief does not give anyone the right to be an asshole. You believe yourself to be a beneficiary of his brilliance? Good for you. But while you wax lyrical over his achievements, allow those who see themselves as his victims their space, their emotions too.

    Source: Lynn Lee

  • Muslims Should Do Duty For Allah And Seek Approval Only From Him

    Muslims Should Do Duty For Allah And Seek Approval Only From Him

    Dear brothers and sisters

    When we speak about what has been going on the last few days, do not do so because we hate a man.

    Or because we are angry with members of the community.

    Those who have made mistakes (and some who keep doing so) are our brothers and sisters. We do not speak out of anger or hatred. We speak to remind each other and ourselves.

    We speak to strengthen the ummah.

    LKY is irrelevant. We need to reject his ideology especially as it pertains to Islam.

    There are too many Muslims who have followed his way.

    They give up Allah’s commands to please him.

    They compromise Islam.

    They sought his approval rather than Allah.

    These are the ideologies and behaviour that we need to reject. We need to make sure it is removed from the community.

    The only one we seek approval from is Allah. Not any man.

    We do not make excuses for compromises. What is wajib is wajib.

    When someone stops us from our obligations to Allah, we strive to remove the hindrance. Not to simply keep quiet and accept.

    We remind each other not out of anger or hatred.

    But because we love our brothers and sisters.

    We are Muslims.

    And that is all that matters.

     

    Source: Zulfikar Shariff

  • Lee Kuan Yew Was Honest And Authentic, Malays Should Reflect And Move Forward

    Lee Kuan Yew Was Honest And Authentic, Malays Should Reflect And Move Forward

    The Malays should move on, appreciate history but get unstuck from the past. I don’t think this is how Sang Nila Utama, Left Adnan… and all the other historical Malay leaders they often quote would want them to behave. A BIG mindset shift is needed among the Malays. Their comments are a revelation on their way of thinking, on what is going on subconsciously. Probably the reason why the community is not progressing as much as the other ethnic groups. Something must be done to reprogram their mindset, to purify their hearts. Let’s hope there is a blessing in disguise to this. – Miss INI

     

    It started with her private message to me on FB on Saturday (21//3/15), a few days before Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away. Miss INI (my name for her as she preferred to remain unknown):with her private message to me on FB on Saturday (21//3/15), a few days before Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away. Miss INI (my name for her as she preferred to remain unknown):

    “I really like your post about LKY. It cringes and saddens me to read [some] ruthless comments. How can they even have the heart to say such a thing about another person… regardless if they like him or not.”

    [The post referred to: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153715612467080&set=a.10150113790487080.295946.811982079&type=1&theater]

    MY REPLY: You should feel free to add your comments for people to appreciate.

    MISS INI: I should feel free. But maybe I am afraid about being confronted by other FB users who I think are not doing justice towards their own family upbringing by using harsh words on an ailing, old man. I am sure their parents have raised well.

    Forget about him as LKY, a very successful leader in my opinion. It’s about basic humanity. It’s so toxic to curse others. It’s just cruel. May Allah forgive them and purify their hearts.

    It’s also very revealing about the mindset of [some in] the community. Many still expect special privileges just because of their race. I appreciate the fact that Singapore offers a level playing field; it brings about our resourcefulness and resilience. If they keep on ‘expecting’ to be given and having a victim mentality, it’s going to be challenging for them to snap out of their poverty mindset.

    If us Malays desire to be successful and respected, it starts from us. Add more value to the community and be exemplary in character. Don’t blame LKY and the government. Based on my experience, the older generation like my Mum, Dad, Dad’s friends and elderly taxi drivers I have spoken with are the ones who truly respect and appreciate LKY. They went through hardships and have seen how this island has transformed.

    Mr Lee Kuan Yew is known as a VISIONARY leader for a good reason, a very gifted one that is. (Sat 21/3/15 at 10;53pm)

    MY REPLY: Good points. May I use it for our people to reflect upon? If you still have concerns, I can exclude your name and just mention ‘FB friend’. (Sunday 22/3/15 at 10:41am)

    MISS INI: Just want to share why I am so perplexed by the unhappiness of the Malays. It’s based on my own experience.

    I’m as ordinary as other Malays and as ordinary as other heartlanders regardless of race and religion. If others think that the Malays are marginalized, I beg to differ.

    I wasn’t born in an ‘elite’ family. Growing up, my Dad was a plumber at Sembawang Shipyard. My Mum was a housewife taking care of 7 children. Their roles were defined and we were a simple yet a very happy family.

    None of my siblings were graduates and when I was young, I had this fascination towards ‘mortar boards’, which to me at that point was a symbol of academic success. So as a teenager, I set the intention to be the first graduate in my family. I am the second youngest. And I also visualized for my younger brother, nieces and nephews and the generations beyond to keep getting better and better academic and career wise.

    Having said the above, I had never faulted my parents for not having a bigger dream for their children. My Dad was a very responsible provider, an alpha male like most men in his and LKY’s generation I suppose. He was also a disciplinarian. Together with my loving Mum who also honored her roles as a wife and mother, their parenting focus was simple – on values, religion and character. In this aspect, I would say that they have done a wonderful job and I thank Allah for blessing us with beautiful parents.

    To fast forward, my dream about the future of my family became a reality. I had the opportunity to complete my degree. I received some support from MOE so as a bonus as I did it overseas. Application was a breeze, MOE didn’t make it difficult for me. My race and religion were irrelevant. I graduated with a BA.

    My younger brother did a better job than me. Not long after, he graduated with an honours degree. He is now one of the Head at a government organisation. His race and religion didn’t stop him from being promoted.

    As for my nieces and nephews, I am grateful that they are also academically driven so almost all of them are graduates if not working towards being one.

    When my late brother in-law was suffering from lung cancer and finance was a little tight for my him and my sister having 6 children to care for, my undergraduate nieces received sufficient financial support and subsidies. The balance, we raised the funds collectively as a family.

    Glad to say that one of them is now doing her honours year at NUS (Political Science) and the other one was offered to do her PHD (Information Systems) by NTU. Again, their gender, race, religion and them wearing the hijab didn’t hinder them from progressing and receiving support that they have worked hard for.

    So yes, the future is brighter for my family. InsyaAllah. We are not millionaires yet and face life challenges like others, but we are progressing. Not sharing this out of arrogance as abundance is from Allah and Allah can take it away from us anytime so it is very important to remain grateful yet humble.  

    My point is to highlight that it is a level playing field in Singapore and we should appreciate that it is based on meritocracy and not special privileges. My Malay friends who were academically driven, but faced financial challenges have also received support that they deserved. No, they were not marginalized by the government.

    If we truly desire to succeed, finance is genuinely tight, support is around us. To get more like attaining a scholarship, we must of course earn it. If we are not happy where we are, be proactive and do something about it.

    As a former teacher, I have never met any student who is deprived of support because of their race or religion. There are all sorts of schemes offered.

    Medically, having gone through the cancer healing journey with my late brother in-law and having aged parents myself, I know there are various schemes to make medical fees affordable for the community. The Malays are not ‘crossed out’.

    High COE, cost of living… Live within our means. To have a more comfortable living, go work for it. No one is stopping us. Limitations joining the Navy, SAF? If it is really so, aren’t there other options?

    Mr Lee Kuan Yew spoke his mind. Like it or not, he was AUTHENTIC and was honest about his views. It may be painful to hear, but it’s much better than him being a hypocrite.

    Look at the glass as half full instead of half empty. In relation to your post, yes it’s all about having the attitude of gratitude.

    Was aghast when I read comments on Mediacorp Suria [website]. Disturbing how they throw the blame to Mr LKY for the prettiest of shortcomings. What is happening to the Malay/Muslim community? I didn’t know that it is ‘sinful’ to be praying for the health of the ‘kafirun’? With such ‘religiously elitist’ mindset, it wasn’t wrong after all for Mr LKY to have once said that we could integrate all religions but not the Muslims.

    Instead of backlashing him, why not take it as a positive challenge and prove him wrong by being progressive, respectful and gracious? Those who advise others to think positively and pray for Mr LKY’s health are verbally attacked and labelled as boot-lickers, ‘Melayu yang lupa daratan’ and worse… as sinned deviants.

    Yes, feel free to share my thoughts. Appreciate the exclusion of my name as I may not know the best way to respond to strong, harsh views yet.

    The Malays should move on, appreciate history but get unstuck from the past. I don’t think this is how Sang Nila Utama, Left Adnan…and all the other historical Malay leaders they often quote would want them to behave.

    A BIG mindset shift is needed among the Malays. Their comments are a revelation on their way of thinking, on what is going on subconsciously. Probably the reason why the community is not progressing as much as the other ethnic groups. Something must be done to reprogram their mindset, to purify their hearts. Let’s hope there is a blessing in disguise to this.

    (Thought this was sent last night, but it didn’t go through. Have a blessed Sunday with your loved ones, Mr Maidin. Thank you for hearing out my concerns.) – Sunday 22/3 at 12:17pm.

    MY REPLY: This is a good addition to be included in the note I plan to quote from you. Thank u. I hope it will do some good to our people’s mindset.

    (Sunday 22/3/15 at 12:22 pm)

    “You begin your journey not knowing where it will take you. You have plans, you have dreams, but every now and again you have to take uncharted roads, face impassable mountains, cross treacherous rivers, be blocked by landslides and earthquakes. That’s the way my life has been.” – Lee Kuan Yew

     

     

    Source: Maidin Packer

  • Take Chance On Opposition In Upcoming GE, Kick PAP Out

    Take Chance On Opposition In Upcoming GE, Kick PAP Out

    Our only shot to topple PAP is on 2016 elections, if we don’t vote against PAP within 10 years time the new citizens population would be more than our population, they might even vote against PAP, kicked them out, formed their own party and presumably govern us.

    People can choose to either be brave and give oppositions the chance and possibly turn a lot of the bad policies around or become a minority in our country in 10 years time and maybe have to be govern by these new citizens and see our economy being handled by them.

    You all so scared the oppositions will make us suffer economically because you all think what if they aren’t good enough, in the future if the new citizens govern us will they destroy our economy?

    So which would you choose oppositions or PAP and its population white paper policy which will make you a minority in your own country and possibly being govern by these new citizens in the future and them controlling our economy when they have the majority numbers and enough votes to control us, since u don’t have enough trust in our oppositions?

    Your choice.

     

    Reader Contribution: Muhd Firdaus 

  • Tan Chuan-Jin: Singapore A Nation Coming Of Age

    Tan Chuan-Jin: Singapore A Nation Coming Of Age

    I just returned from Parliament.

    It’s 2+ am and it’s rocking…in the quiet dignified way that we do it in times like this.

    Our SAF and Home Team folks are there and manning not only the set-up at Parliament, but at water points along the way and at junctions where people needed to cross roads and streets. All with a smile and professionally doing what they need to do. Salute!

    Volunteers come forward to give out water, kueh, buns…some from the public, some from PA, and quite a number from our PAP branches from around the island. Thank you!

    I walked from Parliament to trace the way back to the source of the queue at Hong Lim Park. Chatted with fellow Singaporeans along the way. All ages, backgrounds…and some foreign friends too. Civil, polite, some stretches of queues snaking loops with only a few strategic boxes and nary a guiding rail to be seen. Took about 2-3 hours from Hong Lim but yet people were in positive spirit. “You all giving out free murtarbak or not?!” Errr. No. Only buns leh…

    And earlier at Kembangan CC, a few thousand came during the course of the day. I managed to welcome those who came in the evening. Respectful bows, tears shed, words of encouragement for us in Cabinet to stay strong and lead well, heartfelt words shared, sketches drawn. Read them… these are the words of our fellow Singaporeans.

    What do you see?

    I don’t know about you, but I don’t see a nation at crossroads or uncertain. I see a nation united not just by shared grief, but by a grateful heart for a leader who had served and led. And who had made a difference. I don’t see a flock of spineless deluded sheep, but people who have stepped forward to share their thoughts on how they feel. And how they feel! I don’t see change…because we have been changing since day one! In fact some think we change too much! Well, we will just keep making things better for our people as best as we can, as practically as we can, and with as much heart as we can.

    I think I see a nation coming of age.
    I see one strong people ready for our next lap.

     

    Source: Tan Chuan-Jin