Tag: Singaporean

Why It Is Wrong To Say Lee Kuan Yew Hated Muslims

READ ONLY IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

As his casket traveled through the streets of Singapore today, I think it’s about time I pay my tribute too.

Well honestly I couldn’t be bothered about the politics much, all I know is I was born here, I grew up here, go to school here, serve NS, go to work, get salary, go home, go enjoy, go live the life. All this wasn’t possible if he have not done anything about it.

If someone ask me why am I proud to be a Singaporean? Frankly, I can’t answer them but I can say that for a nation who is only 50 years old, we are actually very competitive in the world.

1. Our exchange rate is way better than any other
2. Our Diploma’s and Degree’s are recognize at almost all countries
3. Our Visas are covered at many countries
4. We are among the most safest countries in the world.
5. We have among the best healthcare systems in the world.

and the list goes on…

But at the same time, we have many downfalls too but those things which we deemed nonsense and unacceptable may sometime has a good out of it (well for at least my POV).

1. Take example the expensive cost of healthcare (well there is a govt subsidy to a certain limit but if we give 100% or a vast amount of subsidy to the people, the people will take no ownership to take care of their health)
2. The expensive COEs (do I really need to explain)
3. The expensive houses (if houses are cheap, everybody would buy a house, where would you stay then? we do not have much land)
4. Rising cost of living, then we complain salary never increase (well, technically, that’s your company’s responsibility to amend your salary)
5. Strict police rules and policies (honestly, a bent law will just do more harm then good to our nation. you wouldnt want your child to be walking at night alone do you and of course, there are minority of cases where rape, theft and murder happened, but it is not widespread, just call them unlucky)
6. Inflation going up, GST increases, yes it is a problem (but for a 1st world country, our taxes are not as expensive as other nations that may go up to 40%)
7. Other countries give $$ to their citizens who is not working (yes, our govt tries to accommodate to our non-employees or aged “Golden People” but if they do this for everyone and gives them more than what is asked, where would our desire to work and live proper goes? I might as well sit down and get money from govt every month, unfair to those who actually worked hard and pays tax)

and the list goes on…

Then lastly about what about LKY hated the muslims and such…
Well, I don’t really care, it doesn’t affect me, I mean he could say that but I still have mosques to go and worship. Bazaar Geylang is still on every year. Hari Raya PH is still there. Muslims can wear their religious costumes and still walk along the streets. I mean I still have 3 meals a day, roof over my head and places to chill out, relax, work, play and everything else, I think it is sufficient of what I need as a muslim. He can say what he wanted to say, he has gone now anyway, RIP to him but 50 years on, I can still see muslims everywhere in Singapore.

I have no issues over my cinabengs or thambikakis. I play footie with them and everytime during a Singapore football game, you can see we don’t care if we cina or india or melayu, all are Singaporeans. When I served my NS, I fought fire along side these boys and I slept with them in one hole eating the same thing they eat and drink. I feel happy having cinabengs as when my hp gone haywire, this statement will come out “later i go to ah beng shop, sure can repair”. My thambikakis indian food is top of list when I needed some flavour. My neighbours are chinese and everyday I said good morning to them and vice-versa. Yes there might be 1 small store of muslim food and indian food in a coffeeshop and tons of chinese food stalls but come on, not practical right to have so many stalls for muslim people who is just that many. Later no sales then business bankrupt wanna blame who? I love my cinabengs and thambikakis, period.

So all in all, I can weigh that LKY did more good than harm to the nation. He can’t possibly impress all 5 million of you, why don’t you be in his shoes then?? Yes he destroyed some unfortunate people’s life, put them to prison and all and if it was me, yes I would be dammed all my life too but have you ever thought of what if those who opposed him became successful? There will be good out of it I’m sure but will there be balance? Let’s just face it, Singapore wouldn’t be where it belongs and what it is now.

My advice, let the govt do what they want, they have themselves to answer to the lord when they go 6ft under someday. If they have mistreated the citizens one way or another, they will get the wallup from the almighty, who am I to say they are wrong? As LKY passings made’s it last drive down the streets, I’m sure every men-in-white realizes that life has to end someday. If anyone is not happy with the govt or LKY’s administration, migrate lor. I’m staying cause i still can do what’s right here and I feel safe here and I believe we have to be thankful regardless of what views you have. So as a proud Singaporean, I mourn the death of our Nation Greatest Builder.

‪#‎compositionForLunch‬
‪#‎quotesForLunch‬

Source: Eusoff Casper

March 28, 2015
Dr Tan Cheng Bok’s Tribute To Lee Kuan Yew

Tribute to Lee Kuan Yew

I just returned from paying my respects to Lee Kuan Yew. My friends and I were advised to go to his Tanjong Pager CC after being told not to join the queue to Parliament.

I first met face to face with Lee Kuan Yew when he interviewed me to be a candidate for the 1980 GE. It was very intimidating. Greats like Toh Chin Chye, Goh Keng Swee , and S Rajaratnam were present. They asked many questions. I fumbled some of the answers. I left the interview suspecting he was not impressed with me. Moreover, my academic records and CV were colourless. I was only a village doctor with a rebellious streak. But one striking thing he said was “We are not looking for yes men.”

I served under his leadership for a decade till 1990 when he passed the baton to Goh Chok Tong. He was without doubt the greatest leader I have encountered in my life. In my early years as an MP, he used to call me and other MPs for lunch. Lunch was a tutorial session. LKY would quiz me occasionally on my parliamentary speeches and offer tips for improvement. Some of his corrections were unpleasant to hear. But they were always valuable and meant to help us grow. I was surprised he followed what I said in Parliament. “Don’t be fooled to think you can speak off the cuff without preparation” he said. “You must always prepare.”
His personal interest in our development as parliamentarians impressed me. He generously shared his deep experience with us as a master politician. He brought into focus political issues of the day, be it local or world affairs. We were at a master class.
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Lunch was also sometimes a fact finding session for him especially when he wanted to confirm the ground’s feedback on controversial issues. Two issues stood out for me
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One was his family’s purchase of a flat at a discounted price. The first question he shot at me was “Cheng Bock, am l a crook?” I told him if he was a crook l would not have served him in the first place. LKY embodied the virtues of integrity and incorruptibility, without which Singapore could never have succeeded. I was then moved to speak up for him in parliament and was pleasantly surprised when he took the time to pen a note of thanks
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The other issue was the elected Presidency. He wasn’t happy with the ground misunderstanding his intentions for creating the new elected office. At that time, many thought that he was doing this for himself. He was visibly disturbed. “I am doing this for Singapore , I don’t want to be President”. Indeed, he was truly a man who lived for our nation. Every political step taken by him, however difficult to understand then, he meant it for the good of Singapore. LKY loved his country, and it is only right for him to receive the highest honour and genuine affection shown by Singaporeans this week.[see photos]

LKY is also often perceived as one intolerant of challenges to his core beliefs. Many a time, I saw the fire of his formidable personality when debating dissenting views. His MPs always felt safer being on his side.

But on one occasion I was at the receiving end of his fury. This was the debate on the Foreign Talent policy where he felt I offended him. He reprimanded me publicly and our relationship grew cold after that. No more lunch with him
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But not many know that in 2006, I met him at my final post- budget dinner. I was retiring that year as MP and chose to close my tenure with my favourite song “My Way”. I changed the lyrics of the song with reference to MP’s role. After I sang, LKY looked at me and broke into a smile. We then shook hands. To me, it was a good feeling to end my stint as MP for Ayer Rajah.

I will always remember him as the greatest person I have ever met and worked with. A true son of the soil, his love for Singapore was his drive. Despite his outward hardness, he always took the trouble to sign his replies personally to letters l sent him, and not left it to his subordinates.

Lee Kuan Yew left a legacy we must never compromise. People will continue to support a good government that has integrity, honesty, incorruptibility, and transparency
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Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew for your sacrifices and what you did for us. Rest in peace.

Source: Dr Tan Cheng Bok

March 28, 2015
Female Malay: Disagree With Lee Kuan Yew’s Policies, Do Not Belittle Or Disrespect The Sacrifices He Made For Singapore

Yesterday I quoted MISS INI’s conversation with me, expressing her frank views from her heart & mind on LEE KUAN YEW. THE MALAYS & SINGAPORE. [https://www.facebook.com/notes/maidin-packer/lee-kuan-yew-the-malays-singapore-a-note-from-the-heart-of-a-young-professional-/860914697303713?pnref=story].

She inspired yet another young Malay woman, 30, to share her thoughts with me. She also requested to remain anonymous. So I will refer to her as MISS ITU.

MISS ITU: Dear En Maidin, Thank you for sharing the thoughts of Ms INI on your Facebook. It heartens me to know that there are others out there, like me, who view the current situation in the same way.

Let me apologise for this rather lengthy note – or rant as you may see it. These are words that I have never spoken out loud to anyone outside my family, and I do not wish for my identity to be known.

It alarms me to note that over the last few days, my own Facebook feeds have been filled with narrow-minded perspectives of how [some] Malays view the actions of the late LKY. I agree that while one may not agree on actions taken in the past, one should never belittle or disrespect the sacrifices and actions he carried out for the sake of the country.

Often, I read comments that were made based on little knowledge – if not total lack of knowledge – of the background and reason for decisions and policies. Often, these policies are viewed in the perspective of ‘with intent to marginalize Malay/Muslim communities further’.

Often, I’d expect these comments to be made by the older generation, who are often less educated. Ironically, these comments are usually made by peers who have had decent levels of education, if not tertiary and further.

I fail to understand the reason for the discontent. I’ve seen Malay/Muslim individuals rise up and take their place among the top of the cohorts in schools and workplaces. I’ve seen Malay/Muslims succeed in businesses, locally and overseas. I’ve seen success that was borne out of sheer determination and hard work. – LEE KUAN YEW

I often feel that the grumbles on the ground by people in my own community stem from the mentality that they should be on the receiving end of things without having to work too hard for it. They often have the ‘Malays were here first, so should have more rights over others’ – a very Bumiputera-ish attitude.

But Malays are often content with what they have, and instead of aspiring to be better than the other races, or even those if the same race, belittle the achievements to the extent of insinuating that these successes can be attributed to knowing the right people and having the right kind of money. Never sheer hard work. It’s the constant putting down of others that is holding us all back as a community.

While many are quick to quote what the late LKY said about integrating the Muslims as ‘evidence of marginalizing and attempting to eradicate the entire race’, I wonder why the same quote cannot be used to spur the community on to prove that we can integrate into the society without sacrificing our beliefs. We can hold on fast to our faith while still being Singaporeans first.

Same can be said when I read a certain post on my FB feed about the reasons why the Malay schools were abolished. We Malays should be ashamed of ourselves. Majority of us cannot even speak in our own mother tongue fluently, much less in comparison to the late LKY who can converse in Malay without needing a translator. And his diction is at times better than a native Malay speaker.

We are blind to the contributions the country led by the late LKY have made to our community. Our mosques are huge examples of such contributions. Should we have relied on the ‘Malays will depend on itself to build its community’ mentality, we would not have gotten far. [Some] People grumble over the compulsory mosque development fund that we contribute to every month. Such complaints over a petty amount of cash that is often so insignificant that we fail to notice it.

And we should be honest and upfront with ourselves. How many of us can actually save enough money every month to be able to afford the house we live in if not for our CPF? We Malays are easily contented and quick to keep up with the Joneses. We are quick to display acts of keeping up appearances while piling on mounts of debts. We are quick to fall for get-rich quick schemes instead of getting down to the grind of things.

I am a child of the 80s. I did not go through what my parents and grandparents went through in the early years of our nation. But it never fails to amaze me that we have come far as a nation in terms of development and infrastructure.

Yet, I am afraid. I am afraid thinking of the situation my children will have to face growing up, based on the current mentality of the people. People are holding on so tightly to the past, to the misconceptions, that they are getting left behind without them realizing it.

I may be seen as too ‘intergrated’ into the society. I may be seen as naive. I have served in the civil service, and left it to spend close to a decade in the private sector working for expats.

I have more non-Malay friends than Malay friends, but they all celebrate my festivities and take time to understand my racial customs and traditions as well as religious beliefs and rituals. If not for the fact that I live in a multi-cultural society which the late LKY insisted on, this would not have happened. And just for that, I am thankful.

MY REPLY: TQ for sharing your views. Would be nicer if it could be shared with others. Yes many of our people need to be re-educated. Your views could help. I would be happy if you are to share it or allow me to use it, with or without your name. Pls advice.

MISS ITU: Salam Sir. Thank you for reading my note. Do feel free to share and use it. However I would appreciate if my name was not revealed. I believe there are others who feel the same, and like me, are finding it difficult to voice out our thoughts without being hacked down. Ironically, by our own community.

If you want to be popular, do not try to be popular all the time. Popular government does not mean that you do popular things all the time. We do not want to be unpopular or to do unpopular things. But when they are necessary, they will be done. Popular representative government means that within each five-year period, your policies have demonstrably worked and won popular support. That is what it means. And if we flinch from the unpopular, we are in deep trouble. – LEE KUAN YEW

Source: Maidin Packer

March 28, 2015
Israeli President Pay Respects To Lee Kuan Yew

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin paid his respects to Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at Parliament House on Friday (Mar 27).

Mr Rivlin cited Ecclesiastes 7:1 from the Bible’s Old Testament in his tribute to Mr Lee. “’A good name is better than a good perfume’, for a good name will last forever. In memory of a leader whose deeds and legacy will be remembered always. A dear friend of Israel and the Jewish people,” he wrote in Mr Lee’s official book of condolence.

Mr Rivlin will attend Mr Lee’s State Funeral on Sunday at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre. The Israeli President said he also hoped to strengthen ties between the two nations during his visit.

“It is a great privilege for me to participate in the funeral of Lee Kuan Yew, and during my visit, I intend to do all in my power to strengthen ties, and to express our deep appreciation for all that you do, and continue to do for the state of Israel,” The Times of Israel reported Mr Rivlin as saying.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an official statement that Mr Lee will be remembered with great admiration and respect.

“Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore, was not only a great leader of his nation, but also a figure of great international renown,” he said.

“Under his leadership, Singapore set an example of how a small country can become an economic powerhouse by harnessing the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. He will be remembered in Israel and around the world with great admiration and respect.”

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

March 28, 2015
Alfian Sa’at Questions Lee Kuan Yew Legacy

The arts community in Singapore has responded to the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew by postponing new shows, observing a moment of silence before performances, creating art – and also critiquing the politician and some of the public tributes being made.

On Wednesday, playwright and poet Alfian Sa’at, 38, posted a satire on his Facebook page condemning what he viewed as exaggerated eulogies that popularise the “fishing village myth” of Singapore, the idea that Mr Lee “conjured gleaming skyscrapers out of a primordial swamp”. In later comments he said he has observed a “historical revisionism free-for-all” this week.

In his satire, he wrote: “Did you wake up today? What did you see? A ceiling? Yes, that roof over your head – Lee Kuan Yew put it there. So tomorrow, when you wake up, and look at your ceiling, the very least you can do is imagine his face on it. Looking down on you. Know that he has always looked down on all of us Singaporeans.”

He also posted from an article in New Mandala, an online journal of the Australian National University College of Asia, which alleged that Mr Lee distrusted the Malay community. Alfian has long called for greater Malay representation in Parliament and public offices and on Friday wrote in Malay on Facebook that “it is difficult for us who have always been treated like stepchildren to claim we are the children of he who is being glorified”.

Some responders to his posts suggested that it was in bad taste to share such thoughts before Mr Lee’s funeral on Sunday. He later posted that he would hold off further critiques until Monday. In the comment thread he explained further: “My stand has always been that this is a public figure and his public legacy needs to be dissected objectively without fear or favour. But I also think that within the spectacle of public mourning there are pockets of private grief that are complex and defensive and vulnerable and which will feel very hurt by some of the things I will say – even if none of it is addressed directly at them.”

He also told The Straits Times on Friday that he has since made the posts on his Facebook account private because he has been receiving “both death threats and abuse from people”.

Other members of the arts community have also been discussing Mr Lee’s legacy on social media. In response to a commentary by former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng who criticised the view expressed in the Western media that Singapore had sacrificed certain freedoms to attain wealth and security, poet Alvin Pang wrote on Facebook that Singaporeans must acknowledge the trade-offs that were made to get it to its current position.

“Our family tongues and broad access to Malay as a regional lingua franca: gone. Much of our heritage and cultural life: sacrificed. The siblings that might have been, curtailed by hard anti-natal policies that were later lifted to no avail. Compulsory military conscription. Censorship. The list goes on,” he wrote, adding: “To be able to discuss these soberly, from different informed, constructive perspectives: that IS democracy, IS civilisation, and furthermore, does honour to his memory.”

Source: www.straitstimes.com

March 28, 2015