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Tag: State Funeral

  • Tharman: S R Nathan Led Fulfilling Life, Never Lost Human Touch

    Tharman: S R Nathan Led Fulfilling Life, Never Lost Human Touch

    Mr S R Nathan (3 July 1924 – 22 August 2016).

    What a life he led! From the time he ran away from home at 16, to his early job as a clerk in Muar, then as medical social worker, later unionist serving the seafarers, through a life of public service: culminating as President of the nation he was utterly devoted to.

    I have met few people who lived and breathed Singapore the way he did. His fondness for friends of every race and from all walks of life. His complete absence of airs. His love of food. And his remarkable memory of events in our history, small and big, and of everyone he had met along the way.

    He was active to the end, and never lost his human touch. Just in the last few months, he was sending letters to me and others with his sharp observations and advice on various issues, and always in his beautiful hand-writing. When I last saw him at his home, for lunch, he was in a mellow mood. He had recalled that I had liked the sambal udang the last time we had lunch, and made sure it was served again.

    We can never forget S R Nathan, his love of life, and his immense contributions to the nation he was devoted to.

     

    Source: Tharman Shanmugaratnam

  • Ng Chee Meng – Bidding Farewell To SAF

    Ng Chee Meng – Bidding Farewell To SAF

    Former Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) (NS) Ng Chee Meng speaks to PIONEER on what it’s like leaving the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) after 29 years.

    Saying goodbye was evidently difficult for the top man in Singapore’s military. “Without the SAF, I would not have been the person I am today,” said the 47-year-old who joined the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) as a fighter pilot in 1986.

    Growing up in a middle-class family with four other boys, LG (NS) Ng said he would not have had the means to afford an overseas education if not for the SAF. He graduated from the prestigious United States Air Force Academy, and was the second man from the RSAF in the history of the SAF to be made Chief of Defence Force.

    “There are very few places in the world that will allow a boy from a middle-class family to have these opportunities to succeed,” said the father of two.

    “My drive to serve comes from wanting to give back to our country and our people,” he added.

    Fulfilling a childhood dream

    His eyes lit up when he spoke about his first solo flight on a Cessna 172K after completing his O-levels.

    “I was in JC 1…taking an aircraft to the sky with no one beside me,” the then-Junior Flying Club member recalled. “It was my first step in fulfilling a childhood dream (to become a fighter pilot).”

    His first 10 years in the RSAF were some of the most memorable times of LG (NS) Ng’s career. He described himself as a “brash and young” pilot who loved being in the thick of action.

    In his early days, the hotshot pilot recalled flying combat air patrols in his F-5 fighter jet in response to possible threats, putting himself in the frontline to protect Singapore’s skies.

    As he rose through the ranks, it dawned upon him that he could no longer stick to his “youthful ideals, and ambitions to be a fighter pilot”.

    “It was time to really seriously look at how to give back in terms of policy-making, and (use) the ground experiences that I had garnered to be the most effective commander that I could be.”

    LG (NS) Ng helmed key command and staff roles that included Commanding Officer of 144 Squadron which operates the F-5 aircraft; Commander Changi Air Base; Director Joint Operations; and Chief of Air Force.

    After taking over the top job in the SAF in 2013, LG (NS) Ng volunteered for the Combat Skills Badge (CSB) and Basic Diving courses. Training alongside servicemen half his age, the ace pilot wanted to understand his men and women in the Army and Navy, and lead by example. “You cannot lead if you do not understand what your people go through,” he explained.

    When asked what he considers his greatest achievement, LG (NS) Ng humbly declined to answer, simply saying: “I did what I was supposed to do, what a responsible officer would do.”

    SAF: Cornerstone of country’s success

    LG (NS) Ng is proud of the SAF and its world-class people. The country’s remarkable economic progress, he said, was made possible because of the stability provided by the SAF’s servicemen and women.

    Although the SAF has never been tested in an all-out war, LG (NS) Ng said the fact that Singapore has enjoyed peace for 50 years is a testament of its abilities to enhance Singapore’s peace and security.

    “Detractors should understand that the ultimate strategy is to win without fighting,” he said, quoting renowned Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu.

    The full force of the SAF – including its citizen soldiers – when marshalled, renders it a formidable opponent, he said. “Any hostile country would think twice or thrice about threatening us.”

    He noted that the SAF is in a very strong position today, not just because of its high-tech military arsenal, but also the dedication of its people and the strong support from the public.

    This was what he witnessed during the state funeral of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. “I saw my officers and men doing their part beyond the call of duty, and ordinary Singaporeans giving them strength through their encouragement and support,” he recalled. “This is the binding strength of Singapore.”

    Quoting the late Mr Zubir Said, the composer of Singapore’s National Anthem, LG (NS) Ng urged all SAF servicemen and women to continue to “uphold the sky of the land where you live”.

    “Uphold the standards that we have forged over the last 50 years. Train our people tough, but fairly and safely, so that when we are called into operations, wherever or whenever, we are ready… We do this for Singapore, for Singaporeans.”

    “The CSB course requires extensive physical conditioning and preparation. During one of our training sessions, LG (NS) Ng was in great pain and visibly limping. But he pushed himself and eventually attained the badge which required him to walk 32km in full battle order. I have the utmost admiration and respect for his determination and leadership.”

    – Chief Warrant Officer (Ret) Joseph Koa, former SAF Sergeant Major

    “I spotted LG (NS) Ng in the thick of the crowd, talking to people and reassuring them that we were doing our best to lessen any inconvenience and make the queue move as fast as possible… Seeing him walk the talk, when there must have been a host of pressing things for him to attend to, was both inspiring and reassuring.”

    – Lieutenant Colonel Nur Effendi, who was in charge of queue managament during the state funeral for the late Mr Lee

    “(As chairman of the SAF Welfare Council,) he takes a personal interest in understanding the situation of each family before sharing his views of how help can be rendered.

    He has also given his support (for those with financial difficulties) through the SAF Benevolent Framework or the SAF Bursary and Merit Bursary Awards.”

    – Ms Serena Woon, Finance Manager in SAF Personnel Services Centre

    “One day, he (then Chief of Air Force) said he wanted to fly with us in the front seat of the F-15SG. With his busy schedule, we were worried whether he could make it, but he committed himself to the training. (He sets these) standards to show us that he knows his stuff, that ‘I set a high standard for myself and you better demand a high standard of yourself too’.”

    – Colonel Nalpon Patrick Selvan, former Commander Fighter Group, Air Combat Command

     

    Source: www.mindef.gov.sg

  • How Other Countries Marked Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral

    How Other Countries Marked Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral

    SINGAPORE: Countries including India and New Zealand have announced that they would be flying their National Flags at half-mast on Sunday, to mark the State Funeral for Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

    NEW ZEALAND

    A Channel NewsAsia viewer who wanted to remain unnamed sent us this photo of the New Zealand Flag flying at half-mast at the country’s Parliament House.

    HONG KONG

    More than 500 people turned up to watch the live telecast of the state funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew in Hong Kong.

    People started streaming in to the venue before noontime ahead of the telecast with many dressed in black to mourn the death of Singapore’s founding prime minister.

    The Consulate-General of Singapore in Hong Kong, the Singapore Association of Hong Kong and the Singapore Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, had organised the event at Central Plaza on Hong Kong island.

    “The biggest tribute you can have for Mr Lee is to uphold his ideals and his principles. Let us all work together to build an even better and more prosperous Singapore,” said Jacky Foo, Singapore Consul-General to Hong Kong.

    SOUTH KOREA

    Singaporeans living in South Korea gathered in Seoul to watch the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

     

    CHINA

    In Beijing, more than 300 people gathered at a hotel ballroom to watch the live broadcast of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral.

    The event was organised by the Singapore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China. People turned up in droves, dressed mostly in black and white. Some went alone while others went with families and friends.

    Loretta Perera, a Singaporean living in Beijing, said: “I wish that I was home. Still, I’m glad that there’s an event like this, where I feel a bit closer to home.”

    Steven Toh, a Singaporean on holiday in Beijing, said: “I felt quite welled up as I saw his cortege pass by our people lining the streets and as they shouted “Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee Kuan Yew”. I actually cried. I wished I was there, with the people and with him.”

    MALAYSIA

    More than 100 people gathered at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur to watch the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Some were moved to tears after listening to a eulogy by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to his father during the funeral.

    Singaporeans and members of the public also took time to sign the condolence book at the High Commission during the event.

    Catherine Winifred, a Singaporean living in Malaysia, said: “It does make me feel really proud because I don’t think there are many world leaders who can have a whole nation mourn for them when they go.”

    Cheah Tuck Wing, a Malaysian national, said: “I do not know him personally. But after watching and reading about him, not only myself, I believe a lot of Malaysians felt the big loss.”

    At the end of the State Funeral, Singaporeans in Kuala Lumpur recited the National Pledge.

    BHUTAN

    Bhutan lowered its national flag to half mast as a mark of respect for the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

     

    MYANMAR

    Singapore Embassy and the Singapore Association of Myanmar organised a memorial event in Yangon to mark the death of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Singaporeans 300 Singaporeans living in Myanmar attended the event.

    Also there to pay his respects wasthe speaker of the Lower House of Parliament. Thura Shwe Mann said Mr Lee wished for Myanmar to become like Singapore – to achieve global status in areas of economic and social development.

    He also commended Mr Lee on his courage to make tough decisions that were important for Singapore and helped it to become the successful country it is today.

    “His value lies in how he benefited his community,” said Thura Shwe Mann. “Even though Mr Lee is gone, his achievements remain forever.”

    PHILIPPINES

    Singaporeans, including families and businessmen, as well as Filipinos gathered at the Singapore Embassy to watch the State Funeral of Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

    As tributes and anecdotes were shared in Singapore, tears stained the faces of many, while laughter at certain stories lifted the mood.

    At the event, Mr Peter Tay, head of the Singapore Philippines Association, said: “It is a way for us to show our last respects for a person who created Singapore… He will be remembered for his achievements. He did a lot for Singapore. Singapore in the world map is only a red dot, but I think around the world everybody knows him.”

    JAPAN

    Around 100 people were at the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo for the screening of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral.

    Japanese Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, speaking to Channel NewsAsia at the memorial event, said she believes Mr Lee contributed to the building of deep ties between Japan and Singapore. She was speaking on behalf of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was in Singapore to attend Mr Lee’s State Funeral.

    Over 1,500 people, including 90 VIPs, have signed the book of condolence at the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo since Mr Lee died on Monday.

    For one woman, it was her third time visiting the embassy to pay tribute to Mr Lee. She said: “I’m in Japan for 18 years. I’m a permanent resident in Japan. But I love him (Mr Lee) for he’s done so much for Singapore. He lived for Singapore and died for Singapore.”

    THAILAND

    More than 200 people were at the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok to watch the State Funeral. Among the audience were those who had travelled in to the Thai capital just to watch the telecast.

    “We’ve had Singaporeans taking a nine hour bus ride from Chiang Mai to come and sign book,” said Singapore Ambassador to Thailand Chua Siew San. “People flew in from other provinces also – all unanimously said this was the least they could do for what Mr Lee has given us.”

    “Among us Singaporeans here, we do feel the loss and that’s why today we are gathered here and we share the mood here and of course this is the last journey for our great founding Prime Minister Mr Lee,” said Dannis Lee, a businessman.

    Andrzej Przemyslaw Kusnierczak, a lecturer at Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, said: “My country of origin is Poland and Poland had a lot of wars before and now we have a problem because of Russian aggression in Ukraine. Actually the world really needs leaders like Mr Lee – leaders with vision, with ambition and with unlimited motivation.”

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

  • Singapore Pools To Close Retail Operations As Mark Of Respect For Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral

    Singapore Pools To Close Retail Operations As Mark Of Respect For Lee Kuan Yew’s State Funeral

    As a mark of respect on the passing of the Republic’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Pools announced on Wednesday (Mar 26) that it will close all retail operations on his State Funeral on Sunday.

    All Singapore Pools branches, authorised retail outlets and Livewire venues will be closed, and account services will not be available, the company said in its press release.

    The 4D draw will still carry on at 6.30pm on Sunday, and results will be posted on its website after the draw.

    Normal operations will resume from Monday (Mar 30), it added.

     

    Source: www.channelnewsasia.com