Post LKY Era Singapore
Last week I have written a tribute to our late first Prime Minister. Over the week of national mourning, I told people that we should celebrate his life. There were brickbats from some quarters too which I think is natural.
http://gforce-guru.blogspot.sg/2015/03/tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.html
http://gforce-guru.blogspot.sg/2015/03/tribute-to-lee-kuan-yew.html
I used to ask people this question sometimes - To those who are younger: What would you be doing at the age of 35? And to those who were older: What were you doing at age 35? Maybe some of you were still job hopping and fooling around at that age. Lee Kuan Yew was our Prime Minister at 35. Imagine that. What kind of responsibility do you have?
When the heavens poured down that day on his funeral, a certain saying was debunked. I have heard that at the end of the day, no matter how popular or well loved you are, the number of people attending your funeral is determined by the weather! Some said it should have not have rained. I beg to differ. Even in his passing, Lee Kuan Yew has proved naysayers wrong again. The people of Singapore came in droves. The aged to the young came, no matter. They did not run or disperse throughout the storm. I saw an old man standing in the crowd even without an umbrella. I saw someone in the crowd holding out an umbrella for his fellow citizen on duty at the barricades.
It was very powerful as it was touching. You cannot doubt the solidarity of the people. One united nation regardless of race or religion. The world was watching. We may be small but we are one united people and it was not staged. The better side of Singapore was on display. Shops and restaurants giving away free food and water for people in the queue to Parliament House. Fellow citizens distributing and sharing umbrellas. It was good that it rained. Otherwise, we would have missed the chance to show what Singapore is made of. Do not muck around with us. We are Singapore!
What now Singapore? Is it better to be healthy, wealthy and safe than to be sick, poor and insecure. Our GDP has grown 12 fold from USD500 in 1965 to USD55,000 today. In personal liberties, Singapore ranked in the bottom half, behind South Korea and the Philippines. So what should be our political philosophy? More political rights so that Amos Yee and the likes could go on ranting vulgarities? But I hope the authorities will look deeper into Amos' situation. He could be a stressed out boy or a lonely boy lacking attention for whatever reasons. Punish him but give him a chance to come good and I hope he does.
I learnt of a Filipino pub waiter and a Chinese pub cleaner who after a tired day's work went to join the queue to Parliament House. I wanted to speak to them and finally got that chance. I asked them why at the same time once in English and then in Mandarin. They both said the same thing. They are very happy working in Singapore and they could get a job. The money earned supports their families back home. For many others, they take it for granted. In a Southern province of India, they put his photograph on a lorry and had a funeral possession for him. Why? If they had not come to Singapore to work they could not have fed their families back home, build houses or improve their village. Singaporeans must know how fortunate we are.
There are people clamouring for Changi Airport to be named after him and others suggested erecting statues. Signboards and statues can be destroyed and become meaningless monuments and anyway the great man himself would not want it. If you look around you, Changi Airport, the zoo, the institutions, civil service, the trees, rivers and many more has his fingerprints. The most important thing is to love and treat people well when they are alive not when they are gone.
If you really want to remember him, these are what you can and should do:
Begin with yourself at home. There is a Chinese saying, 没 有 国，é‚£ 有 家。没 有 家 é‚£ 有 国。If there is not a nation, there would not be a family and if there are is no family, there would not be a nation. So begin doing the right things for and with the family. You are the leader. Do not shirk your responsibilities as the head of your family. Be a role model. Your family and children may not do what you tell them but they will always do what you do. When you do this you are strengthening your family therefore the nation.
Begin with yourself at work. It could be your own business or you may be working for others. Take pride and lead by example as a leader as your staff will do what you do. You are like an ambassador to your company and business. You are the face of your company to your customers and clientele. When you are overseas, you are definitely not just the face of your company but also an ambassador of Singapore.
Begin with yourself with people of different generations. A divide is inevitable. By just looking at the Baby-Boomers to the Gen Z you will realise the poles apart. Gen Z will never be or truly understand Baby-Boomers or feel the same unless they were born at the time. Conversely, Baby-Boomers born during this time will probably think and behave the same as Gen Z. But moral values are and should remain the same across any generation. Therefore, hold onto time honoured values. The time will come if not already came that the world will change (and change rapidly) but when your good values do not change, that will be the last straw you can cling to and still be on dry land. All sides must listen intently and forge a bond. Equally important is for all to adapt. Adaptation is a big word. Evolve or die.
Begin with yourself to bridge the rich/poor divide. Charity begins at home. Help the unfortunate and the poor. Help your own countrymen first. If you are very successful, repay it to society. Mentor others, help them to grow. Share your knowledge. Inspire. That is your legacy. What will you leave behind when you are gone?
United People - We are an amazement to the world due to so many facets to our society and nation, chief among all is our ability to live together regardless of race or religion. This to me is beautiful and priceless. It is a wonder and an asset. We must sustain it and build on it.
All Singaporeans must help one another. When you venture abroad or even locally. Lee Kuan Yew was to me also the greatest salesman that ever was. He sold Singapore to every country in the world. Brought in investments. He knew all the top leaders and important leaders of the world. That is a privilege. There are few like him, maybe none.
When he died, the stock market did not crash. Singapore still functions. This is yet another testimony. He has put leaders in place for sometime. The world knows it. It is now up to our leaders to show their mettle and to build on even further from here on. It is up to Singaporeans to be even more savvy and competent and not complacent. I thought the last week was good as everyone from young and old got the historical playback from the newspapers. To some, this may be propaganda. For many others, they were reminiscing and a good reminder to all.
I have said before he was a God-sent. Beware that sometimes God sent people good stuffs but were not made good use of and at the end all the good things that God had sent came to nought. Look at the world and around you. Sometimes, I feel part of our problem is that we are too well taken care of.
It is up to each Singaporean to play their part. I am talking about you! If not you, who? If not now, when? Join me. Merdeka! Majulah Singapura!
There are people clamouring for Changi Airport to be named after him and others suggested erecting statues. Signboards and statues can be destroyed and become meaningless monuments and anyway the great man himself would not want it. If you look around you, Changi Airport, the zoo, the institutions, civil service, the trees, rivers and many more has his fingerprints. The most important thing is to love and treat people well when they are alive not when they are gone.
If you really want to remember him, these are what you can and should do:
Begin with yourself at home. There is a Chinese saying, 没 有 国，é‚£ 有 家。没 有 家 é‚£ 有 国。If there is not a nation, there would not be a family and if there are is no family, there would not be a nation. So begin doing the right things for and with the family. You are the leader. Do not shirk your responsibilities as the head of your family. Be a role model. Your family and children may not do what you tell them but they will always do what you do. When you do this you are strengthening your family therefore the nation.
Begin with yourself at work. It could be your own business or you may be working for others. Take pride and lead by example as a leader as your staff will do what you do. You are like an ambassador to your company and business. You are the face of your company to your customers and clientele. When you are overseas, you are definitely not just the face of your company but also an ambassador of Singapore.
Begin with yourself with people of different generations. A divide is inevitable. By just looking at the Baby-Boomers to the Gen Z you will realise the poles apart. Gen Z will never be or truly understand Baby-Boomers or feel the same unless they were born at the time. Conversely, Baby-Boomers born during this time will probably think and behave the same as Gen Z. But moral values are and should remain the same across any generation. Therefore, hold onto time honoured values. The time will come if not already came that the world will change (and change rapidly) but when your good values do not change, that will be the last straw you can cling to and still be on dry land. All sides must listen intently and forge a bond. Equally important is for all to adapt. Adaptation is a big word. Evolve or die.
Begin with yourself to bridge the rich/poor divide. Charity begins at home. Help the unfortunate and the poor. Help your own countrymen first. If you are very successful, repay it to society. Mentor others, help them to grow. Share your knowledge. Inspire. That is your legacy. What will you leave behind when you are gone?
United People - We are an amazement to the world due to so many facets to our society and nation, chief among all is our ability to live together regardless of race or religion. This to me is beautiful and priceless. It is a wonder and an asset. We must sustain it and build on it.
All Singaporeans must help one another. When you venture abroad or even locally. Lee Kuan Yew was to me also the greatest salesman that ever was. He sold Singapore to every country in the world. Brought in investments. He knew all the top leaders and important leaders of the world. That is a privilege. There are few like him, maybe none.
When he died, the stock market did not crash. Singapore still functions. This is yet another testimony. He has put leaders in place for sometime. The world knows it. It is now up to our leaders to show their mettle and to build on even further from here on. It is up to Singaporeans to be even more savvy and competent and not complacent. I thought the last week was good as everyone from young and old got the historical playback from the newspapers. To some, this may be propaganda. For many others, they were reminiscing and a good reminder to all.
I have said before he was a God-sent. Beware that sometimes God sent people good stuffs but were not made good use of and at the end all the good things that God had sent came to nought. Look at the world and around you. Sometimes, I feel part of our problem is that we are too well taken care of.
It is up to each Singaporean to play their part. I am talking about you! If not you, who? If not now, when? Join me. Merdeka! Majulah Singapura!
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