From my first recollections of Singapore’s National Day celebrations, it’s always been a habit to look out for Mr LKY and our President, sitting and waving their flags and singing along to our national day songs. Watching them sing Majulah Singapura, leading by example. This year, I was hoping that Mr LKY would get better and be able to attend Singapore’s National Day, our 50th year of independence. It would have been significant to say the least and for a lack of a better word. Unfortunately, the Gods would not permit it.
I remember waking up last Monday (23rd March 2015), just like any other morning and found news on Facebook announcing his passing. It was unreal for a good number of days. Until the pictures of people queuing along the Singapore River to pay their last respects. It made me tear.
I told my hubby this. Years ago, people asked, “What would happen to Singapore if LKY were to die?” Many thought Singapore would fall apart. In truth, his passing has only served to bring the people of Singapore together. It has helped us to see and focus on the roots of independent Singapore and the vision and goals of the man behind all of it. Mr LKY has given each and every Singaporean his legacy – the very same vision and goal. This generation of Singaporeans will remember all of it for a long time to come. And hopefully, we can give this gift of a beautiful country and the vision behind it, to future generations to come.
Perhaps, a couple of years back, I would never have thought I would feel so much for this giant of a man. After 5 years living across the bridge, I have only grown to appreciate my Home more and more. For its safe environment where kids can roam safely and freely, for its efficient transport system and a government that is for its people. I realise now that it all started with one man, no doubt he had his party members to help him. But it certainly takes the courage and determination of one man to get it all started.
As for the very insensitive folks who have only served to prove that they have their brains stuck in their butt, just think one thing, how would you feel if your own father passed on and some insensitive idiot made a negative remark about your dad? On so many levels, it is inhumane, so unfeeling, so stupid, inappropriate and cruel. The least you could have done was to keep your mouth shut and keep your comments to yourself until a more appropriate time. The least you could do, is be human.
And for the rest of the world, where it is said that LKY built a beautiful Singapore at the expense of freedom. Never once did I feel constraint, except for the tiny island Singapore is. I have only been free to walk the streets in the middle of the night, unafraid of being mugged or raped. I have only been free to leave my laptop at Starbucks and know I would find it still there after buying a drink at the counter. I have only been free to hail a cab, drunk, and fallen asleep, without a doubt that I would get home safely. I have only been free to practice my own religion and know that my neighbours practice their own religion and we live harmoniously, without civil rife.
There is no doubt LKY led Singapore with an iron fist. But I’m glad he did, just as a father would to his children, hoping to bring them up well. And so LKY did the same, with all his children, a country with millions of people. He had done a great job, as a father, to this small country that had made its mark in the world.
Reading Mr Lee Hsien Loong’s eulogy, I found this quote by Mr LKY and I believe it will serve to guide the many Singaporeans who love complaining, me included, through the years of my life:
“Life is an endless series of adjustments. As you grow older, you adjust. Think how lucky we are and how much worse off we could be. Always look on the bright side of things.”
For all this and more, thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew and God above. I couldn’t be more blessed to be born Singaporean. Majulah Singapura.
