TOC wishes MM Lee Kuan Yew a happy 86th birthday and thanks him for his nation-building endeavour.
Ravi Philemon
“It is difficult for him not to interfere,” said Mr Goh Chok Tong as he took over from Mr Lee Kuan Yew as the Prime Minister of Singapore in 1990. Whether one likes him or not, no one can deny that this Cambridge-trained barrister who has promised to get up even from his sick bed or while being lowered into his grave, if he feels something is wrong with Singapore, has left an indelible mark in the modern history of Singapore.
A Stroll down Memory Lane
Mr Lee probably was politically awakened while he worked as a clerk and later as a cable editor at a Japanese propaganda agency during World War II. In his late 20s, Mr Lee joined Laycock & Ong and he campaigned for his boss John Laycock, a Singapore Progressive Party leader, in 1951. During this period, he became increasingly involved in a number of left-wing cases.
Whatever his detractors may say, there is no denying that if there is one quality this man had, it is the one called passion – Passion with a capital P.
Mr Lee never charged for the legal services he provided the unions. Former Straits Times news editor Felix Abisheganaden, who was acquainted with Mr Lee in the 1950s and 1960s, noted that he hardly ever charged the unions for his work. “You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.” His stint in London, his involvement in the Malayan Forum and the influence of the British Labour Party had taught him that he had to be pro-labour and build his network power base through the trade unions. Right from the start, noted former People’s Action Party (PAP) chairman Toh Chin Chye, “It was the unions that provided the mass base. Lee Kuan Yew was the legal advisor, so he had a mass base.”
It was but the passion of Mr Lee and the team he led (with the likes of Mr Toh Chin Chye, Mr S Rajaratnam, Mr Goh Keng Swee and Mr S Devan Nair), which enabled PAP to sweep the 1959 general elections. It was his passion which persuaded the Malayan premier and leader of the Alliance Party, to include Singapore in the merger. It was his passion which caused him to campaign for a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’; and again, it was Mr Lee passion which was the major reason for the separation of Singapore from Malaysia.
“The ousting of Singapore, despite what history books might say, are anything but cordial,” says Mr M.G.G. Pillai in his article “Did Lee Kuan Yew want Singapore ejected from Malaysia?” Mr Pillai writes that Mr Lee then being in his 40s was brash. This prompted Tunku Abdul Rahman to condition that if Singapore were to remain a part of Malaysia, Mr Lee had got to get out of the picture. That was a condition which was too unacceptable to consider, even for an impassioned Mr Lee.
Maybe it was the ouster of Singapore from Malaysia which kindled Mr Lee to prove that Singapore could not only survive without Malaysia, but could also do better than Malaysia. Perhaps Mr Lee envisioned Singapore to be him and him to be Singapore; and driven by Napoleon Complex Mr Lee strived to keep Singapore ‘up there’, whatever the cause was. It’s highly possible that he had something to prove to those who ‘pooh-poohed’ his ideal of a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’.
The Present
Fast forward to the year 2009 and we find a Mr Lee who is still impassioned about Singapore. Recently he found it necessary to “bring the House back to earth” for their highfalutin idea that the Singapore National Pledge was an ideal. It was an aspiration he said – not an ideal. Never mind that the pledge is neither an ideal nor an aspiration, but a promise; “Nobody can speak with the knowledge that I have”, he said.
But what Mr Lee failed to realise was that the Nominated Member of Parliament, who tabled a motion calling for the House to reaffirm its commitment to the principles enshrined in the Singapore National Pledge, was actually echoing the call Mr Lee Kuan Yew made decades ago; only this time for a ‘Singaporean Singapore’. Did the ouster from Malaysia turn this man into a convert of cold-eyed pragmatism, which prescribes that there are no ideals except the ideal of pragmatism?
From his days as a cable editor of the Japanese propaganda machine, through his years as an agitator for independence from Britain, to the merger and (soon after) ouster from Malaysia; from his time spent talking to the Americans during the Vietnam years to his role as a confidant of China’s leadership, Mr Lee has seen it all. And more importantly, he has raised a generation of pragmatists.
But in a rapidly changing world, pragmatism does not fire the imagination of many, especially the young. Singapore craves for a leader with the “bring back to earth” kind of charisma that Mr Lee possesses; but charisma which is tempered with humanity. Pragmatism sadly can never breed such a leader.
Mr Pillai argues in his article that “Singapore will eventually have to merge with Malaysia, but as an adjunct of Johore”, when Johor stops supplying water to Singapore. Perhaps we need problems of such magnitude to throw up true patriots like our founding fathers – patriots like Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Happy birthday Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
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Passion during the initial 20 years, after that it degenerated into a different kind of Passion……..Passion to remain at the apex……call it Lust for Power if you like.
Passion? More like unquenching thirst for blood!
Very well written article imo, a well summarized but revealing insight into the man who ‘shaped’ modern Singapore.
Yes Lee Kuan Yew is truly one passionate man – passionate about power that is.
“Mr Lee never charged for the legal services he provided the unions. Former Straits Times news editor Felix Abisheganaden, who was acquainted with Mr Lee in the 1950s and 1960s, noted that he hardly ever charged the unions for his work. “You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.”
You’re right, he never did because he didn’t need to. By then he was already in the Progressive Party building up his political career. He was always an ambitious person. When the Rendel Constitution expanded the electoral rolls to include all local-born as voters, resulting in a significant increase in Chinese voters, LKY decided to form the PAP and contest in elections.
I’ve actually written about this at http://secretpoliticalblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/is-lee-kuan-yew-more-interested-in.html
There is a classic book entiled “PAP” written by Jane Austen.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an old man in possession of too much fortune must be in want of more power.
5) austenfan on September 16th, 2009 9.53 pm
There is a classic book entiled “PAP” written by Jane Austen.
It is “Pride And Prejudice”. Haha…
@Austenfan and Donaldson: How about “Pillage and Plunder”? : )
4) Secret Political Blog
“Mr Lee never charged for the legal services he provided the unions. Former Straits Times news editor Felix Abisheganaden, who was acquainted with Mr Lee in the 1950s and 1960s, noted that he hardly ever charged the unions for his work. “You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.”
Well, look at William Henry Gates III, Gates bought QDOS, for $50,000, renamed it DOS, improved it, and licensed it to IBM for a low per-copy royalty fee. Earning peants at that time, but it establish Microsoft as the leading operating system provider and on its way toward PC industry domination and Bill Gates became the world richest man.
So what does this tell us, with all due respect to Bill Gates, but it tell us that something given at the start for free will go a long way in generating goodies. Or it can be like chinese saying “putting out a long line to catch a big fish”
I think, having a title like “Passion and Patriotism (PAP)” gives the impression that
1 – the PAP stands for ‘passion’ and ‘patriotism’ :)
2 – LKY is PAP
3 – PAP is Singapore
4 – LKY is Singapore.
5 – which just render the words ‘passion’ and ‘patriotism’ rather meaningless.
It’s quite naive, to kick in an own goal like that.
@ austenfan, Donaldson, KJ
PAP = Persecute and Prosecute
“promised to get up even from his sick bed or while being lowered into his grave, if he feels something is wrong with Singapore,”
haha… good joke…
Think about it. During the Japanese occupation, Lee Kuan Yew works for the Japanese. I mean what kind of Chinese people works for the Japanese then when the Japanese were mass killing the Chinese. We call people like this “Han Jian” (Chinese traitor). Who knows whether a person of such kind of “integrity” will ever betray the Singaporean for his own survivor and benefit or not?
“cable editor at a Japanese propaganda agency during World War II. ”
Thanks to Ravi for this informative and well written piece.
As a long time follower of LKY, I am constantly impressively amazed by his capabilities – i din know he worked for a Jappy agency before! Did he know how to translate jap into england?
I wish him best health and sincere regards to the wife as well.
My god, I thought I had stumbled upon the National Education website.
Impassioned? How about power hungry?
Hitler also has Passion and Patriotism
nice one Ravi. :-)
I also hope that he will stay alive for a long, long, time. Long enough to see
1. mini Lee kicked out of his PM spot,
2. any skeletons in his political-closet becomes widely known, and
3. his family’s 3rd generation will known the shame of his extended family’ misdeeds to Singapore citizens.
Dear MM LEE,
Singapore can never again find another you.Perhaps,some one may
come along in the near future could imitate you but you can never be duplicated.Your presence in this little red dot is once in a thousand year and is for a reason.Nothing is by chance.We know you have been trying hard for this last 15 yrs,pondering how you wanted to shape Singapore for the future to come.Alas!.a man cannot be a measure for all things.Why not let our future set its own course.
Like an Englishman used to say,”i take my hat off to you.”
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE ONE AND ONLY LEE KUAN YEW.
Preston Loon.
Singaporeans must start to be passionate about their country and to use that passion to ensure that Singapore will always belong to Singaporeans.
Pride And Prejudice
Passion And Patriotism
Pay And Pay
Pillage And Plunder
Persecute And Prosecute
LOL
“You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.” : Felix Abisheganaden.
Perhaps it is true that LKY never did go after any kind financial gains, or is it?. He is way smarter than that. That’s why this comment by Felix shows up the dumb ass Felix is – for telling us that LKY was never after any kind of financial gains.
LKY knew that with absolute control of power, all these other gains will automatically fall in place and comes under his mercy to indulge himself as he may. We saw this in the latter years of his political involvement. He got back what he had lost in the early years of his political career – many, many, many times more than the peanuts he would have charged for his legal services back then.
To think Felix can even claim to have known the man from the 50s to the 60s. He knows nothing about him because must have been blinded by the aura of his presence all the time.
There were many other politicians in the early days of Singapore’s political landscape who were passionate about what they thought was best for Singapore. Passions with capital Ps were all over the infant island. It just so happened that one man was able to destroy all these other Ps and took to seeing that his was the only P that mattered.
How Singapore became the worst for it is now felt throughout this same tiny island. We never grew out of our infancy eversince.
gemami #21,
Let’s just say the man changed over the course of his entire political life.
Describing Lee selling out to the Japs AND calling him a patriot?!??
Something is wrong with this article. It is not about passion per se, but passion for what and to what end.
A few small points:
Lee was Cambridge- not London-trained
Rajaratnam, not Rajaretnam
strove, not strived
the usage of ‘condition’ and ‘kindled’ are ungrammatical
And the following para says nothing:
“It was but the passion of Mr Lee and the team he led (with the likes of Mr Toh Chin Chye, Mr S Rajaretnam, Mr Goh Keng Swee and Mr S Devan Nair), which enabled PAP to sweep the 1959 general elections. It was his passion which persuaded the Malayan premier and leader of the Alliance Party, to include Singapore in the merger. It was his passion which caused him to campaign for a ‘Malaysian Malaysia’; and again, it was Mr Lee passion which was the major reason for the separation of Singapore from Malaysia.”
I would have preferred some substantiation.
He sure did, Oxford Dude.
Our only hope now is for him to meet the other P – Rest In Peace.
I pity those who cannot see that the writer is not actually writing about Lee Kuan Yew, but about, “Singapore craves for a leader with the “bring back to earth” kind of charisma that Mr Lee possesses; but charisma which is tempered with humanity. Pragmatism sadly can never breed such a leader.”
23) jon on September 17th, 2009 8.10 am
strove, not strived
the usage of ‘condition’ and ‘kindled’ are ungrammatical
“Strove” is American while “Strived” is British. I prefer to keep to British English.
Why are the use of the 2 words ungrammatical? “Condition” is also a verb while “kindled” is synonym to “aroused”.
23) jon on September 17th, 2009 8.10 am
I think ‘strove’ and ‘strived’ are both acceptable, no? Agree with you on the other grammar points you raise though.
As for the para you cite, I think substantiation is not necessary as that is not the point of this article – I daresay the whole article is one backhanded compliment.
PAP is a great study and reference of what modern corruption is all about. One that use compliant system, kangaroo law and media to hide its echelon corruption. I expect a lot of books will be critically analyzing and expose the regime once old fart meet his maker.
“Describing Lee selling out to the Japs AND calling him a patriot?!??”
Why not ? How about been a Japan Patriot not Singapore patriot ?
U see that old fart is a opportunist devoid of principle. He will go whatever to ensure his own survival. Betrayal is not in his dictionary.
Can’t believe TOC would write such a one-sided and skewed article. The writer omitted many important facts about how PAP wheeled and dealed its way (resulting in the destruction of lives) to come into power.
Shame on you, TOC!
So, it is true that Lee Kuan Yew was a traitor.
What a joke? Singapore was led by a traitor and now by the family of the traitor.
Looks like PKMS has taken over the role of providing amusement and clown from CSJ….
Is this a copy and paste article from the Straits Times?
–> 10) X man on September 16th, 2009 10.32 pm
@ austenfan, Donaldson, KJ
PAP = Persecute and Prosecute
Time to set up a new PAP – Persecute the Prostitutes.
33) hellomotto on September 17th, 2009 11.25 am
Is this a copy and paste article from the Straits Times?
Do you guys know what a backhanded compliment is?
A dictator will always claim the country will fail if he is not at the helm. U need strong and focused govt to keep the country together, they will always say. So many examples in history, eg Suharto, Marcos, etc. But what actually happens after they are toppled, nothing, life goes on.
You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.” : Felix Abisheganaden.
“You can never say that he was ever in his life after any kind of financial gain – never, never, never.” : Felix Abisheganaden.
Sly and crafty people are always good in business, and in politics as well.
The are never magnanimous.
Perhaps Felix is naived to know that he is staging for better thing to come
:political power and with it every thing would fall into place
The great Deng Xiaoping only received $80 salary. Of course, he did get a government house and all the other necessities to live a decent life from the state. But he did not yearn for more. And he did step down from power.
“Dictators are rulers who always look good until the last ten minutes.” – Jan Masaryk
Same for their sycophants who will then jump ship or switch side.
Dear MM
I personally wish you good health and happiness in life.
some wishes from Singaporean
1) Please treat us as adults, some of us are even older than your PM son
2) Don’t cramp on our CPF and dont tell us that we dont know how to manage our OWN $$
Your daughter in-law and her troops did noyt manage the citizen’s money in getting into BUY HIGH SELL LOW strategy, losses that may only recouped in 20, 30 or 40 years later, by then you dont see it, many of us dont see it and who knows it will happen at all ?
3) Don’t frighten us that without PAP Singapore will fall
I think, a 15 to 20 seats for opposition will make PAP a better govt , maybe to extend the PAP rule till 2109 !
4) Dont use tax payers ‘ money as ransom to tax payers by with-holding basic hosung upgarding and facilities. Didn’t we say we are all Singaporean ?
5) Stop the political narrow mindset of ” IF You are NOT with me, then you are AGAINST me”. George W Bush did badly in that
6) Don’t let the PAP inner circle grow uncontrolled, Singapore is ALL SINGAPOREAN’s Singapore
7) Do a sanity check
a) How many of your ministers can really do a CEO job in PRIVATE sector ( GIC dont count, please )
b) Can a 80+years lawyer still earns $3.78M a year ?
c) How many of the PAP back-door MP can stand and defend the criticism with voters face to face, ( of cos, hire body guards so no more acid attacks ), also
d) Do your MP really have the rapport with Singaporean ?
8) Last but not least, go sympathize people about your age, and help them with more gracious aid… $243 a month welfare is not a crime, it is a shame and a sin, that is one hour salary of the big gun of govt big shots
9) Please be gracious, treat your opponents with respect, they are no more Marxists ( whom u deal them a blow ), they are no more communists ( whom we are making friends with in middle kingdom ) and [ by the way, don't you see the communist China infiltrate Singapore by disguising as foreign talents ?]
Pls, no more Gomez saga in future GE, we want debate of ideas, prep your young PAP to convince us with ideas and not authoritative tones.
With the above 9 wishes, we ish you have a long life , 9999 !
From this article, ia not clear that the writer is totally ignorant of contemporary history of Singapore?
MM is a person who does not get bothered by criticism as he is one who strongly believe in what he does with conviction (whether it is with popular demand “rarely” or authoritative means, the latter is more likely). Whatever it is, you have got to give this man credit where it is due. However, I so wished he will let go and leave it to the younger generation to run this nation without interfering even if the younger generation fumble along the way. Yes, the younger generations of leaders do not have the same level of passion and fire, but if you deprive the kid of growing up process and continue to shelter under stormy weather, there just can’t be enough passion and diction in these kids to pick up where you left off when your time is up.
Does historical record always project the full truth of the events? Histories only gives us a macro view of the events capture in time, the details are so often inadvertently or deliberately left out.
For whatever he had done with or without the help of the old guards (not forgetting the many fellow older generation of Singaporeans who had given him the support and made countless sacrifices); I believe common citizenry are capable of making their judgment.
Anyway, here’s wishing MM Lee a healthy 86. It is not easy to survive two bypass operations and why keep on burdening yourself? It’s time to rest. You can’t watch over the shoulders forever. 天下没有不散的宴席。
Sincerely,
Observer (SG-HK)
apology for typo errors..the following
“there just can’t be enough passion and diction in these kids to pick up where you left off when your time is up.” should read as
“there just can’t be enough passion and gumption in these kids to pick up where you left off when your time is up. ”
Sincerely,
Observer (SG-HK)
I think you can argue against the fact that modern Singapore would not be what it is today without the leadership of MM Lee and his early team. Yes, it is ironic that the man credited with Modern Singapore actually spent his early years campaigning for “Malaysian Malaysia,” and thought the idea of Independent Singapore was “Ridiculous.” However, when you look at what he and his team did for Singapore, it has been by and large good.
However, how much longer can Singapore last as MM Lee’s creation? Isn’t it time he actually allowed the Minister’s brought up in his system to get on with the job without any “Mentoring.” Seriously, it reflects badly on the last two governments that they’ve seemingly required him to actually stick around and be mentored.
I also think that as good as MM Lee has been, we need to move away from the idea that he’s God. Yes, his leadership was an important part of building modern Singapore but he didn’t do it alone. If one understands the basics of our history, one will realise that it was guys like Goh Keng Swee who did the real work.
I get a little frustrated because LKY in his day was a decent leader who brought talented people together in a united vision. He provided the vision, but allowed people to work. He actually admits that he had arguments with his colleagues – shock and horror, LKY had the courage to argue with people.
Today, nobody dares to argue – life is filled with people how bow down the moment he whispers something. You don’t need the old man to enact a harsh law – some bureaucrat will do before being asked to just because he thinks it may score brownie points.
To me, this is not the Lee Kuan Yew who made modern Singapore prosperous.
Actually, a lot of mabe’s.
The fact is Life is uncertain and no one really knows. Eg. the economic crashes no one see it coming to be able to prevent it. Your guess is as good as mine, a uneducated joe.
I mean, no one will know, can know or knows how different singapore would have been if the vote was casted in favor of the other guy.
No one knows. And I dare anyone to challenge me on this. Anyone.
So, no one knows and people should say they dont know.
Anything else is guessing even if with full conviction. That is at best an educated guess. Technically, still a form of guessing. There is no proof. Zilch. Nothing. Emptiness. Vacuum.
Hi Oxford Dude #20:
May i add Postiche and Pompous to your list(at#20)
patriot
Hi @46) Albino Kangaroo,
One cannot live based on what one does not know and your challenge to prove that Singapore would either be a better or worse place than it is now is a worthless one.
The fact of life, though uncertain – and therefore beautiful – is what challenges generations upon generations of mankind. No one can be certain of anything until it has passes, and this is where our focus ought to be.
For example, we knew what LKY wanted in the early days of our history. We have repeatedly heard every word uttered by him and we have taken his words into our hearts and minds, even as we try not to hear them.
From what we have seen and heard from him and of him, we can turn uncertainty into certainty. We see how the generations of new leaders that come after him are struggling to lead the people with his shadow looming large and fearful behind them. When these new leaders are continuing to be subservient to him, his words and ideas, it can only mean that we, the people become just as subservient – existing to serve only the man’s notion of what’s good and what’s bad.
There is certainty in this – we will never make the kind of progress we know we can.
@ 41) Yue Fei
My hat’s off to you. Your wishlist of needs is something many of us desire.
Sadly, it’s unlikely the PAP will pay much heed to you…after all, if it’s not broken (for the PAP), don’t fix it. I also do not believe the current batch of likely opposition candidates would be able to contribute much other than an opposing voice. What I want to see are clear plans they may have – sadly, they’re hamstrung by a PAP govt that clearly ransoms opposition wards with limited funds and a judiciary perceived to be kow-towing to Mr Lee and company.
Having attended a few Young PAP sessions, I noted that there are some very driven people who seem to believe in the ‘if you’re not with us, you’re against us’ ideology. That is very scary…I am for Singapore doing better, being better for our future, for our children’s future.