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‘Light on the Lotus Hill’ – The story of a Buddhist monk and martyr

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13 years ago

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By Jewel Philemon

It was the year 1939. The Shuang Lin Monastery in Toa Payoh was getting ready for the “Shuang Lin Monastery Vesak Day Vegetarian Meal Fund Raising Event”, an event that grabbed significant eyeballs for being the first major fundraiser since the Sino-Japanese War which broke out two years earlier.

Pu Liang

Venerable Pu Liang

As the Abbott of the monastery, Venerable Pu Liang, was preparing for the big day, a few volunteers from the China Relief Fund approached him and asked if they could set up a booth to collect donations for the fund from the fundraiser’s patrons. The Abbott agreed to their request and the event went on to be highly successful and drew droves of people in the thousands.

A total of 10,000 Straits Dollars were raised that night (an unprecedented feat considering the war-ridden times) and these funds were designated to sustain the monastery and its monks for the next few years. However, in a move that no one saw coming, Venerable Pu Liang donated the entire sum of money collected, to The China Relief Fund.

He explained at a press conference that ‘in times of crisis, every citizen, regardless of age, sex or religion, has a duty to serve the country’ and implied that this was his way of contributing to the people, given his limited resources as a Venerable.

This episode easily sums up the kind of person Venerable Pu Liang was. In addition to this significant benefaction, he has been a key figure during the Japanese Occupation doing many charitable deeds such as allowing Burma Road volunteers to train at the monastery and holding memorials and prayers for war casualties.

Sadly, Venerable Pu Liang was one of the many lives taken in the 1942 Sook Ching Massacre, a mass annihilation of 25,000-50,000 innocents who supported China’s war effort. He, along with two of his disciples, was killed at an execution site in Changi Beach, under orders to eliminate anti-Japanese notions in Singapore.

Cut to the year 1999, fifty-some years from the mass-murders. Nanyang volunteers are commemorating 60 years since being drafted to China, with most of them rendering their services to build Burma Road.

It’s a field day for the press and a reporter from Lianhe Zao Bao interviewed an elderly Hainanese man, Wu Hui Min, who recalled the times when he trained at the Shuang Lin Monastery. This sparked the interest of a Buddhist nun, Venerable Mun Cheng, who saved a clipping of the morning post. She kept the newspaper clipping for six years and in the year 2005, hired anthropologist, Mr Chan Chow Wah, to track down the whereabouts of Wu Hui Min.

The London School of Economics graduate, who has a penchant for history and heritage, decided to kill two birds with one stone and travelled to China to rediscover his roots and track down Wu. He finally found Wu Hui Min, after an arduous six months.

Mr Chan then came to know of Venerable Pu Liang through Wu Hui Min and was shocked to discover that this martyr’s story hasn’t been documented in history!

This proved to be a turning point in Mr Chan’s life and he dedicated a significant portion of his life thereafter in efforts to restore Venerable Pu Liang’s story into the annals of Singaporean history, where, Mr Chan believes, he rightfully belongs.

Mr Chan tackled this formidable task with zest, and spent a span of four years in research. He brought this practically unknown piece of vital history back into the public’s eye, and in 2009, published a novel revolving around the Abbott – a piece of contemporary historical fiction documenting the Sino-Japanese War and the Sook Ching Massacre, as seen through the eyes of a monk.

“This book is about a few major historical events that unfold in the life of a Buddhist monk”, defines Mr Chan, in an exclusive chat with TOC.

“If we read history, we can find out about the major global events. But how do these events unfold in the lives of the ordinary?” he muses. “People with faces and names that we don’t know. Whose lives shape the course of history.”

Mr Chan’s debut novel, ‘Light on a lotus hill’, was released on the 28th of May 2009 – exactly 70 years since Venerable Pu Liang’s iconic fundraiser. It has since achieved major critical acclaim, with influential universities internationally (such as Yale, Harvard, Columbia, UCLA and Berkeley among others) stocking copies of his book in their libraries. ‘Light on a lotus hill’ has also been inducted into the Library of Congress in the United States and the Imperial War Museum in the United Kingdom, besides various other affluent research centres globally.

Now, after three years, Mr Chan has adapted his much-lauded novel into a documentary – ‘Light on a Lotus Hill’ – a documentary revealing an episode of Singapore’s forgotten history’. This half an hour long, English language production was put together with original 1930’s footage from Mr Chan’s research and was conceptualized and mixed entirely by him.

On his reasons to translate the book into a documentary and the differences between these two mediums, Mr Chan says, “To be honest, a book can be a bit dry. It is more concerned with facts – a bit too factual. And after publication (of the book), I had more data. I’ve got so much material on hand – enough evidence to present on a visual plane.”

“More challenges are depicted”, he continues, “There is more context. I think the visual presentation would be more powerful but the main story and information is all the same.”

The self-funded, self-promoted project has already caught international fancy and is scheduled to have its UK premiere in London this winter.

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Farewell to Dr Lee Wei Ling: Rain marks solemn tribute, echoing her father’s funeral

Dr Lee Wei Ling’s funeral was conducted on 12 October 2024, in Singapore, with family members leading the procession in the rain. In a heartfelt eulogy, her brother, Lee Hsien Yang, remembered her dedication to medicine and family. Dr Lee had requested a simple ceremony, with her ashes to be scattered at sea.

Published

14 hours ago

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12 October 2024

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Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu sending off their aunt, Dr Lee Wei Ling in the rain (Photo: Lianhe Zaobao/唐家鴻)

Dr Lee Wei Ling was farewelled on 12 October 2024, in a solemn funeral ceremony attended by close family members and friends.

The weather was marked by light rain, drawing comparisons to the conditions during her father, Lee Kuan Yew’s funeral in 2015.

Her nephews, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu, led the procession, carrying Dr Lee’s portrait and walking side by side under the rain, symbolically reflecting the loss felt by her family.

In his emotional eulogy through a recorded video, her brother, Lee Hsien Yang, spoke of Dr Lee’s profound contributions to medicine and her unshakable devotion to family.

He described her as a remarkable individual whose life had left an indelible mark on those who knew her, as well as on Singapore’s medical community.

Expressing deep sorrow at her passing, Lee Hsien Yang reflected on their close bond and the immense loss he felt, having been unable to attend her final farewell.

He recalled his private goodbye to her in June 2022, a poignant moment that stayed with him during her last months.

Lee Hsien Yang also reiterated Dr Lee’s wish for a simple funeral, a reflection of her humility.

In accordance with her wishes, her body was cremated, and her ashes will be scattered at sea, symbolising her desire for a modest and unobtrusive departure from the world.

LHY acknowledged the efforts of his sons, Li Huanwu and Li Shaowu, for their role in managing their aunt’s care during his absence, thanking them for their dedication to her comfort in her final days.

During his eulogy for his sister, Lee Hsien Yang also conveyed a message from Dr Lee regarding the family’s long-standing issue surrounding their home at 38 Oxley Road.

Quoting from Dr Lee’s message, LHY said: “My father, Lee Kuan Yew, and my mother, Kwa Geok Choo’s, unwavering and deeply felt wish was for their house at 38 Oxley Road, Singapore 238629, to be demolished upon the last parent’s death.”

Dr Lee had been a vocal advocate for ensuring that this wish was honoured since Lee Kuan Yew’s death in 2015.

Dr Lee and LHY had strongly supported their father’s wishes, while their elder brother, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, took a different stance. This disagreement led to a public and highly publicised rift within the family.

In her final message, Dr Lee reiterated: “Lee Kuan Yew had directed each of his three children to ensure that their parents’ wish for demolition be fulfilled. He had also appealed directly to the people of Singapore. Please honour my father by honouring his wish for his home to be demolished.”

Dr Lee had maintained a private life, focusing on her medical career as a respected neurologist. She was known for her candid views, often unflinching in her advocacy for transparency and integrity.

Her professional accomplishments, combined with her strong commitment to her parents’ legacy, made her a significant figure in both Singapore’s medical community and public discourse.

Diagnosed in 2020 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder, Dr Lee faced immense physical and emotional challenges in her final years.

The illness progressively affected her movement, speech, and ability to swallow.

Despite her health struggles, Dr Lee remained actively involved in public discussions, particularly on matters concerning her father’s legacy, until her condition worsened to the point where communication became difficult.

By March 2023, her brother LHY revealed that her condition had deteriorated significantly, and he feared he might not be able to see her again due to his own circumstances.

Even in her final months, Dr Lee maintained a close relationship with her immediate family, who cared for her during her illness.

Dr Lee’s funeral and cremation mark the end of a significant era for the Lee family and Singapore.

Her legacy as a dedicated neurologist and a firm advocate for her parents’ values will continue to resonate, even as the debates over the future of the Oxley Road property remain unresolved.

The rain that fell during her funeral, so reminiscent of her father’s final farewell, added a symbolic layer to this momentous chapter in Singapore’s history.

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Current Affairs

TJC issued 3rd POFMA order under Minister K Shanmugam for alleged falsehoods

The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC) was issued its third POFMA correction order on 5 October 2024 under the direction of Minister K Shanmugam for alleged falsehoods about death penalty processes. TJC has rejected the government’s claims, describing POFMA as a tool to suppress dissent.

Published

7 days ago

on

6 October 2024

By

The Transformative Justice Collective (TJC), an advocacy group opposed to the death penalty, was issued its third Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) correction direction on 5 October 2024.

The correction was ordered by Minister for Home Affairs and Law, K Shanmugam, following TJC’s publication of what the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) alleges to be false information regarding Singapore’s death row procedures and the prosecution of drug trafficking cases.

These statements were made on TJC’s website and across its social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).

In addition to TJC, civil activist Kokila Annamalai was also issued a correction direction by the minister over posts she made on Facebook and X between 4 and 5 October 2024.

According to MHA, these posts echoed similar views on the death penalty and the legal procedures for drug-related offences, and contained statements that the ministry claims are false concerning the treatment of death row prisoners and the state’s legal responsibilities in drug trafficking cases.

MHA stated that the posts suggested the government schedules and stays executions arbitrarily, without due regard to legal processes, and that the state does not bear the burden of proving drug trafficking charges.

However, these alleged falsehoods are contested by MHA, which maintains that the government strictly follows legal procedures, scheduling executions only after all legal avenues have been exhausted, and that the state always carries the burden of proof in such cases.

In its official release, MHA emphasised, “The prosecution always bears the legal burden of proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and this applies to all criminal offences, including drug trafficking.”

It also pointed to an article on the government fact-checking site Factually to provide further clarification on the issues raised.

As a result of these allegations, both TJC and Annamalai are now required to post correction notices. TJC must display these corrections on its website and social media platforms, while Annamalai is required to carry similar notices on her Facebook and X posts.

TikTok has also been issued a targeted correction direction, requiring the platform to communicate the correction to all Singapore-based users who viewed the related TJC post.

In a statement following the issuance of the correction direction, TJC strongly rejected the government’s claims. The group criticised the POFMA law, calling it a “political weapon used to crush dissent,” and argued that the order was more about the exercise of state power than the pursuit of truth. “We have put up the Correction Directions not because we accept any of what the government asserts, but because of the grossly unjust terms of the POFMA law,” TJC stated.

TJC further argued that the government’s control over Singapore’s media landscape enables it to push pro-death penalty views without opposition. The group also stated that it would not engage in prolonged legal battles over the POFMA correction orders, opting to focus on its abolitionist work instead.

This marks the third time TJC has been subject to a POFMA correction direction in recent months.

The group was previously issued two orders in August 2024 for making similar statements concerning death row prisoners.

In its latest statement, MHA noted that despite being corrected previously, TJC had repeated what the ministry views as falsehoods.

MHA also criticised TJC for presenting the perspective of a convicted drug trafficker without acknowledging the harm caused to victims of drug abuse.

Annamalai, a prominent civil rights activist, is also known for her involvement in various social justice campaigns. She was charged in June 2024 for her participation in a pro-Palestinian procession near the Istana. Her posts, now subject to correction, contained information similar to those presented by TJC regarding death penalty procedures and drug-related cases.

POFMA, which was introduced in 2019, allows the government to issue correction directions when it deems falsehoods are being spread online.

Critics of the law argue that it can be used to suppress dissent, while the government asserts that it is a necessary tool for combating misinformation. The law has been frequently invoked against opposition politicians and activists.

As of October 2024, Minister K Shanmugam has issued 17 POFMA directions, more than any other minister. Shanmugam, who was instrumental in introducing POFMA, is followed by National Development Minister Desmond Lee, who has issued 10 POFMA directions.

Major media outlets, including The Straits Times, Channel News Asia, and Mothership, have covered the POFMA directions. However, as of the time of writing, none have included TJC’s response rejecting the government’s allegations.

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