Read about Lee, not Potter!

Reading books and blogs is highly recommendable to everyone on this planet because it is not only pleasurable and relaxing; it opens our eyes to the world around us, thus making us knowledgeable intellectuals...

Here's what I've been trying to spend time, amongst my thick pile of books, to finishing lately: squeaky clean former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew's The Singapore Story. It's a hell of an interesting informative autobiography written by a man I've always admired.

As much as I dislike the application of inhuman draconian laws such as the notorious Internal Security Act (ISA)- enforced to detain others of dissenting views- which I consider is a grave violation of human rights, I could forgive multi-culturally sensitive Singapore for having it to maintain law and order as it could be seen that it basically practises a fair and balanced economic policy towards its citizenry. Its poverty eradication programmes works for almost everyone and corruption is at a minimal. Its people are also well-respected around the world.

The book itself is a big eye-opener. It would be hard to dispute his details of events that led to the departure of the island state from Malaysia. It also provides a rather intimate glimpse into the life of the author himself. As you could see in the picture, it's the incorruptible man himself with his present wife, taken while they were courting romantically.

Some other small tidbits about this well-respected great statesman that I found fascinating: he's a Hakka in an ocean of Hokkiens in Singapore; he admired his grandfather more than his dad; he was given the English name 'Harry' and his two siblings were given the names 'Dennis' and 'Freddy' and he used to get first in pure Mathematics in Raffles College so he's a great mathematician!

The heavy stuff in his book is that he actually preferred to keep Singapore within Malaysia but it would not be so. It was apparent that the Chinese-majority state was a major political concern to Malaysia's founders. As he commented, "Singapore had independence thrust on it". In the end Singapore left the federation and today it stands proudly alone with a high per capital income and advanced developed First World status.

So that's the book I'm reading thoroughly this holiday season. I'll share more tidbits and gems from it in future. Keep your fingers crossed!

Here's a well-worn out joke at the expense of my hero:
A visitor goes to Singapore. He meets two huge statues, first a female and then a male.

He asks the guide, "Who's this?"

The guide answers,"That's Kuan Ying, the goddess of mercy."

Then he meets the other statue and asks again,"Who's this?"

The guide replies, "That's Kuan Yew, the god of no mercy."

I hope that's not offensive to my Singapore buddies out there, least of all the honorable gentleman, Harry! My dream is to get him to sign his fantastic book someday...Well, another late great statesman once joked, "I am ready to meet my maker; whether my Maker is ready to meet me, I do not know." Time is unfortunately running out for everyone to meet his or her Maker...

Civics Lessons For Malaysia (1)

What do the early books written by text-book writers, some of whom were truly idealists, say about Malaysia? Here are some of the many exceptionally well-written history lessons that were ingrained in our young minds when there was a brighter world for all Malaysians then... instead of the sabre-rattling or kris-rattling and zealous religious bomblastic words and actions today.

Before going into the text-books, here something to remind everyone about the formation of Malaysia by Malaya in partnership with Sarawak and Sabah. Before the public proclamation of nationhood there were some exciting actions. It's cited from the autobiography by one of the world's greatest leaders, Lee Kuan Yew's (I say, chaps, hire the good man to solve the woes of this nation's problems such as corruption, financial bailouts and subsequent losses, serious crimes... and unease with Islamic hadhari, Namewee-phobia and racial & sexual discrimination...) The Singapore Story (Lee Kuan Yew. The Singapore Story. 1998: Times Editions, 2003).

At 7 pm on 1 August, the Tunku and Macmillan signed the agreement that would bring Malaysia into being, the ceremony having been delayed for one day so that it would fall into the lucky eighth month of the year for the Tunku. The governors of North Borneo and Sarawak signed on behalf of the Borneo territories. Singapore and Brunei were briefly referred to in a joint statement, although they had loomed large in the two weeks of discussions that preceded the ceremony. The sultan of Brunei held out for better terms. So did we.

The Cobbold Commission's report was released at the same time that the agreement was signed. It was well-written, presenting the case in the best possible light. The commission's assessment of the wishes of the Borneo people was that one-third were strongly in favour of Malaysia's early realisation, without concern about the terms and the conditions. Another third favoured Malaysia but wanted safeguards. The remaining third were divided between those who preferred to see British rule continue for some years and a hard core, vocal and politically active, which will oppose Malaysia on any terms unless it is preceded by independence and self-government. In other words, never. On his part, Cobbold rejected a plea from the Borneo territories for the right to secede during a trial period. This was final (pp 442-3).

Back to our Civics lessons-here's what we learnt in school in the 1970s about our government ...

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, a form of government which is not uncommon in the world today. However, it is a unique system, in so far as her sovereign, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is elected to office for a term of five years by the Conference of Rulers through a secret ballot. Unlike the constitutional rulers of Great Britain, Denmark, Holland, Greece, Sweden and Norway, who are hereditary monarchs, the Malaysian royal Head of State can only be chosen from one of the nine royal State Rulers.
... The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is a very important component part of parliament. Only after he has given his assent does a bill become law. He may abstain from assenting to any bill presented to him, either by the Dewan Ra'yat or the Dewan Negara for his signature. The grounds for his abstention are limited, the main one being that the bill, if enacted may infringe on the rights of the citizens. In this way, he upholds the Constitution and protects the citizens from a loss of constitutional rights... (Secondary Civics for Malaysians, Book Four... written for Malaysian secondary students in the 1970s).

Banned in Singapore?

In the 1970s while I was about to fly over to Singapore I was advised to keep one of my favorite cartoon comics featuring Lau Fu Tze at home because the Singaporen government had banned it. Perhaps it was the sort of anti-social behaviour as displayed here that upset the strait-laced no-nonsense Lee Kuan Yew government. I never checked if it was true and if it is, can anyone in Singapore say if it's still banned?