[h=1]GILBERT GOH: MY 10 PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MR LEE KUAN YEW'S DEATH[/h]
Post date:
28 Mar 2015 - 9:29am
Ten personal observations of Lee Kuan Yew's death:-
1. Mass national mourning - an unprecedented 100,000 people might have poured out to pay their respect to LKY at Parliament House and more may join the queue today before the final journey tomorrow.
This is most unprecedented and will probably exceed the mass hysterical mourning following the previous Princess Diana tragic accident death.
I am sure that the organisers could not predict the mass outpouring of support for the statesman in their wildest dream.
Many Singaporeans love Singapore in the 1980s and LKY's death is their last national connection to someone whom they identified strongly with for giving them the golden years.
Most people also pay respect to a man who did his best for the country despite his totalitarian methods.
He is also much respected worldwide and this adds alot to the high esteem the people had for him.
The country went very much downhill after LKY stepped down as both his successors Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsein Loong could not match up to his exploits.
2. No TV programmes for 7 days - our TV channels went programme-less for 7 days straight during the official mourning period and some people place it down to communist-like Mao Tze Dong style.
They simple broadcast the life history of LKY 24/7. Only a totalitarian government can do that.
Radio also play classical music to match the sombre mood.
Its unsure how the people feel about this move as though the population wants to mourn they also feel that their induvidual freedom is being curtailed here.
There is also a call to stop the internet tomorrow as a national sign of respect for the state funeral of LKY.
3. Mass media propaganda - understandably the mass media published almost everything on his death and especially during the mass outpouring of grief through the past 3 days of 24-hour queuing.
Newspapers were all sold out within an hour in news agencies and people flock home early to watch LKY on TV again.
Its something that is unprecedented in Singapore's history and it may be months before the euphoria will die off.
Some critics have accused our state-controlled media for using LKY's death to set up a pre-election propaganda agenda as the government is seen to be losing alot of favour with the people recently.
There are several mass protests held against the CPF and the 6.9 million population white paper and many feel that the current government is inefficient and untouched with the ground.
Its foreseeable that LKY death may have swing at least 5% of the eligible votes back to the PAP if a snap election is called soon.
4. International recognition - many foreign countries recognised his death early and some even have their own national day of mourning tomorrow eg India.
Countries like Australia and New Zealand registered their mourning in Parliament and even football giant Manchester United acknowkedged his passing in a statement.
It shows how massive his contribution is not only to our country but internationally also.
Clinton will also led a US high-powered team to pay respect tomorrow together with LKY's old friend Henry Kissinger.
5. Divisive figure - there are not many Malays who have shown up in the queue to pay their respect to the statesman.
Decades of discrimination and black-listing have turned the 15% Malay community against LKY.
He is direct in his criticism of the community and is not a respectable figure among the Malays.
Its unsure what the current regime can do to narrow the disconnect between the Malay community and LKY.
Most of the people who queue up to pay their respects are mostly Chinese and Indians in their mid thirties to the elderly reinforcing the fact that those born after 1990s have problem identifying with a man who brought the country to what it is today - its also the period that he has relinquished power to his successor.
6. Snap election - all signs point to a election this year and could even come as early as the school holiday in June though many favourably predict one in September - after another ground-shaking emotional national day celebration made poignant by the first absence of the founding father.
Tears will flow freely again and the current regime will likely capitalise on the occasion to garner sympathy votes through their powerful state-controlled mass media.
The opposition will have its work cut out as voters can turn emotional and patriotism is one key motivation for people to vote back the party despite their apparent incompetence.
Swing voters will start to challenge their choice in their mind and though voting is very much left-brained, the death of such a huge figure like LKY could turn many into voting emotionally especially if the opposition fields a weak team in their constituency.
7. New citizens - our new citizens are being slapped with a overwhelming dose of mass nationalistic sentiment overnight and they may be wondering if they want to be part of this spectacle to show that they are truly now converted Singaporeans.
The mass media is careful not to feature them too much even if they turn up for the mass queuing for fear that they are stepping on some patriotic toes.
LKY belongs to true-blue Singaporeans and new citizens will never be able to get into this mental pysche of being a real patriotic Singaporean.
8. Friends turn into enemies - I have heard reports of how friends have became enemies when there is a conflict on how one should mourn for LKY's death.
Does mourning for him means that you have switched camp and now support the ruling party wholeheartedly?
I feel that politics can't be associated with clear white or back line and there always be shades of grey.
For example, many people, including myself, respect the man for his positive cobtribution to the country but may not totally agree with his ruling methods.
Many I believe are also not supportive of his son's contribution during his past ten years as PM and wish that he steps down quickly.
9. Opposition party - except for Worker's Party parliamentary report on LKY's death and perhaps Singaporean First Party's condolence letter to the PM, the rest of the other opposition parties are ominously silent during this period.
Most of them will probably be worried that LKY's death has now switch the advantage back to the ruling party when just one week ago they are at the driver's seat.
Its timely that SFP has organised its inaugural dinner and all opposition parties turned up for the gathering.
To counter this national patriotic surge for the ruling party, all the opposition parties should try to unite now and present a strong solidified front or else the next election looks ominously one-sided.
10. Activists - most of the activists are also rather quiet and hopefully we will hear more from them in the near future.
Except for the hugely-popular Mr Tan Wah Piow's statement, most of the exiled activists are not commenting at all.
We also hope that the current government will allow our activists exiled abroad to return home, its a brave maganimous move and will surely mend any bad blood the LKY regime has with it's ugly past.
For Singapore's sake, lets forgive and build a better Singapore, not for ourselves but for many generations to come.
Gilbert Goh
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/goh.gilbert/posts/10153816603388975?pnref=story
Post date:
28 Mar 2015 - 9:29am
Ten personal observations of Lee Kuan Yew's death:-
1. Mass national mourning - an unprecedented 100,000 people might have poured out to pay their respect to LKY at Parliament House and more may join the queue today before the final journey tomorrow.
This is most unprecedented and will probably exceed the mass hysterical mourning following the previous Princess Diana tragic accident death.
I am sure that the organisers could not predict the mass outpouring of support for the statesman in their wildest dream.
Many Singaporeans love Singapore in the 1980s and LKY's death is their last national connection to someone whom they identified strongly with for giving them the golden years.
Most people also pay respect to a man who did his best for the country despite his totalitarian methods.
He is also much respected worldwide and this adds alot to the high esteem the people had for him.
The country went very much downhill after LKY stepped down as both his successors Goh Chok Tong and Lee Hsein Loong could not match up to his exploits.
2. No TV programmes for 7 days - our TV channels went programme-less for 7 days straight during the official mourning period and some people place it down to communist-like Mao Tze Dong style.
They simple broadcast the life history of LKY 24/7. Only a totalitarian government can do that.
Radio also play classical music to match the sombre mood.
Its unsure how the people feel about this move as though the population wants to mourn they also feel that their induvidual freedom is being curtailed here.
There is also a call to stop the internet tomorrow as a national sign of respect for the state funeral of LKY.
3. Mass media propaganda - understandably the mass media published almost everything on his death and especially during the mass outpouring of grief through the past 3 days of 24-hour queuing.
Newspapers were all sold out within an hour in news agencies and people flock home early to watch LKY on TV again.
Its something that is unprecedented in Singapore's history and it may be months before the euphoria will die off.
Some critics have accused our state-controlled media for using LKY's death to set up a pre-election propaganda agenda as the government is seen to be losing alot of favour with the people recently.
There are several mass protests held against the CPF and the 6.9 million population white paper and many feel that the current government is inefficient and untouched with the ground.
Its foreseeable that LKY death may have swing at least 5% of the eligible votes back to the PAP if a snap election is called soon.
4. International recognition - many foreign countries recognised his death early and some even have their own national day of mourning tomorrow eg India.
Countries like Australia and New Zealand registered their mourning in Parliament and even football giant Manchester United acknowkedged his passing in a statement.
It shows how massive his contribution is not only to our country but internationally also.
Clinton will also led a US high-powered team to pay respect tomorrow together with LKY's old friend Henry Kissinger.
5. Divisive figure - there are not many Malays who have shown up in the queue to pay their respect to the statesman.
Decades of discrimination and black-listing have turned the 15% Malay community against LKY.
He is direct in his criticism of the community and is not a respectable figure among the Malays.
Its unsure what the current regime can do to narrow the disconnect between the Malay community and LKY.
Most of the people who queue up to pay their respects are mostly Chinese and Indians in their mid thirties to the elderly reinforcing the fact that those born after 1990s have problem identifying with a man who brought the country to what it is today - its also the period that he has relinquished power to his successor.
6. Snap election - all signs point to a election this year and could even come as early as the school holiday in June though many favourably predict one in September - after another ground-shaking emotional national day celebration made poignant by the first absence of the founding father.
Tears will flow freely again and the current regime will likely capitalise on the occasion to garner sympathy votes through their powerful state-controlled mass media.
The opposition will have its work cut out as voters can turn emotional and patriotism is one key motivation for people to vote back the party despite their apparent incompetence.
Swing voters will start to challenge their choice in their mind and though voting is very much left-brained, the death of such a huge figure like LKY could turn many into voting emotionally especially if the opposition fields a weak team in their constituency.
7. New citizens - our new citizens are being slapped with a overwhelming dose of mass nationalistic sentiment overnight and they may be wondering if they want to be part of this spectacle to show that they are truly now converted Singaporeans.
The mass media is careful not to feature them too much even if they turn up for the mass queuing for fear that they are stepping on some patriotic toes.
LKY belongs to true-blue Singaporeans and new citizens will never be able to get into this mental pysche of being a real patriotic Singaporean.
8. Friends turn into enemies - I have heard reports of how friends have became enemies when there is a conflict on how one should mourn for LKY's death.
Does mourning for him means that you have switched camp and now support the ruling party wholeheartedly?
I feel that politics can't be associated with clear white or back line and there always be shades of grey.
For example, many people, including myself, respect the man for his positive cobtribution to the country but may not totally agree with his ruling methods.
Many I believe are also not supportive of his son's contribution during his past ten years as PM and wish that he steps down quickly.
9. Opposition party - except for Worker's Party parliamentary report on LKY's death and perhaps Singaporean First Party's condolence letter to the PM, the rest of the other opposition parties are ominously silent during this period.
Most of them will probably be worried that LKY's death has now switch the advantage back to the ruling party when just one week ago they are at the driver's seat.
Its timely that SFP has organised its inaugural dinner and all opposition parties turned up for the gathering.
To counter this national patriotic surge for the ruling party, all the opposition parties should try to unite now and present a strong solidified front or else the next election looks ominously one-sided.
10. Activists - most of the activists are also rather quiet and hopefully we will hear more from them in the near future.
Except for the hugely-popular Mr Tan Wah Piow's statement, most of the exiled activists are not commenting at all.
We also hope that the current government will allow our activists exiled abroad to return home, its a brave maganimous move and will surely mend any bad blood the LKY regime has with it's ugly past.
For Singapore's sake, lets forgive and build a better Singapore, not for ourselves but for many generations to come.
Gilbert Goh
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/goh.gilbert/posts/10153816603388975?pnref=story
