Photos by AFP & Reuters
Mr. Alex Ling L.S is a friend of Lee Kuan Yew having known him through his father Tan Sri Ling Beng Siew during the formation of Malaysia and later in his student days in Cambridge University.
Paying tribute to the former prime minister of Singapore, Alex penned a unique eulogy in 26 stanzas touching on Lee’s role in the formation of Malaysia and later in the transformation of the island republic from a small regional trading hub with no natural resources into one of the world’s foremost international financial and commercial centres.
Touching on the eulogy Alex said, “The importance of history lies not only in what happened but in ‘what people thought and said about it’. With that in mind, this eulogy is formed of the following verses.”
1. Kuan Yew, LKY, spoke from his head; Tunku from his heart. Royale,
Both Cambridge educated leaders truly believed a merger was the
Best for political, social stability with entrenched strong
Security for mutual prosperity under Malaysia.
2. Tunku was a gentle aristocrat, while LKY was a fearless
Leader, voicing what he believed to be right and justified,
So long within the law or facts, even though they are sensitive
Matters that could hurt the feeling of others at home or abroad.
3. LKY soldiered on with his dream to lead Malaysia through history.
When my letter from school in 1964 cautioned him that his vision
Would be a mirage for causes beyond his control, LKY differed–
That fire of racism with riots would forbid that destiny.
4. The minute LKY addressed the Malaysian Parliament in Malay, his
Call for Malaysian Malaysia, burning political tension, sparked
The racial strife, when LKY knew that Malay privileges
And safeguards for Bornean States would need decades to readjust.
5. With fledgling PAP spreading its wings across the Causeway
Tunku knew that thence new fences would make for better future neighbors.
Dirtying our Garden City with a gangland across the Causeway
Were LKY’s pot shots of frustration, not his malicious intent.
6. The rising star of LKY in PAP with radiant rhetoric destroyed
His life dream of leading Malaysia, that turned into a nightmare.
Awoken only by the fatal riot in Singapore, that forced
Him to accept: Singapore would have to survive and prosper on its own.
Photos by AFP & Reuters
7. Both ex-Cambridge leaders came and went, as poker and golfing friends.
Kuan Yew’s tears choked his soul on Secession of Singapore, just once.
When that ghost of a nightmare killed his dreams of leading Malaysia
On August 9th 1965, LKY dug in his heels, to defend a reborn nation.
8. Tunku, Tun Razak and Ismail, those compassionate men we thank;
Without them the Star of Singapore could never have been born,
If LKY were detained for 26 years, like Chin Siong, under iron cast ISA,
Even after he had let Tunku win, the poker and the golf game.
9. Through fortitude and perseverance, as the founding Father of
Singapore, LKY identified with the workers and unions.
Riding on red tiger Chin Siong he ousted the Opposition
With his promise: I live for my country, my life, and my people.
10. To delay the British withdrawal, to nip the communists, to kick
Against the Indonesian Confrontation, less dependence
On water and ISA on Chin Siong, these were victorious tactics
To build a strong and stable nation, able to defend itself.
11. Adversities and LKY’s vision propelled the change of the little dot
Into a world financial hub and thriving International port.
As the modern Kun Min of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he
Combined the Art of War to strive to excel in finding the Holy Grail.
12. Singapore metamorphosed into a global city embellished
With dedicated highly paid leaders of government and industry;
With a clean meritocratic and efficient civil service, one that
Formed the pragmatic doctrine of LKY’s School of Public Policy.
13. Authoritarian LKY believed in seeking perfection, from civil
Service Tradition to social legacy for the world to see,
Emulate and discard the image of Fu Manchu’s odious evil
To corrupt and to replace with a strong financial and green environment.
Photos by AFP & Reuters
14. ‘Failure’ and ‘no solution’ are terms unfound in LKY’s doctrine
He preferred his people to respect and fear than to love him
To build a strong vibrant and modern nation in the global Premier League
Not a welfare state with crutches, for handouts without honest chore.
15. LKY laid heros’ wreaths at Jakarta, after hanging those bombers,
While keeping Malay in military commands he would foster a
New era of cooperation with Dato Sri Najib on the Railway land,
Investments in Johor with their Sovereign Wealth Funds.
16. Indeed Malaysia and Singapore stayed interdependent at
All times, while Malaysia can adopt and adapt on its proven
Successes, in housing, transparent government, with LKY’s public
Policy and efficient civil service, which Penang has adapted.
17. The Bornean States learnt from the press of the Secession of Singapore
Sadly not all vacant seats were allocated to them for balancing;
On August 27th 1978 the Bornean States were relegated to only states
Of Malaysia, from equal status by a stroke of parliament.
18. The Star First Merlion understood that less progressive races
Still need more space and time to come to national stream with special
Aids to take off in the scattered and remote areas of Bornean States
While they are pacing on towards One Inclusive Malaysia.
19. ‘Alex Ling … of course … from Sarawak’ gingerly LKY stared,
‘Tell your father, I had a bad stomach after the dinner given
To Tun Siew Sin and myself in KL.’
‘But overeating or food poisoning was not my father’s fault!’
20. ‘Now tell me where are your ministers?’
‘Are they in the Bahamas?’ A flying guillotine shot!
‘My Dear Prime Minister, that is a very unfair question,
I’m only a student, not representing my government here.’
21. LKY grinned while the Singaporean Cambridge students’ teeth gnawed
For tea at the University Arms in 1967. Years later I asked,
‘Professor Chua, can we be really proficient in two languages?’
‘Only one quarter English, Chinese, Malay and Indian’ laughed LKY.
22. For mistakes the icon did not apologize but modified instead
On birth quotas, and admitted his underestimation
Of the impact of the pop culture, Formula One and Casinos.
These are better ‘evils’ to sustain growth, tourism and their lifestyle.
23. During the Memorial Lecture at Cambridge Senate House a flying
Rock shattered the window pane and landed near LKY’s unflinched feet
– ‘That’s what I call a synthetic revolution’ – to the cheering applause.
‘We can ill afford to riot when I want to add meat to the rice.’
24. Malaysia has lost a true friend, a sparring partner and a critic
A part of its history with whom it has learned to co-exist,
Through living side by side, how much both needed to flourish together, in
Building the bullet-train to China, Iskandar and the retouched Causeway.
25. What a loss of a great founder, a mentor and a giant statesman!
So rare in centuries past and even more so in our modern era
He always shared his ideas and visions on the world stage,
For us to live in a better, cleaner, and safer world.
26. Fulfilling an impossible dream no one had ever achieved before,
Declaring his assets in court was an astounding precedent;
Unifying the volatile race and faith is indeed admirable
For such a stellar performance, for his country, ‘it’s awesome!’
Photos by AFP & Reuters
From Mr. Alex Ling L.S.
MA, LLB CANTAB
Ex-Cambridge student (1965 1970)