Who will oppose Lee Kuan Yew’s memorial?

 

By: Chen Jun An (translated name)

Nanyang Siang Pau, April 4^th 2016.

Yesterday Singapore commemorated its founding premier Lee Kuan Yew with memorial activities.

From the series of activities we observed that the general public was still fond of Mr. Lee and have high regards, respect and thankful for his contributions to nation’s building. The most common phrase that we used to hear was: “Without Lee Kuan Yew, we will not have Singapore today”.

However there were some people who opposed strongly on the memorial activities.

Who were they? Could it be the opposition or the political rivals of Lee Kuan Yew?

Oppose hero worshipping

All the above were not true. The one who opposed the memorial activities was someone out of our expectations. It was Lee Kuan Yew’s own daughter Lee Wei Ling.

She said: “Lee Kuan Yew would have cringed at the hero worship just one year after his death.”

The Neurology specialist wrote on her Facebook that she turned down all requests for comments on her father in conjunction with the one year in memory of him. However when she saw the huge portrait of Lee Kuan Yu built with 4,877 pieces of eraser, she decided to speak out.

The huge piece of artwork was displayed outside the Red Box Somerset in Singapore.

She added, “It was a well-meaning effort but it made me wince.”

Why did Lee Wei Ling admonish such a commemoration so heatedly? She felt that: “It is very pretentious…. The memorial activities of last year were still embedded deeply in the minds of the people.” Earlier she agreed to the demolishment of the late Lee Kuan Yew’s residence. She did not wish the residence to become a memorial house.

Intensify the ruling power

This is very interesting. No doubt commemorating the great politician was a psychological demand and wishes of some folks and it was also the wishes of the government of the day to hold memorial activities. It was to politicize the contributions left by the great politician as well as giving the government in power the opportunity to rationalize, intensify and continue to rule the country.

Out of our expectation, the late Lee had a very individualistic daughter who opined that her father was “A political leader who was for others before self” —– definitely he would turn down any activity to immortalize him. Hence after his death it was not necessary for others to hero worship him.

Naturally if the present government leader had the same frequency as Lee Wei Ling’s, there would be no problem at all. However if the views were different, what she had disclosed would bring embarrassment to the government. Until now there is no response from the government. Let us wait and see the latest development.