IX - Baey Lian Peck's advice to grandson Zhong Yi on the changing political scene in Singapore, through an e-mail exchange, 30 April 2011

Summary

At 08:56 PM 30/4/2011, Zhong Yi wrote:

Dear Kong Kong,

How are you? How is the family? i sent you 2 replys but im not sure if you received them. Anyways, i've been reading up and trying to follow up on the whole GE that's going on in Singapore. I was just curious as to what were your thoughts about the whole PAP/SDP thing going on. I don't really know much but to me hasn't the PAP done a good job so far? The SDP seems like they're trying to market themselves as a “people's government” but do you really think they'll be suitable? …

Just thought i'd ask for your opinion plus i also miss you both so sending an email always helps

Lots of love

Zhong Yi

My Dear Grandson,

It is most gratifying to know that you are now able to vote in the forthcoming Singapore's General Election and what pleases me most is the fact that you are sufficiently interested and concerned in writing to me for my thoughts. You are being very wise. Though just only one vote, your vote may make a difference in securing the right political leader to help to chart our country's future.

If you had asked me this question when you were back here, I would have suggested that we meet over lunch or dinner as it would take at least a couple of hours to fully enlighten you on the pertinent facts and events from the time when we were a British Colony, through the three and a half years of Japanese Occupation and its subsequently surrender, leading to nationhood, initially as part of Malaysia and later into an independent sovereign nation under Lee Kuan Yew. Without knowing the past events, one would not be able to appreciate and comprehend the political, social and economic landscape that transformed our country into what it is today.

History tells us [about] the common desire of the masses to escape from poverty, hunger, tyranny, and corrupted or inefficient government that led to a country's evolution into an independent sovereign nation, where [a] citizen not only has a stake but freedom to participate in the country's development. However, this was not the case with Singapore in the beginning. In l959, Singapore was given self-government status by the British Government and Lee Kuan Yew was the elected “Chief” Minister.