Wednesday, June 03, 2009

State Funderal for Late Presidents - Learn from the South Koreans

MR   TAN KIN LIAN
Can you post this to your blog.

I refer to the news on 25 May 2009 “State Funeral for Roh” from Straits Times internet news.  It was reported that “South Korea is planning a state funeral for former president Roh Moo Hyun as thousands of people gathered in the nation's capital and his hometown to mourn him. Mr Roh jumped off a cliff near his rural home on Saturday after being hounded for weeks in a widening corruption scandal involving his family members.

His suicide came just 15 months after he left office and just when prosecutors were to announce if they would seek his arrest. Investigations centred on a payment of US$1 million (S$1.44 million) to his wife from a wealthy shoe manufacturer, and another of US$5 million by the same man to the husband of one of Mr Roh's nieces.”

I think we should learn from the South Korean that takes the people’s feeling and grants state funeral to ex-President Roh, although he is being investigated currently.

I know this may be old issue that President Ong Teng Cheong and President Devan Nair were not granted state funeral when they passed away.  Singapore should treasure the few good leaders we have.  Granting state funerals to true sons of Singapore is not only for the benefit of these respected pioneers, but more for the people of Singapore and generations to come.  Singaporeans need to have our very own hero and role model. 

I hope it is not too late to grant state funeral to President Ong Teng Cheong and President Devan Nair.   Even in communist China, Deng Xiao Peng also paid respect to those who died during cultural revolution, when the event settled down eventually. People need closure to events of life journey.  In essence, we are all pilgrim in each of our journey of life, some are greater but others are no-smaller. We are all little sparkles in the expanse of time and space.   Can somebody help us to make this petition to President Nathan?

CASHEW NUT
2 JUNE 2009


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

What if President Nathan grants the state funeral for presidents ..and the rule takes effect from this year? ..keke...

Since the two ex-presidents have passed away. no point doing the funeral to benefit the current and future presidents who are taking obscene amount of pay.

I dont mind paying if you dont mind performing to expectation for me, please.

Anonymous said...

I doubt the families of the late President Ong or Devan Nair will even want that belated State Funeral. Would you, if they first gave you the sneer, followed by the snigger and then the snub?

Don't talk about opening old wounds. It hurts. At least we know the South Koreans and even the Chinese leaders are a step ahead of us in fostering a gracious society. We are far behind. But the irony is, we never realised that.

Lost Citizen

Anonymous said...

Refrain from using the word WE, it's just a small petty group of individuals that just happen to be governing the country...

Anonymous said...

You must be kidding! You expect him to dig his own grave and risk the loss of his status to do this? He may very well end up without a state funeral himself which he is at present well on the way to doing what he is doing currently, which is .....

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