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SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong paid tribute to his late father, Mr Lee Kuan yew, at the private ceremony in the Mandai Crematorium on Sunday (Mar 29). His eulogy, in full, is as follows: Family and friends, we are gathered here to say our final farewells to Papa Mr Lee Kuan Yew. After the formalities of the Lying in State and the State Funeral Service, in this final hour Papa is with his family, his friends of a lifetime, his immediate staff who served him loyally and well, his security team who kept him safe and sound, and his medical team who took such good care of him. So much has been said about Pas public life in the past few days. His public life is something we share with all of Singapore, with the world. But we were privileged to know him as a father, a grandfather, an elder brother, a friend, a strict but compassionate boss, the head of the family. Actually, Pa was the head of two families. As the eldest son, from a young age he was effectively head of his household, helping his mother Mak to bring up his younger brothers and sister. He remained close to them all his life. To my uncles and aunts, he was always Kor, never Harry. Sai Sok (Suan Yew) would have him over to dinner every Christmas, and Ku Cheh (Monica) would cook him his favourite dishes, and teach his cook how to do them, almost to the same standard as hers. "Papa made it a point to attend the Chinese New Year reunions of the extended Lee family every year, even till last year, to catch up with his siblings, to meet his nephews and nieces, and later grand-nephews and grand-nieces. I think there are a few great-grandnephews and nieces, but I dont think theyve met yet. Pa was also head of his own family my mother and the three children. He had plunged deep into politics by the time we arrived. In fact, the day I was born, when he visited Mama and the new baby in Kandang Kerbau Hospital, instead of talking about the new baby, he told her how he was going to represent the postmens union in their dispute with the government. This was the postmens strike which first made his name and launched him into active politics. "So day to day Ma ran the household, brought us up, saw to our schooling. But Pa set the tone, tracked our progress, and made the big decisions. He sent us to a Chinese school; he started us on Malay lessons with Cikgu Amin; he encouraged Yang and me to take up SAF Scholarships, to serve the nation; he persuaded Ling to become a doctor instead of a vet. He set us on the path to make our own marks in the world, and we are grateful. We are also grateful that Pa guided and nurtured us to grow up into normal, well-adjusted people, even though we were the Prime Ministers children, always in the spotlight, and in every danger of being spoilt, indulged, and led astray. He and Ma decided that we would stay in Oxley Road and not move to Sri Temasek, lest we grow up thinking that the world owed us a living. He made sure we did not get the wrong ideas no inflated sense of self; never to be inconsiderate to others; not to throw our weight around. "We may not always have done it right, but we were never in any doubt as to what was the right way to behave. He took pride in us children. When I learned to ride a bicycle, he was there. Once when I was just getting the hang of balancing on two wheels, he pushed me off from behind to get me started. I pedalled off across the field, thinking that he was still supporting and pushing me. Then I looked back and found that actually he had let go, and I was cycling on my own! He had let go. He was so pleased, and so was I. Like all good fathers, Pa continued to be there for us, even after we grew up. When Yang and I got married, he wrote us long and thoughtful letters sharing advice on how to make our marriages successful. Precious lessons drawn from his own long and happy marriage with Ma. After Ming Yang died, and especially before I remarried, he and Ma spent time with Xiuqi and Yipeng, then still infants, to fill the gap and to help to bring them up. They took them for walks after dinner every night in the Istana. He was not an indulgent grandfather, but a loving one. There is a photo of Papa with the four grandsons, who were then toddlers, blowing soap bubbles in the garden in front of Sri Temasek. When I was undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma, Pa once rang up all the way from the Philippines. He was on an official trip. I rang back. I thought it was something important. But actually he called to say he had arranged to send me some durians. He wanted to make sure I was properly nourished during my chemotherapy. Pa was happy that all three children grew up to be successful and responsible people, contributing to society in our different ways. A few months after I became Prime Minister, he wrote me a letter on his Minister Mentor letterhead. I think it was the only letter I received from him with that letterhead. It read: These are mock-ups of my Christmas and New Year cards for this year 2005. The photograph after the swearing-in at the Istana records a memorable evening in my life. Have you any amendments or comments? "The photo was of me shaking hands congratulating him, I as the new Prime Minister and he as the new Minister Mentor, and the President, Mr S R Nathan, looking on. Naturally I replied that I agreed and had no amendments. He was proud of his son, but he wanted to do things in the proper way, as always. He continued to teach us lessons in life even in his later years. We learnt from watching him grow old with Ma. She meant the world to him, as he to her. They delighted in each others company. After Mas stroke in 2003, he nursed her back to health, encouraged her to exercise and stay active, and continued to take her on trips abroad. He even learnt to measure her blood pressure using a traditional sphygmomanometer and stethoscope, and faithfully did so twice a day every day, and email her results to her doctors. "He would tell her: Life is an endless series of adjustments. As you grow older, you adjust. Think how lucky we are and how much worse off we could be. Always look on the bright side of things. Mas passing five years ago was a huge blow to him. But the pictures of them together kept Pa company, to remind him of their 63 happy years together. All his life, Pa kept up with his old friends Yong Pung How, Chia Chwee Leong, Hon Sui Sen, and after Sui Sen passed away, his widow Annie and the children. As the years went by, the number of his old friends dwindled. "In recent years, he would occasionally host dinners for his tutors, doctors, staff and friends, usually at Raffles Hotel, courtesy of Jennie Chua, to stay in touch and show his appreciation. And every fortnight or so Kim Li, his niece on my mother's side, would take him out for meals, and for a change of surroundings. They would go to Underwater World Sentosa, to Changi Airport to see Project Jewel, and to take a boat ride in the harbour. He enjoyed the outings and the company. A few other friends would join in, and take turns to host him Wai Keung, Stephen Lee, Robert Ng and others. We are grateful to Kim Li, and to them. I would also like to thank the medical team of doctors, nurses, and physio-therapists, specialists of all kinds, Prof Fong Kok Yong, for taking such good care of my father. They have been competent, dedicated, and compassionate. Pa used to say that his father lived till 94 and his mother till 73. So if he made it to the average of these two ages, he would count himself lucky, and then after that every year would be a bonus. Pa was lucky to have such a great medical team taking care of him, and to enjoy many bonus years, and so were we all. For many years, Yang has made it a custom to host a family dinner at his home on our parents birthdays. On Pas 90th birthday, we had our usual cosy meal. I was taking pictures at the dinner table. Pa gave a radiant smile. I decided to soak in the moment, and not grab my camera and scramble to capture the photo. So I don't have a photo but I have a memory which will be there forever. Thank you to the Security Command team who have protected my father. You not only ensured his security, but were always by his side, round the clock, beyond the call of duty. You became friends, and almost part of the family. Thanks particularly to the SOs who served as coffin bearers just now, for carrying my father today, on his last journey. And to the pall bearers here at Mandai, who were SOs, doctors and nurses, for doing my father this honour. Thank you also to Papas personal staff, especially Lin Hoe and YY, who have served him for more than 20 years. Lin Hoe, his Private Secretary, helped to take care of my father in the office. YY did much more than would be expected of a Press Secretary. She made the video you saw earlier, before the service started, which was a labour of love. I would like to thank my sister Ling, who lived with Pa in Oxley Road, and did so much to help take care of him. You were not only his daughter, but also his doctor. You were his close companion throughout. You travelled with him, watched over him closely, and made sure he got medical treatment in time when problems were brewing. You took on more than your fair share of our filial duties. Thank you, Ling. Finally, I want to thank the dedicated grassroots volunteers from Teck Ghee and Tanjong Pagar. You have served for many years on the ground, helping Mr Lee and me to look after our residents. Over this last week, you have helped take care of arrangements and guests at the private wake at Sri Temasek, as well as the State Funeral Service and this Cremation Service today. My family and I are deeply grateful. When we are young, we think our parents will always be there. After we grow up, as we watch them age and grow frail, we know rationally that one day we will have to say farewell, yet emotionally we find it hard to imagine it happening. Then one day our parents are really gone, and we are left with a sense of loss and pain. That is the human condition. Pa had thought long and hard about this, as he had about many things. When preparing what to say today, I remembered that once upon a time he had made a speech about growing old and dying, to a gathering of doctors. I asked for it but nobody else remembered it - except Janadas, so that gave me confidence I had not imagined it. We searched for the speech, and eventually after heroic efforts by YY, found it. Pa had made it to a congress of cardiologists, very long ago in 1972! Forty-three years ago. I must have read it at the time, and it left such an impression on me that I remembered it across four decades or it could be I'm just growing old and remembering long ago things. I re-read it with delight. It was vintage Lee Kuan Yew thoughtful, erudite, elegant, witty, but with a deeper point. Sadly, nobody makes such after-dinner speeches any more. He titled it Life is better when it is short, healthy and full. He talked about cardiac health, decrepitude, the right to die, advanced medical directives (though before the term was coined), and much more. You have to read the full speech yourself, because it is impossible to summarise, but it is well worth reading. "I will just share one quote: Life is better short, healthy and full than long, unhealthy and dismal. We all have to die. I hope mine will be painless. As de Gaulle said: Never fear, even de Gaulle must die, and he did. Pa had a long and full life. He was healthy, active and vigorous, until advanced old age. He used to say that life is a marathon, not a sprint. Pas marathon is done. He went away peacefully. He will leave a big hole in our lives, and in our hearts. But his values, his love, and his words these will stay with us, inspire us, and live on in us for a long, long time. Farewell, and rest in peace, Papa.

hi guys. my wife just had a miscarriage and she's still emotional very upset... i was thinking of doing a chao du ceremony to at least give her some emotional closure on the matter and move on. Any one here got any recommendations or contacts for any temple that conducts these rituals? thanks in advance .

Just curious, all religion Chinese, Malay , Indians or even free thinker. For Chinese, people move house, some will have some ceremony like Monks coming to the new house for some chanting, or for Taoism , they too have some ceremony. This generation, the young one seems to skip this sort of thing. Am wondering will they just move in like that? As for the Buddhism, Taoism, Muslim, Hindus and Christians, what ceremony will you arrange before moving in to your new house? Have your say........................

...if you go along the logic of this reader even though the ruling party has dispense with it already. From ST Forum: http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/...ory_691779.html There's something to be said for standing on ceremony I DISAGREE with Associate Professor Hussin Mutalib's suggestion ('Let's not stand on ceremony for MPs'; July 9). What I found somewhat discomforting was his suggestions to review or revamp practices such as 'requiring residents to gather much earlier than the scheduled arrival of the MP, and requiring them to stand when the MP arrives'. Should we dispense with the basic values of respect for people who could influence the quality of our lives? As an elected official, an MP has been entrusted by his electorate to manage their interests and concerns, and deserves a modicum of decorum and respect. While his duty is to serve, it must be recognised that he is a leader. Imagine the prime minister attending a community event in his capacity as an MP, and walking in when the audience members are not all present, or when they loiter and chat, oblivious to his arrival. In treating politicians more like servants, we may well get it wrong on principle about etiquette and good manners. By studying human association in his own community, Confucius concluded that an essential principle of social relations is that of reciprocity. This means 'persons tend to act in relation to others as others act in relation to them'. Jolly Wee

Any one knows will there be an equally grand closing ceremony to hand over the flag to the next organising country? When is the last day of YOG? Can go or must buy tickets?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5XRn5MBycU Interesting. Just look at how the best Injury of the Year looks like on-screen, and how the much-favoured VW Polo here in MCF become a contestant in the Car of the Year, and the Top Gear's choice for the Car of the Decade.

from TV, i can't see any single podium girls standing beside the drivers during the trophy ceremony (is this normal)...or is it because sinhell girls cmi on the screen and on the global map, can only see them lining up at the hallway, leading to the rooms where the drivers need to weigh after the race, only cheer and clap hands when the drivers emerged from the room...poor thing...to have a shot at the fame and ends up in the hallway...

Opening countdown... [inline 9433327_14115644.jpg]

MCF Brudders! I have just witnessed the best Olympic Opening Ceremony and I think you have to agree with me! Stunning! I think it take a bit of shine off our own NDP tomolo on 9.8.2008

Life in punggol is too bored, need to organize this event to cheer up.

Hi folks. After a long wait, I finally got my E61i CE version. Here's the opening ceremony... Nice blue corporate bag For a big phone, the packaging is quite small. Much smaller than say an N95. Kudos! What you see when you open the box Contents in the box, clockwise from top left: stereo ear piece, software, E61i, 256MB micro SD, battery, manual, USB sync cable, charger, warranty card. Front view Left view Right view Top view Bottom view Back view Comparison with the E61 You can see it's slightly slimmer Nicer looking? Main difference The new keypad is much better to use Insert the SIM card Insert the battery And it's alive Transfer my stuff over Will post more thoughts on it later...