Dear members,
God on high, hear my prayer (bring him home…Les Mis). Alas, it is not to be as the inevitable darkness of death lowered its curtain. How endearing it would have been if only he lives long enough to celebrate SG 50 with us.
I know this news will break my mum’s heart; likewise my dad. Both in their 80s. Their generation went through the British, World War II, Confrontation, Malaysia and then forced to leave. They went through 4 national anthems!
I still remembered having to sing “Negara ku” for a period, then witnessing our first Prime Minister fought back tears on national TV: “you see, the whole of my adult life”….
We were too young to understand its implications. Despite many limitations on this piece of 700 sq km of rock, my generation benefited, prospered over the past decades, thanks to him. After the Japanese occupation and Confrontation with our largest neighbour, we no longer take peace for granted. And National Service became the best self-preservation tool of choice.
So it must be that to everything there is a season. A time for everything under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to laugh and a time to cry. A time to dream and a time to mourn. This is the time for national mourning.
So please join me and all alumni members, where ever you are, to observe a moment of silence in our hearts
and say “thank you sir” for all you have done.
Sincerely
Han Jok Kwang
President, HP Alumni
