"I have never been overconcerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. If you are concerned with whether your rating will go up or down, then you are not a leader. You are just catching the wind ... you will go where the wind is blowing. And that's not what I am in this for."

It all started when I tried to switch the channel on the radio.
It wasn't anything out of the ordinary when the radio channel wasn't tune to the ones that I normally listen to as I go about getting ready for school.
Oddly today, almost all the channels had symphonic or classical music on air. Perhaps all of them were at an interlude or having the same advertisement. Pure coincidence. Or so I thought.
Normally, I would get it right on the first turn. My index finger already accustomed to the old winding knob and with just enough force, would bring the line right at station's frequency.
But when I tried it more than 4 times, I started to grew impatient.
Hurrying to the toilet to spit out some toothpaste I went back out again and with my teeth, I held the toothbrush in my mouth.
Using my master right hand, I carefully winded the knob bit by bit, hoping that I would not miss the channel this time.
92.4... classical music
93.8... the news
shifting it back a tiny bit,
.... classical music..
forward
.. the news
backwards
.. classical music.
What was wrong with the radio?
Then it struck me... it couldn't be, could it?

I hurried out into the hall where the newspaper laid untouched on the table top.
The headline news were still about citizens visiting SGH and sending their well wishes.
Things wouldn't have taken a turn for the worst right?

I headed back into the kitchen toilet to wash up first before trying my hand at radio tuning again.
93.8... remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
The radio blared out. The inevitable has happened. I knew that this day would come... but that soon?

'What did he achieve? a country's success. What did he sacrifice? his life'
This sentence aptly described the success story of Mr Lee Kuan Yew (LKY). Even though I do not have the faintest idea who said that sentence as tribute, but this line has been deeply etched and ringing loudly in my head.

Life must go on... as they say. Though I have never met the late Mr Lee in person, but I live and breathe in the country that he created. Or transformed.. since God was the one that created Earth. It saddens me how Mr Lee was not saved, nor did he accept Christ. Even if he did, we wouldn't know. But that I not for me to comment.

I still remember the discussions we had a few years back where we felt that without LKY, what would happen to Singapore. Would we be the target for our neighboring countries? Would there be utter chaos now that our father figurehead is gone? What will happen to PAP?
Now... this has really happened. I pray that nothing will happen to Singapore.

Leaving us at 91 is not a bad age. really. Though he could not have made it or held on for another 5 more months to watch the fireworks display as we celebrate SG50, but in the least, he managed to live and bring in Singapore's 50th year. :D That is something to be thankful for.

5 years ago, when we received news that his beloved wife Ms Kwa Geok Choo passed on, somehow I had felt that he had lost half the will to live. Having his wife leaving him was indeed a huge blow. But he had to remain strong for the country.He started entering hospitals for various illnesses from 2013 onward. The love that Mr Lee had for his wife and for her, him, is one of devotion. A match-made in heaven both in wits and character. She was the silent strong pillar that allowed him to do his duties for the country in peace knowing that family affairs will be well taken care of. Even during events, she would always be in the background yet her presence can be felt. Being 3 years older than Mr Lee did not hamper their relationship, he still showered her with tenderness and love till the day she passed.
"Without her, I would be a different man, with a different life... I should find solace in her 89 years of a life well lived. But at this moment of the final parting, my heart is heavy with sorrow and grief."

Coming back to present day, it was still relatively normal... except for the black television screens around school, on the mrt billboards and emails that had the slogan "Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew 1923-2015". It was a silent tribute, a reminder of a reality that the country had no choice but to embrace. Turning on Facebook showed the numerous condolences, poems, articles shared, multiple likes garnered for every single post relating to LKY's legacy. Messages of thankfulness, appreciation, everything goo thing possible about LKY was there on social media. I even had friends asking anti -LKY bloggers to stop the hate messages just for today to show some respect. My WeChat and Kakao team whose companies do not even belong to Singapore sent messages expressing their condolences from their team showed how much admiration and respect LKY garnered worldwide. World leaders who took his advice, shook his hands, read about him, visited him all express their deepest hearfelt messages to Singapore.

I can picture the thinker than usual newspaper that I will see sitting on the table top tmr morning and think about how the print industry in rushing out the latest reports. Even the media now are playing runs on the history of Singapore and LKY, conducting interviews with people who were on intimate terms with him.

It would be one of the biggest state funerals... and imo, the only state funeral. What man is he that deserved a 7-day period mourning? Having our flag fly at half-mast. Only LKY is worthy of that much respect from us.

Truthfully, I have not read any of his memoirs.What I know about him comes purely from this book which I bought from Popular with my dad in primary school. It was a caricature drawing book depicting the life of LKY. But that was enough for me to know the man. Walking home from the mrt, I looked around at the tracks, buildings, the roads, and believed that everything we have today is because of him. His hard work, and dedication for Singapore is immeasurable. Living and breathing for Singapore.

Though my future children might not know who he was, they might just read about him in their social study textbooks, studying about the merger with Malaysia, him setting up PAP, being our first Prime Minister. The feeling isn't the same as one who viewed the man from the TV screen, who for every national day, wait expectantly as he dressed in full white would walk down to the seats reserved for the cabinet ministers, who would wave the small little plastic Singapore flag and try to join in the celebration even though he might be tired. That for me, was a signal that all was well in LKY.

The effect would still be felt... probably 1-2 years later. but 10 years down the road? 20? Probably a small tribute would be paid. For he was the greatest man that Singapore ever had.

Rest in Peace Mr Lee Kuan Yew. You will be dearly missed.

=do something right=