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