D2 and I had gone on our own to pay our deepest respect at the Dunbar Walk wake. Thousands of Singaporeans took the trouble to make their way to Parliament House since Thursday when Dr Goh's casket was moved there...to show their love and pay homage to this truly GREAT son of Singapore.
At 1 pm, a one hour programme was shown on CNA highlighting the great achievements and contributions that Dr Goh had made to our country since 1959. It contained a lot of flashback footage of our early days in black and white showing the work he was doing...Jurong Industrial Estate, SAF, MINDEF, Elections, Kreta Ayer, opening factories, EDB, DBS, Zoo, Bird Park, Sentosa and etc. Many of the key people who have worked with him were interviewed...and their very frank and candid comments were a revealation!
Former ministers, perm secs, Generals and others spoke about Dr Goh and what they fondly remembered about him most.
There seemed to be a common trait running through their different strories.
The trait?
I think in bits and pieces, a little here and there, the picture becomes very clear....that Dr Goh Keng Swee was a man, a Minister, a LEADER like no other we have seen in Singapore before or since!
He was unique.
A man with a brilliant, creative mind and was forceful and very original in his ideas and approach to solving the country's complex problems. Yet, he was most frugal and prudent in his own ways. Strict but fair-minded, he went out of his way to help those who needed it most.
More can be said and more will be said by many.
Looking back to history for examples of such selfless and capable leaders, I can think of the great Chinese sage Confucius.
The photos in this post are all captured from images appearing on my Tv screen "Live", today.
The Gun carriage that carried the casket of the late Dr Goh from Parliament House to Singapore Conference Hall.
The route that the funeral procession took ended at the SCH. All flags at Govt buildings were flown at half-mast in a sign of deep respect.
The gun carriage carrying his casket arrived and the Bagpipers played their soulful sounds. Men from the Military Police executed a special drill with their heads bowed and arms on rifle.
Mr Tharman, Dr Yaacob, Mr Lui Tuck Yew accompanying Mrs Goh ( Dr Phua Swee Liang )
The casket being gently borne into the Conference Hall. The state flag was draped over it.
The casket being gently borne into the Conference Hall. The state flag was draped over it.
And Dr Goh's medals were on top of the flag.
The casket being placed on a blue raised bier while solemn music
was being played in the background.
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