state funerals are about the only times i wish i knew how to turn on the television in our living room. but for webcasts, she says thankfully. (and i just saw that the singaporean students at UVA had got together at (their) 1am to watch the funeral procession using a projector borrowed from clemons library.)the surprise hit eulogy of the day was from sidek saniff, a former and minor minister of state who was active in politics mostly in the 80s and 90s, whom few in my generation, let alone younger singaporeans, would recognise; i certainly didn’t. after the practised oratory of the earliest speaker and then some dull, prepared texts woodenly read (most people, i suspect, had begun mentally tuning out, by the fourth or fifth speech) then came this old man, tearful, gentle in manner, speaking simply but in a thoroughly heartfelt, personal way, and who, instead of speaking out to the crowd, turned to the coffin when he said farewell. a general sampling of approving mutterings after; he made an excellent impression. “i’d like that man for my president,” quipped someone.
CNA carries the transcription of the english voice-over, but i hope there will be a closer, more elegant translation soon. the original text is carried here by the berita harian for those who read malay.
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