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Straits Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Forum: Two port pioneers deserve recognition
I refer to the article 'Remembering the pioneers who built Singapore' by Michael Han, May 19. I wish to highlight two other significant yet often overlooked pioneers who helped shape Singapore's early port operations: B. Govindasamy Chettiar and S.L. Perumal. In 1930, Govindasamy Chettiar, known also as Kottai Govindasamy Chettiar, co-founded the Indian Labour Company with Mohammed Yusof, supplying lascars (Indian sailors), stevedores and wharf workers. He became one of Singapore Harbour Board's largest contractors, operating through Gates 1 and 2. Beyond business, Govindasamy was deeply committed to community welfare – offering free meals at his kottai (shed), dignified employment, and an open door to all in need regardless of their race. In 1937, the Straits Settlements government appointed him Justice of the Peace, presenting him with a rare scroll in recognition not only of his enterprise, but also his integrity and racial inclusiveness – values that prefigured independent Singapore's national ethos of 3Ms: multi-racialism, multiculturalism and multi-religiosity. Govindasamy's nephew and son-in-law, S.L. Perumal, managed harbour operations during the Japanese Occupation. Refusing to collaborate with the occupiers despite their coercion, Perumal continued the work while Govindasamy quietly distributed rice and passed secret messages to aid the British. Their quiet courage helped sustain countless families and the resistance efforts. After the war in 1945, Lord Louis Mountbatten met with Govindasamy at his home to discuss restoring port operations – an extraordinary gesture of respect. When Govindasamy died of a heart attack on April 6, 1948, the harbour closed for half a day as more than 3,500 people of all races paid their respects on the day of his funeral. It was a fitting farewell to a man whose life was defined by service and sacrifices. Govindasamy's legacy includes generous donations to charities and Hindu temples. He was a trustee of Sri Mariamman Temple while managing also the Vadapathira Kaliamman Temple, later rebuilt by Perumal using personal funds. In 2022, Govindasamy was posthumously honoured with the Indian Hall of Fame Singapore's Navroji Mistri Excellence Award for Philanthropy. The contributions of these two Indian pioneers deserve greater recognition and should be included in the national narrative as we celebrate SG60. Tang Siew Ngoh More on this Topic Forum: What readers are saying Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Japan Times
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Independence hero assassin's calligraphy breaking auction records in Seoul
Calligraphy by a South Korean independence hero, created while awaiting execution for assassinating a Japanese statesman, is breaking new auction records in Seoul, as the country's ultrarich seek to bring historic artwork home. Revered in the South for his efforts to defend the country against Japanese encroachment, Ahn Jung-geun is best known for his dramatic, high-stakes assassination of Japan's first prime minister, Ito Hirobumi, in 1909 at a railway station in Harbin. He was hanged for the killing by Japanese authorities in 1910, just months before Tokyo formally annexed the Korean Peninsula, ushering in a brutal period of occupation that lasted until the end of the Second World War. Now, more than a century after his death, the calligraphy Ahn created in his prison cell during his final days — typically at the request of Japanese officials — is drawing fresh attention in Seoul's glitzy art scene. In South Korea, Ahn's life has long inspired artists across generations, giving rise to a highly celebrated musical, multiple novels, and films — including one starring "Crash Landing on You" actor Hyun Bin. Ahn was held in his prison cell in China for about 40 days leading up to his execution and he kept himself busy writing an autobiography and making hundreds of calligraphy pieces, including one requested by his own prison guard. "The court and prison officials, saying they wanted to keep my calligraphy as a memento, brought me hundreds of sheets of silk and paper and asked me to create for them," Ahn wrote in his autobiography. "I ended up spending several hours each day doing calligraphy, even though I wasn't particularly skilled in it." Even though Ahn had assassinated their top official Ito, the Japanese who took his calligraphy preserved them with care, and some of their descendants have donated them to the South Korean government, which subsequently designated them as national treasures. Now, more of the calligraphies are surfacing in the private art market, with the latest being auctioned last month in Seoul for 940 million won ($674,098) — more than three times its opening bid. Guests participate in a live auction for a piece of calligraphy created by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun in his jail cell weeks before his execution in 1910, at the Seoul Auction on April 22. | AFP-JIJI The piece, which says "green bamboo" — a traditional symbol of integrity — had been owned by a Japanese individual who did not wish to be identified, and they had done an impeccable job preserving it, said Kim Jun-seon, art valuation specialist at Seoul Auction. "It wasn't even mounted and was still rolled up, but when we opened the case, the scent of ink still lingered in the air," she said. Japan said Ahn was a criminal and terrorist and refused to hand over his remains. They have never been located. Moves to honor Ahn by Seoul and Beijing have previously strained ties with Tokyo, even briefly sparking a diplomatic row in 2013. The fact that his Japanese captors preserved his calligraphy "reflects the cultural and political contradictions of early 20th century East Asia," said Eugene Y. Park, a history professor at University of Nevada, Reno. At his trial, Ahn identified himself as a soldier for Korea, defined his assassination of Ito as a military operation, and envisioned a united East Asia — comprising Korea, China, and Japan — somewhat akin to today's European Union. "Some Japanese may have seen him as a misguided but principled idealist," Park said. His calligraphy, which focused on values such as peace and ethics, "resonated culturally, even if he opposed them politically," he said. "At a time when Japan's own imperial identity was unsettled, preserving his works revealed deeper tensions between respect for moral courage and the pursuit of colonial domination." In 2023, the Global Sae-A Group, a South Korean conglomerate, purchased one of Ahn's calligraphies for a record-breaking 1.95 billion won. The piece "Green Bamboo" was sold at auction last month to the family of South Korea's LS Group. "We expressed our intention to bring the piece back to Korea and share it with the public," Joung Tae-hee at Seoul Auction said, adding that the Japanese owner agreed to sell after hearing their proposal. Lee Sang-hyun, of the LS Group family, said that his mother "hopes many citizens will be able to see this piece and that it will also be studied," and they are considering donating it to a national institution. Ahn became a Catholic as a teenager and ends his autobiography with the words of Nicolas Joseph Marie Wilhelm, a French priest and missionary stationed in Korea, who traveled to his prison to see the activist and give him confession. The priest — who had also baptized Ahn and was a longtime friend — was disciplined for his trip, and was later forced to return to France. "The gracious lord will never abandon you," Wilhelm told Ahn. "He will surely take you in, so rest your heart and go in peace."
Malay Mail
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Korean Independence hero assassin's prison calligraphy resurfaces, setting new auction records in Seoul
SEOUL, May 16 — Calligraphy by a South Korean independence hero, created while awaiting execution for assassinating a Japanese statesman, is breaking new auction records in Seoul, as the country's ultra-rich seek to bring historic artwork home. Revered in the South for his efforts to defend the country against Japanese encroachment, Ahn Jung-geun is best known for his dramatic, high-stakes assassination of Japan's first prime minister, Ito Hirobumi, in 1909 at a railway station in Harbin. He was hanged for the killing by Japanese authorities in 1910, just months before Tokyo formally annexed the Korean peninsula, ushering in a brutal period of occupation that lasted until the end of the Second World War. Now, more than a century after his death, the calligraphy Ahn created in his prison cell during his final days — typically at the request of Japanese officials — is drawing fresh attention in Seoul's glitzy art scene. In South Korea, Ahn's life has long inspired artists across generations, giving rise to a highly celebrated musical, multiple novels, and films — including one starring Crash Landing on You actor Hyun Bin. Ahn was held in his prison cell in China for about 40 days leading up to his execution and he kept himself busy writing an autobiography and making hundreds of calligraphy pieces, including one requested by his own prison guard. 'The court and prison officials, saying they wanted to keep my calligraphy as a memento, brought me hundreds of sheets of silk and paper and asked me to create for them,' Ahn wrote in his autobiography. 'I ended up spending several hours each day doing calligraphy, even though I wasn't particularly skilled in it.' Even though Ahn had assassinated their top official Ito, the Japanese who took his calligraphy preserved them with care, and some of their descendants have donated them to the South Korean government, which subsequently designated them as national treasures. Now, more of the calligraphies are surfacing in the private art market, with the latest being auctioned last month in Seoul for 940 million won (RM2.88 million) — more than three times its opening bid. The piece, which says 'green bamboo' — a traditional symbol of integrity — had been owned by a Japanese individual who did not wish to be identified, and they had done an impeccable job preserving it, said Kim Jun-seon, art valuation specialist at Seoul Auction. 'It wasn't even mounted and was still rolled up, but when we opened the case, the scent of ink still lingered in the air,' she told AFP. This picture taken on April 22, 2025 Lee Sang-hyun (left), a member of the LS Group family, raising his bid paddle during a live auction for a piece of calligraphy created by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun in his jail cell weeks before his execution in 1910, at the Seoul Auction in Seoul. — AFP pic 'Terrorist' Japan said Ahn was a criminal and terrorist and refused to hand over his remains. They have never been located. Moves to honour Ahn by Seoul and Beijing have previously strained ties with Tokyo, even briefly sparking a diplomatic row in 2013. The fact that his Japanese captors preserved his calligraphy 'reflects the cultural and political contradictions of early twentieth-century East Asia,' said Eugene Y. Park, a history professor at University of Nevada, Reno. At his trial, Ahn identified himself as a soldier for Korea, defined his assassination of Ito as a military operation, and envisioned a united East Asia — comprising Korea, China, and Japan — somewhat akin to today's European Union. 'Some Japanese may have seen him as a misguided but principled idealist,' Park told AFP. His calligraphy, which focused on values such as peace and ethics, 'resonated culturally, even if he opposed them politically,' he said. 'At a time when Japan's own imperial identity was unsettled, preserving his works revealed deeper tensions between respect for moral courage and the pursuit of colonial domination.' This picture taken on April 22, 2025 shows Lee Sang-hyun, a member of the LS Group family, speaking in front of a piece of calligraphy created by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun in his jail cell weeks before his execution in 1910, during an interview with AFP at the Seoul Auction in Seoul after winning the piece at auction. — AFP pic Go in peace In 2023, the Global Sae-A Group, a South Korean conglomerate, purchased one of Ahn's calligraphies for a record-breaking 1.95 billion won. The piece Green Bamboo was sold at auction last month to the family of South Korea's LS Group. 'We expressed our intention to bring the piece back to Korea and share it with the public,' Joung Tae-hee at Seoul Auction said, adding that the Japanese owner agreed to sell after hearing their proposal. Lee Sang-hyun, of the LS Group family, told AFP that his mother 'hopes many citizens will be able to see this piece and that it will also be studied,' and they are considering donating it to a national institution. Ahn became a catholic as a teenager and ends his autobiography with the words of Nicolas Joseph Marie Wilhelm, a French priest and missionary stationed in Korea, who travelled to his prison to see the activist and give him confession. The priest — who had also baptised Ahn and was a long-time friend — was disciplined for his trip, and was later forced to return to France. 'The gracious lord will never abandon you,' Wilhelm told Ahn. 'He will surely take you in, so rest your heart and go in peace.' — AFP
CNA
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Hidden Histories - Hidden Histories Foundations of Community
46:47 Min What secrets lie within the walls of Goodwood Park Hotel? In this episode, Reuben Dhanaraj uncovers the rich and hidden history of this iconic building. From its origins as a German club to its confiscation during World War I and its crucial role during the Japanese Occupation, Reuben reveals the untold stories behind the hotel's changing fate. He follows the trail of a mysterious portrait tied to post-war intrigue, war crimes trials, and the shifting tides of history. As Reuben explores the hotel's layers of history, he brings to light the forgotten moments and hidden remnants of a past that shaped Singapore's legacy. About the show: What secrets lie hidden in plain sight? In this captivating four-part documentary series, we uncover the forgotten stories buried within Singapore's most iconic landmarks and abandoned sites. From derelict military forts to repurposed power stations, grand hotels to historic courtrooms, each episode peels back layers of history to reveal lost secrets, hidden passageways, and pivotal moments that shaped the nation. These places are more than just remnants of the past – they are silent witnesses to ambition, resilience, and transformation, waiting to be rediscovered.
Free Malaysia Today
24-04-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Theresa Chee, grand old dame of Ipoh, turns 100
Theresa Chee was a devoted teacher who often went out of her way to give her students a quality education. (Tan Boon Tin pic) PETALING JAYA : Theresa Chee is certainly a prominent name in the local Baha'i community. As the first Baha'i in northern Peninsular Malaysia, she is affectionately known as 'The Northern Star' for her role in bringing many to the faith. Others probably know Theresa as a devoted teacher. Throughout her long and colourful career, Theresa taught in Malay, Chinese and Christian schools, doing her best to provide her students with a quality education. Today marks a time of celebration for this grand old lady of Ipoh, as she turns 100 years old! Theresa's family, which includes her three children Dennis, Ben and Doreen, plus 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, have nothing but best wishes for her. 'We always knew she would be blessed with a long life, but we never really expected her to reach 100 in relatively good health,' her daughter, Doreen Chee, told FMT Lifestyle. Theresa and her children Benedict (left), Dennis and Doreen. (Tan Boon Tin pic) 'We hope that the rest of her life will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew her and that she will always be happy and healthy. 'When her time comes, we hope she will take her leave of this physical world, and enter the eternal realm with joy and peace.' While Theresa is still in generally good health, age has slowed her down: her speech and response abilities have been affected, making her unable to be interviewed. Her children, however, are more than happy to share their thoughts of their mother, describing her as a crucial part of the family: the 'sun' around which everything and everyone revolves. 'We've had a small birthday celebration for her. We plan to have a bigger celebration with all the family later, maybe some time in July. Many of her grandchildren are in Australia and it will be easier for them to come back around that time, closer to the holidays,' her son Ben said. Theresa with her family during her 100th birthday celebration. (Tan Boon Tin pic) Ben describes Theresa as a kind and friendly person who is loved by everyone, never holds grudges, and always goes out of her way to help others. She is an avid reader, a spirited dancer, and a wonderful cook, mostly known for her salted fish acar. The eldest daughter of six children, Theresa was born in Gajah Berang, Melaka on April 25, 1925. Her father, Yan Kee Leong, was a noted artist and caricaturist whose works were published in The Straits Echo and The Sunday Times, while her mother, Chi Lye Eng, was a housewife. Longevity seems to run in Theresa's family: her sisters Lily Ng and Rose Ong, who now live in Seremban and Singapore, just turned 98 and 96, respectively. After her schooling, Theresa worked as a typist during the Japanese Occupation. Once at a social dance in 1945, her brother introduced her to one of his college classmates, Chee Ah Kin, a technical assistant with the public works department. This man later became Theresa's husband. A photo of Theresa and her husband Chee Ah Kin from 1952. (Tan Boon Tin pic) Her father became the first person in Malaysia to accept the Baha'i faith in 1953, and Theresa followed suit in 1960. The faith's principles about unity of mankind played – and continues to play – an important part in her life. Theresa later became a teacher at SRK St Michael's and SMJK Keat Hwa in Alor Setar, as well as SMJK Yuk Choy Ipoh. According to Ben, Theresa is known for going out of her way to ensure her students achieved academic success. Many of her former students still visit her to this day. 'I think there is much we can learn from her life, such as positivity, the importance of keeping yourself healthy, and the importance of living a life of service,' her son Dennis concluded. 'I hope the lessons of her life continue to be passed down even to our future generations.'
