Opium in Singapore - the history and background

 Video: Hikelopedia's [Singapore and the "Scourge of the Chinese"]

Commentary: What the release of Goh Keng Swee’s Albatross File means for Singaporeans

Parts of the Albatross file on display at a special exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore in 2015.
Raj Nadarajan/TODAY

EDMUND LIM

March 27, 2023


Our past has an impact on our present and also future. As Singaporeans, we should be open to enhancing our understanding of our national history.

On Feb 28, it was reported the Government has agreed to declassify and release documents in Dr Goh Keng Swee’s “Albatross File”, along with specific cabinet papers and Dr Goh’s notes of his conversations with the Malaysian leaders.

Dr Mahathir, historically (or hysterically) - a satire (spoof? sarcasm?)

[History is written by the victor. And sometimes written with irony. Or Sarcasm. I can't tell the difference. Or is it satire? Help!]

From Critical Spectator Facebook post of 22 June 2022.]

When historians look back at the first 60 years of Singapore's independent existence, ranking the most influential figures who have contributed to the country's prosperity and security, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will surely rank up there next to his contemporary, the founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
This is a man who, even at a very ripe age of 97, continues to work for the city-state, instead of enjoying his well-earned retirement.
Recently he raised many eyebrows again, saying a few days ago that Malaysia should reclaim Indonesian Riau islands and the island of Singapore - ancestral Malay lands. But this is just his typical modus operandi, that we have to look through to properly understand his goals.

I believe it is far more important to judge people by what they do than by what they say, as it is what reveals their true motivations and points us to their greatest achievements.

Why Konfrontasi?

[Edited, 1/4/2022]

If you search "Why did Konfrontasi happened?" you will get some "official" answers.

If you are like me, you would be dissatisfied with the answers. 

Officially, this is Singapore's sanitised history:

Konfrontasi (or Confrontation, 1963–1966) was Indonesia’s response to the formation of the Federation of Malaysia, arising from the British decolonisation process in Southeast Asia. Konfrontasi involved armed incursions, bomb attacks and other subversive acts aimed at destabilising the states that were to be included in the Federation, namely, Singapore, Malaya, Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo (now known as Sabah).
When the concept of Malaysia was first mooted publicly by Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in May 1961, the Indonesian government initially did not raise any objections. It began to express opposition to the Malaysia proposal shortly after the Brunei Revolt of December 1962.

You may be satisfied with the above. Or you might dig deeper. Like what were the basis of Indonesian objection or opposition to the formation of the Federation? Further along, you read:

Indonesia criticised the Malaysia plan as a British “neo-colonialist project” and a threat to their country’s security. 

Which is diplomat-speak for "because I don't like!"

William Farquhar

My history teacher in Secondary school declared that the proper pronunciation of "Farquhar" was "Far-kwa".

I was even then a sceptical person, and I was immediately suspicious of this out of the blue declaration.

What other pronunciation is there for "Farquhar"? That would be scandalous for teenage boys to utter?

A suggestion came to mind immediately.