Qingming Festival is here again but departing from previous years, last week was actually my first official visit to Mandai Columbarium for Qingming.
More on that in another post; today, i am going to touch on a person who held a largely ceremonial position between 1985 and 1993 that was widely discussed (and hotly debated) two years ago.
Singapore's 4th head of state - Dr Wee Kim Wee.
Known affectionately as the people's president, he opted to have his ashed placed together with his beloved citizens although as an ex-president, he was given the privilege to be buried in the state cemetery located at Kranji War Memorial.
Coincidentally, his ashes were kept in the same block, albeit of a different level, as my late grandmother! His presence has a comfortable stabilizing effect; which spirit would dare create havoc and incur the wrath of a president?! At least that's what any superstitious Chinese would associate with.
We decided to pay our respects to this great president (the other being Mr Ong Teng Cheong); my relatives were also of the opinion that he would be able to 'help' put the country right again. It might sound ridiculous yet personally, i feel that his candidature was a golden period of prosperity and strong unity among Singaporeans, unlike the Singapore today.
Prayers aside, please be considerate towards Dr Wee's neighbours - personal space is still highly regarded, even in the netherworld.
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Location
300 Mandai Rd, Eugenia Block,
Level 1, Row 1, Niche 0322,
Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium