[sgbuffett]

Nantah Alumni released a statement regarding Mr. Lee Kuan Yew's death, claiming that his act of closing Nantah and repressing Chinese education is unforgivable.  As a politician, Mr. Lee was active at the time point of post-WW2, where nationalism and anti-colonial movement were at height. It was also the era witnessing Nantah's establishment in fulfilling the requirements of the Chinese in Malaya. Frequent confrontations between Nantah and Mr. Lee were evident in records.  "Documentations shows that (Mr. Lee) had neglected the interest of Chinese and closed Nantah, the joint development of Malaya and Singapore. He also repressed Chinese-medium primary and secondary school, which in turn paralyzing Chinese education system and the root of our culture. The Chinese community in Singapore, accounted for 75% of overall population, had eventually lost their rights for mother-tongue language education."  According to the statement, in terms of basic human rights, Mr. Lee's government had revoked the citizenship of Mr. Tan Lark Sye, the founder of Nantah, without legit reasons. Alumnus Dr. Chia Thye Poh was also being imprisoned for over 20 years due to difference in political views.  "Furthermore, hundreds of our peers were being suspended, expelled, arrested, and deported out of Singapore due to the policy. It is considered the most severe damage a single higher education institution had ever suffered in the world."  "On the other hand, his language policy placed English at the highest priority, while clamping mother-tongue education. Eventually, Singaporeans are stripped of their roots in spiritual civilization, and it has been well-proven in history."  The statement credited the development of Singapore's material development to its state as the important commercial central in Southeast Asia throughout the past 200 years, as a result of its strategic location, diligent workforce, and contributions of private sectors. Sole attribution of success to Mr. Lee is improper.  

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threa...e.5003576/

When Nantah was closed where was Chinese education at that time? Where was the China economy at that time?.....

I am not a big fan of the PAP govt but they are pragmatists and Nantah grads found it hard to get jobs vs poly grads. At that time the standard was so low it was a University by name only. So what they did was correct.

Today China universities like Tsinghua are the best in the world and we of course should reach out to have joint projects and tap on their top minds.