Thank You MM Lee!

A friend of mine on Facebook said this of MM Lee Kuan Yew:

Chor Pharn Lee: "Seems like LKY's sense of mortality, and the urgency to wrap up loose ends is accelerating. Closure through Men in White, hectoring the USA to stay its course while receiving some award, now public atonement for killing the Chinese language in Singapore. In balance, he has done more good. Like how they sum up Mao's achievements as one third bad, two thirds good. I think I'll be more generous."

Here's the link on MM Lee about his education policy:

 http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/18/mm-lee-admits-mistake-made-in-his-education-policy/ 

Personally, I have had my own prejudices about MM Lee. Afterall, my father is Fong Swee Suan (google him, or "Hock Lee Bus Riots"), one of the main opposition leaders during the early days of PAP.

But I am also a product of MM Lee's Singapore. I had a great bilingual education (it's not perfect, but it's still great!). I benefited from growing up in a multi-racial, multi-lingual country. I can live my life without fear of racial or religious prosecutions, or being shot down in the streets, or in fear of the triads.

MM Lee took ownership of his triumphs, and more importantly, he took ownership of his failures. It takes a great man to do so. And I want to acknowledge him for creating a great country that allows me to go after my dreams.

So, to MM Lee, THANK YOU! You're a great man! I love you as I love my father!

Here's an old song about giving credit - for those of us who didn't get it when we first heard it:

Otto Fong

Back to School!

A Happy Back 2 School to all u anxious kids and parents out there!

Those of you at Telok Kurau has a special treat in store. A little comic booklet drawn by myself that lets you know you're in a very special school, and that you can be sure to have a great learning environment. This primary school has a great tradition to uphold: the great MM Lee Kuan Yew got his start there (you'll see him as a young student in the booklet)!

While I am no longer teaching in school, I am convinced that the key to a great Singapore - a country we can be proud of - lies in a great education system. That is why I will be starting the planning of Sir Fong's Adventures In Science Book 2.

Young LKY 2.0

To kick off today's blogatron, my dear ex-student Walter Wong went overseas and sent me a really hilarious letter. It is a kind of joke, cos he knows I like funny stuff. It's the Ultimate Thank U Note for busy executives and toilet cleaners alike. All u haf to do is fill in the blanks. And you can thank ur mother, grandmother, girl/boyfriend, pet chihuahua etc. Enjoy!



Here's today continuation of GOD + TEACHERS!


Now, back to my promised update of So Singapore Toons at Discovery Centre!

So, there I was. After George Nonis, author of Hello Chok Tong Goodbye Kuan Yew, drew the Man himself, and Miel drew his Valentine of Singapore driving the Globe, I wielded

my marker . . .

The smart kid behind me instantly recognised the ears and head.
"Bunny!" he exclaimed, and the adults gave him a standing ovation. OK, they were already on their feet, hence the 'standing' part.

To create some suspense, I drew the bunny pointing at Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and my teacher Sir Fong covering his eyes as if he can't bear to see what happens next. This, my avid, young blog readers, is one lesson you can learn: creating suspense will grab your audience's attention.

When I finished, the audience's reaction put a big (handsome) smile on my face. It is a combo of pride (I pulled it off! I drew LKY without rehearsal!), relief (I didn't goof up! My young LKY looked real cool! I drew something that doesn't look too bad amongst the two master artists!) and . . . revelation! Yes, revelation!

But what is that revelation? Will it affect Sir Fong 3? Will I start drawing political comics (Young Goh Chok Tong? Young David Marshall)?

To drive my point of suspense across, I will stop my post here and continue this weekend. :)

Sunday Special: Young Lee Kuan Yew

In two months, sirfong.blogspot.com has received a very encouraging 4000 hits. Thank u all for visiting this little comic website (or clicking the refresh button over and over, haha). I'm also excited to see some overseas viewers -- welcome to the blog! I hope you can introduce your friends to visit, as I also noted a drop in daily viewership this week (overseas during September school holidays perhaps?).

There will be more teacher-related postings for this week. And more excitingly, I will be sharing a very pivotal moment in my creative life. Do read on!

After my Teacher's Day Week, This entire week's postings will begin and end with Raffles Institution's most famous alumni: Lee Kuan Yew.

As I'd informed u all earlier, the Singapore Discovery Centre is holding a special exhibition So Singapore Toons. Never before has Singaporean comics been used in such a scale before. There are interactive games, photo opportunities and 3-D versions of local comic works!

During the official opening on 1st September 2007, the artists are invited to draw a little something on the spot. George Nonis, the author of Hello Chok Tong Goodbye Kuan Yew, drew the Minister Mentor. Since Mr Lee is an alumni of RI, I decided to draw the following:

This became a revelation of sorts. As I post more pictures of the exhibition this week, I will reveal how the above picture has created a significant tremor in my creative universe (things happen when u r in the presence of greatness, albeit a comic version of one). I hope you will keep reading, so I can share a pivotal moment in my future comics.