The reason for Dr.Chia Thye Poh winning the Award is upholding of his belief on democracy without any comprise and never losing his faith under 32 years of unjust detention without trial. An exemplary of the spirit of Nanyang University.
Singapore - Think Centre (TC), Singapore's oldest political association, hails the conferment of the Lim Lian Geok Spirit Award to fellow Singaporean Dr Chia Thye Poh.
"The reason for his winning is upholding of his belief on democracy without any comprise and never losing his faith under 32 years of unjust detention without trial. An exemplary of the spirit of Nanyang University" - LLG Cultural Development Centre, 1st December 2011.
As a human rights defender, Dr Chia's life exploits has epitomized the intellectual vigor, broad-minded mentality and patriotic spirit that every thinking Singaporean should espouse. His unwavering conviction, selfless contributions and personal sacrifices to the political awakening and development of Singapore, are as monumental as the ruling elites' moulding of the Singapore story.
On behalf of latter generations of Singaporeans, Think Centre extends its respect, gratitude and best wishes to Dr Chia Thye Poh for deservedly winning the Lim Lian Geok Spirit Award.
Tan Kong Soon
President of the Think Centre
at LLG-Spirit Award Ceremony
Honourable Chairman, Dear Friends:
First, I would like to thank the LLG Cultural Development Centre for giving me the Lim Lian Geok Spirit Award this year.
In my life, I benefited a lot from mother-tongue education and Nanyang University, but have given back very little. Compared to those who have tirelessly worked for the mother-tongue education and Nantah, my contribution is indeed nothing. So, the honour of this award should go to all of them.
A university is not an ivory tower. Modern facilities alone do not constitute a good university. What matters is its spirit, its capacity in bringing up graduates that empathize with the people and work for the progress of mankind and world peace.
Not long ago, I came across an article about the National Southwest Associated University of China during the Resistance War against Japanese Invasion. In those difficult years, the lodgings for teaching staff were partitioned only by cloth-curtains, classes were conducted in thatched cottages, and students had to queue up for a seat in the library. Yet, the Southwest Associated University brought up not only courageous fighters against the Japanese aggressors, but also talented professionals including Yang Zhenning and Li Zhengdao, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics. The establishment of Nanyang University was, as described by Mr. Tan Lark Sye, the crystalization of the wish and courage of ‘over 3 million Chinese' in Southeast Asia. This can be seen from the support and donation given to Nantah from all walks of life including millionaires, labourers, taxi and pedicab drivers, hawkers and artistes, etc. On the inauguration day of the university, tens of thousands of people thronged to the campus. The whole Jurong Road was a long queue of vehicles, and the motorcade of Singapore Governor Sir William Goode was delayed for more than two hours before reaching the inauguration ceremony.
The purpose of establishing Nantah was to serve the society of Southeast Asia, irrespective of races. It promoted inter-cultural exchanges. Besides donating huge sum of money to Nantah, Mr. Tan Lark Sye also donated to University of Malaya and other institutes in Southeast Asia. In Nantah, there were Department of Chinese Language, Department of Modern Languages, and also Department of Malay Language. However, while Nantah was working hard to develop itself, it suffered blow after blow of attacks from the Singapore Lee Kuan Yew Administration. Mr. Tan Lark Sye, who had fought for the citizenship of Singaporeans during the colonial era, was himself deprived of citizenship by the Lee Kuan Yew Administration. In 1980, Nantah was closed. At that time, I was still in prison. One day, an official from the Singapore Home Affairs Ministry came to interrogate me. He wanted my opinion on the merger of Nantah with Singapore University. I gave a cold answer: ‘The people will never forget who closed down Nantah.' After that, I refused to say anything more. He was unable to pursue the matter further, and the interrogation was called off.
Just as Mr. Lim Lian Geok had said, his body might be destroyed, yet his spirit would survive and flourish. Today, Nantah no longer exists, but it will always live in the heart of the people. The Spirit of Nantah has already spread and can never be stamped out. It will always inspire us to overcome all difficulties and march on.
Thank you.
Sources and Relevant Links:
LLG Cultural Development Centre Speech by Chia Thye Poh at LLG-Spirit Award Ceremony 18 December 2011
Malay Mail Award for Asia's ‘forgotten' man 19 December 2011
LLG Cultural Development Centre Political Prisoner Chia Thye Poh Received Award 1 December 2011
AsiaWeek
Chia Thye Poh: A MAN WHO NEVER GAVE IN 11 December 1998
The Internal Security Act strikes fear into the mind of the people. The PAP government claimed Chia was arrested in 1966 to avert widespread unlawful demonstrations. This 1998 AsiaWeek article explains why the PAP government is still concern about "freedom of expression".
PICAS Singapore Database - Chia Type Poh
