I am glad old guard is still remembered.
Every one owe so much to all old guards.
I read some where there was one old guard can
pen a budget speech in few hours.
Was Dr Goh the one?
SINGAPORE: Amidst a recent family controversy, a book on one of
Singapore's founding fathers, Dr Goh Keng Swee, has received
overwhelming response.
Nearly all 3,000 copies from the first print have been snapped up
within a week of its release.
The author, Tan Siok Sun, who took a decade to write a portrait of
her father-in-law said: "I just didn't expect that there would be
this groundswell of interest. So of course I'm pleased, more for
the fact that people are proving Dr Goh wrong because he told me
'who will want to read about me?' and everybody's proving him
wrong. So I'm happy on that score."
According to Mrs Goh Keng Swee, the book is not officially endorsed
by the man himself.
She had issued a statement in early July, saying that Dr Goh had
not wanted the book published and doing so is a show of
disrespect.
This controversy over the publishing of the book and a heightened
interest in Singapore's history are probably some of the reasons
that are driving up demand for the biography.
The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies also has plans to launch a
series of biographies on Singapore's political old guards.
Ms Tan's book is dedicated to Dr Goh's two grandsons, Goh Shaoyi
and Goh Kenyi.
Shaoyi said: "Now I get to know my grandfather better. And it's a
good way to learn advice from a grandfather and know what he
did."
"Goh Keng Swee: A Portrait" retails at S$45 at all major
bookstores.
Overwhelming response to first book on Goh Keng
Swee
By Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 16 July
2007
