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March 21, 2008
David the Goliath: Remembering David Marshall
I READ with interest the media coverage of the centenary birthday celebration of David Marshall, Singapore's first chief minister. While the legal and diplomatic luminaries paid glowing tribute to this 'giant of a man' - I would like to share a common man's encounter with the late Dr Marshall.
The year was 1988 and I had just started work the year before as a Program Executive with Safra. I was placed in charge of organising the activities of the association's Current Affairs Group. I had an idea one evening that we could perhaps organise a talk by Dr Marshall to members of Safra. In the days when fax was very new to the office, the only way we could contact him was via the telex machine as he was in Paris as Singapore's ambassador to France. I was not hopeful that he would accept but nonetheless thought it worth a try. The next day, I was very pleasantly surprised when I saw his reply that he was accepting our invitation as he would be in town for his 80th birthday celebration.
The topic was simple - 'Singapore - Then And Now' - we had wanted to hear his views on how Singapore had changed from his days in politics to diplomacy. We also wanted to pick his mind on the future though the topic was not that apparent. The weeks building up to the lecture were intense. The response was overwhelming - we had students, senior citizens and the general public all earnest to fill the limited capacity of the Safra Tampines auditorium. A pre-lecture lunch was arranged with Dr Marshall to discuss the arrangements. It was my first meeting with the man. He chose Japanese food when asked what he preferred.
The legend left indelible impressions on me - a young working executive fresh from university. Cutting a grandfatherly figure, Dr Marshall was in his signature bush jacket, pipe and a mini-voice recorder. While his physical appearance was 'imposing', his mind was 'boggling'. His zest for life, his intense interest and love for Singapore could be felt throughout the lunch to the actual day of his lecture.
Dr Marshall's determination to keep working for Singapore was what impressed me most. He lamented the pre-occupation of our young with material possessions. He said 'we should work to live, not live to work'. The day of his lecture saw the auditorium packed to full capacity of 196. It was the highest record of attendance for the Safra Current Affairs Group ever. Dr Marshall kept his talk brief as planned so that he could take questions and interact with the audience. The same intensity and zest permeated the auditorium. When an older member of the audience 'berated' him for leaving opposition politics and democracy for Singapore, one could hear a pin drop in the auditorium. Dr Marshall sat intently while the man became quite emotional. After the man finished, Dr Marshall was pensive. He did not react with any hint of displeasure. How he responded remains vivid to me, even after 20 years. He observed that given the benefit of hindsight, he was not sure if he could have done as well, much less better than Mr Lee Kuan Yew and the PAP.
He was, however, quick to add that 'a stomach of steel' was absolute requirement in politics. He was a man who gave credit where it was due - even to his political opponent. After his lecture, he mingled with the audience - spoke to students who attended and provided many with photo opportunities. When I asked for his autograph, he wrote of thanks for the opportunity to speak at Safra and offered his best wishes to me - in another signature mark - green ink. He regaled us with the story behind why he always wrote in green to much laughter. I am grateful for the rare opportunity of meeting this giant of a man. I am sure the rest of the 196 heard him share this feeling. Not everyone agreed with everything he said that day - but this would have been what he expected anyway.
Bernard Law Cher Guan
