リー・シェンロンのインスタグラム(leehsienloong) - 7月11日 12時23分

Asam paya buah di hutan,
Ambil pelepah dibuat lidi;
Tuan berbakti kepada watan,
Jasa dikenang hingga abadi.
(Asam paya can be found in the forest,
Spines of leaves are made into rakes;
Sir, you have served our nation,
And your deeds remembered eternally)

Recited this pantun to Mr Sidek Saniff at the launch of his personal memoir, “Life Reflections at Eighty”, yesterday. Sidek’s name is familiar to many. He has been in public service all his life – an MP for 25 years and an office holder in MTI, MOE and MEWR.

Haji Sidek was a popular and respected Malay teacher before he joined politics. As President of the Malay Teachers’ Union (KGMS), he was a firebrand, unafraid to take on the government to fight for greater recognition of the Malay language, and better salaries for Malay-stream teachers. So Sidek was surprised when Mr Lee Kuan Yew invited him to join the PAP in 1976. It was not an easy decision – some of his union colleagues accused him of being “bought over” by the PAP. However Sidek accepted, and his convictions bore fruit. His efforts, with other Malay PAP MPs and community leaders, led to the formation of MENDAKI Singapore, which has done much to uplift the Malay community.

I was privileged to work with Sidek in MTI. Sidek is a warm and generous person, always the first to go the extra mile to help his friends and constituents, and the last to claim credit.

With the launch of his book, I hope many Singaporeans will be reminded of and inspired by Haji Sidek’s lifelong service to our country. – LHL (MCI Photo by Chwee)

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