Morgan Chua, R.I.P.

I read from local news that this veteran political cartoonist Morgan Chua has died on Thursday. He was 68.

He was hospitalised and in a coma in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan.

Known for his bold and humurous political cartoons, this Singapore-born cartoonist began drawing for the Sinagpore Herald, a local nespaper in 1970. He was bold enough to draw our first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew (LKY in short abbreviation known to local residents) and his political caricatures and published them in the Singapore Herald. During that time, our Government (you should know who) didn’t like the political drawings and the newspaper was forced to close in 1971. After many years, he actually received a thank you letter in 2009 from LKY for drawing and depicting him and his wife in his books.

Chua’s publications include Tiananmen: My Singapore; Divercity Singapore: A Cartoon History of Immigration; and In Memory of Madam Kwa Geok Choo 1920-2010. He also illustrated for the late president S.R. Nathan’s 50 Stories From My Life.

In 2014, Epigram published his sketches of LKY: Political Cartoons. Chua was featured in a video posted by Epigram, explaining his reasons for compiling his sketches: ‘I grew up in his era. I think Lee Kuan Yew must have a lighter side (to) his life. That’s why I produced this book for him and the people of Singapore, to know the human side of Lee Kuan Yew.”

Many of his books can still be found in many bookstores in this country today.   

Smart people vs smart nation

Smart people are those who do little or no work yet have created recurring passive incomes to support their quality lifestyles. 

Smart nation means people continue to work very hard for money. They stop thinking to analyse why there is little money left at the end of the day or how someone is able to take their money without them knowing it. They just spend the remaining money and time on stuff that doesn’t correct or improve on themselves but to add to the passive incomes of a few smart people.

I tried very hard to join the smart people group after reading Kiyosaki’s book: Rich Dad Poor Dad many years ago but I discovered this concept too late. Sigh!