Brother Paul Memorial Lecture 2026

(Seated l/r) Mr Ravindran (5th from left) Mr Marcus Ooi, Professor Gary Lit,  Oh Teik Soo, Linda Tan, Pauline Chew, Ignatius Chew, Yeoh Lam Swee and Agnes Chew

At the Brother Paul Memorial Lectures 2026 held on 5 August, there were supposed to be two speakers: Ms Yeoh Chee Yan and Professor Gary Lit.

Ms Yeoh is the Chairman of the National Heritage Board and Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) of Singapore. Professor (Dr.) Gary Lit Ying Loong is a retired Singapore-based academic, author, and World War II/Malayan Emergency historian, as well as the author of ‘If The Sky Were To Fall’.

Due to Ms Yeoh being unable to attend, Prof. Gary delivered the entire 90-minute lecture to an audience of Form Six students.

His topics covered the British colonial days, the second World War and the brutal Japanese occupation and the emergency years. While he spoke of that time he would simultaneously question the students about the top-down narrative and offer bottom-up questions based on his research findings.

What was the biggest money earner for the British in Malaya—was it rubber and tin, or opium?"  For Prof. Gary, based on his research, it was opium. It was a big revenue earner not just for Malaya but for several countries within south east asia. 'But don't take my word do some research of you own' he advised.

Gary addresses the Form Six attendees-what was the top revenue earner, tin,rubber or ......

On the Japanese years he delved into the cruelty practised by the Japanese army, the victims who survived their senseless tortures and the atrocities commited. However the Japanese never admitted committing their atrocities or ever apologising for them. Hence Professor Gary says we can forgive but we should never forget.  

General Yamashita, the Tiger of Malaya and the atrocities committed during their occupation

But the speech was not all gloom. He highlighted about a Michaelian and a decorated WWII bomber pilot called Ho Weng Toh. At the start of the war Ho escaped to China where he joined the famous Flying Tiger to bomb Imperial Japanese army. After the war he was the main trainer of the Malaysia Singapore Airlines and then Singapore Airlines. 

A young Captain Ho Weng Toh and (r) elderly Captain with Pref Gary

It was stories like these with supporting graphic material that kept the Form Six students being interactve and asking relevant questions that kept the afternoon event lively.  

The event concluded following the distribution of bursaries to students by YLCO clan members.

Handover of scholarships to students by (L) Pauline and Ignatius Chew and Agnes Chew

..the other recipients ...

Mr Marcus Ooi hands appreciation tokens 

...a super afternoon event .....

JAG