Political appropriation of historical figure : the case study of Lim Bo Seng.

Abstract

"There is tension between the commemorative voice and the historical voice, which seeks to discern motives, understand actions, and discuss consequences that were impossible to analyze during the event itself. "Edward T. Linenthal, U.S. Senate Committee hearing regarding Enola Gay controversy Historical figures have always held an important place in history. However, it is important to question why these historical figures were chosen to be commemorated ahead of others. This paper argues that historical figures are remembered and celebrated, less to do with their achievements, but more to serve the agendas of the agencies that promote them. Hence, there is a need to critically analyze the motives which led to the commemoration ofthese historical figures, in order to attain a more lucid and untainted account ofhistory. This paper shall attempt to use the example of

Lim Bo Seng, a celebrated war hero in Singapore and Malaya, to illustrate the above point.