Topic 2

The national museum has decided to erect a statue in front of its entrance. They have to choose between Stamford Raffles and Tan Tock Seng. If you were working for the museum, who would you choose ? and why?

I would choose Tan Tock Seng as there are already a few statues of Sir Stamford Raffles in some of the museums. This will let younger generations have a chance to not only know about Sir Stamford Raffles, but also have a chance to know this man who had done a lot for the public of Singapore in the past.Tan Tock Seng had contributed by giving medical help for poor people for little or no cost at all. He also uses his own money to pay for the funeral expenses of unclaimed bodies that die in the streets and verandahs. By doing so, he supplied 1,032 coffins.Tan Tock Seng helps in settling problems and disputes in the Chinese community as he was appointed the leader of Chinese community with the title of Kapitan of the Hokkien clan. Even after his death, his descendants like Tan Kim Ching, Tan Teck Guan and Tan Chay Yan continued his legacy in helping the poor Chinese and each of them became leaders if the Chinese community.So I would choose to erect a statue of Tan Tock Seng in front of the National Mueseum entrance instead of Sir Stamford Raffles's