[Book Review] Ee Peng Liang: Singapore's Father of Charity (Our Amazing Heroes)

Today I read ”Ee Peng Liang: Singapore’s Father of Charity” written by Shawn Seah and Illustrated by Patrick Yee (this book is my second read from the ‘Our Amazing Heroes’ series. Link to my first review can be found here). 

Ee Peng Liang: Singapore’s Father of Charity (Our Amazing Heroes series)

2025

Published by: WS Education

Written by: Shawn Seah, Illustrated by: Patrick Yee

This year, Singapore is set to celebrate its 60 years of independence, which is a result of contributions from countless brave souls who resiliently fought against the Japanese during WWII. One of such fighters was Ee Peng Liang and this book narrates his story. 

“Peng Liang bravely stepped forward. [...] The Japanese officer was impressed! [...] Instead of executing Peng Liang and the two other volunteers, he told them how much he admired their courage.”

Peng Liang’s unwavering courage is one to be remembered for ages to come. The Japanese officers had powerful weapons that would instill fear in anyone. However, as a leader of the group of captured volunteers, Peng Liang felt that it was his duty to protect them from harm. He fearlessly offered himself to the officers for the collective good of his group. This does not only shed light on his immense courage, but also his exemplary leadership quality which everyone can learn from. 

“After a few days, there was little water to drink and food to eat. Peng Liang and the volunteers wanted to keep fighting, but Singapore’s British Leaders decided otherwise.” 

Perseverance is an essential quality to emerge victorious in any situation. Peng Liang had a lot of obstacles that could have stopped him from continuing to support the war efforts. However, he did not let them discourage him from fighting against the Japanese. The sovereign state that we have today is a result of brave and persistent soldiers like him, and Singapore needs more patriotic citizens with these qualities. 

“[...] he wanted to spend his life helping others who were less fortunate, like the poor, sick and those in need.”

After WWII, Peng Liang was successful in setting up his own accounting firm. He realised that the others were not as fortunate as him and could not make their ends meet. In a bid to help them, he founded the Singapore Council of Social Service. He also created a new department within that organisation, the Community Chest, to collect and manage donations for the needy. In other words, he had devised a way to make use of his strong numeracy skills to help others. 

Hence, Peng Liang is a great role model in showing us that there are more ways than one to contribute to society. Anyone could step up to improve the welfare of people around them if they are passionate about the cause. They can leverage their strengths and think of ways to support their community. 

Peng Liang’s story is a testament to the power of courage, perseverance, and compassion. Readers could definitely draw inspiration from his phenomenal leadership qualities and humanitarian efforts. His legacy reminds us that making a difference does not always require grand gestures – rather, it is about using our skills and resources to uplift those around us. 

I am sure this book would inspire kids to discover their strengths and help Singapore’s growth in their own ways. It would allow them to reflect on how they could make more meaningful contributions to society. A thought-provoking and immersive read that I would strongly recommend for children!