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Supporters of the European Union marching Britain’s Parliament avoids in London as the British Parliament sat to discuss the fate of Brexit yesterday. approving Brexit deal PHOTO: REUTERS

position MPs could be enticed to Lawmakers order vote with the government, if only to see the Brexit long-drawn saga PM Johnson to seek concluded once and for all. 3-month extension Instead, Conservative rebel MPs and opposition parties joined for talks with EU hands in voting by 322 to 306 to postpone approval of the deal until Mr Johnson specifies in a new and Jonathan Eyal detailed law what the arrange- Global Affairs Correspondent ments with the EU would mean in In London practice for the British people and economy. Since that is bound to take time, British Prime Minister Boris John- the real purpose of this parliamen- son has suffered a serious blow af- tary tactic is to force Mr Johnson to ter an emergency meeting of Parlia- seek a postponement of the date of ment in London refused to ap- Britain’s departure from the EU, prove the separation deal he negoti- from the end of this month to the ated with the European Union, and end of January. ordered him instead to seek a A furious Mr Johnson vowed last three-month extension for the ne- night that he will not negotiate a de- gotiations with the EU. lay with the EU and that “neither Mr Johnson has vowed to try does the law compel me to do so”. again to get the EU deal approved He now intends to introduce leg- in parliamentary sessions this Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking in the House of Commons yesterday. He intends to introduce legislation tomorrow islation tomorrow to implement week. But the unprecedented po- to implement the deal he negotiated with Europe, in the hope of having it approved by the end of this month. PHOTO: DPA the deal he negotiated with Eu- litical crisis in London is deepen- rope, in the hope that he could still gathered to demand a new referen- “Brexit = Disaster Capitalism,” “Pulling out never works,” read ing, and the odds on an early gen- have it approved by the end of this Thousands dum while lawmakers decided the read another. another. eral election to break the logjam met only a handful of times on a Sat- FOR A BREXIT DELAY FOR THE DEAL month. fate of Britain’s departure from the Under the slogan “Eton Mess”, One man was dressed as broccoli are rising. urday, and only when the nation However, his refusal to consider European Union (EU). one placard showed Mr Johnson and while another was dressed as a Mr Johnson, who came to office faces historic decisions of the ut- asking the EU for an extension for join march Many turned to sometimes risque former prime minister David banana, with the sign: “We are ripe in July on a platform of unremitting most importance. the negotiations is certain to domi- British humour, and their props Cameron – both of whom had stud- for change.” hostility to the EU, surprised ob- But the government felt justified nate British politics in the near fu- ranged from exquisitely crafted ied at Eton College, Britain’s most Younger and older demonstra- servers by negotiating a markedly in asking for the emergency debate ture. For Parliament has already effigies to battered empty boxes privileged school. tors drew attention to the fact that flexible deal which offered the since Britain’s membership in the 322 306 voted on a law which obliges the against and a baguette. Eton Mess is the name of a British Britain’s youth had overwhelm- prospect of an amicable and EU is supposed to lapse by the end Prime Minister to seek a postpone- Mr Dominic Cummings – cast by dessert made of smashed meringue, ingly voted to remain in 2016, friendly separation from the EU, in of this month regardless of whether ment if he failed to conclude a deal his enemies variously as the puppet strawberries and whipped cream. unlike the older generation. an effort to minimise the feared dis- a separation treaty is concluded or with the EU, and Mr Johnson’s Brexit master of Brexit, Britain’s Rasputin The sign cast Mr Cameron and Mr “I’m here ‘cos my grandad voted ruption to trade. not, so if a deal is to be put in place, from the EU. current paralysis in the hope that claim that he will not do so has al- and a political vandal – was made Johnson as “Horror and Lardy” in leave,” read one sign. The deal also overcame the big- not one day can be wasted. Yet it soon became clear that Mr this would discredit the govern- ready resulted in threats from law- into a giant effigy of the devil, the pose of historic comedians “To my grandson, if Brexit still gest obstacle to the talks with Eu- During yesterday’s heated parlia- Johnson’s wish to have the deal rat- ment. Labour’s preferred ap- makers that they will drag him complete with horns and a glove Laurel and Hardy, complete with happens I’m so sorry, we tried our rope: the status of the border mentary sessions, the British ified quickly had no chance of be- proach is that any arrangement through the courts. puppet of his boss, Mr Johnson. bowler hats. best,” read another sign. across the island of Ireland, divid- Prime Minister warned lawmakers ing realised. with the EU should be put to an- And as MPs continue to quibble, LONDON • Anti-Brexit protesters “Demonic Cummings” was In 2016, 17.4 million voters, or 52 “I was 17 in 2016, give me a vote ing Northern Ireland, which re- to “abandon the delusion” that His ruling Conservatives do not other referendum. public clamour for another referen- used a bizarre array of humour scrawled across the head of the per cent, voted for Brexit, while 16.1 on my future!” demanded one pro- mains part of the United King- Britain’s departure from the EU enjoy an overall majority in the “Voting for the deal won’t deliver dum on the whole question of leav- yesterday to lampoon Britain’s lead- effigy, which was pulled by protest- million, or 48 per cent, supported tester. dom, from the Republic of Ireland, could be delayed again. 650 seat-strong House of Com- certainty, and the people should ing the EU is mounting. ers, casting Prime Minister Boris ers – some with berets sporting the staying in the EU. Both campaigns Other protesters made light of which continues to be a member “If there is one feeling that unites mons, so they needed the support have the final say,” Labour’s leader Hundreds of thousands of Johnson’s chief adviser as the stars of the EU flag. had wealthy backers. the fact that “remainers” have been of the EU. the British public with a growing of opposition parties. And that Jeremy Corbyn said, straining to be demonstrators converged on Lon- manipulating devil behind an EU Another sign read: “I didn’t vote Sex was one topic employed yes- portrayed as out-of-touch, posh Armed with these concessions, number of officials in Brussels, it is proved elusive. heard during yesterday’s noisy par- don yesterday, and their chants divorce that they view as the work for Dominic Cummings”. terday – as, peculiarly, were vegeta- and wealthy residents of London Mr Johnson convened Parliament a burning desire to get Brexit Labour, Britain’s biggest opposi- liamentary debates. resonated loudly and clearly in- of a privileged few. Other targets were the privileged bles and fruit. and the South-east of England. for an extraordinary session yester- done,” Mr Johnson added, refer- tion party, came out against the Mr Johnson anticipated a rejec- side the parliamentary chamber. The battle over Brexit spilled financial backers of Brexit. “Brexit is like consent – we can “I tried to make this sign funny but day. This in itself was exceptional, ring to the popular nickname given deal, largely because it is in tion from opposition parties, yet onto the streets of London when “Brexit is a billionaire con,” read change our minds during foreplay,” there’s no bigger joke than Brexit,” since the British Parliament has to Britain’s process of separation Labour’s interest to continue the still hoped that some individual op- [email protected] hundreds of thousands of people one banner. read one placard. read another placard. REUTERS

Malay-language NTU building and road renamed in honour of pioneers literary pioneer Suratman Markasan (centre), one of the three recipients of the Felicia Choo The building Nanyang that houses Distinguished Nanyang Alumni Award, A building and a road at Nanyang Technological with Senior Technological University (NTU) University’s Minister of State have been given new names to College of for Trade and mark pioneers’ contributions to the Humanities, Arts Industry and development of Singapore’s educa- and Social Education Chee tion system. Sciences has Hong Tat and The building that houses the Col- been named the NTU president lege of Humanities, Arts and Social Singapore Subra Suresh. Sciences has been named the Singa- Hokkien Huay PHOTO: NANYANG pore Hokkien Huay Kuan (SHHK) Kuan Building. TECHNOLOGICAL Building, while Nanyang Valley, a PHOTOS: UNIVERSITY road adjacent to the Chinese Her- LIANHE ZAOBAO itage Centre, will be renamed the Tan Lark Sye Walk. A plaque to mark the renaming was unveiled during a ceremony at the building yesterday. The event was attended by about 300 guests, including Education Minister Ong Ye Kung. Speaking at the event, NTU presi- dent Subra Suresh said: “(The local communities’) legacy should not be forgotten by future generations of Top NTU alumni awards for poet, Singaporeans, even as we revel in the progress that Singapore has made in her education journey, Zaqy Mohamad and Teckwah boss with two top-ranked universities that are among the world’s best, and a strong research, innovation and education ecosystem.” The SHHK was established in Nanyang Technological University these alumni have set a standard to One of the winners of the 1840 and is one of the largest clan (NTU) has come a long way from its which our students and fellow Nanyang Alumni Achievement associations here. beginnings in the 1950s as Nanyang alumni can aspire.” Award was Mrs Chua-Lim Yen In 1953, then chairman Tan Lark University to become one of the Mr Suratman is a multi-award- Ching, deputy director-general of Sye, a prominent Chinese business- world’s top universities today, a winning poet and novelist who re- education for professional develop- man and philanthropist, mooted fact not lost as distinguished ceived the Cultural Medallion, Sin- ment and executive director at the the idea of establishing Nanyang alumni were recognised at the NTU gapore’s highest honour in the arts, Ministry of Education. University, or Nantah, to advance Annual Homecoming yesterday. in 2010 for his contributions to Sin- She helped to conceptualise the nation’s education and develop- Of the 39 alumni honoured with gapore literature. NorthLight School to admit stu- ment. ing refurbished and will become an Mr Chee noted that Nantah went ture of Singapore,” he added. the Nanyang Alumni Awards, three Mr Chua, who was a former Nomi- dents with difficulties in handling In the 1950s, the SHHK donated educational and recreation hub for on to nurture 12,000 graduates in “Because the non-communist received the highest honour – the nated Member of Parliament and the mainstream academic curricu- 212ha of land in Jurong Road for the students and the public. It will open various fields, including many be- side won, we have today’s Singa- Nanyang Distinguished Alumni president of the Singapore Chinese lum, and served as its founding prin- campus, while Mr Tan personally of- by the first quarter of next year. longing to the Pioneer and pore, and we have progressed from Award. Chamber of Commerce and Indus- cipal. fered $5million, eliciting more con- At the Nanyang Alumni Awards Merdeka generations. Third World to First.” They were Malay-language liter- try, transformed Teckwah from a The event at Nanyang Audito- tributions from communities in Sin- in the evening, Senior Minister of “The late Mr Tan Lark Sye, be- Mr Chee said that the university ary pioneer Suratman Markasan, simple paper-box maker into an in- rium was attended by about 1,200 gapore and Malaya. Mr Tan also be- State for Education Chee Hong Tat longed to the strong tradition of phi- has transformed in tandem with Teckwah Industrial Corporation ternational supply chain group. alumni and guests. came the first chairman of the exec- spoke about Nantah’s beginnings lanthropy amongst community the nation, and more than five managing director Thomas Chua, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, an alumnus Prof Suresh noted that within the utive committee of Nanyang Uni- and the role Mr Tan – who was de- leaders in the pre-independence pe- decades on, NTU is a comprehen- and Minister of State for National from the School of Electrical and past year, NTU has climbed to its versity, which was founded in 1955 prived of his citizenship in 1964 for riod. They include Mr Tan Kah Kee, sive research university of strong in- Development and Manpower Zaqy Electronic Engineering and highest position in every major in- and officially opened in 1958. activities prejudicial to security and Mr Lee Kong Chian and Mr Lien ternational reputation. Mohamad. Nanyang Business School, has led a ternational league table. Nanyang Technological Institute public order – played. Ying Chow, who were successful in “For many years, Chinese-edu- Professor Subra Suresh, the NTU successful career in consulting and Most recently, it broke into the was subsequently inaugurated on Mr Tan’s call for the establish- business and generously ploughed cated Singaporeans would not have president, said: “This year’s recipi- technology firms such as Arthur An- top 50 of the world’s best universi- the same grounds in 1981 and ment of a new university to provide back their profits to benefit soci- had the opportunity to access ents have made positive impacts in dersen, IBM, Dimension Data (NTT ties in this year’s Times Higher merged with the National Institute Chinese-educated students with a ety,” Mr Chee said. higher education if not for Nantah. various fields such as the literary Group) and Ernst & Young. Education World University Rank- of Education in 1991 to form NTU. pathway to higher education and “The Government had our differ- We remain grateful to the contribu- arts, business, community and pub- The other award categories are ings. The SHHK Building and Tan Lark the efforts of the clan association ences with Mr Tan Lark Sye. It was tions of the university and its gradu- lic service.” the Nanyang Alumni Achievement NTU currently has more than Sye Walk are next to the Chinese elicited strong support, with Chi- one facet of a life and death struggle ates,” he added. Through their career achieve- Award, Nanyang Outstanding 244,000 alumni in 162 countries. Heritage Centre. nese people from all walks of life re- Alumni members taking photos yesterday at the newly renamed Tan Lark Sye between the non-communists and ments and engagement with the Young Alumni Award and Nanyang The nearby Yunnan Garden is be- sponding to the call for donations. Walk. Mr Tan Lark Sye had played a key role in setting up Nanyang University. the pro-communists over the fu- [email protected] university and the community, Alumni Service Award. Felicia Choo

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