真正的南洋大学历史只有一部

── 2003年2月12日 ──

　　南洋理工大学是依据南洋理工大学法令而创办的法定机构。南洋理工大学法令没有任何条文涉及南洋大学。从法律角度来说，南洋大学和南洋理工大学是完全没有任何关连的法定团体。

　　从历史角度来看，1953年陈六使先生倡议创办一间华文大学，得到东南亚华人的热烈支持，在1955年正式成立南洋大学，到了1980年并入新加坡国立大学之后，南洋大学名已亡，实已亡。马来亚南洋大学校友会编历史的定位是：南洋大学从创办到被关闭，走过的历史道路，从1953年开始，到1980年终止。

　　1981年，新加坡政府在南洋大学的故校园云南园建立南洋理工学院。1991年将之升格成为南洋理工大学，2001年，南洋理工大学庆祝大学成立20周年，这间大学的历史是从1981年开始。

　　南洋大学并入新加坡国立大学，停止存在之后，过了一年，南洋理工大学前身南洋理工学院才成立，两间大学的历史没有任何阶段的重叠，也没有拉上任何关系。云南园改朝换代，从1981年到今天，都是众所周知，新加坡政府也没有否认的事实。

　　2003年1月8日，南洋理工大学校长接受《联合早报》专访时认为在2005年恢复正名南洋大学是很自然而且可能的事，我们是南洋大学的校友和支持者，深切希望南洋理工大学在任何情况之下，不要用南洋大学的名字，把自已的历史加入南洋大学的历史之中，两段历史又是互不相关，混在一起就不能突出两间大学在不同历史阶段，建立起来的传统和声誉。

　　更重要的是，南洋大学已经完成了它的历史任务，给东南亚华人留下一部真正伟大的南洋大学历史，这部历史，充满真情，也充满辛酸，它纪载了海外华人维护母语教育权利的那种万众一心、不畏强暴、排除万难的精神，记载了光辉灿烂的结束，是人类教育史的一部珍贵的遗产。南洋理工大学是有知名度的大学，有责任协助保护这部珍贵的遗产，不要“复名”南洋大学。

　　南洋大学已故23年，它真正的历史有如刻在岩石上的事实，流传万古千秋，不再容许任何人，包括南洋大学和南洋理工大学的校友，任意修改。“复名”南洋大学，没有必要，也不合乎常理。真正的南洋大学历史只有一部，真正的南洋大学只有一间，从1953年开始，到1980年终止。

支持者署名：　(2005年6月11日，根据《南大历史只有一部》增改)

Important message to all Nantah friends (updated May 1, 2003) Objective: Stop NTU from using the exact name "Nanyang University" in 2005. Reason: To protect and preserve the integrity of the true legendary history of our alma mater Nanyang University. How to help: Please endorse the one page on "Only One Real History of Nanyang University" and be a supporter by sending your Chinese name with a note of intent ("I want my name posted on One-NU-History web page") by email to enguchoo@yahoo.ca or by mail to: One-NU-History, 6577 Parkdale Drive, Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5B 2X4. Your name will be posted in http://www.geocities.com/ntuNotnu. The following rules will apply to the web site: (1) The name list in the web site will be updated frequently from now to December 1, 2004. (2) The only change on the content of the web site is the update of the names of supporters. (3) Information in your email or mail will be kept confidential. Only your name is posted. (4) You can delete your name by the same way as you got it posted. (5) The content of the web site will be published as a permanent record (e.g. in some book or local newspaper). Facts and Observations Fact 1. NTU's Chinese name is already changed to "Nantah" since March 1995. Fact 2. The list of NU graduates was officially transferred from NUS to NTU in August 1996. Fact 3. NTU's president Dr. Su announced the likely intention of using "NU" (January 8, 2003 ZaoBao). Fact 4. NTU's 21 years of history and its 60,000 graduates can not be totally deleted. Observation A. NTU intends to take over the identity of Nanyang University, not just the name. Fact 5. NU was established miraculously in 1953 and ceased in 1980 after its merger with Singapore University. Its true history is from 1953 to 1980. Fact 6. The good achievements of NU alumni have confirmed that NU has fulfilled it main mission of educating Southeast Asia Chinese high school graduates. Fact 7. NU is now a very proud unparallel success history in Southeast Asia Chinese education. Fact 8. The legendary name of NU is infringed if NTU changes its name to exactly "NU" in 2005. Observation B. The good name of NU is in danger and we must stop NTU from changing its name to exactly "Nanyang University" in 2005. What can we do? Simple truth and usual ethics may not stop NTU's plan. We need to inform all Nantah alumni and Southeast Asia Chinese. The historical fact is "NU's true legendary history is from 1953-1980 and it definitely does not include NTI and NTU".

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is a legal entity created by the NTU Government Act which has nothing to do with Nanyang University (NU). From a legal point of view, NU and NTU are two totally unrelated legal entities.

Historically, Mr. Tan Lark-Sye originated the proposal of building a Chinese university in 1953. It was passionately supported by Southeast Asia Chinese communities. NU was officially built in 1955. After it was merged into National University of Singapore in 1980, NU has ceased in name and in reality. According to the history compiled by the Malaya Nantah Alumni Association, NU's life span, from its birth to its demise, started in 1953 and ended in 1980.

In 1981, Singapore Government constructed Nanyang Technical Institute (NTI) on YunNanYuan, the old campus of NU. In 1991 NTI was expanded and became a full university. In 2001, NTU celebrated its 20 years anniversary. The history of this university began in 1981.

NTU's predecessor NTI was started one year after NU was merged and ceased to exist. The two universities are unrelated and do not share any overlaps. All the institutional changes in YunNanYuan since 1980 are facts that are known to general public and are not denied by Singapore Government.

In an interview with LianHe Morning News (ZaoBao) on January 8, 2003, NTU's president Professor Su Guaning indicated that restoring and rectifying the name of NTU to NU in 2005 is a likely and natural event. As NU alumni and NU supporters, we sincerely hope that NTU will never use the exact name of NU under any circumstances. NTU should not inject its own history into the history of NU. The two histories are totally unrelated. Combing them will smother the different reputations and traditions achieved by the two universities at different times.

More importantly, NU has already fulfilled its original historical mission. It has bestowed a great NU history to the Southeast Asia Chinese. This history is full of true feelings and also full of bitterness. It recorded the fearless, unified and persevering spirit of oversea Chinese in protecting and nourishing the right of mother tongue Chinese language education. It also recorded the glorious ending of NU. It is an invaluable legacy in human history of education. As a renown and prestigious university, NTU has the obligation to help protect this precious heritage and should not rename itself to NU.

NU has already ceased for 23 years. Its true history was already cast in stone to be passed on forever. It can not allow any party, including the alumni of NU and NTU, to alter its history arbitrarily. It is irrational and not at all necessary for NTU to "revert" its name to NU. There is only one NU and only one real history of NU. It started in 1953 and it ended in 1980.

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