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Goodbye, Mr Lee Thank you, Mr Lee

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KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE“The light that has guided us all these years has been extinguished.

We have lost our founding father Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who lived and breathed Singapore all his life.He and his team led our pioneer generation to create this island nation, Singapore...

We have all lost a father. We grieve as one people, one nation. But in our grief, we’ve displayed the best ofSingapore. Ordinary people going to great lengths to distribute refreshments and umbrellas to the crowd and helpone another in the queue late into the night. Citizen soldiers, Home Team officers, cleaners, all working tirelessly

round the clock. Our shared sorrow has brought us together and made us stronger and more resolute.We come together not only to mourn, we come together also to rejoice in Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s long and full lifeand what he has achieved with us, his people in Singapore. We come together to pledge ourselves to continue

building this exceptional country. Let us shape this island nation into one of the great cities in the worldreflecting the ideals he stood for, realising the dreams he inspired and worthy of the people who have made

Singapore our home and nation.”

– Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in his eulogy at the state funeral for Mr Lee Kuan Yew

COVER PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN. The state funeral procession leaving ParliamentHouse early yesterday afternoon amid a torrential downpour. More than 100,000people lined the 15.4km route of Singapore’s founding father and first Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew’s journey to the University Cultural Centre for the state funeral service.

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By WARREN FERNANDEZEDITOR

IN THE end, it all boiled down tofour simple words: “Thank you,Mr Lee.”

After nearly 21/2 hours of heart-felt eulogies at a moving state fu-neral service at the University Cul-tural Centre (UCC), those fourwords summed up the thoughts ofthe 10 speakers, at times personal,poetic or profound.

The more than 100,000 peoplewho stood drenched in pouringrain all along the 15.4km route forMr Lee Kuan Yew’s hour-long fi-nal journey through Singapore,from Parliament House to KentRidge, called out his name per-haps because it seemed the bestway to say: “Thank you, Mr Lee.”

Indeed, that sentiment was evi-dent over the past week of nation-al mourning. In scenes never seenbefore or likely to be repeated,nearly 454,700 people had queuedfor up to 10 hours through the dayand night to attend his lying instate at Parliament House. Anoth-er 1.2 million went to 18 condo-lence centres around the island topay their respects, leave flowers,messages and gifts.

Mr Lee, who died aged 91 lastMonday, had been a father figureto the country he helped foundand forge over the decades, con-stantly worrying about the futureof his charges, pushing them towork harder, behave better, thinklonger term, and even have morebabies because the nation neededit.

Despite – or perhaps becauseof – his tough love and tough-minded policies, he won thepeople’s trust when he deliveredon his promises of a better life,building a metropolis where oncethere were mudflats.

Little wonder then that manyhad hoped he would recover from

his illness and attend the celebra-tions to mark the 50th anniversa-ry of the nation he played so criti-cal a role in shaping. But, alas,that was not to be.

Yet in death, as he so often didover his long years in office, hemanaged to rally his people inwhat might well be the ultimateSG50 commemoration event.

Yesterday, the crowds madeclear that they knew, or had notforgotten, what Mr Lee had doneover those five decades.

Mr David Hong, 58, who hadwatched the 1968 National Day Pa-rade at the Padang in the rain,braved a downpour again to sendoff Mr Lee.

“It’s a test of our spirit and de-termination,” he said. “Whyshould we be afraid of rain whenMr Lee Kuan Yew has gonethrough a lot more storms?”

Facility officer Sim Lye Hock,58, who waited along ClementiRoad from 10.30am, said: “It’s mylast chance to say goodbye... Icould go to school because hepushed for it. If not for him, Idon’t know where I’d be now.”

For over an hour, the gun car-riage carrying Mr Lee’s flag-draped coffin wove its waythrough Singapore, passing sever-al defining landmarks.

These included the NTUC Cen-tre and Trade Union House inShentonWay, which reflect his be-ginnings as a lawyer defendingworkers, the Port of Singaporeand his Tanjong Pagar constituen-cy, as well as Bukit Merah, Queen-stown and Commonwealth hous-ing estates, before heading for theUCC.

There, top representatives ofmore than 20 countries includingIndia’s Prime Minister NarendraModi, Japan’s Prime Minister Shin-zo Abe, Malaysia’s King TuankuAbdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah,Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah,

Indonesian President Joko Wido-do, and former United States pres-ident Bill Clinton joined morethan 2,000 guests for the state fu-neral.

The solemn day was alsomarked by Singaporeans glued totheir television sets or computersat home and abroad, as well as oth-ers in India and New Zealand,where state flags flew athalf-mast.

In an hour-long tribute to hisfather, Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong said “the light that hasguided us all these years has beenextinguished”.

“We have lost our founding fa-

ther Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who livedand breathed Singapore all hislife. He and his team led our pio-neer generation to create this is-land nation, Singapore,” he add-ed, before going on to sketch thebattles that Singapore’s foundingPrime Minister and his exception-al team of ministers had fought toovercome the odds and build amodern, multiracial society, pro-viding jobs, housing, educationand security.

Noting that, above all else, MrLee was “a fighter”, PM Lee add-ed: “In crises, when all seemedhopeless, he was ferocious, end-lessly resourceful, firm in his re-

solve, and steadfast in advancinghis cause. Because he never wa-vered, we didn’t falter. Becausehe fought, we took courage andfought with him, and prevailed.Thus Mr Lee took Singapore fromThird World to First.”

He went on to recall Mr Lee’stireless quest to help Singapore at-tain self-sufficiency in its waterneeds, from cleaning up rivers,building reservoirs, desalinationplants and the Marina Barrage,fighting back tears as he said: “Soperhaps it’s appropriate that to-day for his state funeral the heav-ens opened and cried for him.”

He also remembered Mr Lee as

a father, who although not demon-strative or “touchy-feely”, careddeeply about him and his siblings.

He recounted how his fatherhad urged him to take up medita-tion when his first wife MingYang died, and after he was diag-nosed with lymphoma. Hepressed the issue again in 2011, af-ter the last General Election, not-ed PM Lee.

“So this morning, before theceremonies began at ParliamentHouse, we had a few minutes. Isat by him and meditated,” hesaid, choking up.

Mr Lee’s biggest worry, he not-ed, was that younger Singapore-

ans would “lose the instinct forwhat made Singapore tick”,which was why he was relentlessin writing books right to his lastdays, to share his experienceswith them.

PM Lee concluded with a rally-ing call, urging Singaporeans tobuild on what Mr Lee and the pio-neer generation had achieved.

“We have all lost a father. Weare all in grief. But in our grief, wehave come together to display thebest of Mr Lee’s Singapore,” hesaid, pointing to how people hadgone out of their way to help andcare for each other as they waitedin line to pay their last respects.

“The grief we shared broughtus all closer together, and madeus stronger and more resolved. To-gether, we came not only tomourn. Together, we celebrate MrLee Kuan Yew’s long and full life,and what he has achieved with us,his people.

“Let us continue building thisexceptional country. Let us shapethis island nation into one of thegreat cities in the world reflectingthe ideals he stood for, realisingthe dreams he inspired and wor-thy of the people who have madeSingapore our home and nation.”

Nine other speakers deliveredeulogies, including President

Tony Tan, Emeritus Senior Minis-ter Goh Chok Tong, former minis-ters as well as grassroots and un-ion leaders.

Mr Lee’s younger son, Mr LeeHsien Yang, extended his family’sdeep appreciation to Singapore-ans for the “outpouring of griefand affection” for his father. Hegave a deep bow to the audience,joined by PM and Mrs Lee, to ap-plause.

A young Singaporean, formerStraits Times journalist and nowcivil servant Cassandra Chew,who had worked with Mr Lee on abook, said she was thankful tohave been born in Singpore.

“We don’t have everything,but we have more than most, be-cause of your lifelong labour,” shesaid. “On behalf of young Singapo-reans everywhere, I’d like to say:thank you.”

A bugler sounded the plaintivelast post, followed by a solemnminute’s silence in honour of MrLee, marked by those in the hall aswell as many around the island.

After the national pledge wasrecited and the national anthemwas sung, the funeral processionmade its way to Mandai for a pri-vate cremation service. This wasattended by family, close friendsand Mr Lee’s long-serving staffand medical assistants.

There, family members sharedpersonal memories of the fatherand grandfather they knew andloved.

Mr Lee had once been asked byStraits Times editors how hewould like to be remembered. Notoften lost for words, he struggledfor an answer, saying it was notsomething he thought about, nordid it matter much.

Then, he added: “This was thejob I undertook, I did my best.And I could not do more.”

Given the circumstances, therewas no more he could do, he said,adding that he would have toleave it to people to make whatthey will of his efforts.

“It is of no great consequence.What is of consequence is I didmy best. Full stop.”

Indeed, as many recounted intributes over the past week, MrLee worked relentlessly to secureSingapore’s future. He did so dog-gedly, with discipline and determi-nation to ensure that Singaporesucceeded. His supporters knewit, his enemies and opponentsknew it, and ultimately, the peo-ple whose lives he transformedknew it.

Which is why tens of thou-sands braved the downpour yester-day, holding up posters of him,bowing in respect, throwing flow-ers or waving national flags, call-ing out his name, and giving voiceto their innermost thoughts:“Thank you, Mr Lee.”

warren@sph.com.sg

People standing several deep along Commonwealth Avenue West paying their last respects to Mr Lee as the cortege drove past. More than 100,000 people stood in pouring rain along the procession’s 15.4km route, which included the NTUC Centre and Trade Union House, the Port of Singapore and his Tanjong Pagar constituency, as well as Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Commonwealth housing estates.ST PHOTO: TREVOR TAN

A grateful nation says: ‘Thank you, Mr Lee!’In pouring rain along the streets orglued to the TV, at home and abroad,Singaporeans bid a final farewell

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ABOVE: People waving national flags as Mr Lee’s cortege passed near thejunction of Jalan Bukit Merah and Silat Road. ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI

RIGHT: The guard of honour contingents marching into position before thecortege left Parliament House. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

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By RACHEL AU-YONG

LEADERS from 23 countries at-tended the state funeral of found-ing Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yewyesterday, in a testament to thedeep regard many had for hisachievements and his insights.

Gathered at the University Cul-tural Centre were heads of state orgovernment from the other Aseancountries and close partners.

They were Malaysia’s Yangdi-Pertuan Agong Tuanku AbdulHalim Mu’adzam Shah, Brunei’sSultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indone-sian President Joko Widodo, Cam-bodian Prime Minister Hun Sen,Laos’ Prime Minister ThongsingThammavong, Myanmar’s Presi-dent Thein Sein, Thai Prime Minis-ter Prayut Chan-o-cha andVietnam’s Prime Minister NguyenTan Dung. Philippine Senate presi-dent Franklin Drilon representedPresident Benigno Aquino.

Australian Prime Minister TonyAbbott, Bhutan King Jigme KhesarNamgyel Wangchuck, Canada’sGovernor-General David John-ston, Indian Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi, and Israeli President Re-uven Rivlin were also present.

Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe, Kazakhstan Prime MinisterKarim Massimov, New ZealandGovernor-Genera l JerryMateparae, South Korean Presi-dent Park Geun Hye and QatarEmir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad AlThani also attended the funeral.

Chinese Vice-President LiYuanchao, former United Statespresident Bill Clinton, British For-eign Secretary William Hague andRussia’s First Deputy Prime Minis-ter Igor Shuvalov were also there.

In his eulogy, Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong said his fatherhad raised Singapore’s standing inthe world.

“Mr Lee was not just a percep-tive observer of world affairs, buta statesman who articulatedSingapore’s international interestsand enlarged our strategic space,”he said. He added that at crucialturning points, “his views andcounsel influenced thinking anddecisions in many capitals”.

In the process, Mr Lee “built upa wide network of friends and ac-quaintances, in and out of power”.

He knew every Chinese leader

from Mao Zedong, and every USpresident from Lyndon Johnson.He established close rapport withPresident Suharto of Indonesia.

Other close friends, PM Leesaid, included former British pre-mier Margaret Thatcher, Mr Clin-ton, and former US Secretary ofState Henry Kissinger, who was al-so at the funeral service.

“They valued his candour andinsight. As Mrs Thatcher said,‘(Mr Lee) had a way of penetratingthe fog of propaganda and express-ing, with unique clarity, the issuesof our times and the way to tacklethem. He was never wrong.’

“Hence, despite being small,Singapore’s voice is heard, and weenjoy far more influence on theworld stage than we have any rea-son to expect,” PM Lee added.

Mr Modi earlier told reportersthat Mr Lee “was among the tall-est leaders of our times”.

“Singapore’s transformation inone generation is a tribute to hisleadership... I am sure that he leftsatisfied with Singapore’s achieve-ments and confident about its fu-ture,” he said.

“He insp i red not jus tSouth-east Asia, but all of Asia, tobelieve in its own destiny.”

Mr Modi described Mr Lee as asource of inspiration, whose“achievements and thoughts giveme confidence in the possibility ofIndia’s own transformation”.

Bhutan’s King said: “His legacywill live on forever (not just)through Singaporeans, but all overthe world. People such as myself,young people who have great admi-ration for Lee Kuan Yew, will con-tinue to remember him with greatrespect.”

Mr Clinton added that he appre-ciated Mr Lee’s insights and can-dour: “Because Singapore hadbeen friendly to the US and wasfriendly to the forces of reform inChina, we were all able to have aninformal relationship and just talkthings through, and I think that’sthe way.

“People can deal with differenc-es as long as everybody is on thelevel. Lee Kuan Yew was on thelevel. Whatever the deal was,that’s what he would say. It was agift, not just to the people of Singa-pore, but to the rest of the world.”

rachelay@sph.com.sg

By RAVI VELLOORASSOCIATE EDITOR

SHORTLY after midnight onSaturday, streaks of lightning litup the night sky over central andeastern Singapore as the heavensblazed forth.

As dawn broke, a misty hazehung over the city after days ofclear skies. Business in the coffeeshops seemed thinner as Singapo-reans, normally eager to stumbleto the nearest convenient outletfor their Sunday breakfast,seemed to tarry.

It was as though they werereluctant to meet this day whenMr Lee Kuan Yew, lionised leaderof the Lion City, would pass intohistory.

Along Orchard Road, the city’smost famous boulevard, a gustingwind flung laburnum and otherflowers on the road, as though the“city in a garden” felt compelledto pay its own unique tribute.

Then, the heavens emptied,pouring moisture upon the earth.

Perhaps Mr Lee would not haveminded; one more opportunity tofunnel every drop of water intoone of the island’s 17 reservoirs.

It had to happen some day, andso it has. This man who led Singa-poreans to independence, not on-ly from Britain, but from poverty,want, ignorance, diffidence – andwater dependency – has made hisfinal journey.

Yesterday, thousands bravedrain and slush to travel the lastmile with him, lining the roadalong which Mr Lee’s cortege trav-elled to the state funeral service,wearing plastic ponchos and carry-ing umbrellas to protect them-selves from the elements. Othersused floor mats they had broughtfor the wait against the rain. Inplaces, the crowd was ten- andfifteen-deep.

Elsewhere, hundreds of thou-sands more stayed in the shelterof homes in residential estates likeToa Payoh and Paya Lebar, most-ly unaware that their districts gottheir names from Hokkien and Ma-lay words for “big swamp”.

Such has been the Singaporejourney to urbanisation and 90per cent home ownership. Not tospeak of the arboreal fantasy theisland is today, with a green coverover fully half of it.

The route itself was a tribute tothe man, cutting across the keysites that marked his life and ca-reer. The cortege passed CollyerQuay and Shenton Way, and be-tween Queenstown and Common-wealth, British-era names Mr Leefelt no shame in retaining, havinghelped his people shed the coloni-al cringe long ago and, like him,look the world in the eye.

Overseas, thousands gatheredin front of television sets or com-puters to watch the live streamingof the funeral service, wet-eyedand longing to connect withhome. Others had taken a flight tobe in Singapore yesterday. Just tobe here.

Why would a taxi driver calledMicky Tan, recovering fromprostate cancer surgery, don a capand show up in the rain to shout,“Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew”?Why would a Kala Pillay keep anall-night vigil in Calgary, Cana-da?

Because they wanted to.As a proportion of their popula-

tions, the 454,700 who turned upto pay respects at Mr Lee’s bierexceeded the throng at NelsonMandela’s passing. When Win-ston Churchill lay in state forthree days, a total of 321,360 filedpast the catafalque, according tothe BBC’s figures.

Churchill had been out of of-fice for only ten years when he

died. Singapore’s founding fatherstepped down from national lead-ership a quarter century ago.

Mr Lee, who in his governingyears preferred to be feared overbeing loved, may have been pleas-antly startled by the public out-pouring of grief at his passing.

And what of the potentates,the heads of state and govern-ment from two dozen nations whotravelled to the island to pay himrespect?

There was the young king oftiny Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Nam-gyel Wangchuck, who, in 2006,had sought him out for advice ondeveloping his nation. There wasPrime Minister Narendra Modi,who leads the world’s second larg-est nation, saying he had been in-spired to believe he could work totransform India because of MrLee’s record in developing Singa-pore within a generation.

There were Mr Bill Clinton, MrTony Abbott, Mr Hun Sen, Gener-al Prayut Chan-o-cha, Mr ShinzoAbe and others listening to the fu-neral orations on Mr Lee’s record– in incorruptibility, raising livingstandards, in providing securityto their minorities and the vulnera-ble, in his ability to forgive histori-cal slights in the national interest,and his devotion to family.

Thanks to the relentless mediacoverage of the past week, Mr Leehas come alive for Singaporeansin all his vigour. In the monthsand years that lie ahead, theresurely will be times when theGans and Tans of Singapore willturn their eyes towards him, long-ing to hear that strong voice andreassuring firmness.

In 1959, an 11-year-old PeterGan had peeked down from hisNeil Road home and spotted jubi-lant crowds carrying a newlyelected Lee Kuan Yew on theirshoulders. Yesterday, the TanjongPagar constituent watched himpass through the streets a finaltime. The next time Mr Gan looksfor Mr Lee, he will not be there.

And yet, Singaporeans know hewill endure.

Not just in the physical land-

marks around the island that bearhis mark, but in other ways aswell.

He will be in their minds whenthey hear an incoherent in-flightannouncement and wonder howMr Lee would have reacted, whenaspiring politicians hitch up theirtrousers and square their shoul-ders, LKY-style, as they approacha lectern; when parents go to bedwithout worrying about childrenhaving a late night out, in theconfidence with which peoplestep towards pedestrian crossingslooking neither to right nor left; inthe mini-United Nations that thecountry’s work districts, shop-ping malls and restaurants havecome to be.

As Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong said, what was said of theBritish architect ChristopherWren could apply to Mr Lee – forLee Kuan Yew’s monument, justlook around Singapore.

As he began his eulogy, PMLee, alternating between pride forhis father’s life and grief over hisdeath, said the “light that guidedus all these years has been extin-guished”.

It was a faint echo from thepoignant words Jawaharlal Nehruused for Mahatma Gandhi’sdeath, as he broke the news to histhen young nation about its firstbig tragedy.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew began hisanti-colonial struggle admiringNehru’s words and vision.

If only for that reason, it is notinappropriate to borrow Nehru’swords as Mr Lee himself departsthe stage.

“The light has gone out, I said,and yet I was wrong,” Nehru saidon Jan 30, 1948.

“For the light that shone in thiscountry was no ordinary light.The light that has illumined thiscountry for these many years willillumine this country for manymore years, and a thousand yearslater, that light will be seen in thiscountry and the world will see itand it will give solace to innumera-ble hearts.”

velloor@sph.com.sg

Flowers placed along Jalan Bukit Merah for people waiting to pay tribute to Mr Lee as his cortege passed through the area yesterday. Thousands braved the rain to travel the last mile withhim, as his cortege made its way to the funeral service on a route that was itself a tribute to him, cutting across the key sites that marked his life and career. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

Many heads of state or government from other Asean countries and close partners were present at the University Cultural Centre yesterday. These included (top row, from left) Bhutan Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck, Bhutan King Jigme KhesarNamgyel Wangchuck, Malaysia’s Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, (front row, from left) Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Massimov, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Indian PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and former US president Bill Clinton. ST PHOTO: STEPHANIE YEOW

The life may have ebbedaway, but the light willcontinue to show the way

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Foreign dignitariesattend state funeral

Mr Lee will endure not just in thelandmarks bearing his mark, butin the minds and lives of his people

Dignitaries who attended the state funeral yesterday included (clockwise fromleft) former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Indonesian President JokoWidodo and his wife Iriana, Myanmar’s President Thein Sein, South KoreanPresident Park Geun Hye and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

ST PHOTOS: CAROLINE CHIA

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By IGNATIUS LOWMANAGING EDITOR

I WAS fortunate enough to get aninvitation to yesterday’s funeralservice for Singapore’s foundingPrime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Iknow myself to be a rather senti-mental person, so I went expect-ing to shed tears at some point.

All of the eulogies were heart-felt and some very touching, espe-cially those by Prime Minister LeeHsien Loong, his brother HsienYang and former senior ministerof state Sidek Saniff.

But my eyes welled up onlyright at the end of the ceremony,when all the speeches had been de-livered and the audience stood upto sing the national anthem.

“Marilah kita bersatudengan semangat yang baru;Semua kita berseru,Majulah Singapura, majulah

Singapura!”I’ve sung these lines so many

times in my life, but yesterday themeaning of the words hit mehard. They call on Singaporeansto “unite with a new spirit” andurge the nation onward.

At the end of seven days of na-tional mourning, Mr Lee KuanYew has been laid to rest and to-day will seem like the first day inpost-LKY Singapore.

So much has been writtenabout this moment, not just thispast week but in the months andyears leading up to it. What hap-pens now? Can Singapore sur-vive?

For me, the events of the pastweek have unearthed what seemto be two new certainties amongthe myriad variables that go intothe answer to that question.

The first is the pleasant discov-ery that the Singapore spirit isalive and well.

We saw it all week in the unend-ing queues of people waiting forhours in the hot sun and into thedead of night, just for a minute ortwo to pay their last respects toMr Lee as his body lay in state atParliament House.

We saw it again yesterday asthousands lined the streets in thepouring rain to greet Mr Lee’s cor-tege as it made its way to the Uni-versity Cultural Centre.

All week, people have beenposting pictures online of Singapo-

reans in these queues being not on-ly patient but also civilised, help-ful and considerate, volunteeringtheir time in aid of complete stran-gers, cleaning up after them-selves, offering free food, flowersand water and taking only asmuch as they needed.

Going by the comments post-ed, these images have taken manypeople by surprise. In a week, Sin-gapore seems to have collectivelyrealised that, giv-en the right cir-cumstances, itcan be the sortof idealised pro-to-Japanese orScandinavian so-ciety that it con-stantly beats it-self up for failingto emulate.

That leads meto the secondhappy discoveryof the week,which concernsthe notion of theideal politicalmodel a countryshould adopt.

After years ofincreasingly in-tense debateabout the fail-ings of the Singa-pore system,many Singapore-ans suddenly be-came proud ofthe unique waythat their coun-try is governedand run, whatev-er outsiders maysay about it.

Two of themost widely circulated articleslast week were plain-speakingcommentaries by former Nominat-ed MP Calvin Cheng and BusinessTimes correspondent Joyce Hooithat took on Western criticism ofthe Singapore model head on.

If the much-vaunted politicalfreedoms of the West mean anar-chy, crime, failing public infra-structure and poverty, then we donot want it, both argued.

And do not mistake the Singa-porean grumblings about higherfreedoms to be proof that therewas some terrible trade-off be-tween economic growth and politi-

cal liberty, or that its system hasnot worked.

In fact, it is quite the contrary.As Ms Hooi put it, “such has beenthe earlier success of Singaporethat its people have the middle-class wherewithal to demandchange, and the Government hasthe resources to provide it”. Youcould almost hear the collectiveroar of approval.

When you boil it all down,what you get is a Singapore thatgot a glimpse of the good in itself,and became more secure aboutwhere it is in the world and how itgot there.

It was a much-needed shot ofconfidence that will help this rela-

tively young na-tion continue toovercome the in-creasingly diffi-cult challengesahead. My hopeis that this isnot a flash inthe pan, andw i l l b e theseeds of the“new spirit” –semangat yangbaru – we singof in the wordsof the nationalanthem.

If we get itright, then theonly thing weneed fear, inthis post-LKYera, is the inher-ent uncertaintyof the future it-self.

S o m e o fthese uncertain-ties – such asthe vagaries ofglobal politicsand economics– have little todo with Mr LeeKuan Yew, al-though he was

adept at anticipating and dealingwith them.

Others, however, may be a di-rect result of his departure.

Will the political system in Sin-gapore change? Are there newfault lines developing that willsplinter society? Will we re-exam-ine those Lee Kuan Yew “hardtruths” about nationhood and sur-vival, and eventually discardthem?

As a nation, we take our firststeps today without our foundingfather. But they are firmer steps, Ibelieve – his last gift to us.

ignatius@sph.com.sg

In a S’pore without Mr Lee, let wordsof national anthem lead the way

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(Left) Officers preparing to fold thenational flag that was draped over thecasket of Mr Lee, at the MandaiCrematorium.

(Far left) A bugler from the SAF MilitaryBand playing The Last Post during thefinal moments of the funeral service. Thiswas followed by the observation of aminute of silence.

ST PHOTOS:KUA CHEE SIONG, STEPHANIE YEOW

‘Unite with anew spirit’ inpost-LKY era

(Above) Ceremonialpallbearers carryingthe flag-draped casketof Mr Lee into theUniversity CulturalCentre.

(Right) DefenceMinister Ng Eng Hen(third from left), andLaw and ForeignAffairs Minister K.Shanmugam trying tocontrol their emotionsas the eulogies weregiven.ST PHOTOS: STEPHANIEYEOW, DESMOND LIM

The rain poured down along Commonwealth Avenue, one of the heartlandareas along the 15.4km funeral procession route. ST PHOTO: TIFFANY GOH

At Esplanade Bridge, students braved the rain in ponchos to say goodbye to Singapore’s first Prime Minister. The funeral procession from Parliament House to theUniversity Cultural Centre passed significant landmarks including City Hall and the Padang as well as heartland areas. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

People huddled under umbrellas along North Bridge Road yesterday, waiting patiently for Mr Lee’s cortege to pass. The wet weather failed to deter the crowds who hadturned up to bid Mr Lee a final farewell. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

When you boil itall down, whatyou get is aSingapore that gota glimpse of thegood in itself, andbecame moresecure aboutwhere it is in theworld and how itgot there. It was amuch-needed shotof confidence thatwill help thisrelatively youngnation continue toovercome theincreasinglydifficultchallenges ahead. WITH SOLEMN,

HEAVY HEARTS

S A Y I N G G O O D B Y E

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THIS has been a dark week for Sin-gapore. The light that has guidedus all these years has been extin-guished. We have lost our found-ing father Mr Lee Kuan Yew, wholived and breathed Singapore allhis life. He and his team led ourpioneer generation to create thisisland nation, Singapore.

Mr Lee did not set out to be apolitician, let alone a statesman,as a boy. In fact, his grandfatherwanted him to become an Englishgentleman! But events left an in-delible mark on him. He had beena British subject in colonial Singa-pore. He had survived hardship,danger and fear in the JapaneseOccupation. These drove him tofight for independence.

In one of his radio talks on theBattle for Merger many years agoin 1961, Mr Lee said: “My col-leagues and I are of that genera-tion of young men who wentthrough the Second World Warand the Japanese Occupation andemerged determined that no one– neither the Japanese nor theBritish – had the right to push andkick us around.”

Mr Lee championed independ-ence for Singapore through Merg-er with Malaya, to form a new Fed-eration of Malaysia. He workedtirelessly to bring this about, andsucceeded. Unfortunately themerger did not last and beforelong we were expelled fromMalay-sia. Separation was his greatest“moment of anguish”, but it alsoproved to be the turning point inSingapore’s fortunes.

From the ashes of Separationhe built a nation. The easiestthing to do would have been to ap-peal to Chinese voters alone. Af-ter all, Singapore had had to leaveMalaysia because we were majori-ty Chinese. Instead, Mr Lee wentfor the nobler dream of a multira-cial, multi-religious nation. Singa-pore would not be based on race,language or religion, but on funda-mental values – multi-racialism,equality, meritocracy, integrity,and rule of law. Mr Lee declared:“This is not a country that be-longs to any single community; itbelongs to all of us.”•

He checked would-be racialchauvinists, and assured the mi-norities that their place here wassecure. He insisted on keeping ourmother tongues, even as Englishbecame our common working lan-guage. He encouraged each groupto maintain its culture, faith andlanguage, while gradually enlarg-ing the common space shared byall. Together with Mr S. Rajarat-nam, he enshrined these ideals inthe National Pledge.

He kept us safe in a dangerousand tumultuous world. With DrGoh Keng Swee, he built the SAFfrom just two infantry battalionsand one little wooden ship, into awell-trained, well-equipped,well-respected fighting force.

He introduced national service,and personally persuaded parentsto entrust their sons to the SAF.He succeeded, first because he ledby example. His two sons did NSjust like every Singaporean son. Infact my brother and I signed up asregulars on SAF scholarships. Sec-ondly, people trusted Mr Lee, and

believed in the Singapore cause.And today we sleep peacefully atnight, confident that we are wellprotected.

Mr Lee gave us courage to facean uncertain future. He was astraight talker, and never shiedaway from hard truths, either tohimself or to Singaporeans. Hisministers would sometimes urgehim to soften the tone of his draftspeeches – even I would some-times do that – to sound less un-yielding to human frailties. And of-ten he took in their amendments,but he would preserve his coremessage. “I always tried to be cor-rect,” he said, “not politically cor-rect.”

He was a powerful speaker:moving, inspiring, persuasive, inEnglish and Malay – and by dintof a lifelong hard slog – in Manda-rin and even Hokkien. MediaCorphas been broadcasting his oldspeeches on TV this week, remind-ing us that his was the original Sin-gapore Roar: passionate, formida-ble and indomitable.

Above all, Lee Kuan Yew was afighter. In crises, when all seemedhopeless, he was ferocious, end-lessly resourceful, firm in his re-solve, and steadfast in advancinghis cause.

Thus he saw us through manybattles: the Battle for Mergeragainst the communists, whichmost people thought the non-com-munists would lose; the fightwhen we were in Malaysia againstthe communalists, when his ownlife was in danger; Separation,which cast us out into a hazard-ous world; and then the withdraw-al of the British military forcesfrom Singapore, which threatenedthe livelihoods of 150,000 people.

Because he never wavered, wedidn’t falter. Because he fought,we took courage and fought withhim, and prevailed. Thus, Mr Leetook Singapore and took us allfrom Third World to the First.

In many countries, anti-coloni-al fighters and heroes would winindependence and assume power,but then fail, fail at nation-build-ing because the challenges ofbringing a society together, grow-ing an economy, patiently improv-ing peoples’ lives are very differ-ent from the challenges of fight-ing for independence, mobilisingcrowds, getting people excited,overthrowing a regime. But MrLee and his team succeeded at na-tion building.

Just weeks after Separation, heboldly declared that “10 yearsfrom now, this will be a metropo-lis. Never fear!” And indeed hemade it happen. He instilled disci-pline and order – ensuring that inSingapore, every problem getsfixed. He educated our young. Hetransformed labour relations fromstrikes and confrontation to tri-partism and cooperation. He cam-paigned to upgrade skills and raiseproductivity, calling it a marathonwith no finish line.

He enabled his economic team– Goh Keng Swee, Hon Sui Sen,Lim Kim San – to design and car-ry out their plans to attract invest-ments, grow the economy, andcreate prosperity and jobs. As hesaid, “I settled the political condi-

tions so that tough policies couldbe executed.”

However, Mr Lee was clearthat while “the development ofthe economy is very important,equally important is the develop-ment of the nature of our socie-ty”. So he built an inclusive socie-ty where everyone enjoyed thefruits of progress.

Education became the founda-tion for good jobs and better lives.HDB new towns sprung up one af-ter another to house our people –Queenstown, Toa Payoh, Ang MoKio, to be followed by manymore. We had roofs over ourheads and we became a nation ofhome owners. With Mr DevanNair in the NTUC, he transformedthe union movement into a posi-tive force, cooperating with em-ployers and the Government to im-prove the lot of workers.

Mr Lee cared for the peoplewhom he served, the people of Sin-gapore. When Sars struck in2003, he worried about taxi driv-ers, whose livelihoods were affect-ed because tourists had dried up,and he pressed us hard to findways to help them.

Mr Lee also cared for the peo-ple who served him. One eveningjust a few years ago he rang meup. One of my mother’s WSOs(woman security officers) was hav-ing difficulty conceiving a child,and he wanted to help her. Heasked me whether I knew how tohelp her to adopt a child. So MrLee was concerned for people notjust in the abstract, but personallyand individually.

Internationally, Mr Lee raisedSingapore’s standing in the world.Mr Lee was not just a perceptiveobserver of world affairs, but astatesman who articulatedSingapore’s international inter-ests and enlarged our strategicspace. At crucial turning points,from the British withdrawal “Eastof Suez” to the Vietnam War tothe rise of China, his views andcounsel influenced thinking anddecisions in many capitals.

In the process, he built up awide network of friends, in andout of power. He knew every Chi-nese leader from Mao Zedong andevery US president from LyndonJohnson. He established close rap-port with President Suharto of In-donesia, one of our most impor-tant relationships. Others includ-ed Deng Xiaoping, MargaretThatcher, Helmut Schmidt,George Shultz, as well as Presi-dent Bill Clinton and Henry Kiss-inger, who we are honoured tohave here this afternoon. They allvalued his candour and insight.

As Mrs Thatcher said: “(MrLee) had a way of penetrating thefog of propaganda and expressingwith unique clarity the issues ofour times and the way to tacklethem. He was never wrong.”Hence, despite being so small,Singapore’s voice is heard, and weenjoy far more influence on the in-ternational stage than we haveany reason to expect.

Mr Lee did not blaze this pathalone. He was the outstandingleader of an exceptional team – ateam which included Goh KengSwee, S. Rajaratnam, Othman

Wok, Hon Sui Sen, Lim Kim San,Toh Chin Chye, Ong Pang Boon,Devan Nair, and quite a numbermore. They were his comrades,and he never forgot them. So it isvery good that Mr Ong Pang Boonis here today to speak about MrLee later on. Thank you Mr Ong.

Mr Lee received many acco-lades and awards in his long lifebut he wore them lightly. WhenMr Lee received the Freedom ofthe City of London in 1982, hesaid: “I feel like a conductor at aconcert bowing to applause, butunable to turn around and invitethe accomplished musicians in hisorchestra to rise and receive theovation for the music they haveproduced. For running a govern-ment is not unlike running an or-chestra, and no Prime Minister ev-er achieves much without an ableteam of players.”

Because he worked with astrong team and not alone, be-cause people knew that he caredfor them and not for himself, andbecause he had faith that Singapo-reans would work with him toachieve great things, Mr Lee wonthe trust and confidence of Singa-poreans. The pioneer generation,who had lived through the crucialyears, had a deep bond with him. Ionce met a lady who owned afried rice restaurant. She told me:“Tell Lee Kuan Yew I will alwayssupport him. I was born in 1948,and I am 48 years old (this was1996). I know what he has donefor me and Singapore.” She andher generation knew that “gen zheLi Guangyao zou bu hui si de” – ifyou follow Lee Kuan Yew, youwill survive.

Mr Lee imbued Singapore with

his personal traits. He built Singa-pore to be clean and corrup-tion-free. His home was spartan.His habits were frugal. He worethe same jacket for years, andpatched up the worn bits insteadof buying new ones. He impartedthese values to the Government.Even when old and frail on his90th birthday, when he came toParliament and MPs celebratedhis birthday, he reminded themthat Singapore must remain cleanand incorruptible, and that MPsand Ministers had to set the exam-ple.

He pursued ideas with tremen-dous, infectious energy. He saidof himself: “I put myself down asdetermined, consistent, persist-ent. I set out to do something, Ikeep on chasing it until it suc-ceeds. That’s all.” This was howhe seized opportunities, seeingand realising possibilities thatmany others missed.

So it was he who pushed tomove the airport from Paya Lebarto Changi. It was he who rejectedthe then conventional wisdomthat multi-national corporations(MNCs) were rapacious and ex-ploitative, and he wooed foreigninvestments fromMNCs personal-ly to bring us advanced technolo-gy, to bring us overseas marketsto create for us good jobs.

He was not afraid to change hismind when a policy was no longerrelevant. When he saw that ourbirth rates were falling below re-placement more than 30 yearsago, he scrapped the “Stop atTwo” policy and started encourag-ing couples to have more children.

Having upheld a conservativeapproach to supervising our finan-

cial sector for many years, heeventually decided to rethink andliberalise, in a controlled way.This was how Singapore’s finan-cial centre took off in a new waveof growth, to become what it is to-day. He was always clear whatstrategy to follow, but never sofixed to an old strategy as to beblind to the need to change coursewhen the world changed.

Nothing exemplifies this betterthan water security, which was alifelong obsession of his. He en-trenched the PUB’s two WaterAgreements with Johor in the Sep-aration Agreement, he personallymanaged all aspects of our watertalks with Malaysia. He launchedwater-saving campaigns, he builtreservoirs, and turned most of theisland into water catchment to col-lect the rain, to process, to use.

He cleaned up the SingaporeRiver and Kallang Basin. Hedreamed of the Marina Barragelong before it became feasible,and persevered for decades until,finally, technology caught up andit became feasible and it became areality and he lived to see it be-come a reality. When PUB invent-ed Newater, and when desalina-tion became viable, he backed thenew technologies enthusiastically.The result today is Singapore hasmoved towards self-sufficiency inwater, become a leader in watertechnologies, and turned a vulner-ability into a strength.

So perhaps it’s appropriatethat today for his state funeral theheavens opened and cried for him.

Greening Singapore was anoth-er of his passions. On travels,when he came across trees orplants that might grow well here,

he would collect saplings andseeds and hand carry them backhome. He used the Istana groundsas a nursery, and would personal-ly check on the health of the trees,not just in general but individual,particular trees. If they had nameshe would know their names. Heknew the names or the scientificnames. Singapore’s Prime Minis-ter was also the chief gardener ofthe City in a Garden.

He had a relentless drive to im-prove and continued to learn wellinto old age. At 70, to write hismemoirs, he started learning howto use a computer. Every so oftenhe would call me for help, and Iwould give him a phone consulta-tion, talking him through the stepsto save a file, or find a documentwhich had vanished on his harddrive. And if he could not find me,he would consult my wife.

He made a ceaseless effort tolearn Mandarin over decades. Helistened to tapes of his teachertalking, conversing with him, eve-ry day, in the morning while shav-ing at home, in the evening whileexercising at Sri Temasek. Hekept up his Mandarin classes allhis life. Indeed, his last appoint-ment on Feb 4, before he was tak-en gravely ill early the next morn-ing, was with his Mandarin tutor.

He inspired us all to give of ourbest.

He was constantly thinkingabout Singapore. At one NationalDay Rally in 1988 he declared“even from my sick bed, even ifyou are going to lower me into thegrave and I feel something is go-ing wrong, I will get up”. And hemeant that. Indeed, even after heleft the Cabinet, he would still oc-

casionally raise with me issueswhich he felt strongly about.

During the Budget Debate twoyears ago, almost exactly twoyears ago, MPs hotly debated thecost of living, public transportand so many other matters thenpreoccupying Singaporeans. MrLee felt that we had lost sight ofthe fundamentals that under-pinned our survival. He e-mailedme. He sent me a draft speech. Hetold me that he wanted to speakin the Chamber, to remind Singa-poreans of these unchanging hardtruths. But I persuaded him toleave the task to me and my minis-ters. And he took my advice.

His biggest worry was thatyounger Singaporeans would losethe instinct for what made Singa-pore tick. This was why he contin-ued writing books into his 90s –Bilingualism, Hard Truths, OneMan’s View Of The World – andat least one more guided by himstill in the process of being writ-ten on the history of PAP. Whydid he do this? So that a new gen-eration of Singaporeans couldlearn from his experience, and un-derstand what their security, pros-perity, and future depended on.

One of Mr Lee’s greatest lega-cies was preparing Singapore tocontinue beyond him. He believedthat a leader’s toughest job was en-suring succession. He systemati-cally identified and groomed ateam of successors. He made wayfor Mr Goh Chok Tong to becomeprime minister, but stayed on inMr Goh’s Cabinet to help the newteam succeed. He provided stabili-ty and experience and quietlyhelped to build up Mr Goh’s au-thority. He knew how to guide

without being obtrusive, to bewatchful while letting the newteam develop its own style, itsown authority. He described him-self as a “mascot”, but everyoneknew how special this mascotwas, and how lucky we were tohave such a mascot.

It was likewise when I tookover. Mr Goh became Senior Min-ister and Mr Lee became MinisterMentor, a title he felt reflected hisnew role, not in command, but ad-vice not to be taken lightly. In-creasingly he left the policy issuesto us, but he would share with ushis reading of world affairs, andhis advice on major problemswhich he saw over the horizon.Some other prime ministers toldme that they could not imaginewhat it was like to have twoformer PMs in my Cabinet. But Itold them it worked, both for meand for Singapore.

For all his public duties, Mr Leealso had his own family. My moth-er was a big part of his life. Theywere a deeply loving couple. Shewas his loyal spouse and confi-dante – going with him every-where, fussing over him, helpingwith his speeches, and keepinghome and hearth warm. Theywere a perfect team and wonder-ful parents. When my motherdied, he was bereft. He felt thedevastating loss of a life partner,who, as he said, had helped himbecome what he was.

My father left the upbringingof the children largely to my moth-er. But he was the head of the fam-ily and cared deeply about us,both when we were small, andlong after we had grown up. Hewas not demonstrative, much less

was he touchy-feely, so not newage but he loved us deeply.

After my first wife Ming Yangdied, my parents suggested that Itried meditation. They gave mesome books to read, mindfulness,tranquillity meditation. I read thebooks but I did not make muchprogress. I think my father hadtried meditation too, also not toosuccessfully. His teacher told melater that when he told Mr Lee torelax, still his mind and let go hereplied: “But what will happen toSingapore if I let go?”

When I had lymphoma, he sug-gested that I try meditation moreseriously. He thought it wouldhelp me to fight the cancer. Hefound me a teacher and spoke tohim personally and with a goodteacher to guide me, I made betterprogress.

In his old age, after my motherdied, my father started meditatingagain, and this time with helpfrom Ng Kok Song, whom heknew from GIC. Kok Songbrought a friend to see my father,a Benedictine monk who did Chris-tian meditation. My father wasnot a Christian, but he was happyto learn from the Benedictinemonk. He even called me to sug-gest that I meet the monk, which Idid. He probably felt I needed toresume meditation too.

And to give you some context,this was a few months after the2011 General Election. I was near-ing 60 by then, and he was, bythen, nearly 90. But to him I wasstill his son to be worried over,and to me he was still a father tolove and appreciate, just likewhen I was small. So this morn-ing, before the ceremonies began

at Parliament House, we had afew minutes. I sat by him andmeditated.

Of course, growing up as myfather’s son could not but meanbeing exposed to politics very ear-ly. I remember as a little boy,knowing that his constituencywas Tanjong Pagar. I was proud ofhim becoming legal adviser to somany trade unions, and I was ex-cited by the hubbub at Oxley Roadwhenever elections happened,and our home became the electionoffice.

I remember when we were pre-paring to join Malaysia in the ear-ly 1960s, going along with my fa-ther on constituency visits – the“fang wen” tours he made to eve-ry corner of Singapore.

For him, it was backbreakingwork, week after week, everyweekend rallying the people’s sup-port for a supremely important de-cision about Singapore’s future.For me, these were not just Sun-day outings, but also an early po-litical education.

I remember election night in1963, the crucial general electionwhen the PAP defeated thepro-communist Barisan Sosialis.My mother sent me to bed early,but I lay awake to listen to theelection results until the PAP hadwon enough seats to form the Gov-ernment again. And then I thinkfell asleep.

I remember the day he told me,while we were playing golf at theIstana, that should anything hap-pen to him, he wanted me to lookafter my mother and my youngerbrother and sister.

I remember the night the chil-dren slept on the floor in myparents’ bedroom at TemasekHouse in Kuala Lumpur, becausethe house was full of ministerswho had come up from Singapore.Every so often my father wouldget up from the bed to make anote about something, before ly-ing down to rest again. That was 7August, 1965, two days before Sep-aration.

Growing up with my father, liv-ing through those years with him,made me what I am.

This year is the 50th anniversa-ry of Singapore’s independence.We all hoped that Mr Lee wouldbe present with us on August 9 tocelebrate this milestone. Morethan anybody else, it was he whofought for multiracialism, whichultimately led to our independ-ence as a sovereign republic. Itwas he who united our people,built a nation, and made the 50thanniversary worth celebrating.Sadly, it is not to be.

But we can feel proud and hap-py that Mr Lee lived to see hislife’s work come to fruition. Atlast year’s National Day Parade,when Mr Lee appeared andwaved, the crowd and he ap-peared on the big screen on thefloating platform, the crowd gavehim the most deafening cheer ofthe whole parade. Last November,the People’s Action Party celebrat-ed its diamond anniversary at theVictoria Concert Hall, where MrLee had founded the party 60years ago. Party members were sohappy to see that Mr Lee could bethere, they gave him an arousing,emotional standing ovation.Those of us who were there willnever forget it.

St Paul’s Cathedral in Londonwas built by Sir Christopher

Wren. He was the architect of thecathedral, and he is buried in thecathedral which was his master-piece., There is a Latin epitaph onhis grave and it reads: si monumen-tum requiris, circumspice (If youseek his monument, look aroundyou). Mr Lee Kuan Yew built Sin-gapore. To those who seek Mr LeeKuan Yew’s monument, Singapo-reans can reply proudly: “Lookaround you.”

I said the light that has guidedus all these years has been extin-guished. But that is not quite so.For Mr Lee’s principles and idealscontinue to invigorate this Govern-ment and guide our people. Hislife will inspire Singaporeans, andothers, for generations to come.

Mr Lee once said that “we in-tend to see that (Singapore) willbe here a thousand years fromnow. And that is your duty andmine”. Mr Lee has done his duty,and more. It remains our duty tocontinue his life’s work, to carrythe torch forward and keep theflame burning bright.

Over the past month, the out-pouring of good wishes, prayersand support from Singaporeans asMr Lee lay ill has been overwhelm-ing, and even more so since hepassed away on Monday.

People of all races from allwalks of life, young and old, hereand abroad, have mourned him.Hundreds of thousands queued pa-tiently for hours in the hot sunand through the night to pay re-spects to him at the ParliamentHouse.

I visited the queue on the Pa-dang. Many Singaporeans, not sofew non-Singaporeans who cameout of deep respect and a sense ofcompulsion that here was a manthey wanted to do honour to.Many more wrote heartfelt mes-sages and took part in tribute cere-monies at community sites allover the island. Thousands ofoverseas Singaporeans gatheredin our embassies and consulatesto remember Mr Lee. And later inthis funeral service, all of us inthis hall, across our island and infar-flung and later in this funeralservice all of us in this hall, acrossour island, and in far-flung landswill observe a minute a silence,say the National Pledge and singMajulah Singapura together.

We have all lost a father. Wegrieve as one people, one nation.But in our grief, we’ve displayedthe best of Singapore.

Ordinary people going to greatlengths to distribute refreshmentsand umbrellas to the crowd andhelp one another in the queue lateinto the night. Citizen soldiers,Home Team officers, cleaners, allworking tirelessly round theclock. Our shared sorrow hasbrought us together and made usstronger and more resolute.

We come together not only tomourn, we come together also torejoice in Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s longand full life and what he hasachieved with us, his people in Sin-gapore. We come together topledge ourselves to continue build-ing this exceptional country.

Let us shape this island nationinto one of the great cities in theworld reflecting the ideals hestood for, realising the dreams heinspired and worthy of the peoplewho have made Singapore ourhome and nation.

Thank you, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.May you rest in peace.

By LYDIA LIMASSOCIATE OPINION EDITOR

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loongyesterday called on Singaporeansto continue Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s

life’s work by making this islandnation a great metropolis that re-flects the ideals of their foundingprime minister.

In a 40-minute eulogy,delivered in English, Mandarin

and Malay, he spoke of the lateMr Lee’s commitment to multira-cialism, equality, meritocracy, in-tegrity and rule of law; celebrat-ed his ferocious fighting spiritand described his decades-longeffort to prepare Singapore tocontinue beyond him.

Not only had he systematicallyidentified and groomed a team ofsuccessors, but he also continuedwriting books into his 90s so that

a new generation could learnfrom his experience, andunderstand what their security,prosperity and future dependedon. “His biggest worry was thatyounger Singaporeans would losethe instinct for what madeSingapore tick,” PM Lee said.

He cited three recent books,the first on bilingualism, the sec-ond entitled Hard Truths and athird – One Man’s View Of The

World. The first two werelaunched in 2011 and the third in2013.

PM Lee spoke of a man whofought and laboured tirelessly forhis beliefs and the country heloved. In the 1960s, he battledcommunists and communalists,putting his own life on the line.Later, he fought for Singapore’ssurvival after separation fromMalaysia and when the British

forces withdrew, taking 150,000jobs with them.

“Just weeks after Separation,he boldly declared that ‘10 yearsfrom now, this will be a metropo-lis. Never fear!’ And indeed hemade it happen. He instilled disci-pline and order – ensuring that inSingapore, every problem getsfixed,” PM Lee said.

He also enabled his economicteam of Old Guard ministers Goh

Keng Swee, Hon Sui Sen and LimKim San to design and carry outtheir plans to attract investmentsand grow the economy. “As hesaid, “I settled the political condi-tions so that tough policies…could be executed.”

PM Lee added that “becausepeople knew that he cared forthem and not for himself, and be-cause he had faith that Singapore-ans would work with him to

achieve great things, Mr Lee wonthe trust and confidence of Singa-poreans”.

In both his eulogy at the statefuneral service in the UniversityCultural Centre (UCC), and laterat a private ceremony for familyand friends at Mandai Crematori-um, PM Lee shared personal mem-ories of his father, including aconversation they had years agoover a golf game in which the

elder Mr Lee told his oldest childto take care of his mother andyounger brother and sistershould anything happen to him.

Their father, he said, had al-ready plunged deep into politicswhen the children arrived sotheir mother brought them up.“But Pa set the tone, tracked ourprogress and made the big deci-sions. He sent us to a Chineseschool; he started us on Malay les-

sons with Cikgu Amin; he encour-aged Yang and me to take up SAFScholarships, to serve the na-tion.”

His father was there when helearnt to ride a bicycle, helpedtake care of his young childrenwhen his first wife died, and wor-ried about his nutrition when hewas undergoing chemotherapyfor lymphoma.

His father’s death “will leave a

big hole” in the hearts of familyand friends, “but his values, hislove, and his words – these willstay with us, inspire us and liveon in us for a long, long time”.

As for Singapore, Mr Lee KuanYew intended nothing less than tosee that it “will be here a thou-sand years from now”. With himgone, it is the duty of those whoremain to continue his life’s work,PM Lee said.

He ended his eulogy with thisrallying call to Singaporeans: “Wecome together to pledge ourselvesto continue building this excep-tional country. Let us shape this is-land nation into one of the greatcities in the world reflecting theideals he stood for, realising thedreams he inspired and worthy ofthe people who have made Singa-pore our home and nation.”

lydia@sph.com.sg

ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

‘Because he neverwavered, we didn’tfalter. Because hefought, we took courageand fought with him.’

Singaporeans urged to continuelife’s work of founding father

1 9 2 3 - 2 0 1 5

Honour him by making S’pore a great city: PM Lee

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s eulogy at the University Cultural Centre

I remember the night the children slept onthe floor in my parents’ bedroom atTemasek House in Kuala Lumpur, becausethe house was full of ministers who hadcome up from Singapore. Every so often myfather would get up from the bed to make anote about something... That was 7 August,1965, two days before Separation.Growing up with my father, living throughthose years with him, made me what I am.

E U L O G I E S

8 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 9

Excerpt from the eulogy byDR LEE WEI LING, 60,daughter of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

AFTER Mama died in October2010, Papa’s health deterioratedrapidly. The past five years havebeen challenging. But as always,Papa was determined to carry onas normal as possible, as best ashe could.

He developed Parkinson’s dis-ease three years ago, which severe-ly limited his mobility. He hadgreat difficulty standing and walk-ing. But he refused to use a wheel-chair or even a walking stick. Hewould walk, aided by his SOs (se-curity officers).

Papa was also plagued by boutsof hiccups that could only be con-trolled by medication, which hadadverse side effects. Over andabove the frequent hiccups, hisability to swallow both solids andliquids was impaired, a not un-common problem in old age.

Papa searched the Internet andtried a wide variety of unorthodoxhiccup therapies. For example, heonce used rabbit skin and thensubsequently he tried chickenfeathers to induce sneezing, so asto stop the hiccups. Although thesneezing sometimes stopped hishiccups, it did not do so consist-ently enough. So Papa resorted toreducing his food intake, becausehe felt that eating too much couldprecipitate hiccups. I am suremany of you have noticed he losta lot of weight and appeared thinand gaunt.

Papa was stubborn and deter-mined. He would insist on walk-ing down the steps at home, fromthe verandah to the porch wherethe car was parked. Ho Ching hada lift installed so Papa need not ne-gotiate those steps. But as long ashe was alert and aware, he re-fused the lift even though it was astruggle for him to walk downthose steps, even with three SOs

helping. But the lift was not in-stalled in vain. On several occa-sions when he was ill and neededto be admitted to SGH (SingaporeGeneral Hospital)... the SO wiselysimply guided him into the lift.

The SOs were an integral partof Papa’s life, even more so in thelast five years. They looked afterhim with tender loving care, waybeyond the call of duty. One doc-tor friend, who came to help dressa wound Papa sustained when hefell, noticed this and said to me:“The SOs look after your father asthough he is their own father.”

I’m well aware of that. That’swhy so much of the speech is dedi-cated to the SOs.

Papa believed that goodwillgoes both ways. He was very con-siderate towards his SOs. Sensinghe was special, all the SOs havebeen very kind to Papa.

On behalf of my family, Iwould like to thank all of them. Iknow each of them well. I evenknow the number of children theyhave. The SOs were not only staffwhose job was to look after Papa,but to me they were also friendsof the family.

I would also like to thank allthe nurses, doctors and special-ists who have looked after Papaover the years, especially thosewho were involved in the last fiveyears of his life, when his medicalproblems multiplied and becamemore complicated.

At a ripe old age of 91, he hadmultiple medical problems andmany specialists, so the list ofpeople to thank is a very long one.I know them and I am grateful to

each and every one of them forthe care they have provided toPapa.

When Pa was not well at home,I was in fact the first line of de-fence for the doctors, meaning Iwould try to handle it on my ownuntil I thought that it was out ofhand and I would rather call adoctor.

The most common emergencyPapa had was pneumonia, so oneparticular doctor was called mostfrequently. He doesn’t wish to benamed, and in fact he’s so shythat he refused to turn up even,and so I’ll have to call him Dr X.After several calls, I learnt that DrX would be up by 5.45am to sendhis children to school. One morn-ing at 5am, I had to call him. Iapologised for waking him up andasked him to tell his registrar onduty at SGH what to do, adding:“You don’t need to rush in to seePa. You can see him after youhave sent your children toschool.” Dr X replied, “Today isSunday.” But I know that even onSundays, Dr X makes his roundsat SGH. Even my father noticed af-ter the first encounter with him.He said to me: “This doctor actual-ly examines me.”

During his last illness, Papahad to be cared for in the medicalICU (intensive care unit) of SGH.This was a very difficult time forPapa, the medical staff, as well asfor the family. The ICU staff werediligent and meticulous in theircare, and no effort was spared tohelp Papa and tend to his everyneed. The doctors had meetingstwice a day to discuss how to pro-

ceed, and this happened on week-ends as well as Chinese New Year,which I really felt was extremelyimpressive and a lot of effortwent into it.

To all the medical staff whohelped Papa, my family is extreme-ly grateful. I also want to thankthe (Prime Minister’s Office) staffwho kept the office runningsmoothly in Papa’s absence.

My brothers have said muchabout Papa. I just want to focuson one point: What have I learntfrom Pa? What is the biggest les-son he taught me?

The influence parents have onchildren depends on many things.To a certain degree, it depends up-on the temperament of the parentand the child.

Temperamentally, I am verysimilar to Papa. So similar that ina given situation, I can predicthow he would feel and respond.The SOs will know. They lookedon with some degree of amuse-ment at the way Pa struggled tocomplete his 12 minutes on thetreadmill three times a day aftereach meal. Even on days when hewas tired, he would still try to doit in 12 minutes even if he neededmore rest in between. In compari-son, the SOs can easily tell whenI’m not well, simply becausewhen I’m well – I’ve got a 20mcorridor with thick cushion – I’lldo literal barefoot running. Andyou times 20m about 800 times.Yes, it’s a little mad... I did 16kmyesterday. I did 16km today.

About 15 years ago, my fathercame into my room and he said:“Mama and I should be very hap-

py that you remain single andhence will be able to look after usin our old age. But you will belonely. Also, you have inheritedmy traits but in such an exaggerat-ed way that they are a disadvan-tage to you.”

I won’t deny that.Papa, I know you would have

preferred if I had married and hadchildren. But I have no regrets, noregrets I was able to look afteryou and Mama in your old age.

What is the most important les-son I have learnt from Papa?

It was never to push anyonesimply because he or she is weak-er than me or in a socially inferiorposition... And never to let any-one bully someone else if I was ina position to stop such bullying.And if I saw someone being bul-lied unfairly by his superior, Ihave no hesitation to come to therescue of the victim. And since Iam by nature pugnacious like myfather... I enjoy a fight so long asit is for a just and good cause.

We have seen an astonishingoutpouring of emotion on thepassing of my father this week.There are many reasons peoplefeel this way about Papa. But Ithink one reason is that theyknow Papa was a fighter whowould always fight for them, nomatter what the odds were. Theyknew that he was ready to fightfor them till his last breath.

This week has been a difficultweek for me. And I do not breakdown easily. This morning when Iwent out of my room at 10 pastsix, the maid was already settingthe dining table and had movedPapa’s chair and placed it againstthe wall. It was a poignant mo-ment because it came home to methat this farewell is forever. And Inearly broke down, but I won’tbreak down, I am a Hakka woman.

So farewell, Papa. I will missyou. Rest in peace. And... be astough as Hakkas come.

‘In this finalhour, Papa iswith family’

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Ho Ching, at the Mandai Crematorium. PM Lee gave the first eulogy at the service in Mandai, where he spokeabout his father as head of the family and as a loving grandfather. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LEE HSIEN LOONGat Mandai Crematorium

SO MUCH has been said aboutPa’s public life in the past fewdays. His public life is somethingwe share with all of Singapore,with the world.

But we were privileged to knowhim as a father, a grandfather, anelder brother, a friend, a strict butcompassionate boss, the head ofthe family.

Actually, Pa was the head oftwo families. As the eldest son,from a young age he was effective-ly head of his household, helpinghis mother – Mak – to bring uphis younger brothers and sister.He remained close to them all hislife. To my uncles and aunts, hewas always “Kor”, never “Harry”.

Sai Sok (Suan Yew) would havehim over to dinner every Christ-mas, and Ku Cheh (Monica) wouldcook him his favourite dishes, andteach his cook how to do them, al-most to the same standard ashers. Papa made it a point to at-tend the Chinese New Year reun-ion dinner of the extended Leefamily every year, even till lastyear, to catch up with his siblings,to meet his nephews and nieces,and later grand-nephews andgrand-nieces.

Pa was also head of his ownfamily – my mother and the threechildren. He had plunged deep in-to politics by the time we arrived.

In fact, the day I was born,when he visited Mama and the newbaby in Kandang Kerbau Hospital,he told her how he was going torepresent the postmen’s union intheir dispute with the government.This was the postmen’s strikewhich first made his name andlaunched him into active politics.

So day to day, Mama ran thehousehold, brought us up, saw toour schooling. But Papa set thetone, tracked our progress andmade the big decisions.

He sent us to a Chinese school;he started us on Malay lessons

with Cikgu Amin; he encouragedYang and me to take up SAF Schol-arships, to serve the nation; hepersuaded Ling to become a doc-tor instead of a vet. He set us onthe path to make our own marksin the world, and we are grateful.

We are also grateful that Paguided and nurtured us to growup into normal, well-adjusted peo-ple, even though we were thePrime Minister’s children, alwaysin the spotlight, in every danger ofbeing spoilt, indulged and ledastray. He and Ma decided thatwe would stay in Oxley Road andnot move to Sri Temasek, lest wegrow up thinking that the worldowed us a living.

He made sure we did not getthe wrong ideas – no inflatedsense of self; never to be inconsid-erate to others; not to throw ourweight around. We may not al-ways have done it right, but wewere never left in any doubt whatwas the right way to behave.

He took pride in us children.When I learnt to ride a bicycle, hewas there. Once when I was justgetting the hang of balancing ontwo wheels, he pushed me offfrom behind to get me started. Ipedalled off across the field, think-ing that he was still supportingand pushing me. After a few sec-onds, I turned around and found Iwas on my own. He had let go. Hewas so pleased. So was I.

Like all good fathers, Papa con-tinued to be there for us, even af-ter we grew up. When Yang and Igot married, he wrote us long andthoughtful letters sharing adviceon how to make our marriages suc-cessful. Precious lessons drawnfrom his own long, very happymarriage with Mama.

After Ming Yang died, and espe-cially before I remarried, he andMama spent time with Xiuqi andYipeng, then still infants, to fillthe gap and help bring them up.

They took them for walks afterdinner every night in the Istana.He was not an indulgent grandfa-ther, but a loving one. There is a

photo of Papa with four grand-sons, who were then toddlers,blowing soap bubbles in the gar-den in front of Sri Temasek...

Papa was happy that all threechildren grew up to be successful,responsible people, contributingto society in our different ways. Afew months after I became PrimeMinister, he wrote me a letter onhis Minister Mentor letterhead. Itread: “These are mock-ups of myChristmas and New Year cards forthis year 2005. The pho-tograph after the swear-ing-in at the Istanarecords a memorableevening in my life. Haveyou any amendments orcomments?”

The photo was of meshaking hands congratu-lating him, I as the newPrime Minister and he asthe new Minister Mentorand President S R Nath-an looking on. NaturallyI replied that I agreedand had no amendments.He was proud of his son,but he wanted to dothings in the proper way,as always.

He continued to teachus lessons in life even in his lateryears. We learnt from watchinghim grow old with Mama. Shemeant the world to him, and he toher. They delighted in eachother’s company.

After Mama’s stroke in 2003,he nursed her back to health, en-couraged her to exercise and stayactive, and continued to take heron trips abroad. He even learnt tomeasure her blood pressure usinga traditional sphygmomanometerand stethoscope, and faithfullydid this twice a day every day ande-mailed the results to herdoctors. He would tell her: “Life isan endless series of adjustments.As you grow older, you adjust.Think how lucky we are and howmuch worse off we could be. Al-ways look on the bright side ofthings.”

Mama’s passing five years agowas a huge blow to him. But thepictures of them together kept Pa-pa company, to remind him oftheir 63 happy years together.

All his life, Papa kept up withhis old friends – Yong Pung How,Chia Chwee Leong, Hon Sui Sen,and after Sui Sen died his widowAnnie. As the years went by, thenumbers of his old friends dwin-dled. In recent years, he would oc-casionally host dinners for his tu-

tors, doctors, staff and friends,usually at Raffles Hotel, courtesyof Jennie Chua, to stay in touchand show his appreciation.

And every fortnight or so, KimLi, his niece, would take him outfor meals, and for a change of sur-roundings. They would go to Un-derwater World Sentosa, ChangiAirport to see Project Jewel, totake a boat ride in the harbour. Heenjoyed the outings and the com-pany. A few friends would join inand take turns to host him – WaiKeung, Stephen Lee, Ong BengSeng, Ban Leong, Peter Seah, Rob-ert Ng, among others. We aregrateful to Kim Li, and to them.

I would also like to thank themedical team of doctors, nurses,physiotherapists, specialists of allkinds led by Professor Fong KokYong, for taking such good care of

my father... For many years, Yanghas made it a custom to host afamily dinner at his home on ourparents’ birthdays. On Papa’s90th birthday, we had our usualcosy meal. I was taking pictures atthe dinner table. Papa gave a radi-ant smile. I decided to soak in themoment and not scramble to cap-ture the photo. I don’t have thephoto but it’s a memory. It will bethere forever.

Thank you to the Security Com-mand team whohave protectedmy father. Younot only ensuredhis security, butwere always byhis side, roundthe clock, be-yond the call ofduty. You be-came friends,and almost partof the family.Thank you alsoto Papa’s person-al staff, especial-ly Lin Hoe andYY, who haveserved him formore than 20years each. I

would like to thank my sisterLing, who lived with Papa in Ox-ley Road, and did so much to helptake care of him. You were not on-ly his daughter, but also his doc-tor. You were his close companionthroughout. You travelled withhim, watched over him closely,and made sure he got medicaltreatment in time when problemswere brewing. You took on morethan your fair share of our filial du-ties. Thank you, Ling.

Finally, I want to thank the ded-icated grassroots volunteers fromTeck Ghee and Tanjong Pagar.You served for many years on theground, helping Mr Lee and me tolook after our residents.

When we are young, we thinkour parents will always be there.After we grow up, as we watchthem age and grow frail, we know

rationally that one day we willhave to say farewell, yet emotion-ally we find it hard to imagine ithappening. Then one day our par-ents are really gone, and we areleft with a sense of loss and pain.That is the human condition.

Papa had thought long andhard about this. When preparingwhat to say today, I rememberedthat once upon a time he hadmade a speech about growing oldand dying, to a gathering of doc-tors. Nobody else remembered it,except Janadas. We searched forthe speech, and eventually after aheroic effort, YY found it. Papahad made it to a congress of cardi-ologists, very long ago – in 1972! Imust have read it at the time, andit left such an impression on methat I remembered it across fourdecades.

I re-read the speech with de-light. It was vintage Lee Kuan Yew– thoughtful, erudite, elegant, wit-ty, but with a deeper point. Sadly,nobody makes after-dinnerspeeches like that any more. He ti-tled it “Life is better when it isshort, healthy and full”.

He talked about cardiac health,decrepitude, the right to die, ad-vanced medical directives (thoughthe term had not yet been invent-ed), and much more. You have toread the full speech yourself, be-cause it is impossible to summa-rise. I will just share one quote:“Life is better short, healthy andfull than long, unhealthy and dis-mal. We all have to die. I hopemine will be painless. As de Gaullesaid: ‘Never fear, even de Gaullemust die’, and he did.”

Papa had a long and full life. Hewas healthy, active and vigorous,until advanced old age. He used tosay that life is a marathon, not asprint. Papa’s marathon is done.He went away peacefully. He willleave a big hole in our lives, and inour hearts. But his values, hislove, and his words – these willstay with us, inspire us, and liveon in us for a long, long time. Fare-well, and rest in peace, Papa.

By CHUA MUI HOONGOPINION EDITOR

FIRST, the Singapore flag drapingthe coffin was removed, foldedceremoniously, and handed overto the elder son.

Then the coffin lid was lifted,revealing an open casket.

Inside, the body of Mr LeeKuan Yew, Singapore’s firstPrime Minister who died last Mon-

day aged 91, lay in repose.With that, the public mourning

of Mr Lee the public figure be-came the private mourning of Pa-pa and Ye Ye by family members.

Earlier, at the University Cul-tural Centre, the state funeral hadbeen a sober affair of more thantwo hours attended by state digni-taries and about 2,000 others.Now, at Mandai Crematorium asthe sun set, a private farewell was

held for about 300.As the casket arrived at about

6.30pm at Hall 1, daughter WeiLing, 60, placed the memorial por-trait in front of the coffin.

Then, as he had led the nationin its mourning as Prime Minister,Hsien Loong, 63, the eldest of MrLee’s three children, stood to leadthe family to mourn its patriarch.

He said: “We are gathered hereto say our final farewells to Papa– Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

“After the formalities of thelying in state and the state funeralservice, in this final hour, Papa iswith his family, his friends of a

lifetime, his immediate staff whoserved him loyally and well, hissecurity team who kept him safeand sound, and his medical teamwho took such good care of him.”

Mr Lee’s three children andtwo grandsons delivered eulogies.

Daughter Wei Ling delivered ahearty, heartfelt eulogy on her“stubborn, determined” fathershe admitted she so resembled.

She lived with her father in Ox-ley Road, and as a doctor too, wasoften the first line of defencewhen he was ill, she said. Shethanked his medical team for theircare of her father.

Dr Lee has shunned the mediaspotlight all week, even as 1.2 mil-lion people in Singapore paid theirlast respects to Mr Lee at Parlia-ment House or at tribute centresacross the island. Clad in a blackdress yesterday, she looked com-posed, although she admitted ithad been a difficult week for her.

In the morning, she said, themaid put Mr Lee’s chair awayfrom the dining table and lined itagainst the wall. “It was a poign-ant moment because it camehome to me that this farewell isforever. And I nearly broke down– but I can’t break down, I am a

Hakka woman.”Younger son Hsien Yang, 57,

said: “Papa, thank you for a life-time of service to the people ofSingapore. You made this littlered dot into the nation all of usare proud to call home.”

For Li Hongyi, 28, second sonof Hsien Loong, Ye Ye was morethan a grandfather; he was an in-spiration. “Ye Ye showed me thatyou could make a difference inthis world. Not just that youcould make a difference, but thatyou could do it with your headheld high. You didn’t have to lie,cheat or steal,” he said, and

paused as he fought back tears.That proved a losing battle and

his mother, Ms Ho Ching, wentup to the podium to give him ahandkerchief and a steadying pat.

Regaining his composure, hecontinued: “You didn’t have tocharm, flatter or cajole. Youdidn’t have to care about frivo-lous things or play silly games.You could do something goodwith your life, and the best way todo so was to have good principlesand conduct yourself honoura-bly.”

Hsien Yang’s eldest son LiShengwu, 30, recalled Sunday

lunches at Ye Ye’s house, wherethe white walls, old furniture andeven the food would remain thesame through the years.

He added: “As I grew up, some-times I would talk to Ye Ye aboutpolitics and the state. Always hespoke with the courage of his con-victions, with a certainty born oflong consideration. As you mightguess, we didn’t always agree.”

After the eulogies, family mem-bers filed past the casket for onelast look at Mr Lee, laying a singlered rose each in the open casket.

His sister Monica Lee was thefirst; then members of the extend-

ed family. Next, the grandchil-dren; then Mr Lee’s three childrenand their spouses.

Hsien Loong, as eldest child,was last. He placed his rose in thecasket, then beckoned to his wifeHo Ching and put his arm roundher.

They stood, side by side, be-side the casket. Then they bowed,once, twice and thrice, in theirfinal farewell to Papa.

It was time for Singapore’sfounding father, and the Lee fami-ly patriarch, to go to his final rest.As so many have noted in tributesall week, he had done so much for

Singapore; and it was time for an-other generation to take over.

Earlier, in his eulogy, PM Leehad described how his fatherhelped him on his first bike ride:“Once when I was just getting thehang of balancing on two wheels,he pushed me off... I pedalled offacross the field, thinking that hewas still supporting and pushingme.

“Then I looked back and foundthat actually he had let go, and Iwas cycling on my own, launched,and he had let go! He was sopleased. So was I.”

muihoong@sph.com.sg

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LEE HSIEN YANG, 57,younger son of Mr Lee Kuan Yew,at the University Cultural Centre

SINGAPORE has lost the father toour nation. For my family, wehave lost our beloved father andgrandfather. We are bereft.

I was born in 1957 and, for aslong as I can remember, Papa wasa public figure. As a child, I wasonly vaguely aware that my fatherwas an orang besar, or VIP in Ma-lay. All little children must thinktheir fathers are special; I do notremember when it dawned on methat he was not just my own spe-cial father and not just an ordi-nary orang besar, he was an ex-traordinary orang besar.

Papa was immersed in his workfor much of my childhood. In Sep-tember 1998, he gave Fern and meour copy of his book The Singa-pore Story. In it, he penned a notewith a tinge of regret:

“To Yang + Fern, You grew upwhile I was running around as I de-scribe in this book.”

Perhaps in different circum-stances, he would have been avery successful businessman or anentrepreneur; but he chose to dedi-cate his life and to serve the peo-ple of Singapore and to build a bet-ter future for all. He wanted to en-sure his three children had a “nor-mal childhood”. He didn’t wantus to grow up with a sense of privi-lege and entitlement.

As a teenager in secondaryschool, seeking to assert my inde-pendence, I would sometimes ridethe public bus. Papa did not ob-ject, and my poor security officerhad to follow me around on buses.When I was in junior college andkeen on outdoor activities, mysecurity officer had to shadow meas I trekked around Pulau Ubin,Pulau Tekong and canoed aroundSingapore. But Papa’s principlesensured that I had as normal achildhood as possible, although Ithink I put out the security detailoften!

Family holidays were happy oc-casions. We were able to see moreof Papa. We didn’t go anywherefar away, posh or exotic: the gov-ernment rest houses in Fraser’sHill, Cameron Highlands, andlater Changi Cottage, a small,two-bedroom seaside bungalowthat holds many precious memo-ries for me, even if once in a whilethe air-con there doesn’t workand we have to call out for help.

Golf was Papa’s principal recre-ation and a passion, so golf fea-tured prominently not only on va-cations, but also after work in theevenings. The nine-hole course inthe Istana grounds provided am-ple room for us children to findadventure while he golfed. BothLoong and I were sent for golf les-sons. We learnt to hit a long drivefrom the tee box, but neither of usreally took to the game and westopped when we grew up.

But eventually, Papa, too,prompted by Ling, gave up golf,and for exercise he took to jog-ging, swimming, stationary cy-cling as well as walking.

In January 1973 when I was 15,Ling and I joined Papa and Mamaon a trip to visit Loong, who wasat university in Cambridge. It wasour first family holiday where wetravelled so far away. On thattrip, Papa and Mama took thefamily to Stratford-upon-Avon,Shakespeare’s birthplace. Wewatched the Royal ShakespeareCompany’s production of Coriola-nus and toured the usual Shake-spearean sites in Stratford. At thetime, I had assumed it was justMama indulging her love forShakespeare and trying to educateus while we were on vacation. Butyears later when Papa wrote hismemoirs, we realised the hiddenmeaning this visit held for myparents. They had married secret-ly in Stratford-upon-Avon inDecember 1947.

When Fern and I married in1981, Papa was keen to have uslive with them in Oxley Road.Mama, perhaps because of herown difficulties living within-laws as a new bride, and mywife Fern, too, had reservations,so upon marriage, Fern and Imade a home of our own.

When my brother Loong’s firstwife, Ming Yang, died in late1982, leaving Loong with two veryyoung children, the family felt theweight of the tragedy. Fern and Iwanted to help the family hold to-gether and create some happy oc-casions to continue to share. Al-though growing up, all our birth-days, including those of Papa andMama, remained unmarked anduncelebrated, we began invitingthe family to our home for Papa’sand Mama’s respective birthdays,for which I would cook a simplemeal. At the time, the family in-cluded my father’s father, Kung,Papa and Mama, Ling, Loong andhis two children. Papa loved agood steak and he had a Perana-kan sweet tooth for desserts.

Over time, the group grew larg-er. The grandchildren had viewsof their own and they could be out-spoken. They were often ready toengage with Papa on issues of theday. I recall one birthday dinnerwhere Shengwu debated with hisYe Ye till late, long after we hadfinished dinner, both sides want-ing to ensure that the other under-stood his perspective and point ofview!

While there have been publiccelebrations to mark my father’skey birthdays, these small privatefamily celebrations were a sourceof much joy to him and Mama. Itwas anticipated for months beforeand savoured in the memory formonths after, and was part of theritual of each passing year.

Many know how privileged Sin-gaporeans are to have benefitedfrom my father’s contributions tobuilding our nation. I know thatgrowing up as his son, I have alsobeen privileged to have witnessedwhat it means to be a good man, agood husband, a good father andgrandfather.

To Singapore and Singapore-ans, Papa was at various timesPM, SM, MM. But whatever hisoffice, he was actually alwaysLKY. Even after he stopped beingMM, people found it awkward torefer to him by anything otherthan this alphabet soup. But to hisgrandchildren, he was always YeYe, and to Fern and me, he wasand will always be Papa. We willmiss him dearly.

This past week, my family andI have received a deluge of messag-es expressing appreciation for myfather’s life, sometimes providingpoignant memories of interac-tions with Papa. And although inlife, Papa kept the two threads ofpublic and private life apart, andshielded Mama and the childrenfrom the glare of the media, in hispassing, the two threads come to-gether as we share the grief ofloss. We have been overwhelmedby the outpouring of grief andaffection. We have been touchedbeyond words by the many Singa-poreans who have braved the ele-ments to pay their last respects atall hours of night and day. Youngand old, on foot or aided by walk-ing sticks, in push chairs or wheel-chairs, you came to pay your lastrespects, to sign condolencebooks and to write messages. Youhave posted touching tributes andpoems online and waited patientlyto greet his cortege as it passed.

Please accept my family’sinadequate but deep and heartfeltthanks. We know our loss is yourloss too, and that the loss is deepand keenly felt. We are humbledthat so many have come forwardto demonstrate your affection for,respect of and gratitude to my ex-traordinary father, a father weshare with Singapore.

Farewell, Papa.

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LEE HSIEN YANGat Mandai CrematoriumMY FATHER was born when Sin-gapore was part of the British Em-pire, the Straits Settlements flagfluttered over GovernmentHouse, and the people of Singa-pore sang “God Save the King”.Papa was given the name Harry atbirth. He grew up to feel that thatdid not fit in and reflect who hewas as a son of Singapore.

When Papa was 10, his young-est brother Suan Yew was born.Papa persuaded his father and hismother that it was not a goodthing to give Suan Yew a Westernname. And so at 10 years old, hehad prevailed in the household.Decades later, when Papa enteredpolitics, he found the name Harryto be a political liability. It wasfrom politics that he found it, butin truth two decades before that,he had felt that this was not rightfor him.

When Loong, Ling and I wereborn, Papa gave us only Chinesenames. As Papa did not have agood command of Chinese andcame from a Peranakan house-hold, he sought the help of thecourt interpreter, Mr WongChong Min, in the choice ofnames. For their eldest son, Papaand Mama chose the name HsienLoong. It meant “illustrious drag-on”. It was an appropriate andauspicious choice for a boy, espe-cially one born in the Year of theDragon.

For my sister, they chose thename Wei Ling, which means“the beautiful sound of tinklingjade”. I suppose Mama thoughtthat that was an appropriate andfeminine name for a daughter,though I don’t think it circum-scribed Ling’s development!

For me, they chose the nameHsien Yang. The name Yang hasmore literary origin. It was takenfrom a quote from the Three Let-ter Classics which can mean “toshow off”. So my mother used totease me before I knew this and

said: “Your name means you’rean illustrious show-off”. Actual-ly, the phrase meant “to bringhonour and value to your par-ents”.

I am sure many Singaporeanstravelling abroad have often re-ceived compliments on Singaporeand its transformation over thelast 50 years. Usually the conver-sation would quickly acknow-ledge the contributions of Mr LeeKuan Yew. I would nod in agree-ment but I would not acknow-ledge my relationship, and I justkept quiet. I’d say: “Yes, it’s beena remarkable journey.”

Unsolicited compliments likethis are the most authentic andheartfelt. Keeping private my fam-ily connection only served to en-hance the pleasure for me, andsadly, as I developed a more visi-ble public profile, it became hard-er not to be recognised as LeeHsien Yang and my father’s son.

I taught my children not to

mention or flaunt their relation-ship with their grandfather, thatthey needed to make their ownway in the world, on their ownmerit and industry. I suggested tothem that should they be askedwhether they are related to MrLee Kuan Yew that a good answerwas to say: “My name is spelt‘Li’, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s name isspelt ‘Lee’. ‘Li’ is one of the mostcommon Chinese surnames in theworld...” This response, which Isuggested, was not meant to mis-lead or to obfuscate, it’s born outof a desire to be recognised forwho we are as individuals and notfor who we are related to.

We are immensely proud of Pa-pa and his achievements, and yetperhaps it is part of our DNA toseek our own way in life. I amsure that Papa would not havewanted it otherwise.

Papa, thank you for a lifetimeof service to the people of Singa-pore. You made this little red dot

a nation all of us are proud to callhome.

Papa, thank you for being awonderful husband and compan-ion to Mama, for loving her com-pletely, for caring for her duringher illness and during your livestogether.

Papa, thank you for being myown special father. Always thereto guide, counsel and advise meevery step of the way, but alsoprepared to step back and let mefind my own wings and make myown way.

Papa, thank you for loving mywife, and my children, Shengwu,Huanwu and Shaowu. You havebeen a loving grandfather to eachof them, sharing small pleasures,enjoying their companionship.

Papa, it is hard to say goodbye.Your work is done and your rest isrichly deserved. In our own differ-ent and diverse ways, my familyand I will continue to honour youand your memory in all that we do.

Private farewell for about 300 heldat Mandai Crematorium for Mr Lee

1 9 2 3 - 2 0 1 5

Pa was always there for us and taught us lessons in life

A father that weshare with S’pore

Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his wife Lim Suet Fern with their sons Li Huanwu (back row, left), Li Shaowu (second fromright), holding Mr Lee’s portrait with Li Haoyi, PM Lee’s son. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

He was ‘my own special father’ and more

Pa had a long and full life. He washealthy, active and vigorous, untiladvanced old age. He used to say thatlife is a marathon, not a sprint. Pa’smarathon is done. He went awaypeacefully. He will leave a big hole inour lives, and in our hearts. But hisvalues, his love and his words – thesewill stay with us, inspire us, and liveon in us for a long, long time.

Papa was ready to fight forthe people till his last breath

F A M I L Y E U L O G I E S

10 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 11

By FIONA CHANDEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

A SOFTER side of the late Mr LeeKuan Yew emerged yesterdayfrom the eulogies of those whohad worked closely with him.

They spoke of Singapore’sfounding Prime Minister not justas a scrupulously honest leaderand a tough taskmaster, but alsoas a mentor, a teacher, a friend –and a hero.

President Tony Tan Keng Yamrecalled the “roar” of the crowdat the National Day Parade twoyears ago when the audienceburst into a loud cheer upon see-ing Mr Lee make his entrance.

“That roar captured the feel-ings of a nation, of all of us, to-wards Mr Lee. It rang with re-spect, affection, friendship anddeep emotional attachment.

“It was the sound of one na-tion united,” Dr Tan said at astate funeral for Mr Lee at the Na-tional University of Singapore’sUniversity Cultural Centre(UCC).

Last week, the nation gatheredto mourn him, and did so in amanner that would have madehim proud, the President added.

Singaporeans queued patientlyfor hours to pay their last re-spects to Mr Lee, who died lastMonday. Many helped to makethe wait less onerous by offeringshelter and refreshments.

“This was what (Mr Lee) hadworked for his whole life – tobuild a united people, who re-spect and care for one another asfellow citizens,” Dr Tan said.

Emeritus Senior Minister GohChok Tong, who had taken thePrime Minister baton from MrLee in 1990, described him as aman who “drove his people hard”to quickly create a nation fromscratch.

But Mr Lee – whom Mr Gohfirst met in 1958 when he invitedthe then opposition leader tospeak at his school, Raffles Insti-tution – was also a “great teach-er” and an inveterate worrier.

“He shared with the Cabinetuseful articles, his conversationswith world leaders, and insightsfrom overseas trips,” Mr Gohtold the 2,200 guests at thefuneral.

He also “worried incessantlywhether Singapore would surviveafter he and the old guard were

gone. He wanted to be judged onthis, not by the city he had builtand the lives he had improved”.

To usher in Singapore’s nextgeneration of leaders, Mr Lee“had to cut short the political ca-reers of his old colleagues”, a pro-cess that “was painful for him”,recalled Mr Goh.

“He sa i d tha t i t wa s‘emotionally difficult butnecessary… I had to do it, whatev-er my own feelings’.

“I know he felt for them. Hewould occasionally ask me aboutthem,” he added.

After Mr Goh himself steppeddown as Prime Minister in 2004,handing the office over to MrLee’s son, current Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong, he continued tohave lunch regularly with theelder Mr Lee until the latter’shealth declined in 2013.

Mr Goh also caught peeks ofMr Lee’s personal life duringthose lunches. “We talked aboutour families and health. AfterMrs Lee’s death, I glimpsed howlonely and sad he was.”

Former Cabinet ministerS. Dhanabalan, once identifiedby Mr Lee as a potential succes-sor, shared similar memories ofthe latter mentoring younger min-isters.

“When he made official visitsand went to conferences, he al-ways made it a point to take afew of us in the younger teamalong with him,” he said.

“Mr Lee never tired of repeat-ing his war stories, observations,and conclusions about events andpersonalities. To me, he was Min-ister Mentor from the time I start-ed working with him.”

Like Mr Goh, Mr Dhanabalanalso witnessed Mr Lee’s anguishbehind the scenes when he had tomake difficult decisions.

“He was sometimes seen as ahard-hearted man who actedwithout feelings. But on the fewoccasions he discussed privatelywith me the decision to actagainst someone, I know that heagonised over the decision,” saidMr Dhanabalan, now chairman ofNUS Business School’s manage-ment advisory board.

But he added that Mr Lee “wasconvinced that a soft-hearted ap-proach would undermine theethos he wanted to embed deeplyin public service”.

One value Mr Lee held dearwas that of no wastefulness, said

former senior minister of stateSidek Saniff.

Speaking in Malay, he chokedup at times as he recounted howMr Lee had told him not to spendmoney buying a new overcoatand boots for a trip to China, butinstead to borrow them – fromformer Cabinet minister AhmadMattar and Mr Goh respectively.

Concluding, Mr Sidek turnedto face Mr Lee’s coffin and said:“Farewell, friend. Farewell.”

An equally heartfelt goodbyecame from Mr Dhanabalan, whoalso faced the coffin and said sim-ply: “Farewell, Sir.”

Dr Tan and Mr Goh, on theother hand, ended their eulogiesby urging Singaporeans to contin-ue Mr Lee’s legacy of a harmoni-ous and successful Singapore.

“Let us stay united, acrossrace, language, religion, acrossyoung and old, across rich andpoor, across our whole society,

to write an exciting sequel to hisand our Singapore story,” saidMr Goh.

Other eulogists at the21/2-hour state funeral includedformer Cabinet minister OngPang Boon, trade unionist G.Muthukumarasamy, Tanjong Pa-gar community leader LeongChun Loong and civil servant andformer journalist CassandraChew.

Their speeches were bookend-ed by eulogies from Mr Lee’ssons, PM Lee and Mr Lee HsienYang.

After the 10 eulogies, PM Leeand Dr Tan laid wreaths near MrLee’s coffin.

A moment of silence was thenobserved islandwide for Mr Leeand the pledge and national an-them recited before the familyleft for the cremation service atMandai Crematorium.

fiochan@sph.com.sg

Excerpt from the eulogy byMS CASSANDRA CHEW, 31,civil servant and former journalistwith The Straits Times

I DID not know Mr Lee KuanYew personally for most of mylife. We met while I was on twoassignments as a journalist – doc-umenting his life at home and col-lecting photographs for a picturebook for his 90th birthday.

I met him up close six times,for meetings and interviews,from July 2011. Most were large,formal meetings at the Istana.Naturally, I was on my best be-haviour.

I didn’t dare to say a word tohim until my editor made melead one of the interviews. Hethought Mr Lee would enjoy theinteraction with a younger Singa-porean.

I was so nervous I could hearmy heart pounding before themeeting, and actually felt a head-ache coming on. I braced myselfto be peppered with questions onwhether I was married, when Iplanned to have children or whe-ther I spoke Mandarin oftenenough – questions Mr Lee wasknown to ask young Singapore-ans he met.

But there was none of that dur-ing the 80-minute interview,which was focused on the begin-nings of his political career.There was no room for nervous-ness either.

He came in, sat down andasked: “Who’s going to start?”And with that, the interview be-gan. As always, Mr Lee was fo-cused on the task at hand.

Over time, I gained moreglimpses of what he was like as aperson. For instance, it was athrill for me to learn from hisoral history that he once failed anart exam in primary school. Butthat was, of course, a small blem-ish on his distinguished academic

record. I also learnt that in his lat-er years he craved his latemother’s gado gado and meesiam which, thankfully, his sis-ter, Madam Monica Lee, couldreplicate.

I made at least eight visits to38 Oxley Road, where I went intoall the rooms. But the only time Isaw him at home was during our20-minute photo shoot which be-gan in his study, where he spentmost of his time while at home.

He was in good spirits thatday, dressed in a white,short-sleeved shirt, dark trou-sers and his trademark sportsshoes.

It looked as if he had been go-ing through his e-mail at hisdesk, which had newspapers,magazines, binders of papers andstationery, all neatly arranged.

It was clear that even athome, his focus was on his work.It didn’t matter to him that hisfurniture was more than 60years old and outdated. Theyserved their purpose and thatwas all that mattered.

That was how he lived his life:very simply and frugally, and al-ways putting the country firstand his own creature comfortssecond.

We moved to the living room,which was also a very privatespace because it was where thelate Mrs Lee was remembered.Her photographs were displayedin two rows above her urn, and Iwas told Mr Lee would gaze atthem daily as he had his meals.

I could feel how much Mr Leemissed his late wife. She was hispartner, his anchor, for morethan 63 years.

The last set of photos we tookat his home are my favourite.Seated on a chair by a wooden ta-ble on the verandah, Mr Leeflashed a bright smile. Theyturned out to be the best photoson the reel.

To thank him for the photoshoot that day, I had preparedtwo chocolate cupcakes afterlearning how much he enjoyedchocolate. But, on the day, I wasfar too excited and dropped thebox before I could present themto Mr Lee.

I had been reflecting on what Iwas learning about Mr Lee, as aperson and founder of independ-ent Singapore, and had just be-gun to understand just howmuch he and his family had sacri-ficed to ensure Singapore’s suc-cess. I realised just how much Ihad taken for granted, and howmuch more I had to thank himfor.

To me, Mr Lee had trans-formed from an elderly states-man who our textbooks say did alot for us but didn’t seem rele-vant to my daily life, to a man forwhom I developed a deep senseof gratitude and appreciation. Somuch of Singapore began tomake sense to me now that I hadseen the world through his eyes.

I decided to try to express mythanks again, and wrote him athank-you card.

I had so much to say, but didnot know how to say it, and end-ed up writing four simple lines.

A few weeks later, I received areply. True to his personality, hisresponse was brief and to thepoint. “Thank you,” he wrote,and signed off as “LKY”. I wasthrilled to have heard back fromhim, but a little sad that I did notconvey what I felt in my heart.

This is my last chance. MrLee, thank you for everything.Some days I cannot believe howfortunate I am to have been borna Singaporean.

We don’t have everything, butwe have more than most, be-cause of your lifelong labour. Onbehalf of young Singaporeans eve-rywhere, I’d like to say: Thankyou.

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR ONG PANG BOON, 86,Cabinet minister from 1959 to1984, who led the ministries ofHome Affairs, Education, Labourand the Environment

THE first time I heard of Mr LeeKuan Yew was during the 1952postal workers’ strike, when Iwas a student at the Universityof Malaya.

At the time, the English andChinese papers reported widelyon how this legal adviser repre-senting the unions argued suc-cessfully against the colonial gov-ernment for the unions’ andworkers’ welfare.

Like many other young peo-ple, I was deeply impressed bythis brilliant lawyer.

So when the People’s ActionParty decided to contest the 1955election, I did not hesitate to sup-port the PAP as a volunteer, andwas assigned to be Mr Lee’s elec-tion agent.

But after the election, my em-ployer posted me to KualaLumpur, and I thought that wasthe end of my political involve-ment.

In 1956, Mr Lee was en routeto Cameron Highlands for a holi-day with his wife and elder son,and arranged to see me at theKuala Lumpur Station Hotel.

To my surprise, he asked meto join the PAP as its organisingsecretary.

I was determined to join thebattle for independence from co-lonial rule, and accepted his of-fer without a second thoughtand joined the march for change.I have never regretted that deci-sion.

As the PAP’s organising secre-tary, I had to work closely withSecretary-General Comrade Leeand other Exco members. Thisgave me a better understandingof Mr Lee.

He was a consummate and far-sighted politician, maximisingevery opportunity to advance hispolitical advantage and thePAP’s interests.

Although English-educated,he understood that power restedwith the pro-communist stu-

dents from Chinese schools andthe trade unions.

Hence, he was always wor-ried that the PAP could be hi-jacked by the pro-communists.

We fought with the pro-com-munists several times in the ear-ly years. But we won because MrLee had the strong support oflike-minded comrades like DrToh Chin Chye, Dr Goh KengSwee and Mr S. Rajaratnam.

In 1959, the PAP won the gen-eral election on the back of theChinese-educated voters of Sin-gapore. I joined the first PAPCabinet, with Mr Lee asSingapore’s first Prime Minis-ter.

He was a dedicated PrimeMinister with broad perspec-tives. During Cabinet meetings,there would sometimes be differ-ing views on certain issues but,after active discussion, he wasable to accept alternative viewsand ideas.

I served in the Cabinet until1984.

What struck me most aboutMr Lee was his complete pas-sion for Singapore. He spent eve-ry moment thinking of how hecould improve Singapore andSingaporeans’ lives.

Once he decided that a cer-tain policy was in the interest ofhis beloved Singapore, he wouldimplement it, even if it meantmaking himself unpopular.

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LEONG CHUN LOONG,79, Tanjong Pagar grassrootsleader who worked with Mr LeeKuan Yew for 39 years

BACK in the early days, ChineseNew Year celebrations wouldkick off with the lighting of fire-crackers, followed by the singingof the National Anthem.

During one celebration, thefirecrackers did not go off whenlit. After a while, we got impa-tient and the emcee decided tomove on to the National An-them.

However, just as the NationalAnthem was being played, thefirecrackers went off loudly.

We thought it was quitefunny but Mr Lee was notamused at all.

Later he told us: “If we can’teven do this right, how can werun the country?”

This incident showed us howserious he was about all thingsconcerning Singapore and howhe always expected us to do ourbest for Singapore.

Mr Lee cared for the people.At a Tanjong Pagar Family Day

function, we had set up a stagefor the day’s activities.

The key officials were sittingon the stage while the residentswere sitting in front of the stage.It was getting very hot and sun-ny.

Mr Lee noticed that the resi-dents were perspiring in the sunwhile we, the officials, were sit-ting in the shade.

He turned around and askedus what we were going to doabout it.

He was always thinking aboutthe people and he expected us toput their interest above our own.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching bowing to thank the 2,200 mourners and guests near the end ofthe funeral service for Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the University Cultural Centre yesterday. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LI HONGYI, 28,son of PM Lee Hsien Loong andgrandson of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

SOME years ago when I was pre-paring to go to university, Ye Yegave me a camera. This was thefirst and only time he ever gaveme a present. Over the next fewyears, I got deeply into photogra-phy and took thousands of photosof my time in college. After I grad-uated, I got a book printed withmy favourite ones. I presented itto him as a thank you for his giftand hopefully to show him I haddone something good with it.

Ye Ye was more than a grandfa-ther to me. He was an inspiration.As a child, I looked up to him andwanted to grow up to be the kindof man he was. Even now, I stilldo.

We would have lunch with YeYe and Nai Nai every Sunday attheir house. We always ate simplethings: mee rebus, nasi lemak,popiah. He was never one con-cerned with luxury or lavishness.The idea that he would care abouthow fancy his food was or whatbrand his clothes were was laugha-ble. His mind was always on moreimportant things. He would havediscussions with our parentswhile my cousins and I would sitby the side and listen. I would al-ways feel a bit silly after listening.He made me realise how petty allmy little concerns were and howthere were so many bigger prob-lems in the world. He made mewant to do something more withmy life.

He was not an especially charm-ing man. Yet when he spoke, youfelt compelled to listen. Becausewhen he spoke, you knew he wasbeing straight with you. He wasnot trying to cajole or flatter. Hewould be completely frank andhonest. After speaking to him inperson, you knew that his speech-es were not puffed-up fluff. Theywere truly his opinions on the mat-ters he cared most about. Hewould never echo empty slogansor narrow-minded ideologies; itwas always thoroughly researched

and well-considered perspectives.I had the privilege once of ac-

companying Ye Ye to a ceremonyin Washington where he was re-ceiving an award. Hearing himspeak and watching the entireroom listen made me feel soproud. His charisma came notfrom showmanship but from puresubstance.

Ye Ye understood the limits ofhis knowledge. He made it a pointto try and understand the flawsand risks of his own perspectivesbetter than anyone else. This wasespecially true when it came toSingapore. He refused to let blindnationalism run this country intothe ground.

He cared deeply about thiscountry and made sure he wasaware of any weaknesses thatcould cause us harm. But he wasvery proud of Singapore and confi-dent that we could be better.

Ye Ye showed me that youcould make a difference in thisworld. Not just that you couldmake a difference, but that youcould do it with your head heldhigh. You didn’t have to lie, cheator steal. You didn’t have tocharm, flatter or cajole. Youdidn’t have to care about frivolousthings or play silly games. Youcould do something good withyour life, and the best way to doso was to have good principlesand conduct yourself honourably.

People admired Ye Ye for hisbrilliant mind. They admired himfor his ability to lead and rally ustogether. They admired him forall of his staggering accomplish-ments. These are all true. But tome, what made him a great manwas the person he chose to be. Aman of character, clarity and con-viction. We should remember himless as a man who gave us greatgifts, and more as a man whoshowed us the kind of people wecould be.

When Ye Ye gave me that cam-era years ago, he wrote me a note.It was a simple note without anyflowery language or cheap senti-ment. He simply told me that hehoped I make good use of it. Ihope I have.

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR LI SHENGWU, 30,Mr Lee Hsien Yang’s eldest sonand grandson of Mr Lee Kuan Yew

WHEN the grandchildren werevery little, Ye Ye would take uson walks to feed the fish at the Is-tana. We would perch on the edgeof the pond, the ripples of ourbreadcrumbs breaking the mir-rored surface of the water. Heliked to have the grandchildrennearby as he pedalled his exercisebike on the green grass.

Sunday lunch with Ye Ye wasan institution for our family. Hisvoice and his hearty laugh wouldcarry to the children’s table, talk-ing about matters of state, re-counting meetings with foreignleaders whose names we neitherrecognised nor remembered.

In a city of continual renewal,my grandparents’ house neverchanged. Always the same whitewalls, the same wooden furni-ture, the same high windows let-ting in sunlight.

The food stayed the same too– Singapore cooking that wouldnot be out of place at a good stallin a hawker centre. Ye Ye and NaiNai would take us on outings, tothe zoo, to the Science Centre, toNational Day. As a child, I be-lieved that the chief benefit of hisposition was that it came with amarvellous view of the fireworks.

Ye Ye loved his role as a dotinggrandfather. It delighted him, ateach Chinese New Year, when thegrandchildren gathered to greethim and receive hongbao. AfterNai Nai had her second stroke inJune 2008, he continued the tradi-tion, preparing himself the hong-bao for his grandchildren.

As I grew up, sometimes Iwould talk to Ye Ye about politicsand the state. Always he spokewith the courage of his convic-tions, with a certainty born oflong consideration. As you mightguess, we didn’t always agree. Atthe dining table, he never arguedopportunistically, never took a po-sition he didn’t believe for thesake of a tactical advantage. Thefacts were the facts; our beliefsshould accord with the evidence,and not the other way around.

To grow up in Singapore is togrow up in his shadow; to see inour skyscrapers, our schools, ourhighways and our homes theforce of his singular vision.

History is full of plans for thetotal transformation of society.Plato’s Republic. Abbe Sieyes’What Is The Third Estate? TheCommunist Manifesto. Few planssucceed, and many cause morebloodshed than happiness. Assuch plans go, his was compas-sionate, even humane. His objec-tive was that his fellow citizens,you and I, would know peace andplenty.

He believed that education,open markets and clean govern-ment would make the people ofSingapore a great people. That hisplan succeeded is beyond dispute.It succeeded so rapidly, so thor-oughly, that to my generation,the poverty and instability ofSingapore’s beginning feel almostunreal – like a fever dreamchased away by the morninglight.

He was our man of tomorrow.From the day he took office in1959, he fought to bring Singa-pore into the future. In realterms, the average Singaporean in1959 was as poor as the averageAmerican in the year 1860.

Today, Singapore is one of themost developed countries in theworld. The Singapore economyhas advanced more in 50 yearsthan the American economy ad-vanced in 150 years. This is a paceof pro-gress less like economic develop-ment, and more like time travel.

Once, at the suggestion that amonument might be made forhim, my grandfather replied: “Re-member Ozymandias.” He was,of course, referring to Shelley’ssonnet about the greatest phar-aoh of the Egyptian empire. Inthe poem, a lone traveller encoun-ters a broken statue in the desert.On the statue, the inscription,“My name is Ozymandias, Kingof Kings; look on my works, yemighty, and despair!” Nothing be-side remains.

I think his meaning was that, ifSingapore does not persist, then amonument will be no help. And if

Singapore persists, then a monu-ment will be unnecessary. Andthat assessment is accurate: Hislegacy is not cold stone, but aliving nation. We could no moreforget him than we could forgetthe sky.

It is often said that my grandfa-ther built great institutions forSingapore. But what is an institu-tion? It is a way of doing thingsthat outlives the one who buildsit. A strong institution is robust,persistent. It does not dependprecariously on individual person-alities. It places the rule of lawabove the rule of man. And that isthe sacrifice of being a builder of

institutions. To build institutionsis to cede power, to create a sys-tem that will not forever rely onyou. That this funeral passes with-out disorder or uncertainty showsthat he succeeded in this task. Weare bereft at his passing, but notafraid. The foundations that hebuilt run deep.

The next task falls to us. Ithink my grandfather always sawmy generation of Singaporeanswith a mixture of trepidation andhope. We are children of peace-time, unacquainted with the longstruggle to make Singapore amodern nation state. We view sta-bility, prosperity and the rule of

law as our birthrights.We have our own visions for

what Singapore will be. Some ofour hopes may seem idealistic orfar-fetched. But my grandfa-ther’s vision must have seemedoutlandish too, when he promised50 years ago that an impover-ished backwater would become ametropolis. He showed us that,with courage and clear thinking,Singapore can rise above its cir-cumstances and be a light to theworld.

Ye Ye, you started by fightingfor Merdeka, for our right to ruleourselves. I found out this weekthat Merdeka has its roots in an

old Dutch word, meaning a freedslave. When Singapore was cutadrift from Malaysia, you adopt-ed an orphaned nation and madeus all your children.

Ye Ye, you chose to forsakepersonal gain and the comforts ofan ordinary life, so that the peo-ple of Singapore could have a bet-ter life for themselves, and fortheir children and for their grand-children.

That Singapore is safe, thatSingapore is prosperous, thatSingapore is – for this we owe adebt that we cannot repay.

Ye Ye, we will try to make youproud. Majulah Singapura.

Excerpt from the eulogy byMR G. MUTHUKUMARASAMY,64, general secretary of theAmalgamated Union of Public DailyRated Workers, who spoke in Tamil

WHEN I was an apprentice wire-man at PWD, my colleagues and Iwere asked by my supervisor togo to the newly built Changi Cot-tage to service the air-condition-ing system. We did not know whostayed there or used the space.

As we were finishing up, MrLee, who was then PM, came intothe room. When we saw him, wegot extremely nervous but fin-ished the job. When we weredone, Mr Lee asked me to call inmy supervisor. What happenednext is still on my mind like it hap-pened yesterday.

When my supervisor came in,Mr Lee said: “When a job is givento you, you should do it. I askedyou to service the air-condition-ing. Please service it now.”

My colleagues and I were wor-ried that we had not done the jobcorrectly. We watched as my su-pervisor serviced the air-condi-tioning. When he was done, MrLee reiterated that he had given

him the job because he thought hecould do it – not for him to turnaround and reassign it to histeam. He told my supervisor thathe did not want to see him again.

The incident left a deep impres-sion on me. Mr Lee believed inone thing – one must do correctlywhat he is told and everyoneshould do his own work. If a thirdperson is asked to do the job, theimpact would not be right. Wemust not pass the job to others,and walk away from it. We mustshow involvement in our workand do it properly. This is how aleader should be.”

Dedicated leader not afraid toimplement unpopular policies

Mr Lee spent every moment thinking of how he could improve Singaporeand Singaporeans’ lives, says Mr Ong Pang Boon. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIMEMERITUS SENIOR MINISTER

GOH CHOK TONG“After I stepped down as Prime Minister,we continued to lunch regularly. Ourconversations never drifted far from hislife’s work. We shared many commonconcerns, including the emerging trend ofincome stratification and socialfragmentation. He worried about almostevery aspect of Singapore. He never ceasedsharing and I kept on learning.

“Once in a while, he showed his softside. We talked about our families andhealth. After Mrs Lee’s death, I glimpsedhow lonely and sad he was. Sadly, we hadto discontinue our lunches in 2013 becauseof his health. Sadly, his physical healthdeclined. Sadly, Mr Lee is gone.”

PRESIDENT TONY TAN KENG YAM“Every National Day, we looked forward toseeing Mr Lee. I remember vividly ourNational Day Parade two years ago. Therehad been some uncertainty about Mr Lee’shealth. While I was waiting to enter theFloating Platform to officiate the Parade,suddenly I heard a huge cheer, a roar —the biggest that day. My staff informed methat Mr Lee had just made his entrance totake his seat. That roar captured thefeelings of a nation, of all of us, towardsMr Lee. It rang with respect, affection,friendship and deep emotional attachment.

“It is not something that can be easilyput into words. But I know that allSingaporeans, in their hearts, understandwhat I am talking about.”

We don’t have everything, but we have more than most, because of Mr Lee’s lifelong labour, says Ms Chew, whogot to meet Singapore’s first Prime Minister during two assignments as a journalist. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

Softer sideof Mr LeeunveiledLeaders recall a tough but fair manwho agonised over hard decisions

No laughing matterwhen it came to S’pore

FORMER CABINET MINISTERS. DHANABALAN“He had an absolute obsession to ensurean honest, corruption-free political processand public administration system. He hadseen the damage a nation and societysuffer when well-meaning leaders allowthose close to them to take advantage oftheir position.

“Mr Lee demanded and expectedhonesty and probity from politicalcolleagues, from his equivalent of ‘LongMarch’ comrades, public servants andfrom all members of his family.

“He was sometimes seen as ahard-hearted man who acted withoutfeelings. But on the few occasions hediscussed privately with me the decision toact against someone, I know that heagonised over the decision.”

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Lesson on beingresponsible for a job

On behalf of young S’poreanseverywhere, thank you

Ye Ye showed uswhat we could be

Grandpa was ‘ourman of tomorrow’

E U L O G I E S

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A heavy downpour rained down – as even the heavens seemed to weep – as the funeral cortege of Mr LeeKuan Yew wound past the historic Padang. It was here that on June 3, 1959, after sweeping the polls atgeneral elections for the first fully elected Legislative Assembly, Mr Lee and his colleagues held a victory rally.To the tens of thousands gathered there, and who had placed their faith in the People’s Action Party, he said:“Once in a long while in the story of a people, there comes a great moment of change. Tonight is such amoment in our lives... We begin a new chapter in the history of Singapore.” The Padang and City Hall werealso where Mr Lee read out the proclamation of merger with Malaya in 1963, and where he proclaimedSingapore’s independence two years later. Singapore’s first National Day Parade was also held here, and the1968 NDP at the Padang had also been drenched by a downpour.

As the cortege made its final journey, cannon on the Padang fired a 21-gun salute in honour of Mr Lee.In the background is the Old Parliament House, the scene of so many fiery speeches from Mr Lee, first as

an opposition assemblyman, then as Prime Minister and Senior Minister.

The guns boom,the skies weep

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ST PHOTO: JAMIE KOH. PHOTO TAKEN FROM SWISSOTEL THE STAMFORD

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TIME TO GIVE BACK“On Saturday when we wentto pay our respects atParliament House, people keptgiving us biscuits and drinksalong the queue, so we aregiving back. I wanted toprepare 200 boxes but Icouldn’t hit the mark in theend. The late Mr Lee did somuch for Singapore and forSingaporeans. This is my smallway of saying ‘thank you’. Itis really no big deal.”– Madam Geeta Nanikram, 57, ahousewife, who was up at 5amyesterday and spent four hourspreparing 103 packets of friedbeehoon to distribute free tomourners waiting by the SupremeCourt to bid a final farewell to MrLee Kuan Yew. Her daughterPooja Nanikram (above), 25, avisual merchandiser, evenmanaged to rope in several littlehelpers to distribute the food

PRIVILEGED TO HONOUR HIM“Our friends and family backhome in NZ have told us thatall the flags are at half-masttoday. That just shows youwhat sort of impact andinfluence Mr Lee had, not justhere in Singapore, but eventhousands of miles away. Hewas a great man and we areprivileged to be here tohonour him and be part of apiece of Singapore’s history.”– New Zealander Warren Streeter,44, a business developmentdirector who has been living inSingapore for four years. He waswith his wife Irene, 43, andchildren – Katelyn, 11, and Jack,nine – as well as hisparents-in-law

EARLY EXPOSURE TO HISTORY“She is probably too young tounderstand what an importantday today is, but we wanted tobring her (here) for this and,hopefully when she is older,she will remember thismoment and feel a strongsense of Singapore’s history.”– Mr Chng Boon Chong, 36, anengineer who was at the Padangwith his wife Elmillian, 36, andtheir five-year-old daughter Eva,who was perched on her father’sshoulders

EVEN A GLIMPSE IS GOOD“We can’t and shouldn’tcomplain so much. It is justrain and it will pass... even ifwe have to squeeze with manypeople just to glimpse thecortege for a few seconds, it isgood enough.”– Mr Alan Woo, 39, a salesmanager who took his wife andthree children to One Fullerton tocatch the funeral procession

GLAD TO STAY FOR SEND-OFF“I havealways feltbad andsorry forgiving up mycitizenship...Mr Lee hasdone somuch for thiscountry andmy family benefited. I am gladI extended my stay here to seehim off.”– Mr William Tan Keng Seng, 67,who was supposed to head hometo Melbourne but extended hisstay for the funeral. He gave uphis citizenship in 1990

By MARC LIM, JERMYN CHOWand JONATHAN WONG

IT IS the place that has witnessedit all in the last few days, fromsnaking queues of tens of thou-sands of people, to yesterday’s21-gun salute in honour of thenation’s first Prime Minister.

As Singapore mourned thedeath of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Pa-dang was also the place where Sin-gaporeans showed the best ofthemselves.

As Mr Lee lay in state at Parlia-ment House from last Wednesdayto Saturday, more than 450,000people turned up to pay their re-spects. Never mind the queues ofup to 10 hours through the Pa-dang, or the scorching sun. Not acomplaint was heard.

In fact, everyday folk turnedup to give out food, water and um-brellas, and even spray coolingmist and collect rubbish from thecrowd, just to make the wait a lit-tle more pleasant.

As thousands turned up againyesterday, this time to say onelast goodbye to Mr Lee as the fu-neral procession passed by, it wasno different.

For instance, business ownerAmy Lee, 43, and 15 members ofher extended family, including her82-year-old father-in-law ChiaTong Fong, were out distributingminiature Singapore flags at themain entrance of Raffles Cityshopping mall at 8.30am yester-day. They had bought 10,000 ofthe flags, and gave them all out inunder three hours.

Said Madam Lee: “We wantedeveryone here to be able to wavethe Singapore flag during the fu-neral procession and show howmuch they love this country, and

thank Mr Lee for everything hehad done for us.”

When torrential rain blanketedthe city centre an hour before thecortege left Parliament House,many were caught by surprise.

But as retiree Rejina Tan, 61,found out, others jumped in tohelp. “It’s the first time that I’veseen so many Singaporeans beingso kind and caring to each other...Strangers were helping each otherto wear the ponchos and weresharing umbrellas,” she said.

Mr Jason Lin, 27, who works inan IT company, was surprised athow orderly and patient thecrowd was. “You could really feelthat sense of unity... volunteerswere patient and helpful, and thecrowd were understanding andnever complained,” he said.“That’s what being Singaporeanmeans and, hopefully, it will con-tinue even after this.”

Many were also appreciativethat the Urban Redevelopment Au-thority decided to open The Jubi-lee Bridge – which links MerlionPark to the promenade in front ofthe Esplanade – yesterday, amonth earlier than planned. Thismeant more had a good vantagepoint to watch the procession.

Said housewife Audrey Koh,48: “I think we have proven thosedoubters wrong. We don’t need tobe showy but we will come togeth-er when it matters.”

ITE graduate Yuma Amalinapa-sha, 20, believes the spirit willlive on. “We saw people of differ-ent races and ages coming togeth-er,” she said. “Perhaps we need todo this more often, and not just insad times.”

marclim@sph.com.sgjermync@sph.com.sgjonwong@sph.com.sg

By KARAMJIT KAUR, ANDREA NGand KOK XING HUI

THE scene of unprecedentedcrowds for the lying in state, Par-liament House still saw scoresturn up yesterday to witness thestart of the end of Mr Lee KuanYew’s final journey.

By about 10am, more than 200people – young, old, Singapore-ans, expatriates, tourists – werelining the streets outside Parlia-ment House. Some had turned upas early as five hours before the fu-neral procession was due to start,to pay their final respects.

A light drizzle, followed byheavy rain and strong winds, didlittle to dampen their spirits.

At about 11.45am – 45 minutesbefore the cortege was scheduledto set off – the road in front ofParliament House was closed.

This prompted mourners tosurge forward to take up vacantspace and police officers had tostep in to maintain order.

When the combined militaryand police band started playing,leading a marchpast comprisingmilitary personnel and students tothe front of Parliament House,some in the crowd shouted “Um-brellas down”, so that the view ofthose behind would not beblocked.

A young man’s comment –“Rain, never mind, tomorrow takeMC (sick leave)” – raised cheersfrom those around him.

Soon after, the ceremonial guncarriage carrying Mr Lee’s casketemerged from the front gates ofParliament House.

The crowd, drenched fromhead to toe, broke out into chantsof “We love you, Mr Lee”, “Thankyou, sir” and “You made us, MrLee” as the casket made its waydown North Bridge Road beforeturning into Parliament Place.

Walking behind before they gotinto their vehicles after a short dis-tance were Prime Minister LeeHsien Loong and other familymembers. They were joined bycurrent and former Members ofParliament, including Minister forDefence Ng Eng Hen and HealthMinister Gan Kim Yong. Thegroup also included former MPsMahmud Awang, Chan Chee Sengand Chiam See Tong, with the lat-ter two in wheelchairs but deter-mined to be present.

The gun carriage was escortedby 48 personnel from the Singa-pore Armed Forces and SingaporePolice Force in ceremonial uni-forms.

Some in the crowd wept but pri-vate tutor Ong Than Eng, 64,proudly chanted “Lee Kuan Yew,

Lee Kuan Yew, God bless LeeKuan Yew”. He said: “We’ve shedenough tears. I cried when Mr Leewas in the Singapore General Hos-pital and when I paid my respectsto him at Parliament House, buthe’s in a better place now.”

Others like Madam Ang QueeWhuay, 83, could not hold backtheir tears. She said that, if notfor Mr Lee and the Government’seducation subsidies, she wouldnot have been able to put her fivechildren through school after herhusband died.

She queued for five hours lastThursday to pay her final respectsat Parliament House and turnedup again yesterday morning. “I’mjust too thankful,” she said as shewiped away her tears.

There were tourists present,too, such as Australians Brian Edg-ley, 67, who is retired, and hiswife Susan Gilmore, 63, an admin-istration officer. The couple hadnot planned to witness the funeralprocession but ended up stayinginstead of going to Gardens by theBay. Mr Edgley recalled: “In our20s, anything to do with Asia, Leewas it.”

About an hour after the cortegehad passed, the streets had emp-tied and the crowd had moved toCity Hall MRT Station, wheretrain officers had to stop people atthe entrances to avoid congestioninside.

karam@sph.com.sgandreang@sph.com.sgkxinghui@sph.com.sg

THE skies opened up and the del-uge came, but thousands of peo-ple lining the streets around thePadang to say one last goodbye toMr Lee Kuan Yew stayed put.

Getting soaked to the skin de-spite having ponchos and umbrel-las, they waited up to five hoursto catch a glimpse of the state fu-neral procession going past.

For Mr Philip Cheng, 63, andMr David Hong, 58, there was a

sense of deja vu.Mr Cheng had stood in the

same grass field as a 16-year-old,with the rain pouring down at theNational Day Parade (NDP) in1968. He had been part of the Na-tional Cadet Corps contingent.

“We were completely soakedbut... we were not bothered bythe rain,” said Mr Cheng, whowas among the more than 1,000participants in 81 contingents.

“To see our fellow Singapore-ans continue to stand and watchus was very special too,” recalledMr Cheng, who was with his wifeFlorence, 63, yesterday. “Itshowed solidarity. Just like today,as we wait to say goodbye...”

Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong, too, had performed at thatparade 47 years ago, as a memberof the combined school brassband. His father, Mr Lee Kuan

Yew, had decided that the showwould go on despite the rain, andhad even waved off the offer of anumbrella.

Mr Hong was an 11-year-oldwatching the parade with his fa-ther along Connaught Drive then.Yesterday, he was there with hiswife Malee.

“Why should we be afraid ofrain when Mr Lee Kuan Yew hasgone through more storms,” said

Mr Hong.“Back then, everyone in the pa-

rade marched and stood still inthe rain to show our resolve eventhough we were still a vulnerablecountry,” he added.

“Today, we want to show thatwe have not lost that fighting spir-it and are still as determined. Wedidn’t run then, we will not runaway now.”JERMYN CHOW and JONATHAN WONG

FIRST TRIP TO SINGAPORE“I really admire Mr Lee. WhenI was a young man andworking in Malaysia on oddjobs, I was envious of the wayhe took care of the country.He made sure everyone inSingapore is equal, unlike inMalaysia. I wanted to sendhim off. It was difficultmoving around Singapore asit’s my first time here. I keephaving to ask for directions.It’s my wish to send him off,Mr Lee is a good leader.”– Retiree Cheng Kam Yeong, 67,a Malaysian from Kuala Lumpurand a member of the oppositionDemocratic Action Party (DAP),who turned up in a DAP T-shirt

THEY WAVED OUR FLAG

“He made Singapore good.”– Foreign workers and Indiannationals (from left) Pandi, B.S.Chari and Rajess at theconstruction site of the NationalGallery were given a break tocatch the procession. They wereholding small Singapore flags

“It touched me to see so manySingaporeans with their flags,under the rain, waiting to saytheir last goodbye. Mr Lee’sdedication is an example forBrazil and other countries tofollow.”– Brazilian tourist RenatoBarandier, 35, an urban planner,was “checking out the city” afterarriving on a business trip. Hesaw the growing crowds of peopleat the Supreme Court and stoodthere watching, when someonehanded him a Singapore flag

A LESSON FOR OUR CHILDREN“The kids – aged 11, 10 andfive – don’t know who Mr Leeis, what he did and why he didwhat he did. We want them tolearn from him to have no fearof failure, to continue aspiringfor their dreams and to nottake things for granted.”– Mr Chua Joo Meng, 42, atransport assistant, andhis wife, Madam Loh Oi Yoong,a secretary, turned up withtheir three children, (clockwisefrom bottom) Cavan, Cheryl andTarey, at High Street Centre31/2 hours before the funeralprocession was due to start

Young, old, locals and expats bravedownpour outside Parliament House

1 9 2 3 - 2 0 1 5

(Clockwise from above) The family of Mr Lee Kuan Yew following the ceremonial gun carriage carrying the casket as it left Parliament House for the University Cultural Centre at the National University ofSingapore yesterday afternoon. Despite the torrential downpour, members of the public, some huddling under umbrellas, lined the streets, waiting to pay their final respects as the cortege went past. Tohonour Mr Lee, gunners from the 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery executed a 21-gun salute at the Padang. PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM, NEO XIAOBIN, JAMIE KOH, ALPHONSUS CHERN, MINDEF

Crowds line streetsto witness startof final journey

Singaporeans dous proud withkind, caring deeds

Among those who waited in the heavy rain yesterday were Mr Philip Cheng (in black shirt), 63, who remembers marching inthe 1968 NDP during a downpour, and Mr David Hong, 58, with his wife Malee. ST PHOTOS: JONATHAN WONG, JERMYN CHOW

Rain brings back memories of 1968 National Day Parade

S A Y I N G G O O D B Y E : P A R L I A M E N T H O U S E , P A D A N G

16 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 M O N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 5 17

By THAM YUEN-Cand CHONG ZI LIANG

IN THE eyes of Madam Goh BoonKeow, 73, Mr Lee Kuan Yew wasalways her Member of Parliament.

The long-time resident of Tan-jong Pagar moved out of the areain 1992, but, every year, shewould dutifully attend theconstituency’s National Day din-ner just to see him and hear himspeak.

At these dinners, residents al-ways started eating without wait-ing for Mr Lee, who would slip induring the second or third course,said Madam Goh, adding: “He hadno airs about him.”

But yesterday, Madam Goh andthousands of Tanjong Pagar resi-dents who lined CantonmentRoad, did the waiting.

They did not move even whenthe skies opened, soaking many tothe skin.

The moment was historic.They were bidding farewell notjust to their MP, but Singapore’sfirst Prime Minister, a founding fa-ther who led a team that broughtSingapore from Third World toFirst.

Mr Lee first set eyes on Tan-jong Pagar in 1955 because it “rep-resented the heart of the econom-ic and social problems of Singa-pore of the time”, and he wanted

to turn things around.He had represented the area

since then.Retiree Low Ming, 80, who has

lived in Tanjong Pagar all his life,met Mr Lee when he was cam-paigning for the legislative assem-bly general election in 1959.

“He kept his promises to us.He said he would clean up the ar-ea, and he did. There used to betriads here who would collect pro-tection money from us. When MrLee came along, he got rid ofthem. I have always voted forhim,” said the former hawker.

His wife Chim Kow Chye, 71,tears welling up, added: “He is avery, very good man.”

Others, like Ms Ranjeet Kaur,45, agreed. The former teacher,who has a flat in Cantonment,said her mother and two brothersall chose to live in Tanjong Pagar“because of Mr Lee”.

Ms Kaur, who is doing a dis-tance learning course to become abehavioural analyst, pointed tothe Pinnacle@Duxton as an exam-ple of how Mr Lee had deliveredon his promises.

Yesterday, many like her linedCantonment Road, undeterred bythe heavy downpour.

As the cortege drove by, theywaved their flags and chanted“thank you” to their MP.

Over at the Police Cantonment

Complex, a short walk from thePinnacle, five women police bag-pipers played Auld Lang Syne asthe cortege neared.

Said Station Inspector Norma-wati Mohd Nor, before she tookup her position: “I feel emotional,but we have to keep our feelingsin check and produce the bestquality of sound to give Mr Lee afitting send-off.”

As the strains of music filledthe air, a line of Home Team offi-cers, thoroughly drenched,snapped to attention and salutedthe passing gun carriage bearingMr Lee’s flag-draped coffin.

yuenc@sph.com.sgziliang@sph.com.sg

HE TAUGHT US SELF-RELIANCE“At the ageof five or six,I was alreadyhearing MrLee speak onthe radio. Imay not haveunderstoodthe wordsfully, buteven as a young child, I couldfeel the passion in hisspeeches. He was a very fieryspeaker during his time asPrime Minister. But his tonechanged and mellowed whenhe became Senior Minister. Hebegan sounding more likesomeone who was trying toeducate and persuade. It wasalmost like we were broughtup by him because heinculcated values in usthrough his speeches. Welearnt about hard work andthe need to be self-reliant as anation.”– Mr Edmund Pang, 54, insurancebroker who came from Pasir Risand was standing outside thePolice Cantonment Complex.

BILINGUAL POLICY WAS RIGHT“Mr Lee would rather peoplemisunderstand him while hedid his best for Singapore,than be popular. Without hisforesight in his bilingualismpolicy, many of us will bestruggling today. Instead,today many Singaporeans cango overseas and be effectivelybilingual, giving us an edge.When I was in school, maybe Ididn’t really understand theneed for it, and was frustratedby having to learn twolanguages. But he saw how theworld would change beforemost people did.”– Ms Sandy Ng, 36, officemanager who cried as the cortegepassed Cantonment Road

A MAN WITH NO AIRS“Mr Lee never had any airs.My father was a Hakka likehim, and whenever he had anydifficulties or need advice, hewould go to Mr Lee. Mr Leewould readily give him histime. There was no ‘I ambetter than you, you are just afisherman’ attitude; if youwent to him, he would helpyou.”– Ms Oh Geik Sin, 57

HE TOOK THE LONG VIEW“I wanted to be Singaporeanbecause life here is peaceful,the environment is good toraise children, and the salaryis good. Most importantly,people respect each other, andwe are all equal.

Sometimes when I look atIndia, Sri Lanka, so manyother countries, if they hadfollowed the Singapore-style,they could be as successful asSingapore. But they didn’thave a leader like Lee KuanYew. Mr Lee always had thelong view, that is whySingapore has reached thisstage.”– Mr Chinnu Raju, 45,maintenance engineer andPinnacle resident. He came fromChennai, India in 1995 for work,and became a citizen in 1999.

A DECISIVE LEADER“I still remember I was 15when the 1963 riots happened.I was at my father’s tailorshop in Arab Street, and I sawa lorry load ofparang-wielding men getdown looking for trouble. Wequickly shuttered the stall.

Mr Lee took immediateaction, putting a curfew inplace. I remember we only hadtwo hours a day to go to themarket. But it worked, thetroublemakers could not inciteviolence anymore. Peoplecould see that he was adecisive leader, that could leadSingapore well.”– Retiree Pauline Poon, 70

A CRIME BUSTER“I remember when I wasstaying in Chinatown in my20s, there were a lot ofgangsters in theneighbourhood. They haddifferent gang names theywould chant, and from mywindow, I could see themcarrying sticks and glassbottles. They would clash andoverturn tables, scaring me. Iwas a seamstress based athome then.

When Mr Lee came tooffice, he immediately startedrounding them up. He caughtthem until they were nolonger a problem. He madeChinatown safe for me.”– Retiree Toh Kwee Hoe, 78

ABOUT 200 pilots stood in thepelting rain yesterday and salutedMr Lee Kuan Yew, in a touchingsend-off for the man who oncehad a fractious relationship withtheir union.

Dressed in dark blue jacketswith peak caps, the pilots of Singa-pore Airlines (SIA), Silkair andSIA Cargo were led by CaptainTan Peng Koon, honorary secre-tary of the Airline Pilots Associa-tion Singapore, or Alpa-S.

Alpa-S had clashed with MrLee in the past as they drew hisire over wage disputes with SIA.

But yesterday, pilots on theirday off opted to pay homage toMr Lee. They and their familymembers lined the road near OneMarina Boulevard and OUE Bay-

front buildings in Collyer Quay.Holding umbrellas, instead of

seeking shelter in nearby build-ings, they waited for the state fu-neral procession of Singapore’sfounding Prime Minister. Whenthe cortege approached, they putaway their umbrellas and salutedin the pouring rain as a mark of re-spect.

Mr Lee had in 1980 taken thepilots’ union to task for staging anunofficial work-to-rule protest inNovember, to demand a 30 percent basic pay rise, among otherthings. After 10 days, Mr Lee,who was then Prime Minister,stepped in on Dec 1.

He summoned the union offi-cials to the Istana and told thembluntly he would ground SIA, sack

all the pilots and build a new na-tional carrier unless all flight oper-ations returned to normal and theairline’s image, restored.

In 2003, Mr Lee spoke at a pub-lic forum and warned SIA manage-ment and pilots that there wouldbe “broken heads” if tensionsover wages continued to escalate.

Yesterday, Captain Tan said:“Mr Lee did what he had to do,the pilots then did what they feltwas right. It was the past. Let by-gones be bygones.”

Added the 51-year-old Boeing777 pilot as he removed his specta-cles to wipe away tears: “Today,we are here to pay our respects toMr Lee. Without him, there wouldbe no SIA and no Singapore.”TOH YONG CHUAN

Constituents bid farewell to their MP

By TOH YONG CHUANMANPOWER CORRESPONDENTand JOANNA SEOW

WITH their families in tow, about1,000 unionists lined the streetoutside the labour movement’sheadquarters in One Marina Boule-vard yesterday, to pay homageone last time to the man whose ca-reer began by representing labourunions.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s final jour-ney through Singapore’s financialdistrict was remarkable as youngand old put aside their umbrellasand, in pouring rain, bowed as thecortege passed by.

“Thank you, Mr Lee, for look-ing after workers,” a lone shoutrang out from the crowd.

The members of the NationalTrades Union Congress (NTUC)and their families began stream-ing in as early as 9am for the bestspots at the junction of CollyerQuay and Marina Boulevard.

NTUC’s secretary-general LimSwee Say arrived around 10am,stayed over an hour before head-ing to the University Cultural Cen-tre for the state funeral service.

“We organised the event sothat union members and their fam-ilies can say farewell to Mr Lee,”Mr Lim told The Straits Times.

Mr Lee began his political ca-reer in the 1950s, fighting for

workers’ rights in his role as legaladviser to more than 50 unions.

He was pivotal in nurturing tri-partism, which strengthened thethree-way partnership of unions,employers and the Government.

For his contributions, theNTUC gave him its highest awardin 1991: Distinguished Comrade ofLabour.

Unionist Raymond Chin, 32,cradling his six-month-old daugh-ter Melanie, said: “She is tooyoung to know what is going on,but when she grows up, we willtell her about Mr Lee.”

Mr Chin is with the Union ofSecurity Employees.

After the cortege passed, theNTUC played an a cappella ver-sion of the National Anthem, towhich the unionists sang along,many tearfully.

Further down the road towardsShenton Way, about 550 staff andmanagement of DBS Bank andtheir families gathered outsideOUE Downtown 1 building, whichpreviously housed its headquar-ters.

“We came a few hours early toreserve a place on the steps,” saidMs Karen Ngui, head of group stra-tegic marketing and communica-tions at the bank.

“Shenton Way was the originalfinancial centre and it symbolisesthe economic development thatMr Lee brought to Singapore.”

Next door, safety coordinatorIsmail Johari, 34, had waited withfacade cleaner Mohamad Fairuz,27. They had been cleaning thewindows of OUE Downtown 2.

Said Mr Ismail: “I wanted to goto Parliament House after workon Friday but they closed thequeue, no luck to see Mr Lee.

“But we got called back towork overtime today and heard heis passing by, so it’s just nice, wecan also pay our respects. He isour founding father after all.”

Railings along the pavementswere lined with the national flag.

Residents from estates in PasirRis, Bedok and Paya Lebar, as wellas civil servants from the Ministryof National Development and Ur-ban Redevelopment Authorityflanked the roads.

Housewife May Liang, 46,could not hold back her tears asthe cortege passed. She was withher sisters, children and nieces.They laid yellow and orange flow-ers on the road where they stood.

She said: “Since last week, I’vebeen tearing every time I see thenews and read people’s tributes.

“We just wanted to bring some-thing for him. He did so much forus.”

tohyc@sph.com.sgjoseow@sph.com.sg

THEY were some of the first to ar-rive at Shenton Way at around8am, and stood outside the Singa-pore Conference Hall for morethan four hours to wait to witnessMr Lee Kuan Yew’s final journey.

About 100 officials, staff andresidents of welfare homes underMuslim voluntary welfare organi-sation Jamiyah braved the rain un-der dark green umbrellas.

“Even the sky is crying,” saidMr Osman Sapawi, 39, a residentat one of the homes, who said hewas glad to have the chance to sayfarewell to Mr Lee.

Dr H. M. Saleem, a Jamiyahvice-president, said: “We wantedto select a space where we can all

be together to see the moment.”“We are very grateful for what

Mr Lee has done for Singapore.He is a world-renowned visionaryand leader,” he added.

They were joined by several In-dian Muslim community leadersat around 10.30am. Mr FarihullahA.W. Safiullah, president of theFederation of Indian Muslims(FIM), said the community wasthankful for the peaceful societyMr Lee helped to form.

“Mr Lee has done a lot to helpus build racial and religious harmo-ny in Singapore, where the minori-ty group of Indian Muslims canlive and integrate with all Singapo-reans peacefully,” he said.

FIM deputy president K.M.Deen said the location they chosewas particularly meaningful forthe occasion, as the former TradeUnion House was a counting cen-tre during the elections when MrLee was Prime Minister.

As the rain grew into a down-pour and the number of bystand-ers swelled, the group offered thisreporter a poncho.

Dr Deen, his eyes reddening,said he was moved by the crowdthat had gathered.

“Whatever rain, whateverstorm we have to stand in, it’snothing compared to what he hasdone for the nation,” he said.JOANNA SEOW

By RACHEL CHANGASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR

IN 1959, an 11-year-old Peter Ganpeered out of the second-floorwindow of his house in Neil Roadat jubilant crowds below.

They were carrying a mannamed Lee Kuan Yew on theirshoulders in electoral victory backto the People’s Action Party head-quarters at 140 Neil Road.

On that heady Election Day of1959, Lee Kuan Yew had not justbeen returned as MP for TanjongPagar, but had also become PrimeMinister of Singapore.

Yesterday, 67-year-old PeterGan, now slightly stooped, stoodin the crowd as Mr Lee was car-ried once more through thestreets.

This time, raindrops mixedwith tears, and it was grief ratherthan triumph that broke throughthe shouts of “Lee Kuan Yew! LeeKuan Yew!”

“We respect him very much,”said the retired Singapore ArmedForces officer, just before MrLee’s cortege passed through hispolitical stronghold. “We support-ed him all the way.”

Founding Prime Minister LeeKuan Yew was just weeks shy ofhis 60th anniversary as TanjongPagar’s political representativewhen he died on March 23.

From the day he came to Tan-jong Pagar in 1955 – chosen be-cause he wanted to represent thecommon man and the worker, notthe landlords or merchants overat Tanglin – he had their hearts.

They gave him landslide elec-toral victories from Day 1. Andwhile they did not see their MP asmuch as other constituencies sawtheirs, they knew, and he knewthey knew, that it was an unbreak-able bond.

In 1989, Mr Lee penned theforeword for a coffee-table bookon the area’s history.

Thanking the people of Tan-jong Pagar for their “simple andabiding loyalties”, he said: “Theynever changed their mind aboutsupporting me because I neverbroke faith with them.”

Many of those lining the Tan-jong Pagar streets yesterday in thetorrential rain to witness the pass-ing of Mr Lee’s cortege were resi-

dents of The Pinnacle@Duxton, in-cluding Mr Gan.

Some stood by the road whileothers watched from its50th-floor Sky Garden – just oneof the features that have made theestate the most enviable HDB ad-dress in town.

It was a fitting congregation,for the Pinnacle is the realisationof a promise Mr Lee made first toTanjong Pagar residents – andthen to the nation as a whole.

In the 1963 elections, he stoodon stage at the very site, next totwo half-finished blocks – thefirst Housing Board blocks in Tan-jong Pagar – and promised that ifhe was re-elected, they would becompleted.

He was, and they were.Forty years later, the old

blocks were torn down and intheir place rose the Pinnacle, agrand monument to a vision thatwas delivered many times over.

Office manager and Pinnacleresident Sandy Ng, 36, wept asMr Lee’s cortege passed by yester-day.

“My biggest regret is nevermeeting him personally,” shesaid. “I’m glad I stay in his constit-uency and managed to pay my lasttribute to him.”

After Mr Lee’s cortege passedthrough Tanjong Pagar, manyamong the crowd retreated to theCommunity Club steps away towatch his funeral service.

The hall is not air-conditioned,a growing rarity among CCs. Thegrassroots leaders are proud thattheir CC has remained modestover the years. Its frugality fittingtheir MP.

The filled hall watched on bigscreens as the cortege wound itsway west and reached the Univer-sity Cultural Centre.

As the military guard began re-moving the coffin from its glasscase to be transported into thehall, all were silent.

Then a small, white-haired84-year-old woman named ChuaAh Poh soundlessly and slowlyrose to her feet.

One by one, the rest of thecrowd followed suit.

In death as in life, the people ofTanjong Pagar rose in respect fortheir forever-MP.

rchang@sph.com.sgAdditional reporting by Lim Yan Liang

LIM YAN LIANG

FOR businessman Laurence Ooi,59, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was the rea-son he moved to Tanjong Pagar.

Mr Ooi moved from JurongWest five years ago, buying a unitin the iconic public housing devel-opment, The Pinnacle@Duxton.

The 50-storey complex haswon design awards, and madeheadlines in January when a

five-room unit sold for more than$1 million.

Mr Ooi said he paid around$450,000 for his four-room unit.

Speaking at the Tanjong PagarCommunity Club’s tribute site,where he had just watched the 10eulogies delivered at Mr Lee’s fu-neral service, Mr Ooi said: “MrLee is the reason I chose to movehere. This was his first constituen-cy, and his last, his legacy.” Mr

Lee represented Tanjong Pagar forsix decades.

Mr Ooi held up the Pinnacle aslasting proof of how far Singaporehas come in his generation. “Igrew up in an attap house, in akampung near Thomson Road, be-hind the old Chequers Hotel.

“The wooden toilet we had wasunforgettable: there were huge‘commando’ houseflies, mosqui-toes, big lizards crawling around.

“Today, friends who visit fromoverseas cannot believe the flatI’m living in is public housing.”

The grateful resident has, inthe past week, visited various com-munity tribute sites, attended anight vigil and queued up at thePadang with his family to paytheir respects at the lying-in-state at Parliament House, as wellas seeing off Mr Lee’s cortege.

Mr Ooi said Mr Lee’s passing

was a momentous occasion worthremembering and passing downthrough the generations.

“Mr Lee Kuan Yew had diplo-macy, foresight, wisdom – he hadthe Midas touch,” said Mr Ooi.“Whether it was defence, water,Garden City or incorruptibility, hewas all of these policies. No politi-cian will ever have this kind ofoverwhelming support again.”

yanliang@sph.com.sg

A GREAT MAN“At first, I thought he was justa very famous figure everyoneis talking about. But afterlistening to his speeches, Inow know he made whatseemed impossible, possible. Ireally feel he is a great man.”– Secondary 1 student Kai Peh,12 (top, with friend ThaddeusChua, 7), who was at ShentonWay with his mother. He hasbeen watching clips of Mr Lee’sspeeches and rallies on televisionsince last Monday

TEES TO HONOUR MR LEE“I wanted to do somethingspecial to remember andhonour Mr Lee.”– DBS staff union executivecommittee member JonathanJames Wong, 45, on why heprinted his own “RememberingMr Lee Kuan Yew” T-shirts for hisfamily and wore them yesterdaywith his seven-year-old daughter,Jovinne

SAY GOODBYE WITH THE KIDS“My husband and I want allour four children to learnabout Mr Lee’s contributionsto Singapore. That is why wehave taken them to Parliamentand the Tanjong Pagar CC topay our respects, and now weare here to say goodbye to MrLee as he passes by ShentonWay.”– Customer service staff JaslineAng, 45, with her husband AlbertAng, 48, who is self-employed,and their children (from left)Zevid, seven, Jayden, five, Enilla,nine, and Alline, 12

PAY RESPECTS AS A FAMILY“Mr Lee is a great man. Beinghere is our way of paying ourrespects to him as a family.”– SIA pilot Captain Michael Goh,41, who was with his wife Eunice,36, son Jonathan, 10 anddaughter Joyce, seven

HE DID SO MUCH“We are doing it out ofrespect for Mr Lee. He’s doneso much for the country Iwant to be able to pray forhim without holding anythingin my hands.”– Mr Tan Chor Kiat, chiefexecutive of Vital, a centralgovernment department thathandles human resource andfinance matters, who was therewith about 50 of his staff

Staff and residents of welfare homes under Jamiyah waiting to witness Mr Lee’s final journey. ST PHOTO: JAMIYAH

The cortege passing The Pinnacle@Duxton in Cantonment Road. Mr Lee was just weeks shy of his 60th anniversary as Tanjong Pagar’s political representative when he died on March 23. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

Mr Lee’s role in workers’ rights andeconomic development remembered

SIA pilots gather to salute Mr Lee

Muslim groups wait at ‘meaningful’ spot

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Unionists and their families outside the NTUC Building in Collyer Quay. Theystarted arriving as early as 9am yesterday. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

Unionists, bankstaff say goodbyes

Tanjong Pagarkeeps faithwith its MPtill the end

Honouring his Pinnacle achievement

S A Y I N G G O O D B Y E : S H E N T O N W A Y , T A N J O N G P A G A R

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By JOHN LUI

SHE is wearing a home-madeblack ribbon on her chest. She hasbeen standing in the rain for threehours, waiting for the man whowas Singapore’s Prime Ministerfor much of her youth.

Ms Mary Koh, 42, is comforta-bly middle class now, but fromwhere we stand on Jalan Bukit Me-rah, through the rain, we can seethe Redhill Estate block where shespent all her early years, in athree-room flat shared with fivesiblings and her parents. Her fa-ther was a driver; her mother, ahousewife.

The former financial analystand now full-time housewife ishere to thank Mr Lee for her edu-cation in schools such as NanyangTechnological University.

“Without him, I don’t think Iwould have what I have today,”she says, dabbing her eyes.

“My husband’s parents werehawkers. They had no education.But two of their children went touniversity. They didn’t need spe-cial connections – just hardwork,” she says, surrounded byher three boys, Henry, nine, Wal-ter, 10, and Bryan, 14, and hus-band Simon Ong, 42, an auditor.

They have had a rough week.Henry is in a wheelchair be-

cause he broke his ankle after afall. The cast is wrapped in plasticto protect it against the rain.

Pushing him through thecrowd has been awkward, but MsKoh wants her sons to know how

important this moment is.“They grew up without Lee

Kuan Yew. I don’t know if they ap-preciate everything we have. Ihope they do,” she says, beforeemotion overcomes her again.

Around the time she was grow-ing up in Redhill, not far away, MrIjas Ali, 57, was moving in.

The immigrant from South In-dia became a citizen 18 years ago.

The businessman is here withhis family to see the processionand, like Ms Koh, finds it hard totalk about the former Prime Minis-ter without tearing up.

“This country provided mewith everything. The sky is thelimit here,” he says.

He exports tyres from China toAfrica and, to him, Mr Lee wasthe “prophet” who foresaw thatChina would become the world’sfactory.

“Where did he get his ideas?Where did he get his intelligence?He surprised people again andagain. He was one in a million,”says Mr Ijas. “I don’t just admirehis intelligence – I worship it.”

His son came at 9am to stakeout a spot along Jalan Bukit Mer-ah. He has been here since10.30am, waiting for the proces-sion, expected to pass at 1pm.

He is here today because henever met Mr Lee in the flesh. Hisdaughter Nabeelah Sahen, 19, a re-tail assistant, is by his side.

“Person to person, man toman, I want to give him a salute.Just a salute,” he says.

johnlui@sph.com.sg

By MARISSA LEE

MORE than 30 members of theChua family, spanning three gener-ations, turned up at Bukit Merahyesterday to hold up a banner theyhad printed in honour ofSingapore’s founding father LeeKuan Yew.

They started gathering in BukitMerah at about 8.30am, more thanfour hours before the funeral pro-cession was due to pass through,on its way from Parliament Houseto the University Cultural Centre.

“Behind this road is Jalan BukitHo Swee, where a lot of homeswere burnt down during a big firethat was a dark moment in the his-tory of Singapore,” said MrPatrick Chua, 47, who works inthe oil and gas industry.

He was referring to the 1961fire that razed a squatter settle-ment, costing 16,000 their homes.

Mr Lee, Singapore’s first PrimeMinister, salvaged many lives withhis public housing initiative, add-ed Mr Chua.

The clan, waiting with their ban-ner, stood stoically for hours inthe pouring rain to pay their re-

spects. Among them was MrChua’s nephew Sng Yin Jun, a12-year-old from Tao Nan School.

Yin Jun said he would salute MrLee when the cortege passed. “Wehave to respect our founding fa-ther, and coming here is a form ofrespect,” said the Primary 6 pupil.

His grand aunt, Madam Tan Si-yu Lian, 67, said it was importantto teach the younger generation tobe grateful to Mr Lee, and to al-ways remember him. “Because ofhim, we all have roofs over ourheads and our children all havegood jobs,” she said in Mandarin.

The idea of the banner, thank-ing Mr Lee for leaving them a liv-ing legacy, came about during afamily chat, when 15 second-gener-ation members spoke about theirexperiences visiting ParliamentHouse, where Mr Lee’s body waslying in state, over the last fewdays. On Friday, it was a mad rushto find a printer to deliver at suchshort notice.

Said Mr Chua: “We will keepthis banner and display it every Na-tional Day, starting at my cousin’shouse this year.”

marilee@sph.com.sg

By AARON LOWDEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

HEARTLANDERS came from allcorners of Singapore yesterday toline the streets of Bukit Merahand Queensway to bid a final fare-well to the man they may nothave met personally but whosepolicies had a direct impact onthem and their families.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew led a teamthat, many said, helped provide aroof over their heads, builtschools to educate their children,and grew the economy to createjobs.

So Ms Yew Poh Yock, 58, andher sister, Ms Yew Poh Har, 54,came as early as 6am to get aplum kerbside spot to wait for thecortege to pass at around 1pm.The older Ms Yew, who lives inCommonwealth Drive, said inMandarin: “I was expecting a

huge crowd and did not want tobe too late.”

Others like Mrs Heng Xin Yi,34, and her young daughter madetheir way from Ang Mo Kio andfound a spot near CommonwealthMRT station. “It’s no sacrifice.Rain or shine, we want to be hereto say thank you for what he haddone for us. Without him, howmany of us can own our home?”said Mrs Heng, her eyes red fromcrying.

As the hours passed, the crowdgrew five-deep in some places asthousands lined the 8km routefrom Jalan Bukit Merah all theway to Commonwealth Avenue.

As the cortege turned into Ja-lan Buki t Merah, one ofSingapore’s oldest HDB estates,at about 1.15pm, there was a surgeof emotions among residents,whose well-being had alwaysbeen a priority with Mr Lee.

They waved small Singaporeflags, clapped loudly and shoutedMr Lee’s name as the state funeralprocession rolled by, passingHousing Board flats, schools,shops and light industrial estates.

Hougang resident Heng LiangYeow, 59, said he arrived in BukitMerah at 9am to say goodbye toMr Lee on behalf of his late fatherHeng Kim Wah, who was aPeople’s Action Party (PAP) activ-ist.

The factory worker had withhim his father’s PAP membershipcard: “I want to pay my respectson behalf of my father who passedaway at age 49. I know he wouldhave wanted to be here.”

The ceremonial gun carriagewith Mr Lee’s casket also passedby several places of worship – theSilat Road Sikh Temple, the WatAnanda Metyarama Thai BuddhistTemple, the Blessed Sacrament

Church, Sri Muneeswaran Templeand Masjid Mujahidin.

The close proximity of thesedifferent places of worship wasnot lost on residents. Many paidtribute to Mr Lee for helping en-sure harmony among different rac-es and religions here.

Tanglin Halt resident SayutiDahlan, 82, recalls how as a youngman in his 20s, he would cyclefrom Pasir Panjang to Tanjong Pa-gar to attend rallies where Mr Leewould give powerful speeches.

“Standing on a stationary,open-topped lorry, he wouldshout: ‘The British think we arestupid. But I will show them thatthe people of Singapore can andwill have merdeka (freedom).’”

He added: “Mr Lee never usedthe words Chinese or Malay or In-dian to describe us. He alwayssaid Singaporeans.”

Regional manager Lim Boon

Hwa, 56, said Mr Lee’s most pro-found impact was his creation of amultiracial society.

“We had the chance to live in ameritocratic and an equal-oppor-tunity society because of him,”said Mr Lim, as he waited alongQueensway.

As the procession moved pastCommonwealth, where the HDBbuilt some of the earliest publicflats in the 1960s, many long-time residents were tearful asthey waved goodbye.

Mr Seah Chew Chan, 91, haslived in Tanglin Halt since theflats were built. He was dis-charged from hospital on Satur-day but wanted to be out waitingfor the cortege: “Gratitude is theonly thing I have for Mr Lee.”

aaronl@sph.com.sgAdditional reporting by Priscilla Goy, AwCheng Wei, Marissa Lee, Rachel Au-Yongand Miranda Yeo

30 members, 3 generations,one family, one purpose

By PRISCILLA GOY

YELLOW jasmine petals – thou-sands of them – made a strikingtribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew,thrown on the road as his cortegepassed along a stretch of JalanBukit Merah.

The brilliant-coloured petalscovered about 30m of the 3.5kmroad.

They were handed out for freeto crowds lining the road near In-dian restaurant Brinda’s, locatedat Block 162, Bukit Merah Central.Restaurant staff gave out about100kg of the fresh flowers, special-ly flown in from India.

Many threw the petals as MrLee’s cortege passed by at1.20pm; others left stalks of flow-ers on a grass patch nearby.

Managing director S. Veera,

who paid $1,500 for the flowers,which were delivered the night be-fore, said: “In Indian custom,throwing flower petals is a sign ofshowing respect and gratitude.”

His shop, usually open 24hours, also stopped its operationsfrom noon to 4pm as a mark ofrespect to Mr Lee.

“We opened here in 2003, andthis area used to be part of Tan-jong Pagar GRC (where Mr Leewas an MP),” said Mr Veera.

“But giving these flowers is notabout me or our shop; this is forthe country. Mr Lee has laid thefoundations and done a lot for Sin-gapore.”

Bukit Merah Central is part ofthe Radin Mas constituency,which was carved out from Tan-jong Pagar GRC in 2011.

goyshiyi@sph.com.sg

A ROOF OVER OUR HEADS“I was born in a kampung inTanjong Pagar and we movedto a flat in Telok Blangah –our first flat. Mr Lee has aspecial significance for mebecause he always advocatedfor all Singaporeans to have aroof over our heads. Iwitnessed how he transformedSingapore into this moderncity. I remember how we usedto stand by the road when hecame to the estate to visitresidents. Today I am here asit’s my final chance to saygoodbye. I am proud to beable to lead my residentshere.”– Nee Soon Central RC chairmanAndrew Lim, 54, who spent hischildhood in Tanjong Pagar

FOR MY FATHER“I just want to pay myrespects on behalf of myfather who passed away at age49. I know he would want tobe here.”– Hougang resident and factoryworker Heng Liang Yeow, 59,went to Bukit Merah at 9am tosay his final farewell to Mr Lee onbehalf of his father, Mr Heng KimWah, who was a PAP activist.

IN ALL OUR HEARTS“He may be leaving, but hisspirit lives on in everySingaporean. Mr Lee HsienLoong said that there won’t bea second Lee Kuan Yew, but Idisagree because we all holdLee Kuan Yew in our heartsand remember his selflesscontributions to Singapore. Ifwe carry his spirit with us andall give a little bit toSingapore, Lee Kuan Yew liveson.”– Laundry shop owner Lee ChengKang, 58

HE KEPT HIS WORD“Mr Lee KuanYew alwaysdelivered onhis promises.He promisedto give ussafety and hedid after hecame intooffice.”– Retiree Ang Sai Kee, 80, whoremembers living in constant fearof the gangs that terrorised herkampung near Redhill in the past

SON INSISTED WE COME“We tried to get to the Padangat 1am last Friday, as wethought it would be lesscrowded after midnight. Butthe queue was closed and myson was quite disappointed, sohe said that we must come tosend off Mr Lee Kuan Yew, nomatter what.”– Secretary Vivien Tong, 45, whocame from Teban Gardens withher two children, Jefferson, 12,and Vernice Foo, 12

HE HELPED CLEAN UP AREA“My dad would tell me thatthis used to be a gangsterarea, but Mr Lee has helped toclean up this whole place.Even in the small things, he’smade the area morecomfortable, with the liftupgrading and the coveredwalkways.”– Ms Natalia Tan, 37, who worksin marketing, waited with herfather Lambert Tan, 86, near theSpring Singapore building inJalan Bukit Merah, from 10.30am

FAR-REACHING POLICIES“He made itpossible forus to haveclean water,efficienttransport andaccess to agoodeducation.This is on topof his multiracial policies.Without a common language(English) to bring differentraces together, we would havedifficulties understanding andcommunicating with eachother. The fact that we cantalk to each other is a directimpact of how his policieshave affected us.”– Teacher Ramish Goby, 29

HELPING MY FAMILY IN INDIA“Mr Lee built this country...for us to come here and work.The money I earn here andsend home helps my family inIndia to be better.”– Mr Alagesan Rajkumar, 27, aconstruction worker, who hasbeen in Singapore for the pasteight years

Mr Lee ‘gaveour familiesthe life wehave today’S’poreans and immigrants alike paytribute to his vision and conviction

ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

Early birds get plum kerbside spotsA boy with a rose tucked into his poncho waiting along Jalan Bukit Merah. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

People watching and waiting in the rain along Jalan Bukit Merah, some with their children in tow. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

Mr Lee’s cortege making its way along Jalan Bukit Merah. From the kerbside and the flats above, people leaned forward eagerly to catch their last glimpse of Singapore’s founding father.

Managing director S. Veera of restaurant Brinda’s says in Indian custom,throwing petals is a sign of showing respect and gratitude. PHOTO: S. VEERA

Restaurant gives 100kgof flowers to crowds

Many are overcome by tears and grief as the cortege passes through Bukit Merah. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

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Some of the group of over 30 members of the Chua family at Bukit Merah with a banner they rushed to get printed. Theygathered from about 8.30am, over four hours before the procession was due to pass through. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

S A Y I N G G O O D B Y E : B U K I T M E R A H , Q U E E N S T O W N

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AN INSPIRATION“I came toSingaporewith just asuitcase butnow I have ahome and myfamily is here.I travel oftenbut I don’thave to worryabout my family because Iknow they are safe.

Even my son inkindergarten is inspired by thelate Mr Lee. He told me aboutthe things he did and aboutthe one minute of silence theyobserved in school.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is aninspiration to me and myson.”

– Mr Muraleedharan A.P.K., 42,an engineer at Makino whowas at Dover

WITNESS TO CHANGE“I have too many reasons tobe here. I grew up in akampung when I was youngand I have seen all thechanges.”– Mr Abdul Majid MohamedEusopp (below), 52, who works ina logistics firm and was at Doverwith his daughter

SHARING HIS LEGACY“When I was growing up, mygrandparents told me aboutthe changes made by Mr Leeand I am really grateful andwant to show my gratitude.

I hope to share this withmy students, too. Even thoughthey did not know him, I wantthem to know that he broughtthe nation together. I am hereto send him off in highspirits.”– Mr Abdul Majid’s 25-year-olddaughter Nasihah Abdul Majid(above), who is a teacher

FAMILY PRIDE“I brought my children toshow them why we’re all soproud to be Singaporeans. Ireally hope they can learnfrom Mr Lee and the variouslessons of good governance.”– Mrs Nungki Yeo, 36, housewife,with her children Yeo Su Jin,seven, and Yeo Su Jay, six. MrsYeo is Indonesian, while herhusband and children areSingaporean

SHARING IN THE LOSS“My little girl says she wantsto meet Mr Lee in heaven. (Mychildren) understand the lossthat the nation feels andwanted to come out here tosend him off.”– Mrs Clare Low, 29, with herchildren Paige, 11, and Raeann,six. Mrs Low is a teacher

FOREIGN SUPPORT“He’s one of the greatestleaders that have ever existed.We’ve been in Singapore forseven years. I felt it wasimportant to show oursupport.”– American expatriate AnneDuncan, 40, an administrator atthe Singapore American School.She had lifted her daughterMartha, 10, onto her shoulders soshe could see the procession

SENSE OF CLOSURE“There was a sense of closurefor all of us Singaporeans ashis cortege passed. We didwhat we could to showappreciation and add layers ofgratitude to a solemnoccasion.”– Mr Kelvin Tan, 50,a part-time lecturer

LUCKY TO HAVE HIM“We don’t have a figure torespect like that from where Icome. Singaporeans are luckythat Mr Lee has changed itfrom a poor country to a greatone like it is today.”– General worker Rahman Anisur,33, from Bangladesh who wasclearing the barricades after theprocession left CommonwealthAvenue. He said he clapped asthe cortege went past

SREE Harin Baskaran may be only12, but he is bilingual and on theway to becoming trilingual. Heknows English and his mothertongue Tamil, and started pickingup Chinese earlier this year.

That he is able to study threelanguages is something thefirst-year student at National Uni-versity of Singapore High Schoolof Mathematics and Science isthankful to Mr Lee Kuan Yew for.

“He’s the reason I can have agood education and he also encour-aged bilingualism,” Sree Harinsaid.

He was among the throngs whobraved the downpour along Clem-enti Road yesterday to bid Mr Leea final farewell.

He picked Chinese as a thirdlanguage because “China has thelargest population in the worldand I want to be able to interactwith the people in Chinese”.

“I wasn’t able to go to Parlia-ment House (for the lying instate), so this is the least I coulddo for Mr Lee,” said Sree Harin,

who started waiting by the roadwith his family at 10.45am, hold-ing mini-flags that he waved asMr Lee’s cortege passed by threehours later.

Sounding wise beyond his

years, he added: “Waiting threehours was nothing compared tobeing able to pay my last respectsto Singapore’s first Prime Minis-ter.”MELISSA LIN

FORMER Singapore Air-lines stewardess SharonChong has fond memoriesof her brief encounter serv-ing the late Mr Lee KuanYew on a flight to Bali, Indo-nesia.

It was 1977 and MsChong had been specially se-lected to be part of the crewflying with Mr Lee, whowas then Singapore’s PrimeMinister.

Mr Lee was travelling ongovernment business withthen Deputy Prime MinisterGoh Keng Swee and a dele-gation of doctors, reportersand security crew.

Ms Chong’s interactionwith Mr Lee on the Boeing737 flight was brief as MrLee had been deep in conversationwith Dr Goh, she said.

But what struck her about thelate statesman was his politenesstowards the airplane crew – like

when she served him his lunch.“He stopped his conversation,

looked up and thanked me sincere-ly after I laid the food before him.

“His acknowledgement meant

a lot to me because I wasvery nervous and ‘blur’... Iwas fresh out of NationalJunior College and just 19,”said the retired air steward-ess.

Ms Chong was amongthe thousands who parkedthemselves along Common-wealth Avenue yesterday asthe cortege carrying the lateMr Lee travelled throughthe west of Singapore.

She said: “It was impor-tant for me to go out intothe streets to say goodbyeto Mr Lee. I want him toknow I’m grateful to him.

“We’re the silent, sleep-ing ones who have kept qui-et all these years. We areawakened now that he has

passed on. We feel ashamed thatwe have not done much for the na-tion and never bothered with hiscontributions until now.”MELODY ZACCHEUS

By MELODY ZACCHEUSand MATHEW PEREIRA

WHETHER it was to secure agood spot to view the funeral pro-cession, or make the crowds thatlined the roads along Common-wealth Avenue West feel morecomfortable, planning was needed.

Private school teacher Alice Ngmade a mental note of a spotalong Commonwealth AvenueWest as soon as she got confirma-tion of the procession route.

It was on the divider under astretch of the overhead MRT trackbetween Buona Vista and DoverMRT stations.

The 48-year-old said: “Everytime I took the bus home the pastfew days, I would look at theplace and say, ‘it is perfect’.”

Ms Ng came down at 9.30amwith two chairs – one for herself,the other for daughter ShermaineLam, 16. The wait was nothing.

“What is this compared towhat Mr Lee has done for Singa-pore,” said Ms Ng, tearfully.

New Creation Church had a lotmore people to think about.

It started assembling an armyof volunteers several days ago. An-ticipating a large crowd lining thestreets, the church ordered 13,500bottles of water, 4,000 packets ofbiscuits, 1,000 buns and 70 um-brellas to shield off the sun.

But the volunteers did not ex-pect the rain, and some ran to

stores to purchase ponchos.The mood of the crowd along

the stretch of road which ran be-side the Singapore Polytechnic,opened by the late Mr Lee in 1979,was sombre.

Some arrived as early as 9am.Carrying flags, they found spotson slopes around the hilly estate,and camped out on foldable chairsand mats. Others travelled fromneighbourhoods beyond the westof Singapore. They included a hus-band-and-wife pair, storeman Mo-hamad Lamin, 66, and housewifeSukati Mustaffa, 62, who live inSembawang.

Squeezed under an umbrella asthe rain poured, the couple,whose 36th wedding anniversaryfell on the same day as Mr Lee’sfuneral, said they admired the latestatesman’s love for his wife.

“He was a loving father andhusband and so dedicated to us asa nation... and we in return joinedhim on the streets to show ourlove,” said Mr Mohamad.

Friends Aseling M., 75, andAsothai Samy, 68, both house-wives, took cover under Common-wealth MRT’s tracks.

When asked which of Mr Lee’spolicies impacted them the most,Ms Aseling teared up. She said:“We loved everything he did forus. It’s so important for us to behere to bid him farewell.”

melodyz@sph.com.sgmatt@sph.com.sg

By ABDUL HAFIZand MELISSA LIN

ON THIS short stretch of Clemen-ti Road, after Commonwealth Ave-nue West and towards DoverRoad, it was fitting that manywho defied the downpour for a fi-nal goodbye to Mr Lee Kuan Yewspoke of his push to make educa-tion a cornerstone of nation-build-ing.

A short distance away is the Na-tional University of Singapore(NUS). Even closer is SingaporePolytechnic’s Dover Road campuswhich Mr Lee officially opened in1979.

Mr Sim Lye Hock, a 58-year-old facility officer who waited forMr Lee’s funeral procession withhis wife and daughter, said: “Icould go to school because hepushed for it. If not for him, Idon’t know where I’d be now.”

Ms Chloe Lee, third-year chem-istry student at NUS, was therewith four schoolmates.

“We didn’t experienceSingapore’s transformation, butthat doesn’t mean that we don’tappreciate it. Like the fact that weare female but can get an educa-tion, unlike in other countries,”the 21-year-old said.

Crowds there started gatheringat 10am yesterday.

A group of more than 30 fromPioneer Zone 6 Residents’ Com-mittee sat on mats waving miniflags.

RC chairman Salim Ali, 54,said: “I met Mr Lee 10 years agoat a conference. I waved to him,he waved back.”

Many like him cherished theirmeetings with Singapore’s firstPrime Minister, no matter howbrief. Said senior research engi-neer Krishnamoorthy Baskaran,42: “I met him once at a garden

party at the Istana in 2012. Ishook his hand.”

The fickle skies drizzled, thenpoured, and repeated the cycle.But the people stayed – in pon-chos, and under umbrellas andmats which became emergencyshelters.

As news filtered through thatthe procession was nearing, thoseon the other side of ClementiRoad surged forward along thestretch, turning the central roaddivider into a makeshift barrier.

A hush fell around 1.40pm.Then came the roar.“Lee Kuan Yew! Lee Kuan

Yew!” they shouted.Taxi driver Yeow Bee Hock, 54,

who was with his 19-year-olddaughter, Petrina, was emotionalwhen he spoke of his regret afterthe procession.

“When I was younger, Ithought very differently about MrLee. After he died, I had thechance to watch old documenta-ries of him. I came to apologise tohim.”

Retired oil field consultant Gu-nasingan Thambiraja, 69, said: “Iwish more had recognised Mr Leeand all that he did when he wasalive, instead of having to be re-minded.

“They said he was too aggres-sive, too hot-tempered. Whateverthey said about him, he had a planfor this country.”

Madam Nayagam, a 77-year-old who lives in Clementi, wasasked what seeing Mr Lee for thelast time meant.

“It was very sad. He was a verynice man, a very good man, he dideverything for us.”

Her voice breaking, she added:“I want to say so many things, butI cannot say anything now.”

hafiz@sph.com.sgmellinjm@sph.com.sg

A 1976 photo of Ms Sharon Chong (far right), whoserved Mr Lee his lunch during a 1977 flight to Bali,Indonesia. PHOTO: SHARON CHONG

Mr Lee’s politeness stood out

ST PHOTO:DANIEL NEO

Despite the heavy downpour, members of the public along Commonwealth Avenue didnot let up on shouting “Lee Kuan Yew” while waiting for the cortege to pass by.

Happy to learn three languages

ST PHOTO: TIFFANY GOHA large crowd gathered near Faith Methodist Church in Commonwealth, braving the heavy rain in order to bid a final goodbye to Mr Lee.

Madam Tan Goon Kwan, 65, breaking into tears as the cortege passes by. She made it to Bukit Merah Central at 8amyesterday to secure a good spot to view the funeral procession. ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

The people stayed – wrapped in ponchos or under umbrellas and mats – in spite of the fickle skies. ST PHOTO: TIFFANY GOH

Senior research engineer Krishnamoorthy Baskaran and his son Sree HarinBaskaran waiting in Clementi Road yesterday. Sree Harin knows English andTamil and started picking up Chinese this year. ST PHOTO: MELISSA LIN

It took days of planning, camping outearly to get good spot to say goodbye

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A verySingaporeansend-offfor Mr Lee

Emotionsrun highin Clementi

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By CHARISSA YONG

MS SIVA Pillai, 41, stationed her-self along Jalan Bukit Merah tocatch a glimpse of the gun car-riage bearing Mr Lee Kuan Yew’scasket as it passed by at 1.20pm.

Then, barely an hour later, shewas at the community tribute cen-tre about 15km away in Ang MoKio watching Mr Lee’s funeral ser-vice being screened live.

Ms Pillai’s long hair and blackclothes were still damp from thepouring rain.

But she said she rushed back toAng Mo Kio, where she lives, tobe with her fellow Singaporeansto observe the moment of silence,sing the national anthem, and re-cite the national pledge.

“Mr Lee’s legacy will live on,”she said, tearing up. “This week,he’s done what we could not doon our own. He brought us all to-gether.”

In Ang Mo Kio GRC wherePrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong isan MP, more than 1,400 peoplegathered to watch a live feed of

the funeral service and to mourntogether.

All the 900 seats there weretaken, with dozens of peoplestanding at the back, craning theirnecks to watch the service on alarge screen on a stage.

Several cried, dabbing at theireyes and damp cheeks with tissueas PM Lee delivered his eulogy tohis father.

They gave their MP a standingovation when he finished and, lat-er, rose again to observe the na-tional moment of silence.

Ms Anita Chia, 57, said: “Thisis a time for community.

“I could’ve watched the funer-al service at home. But being hereas part of a group is what Mr Leewould’ve wanted. Regardless ofthe rain, we are here to say good-bye to our national leader,” thelecturer added.

She said she chose to go to theAng Mo Kio site to support PMLee. It was the last chance for resi-dents – the only chance, for many– to pay their respects to Mr Lee.

Retiree Lai Tsun Yuen, 74,

said: “I came here to honour MrLee because I can’t go to the citycentre to pay my respects (at Par-liament House).

“There were too many peoplethere. I’m an old man, I can’tstand in line for hours,” he said.

Mr Lai had no trouble at all inAng Mo Kio, as the front rows ofchairs were reserved for the elder-ly and people with disabilities.

Student Haikal Hirman, 15, wasperched on his bicycle near thestage, next to three friends he hadcome with to pay his respects.When it was the moment of si-lence, one by one, the four friendsstood, removed their caps andbowed their heads.

Administrative assistant LuYing, 39, said in Mandarin thatshe was touched by the events.

Said the permanent resident,who moved to Singapore 13 yearsago and is married to a Singapo-rean: “Even though I’m not a citi-zen, I felt like I was going to cry.This week, I found out how unitedSingaporeans truly are.”

charyong@sph.com.sg

By CLARISSA OONDEPUTY LIFE! EDITOR

THE guestbook spoke volumes:the entry from the young girl whothanked Mr Lee Kuan Yew for giv-ing her safe streets at night and“the luxury of deciding what andwhere to study”; the scrawl of theIndian gentleman beside her ex-pressing gratitude for this “greatcountry”.

Invocations of “Allah” and“God”, declarations like “I loveyou”, as well as Malay phrasesand Chinese characters pepperedother entries on the facing page.

Standing at the East Coast andJoo Chiat Community TributeCentre yesterday afternoon, Iwho make my living from wordswas at a loss for them. Finally Iwrote, simply: “My condolencesto you, PM Lee Hsien Loong andfamily, on the loss of your fatherand our first Prime Minister.”

One of the big questions of thepast seven days must surely bewhat accounted for the emotionaloutpouring among usually reti-cent Singaporeans in reaction toMr Lee’s death at age 91.

Veteran opposition politicianChiam See Tong provided part ofthe answer when he likened theman who was arguably his fiercestpolitical opponent to thecountry’s Churchill.

“He was there at the timewhen Singapore was swampedwith numerous problems, rangingfrom domestic to international is-sues. He was there, just as Britainneeded Winston Churchill duringWorld War II – always taking astrategic and long-term view ofSingapore,” said Mr Chiam, 80,

now almost bent double from oldage and illness but with the claritythat sometimes comes from arival rather than a friend.

In a nutshell, many Singapore-ans felt they owed something toMr Lee, and this cut across age,gender, race and religion. Thiswas their last chance to express itto the strongman leader whosetough love had mobilised a nationand carved out a place for it in thesun; the arch-pragmatist whosedevastating, take-no-prisonersbrand of oratory had a way ofbringing all political debates downto earth.

He did not leave anything tofaith or chance, but believed in be-ing two steps ahead of the compe-tition. To improve Singapore’schances of success, he retooledeverything from the languages wespoke to the number of babies wehad. We lived with the rapid eco-nomic growth, legislated multira-cialism, bilingual education policyand overarching state control thatwere his imprints, internalisingthese to no small extent even ifwe disagreed with some policies.

Crowd psychology is a complexaffair, of course, and gratitude isonly one of the elements fuellingthe overwhelming turnout to saya final goodbye.

One can discern group solidari-ty – the cheers of the crowd alongthe route of yesterday’s funeralprocession and the shouts of “LeeKuan Yew, Lee Kuan Yew!”evoked a National Day Parade orpost-election victory parade, rath-er than a state funeral.

The most bandied-about ques-tion of the past week, “Are you go-ing?”, carried with it a fear of

missing out on a historic momentand even peer pressure. Mr Lee’sbody had lain in state at Parlia-ment House until Saturday, andseveral hundred thousand peopleformed snaking queues to paytheir last respects to him there.

Finally, the public mourningcarries with it nostalgia for an ear-lier era when Singapore faced a cri-sis of survival and needed forcefulleadership.

Today that survival is taken forgranted, but the aspirations of Sin-gaporeans are more complex, thehunger for alternative voices isgreater and the divisions in socie-ty no less deep. In that sense, MrLee was a product of his time andit is debatable if a young man cutfrom the same cloth as him wouldsucceed as spectacularly in

today’s political arena.In a 1986 parliamentary de-

bate, Mr Chiam once likened MrLee’s dominance to that of a ban-yan tree with roots so well spreadout that nothing else can grow un-der it.

In a sense then, the nationalgrieving over the past week hasalso been about release, much inthe same way that the death of anelderly parent allows one finallyto find oneself.

In the years ahead, the countrywill look to new leaders across thepolitical spectrum to fill the void.Until then, the collective mourn-ing is akin to that last great imag-ined huddle under the banyan’sshade, before new shoots springup to take its place.

clare@sph.com.sg

FROM MRT stations to businterchanges, homes andcommunity centres, Singapore-ans acted as one yesterdayevening, when they observed aminute of silence to honour thecountry’s founding father, MrLee Kuan Yew.

A siren sounding across the is-land linked those who were notwatching Mr Lee’s state funeralservice to the 2,200 gathered atthe University Cultural Centre,where it was taking place.

Others followed the livebroadcast on television and on-line.

As those at the funeral ser-vice bowed their heads, a lonebugler from the SAF MilitaryBand sounded the Last Post – afinal salute to the deceased –and people across the island alsobowed their heads as a mark ofrespect for Singapore’s firstPrime Minister, who died lastMonday aged 91.

Many stopped in their tracks– some with bags in hand out-side shopping malls like RafflesCity, while others at work, in-

cluding SBS Transit staff at theToa Payoh bus interchange, putwhat they were doing aside forthat moment of silence.

Even the MRT train servicestopped for the minute of si-lence.

At the Junction 8 mall inBishan, the usual stream of peo-ple came to a standstill in frontof a big screen outside the MRTexit.

Part-time florist SharonChew, 58, had tears in her eyesas she said: “It’s such a pity thatwe lost such a talented andgreat man. I’m deeply pained be-cause he’s left us. I’ve beenwatching his life history on tele-vision and I really feel verymoved.”

Said Mr Jason Lee, 29, an as-sistant banquet manager whowas watching the eulogies onhis phone: “It was a show of re-spect ... for a man who gave hislife to the nation. The minutewas the least we could havedone.”MAY CHEN, AW CHENG WEI,JOANNA SEOW and CHARISSA YONG

At PM Lee’s constituency,tears and a standing ovation

RAFFLES PLACE:The crowd held inrapt attentionwatching the livetelecast of MrLee’s funeralservice.One could discerngroup solidaritylater on, with thecheers of thecrowd along theroute of thefuneral processionand the shouts of“Lee Kuan Yew,Lee Kuan Yew!”evoking a NationalDay Parade orpost-electionvictory parade,rather thana state funeral.

ST PHOTO:ONG WEE JIN

CHANGI: Timestood still forstaff, passengersand visitors atChangi Airport.PHOTO: CHANGIAIRPORT GROUP

TOA PAYOH:Mr Wincent Das,who lost one leg todiabetes last year,stood whenobserving a minuteof silence duringthe live broadcastat Toa Payoh Hub.He wanted to go toParliament Houseto pay his respectsto Mr Lee. No onecould take himthere, so he caughtthe telecast of thefuneral service atToa Payoh instead.ST PHOTO:WANG HUI FEN

Gratitude just one of many reasons,national grieving also about release

All over Singapore, a minute ofsilence for a lifetime of dedication

National grief: Whysuch an outpouring?

Many Singaporeans feel they owe something to Mr Lee, and this cut across age,gender, race and religion. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

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ANG MO KIO: More than 1,400 people gathered to watch a live feed of the funeral service, observe the national minute ofsilence and mourn together in the GRC where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is an MP. ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

TRANSPORTSTAFF: AtBraddell, (fromfar left) MRTstation managersstopped work toobserve a minuteof silence. Over atToa Payoh businterchange, SBSTransit staff (left)did the same thing.All over Singapore,buses wereheld back atinterchanges, andtrains pulled to astop at stationsduring thatmoment ofsilence too.PHOTOS: LIMYAOHUI FOR THESTRAITS TIMES,DESMOND WEE

BISHAN: A woman became emotional during the live telecast of the state funeralservice. At the Junction 8 mall, many came to a halt in front of a big screen outsidethe Bishan MRT exit. ST PHOTO: DANIEL NEO

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SINGAPOREANS across Asia yes-terday gathered to bid farewell tothe man who put Singapore on theworld stage.

Away from home, it was theirchance to honour and thank MrLee Kuan Yew, who had made adifference in their lives and madethem feel proud to be Singapo-rean.

Mr Lee ‘sacrificed so much’

BEIJING – No flight delay or can-cellation could stop China-basedbusinessman Raymond Lim, 66,from travelling to Beijing, wherehe joined some 300 Singaporeansto watch the live telecast of MrLee’s state funeral.

Emotions ran high in the ball-room of the Shangri-La ChinaWorld Summit Wing hotel, withmany sobbing or hugging theirloved ones as they followed thelive coverage of the funeral proces-sion back home.

“Mr Lee had sacrificed somuch for Singaporeans. I’m justsacrificing a few hours of sleepand rest to see him through thelast phase as a form of my respectfor his leadership,” said Mr Lim,who runs a seafood processingcompany in coastal Weihai city.

After his flight from Weihaiwas cancelled after a long delayon Saturday night, he drove twohours to nearby Yantai city fromwhere he flew to Beijing.

The telecast was organised bythe Singapore Chamber of Com-merce and Industry in China. Simi-lar events took place in Shanghai,Suzhou and Xiamen.

Mr Stanley Loh, Singapore’sAmbassador to China, told the au-dience that many Singaporeanswere enjoying good opportunitiesin China because Singapore wasregarded as a country that is suc-cessful and has a reputation forzero tolerance of corruption.

Former Chinese president JiangZemin and former premiers LiPeng and Zhu Rongji had sent per-sonal letters of condolences, hetold reporters.

More than 5,000 Singaporeansand foreigners paid their respectsat the embassy and in consulatesin China, he added.

In Hong Kong, over 1,000 Sin-gaporeans gathered to view thelive telecast at the consulate. TheConsul-General of Singapore, MrJacky Foo, led the tributes, say-ing: “He gave us the security um-brella. He gave us economic oppor-tunities. And he built a socialframework, for Singapore tothrive and Singaporeans to pursuetheir dreams.”

‘The least we can do’

BANGKOK – For Singaporeanfriends Lulu Seah, Aileen Ang andNicholas Ng, who are in their 50sand live in Bangkok, it was thefirst time they got together not tocelebrate but to mourn the manwho “made them proud to be Sin-gaporean”.

They were some of the 300 peo-ple who gathered at the SingaporeEmbassy yesterday. Among themwere Thai nationals like Ms SuneeVivatakron, 83, who made athree-hour journey, taking threebuses and a motorcycle taxi, toget here.

She did not know Mr Lee per-sonally, but two of her grandchil-dren were schooled in Singapore.“He was a good man, and I admirehim,” she said.

Singapore Ambassador to Thai-land Chua Siew San said over1,000 people had come to sign MrLee’s condolence book in the pastweek.

“It’s been overwhelming, theresponse,” she said, adding that

three Singaporeans, in their late50s at least, took a nine-hour busride from Chiang Mai because“it’s the least we can do”.

Tears for ‘guiding light’

KUALA LUMPUR – There was noholding back the tears, for someof the 100 people at the SingaporeHigh Commission as they listenedto Prime Minister Lee HsienLoong’s eulogy for Singapore’s“guiding light” Mr Lee.

“Fifty years ago, we were aban-doned just like that. Without him,we wouldn’t be where we are to-day,” said Ms Adelene Bek, 42, re-ferring to the 1965 Separation.

Singapore’s High Commission-er to Malaysia, Mr Vanu GopalaMenon, said more than 2,000 hadsigned the condolence book in thepast week, including Malaysians.

Bound by same name

JAKARTA – Mr Jason Ting KuanYew, 32, was among the 70 peoplewho were at the Singapore Embas-sy here yesterday to pay their lastrespects and watch the telecast.

“My father is an admirer of LeeKuan Yew and even though I’mMalaysian, I was named afterhim,” said Mr Ting, who was withhis Indonesian wife Dewiani Mulja-di and baby son. “We feel movedby the ceremony.”

Singapore’s Ambassador to In-donesia Anil Kumar Nayar saidlarge numbers of people hadsigned the condolence book at theembassy. “Not just Singaporeans,not just political office-holders inIndonesia, but also ordinary Indo-nesians, Malaysians, other foreign-ers,” he said.

Don’t want to grieve alone

NEW DELHI – Some held hands,others comforted each other astears fell when more than 40 Sin-gaporeans met at the SingaporeHigh Commission here yesterday.

Some said they came becausethey did not want to watch MrLee’s last journey alone.

“I think watching by yourselfand together with other Singapore-ans is different. You don’t want togrieve alone,” said Mr Yeoh PheeTeik, chief executive of Vistara,the joint venture airline betweenSingapore Airlines and Tata Sons.The Malaysian is a Singapore per-manent resident.

Indian flags flew at half-mastyesterday as the South Asian coun-try marked a day of nationalmourning in honour of Mr Lee.

Said Mr Lim Thuan Kuan,Singapore’s High Commissionerto India: “The response has beenemotional from Singaporeans ofall ages, even the younger ones.You see people crying as they signthe book.”

Missing home

MANILA – Solemn and silent,nearly 100 people were at the Sin-gapore Embassy in the heart ofManila’s financial district towatch Mr Lee’s final journey.

“When you’re stuck in heavytraffic at 6pm, you miss home.You miss the Singapore that LeeKuan Yew built,” said Mr Christo-pher Tan, 23, who has been in thePhilippines for six months to helpwith his father’s fish trading busi-ness.

Mr Peter Tay, 60, president ofthe Singapore Philippine Associa-tion, said he would have queuedfor eight hours himself to pay hisrespects to Mr Lee had he been inSingapore.Reports by Kor Kian Beng, Tan Hui Yee,Shannon Teoh, Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja,Nirmala Ganapathy and Raul Dancel

By JANICE HENG

AN HOUR before Mr Lee KuanYew’s body left ParliamentHouse, the hipster cafes of Tan-jong Pagar were busy with the usu-al young crowd, though the flow-ing tops and short-sleeved shirtswere in more sombre shades thanusual.

Later, I recognised some ofthose same 20-somethings nearbyas we stood in the rain at the junc-tion of Cantonment Road and NeilRoad, waiting for the arrival of aman most of us had never met.

Our generation are the luckyones. We are the “good life kids”,as our elders remind us in dialectsthat the late Mr Lee did not quitemanage to eradicate.

We knew this well before thepast week, of course. We hadSocial Studies lessons and the sto-ries of our parents, stories so dis-tant that we imagined them in se-pia: night-soil carriers, kampunggames, a life before television.

But perhaps it was only withMr Lee’s death that that history

has become real to us.“When he was still around, you

just didn’t grasp what he haddone,” said researcher RaymondKhoo, 29, who was also at thesame rain-lashed junction.

“His passing made us more cu-rious about him, and made us real-ise how much he did.”

Like other 20-somethings towhom I had spoken, while MrKhoo was sad about Mr Lee’sdeath, grief was not his greatestreaction: “It’s more that we’regrateful that he has contributedso much.”

In a sense, we grew up in apost-Lee Kuan Yew age. I wastwo years old when the prime min-istership passed to Mr Goh ChokTong in 1990. The improvementswe have seen in our lifetime aresmall in comparison: the disap-pearance of non-air-conditionedbuses, say, or the rise of MarinaBay Sands.

As 29-year-old Lin Wei Liang,who works in human resources,said: “I haven’t been through thetough times. What we understand

is really from the books, from thenews, from our parents.”

But precisely because my gener-ation do not know – cannot know– the vast changes which Mr Leewrought, we can only marvel atthem in retrospect.

What were we trying to do,this past week, with our mourningFacebook statuses?

For a generation whose life ex-periences feel more like current af-fairs than history, perhaps therewas some selfishness under allthat emotion and reflection.

In our own way, we strove tobecome part of this historical mo-ment, to stake a claim on a chap-ter of the Singapore story that wehad always thought about in thepast tense.

And so we gathered, yesterdaymorning, on that rain-swept cor-ner.

The crowd perked up as thefirst police motorcycles sped past.As the cortege drew into view,flags rustled urgently.

A cry went up – “Lee KuanYew! Lee Kuan Yew!” – but then

the coffin passed, just like that,and silence fell in its wake.

Even before the vehicles wereout of sight, people began to peelaway from the barricades: Oldmen shaking the rain off their san-dals, families in matching rain-coats.

But a few of us lingered a littlelonger. There was Mr Lin, sharingan umbrella with his girlfriend.There was a young man with astylish quiff, staring ahead, smart-phone forgotten in his hand.

We kept peering down theroad, watching as the processiondisappeared into the distance, asif still unsure what exactly we hadcome to bid farewell to.

Something far greater than ushad come and gone, and was evennow fading into the rain.

But perhaps in bearing witnessto its passing, we too became partof something greater. This was his-tory, right before us, and for once– for perhaps the first time – itwas a history we could call ourown.

janiceh@sph.com.sg

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(Clockwise, from above) The Indian flag was flown at half-mast at Parliament House in New Delhi, as India marked a day ofmourning for Mr Lee.Mourners at the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta gathered to watch the live coverage of the funeral.In Beijing, French national Harold Pradal, 37, and his Singaporean wife Evangeline Ho, 33, attended the live telecast of thefuneral. Mr Pradal worked in Singapore from 2006 to 2009, where he learnt about Mr Lee’s contributions to Singapore.Around 50 Singaporeans gathered for a simple memorial ceremony in Washington, DC on Saturday, which SingaporeAmbassador to the United States Ashok Mirpuri attended.In Vancouver, 140 Singaporeans attended a memorial event for Mr Lee.The live telecast of the funeral drew a big crowd at the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.Malaysian Jason Ting Kuan Yew was at the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta with his Indonesian wife Dewiani Muljadi and babyson to pay their respects to Mr Lee. Mr Ting says his father admired Mr Lee and named him after Singapore’s former PM.Over in Manila, Ms Kelicia Tan, 40, wept while watching the live streaming of the funeral.

PHOTOS: NIRMALA GANAPATHY, WAHYUDI SOERIAATMADJA, KOR KIAN BENG,SINGAPORE EMBASSY IN THE U.S., CIEL LUI BEI, SHANNON TEOH, RAUL DANCEL

From Beijing to Bangkok, they cametogether to bid Mr Lee final farewell

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Tears flowas S’poreansabroadgather towatch funeral

A coming of age for ‘good life kids’

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