So our founding father has passed on this Monday. I never thought I would get so emotional about his death, but understanding who he was as a politician, husband, father, friend, colleague and citizen of Singapore and the world through various sources and sharings, I've never been more proud to have him as our leader.
Singapore is a funny nation, filled with people with much opinion about their leaders and her government. I guess local social media has surfaced a lot of negative sentiments these few years, which was beginning to affect the way I see Singaporeans as an ungrateful, whiny, complaining bunch.
So, it was welcome sight to hear Singaporeans, or maybe some of the silent majority speak up and share such touching things about Mr Lee and what they appreciated about him. From them I gathered that this man had a lot of depth, strength and iron but also compassion for his people.
Thought I'd just share some memorable tributes while reading the LKY tribute page:
Dear Mr Lee,
I have been a lifelong fan. Yesterday was a day I’ve been dreading for many years now. Believe it or not, YOU are the main reason I attended every NDP since 2001 (I procured my tickets through various ways). Even when I could only get tickets to the Preview, I would cheer loudly when your stand-in appeared. If it made me look silly, so what?
Then, in 2010, I was lucky enough to meet you by chance when we were both at the Marina Barrage. I’d gone there, along with my extended family. Suddenly my sister rushed up to me and said: “Lee Kuan Yew is here!” Then, it was my turn to do the rushing. I raced up to the second level where you were. The crowd were all just silent in your awesome presence. I couldn’t restrain myself and shouted out: “I love you, Sir!” And I repeated that when you carried on your tour on the ground level. Both times, you humbly replied: “Thank you”. I am really so glad I didn’t allow the thin-skinned Asian part of me to control my actions that day. I got to tell Lee Kuan Yew my admiration for him, AND he heard it. What a feeling!
When I went to SGH with my family, all four of us went dressed in your favourite shirt colour, pink. I cried that night as I knew the end was near. True enough, six hours later, your death would leave the whole of Singapore grieving.
I have not stopped crying since I heard about your death at dawn yesterday. SG50 and the NDP has lost its star. What a real shame you could not be there this Aug 9th! As a tribute to you, I am so happy to say that some members of my extended family will not waver when the elections next come around.
I grieve, not just for the loss of the Old Guard, but for the direction our country may take without your sagacity lighting our path. We were so blessed to have a leader of your class. I really cannot find another world leader whom I respect more than Lee Kuan Yew. You were truly the best!
I believe that it is because of your unwavering belief in meritocracy that I, a minority in both race and religion (Malayalee, Catholic), have never felt like a minority where it mattered. I’m proud of my status as a Singaporean, born and bred here. I’m still grieving but am lucky to have a family who supports and understands my feelings. My Lunar New Year decorations have come down, with black ribbons in their place. That’s the very least I can do for the man who spent his entire adult life in single-minded pursuit of the betterment of his people.
Your frugality, candour and honesty are values that I cherish and can identify with. You walked the talk. How many of us can say that? The country mourns, Mr Lee. We hurt so much. SG50 will now be a poignant celebration for many of us. I would love to celebrate your achievements. Instead, I am filled with sorrow, and rancour at the detractors. I am awaiting Time to heal me.
But at least, the silver lining is: You are finally at rest, together with the love of your life.
Singapore misses her Papa.
Sherley Servos
*****
In Memory of Lee Kuan Yew
No words can express my grief and sorrow on hearing your demise. I was born in 1956 to a immigrant Hakka Chinese parents and grew up witnessing the tumultuous period of late 50s and early 60s where there were frequent workers and student strikes led by the communist front and also the big racial riot in 1964. Things got better after independence in 1965 as Singapore rapidly transformed itself from a third world country to a first world country under your wise leadership and great foresight. I remember growing up living in a cramp, rented 2 storey pre-war shophouse at Bali Lane (near Beach Road) with no modern sanitary and then moved to a HDB flat in 1971 at Syed Alwi Road with modern sanitary and bigger living space. To me, that was the most uplifting moment in my life. I was very fortunate that upon my graduation from NUS in ’81, I could easily find a job as Singapore’s economy was booming in the early 80s. I managed to save enough to buy a landed home in ’91. I owed all these progression in life to you as you laid a strong foundation for Singapore to grow economically. Both my parents are dead now, but they would have felt the same sense of gratitude as I have for you for touching our lives.
I salute to you, sir, the father of modern Singapore. May you rest in peace.
Choong Ying Pan
*****
Dear MM Lee,
I am deeply grieved by your passing. I am just an ordinary Singaporean, once young filled with rage and took the convenient way out by blaming everything not in my favour to the environment, the country, the government but NEVER myself. Looking back, I didn’t realise you and your government has created a great platform for Singaporeans. I have benefited from this peaceful, equal opportunity state. I am now a successful individual managing 11 countries in Asia Pacific, the more I travel for work, the more I am left with pure awe of your ability to transform Singapore and making sure it stays ahead of it’s neighbours. For many years now I look upon to your style of working, character, gut to apply it to my daily life/work.
I have read all your books and research into the history of all your contributions, tough choices you made (of course not all are happy). I realised one very important lesson from you. Do what is right, not what is convenient. You stood your ground in times of adversity, turbulence times we are shielded from because you have gone through it so that the future generations like us are now living in a clean, safe and prosperous country we call home.
I typed this with a heavy heart. You are like a father to me although I have not even shake your hands. Your inspiration are skin deep. Rest in peace father of Singapore. We will continue to fight for Singapore and I will make sure my children, grandchildren to be fully aware of all the contributions, attributes of a great leader to be passed down. As you said ” Look at the Horizon, follow that rainbow, Go ride it”
Rest in peace father. you have done more than enough for Singapore, Wishing you eternal happy life with Mr Lee. If there is a choice, I wish you to be our leader again. Thank you for everything father of Singapore.
Edward Ho
*****
I am only sixteen but i broke down after hearing the passing of Singapore’s first Prime Minister. I am only sixteen but I felt angry when my peers said that i should not feel dejected about the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I am only sixteen but I respect Mr Lee Kuan Yew greatly because of what he did for me, for us. I am only sixteen but i want to thank Mr Lee Kuan Yew for bringing us here, to where Singapore is now. Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Hanie Sofea
*****
Dear Mr Lee Kuan Yew
I was not yet born when you fought fiercely and persistently for the independence of Singapore. I first knew you through my history textbook, on TV and bcos you are our Prime Minister. It was a few years back that I got to usher you on stage for Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Award in 2010 & 2011, got to speak to you and listened to you at a close door dialogue session that I was moved by your wisdom, charisma and truly understand the reasons why you spent your lifetime building Singapore and the vision you had for Singapore. No one had done so much for us, for Singapore. Thank you very much. Be assured, this is our Singapore, we will continue to care for it like the way you do. Rest in peace, you will be missed and remembered.
Lee Ker Peng
*****
Sir, I first saw you in 1959 at an election rally in Newton (Clemenceau Avenue). At 9 years of age, I did not understand the message in your speech. It was your voice that reminded me of the roar of a lion, lions that I have seen kept at that open patch during circus performances. The only word that I kept repeating after your speech was “MERDEKA” which still rings in my ears.
The most joyous gift that you gave this 15 year old secondary 3 student in 1965 was the declaration of independence. I got up the next day and realized that I only had to sing MAJULAH SINGAPURA at the school assembly. Truly it was a most liberating day and I sang our national anthem with more than the usual gusto. Thank you for that moment sir.
Your voice is that of the lion. Your courage is that of the lion. Your guardianship of our nation is that of the lion. You are the SINGA in Singapore. Sir, please reincarnate and come back to Singapore to lead the nation for another 50 glorious years.
Chandra Subramaniam
*****
Every little girl’s dad is her hero and I am no exception. From young, I hung on to every word my dad said and I knew how much Lee Kuan Yew as a person meant to him. I adored Mr Lee before I knew what he meant to the country and that adoration evolved into reverence as I learned about him in school.
At bedtime, my dad used to regal us with stories of this giant of a man and I was in constant awe of his prowess, his fearlessness and the ability to captivate anyone when he speaks. During family dinners, the entire clan would get into a heated discussion on politics and my dad’s unwavering support for Mr Lee only showed how much he meant to his citizens.
Today as a Singaporean, this loss is huge but as a daughter who has to witness her dad’s grievance, it is heartbreaking. While the world grapples with his loss, I am somewhat comforted that he now gets to be with his beloved. Among the many stories I was told, my favorite was Mr and Mrs Lee’s love story but at the risk of sounding like a naive girl it was something I never shared openly.
Dear Sir, thank you for being my dad’s hero and this country’s founding father but we now bid you farewell. Rest in peace.
Love,
The Ramasamy Family
Gayathri Ramasamy
*****
向来治国非易事 建国更是难中难
李子为民终生献 鞠躬尽瘁众了然
光辉功绩世赞叹 深谋远虑岂偶然
耀照本土新加坡 德泽友国各联邦
致虚守静万物观 生老病死人之常
敬业乐业功德彰 此生不枉亦无憾
李明新
*****
I have a grandfather who carries a photo in his wallet and it isn’t a photo of his wife or any of his 7 children. It is a photo cut out from a magazine of you – Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Whenever there is a slight mention of your name somewhere, my 80-over-year old grandpa would start telling his story about the time when he volunteered at Kreta Ayer for PAP during polling season. My favourite part of the story was how you spotted him from inside the black Studebaker that you were driving, asked him where he was headed, then waved and told him to hop in.
My grandpa has always dreamt of the chance to meet you again in person ever since you became Prime Minister but he never got the chance to. You probably wouldn’t remember him anyway but he remembers you fondly. And he respects and if I dare say ‘idolizes’ you. Even though I do not know you but I respect you from hearing the stories my grandpa would tell me and from knowing about your works throughout history.
There is nothing much left to say that has not already been said. I only fear for tomorrow knowing that your watchful eyes are now asleep, resting in peace. May Singapore continue to fight the good fight and prevail as the nation you have always dreamed for us to be. On behalf of my grandpa and my family, thank you Mr Lee.
Jasmine Wong
*****
Since i was a young adult, i have wanted to meet Mr Lee Kuan Yew in person, shake his hand and have a simple photograph taken with him. That was not to be. In many ways, i am a product and beneficiary of the systems that was created in the formative years of Singapore especially my education which Mr Lee obviously has a part to play in it. I always felt very appreciative that i have a decent command of English because of it.
My mum shared with me when i was younger that a person’s time of passing has some meaning to it. Mr Lee Kuan Yew left peacefully early this morning just past 3am. I found out about it when i woke up at about 5am on Facebook newsfeed and to many Singaporeans too, they probably know about it first thing when they woke up on a brand new week. In my heart, i was thinking our former PM chosed to leave at a most appropriate time, at the quietest of time when most of his Singaporeans are in deep sleep, so as not to arouse or disturb them. In one of his memoirs, Mr Lee mentioned that Singapore is always on his mind. I believe that in his last breath and consciousness, he was still thinking of Singapore, his life work. I think it is like that. It surely is. And this kept me awake till dawn rise. Thank You Mr Lee.
“But Singapore is an ever-growing concern. Singapore is my concern till the end of my life."
– Mr Lee Kuan Yew (taken from the book ‘Hard Truths To Keep Singapore Going’)
Chia Kok Liang
*****
We would not be who we are today, or where we are without Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I see this very starkly when I compare ourselves with others in regional countries and in developed countries. Singapore has given us the unique combination of opportunity (education, training, language proficiency, connectivity) and manageable competition; such that we able to excel and stand out as regional leaders in our fields. Full credit has to be given to Mr Lee for having engineered such a system and environment. His vision, foresight, strategic planning, and governance are unrivalled. His intellect and volubility are formidable. Great leaders do not come by often. Here was such a great leader.
The most poignant moment for me was when I was part of his entourage overseas. Service personnel are often ignored and left in the background. But Mr Lee asked me after his formal dinner on the way back “Have you eaten?”. Upon discovering that dinner had not been provided for his support staff, his minders were swiftly reprimanded for their neglect and this never happened again. It painted a human side to the great man and told me that he cared for his people.
SSC
*****
Dearest Mr Lee,
I can still remember the smiling on your face in end of Year 2013, at SGH. During that time, my mom and i was at the SGH, couldn’t remember which ward of which floor. My father was admitted to SGH, right away arrived at Changi Airport from Tawau, Sabah on the same day.
While we were taking some rest at the area near the lift entrance, we saw 2-3 security officers standing beside a ward not far away and 1 security officer standing beside the lift. Then 1 gentleman came out from the lift alone. Yes! he is Mr Lee!! i’ve never seen him face to face..only on TV. He smiled at my mom and me….so close… so warmth… there were no security officers walking with him… he was just like a friendly gentleman. I should have had to shake hand and take a photo of him…
VIPs are always accompanied by bodyguards, but what i saw that day, Mr Lee was different, the Father of Singapore. You are the Giant! RIP Mr Lee.
Agnes Yap Chiu San
*****
(And the last but most entertaining tribute)
Dear Lao Ah Pek (Elderly Grandpa)
Sir, you may not remembered me but I certainly do. I was born in 1970 and you were doing a school visit when I was in primary school. Not knowing who you were then, i blurted out in Hokkien; ‘Who is that Lao Ah Pek?’ All my teachers face turned pale and one of your followers spoke to me in a harsh voice, “why are you so ill mannered!’
You spoke waving him away,’ no no no! thats who i am and how I would like to be know as when I am with the commoners!’ you said something to me in English and i replied in Hokkien again for I just changed from Chinese stream to English stream. ‘I don’t know what you mean’
You stroked my head and said to me in Chinese, '好好念书', smiled and moved on. That’s how easy going you are! No ‘high and mighty’ status, genuine care and concern is what I remembered.
So, rest well Lao Ah Pek! You will not be forgotten!!!
* I called you Lao Ah Pek for you were around the same age as my grandpa then.
Yours respectively.
Ang Yang
*****
Somehow, when the term "powerful politician" comes up, you'd expect a hard-headed, cold-hearted and ruthless man who steps over everything to get things done. That may have been how the Western media portrayed him to be (of course, he had done certain things which he should not have, but may I dare say it was always in the interest of our country.)
But somehow, after reading the tributes to him from people in all walks of life (foreign and local politicians, uncles, young ones, friends, family..), I conclude that he was a multi-faceted man - a respectable man on the international arena, an extremely far-sighted leader, a boss who believed in developing his subordinates, a loving and gentle husband, a principled man who kept to his values of trust and honesty, a frugal man despite his status (check out his living room, it is obvious that this man was never taken in by any sort of material riches that accompanied his stature), a man relatable and genuine to the common man (enough for the older generation to know him affectionately as "老李") and most of all, a man who loved his country to put his whole life into building it into where it is today.
He ruled with an iron fist but a gentle heart, and because of that, look at the transformation in our nation and the lives he has impacted today. No words could describe how I feel now that the world has lost a great man.
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