This morning, the founding father of modern
day Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew died at age 91 at 3.18 am on March
23rd, 2015. The tearful announcement of
the passing of his father was made by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, announced
in Malay, Chinese and English language over Channel News Asia.
LKY is truly a
great leader who has the foresight and leadership which transformed Singapore
from a racially & culturally diverse island into a thriving developed
nation. Singapore is not just a notable achiever in the international markets
for its stable infrastructure, continued economic development, well known efficiency
and transparency, strategic focus in foreign direct investments but also a
safe, harmonious and green country to live in.
He believed and made the dream
of Singapore come true. May his soul rest in peace. It is my hope that the legacy of sacrificial,
visionary leadership and respect to race, religion and culture continues in the
next generation of leaders.
The Best Quote
My favourite quote of
all is from the man Mr Lee Kuan Yew himself, “I have no regrets. I have spent my life, so much of it, building
up this country. There’s nothing more that I need to do. At the end of the day,
what have I got? A successful Singapore.
What have I given up? My Life”.
Tributes from world leaders:
President Barack Obama called him “A visionary who led his
country from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to build one of the most
prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a
remarkable leader. Minister Mentor Lee’s views and insights on Asian dynamics
and economic management were respected by many around the world, and no small
number of this and past generations of world leaders have sought his advice on
governance and development. …He was a
true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father
of modern Singapore and as one of the great strategists of Asian affairs.”
Prime Minister of
India Narendra Modi called him “A far-sighted statesman & a lion among leaders, mr Le
Kuan Yew’s life teaches valuable lessons to everyone.”
China’s President Xi Jinping praised him as “an old friend of the
Chinese people”, “widely respected by the international community as a
strategist and a statesman, the founder, pioneer and promoter of
China-Singapore relations.”
Tributes from commercial leaders
Janet Ang (Managing Director, IBM
Singapore Pte Ltd)
wrote, “Yesterday, as I was thinking and praying for
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I reflected on Henri Nouwen's words on "dying well".
Quote by Henri Nouwen on "Dying Well" : "We will all die one
day. That is one of the few things we can be sure of. But will we die well?
That is less certain. Dying well means dying for others, making our lives
fruitful for those we leave behind. The big question, therefore is not
"What can I still do in the years I have left to live?" but "How
can I prepare myself for my death so that my life can continue to bear fruit in
the generations that will follow."
Mr Lee Kuan Yew has lived a fruitful life and
has changed the destiny of millions of Singaporeans and made the lives of all
of us, whom he has left behind, for the better. Thank you Mr Lee Kuan Yew. We
celebrate your life for all that you have done in bringing Singapore from colonial
rule to independence, from a fishing port to an intelligent, connected
first world economy, from a small little red dot to a Singapore that (in the
words of Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of UK) "has a respect and
admiration far above its size." . We salute you Mr Lee Kuan Yew, for all
your lifetime achievements which few can claim and for serving and loving Singapore,
right to your very end.”
Piyush Gupta (CEO, DBS Group) wrote, “How does one even begin to pay
tribute to a man as large as him? He was truly a giant of a man, deservedly a
legend. If a nation can have a father, then he was Singapore’s. He led us on
the path to becoming our own nation, he showed us the way to becoming a viable
country, he transformed us into a city of the world. A small tropical island, a
little red dot, that nevertheless found a place on the global stage…such has
been his legacy.”
He also said, “Long
years ago, when Gandhi died, Nehru eulogized him thus: “A light has gone out of
our lives…For the light that shown on this country was no ordinary light”…Lee
Kuan Yew was no ordinary light. He was a flame.”…”Together, we must be the
guardians of his vision. Together, we must carry the flag.”
My Thoughts
My thoughts can
be summed up in a quote from “Positive Outlooks”: At the end of
life, what really matters is not what we bought but what we built; not what we
got but what we shared; not competence but our character; and not our success
but our significance. Live a life that matters. Live a life of love.
Thank you for giving your life to Singapore, taking it from
independence to development, creating opportunities and growth for our small nation
which we are proud of calling our Singapore. There is no other man that can be like him.
