Flood of tributes as S’poreans mark late Mr Lee’s birthday
Bouquets of flowers placed below a memorial tree for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who would have been 92 years old, at Duxton Plain Park yesterday. Newly elected Members of Parliament and political office holders from the PAP took to Facebook yesterday to remember Mr Lee. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
SINGAPORE — While it did not match the outpouring of emotions seen during the period of national mourning earlier this year, the birthday of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew yesterday did not go unnoticed for Singaporeans, with many taking to the Internet to share memories and tributes.
On social networking site Instagram, users shared photographs, many in black and white, tagged #LKY. Some were of Mr Lee in his more youthful days. One was of him and the late Mrs Lee, with the caption: “Let us remember this day because of one man’s love for the country and countrymen.”
Another posted a photo of Mr Lee, who would have been 92 yesterday, in the white-on-white garb of the People’s Action Party (PAP), which he founded, with the note: “Happy birthday, Mr Lee ... Thank you for planting the seeds of Singapore’s success story.”
On microblogging site Twitter, netizens also shared personal tributes to Mr Lee. One user urged Singaporeans to honour Mr Lee meaningfully by sharing their biggest lesson from Mr Lee in one sentence.
Both newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and political office holders from the PAP also took to Facebook yesterday to remember Mr Lee.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who is the PAP’s organising secretary, wrote a tribute to Mr Lee on Tuesday on his Facebook page.
Recalling how Mr Lee once said that he would “get up” while lowered into his grave if he felt something is going wrong for Singapore, Dr Ng said: “I think Mr Lee will be in great peace about our future, knowing the results of GE2015, where Singaporeans voted in wisdom for continuity in stable politics and national progress.”
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, who was Mr Lee’s principal private secretary from mid-1997 to early 2000, shared a lengthy post reminiscing the immediate years preceding Mr Lee’s death. Mr Heng noted that Mr Lee, then 90 years old, insisted on going to Parliament and wished for the Government to stay uncorrupted and to uphold the highest moral standards.
“No matter how old he was, no matter the occasion, Mr Lee never stopped thinking about Singapore. Even when he was asked to make an impromptu birthday speech, he had only one instinct, only one wish — that we keep politics clean,” wrote Mr Heng. “It is a wish that we keep Singapore an exceptional place where Singaporeans can thrive.”
He added: “I hope Mr Lee will rest in peace knowing that we will take good care of Singapore and fellow Singaporeans in his absence. Happy birthday, Mr Lee.”
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong shared a photograph of a book created by a group of Nanyang Technological University students, comprising letters from Singaporeans here and abroad, during the national mourning period.
“They printed only two copies — one for themselves, and one for me. It is a very special gift, which I will treasure,” he said.
Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Chee Hong Tat, who was the late Mr Lee’s principal private secretary from 2008 to 2011, posted a picture of Mr Lee’s 91st birthday dinner on his Facebook page.
He also shared how, on an official trip to London, Mr Lee wanted to celebrate his birthday with a dinner at the Compleat Angler next to the River Thames, because it was also where Mr Lee and his delegation had dined more than 50 years ago when they came to London to fight for Singapore’s independence.
“Without Mr Lee and our pioneer generation of leaders and Singaporeans, we will not have today’s Singapore,” Mr Chee wrote, urging Singaporeans to “cherish what we have achieved”.
Sembawang MP Ong Ye Kung struck a more sombre note with a picture of Gardens by the Bay, reflecting Mr Lee’s legacy of envisioning Singapore as a Garden City.
Wrote Mr Ong: “Mr Lee Kuan Yew would have been 92 today. But Singapore progresses on.”
