On the milestone of the 10th anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s passing, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong delivered a powerful message, calling on Singaporeans to honour the legacy of the nation’s founding father through active participation.
In a Facebook post on March 23, PM Wong emphasized the significance of translating reverence into action, stating, “The Singapore story is still being written. Together, let’s forge a brighter future worthy of the foundation he laid.”
Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s prime minister from 1959 to 1990, and an influential figure until his retirement in 2011, played a pivotal role in shaping modern Singapore. PM Wong highlighted Mr Lee’s vision, which transformed Singapore into a globally admired clean and green city-state anchored in meritocracy and economic resilience, held together by a deep commitment to harmony.
Reflecting on the solemn day of Mr Lee’s passing in 2015, PM Wong touched on the collective unity within Singapore, saying, “Ten years on, the recent rains remind us of that solemn day in March 2015, when Singapore stood united under heavy skies to bid farewell to our founding prime minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.”
Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mr Lee’s eldest child, also paid tribute to his father, emphasizing the personal aspect of Mr Lee’s impact. “To me and my family, he was our father or grandfather, and meant the world to us. May we live up to his hopes and expectations, and always do him proud,” stated SM Lee.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam acknowledged Mr Lee’s instrumental role in Singapore’s growth, emphasizing the nation’s resilience and progress under his leadership. “We survived as a small nation, became a multiracial society, and kept climbing up in the world because of him, the team he led, and his insistence that every generation should have its own leaders,” said Mr Tharman.
The commemoration of Mr Lee’s legacy saw global recognition, with French President Emmanuel Macron honoring him as a “visionary of his time” and a “great friend of France,” expressing his intent to travel to Singapore this year to celebrate the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The 10th anniversary of Mr Lee’s death was also marked by a ceremony at Duxton Plain Park in Tanjong Pagar GRC, where a memorial tree was planted in remembrance. The event was attended by current and former Members of Parliament, reflecting on Mr Lee’s transformative impact not only on Tanjong Pagar but also on Singapore as a whole. Minister Indranee Rajah highlighted Mr Lee’s extraordinary contribution, stating, “What he did for Tanjong Pagar, he also did at scale for the whole country. He oversaw this extraordinary transformation of Singapore in its journey from Third World to First.”
The call to action to honour Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy reverberates not only within Singapore but also across the globe. As Singapore continues to evolve, the legacy of its founding father serves as a guiding light, inspiring current and future generations to actively contribute to the nation’s progress and prosperity.
