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Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

PM Lee Hsien Loong and his family accepting a gesture of condolence from MPs shortly after a special session was held in remembrance of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew at Parliament House. Photo: Don Wong

An emotional House says farewell

Continued from page 1

Mr Lee may have had his critics:

Even yesterday, at the special Parliamentary sitting to pay tribute to the
Republics founding Prime Minister,
Opposition leader Low Thia Khiang
showered Mr Lee with praise but took
a jibe at Peoples Action Party policies,
which Mr Low claims society has paid a
price for. But going by the overwhelming adulation from Singaporeans for
Mr Lee since the news of his death
broke on Monday morning, Dr Ng declared that the public has pronounced
the final judgment of his lifes work.
Alluding to Mr Lees famous stance
that he did not care too much about
how history would judge him, Dr Ng
told the House: Today, we have the
opportunity to tell Mr Lee if he could
hear us and I believe he can. Mr Lee,
we would like to tell you that Singaporeans have decided.
He added: Thousands upon thousands lined the streets on your journey
from Sri Temasek to this Parliament
House and queued for hours under the
hot sun to pay their respects here.
They did so spontaneously, an outpouring of gratitude and admiration
for what you have done for their lives
... Singaporeans, young and old have
pronounced the final judgment of your
lifes work. It is a great work that has

surpassed all expectations.

Nominated MP Chia Yong Yong admitted that she was critical of Mr Lees
policies as a young adult, and noted that
many have also accused Mr Lee as being arrogant and ruthless.
But she said: I am convinced that if
I were born in Singapore in an earlier
era, or if I were born in a similar era,
but in another Asian country, I would
not, being a girl with disability coming
from a poor family with no connections, I would not have been able to go
to school, enter a profession and serve
the community today.
Mr Low hailed Mr Lee as an extraordinary political leader born of a
turbulent and uncertain era whose outstanding wisdom and courage steered
the country out of extreme challenges.
Acknowledging Singapores leap
from Third World to First within one
generation, Mr Low said the success
arose not only from Mr Lees extraordinary fighting spirit and tenacity, but
also from his sincerity.
He said: However, I dont think the
Peoples Action Partys one-party rule
is the key to Singapores fast economic
development, strong social cohesion
and unity. This is because not an insignificant number of Singaporeans
were sacrificed during the process of
nation-building and policymaking and

An 86-year-old
gentleman,
doing
physiotherapy,
reading
newspapers.
Lesser mortals
would have
thought of
other things
but Mr Lee
said Ive to
make a speech
in Parliament.
Dr Ng Eng Hen

on how in 2009,
mr lee unexpectedly
joined in a debate
about equality in
parliament, after
reading news
reports about it

our society has paid a price for it. This

is why Mr Lee is also a controversial
figure in some peoples eyes.
Dr Ng said that Mr Lee had his critics and took unpopular decisions in the
early years of independence, such as
extending working hours and slashing
the number of public holidays. (But) Mr
Lee would often warn voters against
politicians with silver tongues purveying sweet promises, empty promises.
He gained a fearsome reputation as one
who eschewed the easier, more popular
but ultimately wrong paths, he said.
Several speakers also shared anecdotes that illustrated Mr Lees character. Dr Ng recounted that the MPs
planned to celebrate Mr Lees 90th
birthday last year at a time when he
had become frail and needed intravenous nutrition. The celebrations were
called off when Mr Lee health took a
turn for the worse, but he surprisingly
showed up. I found out later that he
overruled his doctors, saying he must
attend Parliament because he had given
his commitment, said Dr Ng. At age
90, frail and hydrated, Mr Lee kept his
word to be here.
Dr Ng also noted how in 2009, Mr
Lee unexpectedly joined a debate on a
motion about equality in Parliament after reading news reports about it. An
86-year-old gentleman, doing physiotherapy, reading newspapers. Lesser
mortals would have thought of other
things but Mr Lee said Ive to make a

speech in Parliament, he said.

Former Deputy Prime Minister
Wong Kan Seng shared how Mr Lee
had nagged him to go home and recommended doctors to him after learning
that he was diagnosed with transient
ischaemic attack (TIA). It turned out
that Mr Wong did not have TIA.
I was relieved and I believe he was
very relieved too, Mr Wong said. Mr
Lees physical health declined in recent
years, although he was still mentally
sharp. It pained me each time I saw him
appearing in public attending to the call
of duty. I would have preferred to remember him when he was much fitter
physically and not so gaunt and frail.
Mr Wong, who stepped down from
Cabinet in 2011, called yesterday one
of the saddest days in my life.
He said: No words can truly ascribe or reflect his contributions and
the great impact he made on the lives
of millions of Singaporeans, including
mine. His policies enabled me, son of
hawker parents, to become a Deputy
Prime Minister. Many poor families
children have done well too. Many in
this House came from humble beginnings. Social mobility is not an abstract
theory in Singapore.
The special Parliament sitting concluded with everyone in the House
including members of the public and
the Old Guard in the public gallery
rising to observe a minute of silence,
with their heads bowed.