CHARISSA YONG ROHIT BRIJNATH & RACHEL AU-YONG RACHEL CHANG ST PHOTOGRAPHERS REPORTS ON MINGLE WITH JOINS THE CAPTURE THE THE FAMILY THE CROWD QUEUE TO SCENES FROM SEND-OFF IN OUTSIDE THE PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENT SRI TEMASEK ISTANA HOUSE HOUSE, WHERE THE BODY LIES IN STATE

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THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 Huge crowds to bid Mr Lee farewell Nearly 40,000 had paid respects by last night and more continued through the night

By ZAKIR HUSSAIN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR

THOUSANDS braved the sun and waited patiently in line for over eight hours in queues that snaked 3km along various streets around Parliament in order to file past the nation’s founding Prime Minister as he lies in state. It was a scene never before seen in Singapore, and the over- whelming response prompted gov- ernment officials to extend visit- ing times not once, but twice, just hours after the casket bearing Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s body arrived at Parliament House. Instead of getting to pay their respects for 10 hours a day, till Saturday evening, visitors will now be allowed to do so round the clock till Saturday evening. Also, starting 7am today, the queue to enter Parliament will start at the Padang. Mr Lee, who was Prime Minis- ter from 1959 to 1990, died on Monday, aged 91. By the time the first ordinary visitors were allowed into Parlia- ment shortly after 10am, several thousand people had formed queues behind them, across and along the Singapore River and out- side the Supreme Court. They waited for hours in the sweltering sun, and as their num- ABOVE: The queue to get into bers grew, the state funeral organ- Parliament House was 3km long at one ising committee extended visiting Starting 7am today, point, snaking to Fullerton Hotel, past hours till midnight. the queue to enter UOB Plaza. ST PHOTO: NEO XIAOBIN Inside Parliament House, ush- Parliament will start ers asked visitors to file past the at the Padang LEFT: People straining to snap pictures casket rather than form up groups of the gun carriage carrying Mr Lee’s casket. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG before bowing, to try to speed up í SEE PAGE A7 the flow. Members of the public were al- so advised not to join the queue INSIDE then. But the notice made little dif- Parliament remained long, but the ference as the lines kept growing, waiting time had gone down to MORE REPORTS AND PICTURES: and soon after, visiting times three hours at midnight. PAGES A2-20 were again extended, this time to Over 37,000 visitors had paid round the clock, until 8pm on Sat- their last respects by 10pm. urday. Public transport operators One line extended for some SMRT and SBS Transit extended 3km along the banks of the Singa- train services and 41 feeder bus 108 PAGES IN FIVE PARTS pore River and nearby streets by services past normal hours to oper- TO SUBSCRIBE: 6388-3838 mid-afternoon, with an estimated ate round the clock last night, www.sphsubscription.com.sg waiting time of eight hours. with many more expected to pay 90 cents Few left the queue, and opera- their respects overnight. tors of coffee shops and cafes The Land Transport Authority A Singapore along the line pitched in voluntari- will also work with them to moni- Press Holdings ly to distribute bottled water to publication those in line. CONTINUED MCI (P) 032/02/2015 ## Last night, the queues to enter ON PAGE A2 A2 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A3

LONG LINES TO PAY RESPECTS 1923 - 2015

COUSINS WHO WERE FIRST IN LINE “We were here at 11pm (on Tuesday), but they told us they were still setting up, so we walked around and came back at 3am. I was afraid the queue would be too long if I came later. I have a flight to catch at 1pm, so I wanted to make sure I get to pay my last respects before I leave. Mr Lee has done a lot for us.” – Mr Edward Ho (below left), 39, Asia-Pacific area manager of a healthcare company

“Mr Lee did what he had to do during difficult times to make Singapore what it is today. He gave us stability and security that give us the peace of mind to bring up our children here. Because of him and the system he has put in place, there is certainty that Singapore is resilient enough to continue without him.” – His cousin, Mr Alvin Loh (below right), 40, regional sales manager of an IT firm

BILINGUALISM A GOOD CALL “I want to see him one last time – he’s my idol. I was from a Chinese school and used to feel very disadvantaged after he introduced the bilingual policy. But now, as a businessman, knowing English has helped me to expand my semiconductor business overseas, in countries like the United States. Bilingualism has changed my life.” – Mr Guay Boon Bing (below), 49, a businessman

PATIENCE AND FORTITUDE: Members of the public forming a long and winding line to pay their last respects to Mr Lee after his body was transferred to Parliament House. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

CLOSING FOR STAFF TO PAY RESPECTS “We are closed from now until Saturday, so that everyone can go and pay tribute to Mr Lee. ‘Hours of queueing nothing compared with what Mr Lee did’ I’m giving my staff time to look through what Mr Lee had done, and reflect on where FROM said they did not know personally, Singapore is moving on to PAGE A1 but who they admired and respect- without him. I have attended ed for leading Singapore “from all the wakes of the other tor demand and see whether to ex- Third World to First”. Singapore founding leaders. tend operating hours for the next The first to pay their respects They have provided a very two nights. had begun waiting outside Parlia- strong platform for us to build Once inside Parliament House, ment House in the wee hours of on.” many visitors teared up readily as the morning. Mr Edward Ho, 39, they paid their last respects to a area manager of a healthcare com- – Mr Dennis Ng (below, far right), 52, owner of a tuition chain, man they had hardly or never pany, in fact came by at 11pm who was there with 19 met, but who they said they were with his cousin, but officials were staff members forever grateful to for the stand- still setting up barricades, so they ard of living and opportunities walked around and returned at they enjoy today. 3am to start queueing. Among those who arrived early He had a 1pm flight to Cambo- was business owner Lorraine Low dia for a business trip, and wanted Diaz, 37, who came with her moth- to pay his last respects, he said. er and six-year-old son at 8.30am By the time the sun rose, sever- and waited four hours to pay her al thousand workers, students and respects to Mr Lee. others had also lined Orchard “I really appreciated the bilin- Road, Bras Basah Road and North gual education I got here only Bridge Road to catch a glimpse of when I travelled overseas,” she the funeral procession bearing Mr said. “Four hours of waiting in the Lee’s casket from the Istana to COUNT OUR BLESSINGS queue is nothing in exchange for Parliament House. Mr Lee’s years of toil on our be- Shortly after 9am, a ceremoni- “Our Pledge says it, that we half. I’d camp here for a week if al gun carriage carried the casket will work towards peace and that’s what it took to pay my last in a brief foot procession from Sri progress and prosperity. When respects to him.” Temasek, the official residence of I started out as a maths Mr Mohammed Fareed, 38, di- the prime minister, led by PM Lee teacher, saving was next to rector of training company Pow- Hsien Loong and his wife Ho impossible, given our salary. erEdge, came with six of his staff Ching, and family members. There was racial tension. But members with a banner that read: The procession then drove past by the 1970s, we had a home, “Without your leadership and poli- the Istana building where Presi- and we had stability.” cies, SMEs like us would not have dent Tony Tan Keng Yam and – Retiree Ooi Tiew Tim, 78, existed and we are reminded that Emeritus Senior Minister Goh on what he appreciates most Chok Tong paid their respects and about Mr Lee. He left his home the harmony and prosperity that at 8am to join the crowd we have, had been engineered by a bagpiper from the Singapore gathering at the Istana your passion to build a better Sin- Gurkha Contingent played Auld gapore.” Lang Syne. Many also began queueing up The gun carriage then travelled after lunch, among them former past the streets to Parliament, healthcare support officer Nalaayi- where many shouted “Lee Kuan ni Thambiah, 65, who was asked Yew” and “thank you” as it en- to join a shorter queue for the eld- tered the Parliament driveway. erly. She said of Mr Lee: “He There, the Chief of Defence, made sure everyone had a home Commissioner of Police, and and that we were multiracial. As a Speaker of Parliament, as well as minority, I never felt disadvan- PM Lee and family members, re- taged. I watch the news about con- ceived the casket. flicts overseas and I am relieved I Key dignitaries who paid their was born here.” respects yesterday included Asean Bosses gave employees the day secretary-general Le Luong Minh, tan Muhammad of Kelantan also not downcast. We are in good spir- united in this moment, and com- special sitting at 4pm where MPs LAST VISIT FOR A FORMER PM: Mr Lee’s family in attendance as the casket off or organised trips to pay trib- who said Mr Lee’s vision made paid their respects. its!” PM Lee said on Facebook. ing together to help others in line. will pay tribute to Mr Lee’s contri- arrives at Parliament House. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM ute, shop owners closed their shut- Singapore a modern, vibrant coun- In the afternoon, PM Lee also Minister for Social and Family “Mr Lee would have been butions to Singapore. ters for the day so they could vis- try and saw him play an impor- visited several of those waiting in Development Chan Chun Sing al- proud to see how Singaporeans Visitors can continue to pay re- it, and a number of Malaysians tant role in the formation of the re- line, to thank people for coming so visited well-wishers, and said come together to care for each oth- spects during the sitting, which is TEARS FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY MAN: A woman is overcome with emotion even drove down from Kuala gional grouping in 1967. and waiting patiently. in a Facebook post he was er,” he said. open only to invited guests. (right) after the gun carriage carrying Mr Lee’s casket passes in front of Plaza Lumpur to file past a man many Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and Sul- “The mood was sorrowful but touched to see the entire nation Today, Parliament will hold a [email protected] Singapura en route to Parliament House. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG A4 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 G THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 G A5

GUN CARRIAGE TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE 1923 - 2015

SURREAL “It is so surreal that he’s gone. He’s been a constant in our lives, after all. When we saw the coffin draped with the Singapore flag, reality finally kicked in. We’re too young to see the changes that Singapore went through in its early years, but we learnt about them in school. We didn’t have to suffer through the tough times that the Pioneer Generation did.” – HR manager Ruth Sim (below, right), 35, waiting at the Supreme Court just before 10am. She and colleague Kelly Tan (below, left), 38, had taken leave from work. They saw the gun carriage arrive at Parliament House.

THE JOURNEY TO PARLIAMENT HOUSE: Borne on a gun carriage, Mr Lee Kuan Yew left the Istana for the last time, the crowd of mourners holding up smartphones and cameras in a digital salute as the cortege passes – along Bras Basah Road, North Bridge Road and finally to Parliament House where shouts of “Lee Kuan Yew” rent the air. ST PHOTOS: KEVIN LIM, DESMOND WEE, WANG HUI FEN, ALPHONSUS CHERN

BRIEF ENCOUNTER “I’ve seen Mr Lee in person only once when I was working They came simply to say ‘Thank you, Mr Lee’ part-time as a waitress at the Ritz- Carlton. He was there for a From all walks of function and I served life they came, him drinks, but I was too intimidated to speak to him as Singaporeans he looked really serious. When I was much younger, I watched the footage of him sharing a crying when he announced the separation from Malaysia. I common grief asked my elders why he cried and they said it was because and message he was sad that we had to leave Malaysia. I remember thinking: ‘But By ROHIT BRIJNATH why? We’re doing fine.’ It was and RACHEL AU-YONG only later that I appreciated that we’re doing fine because THIS street has never known such of him.” silence. This city of perpetual mo- – Ms Wendy Cheng (above), 31, tion, but for a solemn breeze celebrity blogger known as brushing the leaves, is strangely Xiaxue. She was with about 50 bloggers and staff from still. This area in Orchard Road, Nuffnang, the blogger outside the Istana, usually filled management agency that with the sound of hissing buses represents her. and a thousand conversations is now a mute gathering. Even the WORTH THE WAIT phone, that Singapore accessory, “I really appreciated the does not dare to ring. Remem- bilingual education I got here brance has its own appropriate only when I travelled overseas. hush. When I studied in Australia, Long before the gun carriage people used to be amazed that emerges from the Istana grounds someone like me from a tiny at 9.37am, people are in anxious Asian country could speak attendance. Businesswoman Ange- good English. la Tan, 54, arrives in the darkness Then when I visited China, at 5.30am. “I didn’t get to see him people there were surprised that I spoke Mandarin because come to the Istana,” she says. “So I don’t really look Chinese. I must see him leave it for the last I still have family in the time or I will regret this all my Philippines and could have life.” Mr Fikri Omar, 63, has bought and settled in a much shrugged off tiredness after a larger house with the money night shift as a security guard to that we paid for our Loyang be here by 7.20am. apartment here. Under a blue sky speckled with But I’ve never seen myself clouds, mourning is in the air. Be- as a Filipina. I want my son to serve his national service neath a kind canopy of trees near here and grow up as a the gate, where police officers gen- Singaporean. tly marshal foot traffic, a solitary Four hours of waiting in the flag flutters behind a barricade. It queue is nothing in exchange is a small flag on a stick, the type for Mr Lee’s years of toil on you might wave at a sporting our behalf. event or at a parade. Yet, in keep- I’d be camped here for a ing with the moment, even this week if that’s what it took one held up by a man in the crowd to pay my last respects to deliberately flies at half-mast. him.” When first light comes, the – Mrs Lorraine Low Diaz, 37, live crowd between the Istana and Pla- entertainment business owner. She started queuing at 8.30am za Singapura is a trickle, then a and waited for four hours. stream, then a river of a thousand people. Mr Lee Kuan Yew stood ALL THE WAY FROM KL for all Singaporeans, now Singapo- reans of all races and religions and “I flew in this morning from types and dress come to stand for KL (Kuala Lumpur) just to pay him. Three sweaty runners arrive, my respects to Mr Lee and will be flying back at night. a doctor in scrubs appears, wom- I actually bought two en in wheelchairs make their way round-trip tickets the moment through. A monk stops by as does I heard of his death on part-time taxi driver Tajuddin Mo- Monday. I was afraid that hd Isa, 39, with his wife and tickets would be sold out, but young son in tow. A group sings a I didn’t know the schedule for song in praise, women carry flow- events. So I bought one ticket ers and others just hold on to a for Tuesday and one on contained grief. Wednesday for a total of about On one side of the Istana gate, RM500 (S$186). I’ve always been an admirer under small white tents, are ta- of Mr Lee and have seen for bles to write condolence messag- myself how well my friends es. On the ground, bouquets cover who moved here are doing. He the earth, white lilies wrapped in also raised the profile of the plastic, yellow carnations in a overseas Chinese when he bunch, all bringing colourful life (Above) The flag-draped coffin making its way into Parliament House where the public can pay their respects to the became a respected statesman. to a sombre day. Aleusheya Singh, founding father of Singapore until Saturday night. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN Singapore has raised the bar for countries in the region and nine, is here to leave her own (Left) As the cortege passes, the hush of the morning is broken by a rush of camera clicks and a symphony of stifled sobs. scribbled message. “I like his poli- I wish that Malaysia will be as Some break into applause and a chant of “MM Lee, we love you” begins. PHOTO: MATTHIAS HO FOR THE STRAITS TIMES successful as Singapore.” cy on bilingualism best because now everyone speaks two languag- – KL businessman Au Kean Hoe es,” she earnestly says. She is late (below, right), 61, with (from left) Mr Lai Huen Poh, Mr Chu Chee for school but her father is a will- On the numerous handwritten ture is pausing to remember this A child’s unbiased opinion is re- pung in the 1970s. “It used to family sell kueh by the roadside. Then suddenly it is time and neous and diverse. A few clap and from the shade of the Istana into tear-stained spectacles. A photog- House where cries of “Lee Kuan Leong, Mr Chris Chong and ing accomplice in this act: per- notes left here – for a man their man from its past and it is an ad- vealed through a drawing of a have just a public toilet out in the “I used to sit on a milk crate – the motorcycle engines of the out- then the applause rises. A chant of the sun of the street, citizens offer rapher simply weeps and works. Yew!” will rent the air. Here, out- Mr Chin Kin Yong haps he appreciates this is a histo- writers may have never met but miration that is conveyed through crayoned figure, below which is open. It was very scary, very we were illegal hawkers and the riders, waiting outside, start to “MM Lee, we love you!” begins, a digital salute: arms raised with Only the soldiers in the following side the Istana, buses reclaim the ry lesson of its own. whose death they take personally every medium. scrawled the words: “Mr Lee You smelly. But in no time at all, Singa- policemen would come and we hum. First a police car appears, because to some he is still Minis- smartphones in hand, filming eve- trucks, young men on duty, rigid street and noise returns to the A nation reserved in speech – two words repeatedly stand Mr Robert Lai Tien Kean, 46 Are a Superhero.” But most peo- pore has developed so much. I be- would run.” Sometimes, she says, then the stately gun carriage carry- ter Mentor, and a few join in. ry second, photographing every in their seats, disguise any loss morning. Their leader has gone and reticent in expressing itself out: “Thank you.” and shy, articulates it on a typed ple just mine their memories to lieve we can thank him for that.” the kueh was kicked into the ing the flag-draped coffin, and From across the street comes the movement. Yet through the click- with stoicism. A once-silent and people begin to disperse. has made an exception these past People want to write what they note which he hands to reporters, talk freely of this man, a nation Madam Toh Bok Hua, closing drain. “They weren’t very compas- the hush cannot be held any more. yell “Majulah Singapura!”, from ing symphony of cameras can be street is now just a sad one. Many of them presumably return- few days for an exceptional man. feel, they want to speak, as if part of which reads: “He was constructed and a self-esteem in on 70, describes her childhood sionate then. But then Mr Lee For a brief while, grief breaks its behind comes the cry “Grandfa- heard the convulsive sounds of sti- Some have waited for hours ing to work. Just as Mr Lee would Emotion has been expressed wide- words are their only form of re- mighty in thought, courageous in built. during the time of Mr Lim Yew Kuan Yew came along and things chains as if silence is both inappro- ther of Singapore”. One man says fled sobs. but, in just over a minute, the fu- have liked it. ly, but more through quiet grati- spectful repayment. A city proud decisiveness and swift in action Madam Rathika Ravindran, 45, Hock, Singapore’s second chief changed, and we got a stall to sell priate now and unbearable. nothing at all: he only bows. A tear trails down a woman’s neral cortege has passed. It winds [email protected] tude than gushy sentimentality. of its present and fixated on its fu- immediately taken.” remembers growing up in a kam- minister, when she helped her kueh.” The eruption of noise is sponta- As the gun carriage travels cheek and old men wipe their its dignified way to Parliament [email protected] A6 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A7

LONG LINES TO PAY RESPECTS 1923 - 2015

line with about 50 friends. his huge legs and peep about,” Back at the queue, we passed ty screening, all the flowers that the hours of build-up. ACTS OF KINDNESS The wait became easier when goes the line. by a bust of Deng Xiaoping out- people had brought as final gifts As we rounded the back, peo- THE Song Fa Bak Kut Teh we reached UOB Plaza. The cool Transformative leaders like Mr side the Asian Civilisations Muse- for Mr Lee were rather unceremo- ple were stopping in front of a tint- eatery along North Bridge river breeze and wide open vista Lee come around once in a life- um. Deng admired Mr Lee and niously taken by a young full- ed window. It was almost com- Road set up standing fans and were a welcome change from be- time, maybe less. A life like his is saw Singapore’s success as one time national serviceman. We pletely opaque, but if you looked chairs for people needing a ing stared at by the office lunch out of the reach of us ordinary reason to embark on his epochal walked into the air-conditioned closely, you could make out the rest. It also spent more than Long, slow queue to history crowds over their mee goreng. folk. But we can be a passing part reform and opening up of China. Parliament House and everyone lines of Mr Lee’s coffin and the $300 on water, ice, plastic But I began to lose heart of the great acts of an extraordi- Mr Lee had called him the ex- tensed up. I don’t know what I ex- stars on the flag that covered it. cups and a water dispenser for around 2pm, about four hours in. nary journey. To be here, to bear ception to the rule that great lead- pected, but the moment happened Without the opportunity to people waiting in line. Some were carrying flowers, strong. Mr Geoffrey Low, a 63- pore Polytechnic graduate, was are alive to the complexities of his “Why are we doing this? I’m so witness at the final moment – this ers are of tall stature. He always almost as if by accident. linger in front of his coffin, people The restaurant was one of others umbrellas – and every sin- year-old retired policeman, val- there as “I’m quite free nowa- legacy, I told Xingda about some tired and I think I’m getting a sun- is important, somehow. Perhaps told it like it was, I thought to my- Later, I learnt that because of resorted to bowing, weeping and It took hours, but for some it was several businesses that tried to gle one of us had the same look of iantly insisted it would pass quick- days, just waiting for national ser- of Mr Lee’s lieutenants, like Dr burn,” I complained to Geoffrey. more important than anything self. Mr Lee drummed it into Sin- the unexpectedly massive crowd, saying their prayers for Mr Lee to offer some respite for dismay and self-doubt on our ly: “We’re almost at UOB Plaza.” vice, so I came along”. Goh Keng Swee and Mr S. Rajarat- He gave me a pep talk that, to else we will do in our lives. gaporeans that we were small and the authorities changed the sys- that tinted window. important to be part of this occasion Singaporeans queueing in the faces when we discovered how We were fortified by cold wa- I asked him what he knew of nam, who also built the nation. my surprise, had little to do with I went to use the toilet at one vulnerable and yet he was never tem to get people to pass through There was a loosening in my hot sun for hours yesterday. By RACHEL CHANG but – we came. long the line already was. ter and orange punch that a kind- Mr Lee and he said the usual, Mr Lee always credited the im- how much Mr Lee sacrificed for of the office buildings while Geof- cowed or bullied by any larger na- more quickly. We were supposed chest. It felt like I had done some- Others included Fullerton ASSISTANT POLITICAL EDITOR On the first day that Mr Lee Fifteen minutes in, the gentle- hearted shop owner in Canton phrases like “he built the coun- portance of a good team, I said. Singapore. “You’ll never get a frey held my place in the line. tion. Stature is about more than to have stood in a group and thing important and necessary, Hotel, the Asian Civilisations Kuan Yew’s body lay in state at man next to me left. Street left out for us. try”, repeated so often lately that He would not have wanted any- chance like this again,” he told As the sliding doors whooshed literal size. bowed. But instead, we started even if all I did was stand in line Museum and the Clarke Quay WE QUEUED – the old, the in- Parliament House, tens of thou- Two hours in, policemen began My fellow queuers and I were a they sounded almost rote. one to think he did it alone. me. “This is history. It’s like open and air-conditioned air ca- Once we crossed Cavenagh walking through the hall and be- for five hours. I said to Geoffrey: management, which firm, the famous, the nameless. sands of people queued for up to putting barricades in place to sepa- band of brothers. We shared um- Did he know about any of the They are all gone now. With when Mao Zedong died. ressed my face like the hands of Bridge, the line moved briskly. fore we knew it, we were passing “Well, we were there.” I was aim- distributed water and other We lined up – the native, the eight hours under a blazing sky to rate the snaking queue. One of brellas and tissue packets, and more controversial things that Mr Mr Lee, the last leaf has fallen. In “There won’t be another like an angel, I remembered that Mr Soon we were at the tentage. by a flag-draped coffin, and then ing for a note of sarcasm at the drinks to thirsty members of foreigner, the glorious rich, the see him. them informed us that it would be urged one another to use the toi- Lee did? I asked. a way, we are orphans now. him. So we should be here.” Lee once called air-conditioning Geoffrey let on that this was were past it and out the hall. anti-climax of it all, but my voice the public. huddled poor. At about 10am, I joined the line six more hours. At this, a middle- let and get lunch while we held “He locked up some people for, I sensed Xingda losing interest It reminded me of that Shake- the greatest invention in history. far from the longest he had ever All the while, the guards told came out a little strained. Over at Raffles Place MRT The admirer, the critic, the near Elgin Bridge in North Bridge aged woman named Janet peeled the places. like, 20 years, right? I know he when he said, pointing at a laven- spearean quote, when Cassius It changed life in the tropics, queued for anything. He once us to “please keep moving”. He nodded in full understand- Station, florist Artisan de silver-haired who remember Road, one among thousands off. She had to start her work I fell in with the Ho family. Mr was quite hard on the opposi- der-haired pint-sized woman up calls Julius Caesar a Colossus who he said, and he once inquired after lined up overnight for Bee Gees We exited the building and ing, replying: “That’s all that mat- Fleurs gave free white flowers when Singapore was just an idea, streaming in from all parts of the shift at 5pm, she said. and Mrs Ho had taken the day off, tion.” ahead: “Eh look, there’s Xiaxue!” “bestrides the narrow world”. the possibility of air-conditioned concert tickets. everyone looked a bit disoriented ters.” to those going to pay their the later-born who know nothing country. The rest of us tried to stay and Xingda, a 20-year-old Singa- Satisfied that our young people The local celebrity blogger was in “We petty men/Walk under underwear. After we passed through securi- at how fast that happened, after [email protected] respects at Parliament House. GRATEFUL FOR CLEAN TOILETS “I had to ask someone to leave my flowers and a note thanking him. Last time, very dirty – (but thanks to Mr Lee), change and change so we now have clean toilets. Hope his children will be able to do the same.” – Madam Wong Ah Mee, 74, a cleaner. She queued during her lunch break between 11.30am and 12.30pm, but could not get in KEEN LEARNER “I was in the St John Ambulance Brigade, and Mr Lee visited the school during one of our events. Knowing we were a Chinese-educated school, he told us to speak to him using Mandarin to improve his skills. He was never afraid to learn more where he felt he needed to, even from students.” – Madam Yvonne Yu, 71, who joined the queue at 3pm. The former civil servant met Mr Lee during her secondary school days at Nan Chiau Girls’ High School. Many years later, she ran into Mr Lee while she was exercising in the Marina Bay area. He was dressed in sports gear and accompanied by security officers. Even then, he went over to say hello and ask how she was doing

A GOOD MOVE “I came to Singapore in 1977 because I had married a Singaporean. Back then, I landed at Paya Lebar Airport and found Manila more advanced than Singapore. But Singapore has overtaken the Philippines by leaps and bounds. When I first arrived, $1 was 3 pesos. Now, $1 gets (Clockwise from more than 30 pesos. I’m glad I above) Crowds came to Singapore. My three meandering children got a good education through Hong Lim Queue starts at Padang today here and are doing well.” Park as part of the – Mrs Lanie Low, 57, queue to pay STARTING at 7am today, the The organisers of the State patient, and to follow the direc- a housewife, who was born tribute to Mr Lee in the Philippines and became a queue for members of the public Funeral for Mr Lee, 91, an- tions of the marshals on the Singaporean in 1988. She joined Kuan Yew who want to pay their respects nounced this in a statement last ground,” the statement added. yesterday. The the queue at 8.30am with her to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew night and advised those who At its peak yesterday, the daughter and grandson, and queue crossed an waited for four hours overhead bridge in will start at the Padang. want to go for the lying in state waiting time for those in the Clarke Quay and There will also be a special at Parliament House to use pub- queue was at least eight hours. snaked through lane at the Padang for the elder- lic transport.“In view of the The statement said that wa- HIS POLICIES BENEFITED US Boat Quay before ly, pregnant women, schoolchil- large crowd, a long waiting time ter will be distributed to those reaching dren, families with children un- can be expected. We seek the un- waiting in line and updates on “I felt I had to Parliament House, der six years old and those with derstanding of members of the the queue waiting time will also pay my where Mr Lee’s special needs. public to remain orderly and be continue to be provided hourly. respects to body is lying in Mr Lee state. Meanwhile, anyway. By PM Lee dropped by stabilising Cavenagh Bridge Singapore, he late in the stabilised the afternoon and rest of Asia as interacted with well. It was because of his members of the sound policies that I decided public. Some to send my daughter to people were Singapore instead of Britain or spotted carrying the United States, which she flowers and could have easily qualified for. placards with I have never once regretted messages of my decision.” condolence, while others found ways – Mr Sun Zhen Yang, 63, from to shield Shanghai, queued for nearly five hours despite a foot injury and themselves from his doctor’s advice not to stand the blazing sun. for long periods Employees of The Fullerton Hotel played a part by SUSTAINING THE CROWD serving water to “Standing for two to three those queueing in the area. hours without food and water PHOTOS: ONG WEE is very harsh, you will get JIN, KUA CHEE hungry very easily. For the SIONG, WANG HUI people queueing to pay tribute FEN, ALPHONSUS to Mr Lee, this is the least we CHERN, LIM YAOHUI could do.” FOR THE STRAITS – Mr Alex Goh, 51, director of TIMES, AGENCE Aldrich Office Furniture and FRANCE-PRESSE Projects. He set up a stand In Circular Road with staff, his wife and children, offering drinks and biscuits to those in the queue A8 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A9

LYING IN STATE 1923 - 2015

HE MADE SINGAPORE SAFE “No one complained or grumbled. It was not a problem (that I couldn’t see Mr Lee’s face). I can understand because of the crowd. You cannot take your time. We need to give others a chance. I came alone. I love Mr Lee dearly and I believe in him. Children being able to wander around after school – it was all his doing, making Singapore into a safe place. They are able to wander around after school. In the United States, parents have to drive their children here and there.” – Ms Clara Miles, 60, a former hotel guest relations officer, started queueing just before 2pm and made it inside Parliament House at 3.55pm HE’S DONE SO MUCH FOR US “I waited for an hour and a half. I was fortunate enough to ask a guy in the queue who guided me to the senior citizens’ line – I had almost wanted to give up when I heard I had to start queueing at Hong Lim. The contingent from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Parliament House yesterday included (from left) Commissioner of Prisons Soh Wai Wah, Singapore Civil Defence (Mr Lee) was such a wise Force Commissioner Eric Yap, Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck, MHA Deputy Secretary Goh Soon Poh and MHA Permanent Secretary Leo Yip. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM person and he was a very strong leader and he has really done so much for us. When I left school in 1964, jobs were scarce but finally I joined the civil service. It was Mr Lee and his team who brought in a lot of establishments to Singapore, multinational companies, for example. After I spent three years in the civil service, I was fortunate enough to join a multinational company which produces semiconductors. I was there for 34 years. At this company, I was sent to Penang to set up a branch and it was there that I met my wife.” – Mr David Lim, 67, a retiree NEVER FELT DISADVANTAGED “I was lucky today because The public waiting in someone saw line at Parliament me limping (I House yesterday. A have stiff knee surge in the crowd joints) and told numbers prompted a a security change in the hours Silent farewell, broken by sobs guard, who let that people can go to Parliament to pay me go to the Pioneers queue. But if not for or night, until Saturday, when the 4m from the casket and bow. Al- emerged from an adjacent room Raffles Place and Fort Canning. their last respects. Members of the public queue for They can now do so my health problem, I would gates will close at 8pm. though they could not see Mr on occasion to receive some of the Among those in the queue were wait two days if I needed to. I Yesterday’s early birds, some Lee’s body, many were overcome guests and later even went out- Malaysian Au Kean Hoe, 61, who any time, day or night, hours to pay their last respects until Saturday, when already made it all the way of whom started queueing before with emotion and tears rolled side to greet those who were wait- flew in yesterday morning from the gates will close at here, taking a bus from my daybreak, entered the hall in down their cheeks. ing in the queue. Kuala Lumpur specially to pay his 8pm. ST PHOTO: home in Redhill, so why not By THAM YUEN-C to say their goodbyes. groups to pay homage to The older folk were particular- As the crowd built up outside, respects, and legal executive Vivi ALPHONSUS CHERN wait? It is my last chance to An unexpected surge close to Singapore’s first Prime Minister, ly overwhelmed, as quiet sobbing those in the line who entered the Erina, 31, who started queueing say farewell, after all. PEOPLE queued for as long as five lunchtime meant that organisers who died on Monday at age 91. filled the hall. hall from around 1.30pm were from UOB Building at about Mr Lee made sure everyone hours yesterday morning to pay had to keep a tighter rein on time. Ordinary Singaporeans, contin- Some dignitaries had more asked to pick up the pace when 10.30am and waited four hours. had a home and that we must their last respects to Mr Lee Kuan This later prompted a change gents of schoolchildren and repre- time and could walk right up to they filed past the casket. The firm she works at, Clifford be multiracial. I live in a rental Yew at Parliament House. in the hours people could go to sentatives of ministries, self-help the casket. By this time, the queues Law, gave its staff time off to go Sultan Ibrahim of Johor (in black), accompanied by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, paying his last respects to Mr Lee at Parliament House yesterday. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM apartment with my mother But inside the hall where his Parliament to pay their respects. organisations and uniformed Prime Minister Lee Hsien stretched around Clarke Quay and to Parliament House. now, but used to live in a casket lay, they had just minutes They can now do so any time, day groups were able to stand about Loong and his wife, Ms Ho Ching, the surrounding areas, including [email protected] kampung and people had to share a common toilet. Now look at all our flats. And we can drink our tap water. As a minority, I also never felt disadvantaged... I watch the news about the conflicts overseas and I am relieved I was born here.” – Former healthcare support officer Nalaayini Thambiah, 65, who queued from 1.30pm to 4.30pm CONCERN FOR OUR WELFARE “Most of us are where we are because of him. Even if we queue for eight or 12 hours, it’s nothing compared to him spending his whole life to serve us. (When I met him), he showed a lot of concern about the welfare of workers. He would ask about our staff welfare benefits and whether we had sufficient rest.” – Mr Richard Tan, 50, general secretary of the United Workers of Electronics & Electrical Industries, who joined the queue at 2pm with colleagues. He met Mr Lee at an NTUC event 10 years ago EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE “We brought food, water and good company to wait out the queue. It’s an expression of gratitude to Mr Lee for his contributions to the nation.” – Dr Wong Meng Ee, 45, assistant professor for special education at the National Institute of Education, who is now almost totally visually-impaired. He queued with six NIE colleagues Ordinary Singaporeans, students and representatives of self-help organisations and uniformed groups were among those who paid homage to Mr Lee. Older people were particularly overwhelmed, filling the hall with sobs. ST PHOTOS: ALPHONSUS CHERN A woman in tears at Parliament House yesterday. Though the mourners could not see Mr Lee’s body, many were overcome with emotion. ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM who were helping him A10 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A11

LYING IN STATE 1923 - 2015

‘I’M NOT AFRAID OF THE SUN’ “I saw him when I was a child. I was about seven at that time. It was during one of the election rallies and he came by my house. I was living in an old walk-up apartment in Jalan Besar. Over the years, we now have Housing Board flats to live in and it’s thanks to him. I decided to come down to pay my respects to Mr Lee today as the weather is good and sunny. I’m not afraid of hot weather, because I’m used to standing and working under the sun. If it rains, that’ll be worse and I won’t be able to come.” – Mr Leong Ying Wai, 58, who works as a gardener in a condominium and had been standing in line for four hours by 9.30pm ‘I’LL WAIT, I’M NOT HUNGRY’ Queues continued to snake around the buildings near Parliament House in the evening. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM “I’m not tired. No problem. You tell me eight hours also I stand, because I want to see him. I’m not going to see him any more after this. My daughter asked me if I’m hungry. I said I’m not hungry, I need to see him first.” – Madam Ambarasi B. Rajagoopal, 49, a service assistant, was in the queue with her daughter Uganeswari Chandar, 20, a nursing student at Nanyang Polytechnic HE CAME FROM JOHOR “I’ve been working here for five years and I really appreciate that this is a society where all the different races are treated equally, and no one is given preferential treatment based on their race. Coming from Malaysia, I really see the difference and I appreciate what he has done for Singapore.” A woman being comforted as she is overcome with emotion. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN – Mr Forest Tham, 32, a credit controller in the finance industry. He lives in Johor Baru and Members of the public (right) streaming out of Parliament House at 9.45pm, after paying their respects to the late Mr Lee. By 10pm booked a budget hotel for the yesterday, the waiting time was estimated to be four hours, down from about eight hours at its peak. ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI night so he could queue overnight to pay tribute to Mr Lee ‘THE WAIT IS WORTH IT’ “The wait is definitely “(I) was moved by the huge worth it, we would have crowds who came. waited longer. This is nothing Thank you for queuing so compared to what Mr Lee did for us. many hours in the hot sun In particular, what he has done for the minority races is to say goodbye to Mr Lee.” very important. I mean, we are given equal rights. That’s the main thing we are very – PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG, thankful for. in a Facebook post that drew 40,000 likes in three hours The queue is very systematic. Mr Lee’s presence can still be felt in all the buildings around us, we see him everywhere.” – Mr R. Vijayakumar, 50, who closed his barber shop for the Steady stream day. He was there with his whole family, including daughter Chandralekha, 20, a polytechnic student. His mother-in-law is due to undergo knee surgery tomorrow but insisted on paying of mourners her last respects to Mr Lee MR LEE WAS ‘THE MAN’ “Lee Kuan Yew, he’s the man. My grandfather came to Singapore from India in the long into the night 1950s with nothing. He had to start from scratch. Today, my family is living More expected to visit Parliament House overnight comfortably, we have some assets, Singapore is our home and we are proud of it.” By WALTER SIM him, sometimes in his office in the Istana or in – Mr Manoj Nanwani, 40, sales City Hall in the earlier days.” executive in the real estate THE LONG queues that snaked along the Singa- Former politician and diplomat Lee Khoon industry, who was in the queue pore River yesterday afternoon continued through Choy, 91, said: “Mr Lee was a very special person. with a friend from his army days, the evening, with the after-work crowd adding to He had courage, he was resolute in his actions, engineer Tay Wee Chin, 41 the lines waiting to pay their last respects to Mr and he was very frank.” ‘I WAS A GUARD AT ISTANA’ Lee Kuan Yew. Foreign visitors also paid tribute to Mr Lee. The At 10pm yesterday, the waiting time was esti- choir of St John’s College in Cambridge Universi- “When I was serving in the mated to be four hours, down from about eight ty, in town for a show, performed a rendition of army in 1971, I was a guard hours at its peak. Lines had also formed along the the National Day song, Home, which PM Lee stationed at the Istana. Every Supreme Court, The Adelphi shopping mall and called “beautiful”. day at 5pm, I would see Mr stretched all the way to the Padang. With bus and “My parents studied in Cambridge. They were Lee, dressed in a white shirt train services extended throughout the night, not in St John’s, but they had friends there, and and white shorts, jogging or more people were expected to stream into Parlia- one of their favourite places was the Bridge of cycling. Sometimes he would ment overnight. Sighs, which is in St John’s College. be with the president, who Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thanked those “They took a picture together at the bridge was Dr Benjamin Sheares at who came, in a Facebook post that drew 40,000 when they were students, and went back over the that time. likes in three hours: “(I) was moved by the huge years to visit,” he said. On Sunday night, I had crowds who came. Thank you for queuing so many About 70 foreign dignitaries attended the first gone to Singapore General hours in the hot sun to say goodbye to Mr Lee.” day of the public wake yesterday. They included Hospital with flowers for him, Among those who came to say their final fare- the Sultan of Johor and the Sultan of Kelantan, as and the next morning I read wells were members of the ruling party’s Old well as Asean Secretary-General Le Luong Minh. that he had passed away. It’s Guard, who formed a group that kept vigil for half Said Mr Minh: “He has left us a lasting legacy very sad.” an hour. Mr Ng Kah Ting, 75, who was MP for and for that, the people of the Asean community – Mr Anthony Loke, 63, a chef Punggol from 1963 to 1991, said: “My mind was go- will forever remember him.” who joined the queue outside ing through all the years that I had shared with [email protected] The lines of people around The Adelphi shopping mall in North Bridge Road at 8.30pm. ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI A woman weeps as she clutches a tablet computer displaying a portrait of Mr Lee, after paying her respects to him at Parliament House. ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM Liang Court at 4pm after work A12 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A13

SRI TEMASEK: FAMILY SEND–OFF 1923 - 2015

HELD SPELLBOUND “Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s body is now lying in state in Parliament House. I recall vividly his many speeches in Parliament. The most awesome was the one he made in February 1977 at the old Parliament House. I had just been elected an MP. He was speaking on the debate on the President’s Address. He spoke for nearly four hours, from 3.45pm to 7.30pm. I sat spellbound in the back row. No one moved. He ended his speech with a rider on psephology. He asked why Marine Parade, as a new HDB estate with more five-room and four-room flats than Buona Vista, another new estate, did worse electorally. Marine Parade won with 76 per cent of the votes cast as compared to 81 per cent for Buona Vista. Was it because the candidate in Marine Parade was new while Ang Kok Peng was known, being a second-term MP shifted from Crawford? Mr Lee did not provide the answer. He added that whoever could solve the riddle would have one of the qualifications to succeed him but only one. After his speech ended, there was a rush to the washroom. My bladder was about to burst. There was no time to think of the answer.” – Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, in a Facebook post yesterday 5 VISITS AFTER FIRE ATTACK “In 2009, during a constituency event, somebody attacked me. I was recuperating in Singapore General Hospital. The elder Mr Lee Mr Lee visited me five times in total. Each time, in my semi-conscious state, I was awakened by his voice: ‘I am Lee Kuan Yew, I am Lee Kuan leaves Yew.’ I would open my eyes and, feeling very guilty, I would tell him weakly, ‘You should be with your wife’, because Mrs Lee was also very ill at that Istana for time. He didn’t answer me – not because he could not hear me. It was because he still intended to visit me again.” – Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Seng Han Thong at a tribute event held in the last time Ang Mo Kio yesterday THE ‘MISSING’ MUSICIANS People line streets to watch as gun “I remember his attendance at a concert in 1990, where John carriage takes casket to Parliament Bingham played the 4th and 5th Beethoven piano By CHARISSA YONG Among the group of at least 20 concertos. Having joined the people were grandsons Yipeng SSO board that year, I was OUTSIDE, thronging the roads, and Huanwu bearing a portrait of seated in the row directly the public were waiting. But in- their grandfather, with Yipeng’s behind him and Mrs Lee on side Sri Temasek on the grounds left arm resting at times on his the balcony of Victoria of the Istana, the family of Mr Lee cousin’s shoulder in solidarity. Concert Hall. Kuan Yew gathered after sunrise The ceremonial procession on Some time into the third as the private wake for their pa- foot behind the carriage was led movement, I remember Mr triarch drew to a close. by PM Lee, the chief mourner. Lee kept glancing at his Just an hour later, the casket Slowly, slowly, the family programme booklet, then containing Mr Lee would leave trailed the carriage to the beat of a would look at the orchestra the two-storey house for the jour- military drum, as it descended the for a few seconds before ney to Parliament House and four hill, for about 70m. looking down again. This went days of lying in state. Mr Lee Hsien Yang and his on for some time. But for now, in quiet moments wife Suet Fern walked At the intermission away from the public eye, the ex- hand-in-hand, their heads fre- reception, he said to Mrs Lu tended families of Mr Lee and his quently bowed. Behind them, Mr Sinclair, the orchestra’s late wife, Madam Kwa Geok Lee’s grandchildren walked to- (Clockwise from top) The procession leaving Sri Temasek; Emeritus Senior manager: ‘I see your booklet Choo, paid their respects. gether, hands at their sides. Minister Goh Chok Tong, President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife, Mrs Mary lists 80 musicians. I see only After them, Mr Lee’s immedi- Daughter Wei Ling was not in the Tan, and staff bowing their heads as the procession stopped at the main Istana 53 on stage. What are the rest ate family members stepped for- procession as she was unwell. building; Mr Lee’s family members watching the procession as it crossed the doing?’ ward to say individual goodbyes, Along the way, through the Istana grounds; PM Lee and his wife, Ms Ho Ching, paying their respects before Mrs Sinclair explained that all dressed in white shirts and grounds of the Istana, they passed Mr Lee’s casket left Sri Temasek. PHOTOS: NEO XIAOBIN, MCI the Beethoven concertos, as black trousers or long skirts. a military line of honour and repre- with many classical works, The first was younger son Lee sentatives from Tanjong Pagar required fewer musicians. To Hsien Yang, followed by his wife GRC, the constituency where the which came the inevitable Lee Suet Fern, and their sons late Mr Lee was an MP, and the rapid-fire questions: ‘What Shengwu, Huanwu and Shaowu. Teck Ghee ward in Ang Mo Kio are the other musicians doing Mr Lee’s daughter Wei Ling, GRC, where PM Lee is an MP. when not required?’ and ‘Are who had lived with her late par- The gun carriage then went they paid?’ ents in the family home in Oxley past the main Istana building, He was eventually mollified Road, went next. where President Tony Tan Keng by Mrs Sinclair’s explanation Last of all came Mr Lee’s elder Yam and Emeritus Senior Minis- that some of the absentees son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien ter Goh Chok Tong and staff paid had participated in a schools Loong, his wife Ho Ching, and their respects, while a bagpiper outreach programme during children Xiuqi, Yipeng, Hongyi from the Singapore Gurkha Con- the week.” and Haoyi. tingent played Auld Lang Syne. – Singapore Symphony Orchestra Over Monday and Tuesday, As the first part of the ceremo- chairman Goh Yew Lin, they had received and hosted nial procession ended, still within in an e-mail to SSO directors more than 5,200 visitors at the pri- the grounds of the Istana, the Lee and council members vate wake held at the official resi- family proceeded separately by ve- dence of the Prime Minister in the hicle to Parliament House, where GREAT LEADER Istana grounds. Mr Lee died early Mr Lee’s casket will lie in state un- “I pay respects to a great on Monday at the age of 91. til 8pm on Saturday. leader of Singapore and of Too soon, 9am came – the They were there to receive the Asean. With his distinct vision hour when the gun carriage wait- casket when it arrived just before and dedication, the late first ing in the driveway outside would 10am, bearing silent witness as it Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew carry Mr Lee away. was transferred from the gun car- built Singapore into a modern, Inside, the Lee family watched riage to its bier. As the pallbearers vibrant country and, with the solemnly as a team of white-jack- removed the national flag from same vision and commitment, eted pallbearers from the defence Mr Lee’s casket and marched off, he played an important role in services and police draped the Sin- the family was ushered forward. the formation and rise of gapore flag over the casket. As the PM Lee stood front and centre, Asean. officers – their headgear removed his wife beside him. The grand- He has left for us a lasting as a mark of respect – carried the sons placed Mr Lee’s portrait on a legacy and for that the people casket onto the gun carriage, and pedestal before the casket. Pallbearers draping the Singapore flag over Mr Lee’s casket (above), and placing of the Asean community will the strains of Beethoven’s Funeral Then, as one, the Lee family it onto the gun carriage (right). Mr Lee’s grandsons (far right) Yipeng and forever remember him.” March No. 1 filled the air, the fami- bowed once in front of the head of Huanwu carrying a portrait of their grandfather as they lead the foot procession. – Asean secretary-general ly filed out of the hall and into the their family before departing. Behind them are Mr Lee Hsien Yang and PM Lee and their wives and other family Le Luong Minh, paying his public eye. [email protected] members. PHOTOS: MCI, NEO XIAOBIN respects at Parliament House A14 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 A15

TRIBUTES: A NATION GRIEVES 1923 - 2015

SINGAPORE POOLS CLOSURE ALL Singapore Pools branches, Special Parliament sitting authorised retail outlets and Livewire venues will be closed on Sunday, the day of Mr Lee Thousands By RACHEL AU-YONG tion. Dr Ng told The Straits thankful to have the opportunity Kuan Yew’s funeral, as a mark Times: “A representative group of to do so in Parliament.” of respect. TODAY, Parliament will sit at MPs are invited to make their trib- Rounding off the list are Minis- The 4D draw on Sunday 4pm for a special session at which utes. These include office-holders ter of State Sim Ann, PAP MP will still go ahead at 6.30pm MPs will pay tribute to Mr Lee and backbenchers, Government Christopher de Souza and Senior at the Singapore Pools Kuan Yew. and non-Government MPs, senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah, Building. Results will be continue The session, to last around two and newer MPs, and an MP from an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC posted on the Singapore Pools hours, will hear 11 MPs speak on the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s con- who had been helping to take care website after the draw. the contributions made by stituency.” of the needs of residents in Mr Normal operations, Singapore’s founding Prime Minis- Speakers include former depu- Lee’s ward in the past few years. including betting and prize ter and their impact on the coun- ty prime minister Wong Kan A minute of silence will be ob- claims, will resume next try. Seng, unionist Seng Han Thong, served at the end of the tributes. Monday. to stream Defence Minister and Leader of Nominated MP Thomas Chua, All MPs, including Prime Minis- the House Ng Eng Hen and president of the Singapore Chi- ter Lee Hsien Loong, will then pay Workers’ Party chief Low Thia nese Chamber of Commerce and homage to Mr Lee. Khiang are on the list. Industry, and Senior Minister of Only invited guests can attend Before the MPs pay their trib- State Masagos Zulkifli. the sitting and they include mem- utes, Speaker of the House Hali- Mr Vikram Nair of the People’s bers of the Old Guard, grassroots into tribute mah Yacob will make introducto- Action Party (PAP) will speak in leaders, students, citizens from all ry remarks, in which she will re- Tamil. He said Mr Lee’s vision of walks of life and the media. count the role Mr Lee played in a multiracial, equal society was Participants will wear black shaping Parliament. one of his greatest contributions, ribbons to mark the occasion, and Mr Lee, who represented Tan- adding: “Singapore is one of the readers can keep up with The jong Pagar for 60 years, died on best places to be a minority in.” Straits Times’ live coverage of the centres Monday at age 91. Another speaker is Nominated event at http://leekuanyew.strait- BUN GOES STALE “The sitting is a special one as MP Chia Yong Yong, a wheelchair stimes.com/ST/lky-live-blog/ind there are no other items on the user with peroneal muscular dys- ex.html. The sitting will also be A SPECIAL commemorative agenda except for this tribute to trophy, whose choice is reflective covered live on 938 LIVE, Chan- bun that the BreadTalk chain One resident tells of how she had Mr Lee Kuan Yew,” Madam Hali- of Singapore being an inclusive so- nel News Asia, Parliament’s web- started selling yesterday in mah told The Straits Times. ciety. Said Ms Chia: “There are site, and www.remembering- memory of the late Mr Lee got received help in applying for a flat The list of speakers covers dif- many ordinary folk who want to LeeKuanYew.sg. the thumbs-down. ferent segments of the popula- pay tribute to Mr Lee, and I’m [email protected] Filled with gula melaka- By MIRANDA YEO near Bukit Timah Hill. flavoured grated coconut She visited the tribute centre mixed with attap seed, the $2 WHEN Madam Ramairthan with her husband and her grand- bun was given the Chinese Muthukrishnan’s house and provi- daughter, who had just finished name “Can’t leave you” – sion shop in Kampong Eunos had school that afternoon. with the word “leave” to make way for new Housing “I was about 10 years old then, swopped for Mr Lee’s Board flats some 40 years ago, and he was visiting all the kam- surname, which sounds she and her husband were caught pung to get to know the situation similar. Proceeds were meant in the lurch. in each and every one of them,” for charity. They had married in a tradition- said Madam Chen. But the play on words got al Indian wedding ceremony and “I remember that his way of irate people accusing did not get an official marriage cer- speaking was very forceful and BreadTalk of disrespect, and tificate. This meant that they powerful.” the chain pulled the bun from could not apply for a new flat. She also remembered staying its shelves last night. It will Desperate, they sought help up late on the night of the 1955 still donate $30,000 – the from former Prime Minister Lee elections to hear the results of the proceeds from the bun sales so Kuan Yew during a Meet-the-Peo- Tanjong Pagar seat that Mr Lee far – to the Community ple Session. was contesting. Chest. “Mr Lee understood that it was “My entire family leapt in ex- embarrassing for us to apply with citement on hearing PAP had won Nanyang Technological University professors, students and staff observing one the Registry of Marriages because the seat. It was just so important minute of silence at a memorial service the school held in honour of the late Mr we were already married with chil- to us because it was Mr Lee Kuan Lee yesterday afternoon. PHOTO: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY dren,” the 73-year-old said. Yew’s victory,” she said. “He told us not to worry and Over at Tanjong Pagar, there wrote a letter for us, so we could were residents like Ms Daisy Yew, apply for a four-room flat in Hou- 51, who works in a hotel. gang.” She was not always a fan of Mr Mr Lee also helped the family Lee’s leadership. get financial aid to tide them over “In the past, I thought he was a Public buses are carrying the message “Remembering Lee Kuan Yew 1923 – 2015” during this mourning period. The the period. dictator; I couldn’t understand memorial message is also being carried at all MRT stations. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG “I feel like I have lost a father,” what he was doing,” she said, she said, with tears in her eyes. referring to Mr Lee’s resorting to She was among the thousands detentions without trial under the who continued to stream into com- Internal Security Act. munity tribute centres yesterday But she said a year of overseas to pay their respects to Mr Lee, travel in her late 20s opened her who died on Monday morning. He eyes. was 91. “You see that the facilities in Long queues formed at tribute other countries are built for the sites such as those in Tanjong Pa- elite and not the masses; you also gar and Kovan, as residents wait- realise just how safe it is here,” ed in line to write condolence she said. BLACK SUNDAY notes. “And you know he made those SOCIAL media has been Madam Chen Xin Ying, 66, tough decisions for the good of flooded with messages urging was one of those at Kovan Hub the people.” Singaporeans to wear black on Tribute Centre. She fondly re- [email protected] Sunday in memory of Mr Lee, called her earliest meeting with Additional reporting by Samantha Boh whose state funeral service Mr Lee in her family’s kampung and Samantha Goh will be held that day. The ground-up movement has gone viral, with several Commemorative album graphics and hash tags circulating online. But others have proposed alternative of public, private photos colours, such as white – the colour of the uniform of Mr A group of students from Nanyang Technological University made and distributed 1,500 black ribbons as a symbol of Lee’s People’s Action Party – STRAITS Times Press has pub- this keepsake photo album, I hope remembrance. NTU held a memorial service yesterday to honour Mr Lee. PHOTO: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY or red, to celebrate his life. lished a commemorative album of to recapture the greatest mo- former Prime Minister Lee Kuan ments of LKY, the public and pri- Osman Merican’s most treasured memento from the 1965 Seap Games was not Yew. vate man,” she said. the medals he won but a letter of praise from Mr Lee. ST PHOTO: TIFFANY GOH LKY: A Pictorial Memoir fea- “Most of all, I hope it will bring tures private and public pictures you much joy, as it has me.” of Mr Lee, and is an abridged ver- The book’s cover features a por- sion of Lee Kuan Yew: A Life In trait of Mr Lee, overlaid with Pictures, which was published close to 1,200 smaller photo- Ex-national hurdler two years ago. graphs of him, put together by The 192-page book also in- Straits Times Press creative direc- cludes some new photos. tor Lock Hong Liang. motivated by letter They were chosen by The The 188 photos in the book are Straits Times’ picture editor captioned in English and Chinese. By JONATHAN WONG from the police and rose to be- MUSEUM DISPLAY Stephanie Yeow for their strength It is on sale at bookstores for Ang Mo Kio GRC, where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is an MP, organised a Tribute Night last night for people to pay tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. PM Lee come an acting assistant superin- and quality. “In putting together $26.75 (after GST). addressed the 2,500 people at the event, thanking Singaporeans for their love and support for his father. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE FORMER national hurdler Osman tendent. Said the 75-year-old reti- THIS barrister’s wig was one Merican won three medals at the ree yesterday: “Reading that let- of two bought by the late Mr South-east Asian Peninsular ter motivated me to believe I Lee and his wife, Madam Kwa (Seap) Games in Kuala Lumpur in could be more than what I felt I Geok Choo, when they were Continue to work hard for 1965 but his most treasured me- was capable of achieving.” admitted to the Bar. mento is not the silverware but a Singapore National Olympic The wig was made by piece of paper. Council’s secretary-general from Ravenscroft, an established wig and robe maker in It is a typewritten, single-page 1972 to 1996, Mr S.S. Dhillon, not- Car workshop Dynamics Mechanic has already given away 800 stickers for motorists to paste on their vehicle’s window. a better tomorrow: PM Lee letter signed by then Prime Minis- ed that Mr Lee’s interest in local London, and given to the The decal features Mr Lee’s silhouette within a black ribbon. PHOTO: DYNAMICS MECHANIC ter Lee Kuan Yew, given to sports never wavered. When Sin- National Museum Collection Singapore’s medallists, praising gapore won the Malaysia Cup in by Mr Lee. By LIM YAN LIANG this day, because he knew that to a success? Not yet. Is there still their effort in lifting the country, 1977, Mr Lee met the players at It is among the items on build well, Singapore must stand much to be done? Of course.” particularly as it came just the Istana and “encouraged them display at the National FORMER Prime Minister Lee long after he’s gone. And he has He added: “We still need to months after Singapore had sepa- and the coaches”. Different ways to remember Mr Lee Museum for the exhibition In Kuan Yew had taken Singapore been preparing for that for many, work hard so tomorrow will be rated from Malaysia. In 2008 and just hours after Memoriam: Lee Kuan Yew, from Third World to First, but the many years.” better, and our children will have He wrote: “I would like you to the Republic won the bid to host MOTORISTS have a new way to The 40-year-old said it is “just was not an issue, he added. This which is open from 10am to work is not done yet, Prime Minis- PM Lee was speaking in both a brighter future. If we work hard know that your performance the inaugural Youth Olympic remember Mr Lee Kuan Yew by. something to remember Mr Lee was despite the fact that five of 8pm, until April 26. ter Lee Hsien Loong said last English and Mandarin to 2,500 res- together, I think this little red dot brought into focus the qualities of Games two years later, Mr Lee, Car workshop co-owner Eric by. He’s someone whom I’ve held his staff had put in long hours pro- Admission is free. night at a ceremony to pay tribute idents and grassroots leaders of can become a brilliant, bright lit- discipline, stamina and talent who was then Minister Mentor, Chew – long an admirer of Mr Lee in very high esteem”. ducing the decals. This meant the to the late leader. Ang Mo Kio GRC, for which he is tle red dot.” which will enable the people of was already planning ahead. – is giving out free car decals of People streamed into the Dy- workshop was functioning at half TIME OFF FOR WORKERS While Singapore has surmount- an MP, and Sengkang West. PM Lee thanked Singaporeans Singapore to overcome so many Recalled Mr Ng Ser Miang, the former Prime Minister to Sin- namics Mechanic workshop in its usual productivity. SEVERAL companies have ed many challenges and should In urging people to work hard for their love and support for his of their present difficulties and se- who was chairman of the organis- gaporeans. Kaki Bukit to pick up the decals He said it was not a marketing given their staff time off to rightly celebrate its golden jubilee for a better tomorrow, he quoted father: “Speaking as his son, cure our future as a nation.” ing committee: “I remember re- He saw the graphic of Mr Lee’s from 9am yesterday. By 5pm, stunt, adding: “We don’t promote attend the public wake of this year, Singaporeans need to Sun Yat-Sen, father of modern speaking on behalf of his family, Those words from Mr Lee ceiving a 2am e-mail from him. silhouette within a black ribbon they were all gone. The firm’s anything when people come to get Mr Lee at Parliament House. keep on working hard to honour China, who said: “The revolution to you and to all the many others drove him to succeed both on the He gave me advice on how we that went viral online and is being Facebook page was also inundated decals. We just let them take the Some are providing transport the memory of Mr Lee, said the has not yet succeeded, comrades, who have expressed their senti- sporting front – he set the nation- should organise the Games and used by many as their Facebook with queries about the stickers. decal and go. This is just a good- too. They include CapitaLand, Prime Minister. let us give our best efforts.” ments, their sorrow, their love al record in the 110m hurdles how we can project the nation to profile picture. Inspired, he got Mr Chew intends to print more will gesture for car enthusiasts to Singapore Press Holdings, “We are sad, we are sorrowful, Similarly, as Singapore cele- over the last few days, I say, (14.76sec) at the 1966 Asian the world.” his staff to print 800 stickers and and give out 800 every day till have something to remember our Keppel Group, DBS Bank, our founding father has left us. brates its golden jubilee this year, thank you.” Games in Bangkok – and in his ca- [email protected] give them away for people to put “maybe Thursday or Friday”. founding father by.” OCBC, UOB and Citi. “But he has prepared us for he asked in Mandarin: “But are we [email protected] reer. He secured a scholarship Additional reporting by May Chen on their vehicle’s window. The cost of 40 cents a sticker KOK XING HUI A16 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

TRIBUTES: GLOBAL REACTIONS 1923 - 2015 Foreign heads of state to attend funeral

travel to Singapore on Sunday, Describing Australia and Singa- his condolences in the book lege”. Mr Lee graduated at the Singapore to host some of government officials said. pore as “natural partners”, Mr Ab- opened at the Singapore Embassy. very top of his cohort, above two Many of them will be here for bott said he hoped that over time, “The Chinese people will al- contemporaries who became pro- the world’s most protected leaders just the day, departing promptly the relationship between his coun- ways remember the outstanding fessors of law at Cambridge, said after the public ceremony at the try and Singapore would be “as contributions he made in foster- the college, which currently has By RAVI VELLOOR tend Sunday’s funeral service in University Cultural Centre. That easy, close and as familial as it has ing friendly China-Singapore ties 28 Singaporean students on its ASSOCIATE EDITOR Singapore for Mr Lee, without giv- will require a high measure of co- long been with New Zealand”. and cooperation. I solemnly ex- rolls. ing names. ordination and logistics in securi- Mr Abe, Mr Abbott, Philippine press my heartfelt condolences at Yesterday, Mr Lee was on the A PHALANX of foreign leaders Whoever attends from China ty terms, traffic control as well as President Benigno Aquino, Indian the passing of Mr Lee,” he wrote. cover of South Korea’s biggest will descend on Singapore over will join leaders including aircraft departure times. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, A condolence book will also be newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, with the the weekend for the funeral of Mr Australia’s Tony Abbott, India’s The US flags at the embassy in former Thai premier Yingluck opened in the US Congress today. story focusing on his Oxley Road Lee Kuan Yew, a challenge in pro- Narendra Modi, Indonesia’s Joko Napier Road and at Sembawang Shinawatra and United Nations Also honouring Mr Lee was his home, a “humble house” that is tocol and logistics as the island Widodo, South Korea’s Park Geun Wharves were at half-mast, as secretary-general Ban Ki Moon alma mater, Cambridge Univer- testament to Mr Lee’s integrity hosts some of the world’s most Hye, Cambodia’s Hun Sen, were all three Australian flags at were among the dozens of world sity’s Fitzwilliam College, which and determination to build a cor- protected leaders. Myanmar’s Thein Sein, Thai- the residence of Canberra’s envoy leaders who drove down to the lowered its flag to half-mast on ruption-free nation. As flags of diplomatic missions land’s Prayut Chan-ocha and a to Singapore Philip Green. Singapore missions in their cities Monday. Mr Lee’s passing, nearly a quar- in Singapore fluttered at host of others, including possibly The Australian and New Zea- to record condolences for Mr Lee. An obituary notice on the col- ter-century after he stepped half-mast in respect for Mr Lee, Japan’s Shinzo Abe. land parliaments were among In Beijing, Executive Vice-Pre- lege website described Mr Lee as down from leadership, continued the foreign ministry in Beijing The Japanese leader is trying to those which passed condolence mier Zhang Gaoli was the most “the most significant statesman to make news around the region. said a Chinese leader would at- juggle his legislative agenda to motions for Mr Lee. senior Chinese leader to record to be a member of Fitzwilliam Col- [email protected] Ancestral home to be New Zealand turned into tourist spot MP recalls

DABU (Guangdong) – The authori- Muwen built the ancestral home, the haircut ties in a county in southern China named Zhonghandi, in 1884 with are spending 40 million yuan money he had earned in Singa- S’pore (S$8.8 million) to turn Mr Lee pore. Kuan Yew’s ancestral home into a Between 2007 and 2008, the tourist attraction, reported Hong house and its surroundings were gave him Kong’s Wen Wei Po daily. refurbished by the local authori- The plan is to transform the ties, Wen Wei Po said. AS NEW ZEALAND ministers, led site in Dabu county, Guangdong They also set up exhibitions de- by Deputy Prime Minister Bill Eng- province, into an international ru- tailing the Lee family genealogy, lish, paid tributes to Mr Lee Kuan ral tourist destination infused Mr Lee’s family and political life Yew in Parliament, one with Chinese Hakka cultural char- as well as an introduction of legislator’s eulogy stood out. acteristics, the report said. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Former Labour leader Phil Goff Work on the project officially the report added. (below) said Singapore’s founding began last year, it said, and the It cited an unnamed Dabu coun- Prime Minister had not only in- first phase, which comprises a Lee ty official as saying that many lo- spired him, but his tough policies Kuan Yew Memorial Hall, will be cal and foreign tourists visit the ar- had also inflicted a free haircut on completed by the end of this year. ea every year to understand the The local authorities are transforming Mr Lee’s ancestral home (above and below) in Dabu county, Guangdong province, into a him in his salad days. Mr Lee’s great-grandfather Li life of Mr Lee. tourist attraction. Mr Lee’s great-grandfather built the home with money he had earned in Singapore. PHOTOS: XINHUA Mr Lee’s 1965 speech on Singapore’s separation from Ma- laysia was “the first po- litical speech that ever im- pacted on me”, Mr Goff said in the session on Tuesday. “ I think I was a 12-year-old, a child at that time – he spoke with such power and emotion about why he was taking Singa- pore out of Malaysia and, decades later, I still remember that as the first political speech that ever im- pacted on me in that way.” Mr Goff added that his mother was an admirer of Mr Lee. “In 1977, as a student having gone six years without a haircut, passing through Singapore, I was given my first haircut by Customs offi- cials at the airport as a price for entry,” Mr Goff said. “My mother congratulated him (Mr Lee) on achieving something that nobody else had been able to do for years before that time,” he told Parliament. ‘White trash’ warning spurred Australia to be better: Abbott

By JONATHAN PEARLMAN would save us from that fate and continue to do so today, as we sa- FOR THE STRAITS TIMES set us on a better path,” he wrote lute one of the significant leaders IN SYDNEY in The Australian Financial Re- of our time.” view on Monday. Analysts said the roots of Mr IN AUSTRALIA, Mr Lee Kuan “I doubt that I ever enjoyed Lee’s early reservations about Aus- Yew is widely remembered for a more intellectually stimulating tralia could be traced back to the rebuke he famously delivered conversations with a fellow lead- mutual distrust between Canberra more than 30 years ago. er... A great bloke and, by any and the ascending local leadership During a visit in 1980, Mr Lee standards, a great man.” in pre-independence Singapore. warned that Australia needed to Mr Hawke’s successors contin- Australian intelligence officials re- open its economy and try to re- ued to regard Mr Lee as a source portedly feared that Mr Lee would duce inflation and unemploy- of wisdom on the region and its support the communists in the re- ment, or risk becoming the “poor leaders. gion and wanted Singapore to be white trash of Asia”. As Australia began to prosper, part of Malaysia. Today, Mr Lee’s warning is bilateral ties blossomed and Singa- Dr Alison Broinowski, a re- widely regarded as typically stern, pore became one of its biggest for- searcher at the Australian Nation- but both prescient and fair. eign investors. Singaporean stu- al University College of Asia and Delivering a condolence mo- dents have long flocked to Austral- the Pacific, said Mr Lee received tion speech in the Australian Par- ian universities, while Australia’s “condescension from Australian liament on Tuesday, Prime Minis- major banks, mining companies leaders” during his early years as ter Tony Abbott noted Mr Lee’s and engineering firms all have of- leader. As Singapore’s economy warning and praised him for fices in Singapore. boomed, Dr Broinowski said, Mr According to Australia’s De- Lee “relished” the opportunity to “spur(ring) this country at a criti- Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott signing the condolence book at the Singapore High Commission in Canberra on point out to Australia that it was cal time in our history to be better Tuesday. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS partment of Foreign Affairs and than we might have been”. Trade, Singapore is now the falling behind. Praising Mr Lee for helping to country’s largest trade and invest- In Australia, most analysts this achieve “one of the most remarka- The death of a man many in the 1990s and was reminded by and diplomatic partners. ment partner in Asean and its week gave high praise to Mr Lee’s ble economic success stories in called a “political giant” has this reporters of his remarks, Mr Lee This influence over Australia’s fifth-largest trading partner over- nation-building legacy but criti- history”, Mr Abbott said the week generated a vast amount of would acknowledge that Australia development was noted this week all. Fittingly, in 2003, Australia cised his stifling of the political op- “great nation-builder” had been a coverage in Australia, where he had avoided its potentially bleak by Mr Bob Hawke, who was prime signed a free trade agreement position and of press freedoms. trailblazer for other countries was both praised for his transfor- fate. His remark, he often added, minister from 1983 to 1991 and with Singapore – its first such “Lee Kuan Yew built Singapore such as South Korea and China. mation of Singapore and con- was not meant to “diminish” Aus- steered the country through a peri- open trading deal in 20 years. into a fully developed economy, “Lee Kuan Yew did not just demned for his harsh approach to tralians, but to spur them on. od of liberal economic reforms. Little surprise then that Mr Lee but he left it a half-developed de- lead his country; he made his the political opposition. But al- Most observers believe that Saying Mr Lee’s words were received warm praise this week mocracy,” columnist Peter Hartch- country,” he added. most every article and news broad- this was in large part because Aus- “right”, Mr Hawke described his from Australian leaders, including er wrote in the Sydney Morning “Singapore and Australia are cast referred to that 1980 com- tralia had changed course and old friend and golfing buddy as an Prime Minister Abbott. Herald on Tuesday. natural partners, and I hope that ment – and it is now largely seen headed in the direction that Mr outspoken leader who had a “Our region owes much to Lee Said Dr Broinowski: “There over time, our relationship with in Australia as sage advice. Lee had been advocating, towards “great influence on this country Kuan Yew,” Mr Abbott said. have been some shudders at the Singapore will be as easy, as close Indeed, the comment appears a more open economy and a more and on my own approach to my “Here in Australia and beyond, way opposition leaders have been and as familial as it has long been to have had a lasting influence, open approach to the nation’s task here as prime minister”. leaders sought and learnt from his treated and at some of its social with New Zealand. And, if so, that perhaps more than Mr Lee could place in the region. In the process, “His harsh but fair comment wise counsel… At every stage, policies, but there has been no too will be part of Lee Kuan Yew’s have foreseen. Australia and Singapore have be- helped galvanise my determina- Australia and Singapore have doubt about Singapore’s success.” legacy.” When he returned to Australia come increasingly close trading tion to undertake the reforms that stood shoulder to shoulder. We [email protected] A18 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

COMMENTARIES 1923 - 2015

“Young man, speak your mind. Tell me what you think. I am not a mind reader.”

– Mr Lee Kuan Yew to The Star’s Wong Chun Wai in August 2000

AUG 17, 2000: Senior Minister Lee holding a press conference at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Mr Lee was the only Singapore leader who had personally known all of Malaysia’s prime ministers – from Tunku Abdul Rahman to Datuk Seri Najib Razak. ST FILE PHOTO He had Malaysia’s interest at heart too

By WONG CHUN WAI Despite having a reputation for being intimidating and intellectually arrogant, zak and Prime Minister Lee Hsien THE STAR Loong have to deal with a differ- Singapore’s late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew was a man who had ent generation of demanding citi- IT WAS August 2000 and Mr Lee the intertwined interests of both his country and Malaysia close at heart. zens with little sense of their re- Kuan Yew’s first visit to Malaysia spective country’s traumatic his- in 10 years. A series of small meet- tory. ings had been arranged for him. I The issues dividing Malaysia ages between the two neighbours. The current push by PAS for Mohamad for paying a “very Nor do they care about the ear- was chosen to meet the legendary and Singapore included Malay- But there were two issues that the implementation of hudud laws heavy price” in the sacking of ly struggling years of nation- founding father of Singapore with sia’s supply of water to Singa- nagged him during our meeting – would have disturbed him greatly. Anwar and the subsequent hood. Instead, they expect their five other young newspaper edi- pore, the relocation of Customs Anwar Ibrahim and Parti Islam Se- He would have been shocked to events. leaders to allow them greater dem- tors. and Immigration facilities for Ma- Malaysia (PAS). learn that Umno representatives One fellow journalist recalled ocratic space, be more accounta- We were well aware of his repu- laysian rail passengers in Singa- He made no secret of his con- in the Kelantan State Assembly ac- that Mr Lee “almost fell out of his ble and, at the same time, main- tation for being intimidating and pore and the withdrawal of Malay- cern that young Malays were tually voted for the hudud enact- chair” when told that many Malay- tain a decent economic growth intellectually arrogant. We had all sian funds from the island drawn to PAS. It disturbed him ment. sians were unhappy with the out- rate. heard enough stories of him ex- republic’s pension scheme. that the Islamist party was becom- “I would sleep more comforta- come of the trial and the jail sen- In the case of Malaysia, where pecting members of the media to It was clear that he was very ing a serious player in the political bly with Umno in power as it is a tence. “He questioned why young the issues are more complex, mate- be well prepared for any interview much in the picture even if he was landscape, with only moderate party I have known since the Malaysians should be unhappy rial development alone may not he granted. no longer in the driving seat. Muslims and non-Muslims keep- 1940s,” he told a press conference when the entire procedure of the be enough. But he was pleasantly relaxed. After all, Mr Lee remained the ing it from becoming more influen- at the end of his visit. law had been properly carried Malaysia and Singapore may be It was his three aides who looked only Singapore leader who had tial. Anwar’s jail sentence and whe- out,” said this journalist. different entities, but we are mir- tense as they took notes. personally known all our Malay- The growing influence of PAS ther he still had a future in poli- The world has changed. Singa- ror images of each other in many “Young man, speak your mind. sian prime ministers – from and the controversial issues with tics dominated the discussions. pore has changed and so has Ma- aspects, as Mr Lee repeatedly men- Tell me what you think. I am not a Tunku Abdul Rahman to Datuk regard to race and religion may It was clear that the street dem- laysia. The days of a strong gov- tioned. And the man who looked mind reader,” he said, looking at Seri Najib Razak. He was clear on have been a Malaysian problem, onstrations by Anwar and his sup- ernment in most democracies, into that mirror the most, has me to start the discussions. how his peers built up Malaysia, but it was also a cause for concern porters troubled him. governing with a sizeable majori- now passed on. And the off-the-record conver- even as he had his own vision for to the predominantly Chinese pop- Mr Lee said he felt sorry for ty, were also over. í Wong Chun Wai is chief executive sation flowed from there. Singapore and the historical link- ulation of Singapore. former prime minister Mahathir Both Prime Minister Najib Ra- officer of Star Publications

By STEVE FORBES the old Soviet Union and China. Forgiving bitter past for To listen to Lee talk about the LEE Kuan Yew was one of the His influence world situation was an enlighten- great statesmen of the post- ing delight. During one of our WWII era. He made Singapore an most memorable visits, he recount- interests of the present economic powerhouse, creating ed the story of his meeting with an environment in which human extended far Deng Xiaoping soon after Deng “ONE lesson that Lee Kuan Yew of the leadership class – for ingenuity can thrive. He didn’t had won the reins of power and left us has been widely execution. Many thousands died. tolerate corruption. He kept a was mulling over how to go about overlooked, and it has particular “Yet Singaporeans after the tight grip on spending and pushed beyond Singapore rebuilding China in the aftermath relevance for the rise of China. war, under Lee’s governance, set down taxes. He knew the folly of of Mao’s horrific Cultural Revolu- When it came to the sins of the aside these bitter memories of weak money; the Singapore dollar tion. Deng’s trip to Singapore in past, he put reason ahead of the past for the better interests looks like the Rock of Gibraltar book for how an impoverished shed his socialist sympathies and 1978 was his first and only trip emotion. A consummate of the present. Recognising and compared with most currencies – country can flourish. When Lee became a hardheaded pragmatist. there. He was stunned by what he pragmatist, Lee did not allow the admiring the extraordinary rise of including the US dollar, most of became Prime Minister in 1959, In the 1950s and 1960s, Lee dem- saw in Singapore: a booming area many wrongs of history to rankle modern Japan and its rapid the time. Singapore’s per capita income onstrated superb political skill in populated by Chinese that was in- and fester, which allowed his recovery from war and defeat, in Lee simultaneously demonstrat- was little more than US$400. maintaining Singapore’s independ- dependent and politically stable. country to benefit immensely... his scramble to create jobs for ed that sound finance can coexist Today it is over US$56,000. ence in the face of real hostility “How did you do it?” Deng asked “Just as Lee forgave British Singaporeans, Lee turned to the with soundly thought-out social Critics will tell you that Lee from two immensely larger neigh- Lee. Deng threw aside his itiner- colonial arrogance, so did he Japanese for advice on programmes. He pursued a vigor- was no Jeffersonian democrat, bours, Indonesia and Malaysia. ary and spent hour after hour in forgive Japanese World War II shipbuilding and electronics, ous housing programme that en- and he wasn’t. But he allowed But Lee’s influence extended intense conversation with Lee. military brutality. Unlike China successfully luring Japanese abled people who didn’t earn high elections, even if he didn’t give far beyond his small country. One When Deng returned to China, and Korea, Singapore nurtures no investment to help Singapore incomes to buy their homes; his the opposition a lot of breathing wishes he could have been the he began putting Lee’s precepts to sense of grievance towards its create a job-rich manufacturing was a model for how subsidies room (though if he had, he would leader of a country like Indonesia work, creating special Singa- former occupiers, despite the economy. need not lead to the housing-relat- have won handily). More impor- or China. (He would have conduct- pore-like economic development hardship and exceptional cruelty “Americans eventually joined ed disasters that have plagued the tant, under his leadership Singa- ed US foreign policy better than zones along China’s coast. Thus of the wartime Japanese in and now have invested twice United States. Singapore’s health- pore developed a thriving middle almost all of our Secretaries of was China’s historic and rapid presence. as much in tiny Singapore as in care system has provided compre- class, along with the civic institu- State.) He supported US efforts in modernisation set in motion. “Arbitrary face-slapping and all of China.” hensive coverage to its people tions and habits that are crucial to trying to save South Vietnam One of our journalistic coups public urination were the least of without the rationing, high costs a sustainable democracy. Too from communist takeover by the occurred in 2001, when Lee Kuan it. The Japanese chose Chinese – MR JOHN CURTIS PERRY, who teaches and dicey care that characterise so many times we’ve seen that North. Although the US lost that Yew kindly accepted our offer to Singaporeans, three-quarters of maritime history at Tufts University’s many others. Singapore’s pension merely holding an election does war, Lee argued that our long ef- become a Forbes columnist. It’s the population, for the worst Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, system avoided the pay-as-you- not a lasting democracy make. fort gave the rest of Asia the time so unfortunate that the civilised treatment due to their suspected writing in the Wall Street Journal on go trap that’s hurtling those in oth- Singapore’s political system is needed to develop the strength to world has lost such a wise voice at loyalties to China. The occupiers Tuesday. He is finishing a book about er countries towards insolvency. evolving in a way that bodes well resist communist takeovers. He this troubled time. singled out those who had soft the implausibility of Singapore’s Under Lee’s guidance, Singa- for long-term stability. strongly supported a robust US í Steve Forbes is chairman and hands and wore glasses – marks success. pore developed a real-life play- Early in his political career, Lee role in the region as a counter to editor-in-chief of Forbes Media A20 THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015

FROM THE FAMILY ALBUM 1923 - 2015

Mr Lee Kuan Yew as a baby. This photo was taken Mr Lee, at two, on a tricycle in his Neil In a family photo taken outside their Norfolk Road home, (back row) Mr Lee, at Mr Lee (in a dark suit) with (clockwise from left) siblings after he won first place in a baby show. Road home in 1925 with his father, Mr age 13, is flanked by mother Chua Jim Neo and father Lee Chin Koon. In front Monica, Dennis, Freddy and Suan Yew, and parents Chua Lee Chin Koon. The family had Javanese are siblings (from left) Suan Yew, three; Monica, seven; Freddy, nine; and Jim Neo and Lee Chin Koon. The photo was taken the night servants and a chow chow dog. Dennis, 11. before Mr Lee left for England to further his studies. Mr Lee through the years

Singaporeans knew Mr Lee as the tough, plain-speaking Prime Minister. But he also had a private side. These pictures from the family album show him as a child, a young man, with his life partner Kwa Geok Choo and the family they raised.

Mr Lee (right) and Ms Kwa (second from right) in Punggol river with their friends, (from left) neighbour Chua Swee Sin; Mr Lee’s sister Monica; and Raffles College friend Kwan Sai Kheong and his wife Polly.

Mr Lee carrying his first grandson, Yipeng, in 1982, while Mrs Lee helps their only granddaughter, Xiuqi, two, stroke Yipeng on his head. The children are PM Lee Hsien Loong’s.

Mr Lee celebrating Chinese New Year with his children (from An eight-year-old Lee Hsien Loong with Mr Lee on Pulau Ubin in June 1960. As a young Mr and Mrs Lee at a party in 1955. Mr Lee was a chain-smoker until 1957, when he began left) Wei Ling, Hsien Yang and Hsien Loong. boy, PM Lee often accompanied his father on his constituency visits. losing his voice. He kicked the habit and later became hyper-allergic to cigarette smoke.