Lee Hsien Yang talks about Mr Lee Kuan Yew's role as a 'Papa' in his life
Mr Lee Kuan Yew's second son Lee Hsien Yang delivered the last of 10 eulogies at the state funeral service on Sunday (March 29) afternoon.
The service, which was held at the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore, was attended by about 2,200 people.
The younger Mr Lee shared a side of the elder statesman that few outside the family knew.
He said the late Mr Lee, whom he addressed as 'papa' throughout the speech, did not want his children to "grow up with a sense of privilege and entitlement".
Papa allowed him to ride the public bus, trek around Pulau Ubin and canoe around Singapore
"Papa’s principles ensured that I had as normal a childhood as possible," said Mr Lee.
The family did not celebrate birthdays while growing up, he recalled.
It was only after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's first wife died in 1982 that they started doing so.
Said Mr Lee: "These small private family celebrations were the source of much joy to him and Mama, anticipated for months before, savoured in the memory for months after..."
Like most grandparents, Papa was happy at the arrival of grandchildren.
Said Mr Lee: "Many know how privileged Singaporeans are to have benefited from my father’s contributions to building our nation.
"I know that growing up as his son, I have also been privileged to have witnessed what it means to be a good man, a good husband and a good father and grandfather."
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