Remembering LKY one year on
Nation marks first death anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew
Yesterday marked a year since the death of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
In remembrance, Singaporeans and foreigners alike made their way to locations islandwide, where activities had been organised by various groups to commemorate the anniversary.
As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said ahead of a Cabinet meeting yesterday: "We are marking this day by celebrating Mr Lee's life and looking forward... We are all rededicating ourselves to Mr Lee's lifelong passion - Singapore."
His remarks in the Cabinet Room were broadcast live through a feed on his Facebook page.
OPEN MIND
While often candid in giving his views, Mr Lee, who died at 91 on March 23 last year, also listened to differing views with an "open mind" and would encourage ministers with such views to argue their case, the Prime Minister said.
He said: "As Prime Minister, Mr Lee kept an eagle's eye on every aspect of Singapore... He left nothing to chance. And yet he knew that he could not control everything personally.
"He advised us that one could not use 10 fingers to catch 10 fleas, quoting Mao (Zedong). One had to focus on the important things and build a team."
Looking ahead, PM Lee said: "Now we are a new team, dealing with a changed world in new ways, but always inspired by Mr Lee's example and his memory, and holding firm the ethos and values that he stood and fought for.
"These will guide us as we in our turn follow the rainbow that Mr Lee himself chased all his life - to build an exceptional nation and to improve the lives of all Singaporeans."
A minute of silence was observed after PM Lee spoke.
Parliamentarians, past and present, also gathered in the Chamber of the old Parliament House to pay tribute to Mr Lee.
The old guard included Mr Ong Pang Boon, who held key ministerial posts for Home Affairs, Education, Labour, Environment and Communications, and Mr Jek Yeun Thong, who was minister for Labour, Culture and Science and Technology.
Bouquets and cards were left at the Istana Park and outside the Parliament House as remembrances for Mr Lee.
TRIBUTES
Bouquets were also left at the courtyard outside Madame Tussauds Singapore in Sentosa, which displayed the wax figures of Mr Lee and his wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo.
Many visitors were seen taking photos with the wax figures.
Pupils at Mr Lee's alma mater, Telok Kurau Primary, held a special assembly as a tribute to him.
In Tanjong Pagar, the constituency Mr Lee represented for nearly 60 years until his death, residents and grassroots leaders gathered at the community club last evening to share their thoughts on Mr Lee.
Around the same time at the Padang, where more than 450,000 people queued for hours last year to pay their last respects to Mr Lee, a group of volunteers handed out about 3,000 electric candles to passers-by.
Well-wishes and sentiments were written on the candles and they were then placed in the shape of a ribbon on the steps of the former Supreme Court.
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