Singapore leaders pay tribute to Lee Kuan Yew
[UPDATED 24 March 2015, 8pm: Adding Chiam See Tong's condolence letter]
Tributes pour in from Singapore's leaders after news broke of his passing. Here are some of them.
President Tony Tan
"The greatest tribute that Singaporeans can pay him is to treasure and build upon the legacy that Mr Lee and his team have left us, and make Singapore an even better home for our future generations." Full statement
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong
"My tears welled up as I received the sad news. Mr Lee Kuan Yew has completed his life's journey. But it was a journey devoted to the making of Singapore. He has bequeathed a monumental legacy to Singaporeans - a safe, secure, harmonious and prosperous independent Singapore, our Homeland." Full statement
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam
"Singapore is what it is because of Mr Lee. We survived as a small nation and earned our place in the world because of him. Singapore will also live on because of him." Full statement
Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin
"One is at loss for words in moments like this. How does one fully articulate a nation’s grief or to pay tribute? Lee Kuan Yew was more than our first Prime Minister. He is in many ways, Singapore personified." Full statement
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Communications and Information Lawrence Wong
"Mr Lee was the master builder of today's Singapore. We owe so much to him...50 years later, the best way for us to pay tribute to him is to commit ourselves afresh to this task of building an enduring future for ourselves and our nation together." Full statement
Secretary-General, Singapore People’s Party, Chiam See Tong
He was a great statesman, parliamentarian and a master of public policy. He was there at the time when Singapore was swarmed with numerous problems, ranging from domestic to international issues. He was there, just as Britain needed Winston Churchill during World War II – always taking a strategic and long term view of Singapore." Full statement
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan
"He has devoted his whole life to Singapore and has accomplished much more than expected or thought possible. Our lives have improved, because of Mr Lee’s devotion and sacrifice." Full statement
Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim
"Everything Mr Lee did and every decision he made, was for a better Singapore. Today we are a multi-racial society, a clean and green city, a prosperous economy. I have no doubt that Singapore would not be where we are today without Mr Lee." Full statement
Minister for Education Heng Swee Kiat
For all of us in the education fraternity, the most fitting tribute to Mr Lee is to press on with our mission to bring up future generations of Singaporeans who understand our past, who are prepared for the future, and who have a deep loyalty to Singapore and a commitment to fellow Singaporeans. Full statement
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan
It will be extra painful that SG50 will be the first National Day that he will miss. But so much of what we will celebrate will be because of him and his team. Full statement
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen
He lifted our nation. His vision and commitment enabled poor families like mine to move up and give my children a better life today. I owe him a debt of gratitude. Full statement
Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing
Thank you for igniting the belief in us that we can be called Singaporeans.
Thank you for enabling us to pursue our dream to build an independent, successful and cohesive nation regardless of race, language and religion. Full statement
Secretary-General, Workers’ Party Low Thia Khiang
"Mr Lee served in public office for almost his entire adult life. His passing marks an end of an era in Singapore’s history. His contributions to Singapore will be remembered for generations to come." Full statement
