5th year death anniversary tributes to late Lee Kuan Yew pour in from his son & PAP politicians

The tributes by politicians referenced Singapore's battle against Covid-19.

Melanie Lim | March 23, 2020, 06:36 PM

Tributes to the late Lee Kuan Yew are being shared on social media on the fifth death anniversary of the Singapore statesman.

The late Lee, who was the first prime minister and former minister mentor of Singapore, passed away on March 23, 2015 at age 91.

Those who are paying tribute to the late leader included his own son, Lee Hsien Yang, as well as a host of People Action Party's politicians.

Lee Hsien Yang

Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of Lee, posted a photograph of his late father's study.

The photo was taken by Li Shengwu, Lee Hsien Yang's son, on the day of Lee's funeral in 2015.

Lee Hsien Yang added that the carpet that hung over his father's desk in the photo was of sentimental value to the former prime minister.

Tan Chuan-Jin

Tan Chuan-Jin, who is the 10th speaker of parliament in Singapore, wrote that Lee had left Singaporeans with "a precious gift" in his passing:

"In that one week (of Lee's death), we saw people who were selfless, people who were looking out for each other, who were unwavering, who were kind..."

Referencing the Covid-19 pandemic that has ravaged parts of the world, Tan said that Singaporeans need to "build on" the same spirit that was exhibited when Lee passed on.

Tan also made mention of Straits Times editor Chua Mui Hoong's opinion piece, which stated that "Singapore is earning the world's respect for how it is coping" in the "middle of a crisis".

Chua added that Lee "would be proud of how the nanny state is coming together, virus crisis and looming recession notwithstanding".

Sun Xueling

Sun Xueling, who is the senior parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, also took to Facebook to pay tribute to Lee in what she termed as "this time of fear and uncertainty".

Sun posted a quote made by Lee in 1963:

"A nation is great not by its size alone. It is the will, the cohesion, the stamina, the discipline of its people and the quality of their leaders which ensure it an honourable place in history."

She also said that Singapore would remember his words, alluding to the nation's ongoing battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heng Swee Keat

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat posted a sobering yet affirming tribute to Lee, whilst simultaneously addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.

Heng wrote that "the world has undergone tremendous change" since Lee's death, and now faces "a global pandemic, an economic shock, and a test of the financial systems all rolled into one".

On the fifth anniversary of Lee's death, Heng asked himself how a nation that came of age under Lee's leadership would deal with Covid-19.

He said that while Singapore has never before faced such a situation in history, we have been through many crises before.

In the nation's early years, Lee told Singaporeans to "never fear", which Heng claimed we did not, but instead came together as a united nation.

Heng added that our "spirit of staying strong and united, showing resilience and caring for one another, will see us through these difficult times".

On Mar. 26, Heng will be presenting a supplementary Budget to support Singaporeans, and promised that the government will "keep (Singaporeans) safe, preserve jobs and livelihoods, as well as help viable enterprises stay strong".

He also said that while no one can foretell the future, Singaporeans can adapt to the rapidly evolving situation as long as we stay alert and dynamic.

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Top image via Rolls Royce, Tan Chuan-Jin, Sun Xueling and Heng Swee Keat on Facebook