Singapore (Commonwealth Union)_ From tree planting to video, Singaporeans remember Lee Kuan Yew as a man of great vision. He really put his heart and soul into building up Singapore and leaders like him who put country before self are very hard to come by.
On his 100th birth anniversary, over 45 families planted a total of 50 coastal and native trees in Pasir Ris Park to commemorate Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th anniversary. The Republic’s founding prime minister and the man who is widely described as the founding father of modern Singapore died in 2015 at the age of 91.
Lee Kuan Yew is the man admired the most by most people, who benefited the most from his leadership, and found it especially meaningful to plant a tree on the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee’s birth. Mr Lee is often said to be Singapore’s chief gardener for his vision in greening the country and transforming it into a garden city.
Mr Leong said he admired Mr Lee Kuan Yew the most for his incredible foresight, and his generation benefitted the most from his leadership, and that they went from being a mud-flat to a modern metropolis.
2023 also marked the 60th anniversary since Mr Lee launched the first nationwide tree planting campaign in 1963. Mr Heng told the media that events such as tree planting are a symbol of Singaporeans committing to protecting the country’s assets, be they natural or financial, for the current generation and the generations to come. Various other events were also held across the island to mark Mr Lee’s birth anniversary.
The Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC Grassroots Organizations launched a video to commemorate contributions made to Singapore by Mr Lee.
About 250 guests watched the 40-minute video, featuring two students interviewing members of the community to gain a deeper understanding of Mr Lee’s legacy, at the Serangoon Community Club on Saturday morning. The video is also posted on the Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC’s social media platforms.
A 67m long and 1.7m high mural, titled ‘Singapore On Canvas’, which self-taught local artist Ng Peng Sing, 69, took almost two years to complete was also unveiled at Tanjong Pagar MRT station on Saturday depicting key events and figures in Singapore’s history. SMRT Trains and the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Grassroots Organizations launched the mural, which was touted as the longest hand-drawn historical art mural in Singapore. It will be on display at Tanjong Pagar MRT station for at least a year as Tanjong Pagar has long been associated with Mr Lee, who represented residents there for 60 years until his death in 2015.
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam paid tribute to the vision and legacy of Mr Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday, a day after what would have been the 100th anniversary of Mr Lee’s birth.
Singaporean politicians also paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew on his 100th birth anniversary.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited the Blair Plain conservation area in Tanjong Pagar, on Saturday evening, where his father, Mr Lee, had served as MP for almost 60 years.
In his speech on Sep. 15, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also the finance minister, thanked business chambers from different segments of society who came together and tapped on their extensive network of about 400 companies to raise S$10 million for the Lee Kuan Yew Centennial Fund in a short period.
The money will be used to support students’ education and development, a cause that was close to the late Lee’s heart as he believed Singapore’s only resource is its people.
Wong added that the best tribute one could pay Mr. Lee was not just by fundraising but by upholding the founding values, ideals and principles.
Shanmugam went on to share how Lee’s “meritocratic system” had impacted his life and others in Singapore. He added, “His life is a testament to the fact that one man can change the course of history, help make a nation, improve the lives of millions of people.”
Mr. Lee is often remembered as a respected leader and statesman with foresight and gumption. He is a founding father who dedicated his life to building a better Singapore for all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language, or religion.
