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Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Spore missions
receive tributes
for a giant
of his times

r Lee Kuan Yew is being remembered not only in Singapore, but also at Singapore
missions across the globe as Singaporean diplomats receive high-level guests
from their host governments.
Former Thai Prime Minister and
Thailands Privy Council President
Prem Tinsulanonda visited the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok yesterday
to offer his respects to Mr Lee, where
he said that Singaporeans must never
forget their countrys founding father.
Mr Lee had spoken warmly of
Mr Prem in his books, calling him exceptionally honest and noting that they
enjoyed a good working chemistry.
Yesterday, Mr Prem called Mr Lee a
close friend.
He was one of my very good friends
while we worked together. We were
both Prime Minister at the same time.
We were very close and helped each
other often. If there was no Lee Kuan
Yew, I believe there would be no Singapore, said Mr Prem.
Australias Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited the Singapore High
Commission in Canberra yesterday
at noon to sign the condolence book.
In her message, Ms Bishop wrote:
Our thoughts are with the people of

Australias Foreign
Minister Julie
Bishop signing the
condolence book
at the Singapore
High Commission
in Canberra
yesterday. The
countrys thoughts
are with Singapore
as it mourns its
founding father,
she wrote. Photo:
Singapore High
Commission in Canberra

Singapore as they mourn the loss of

their founding father a giant of his
times.
In a special gesture, Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited
the Singapore High Commission on
Tuesday to convey his condolences.
Thais, including the countrys former Prime Ministers and statesmen,
have flocked to the embassy to sign the
condolence book for Mr Lee.
Mr Prem, Thailands Prime Minister from 1980 to 1988, is one of the
Kings closest advisers. Although
Mr Prem has now stepped out of the

limelight, the 94-year-old had worked

closely with Mr Lee, particularly in
fighting the spread of communism in
South-east Asia.
Mr Prem hopes Singapore will move
forward and complete Mr Lees work.
The Singaporean people must
never forget him. They must remember that he built Singapore. Also, the
things he wanted to do for Singapore
but was not able to complete, the Singaporean people must come together
to finish them.
Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha, as well as former Prime Min-

Bill Clinton, Kissinger among US

presidential delegation for funeral
Washington hails Mr Lee for
exuding wisdom as one
of Asias greatest strategists

nited States President Barack

Obama yesterday announced
that a presidential delegation will travel to Singapore to attend
Mr Lee Kuan Yews State Funeral Service on Sunday.
Tributes have been pouring in from
US leaders after Mr Lees death, as a
testament to the former Prime Ministers efforts to promote Singapore-US
relations, decoding Asia for Washington and contributing to regional peace
and stability.
Former US President Bill Clinton
will lead the delegation.
Members of the presidential delegation include US Ambassador to Singapore Kirk Wagar, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former
US Ambassador to Singapore Steven
Green and former Assistant to the
President for National Security Affairs
Thomas Donilon.
On Monday, Mr Obama conveyed

(Mr Lee is) a

true giant
of history
who will be
remembered
for generations
to come as
the father
of modern
Singapore
and as one
of the great
strategists of
Asian affairs.
Mr Barack Obama
President
of the United States

his condolences to Prime Minister Lee

Hsien Loong, his family and the people
of Singapore.
I was deeply saddened to learn of
the death of Singapores Lee Kuan Yew,
said Mr Obama in a statement. On behalf of the American people, Michelle
and I offer our deepest condolences to
the Lee family and join the people of
Singapore in mourning the loss of this
remarkable man.
Mr Obama added: A visionary who
led his country from Singapores independence in 1965 to build one of the
most prosperous countries in the world
today, he was a devoted public servant
and a remarkable leader.
Mr Obama noted how Mr Lees
views and insights on Asian dynamics and economic management were
respected by many around the world.
Past generations of world leaders have
sought Mr Lees advice on governance
and development.
I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discussions during
my trip to Singapore in 2009, which
were hugely important in helping me
formulate our policy of rebalancing to

the Asia-Pacific, said the US President.

Mr Obama described Mr Lee as a
true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the
father of modern Singapore and as one
of the great strategists of Asian affairs.
Adding a more personal touch,
Mr Obama telephoned Prime Minister
Lee Hsien Loong on Monday evening.
According to a press release from
The White House on Tuesday, Mr Obama told Prime Minister Lee he recognised Mr Lee Kuan Yews remarkable
leadership and lasting contributions,
both to Singapore and to the region.
He also expressed his appreciation
for Mr Lees wise counsel and strong
support for US-Singapore relations.
US Vice-President Joe Biden said: I
valued his insights on Asia, geopolitics
and economics, which have shaped the
thinking of many around the world. I
will always cherish the wisdom he imparted on me when I had the honour
to sit and talk with him in Singapore
in July 2013. Then, just shy of 90 years
old, he remained formidable.
Lees legacy lives on in the nation
of Singapore. He was a believer in the

isters Anand Panyarachun, Abhisit

Vejjajiva, Yingluck Shinawatra and
Somchai Wongsawat also expressed
their condolences.
Dignitaries elsewhere, including the
Philippines Vice-President Jejomar
Binay, are scheduled to visit the Singapore Embassy in Manila today to offer
their condolences.
With the sheer number of people
wanting to pay their respects in Singapore and elsewhere, it is apparent that
Mr Lee will not be easily forgotten in
many countries or, indeed, by history.
AGENCIES

importance of Americas enduring role

as a resident Pacific power and a friend
and admirer of the United States,
said the US Vice-President.
Lee Kuan Yew exuded wisdom.
The counsel I was fortunate to glean
from conversations with him about
life and politics and global affairs is
among the most valuable and insightful I have received. He was, of course,
a uniquely astute analyst and observer
of Asia, and it is largely through his
lifes work that Singapore became one
of the US strongest strategic partners
in the region.
Also conveying their condolences
were former presidents George W Bush
and Bill Clinton. Mr Bush noted how
the father of todays Singapore transformed his country and helped usher
the Association of South-east Asian
Nations (ASEAN) into the modern era.
The Singapore he leaves behind is an
influential force for stability and prosperity and a friend to the US.
Mr Clinton said: Prime Minister
Lee firmly established his country as
an important friend and partner of the
US. After leaving office, he continued to
offer brilliant analysis and wise advice
to those who sought it.
Former US Secretary of State Colin
Powell added: He was remarkable, with
a vision for his nation and his people. He
made that vision a reality through his
determination and force of personality.
He built a great nation. AGENCIES