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Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

PM Lee thanking the crowd

Two children handing flowers to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong near Parliament House as he mingles with members of the public who were on their way to pay their final respects
to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Photo: Amanda Lee

He embodied frugality in personal life, govt

Mr Lee was careful with public
funds because they are
peoples money: Shanmugam
VALERIE KOH

valeriekohsf@mediacorp.com.sg

he late Mr Lee Kuan Yew embodied frugality, in his personal life and government,
said Law and Foreign Affairs Minister KShanmugam.
Speaking at a memorial event in
Yishun last night, he said Mr Lees
principles shone through in small and
big ways.
Recounting a trip to the United
States with him, Mr Shanmugam said
he had only finished one of the three
scoops of ice-cream served at dinner.
Mr Lee saw that and he told me
off ... He said I should have found out

how much they will serve and should

have ordered only what I could have
eaten, he said.
Similarly, Mr Lee was careful with
public funds because they are (peoples) money.
Each week, the ministers would
meet over lunch to discuss government
matters before their Cabinet meeting.
While Mr Lee never attended, he made
sure that everyone paid out of their
own pockets.
More than 15,000 residents made
their way to the community tribute
site in Yishun yesterday.
They listened, riveted as Mr Shanmugam recalled his first meeting with
Mr Lee in 1987. It was a 45-minute interview, for the then-Prime Minister
to decide if he was a suitable election
candidate.
I was young, and as the young are
likely to be I was not very scared

That was
how he was:
Practical,
direct, honest.
Mr KShanmugam
Law and Foreign
Affairs Minister

of him. I told him I disagreed with his

policies, said Mr Shanmugam, who
was 28 years old then.
Mr Lee, in turn, was fatherly, but
disagreed. He also told the budding politician that one day he would grow up,
gain experience and understand. He
will listen to you even if you disagree
with him, as long as you can explain
why, said Mr Shanmugam.
Later, when Mr Shanmugam entered his 30s and 40s, Mr Lee took it
upon himself to advise him on his political career.
He persuaded Mr Shanmugam to
serve the people in a broader way.
Sensing that it was not an easy decision, he also told Mr Shanmugam: You
are still young, you should stay in the
law practice a bit longer. You can come
later into the Government.
That was how he was: Practical,
direct, honest, said Mr Shanmugam.

Mr Lee also had a habit of calling in

the wee hours of the night. The first
question hell ask is, What are you
doing? You want to say to him, What
do people do at 3am? But anyway, you
dont speak like that to Mr Lee, said
Mr Shanmugam.
While delivering his tribute,
MrShanmugam was joined on stage
by his team of Nee Soon GRC Members
of Parliament.
After speaking, the MPs lit candles
in memory of Mr Lee, and placed them
in front of a painting of him. A total of
3,500 candles were distributed.
Madam Tok Hoh, 65, cried as she
left the memorial.
The candles are a meaningful way
to help us remember him. Hes done a
lot of good for Singapore stopping
the racial riots in the 1960s and giving
us public housing and transport, she
said in Mandarin.