Summary

The text is a personal reflection on the author's experience paying respects to Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore, during a week-long mourning period following his death.

Abstract

The author recounts a 6-hour journey through the heart of Singapore to pay last respects to Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away on 23 March 2015. The walk, which covered a 3-km route, was part of a national mourning period and allowed the author to meditate on Lee's profound impact on the nation's transformation from a Third World country to a "First World" metropolis. Lee's influence is described as all-encompassing, shaping the social, political, and economic landscape of Singapore, and leaving a legacy that continues to resonate in the vibrancy of the city-state. The author reflects on Lee's achievements, including his promise to turn Singapore into a metropolis, his dedication to racial harmony, and his role in establishing Singapore as a respected and sovereign nation. The text captures the author's gratitude and the collective sentiment of millions of Singaporeans who cherish the memory of their leader, mentor, and friend.

Opinions

The author holds Lee Kuan Yew in high regard, considering him instrumental in shaping their life and the nation of Singapore.
There is a deep appreciation for Lee's vision and the tangible outcomes of his leadership, including economic prosperity, law and order, and housing for all.
The author believes that Lee's legacy is not just in the physical development of Singapore but also in the spirit, dreams, and aspirations he instilled in its citizens.
The mourning process is seen as a collective experience, with thousands of Singaporeans sharing in the solemnity and respect for Lee.
The author emphasizes that Lee's work remains unfinished, implying a responsibility for future generations to continue building upon his foundational pillars.
Lee Kuan Yew is remembered not just as a political figure but as a personal loss to the author and many Singaporeans, signifying the profound connection he had with the people.

Walking my Last Mile with Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015)

A Meditation through History, with Pictures

PROLOGUE

Lee Kuan Yew died on 23 March 2015 at 91 years old. A week-long mourning period (23–29 March 2015) was declared. With millions other Singaporeans, I walked a 6-hour long, 3-km journey to pay our last respects at Parliament House. This is my meditation during the journey.

For over 60 years, He was my Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, and stayed in the government as Minister Mentor (MM) till 2011, and was thereafter appointed Senior Advisor to the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation. Lee Kuan Yew influenced, shaped and molded my life through the social, political and economic transformation of a Third World Singapore into the “First World” nation par none; characterized by economic prosperity, law and order, national security, housing for all, world-class education and full employment with social justice.

I celebrate his remembrance with one and all during this “Lee Kuan Yew Week”.

WALKING THROUGH HISTORY

Yesterday, yet another hot Spring day;

The skies waver between gloom and shine;

Midweek in the time of national mourning

Over the passing of our beloved MM Lee,

Founder of Singapore

And Father of all Singaporeans.

I watched from the steps of Funan

The gun carriage with his body,

Draped by the Singapore Flag

Photo Courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office

As if to warm and comfort him,

As it moves to Parliament House

To the spontaneous applause of

Thousands lining the streets,

As if hoping the cheers would stir him

From the eternal rest;

For none desiring him to go so soon

Before their children and grandchildren

Could know the Man without whom,

There is no modern Singapore

As the World knew us.

I did not know that I would be walking through History

As I join the queue to pay my last respect

To Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

As he lays in state at Parliament House.

My Q position was only 3km from the House

And the journey took almost 6 hours.

The Q snakes along both banks of the Singapore River

From South Bridge Road through Clarke Quay

Along UOB Plaza through Battery Road,

To swing around Standard Chartered Bank Building

And MayBank,

Passing by Bank of China(BoC) whose staff passed out bottled water,

Before crossing Cavanagh Bridge at One Fullerton Building,

Arriving at the Asian Civilisation Museum

Next to Parliament House.

The Straits Time — Q Began at The Padang

Along Clarke Quay, I looked out at the Singapore River;

Saw flashes of the tongkangs and bumboats

That once dominated the River

So central to our economic survival those early days.

Looking ahead beyond Cavanagh Bridge,

The skyline of Opera House and Marina South loomed,

Flanked by One Fullerton,

Formerly the General Post Office,

The old and new have co-existed

As Singapore developed from 3rd World to 1st

In just 40 years led by MM Lee Kuan Yew.

He promised in 1965: “I will make this a Metropolis in 10 years!”.

He delivered as he always does in whatever he promises.

As the Q moves at a snail pace,

At times only 15 meters in an hour,

I could only begin to grasp the true meaning of the moment;

Just a stone’s throw away, the Stock Exchange and Banking Sector

Continues their hustling and bustling wheeling and dealings

Amidst other commercial and trading activities,

Seemingly oblivious of the solemn ceremony taking place;

Singapore as a global financial hub continues in vibrancy unabated

With the heartbeats of the Man whose own heart has ceased;

For as he laid in state, MM Lee’s energy and vitality

Continue in the daily life of Singapore.

The Man has not given his life and all to Singaporeans;

MM Lee has in fact interred in the Singaporean soul

The embodiment of his spirit, dreams, and aspirations

Of an exceptional Singapore nation in the global community,

Of a free, prosperous, racially harmonious, sovereign nation

Deserving respect, admiration, and friendship by all.

And after nearly 6 hours, I arrived;

To walk past his body

With a momentary pause of respect

Remembering our first meeting in 1983;

This last mile’s walk with him will always be cherished,

Even in death, he has reminded me and all Singaporeans,

Singapore is not easy;

It takes hard work, dedication, vision, perseverance, resilience

And Leadership;

And so he left as he has lived,

Not a monument to his name

Nor his image on any ornaments,

Just the grateful hearts of millions of Singaporeans

Privileged and honoured

To know and have him for many seasons of his life.

“Goodbye, my Leader, Mentor, Brother, and Friend”.

I could still sense his heartbeats continued strong

As he laid resting at last;

His work unfinished, but for us to build upon

By remembering his pillar legacies

Based on social peace with justice,

Regardless of race, language or religion

On this tiny sunny island by the sea.

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