1,500 Tanjong Pagar residents gather to remember Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy

SINGAPORE — In another remembrance event held for the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew on Saturday (March 19), about 1,500 people gathered at Duxton Plain Park in Tanjong Pagar, ahead of the founding Prime Minister’s first death anniversary on March 23.

Residents from the late Mr Lee’s constituency came together to make the town greener, as part of a “green fingers” exercise. Seven new Mempat trees and numerous new seedlings were planted around Duxton Plain Park by grassroots advisors, leaders, as well as members of the community.

Speaking at the event, Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law, said: “Our thinking behind this activity was to remind people that Singapore is like a garden — it needs constant loving care and effort by everyone in order to grow, flourish and bear fruit.”

“Singapore is the work of our hands, and we are calling on a new young generation to plant, tend and nurture the Singapore of the future,” she added.

The late Mr Lee, who had represented Tanjong Pagar GRC for six decades, had planted more than 60 trees over the years in Tanjong Pagar. The Mempat tree was the first tree planted by Lee Kuan Yew at Farrer Circus, when he first initiated the national tree planting campaign in 1963.

Nicknamed as the “cherry blossom” of Singapore, the Mempat tree bears semblance with the sakura tree — with its canopy seasonally blossoming in pink flowers.

Saturday’s greening activities were among a host of other commemoration activities held in Tanjong Pagar and other parts of the island.

Residents will also get to exercise their green fingers with a terrarium making workshop, which will be ongoing till March 23. Participants are encouraged to bring their used plastic bottles, and will be taught how to cultivate plants in them, such as bak choy, chye xin and spinach.

Also present at the event, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said: “We will always remember that (Mr and Mrs Lee Kuan Yew) told us three things — first, to always take care of our environment.. To take care of our families, our loved ones... To make sure that we take care of the residents.”

A handcrafted pottery artwork depicting the Aranda Lee Kuan Yew and Vanda Kwa Geok Choo orchid hybrids being placed beside one another, was also unveiled as a tribute to the late Mr Lee and his wife’s enduring love.

Fired in-house at the kiln at Tanjong Pagar Community Club, the artwork was handcrafted by the potters from its pottery club.

“This art piece is everlasting love, signifying the relationship between Mr Lee and Mrs Lee, surrounded by the memorial tribute beads - signifying the love of the people,” said Ms Indranee.

The pottery, along with the orchids named after Mr and Mrs Lee, are currently being showcased at the newly restored Orchid Pavilion at Tanjong Pagar Plaza for a fortnight, starting Saturday.

The Public can also continue to pen messages on pebbles, plant seedlings, and light candles at Duxton Plain Park until March 23, along with viewing exhibition panels retelling the story of Mr Lee and his impact on Tanjong Pagar, as well as the country.

Ms Indranee added: “The attendance, and the crowd here today, is testimony to the kind of leader that Mr Lee was — a man not just with vision, but also, a very close and strong bond with his people.”