A fitting, teary tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew
SINGAPORE — Silence fell over the Padang just before nightfall, with spectators’ and performers’ eyes glued to four LED screens playing a tribute to founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the National Day Parade (NDP) yesterday.
The three-minute tribute film comprised scenes of the late Mr Lee in his — and the Republic’s — younger days, including his proclamation of Singapore’s independence. It rounded off with interviews with Singaporeans after Mr Lee died in March.
Faces in the audience were solemn, some teary-eyed, as the film played, to the tune of this year’s NDP theme song, Our Singapore.
Mr Lee, who died at the age of 91 on March 23, had attended every NDP since the first one in 1966. His usual seat at the Padang was left empty yesterday, marked with a spray of flowers as a token of remembrance.
After the film, the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Black Knights streaked by in a “five stars” formation representing democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality, also as a tribute to Mr Lee.
Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, speaking after the parade, said it was a tribute to Mr Lee’s leadership and “how he rallied our pioneers who were determined to stay the course as one united people”.
“I was very moved by the tribute and sad that Mr Lee could not be here with us ... The best tribute we can pay to Mr Lee and our pioneers who gave us the first 50 years is to stay united and commit ourselves to do our best for Singapore,” said Mr Heng, who was Mr Lee’s principal private secretary between 1997 and 2000.
Member of Parliament (MP) Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC) said the scenes depicting the early days of the nation’s independence showed Mr Lee’s confidence.
That it was witnessed by three Old Guard leaders — former Cabinet ministers Ong Pang Boon, Jek Yuen Thong and Othman Wok — who signed the Independence of Singapore Agreement on Aug 9, 1965 made it all the more significant. “The presence of Mr Lee’s comrades reminds us that we need a group of very committed leaders for progress, and moving forward, we also need a good team to make it happen again,” said Mr Singh, who announced his retirement from politics two weeks ago.
Tampines GRC MP Irene Ng, another outgoing MP, said: “I missed seeing him enter and hearing the rousing roar of the people to welcome him.” When the tribute began, she could not help tearing up. “It captured his spirit and his ideals for Singapore, which live on,” said Ms Ng, a former journalist who had interviewed Mr Lee at length.
Watching in the audience, technician Thomas Lee said the film was a fitting reminder of Singapore’s independence. “I feel sad that Mr Lee is not here with us, but the tribute also makes me feel more Singaporean. I am proud that we are still moving forward, not keeping still,” he said.
Student Alex Cheng said he was very touched by Mr Lee’s contributions to the nation. “It is because of him that we can study peacefully with classmates of different races, and even become best friends with them,” said the 13-year-old.
