PAP Old Guard and former diplomat Lee Khoon Choy dies
TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – Former People’s Action Party Old Guard, ex-diplomat and author Lee Khoon Choy died early this morning at the age of 92, according to Mr Alex Yam, Executive Director of the PAP and Member of Parliament for Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency.
Mr Yam sent his condolences and penned a short biography of Mr Lee’s life on Mr Yam’s Facebook page. He said Mr Lee was generous with his time and advise. "I remember his advice to me after GE2011 that to serve one must have thick skin, a sharp mind, a soft heart and a passionate tongue," wrote Mr Yam.
On his Facebook page, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean paid tribute to Mr Lee calling him a “giant of our times,” noting his contributions to Singapore-Indonesia relations at a sensitive time.
“He played a key role in putting our relations with Indonesia on a firm footing in the early 1970s after Konfrontasi and the MacDonald House bombing when he was ambassador in Jakarta,” Mr Teo said. “May he rest in peace and may current and future generations learn from the past for a peaceful and better future.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said he vividly recalled how Mr Lee Kuan Yew had explained to new cabinet ministers the pivotal role Mr Lee Khoon Choy played in repairing relations with Indonesia. "It was his deep appreciation of culture and history that gave him that special insight and tact that is so essential in diplomacy," wrote Dr Balakrishnan on Facebook. "We all owe him a great debt. May his soul rest in peace."
Marine Parade GRC MP Seah Kian Peng wrote on his Facebook page that Mr Lee was the first MP of Braddell Heights and he would continue to attend events when he could. "I was at his 90th birthday dinner celebrations as he was his usual self, giving us a spirited and interesting address together with his other family members.
"We will all miss him. Thank you Mr Lee for your long and distinguish services to our country."
Born in Penang, Mr Lee began his career as a journalist after the Second World War, working for Chinese-language newspapers like the Sin Chew Jit Poh and the Nanyang Siang Pao. He worked briefly for the Straits Times before joining the PAP in 1959.
He stood for the Legislative Assembly elections that year, and became the assemblyman for Bukit Panjang. He subsequently lost Bukit Panjang but won a seat at Hong Lim and then later Braddell Heights. His political positions included Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
HIs diplomatic career began in the late 1960s when he served as Singapore's Ambassador to Egypt, Ethiopia, Yugoslavia and Lebanon and as Singapore's High Commissioner in Pakistan. Between 1970 and 1974, he was Singapore's Ambassador to Indonesia where he played a major role in thawing relations between the two countries following the hanging of the two Indonesian marines who were involved in the 1965 MacDonald House bombing. He later served as Singapore's Ambassador to Japan and South Korea.
Mr Lee retired from public service in 1988.
As an author, his life and career as a politician and diplomat gave his considerable material to work with. He wrote nine books, including an autobiography as well as books on Indonesia, Japan and China.
Mr Lee has seven children, two sons by his first wife, who died of cancer in 1959, and five daughters by his second wife.
