April 2015

Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew died last month. He was 91 years of age. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets in the pouring rain to watch the funeral procession which carried his coffin through Singapore. There were ten hour queues to file past his coffin in the parliament. So what made Mr Lee so special, and why did over 1.1 million people pay tribute to him at different sites across the country?

Mr Lee was the longest-serving prime minister in history. He was Singapore’s first PM, and was in this position between 1959 and 1990, overseeing the country’s independence from Britain. Under his prime ministership, in 1963 Singapore joined the newly created Federation of Malaysia, only to leave again in 1965 following riots and racial tension.

Recognising the importance of a strong economy, Mr Lee transformed Singapore into a major exporter, making use of its now very busy port, encouraging foreign investment and raising workers’ standards of living. He was responsible for making Singapore a crucial player in the Asia-Pacific region and leaves behind a legacy of an impeccably organised country with a strong economy.

170 foreign dignitaries attended Mr Lee’s funeral. “Lee Kuan Yew was a towering figure in Singaporean political and social life”, said Australia’s Julie Bishop. “He was a giant in the region and an incredible statesman. He’ll be sorely missed”.