The Labour Movement Pays Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew - The Father of the Nation, A Brother to Our Workers -

Transcription

1 27 March 2015 Media Release The Labour Movement Pays Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew - The Father of the Nation, A Brother to Our Workers - 1. The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) held a tribute service at the Singapore Conference Hall on 27 March 2015 to honour the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore and a dear brother to the Labour Movement. 2. Over 800 guests, comprising union leaders, members of the Labour Movement family and communities, members of the People s Action Party, as well as management and government partners, gathered to pay tribute to him. The event was also attended by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and family members. 3. At the memorial service, 14 speakers paid tribute to the late Mr Lee. Amongst them were pioneer generation, mature and younger union leaders; flowed-on and current labour leaders; as well as tripartite partners. (Refer to Annex A for the list of speakers.) 4. A video which captures late Mr Lee s involvement and journey with the Labour Movement was screened before the speakers delivered their tribute pieces. (Refer to for the tribute pieces.) 5. The service ended with all guests observing a minute of silence. 6. An area in the foyer of the Singapore Conference Hall was also set up for guests to pen condolence messages. For online sharing: # # # This media release will be made available on NTUC official website at and MyNTUC App (available on both ios and Android). Feel free to share via your social media channels. Page 1 of 34 National Trades Union Congress Tel NTUC Centre Fax Marina Boulevard One Marina Boulevard Singapore

2 To view the video clip screened at the event, visit To read more about late Mr Lee Kuan s Yew involvement and journey with the Labour Movement, visit Remembering Lee Kuan Yew Suggested Facebook post: More than 800 members of the Labour Movement family and tripartite partners gathered to pay tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of our nation and a brother to our workers. Suggested Hashtags: #ThankyouLeeKuanYew #RememberingLeeKuanYew #NTUCremembers #NTUCtributeevent Keywords: NTUC, Labour Movement, tribute, Lee Kuan Yew, LKY, Singapore, founding father # # # For media queries, please contact NTUC Corporate Communications: Ms Katelyne Ko Assistant Director DID HP katelyne_ko@ntuc.org.sg Ms Jean Chew Assistant Director DID HP jean_chew@ntuc.org.sg About National Trades Union Congress The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) is a national confederation of trade unions in the industrial, service and public sectors in Singapore. NTUC's objectives are to help Singapore stay competitive and workers remain employable for life; to enhance the social status and well-being of workers; and to build a strong, responsible and caring Labour Movement. NTUC's vision is to be an inclusive Labour Movement for all collars, ages and nationalities of workers. NTUC is at the heart of the Labour Movement, which comprises 60 affiliated unions, one affiliated taxi association, 11 social enterprises, five related organisations and over 830,000 three-generation members. For more details, visit Page 2 of 34

3 Annex A Tribute Speakers Name 1 Mr Mahmud Awang 玛莫阿旺 2 Mr S R Nathan, 纳丹 3 Prof Lim Chong Yah 林崇椰 4 Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon 符喜泉 5 Mr Stephen Lee 李庆言 6 Mr John De Payva 德培华 7 Dr Lee Boon Yang 李文献 8 Rahman Mahbob 拉曼 9 Mr Lim Boon Heng 林文兴 10 Mr Fang Chin Poh 范清坡 11 Ms Nur Rafidah Rosdi 拉菲达 - Chairman of the NTUC Pro-tem Committee (1961) - Founding member of NTUC - President of Singapore ( ) - Pioneer Director of NTUC Administration and Research Unit ( ) - Chairman of National Wages Council ( ) - Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC ( ) - Assistant Secretary-General ( ) - Vice President of NTUC ( ) - Chairman of NTUC ( ) - President of Singapore National Employers Federation ( ) - Secretary-General Emeritus of The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers Union (from 2014) - President Emeritus of NTUC (from 2011) - President of NTUC ( ) - Secretary-General of The Singapore Manual & Mercantile Workers Union (from ) - Manpower Minister ( ) - Founding President of Union of Power and Gas Employees ( ) - Vice President of Public Utilities Board Staff Union ( ) - Secretary-General of NTUC ( ) - Deputy Secretary-General of NTUC ( ) - Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC ( ) - Deputy Director ( ) - General Secretary of National Transport Workers Union (from 1999) - NTUC Central Committee member ( ) - Deputy General Secretary of the Singapore Industrial & Services Employees Union (from 2012) Page 3 of 34

4 Annex A Name 12 Mr Arasu Duraisamy 杜莱沙米 13 Mr Seah Keng Tia 谢庆锭 14 Mr Lim Swee Say 林瑞生 - NTUC Central Committee member (from 2011) - General Secretary of Singapore Port Workers Union (from 2014) - Chairperson of Young NTUC (from 2014) - Vice President of UWPI (from 2012) - Secretary-General, NTUC (from 2007) - Deputy Secretary-General ( , ) # # # Page 4 of 34

5 1. Tribute by Mahmud Awang In the 1960s, many people were illiterate and there were very few who were legally trained. I am the president of the Singapore Traction Company Employees Union (STCEU) and the union encountered some taxation issues with the British colonial government. I knew then that the charge against the union was wrongfully accused and Mr Lee Kuan Yew helped to resolve the issue with the agency then. That was what that brought us together and later he became my union s legal advisor. Through this and many other incidents that happened, I admired and respected him for his courage cause as not many people in the 60s dared to confront the colonial government. To many people, he is like a saviour that led to achieving freedom from employer s extortion. Most importantly, he did it free for the workers. Mr Lee Kuan Yew built his rapport with the workers through common ground, empathy and action. In order to connect well with the Malay community, he started learning Malay language and even sought advice from us, including myself, to understand the Malay culture. He would seek for feedback whenever he needed to give a speech in Malay in ensuring that the tone and pronunciation were correctly used. He is a fast learner and he has perfected the skill in this. Malay people looked upon him as Abang/Adik (Malay: Elder/younger Brother) and he have gained our trust. The entire community supported him. Other than being a visionary leader, he is also a proactive person. He wants to integrate the British culture into Singapore and build a country free of any corruption and of equality. I recalled that one evening, when Lee Kuan Yew, Devan Nair and I were in the Istana, he was upset that some of the strikes by workers could be prevented if there is an avenue for the workers to seek legal assistance. The Industrial Arbitration Court was established soon after. We respected him for what he has done for the workers. Lee Kuan Yew is also the mastermind behind the Garden-City plan. I remembered that he once said, If we are to form the government, we need to make Singapore a Garden city for our people The tree planting campaign was mooted by him and he led-by-example then by planting some of the trees in Singapore as early as in 1963 and he planted a tree every year since then. He envisioned about making Singapore a clean and green country. For the Labour Movement, he emphasised on building trusts among the government, employers and employees. He felt that the political and the trade unions should be together. Thus, he encouraged all his political leaders to be involved in the work of the unions and there should never be a separation. The Page 5 of 34

6 organisation structure of the unions thus evolved to make our modern Singapore and it has served us well over these years. To me, he is also a trustworthy friend and he has never looked down on others. He likes speaking and hearing the truths from people around him. He fought against the communists and helped Singapore to gain self-government. To me, this is the greatest achievement for Singapore then if not for him and he has always been our brother. # # # Page 6 of 34

7 2. Tribute by S R Nathan At Independence in 1965, he reminded us, I quote: "This is not a Chinese country. Singapore will not be a Chinese country nor a Malay country not an Indian country. (It will be a country for all Singaporeans.) This is our House. Although it is small, it is our property. It is the right of the people of Singapore to arrange (it), as the people of Singapore want it to be. I promise to make it a metropolis in a decade. " - unquote That is what Singapore is today and we are all in that promised land. But the man who uttered those words and made that promise is no more with us. His voice is now silent and we stand lost without him to exhort us, guide us and move us to achieve even greater heights. In his life he knew no rest. He was always searching for ways to make Singapore great. Towards achieving that goal he was totally selfless and dedicated. He saw as his purpose how to make Singapore an even more successful country and give a better life for us all. He saw it as his duty to make sure that all obstacles standing in our way are removed in his time. I grew up in his shadow. On the long road I travelled with him as a junior officer, he kept entrusting me with higher responsibilities, with the trust and confidence that I will be up to it. What touched me immensely was his total dedication to his cause - Singapore. The end has come to such a leader and we who are mourning him are fortunate to have experienced his presence, his exhortation and shared in the task of turning Singapore, against the odds, to be what we now are. He lived a life filled with action and immense tensions. We grew up in his midst. He traced for Singapore and Singaporeans opportunities he saw on the economic and political horizon, as well as identified the pitfalls that marked our road. He read our limitations and vulnerabilities and guided us along. In my eyes he was an extraordinary man, and one ahead of his times. He was extremely knowledgeable and read and engaged people widely. But to my knowledge his was a non-religious life. Whether, privately any faith appealed to him, I did not know. But his horizon was always the world, which he constantly scanned and did so with his ever sharp mind. He had intimate knowledge of our neighbourhood and Page 7 of 34

8 their leaders. In his dealings with the world he foresaw both opportunities and potential challenges. He is now no more. His loss is not just for his family but for all of us. Singaporeans and more so for the Labour Movement, which he nurtured so fondly through turbulent days to what we have become now. He constantly exhorted us, even threatened us for our good to avoid the excesses that befell other labour movements elsewhere. There were occasions he admonished us and addressed our destructive ways, only to return to management the right to manage their enterprises successfully, which in turn has benefited us the workers, with better incomes and working conditions. With his departure, he leaves an indelible mark in the pages of our history, as someone who ably personified Singapore and the aspirations of us - his people. On the world horizon he gave Singapore its brand name. I am not sure how many among his successor generation do appreciate his many contributions he make Singapore the great city state of the 21st century. Towards that end he worked tirelessly and ceaselessly. In the early year of our struggle to establish the NTUC and overcome the threat by pro-communist elements to overthrow our way of life through intimidation and violence, he stood by us and gave us the strength and courage to stand up and fight the threat. His stood with us and his steadfast support for our survival and growth will always remain etched in all our minds. We in the Labour Movement salute our illustrious benefactor and comrade - Lee Kuan Yew - and above all our Champion in all our struggles. # # # Page 8 of 34

9 3. Tribute by Lim Chong Yah First Meeting, 1952 I first met Mr Lee Kuan Yew in 1952 at his law firm in Malacca Street, Singapore. I was then a second year undergraduate from the Dunearn Road Hostel. My mission was to get his agreement to participate in a university debate on the motion That this House resolves that a Law Faculty should be established as soon as possible at the University of Malaya. He was to speak for the motion. I was delighted that he agreed to participate. The Oei Tiong Ham Hall was packed to capacity with University students. True to his fame, he was most articulate, impressive and convincing. The student audience voted unanimously for the motion. The Faculty of Law was later, in 1957, established at the University. Second Meeting, 1959 Years passed. In 1959, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, to my great but pleasant surprise, came to my office in the Fullerton Building as the newly elected Prime Minister of Self-Governing Singapore. He was on a getting-to-know-you visit of the Civil Service soon after his appointment as Prime Minister. He asked me what I considered as the most serious economic problem facing Singapore. I replied, Too many strikes; wild-cat and lightning strikes. Our workers were too restive and too unhappy. He just listened, and did not react to what I had said. An Invitation, 1972 Decades later, in February 1972, Mr Lee invited me to serve as the Chairman of the to-be-formed tripartite National Wages Council. I might not have agreed to serve, had it not been from Mr Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister. The Prime Minister remained committed to the success of this important tripartite organization throughout his life. Successful Crises Management During Mr Lee s tenureship as the Prime Minister since Independence, the Singapore economy was confronted with two serious unexpected external shocks. One was the imported food and fuel crisis of , when the inflation rate went up by an unprecedented 19.6% in 1973 and 22.3% in The second crisis was sub-regional in nature with the real GDP growth rate sank to -0.7% in Prime Minister Lee spoke to different trade union and employers groups to accept the recommendations of the NWC to handle the crises. A lesser national leader could have led the economy into a continued tail-spin in each of the two crises. Successful Economic Restructuring, It was also under Mr Lee s premiership that the country undertook the very successful, though iconoclastic and unprecedented, economic restructuring Page 9 of 34

10 programme of , during which workers wages were raised by 20% per year. Orderly Annual Wage Increases With the yearly wage increase guidelines provided by the NWC consistent with national productivity growth, gross wage rates increased by an average of 9.2% per annum in nominal terms or an average of 4.9% per annum in real terms during his Prime Ministership. These spectacular, unusual and unprecedented wage increases in Singapore were accompanied by favourable balance of payments, full employment, high savings and low inflation and increasing competitiveness of the overall Singapore economy. Successful Home Ownership Plan At one stage of development in the NWC, I asked for more representatives for all the three social partners. The Prime Minister sent me Mr Liu Thai Ker, the HDB Chief. I was surprised. I was hoping that he would send me the CEO of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The Prime Minister must have placed adequacy of money for workers to own HDB flats as his top priority. As it turned out, the Prime Minister got what he wanted; maximum home ownership for Singaporean workers. A Salute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew Under Mr Lee s strong, dedicated and very able leadership, Singapore was transformed from a basket-case to a showcase state, from Third World to First. As we celebrate our 50 th Year of Independence on 9 th August this year, we would certainly miss his presence. I would like to take this opportunity to join in with thousands and thousands of other Singaporeans to pay the highest tribute to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew as a founding father of this country, and as the chief architect of its many faceted growth and development as well as for his strong, live-long support for the trade union movement in Singapore. # # # Page 10 of 34

11 4. Tribute by Yu-Foo Yee Shoon We are heart-broken, full of grief and overwhelmed by a deep sense of loss. Even as we mourn Comrade Lee Kuan Yew s passing, we feel immensely grateful to him for what he did for Singapore. We have read an outpouring of tributes in the past few days. So what have we learned from the things he had said and done? After our independence, in the face of communist threat, racial unrest, workers on strike, and unemployment, Comrade Lee made a decision for the good of the majority and the survival of the nation, and he single-mindedly removed all obstacles that stood in the way, sacrificing the small I for the big I ( 牺牲小我, 成全大我 ). Today we are here at this former NTUC building, and look at the new NTUC building at Marina Boulevard, we are reminded these were built because of the vision of Comrade Lee and his cabinet. He believed in FAIR PLAY FAIR SHARE, which means, in good times, workers must enjoy pay increases and bonuses, and during bad times, we must all accept cuts in CPF, and perhaps even our pay. He believed in pragmatism, rather than arguing about the theory of putting in your best, and taking what you need, or putting in your best, and getting back your worth. He believed that the workers and the labour movement are partners in nation building. Therefore, we now have Labour Foundation, various cooperatives, Pasir Ris Resort, Orchid Country Club, and so on. All this came about because Comrade Lee said that no one should be deprived in Singapore. The Importance of Leaders Through his comradeship with the workers and the unions in the early days, Comrade Lee realized that all good and effective leaders must have the trust, confidence and support of the workers by having the workers interests and welfare in their hearts. For example, during the SARS crisis, he was concerned about the livelihood of taxi drivers. The Importance of Labour and Productivity Comrade Lee initiated the reform of labour legislation, promoted tripartism, set up National Wages Council and started the productivity drive and skills training. Comrade Lee told us productivity is a marathon. Only through increasing productivity, we can enjoy higher standards of living. Only through productivity, we can grow. Only through productivity, we can build a bigger cake, and enjoy a bigger slice of the cake. Page 11 of 34

12 Childcare In the late 70s and early 80s, we encouraged women to enter the workforce. Childcare became an issue when women began joining the workforce. Whether mothers should care for their kids or leave the kids to institutional care, and whether government should subsidize childcare was debated. We submitted a paper to Comrade Lee. He agreed to subsidize community childcare. It is an example showing his openness and willingness to accept suggestions. Future Now that he has passed on. As we mourn our great loss, the best way to remember Comrade Lee and show our deep gratitude is to ensure that Singapore continues to do well. We must work hard and create new miracles. I have confidence in the abilities of our government and fellow Singaporeans to march on and achieve greater and greater heights. Under the leadership of PM Lee Hsien Loong, I would like to call upon capable men and women to come forward to serve the nation so that we will have another successful 50 years. # # # Page 12 of 34

13 5. Tribute by Stephen Lee Laying the Foundations for Industrial Peace and Tripartism 1. When Singapore attained self-government in 1959, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was our first Prime Minister. 2. In those early years, there was much industrial unrest. Mr Lee and his Government exhorted employers, unions and workers to cooperate and help the country to attract foreign investments. 3. Mr Lee moved quickly to enact the Industrial Relations Act in 1960 to stabilise labour-management relations to facilitate the expansion of industry and job creation. He also introduced the Employment Act in 1968 to regulate fair conditions of employment. 4. The two laws had an immediate impact. 5. The number of man-days lost fell from over a million between to 11,000 in 1968 and to zero by During those tumultuous years, tripartism would be forged and strengthened. Industrial peace would prevail till the present day. First Encounter 7. I first met Mr Lee in July He had summoned employers to the Istana to discuss how to put the Singapore economy on the path to higher productivity to sustain growth and to raise the standard of living of workers. At the National Day Rally that year, he talked at length on productivity and its linkage to teamwork between management and workers. One month later in September 81, he launched Singapore s productivity movement. He had firmed up quickly his resolve that higher productivity was the way to go. 8. Not only was he resolute, Mr Lee was also very farsighted. Future Thinking 9. On one occasion 20 years ago, I had a discussion with Mr Lee on retirement age which was then 55. Mr Lee wanted to see Singaporeans working longer, to provide for better financial protection. He could see the outcome of a declining birth rate He was already thinking of a retirement age beyond 60. Today we are looking at re-employment to But Mr Lee looked beyond 20 years. Page 13 of 34

14 11. Two years ago on one occasion at Marina Bay. I asked if he had ever envisioned that the Bay would be like what it is today. He said that the initial idea, over 30 years ago, was to build a dam at the river mouth to collect fresh water and to convert the catchment into a reservoir. To realize that, the first thing was to clean up the Singapore River which he had called for in He said everything else came later. I could see that he took joy in how well the idea had turned out into the landmark that it is today. His Legacy 12. Fifty years ago, we could not have imagined the Singapore of today. Mr Lee even in his 90 s was thinking of Singapore s next 50 years. How we get there is now is in the hands of a younger group of leaders. His legacy of tripartism and industrial peace will provide them with strong foundations to move forward. The lasting tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew would be for the government, employers and the labour movement to strengthen their tripartite partnership, and further enhance industrial peace so that Singapore can surge forward confidently. # # # Page 14 of 34

15 6. Tribute by John De Payva Dear Mr Lee Kuan Yew, You are truly the father of Singapore. Without your vision, passion, sacrifice & hope for our future, we wouldn t be where we are and who we are today. We can live comfortably in a country with peace & stability. You may have made mistakes (which human does) but you had the grace to accept them and the strength to move on and move forward. It takes courage to build a nation. You are an extraordinary man who made a great difference in your lifetime. I am grateful and honoured to have been able just to live when you lived and to call Singapore home because of you. Rene Ashlie De Payva, aged 23 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I would give up all modern comforts and luxuries to be at the early rallies just so I could be there to see you, the young tenacious Mr Lee at your best and most inspiring. All the reasons we can think of, as to why we love this country is attributed to you Sir! I have no worries about the future of my own children in this country due to your passion and drive. My name is rather insignificant compared to all the world s greats sending their tributes, but my nationality as a Singaporean is something I am truly proud of due to you, Mr Lee. Daryl Marc De Payva, aged 29 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From my parents, to Chris (my wife) and I, to my children Daryl & Rene, the admiration, respect and support to Mr Lee Kuan Yew is unquestionable. Page 15 of 34

16 I was a kampong boy, from Whitley Road to Braddell Road- both of sand, mud and attap houses, make shift toilets, public water system. No modern sanitation, not even household taps. I have lived thru all these to what Singapore is today. One man made the difference Mr Lee Kuan Yew. In my adult life, I have some rare occasions to chair sessions of union leaders, tripartite seminars with Mr Lee Kuan Yew as the Guest-of-Honour. These are the occasions I will always cherish The Man amongst Man who always finds time to appreciate and empathise with workers issues. I was in Taiwan a few days ago, when the news of Mr Lee Kuan Yew s passing was announced, several union leaders from Japan, Australia, Taiwan, India present at that meeting approached me to convey their condolences. Several others from Europe also sent their condolences thru the s to our International Desk. *RENGO Japan (read attached letter). The whole world from working people to governments to employers gave words of admiration, respect on the loss of our Founding Father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. I am blessed to be a Singaporean and Singapore is blessed to have Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Thank you Sir! & May You Rest in Peace! # # # Page 16 of 34

17 7. Tribute by Lee Boon Yang May I begin by offering my deepest condolences to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and family on the demise of your beloved father and our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. We share your loss and grieve with you. We mourn because we know that without Mr Lee at the helm in the early days, we could not have achieved the level of progress, success and prosperity that Singaporeans are enjoying today. We are immensely grateful to Mr Lee for his single-minded determination and vision for a better Singapore. He devoted his entire life to Singapore. He built institutions and inculcated values for a strong Singapore. His personal integrity has become a Singapore hallmark treasured by all Singaporeans and held in the highest esteem around the world. His focus on meritocracy ensures the highest standards of performance from government. His unceasing effort to forge racial and religious harmony ensures that we live in a peaceful Singapore. I can go on but time does not permit me to set out the full extent of Mr Lee's exceptional leadership and big ideas for Singapore's success. As Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee forged Singapore's unique brand of cooperative, harmonious and productive tripartite relations. In his student days in the UK, he had witnessed the "endless squabbles" between workers, employers and government. He was convinced that Singapore cannot follow the British model. He urged our unions and workers to cooperate with employers and government to grow the economy. When Singapore was hit by the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998 we had to cut costs to regain competitiveness. Reducing employers' CPF contribution would help companies to survive and reduce retrenchments. Thanks to strong tripartite relations, union leaders understood and supported this painful measure. They rallied workers to keep Singapore competitive and the economy recovered quickly. Harmonious tripartite relations contributed to Singapore's transformation, in Mr Lee's own phrase, From Third World to First in one generation. Today Singapore is rated by the World Economic Forum as the 2nd most competitive economy. We owe it to Mr Lee to keep alive and strong his legacy of tripartite unity. As Founding Prime Minister Mr Lee had anticipated many future challenges. He foresaw the problem of an ageing workforce. He encouraged the NTUC and the SNEF to work together to get workers and employers to voluntarily raise the retirement age. By 1990, almost three quarters of the unionised workers were able to work till age 60 instead of retiring at age 55. In 1991, Mr Lee stepped down as PM. As Senior Minister, he continued to take a very keen interest in the Page 17 of 34

18 effort to raise the retirement age. I was the Labour Minister. He would query me during our lunch discussions on the progress to raise the retirement age. He was very troubled that many workers were being retired when they were still in good health, able to work and needed an income to support their families. With his strong encouragement, we prepared the ground for a higher mandatory minimum retirement age. The bill for the Retirement Age Act was passed in Parliament in April I can recall that at our next lunch encounter, his first question was: When will the Ministry move to raise the retirement age beyond 60? We had taken the first step and he was already thinking of the next step! He was always looking to the future. Clearly the welfare, needs and interests of workers were always closest to his heart. Thanks to Mr Lee's foresight, today more and more older Singaporeans are gainfully employed. Finally, our Founding Prime Minister never hesitated to do what was needed to prepare and empower workers for the rigours of global competition. He laid a strong foundation for Singapore to succeed in the global market long before globalisation became a buzzword. He brought the world to Singapore. More than that, he also connected Singapore to the world. Thanks to Mr Lee, Singapore is seen as a model of effective public policies and an icon for development by many around the world. He was truly the single-minded architect of Singapore. We are indebted to him for Singapore s strong foundation. He left behind a legacy to sustain Singapore as we journey into the next fifty years and more. He will always remain in our hearts as the Founding Prime Minister to whom we owe immense gratitude for the success of Singapore. Thank you, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. May you rest in peace. # # # Page 18 of 34

19 8. Tribute by Rahman Mahbob I am honoured to be given this opportunity to pay this tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a very ambitious man. But it was this aspiration in him that turn Singapore from a swampy island where most people live in kampongs and attap houses to what it is today, a cosmopolitan city. When I started working in 1958, my pay was then only $155 as a clerk in PUB. I never dreamt of being able to stay in a house made of bricks, but now I am comfortably enjoying my retirement in a four room flat with my wife and daughter. I have seen him steer us out of crisis like the Maria Hertogh Riot, the racial riot that spilt over from our neighbouring country, the daily rated workers strike, and today my neighbours are four friendly Chinese families, we share the same common corridor, and we share our opinions with each other. I have also seen the tremendous progress amongst the Malay Community. During the sixties to the eighties, you hardly see a Malay, more so a Malay lady driving a car, but today I believe out of 10 Malay families at least six or seven may own a car and it s a common sight to see a well-groomed Malay housewife driving a car, my wife is one. At one time in point, I disobeyed Mr Lee Kuan Yew, I told my children, 4 sons and 3 daughters, to have as many children as possible. Now I have 29 grandchildren and one great grandchild. My sons on their own right are professionals, they work hard, they had to, because they have a lot of mouth to feed. My youngest son was selected as the Youth Entrepreneur of the Year in 2007 by the Malay Chamber of Commerce. Two of my daughters are in managerial positions and the one that is staying with me is carrying out the legacy of her father and is now working in Singapore Powergrid, a subsidiary of Singapore Power, the Company that I retired from after 48 years of service. One of my grandson, a football nut, is one of the First Eleven in the first session, and one of my granddaughter gave Singapore a gold medal in the shooting team event in the Commonwealth Game 2010 in Delhi and also breaking the world record held by India. I am not here to brag about my children but to establish a fact that Mr Lee Kuan Yew has make it such that, in Singapore, if you are prepared to work for it, irrespective of what race you belong to or religion that you believe in, you can be successful. Mr Lee did not believe in spoon feeding and true to his words, nothing is for free. This is what that make Singapore a Progressive Society. Page 19 of 34

20 Mr Lee is a no nonsense prime minister and in all situations, he acted firmly, sternly and precisely. He has made Singapore a land of opportunities. He has sown the seeds for us to harvest. There is no doubt about that. Thank you Mr Lee. # # # Page 20 of 34

21 9. Tribute by Lim Boon Heng Having worked with trade unions when he was a young lawyer, Mr Lee Kuan Yew knew workers worries, their hopes and aspirations. He knew that every worker wants a good job, a good wage, to provide his family a good home, and his children a good education. He made job creation one of his top priorities. Tirelessly, he set out to attract investments, both foreign and local. The government also created jobs by setting up companies, like Singapore Airlines, Keppel, Sembawang, NOL. After we overcame the high unemployment of the 1960s, we have never had a serious extended period of unemployment. Most of the time, we experience a tight labour market. Government continues to focus on job creation. Beyond getting a job, every worker wants to improve his income year by year. He told us that sustainable wage increases come from higher productivity. He initiated, and led the Productivity Movement every year, until he stepped down as Prime Minister. We took our eye off productivity for a while, but we are back, realizing that we have to promote productivity all the time. It is a journey without end. He set the tone for stable industrial relations there has to be fair play. Mr Lee said: Developing the economy, increasing productivity, increasing returns, these make sense only when fair play and fair shares make it worth everyone s while to put in his share of effort for group survival and group prosperity. When unions went astray, and foolish action threatened group survival or group prosperity, he took us to task. Like when port workers slowed down work during normal working time, so that they could get double or triple wages on weekends or public holidays. The port, the lifeblood of the economy, could not be allowed to degenerate into inefficiency. He went down to the port, had the gates locked until he had finished talking sense to union leaders and workers. Today we have the best port. Like when pilots of Singapore Airlines threatened the survival of this national icon. Shortly after I joined the NTUC in 1981, I was present in this conference hall when he addressed the pilots, and the management. If the nonsense did not stop, he said, he would not hesitate to close down SIA, and start a new airline. Again in 2004, Mr Lee played a critical role in resolving the wage dispute between Singapore Airlines and the pilots union. A labour dispute in SIA affects not just the company and its employees, it affects Singapore. Page 21 of 34

22 When an issue affected the wider community, he took the bull by the horns. With clarity of thought, he overcame the obstacles, and put the right solution in place. He had been a good mentor. Brother Goh Chee Wee and I were invited to lunch with him regularly, when both of us were Assistant Secretaries-General. He asked us to tell him workers concerns, and gave us advice. When we went to lunch shortly after the two-day strike at Hydril in 1986, he was angry. What did we think we were doing? Can Singapore continue to attract investments to create jobs, if our unions were seen to be strike-happy? We explained that we went on strike only as a last resort, because the management had repeatedly refused to come to the negotiating table, had victimized a union official, and ignored the Ministry of Labour. But he told us not to send the wrong message to the world at large. When we act to protect workers, we should not compromise the well-being of all other workers. Unions have a role too, to create a climate favorable to attracting investments, to create new jobs. So, instead of relying on industrial action, we have taken the path of developing trust among the three social partners unions, management and government. Through tripartism, we ensure that there is fair play. Mr Lee Kuan Yew devoted his whole life to Singaporeans. We were his abiding concern. He taught us to be self-reliant. He reminded us that No one owes us a living. There is no iron rice bowl each of us has a porcelain rice bowl, which each of us has to look after carefully. We have to be a rugged society. You can say it was tough love, but he gave us dignity. He created the conditions for us to achieve, if we work hard. With a positive work ethic, when we achieve, we are justifiably proud, because we you and I we did it. Let us never forget his success formula - hard work, co-operation, fair play, raising productivity - and build on the rich legacy he has left us. # # # Page 22 of 34

23 10. Tribute by Fang Chin Poh 今天, 大家都怀着悲痛的心情, 在此向建国总理, 新加坡国父李光耀先生告别 国父将他一生献给了新加坡, 把新加坡带入第一世界国家 我是范清坡, 目前是新捷运的一名车长, 同时也是全国交通工友联合会的秘书长 我从小开始就对巴士产生了一些情感 长大后, 上学时, 又开始了另一段巴士的情缘 每天追着巴士, 挤着巴士 还记得当时是新加坡电车公司的巴士, 很陈旧, 而且还是木制的 到了中学时代, 巴士公司已经变成了三家公司, 即合众 集合及联合巴士 当时的交通状况已改善了很多 当时的李光耀总理指示交通部长对巴士作出很大的改革 首先把十一家巴士公司合并成三家, 而且把废弃的巴士改装成餐厅, 让巴士工友有一个可以遮风挡雨的地方用餐 到了八十年代, 开始踏入社会工作, 也很机缘凑巧加入了新加坡巴士公司, 当了一名售票员 当时总觉得巴士公司很乱, 一定要靠关系, 才能获得好路线 因此在 83 年的时候, 毅然加入了工会 也因为此, 当职工总会主办了一场与总理李光耀先生的对话会, 我有幸地参与了这次的对话会 这是我第一次见到总理, 很兴奋 也很期待 当天的对话会, 就听到总理说要改善低薪工友的一系列计划 我还记得总理说要提升低薪工友的生活, 一定要让他们去接受培训, 以提升他们的技术, 从而提高生产力 听了总理一席话后, 我鼓起勇气问了一些关于巴士工友福利的问题 当时总理告诉我, 他也察觉到这些问题, 他正在着手解决这些问题 过了没多久, 他真的实现了他的承诺, 把所有路边的终站, 都迁到了转换站, 而且从一些主要稠密的住宅区开始 以前的路边终站, 要上厕所须要到邻近的咖啡店去, 而且卫生条件也差 现在搬进了转换站, 不止解决了上厕所的问题, 而且还有更舒适的环境休息 用餐 这要感谢李光耀总理的体恤, 交通工友才有今天这么优良的工作环境 过了没多久, 我接到公司的通知, 要把所有售票员重新受训, 接受司机的训练 当时很多人都很担心, 担心从此将会失业 在工会的劝说下, 很多售票员都接受了转换跑道, 我也是其中一个受惠者 这又实现了李光耀先生要改善低薪工友的生活水平 新加坡的成功之道, 不是一朝一夕的事 是由国父李光耀先生带领着他的团队, 和我们建国一代, 一步一脚印地走过来的 五十年前的新加坡不是这个样子的 新加坡能有今天的繁华, 在世界上受到一些大国的尊敬, 有赖于建国总理 国父李光耀先生的诚信 多智及远见, 能做为新加坡公民, 我感到无比的骄傲 记得国庆创作歌曲里有一段写着, 曾几何时, 当别人说新加坡不能做到的, 我们做到了 曾几何时, 当困难需要我们去解决时, 我们都克服了 这两句歌词的含意, 完全体现了李光耀先生的思维 他那种下定决心要完成使命的意力 Page 23 of 34

24 国父, 您安息吧! 全体新加坡人民要对您说, 谢谢您为新加坡的下一代奉献 您的一生, 您太辛苦了 新加坡人民会与政府一起并肩作战, 把新加坡打造成一个 更舒适 更繁荣的国家, 完成您为这个国家塑造的远景 永别了, 国父! # # # Page 24 of 34

25 11. Tribute by Nur Rafidah Rosdi 1. Mr Lee Kuan Yew became Singapore s first elected Prime Minister in 1959 at the age of 36 and remained in various positions for over forty years until he stepped down in He was Singapore s most influential politician. Mr Lee was a model leader. He is acknowledged by many to be one of the greatest peacetime political leaders of the 20th century. 2. Mr Lee s ability to transform Singapore from a shipping port with no natural resources to one of the richest, safest and most orderly countries in the world demonstrated his exemplary abilities as a leader and politician. He was a highlyrespected leader. Many times- his guidance was sought by leaders from other countries. 3. As a young union leader, I am inspired by his charisma, his ability to influence and transform others. He inspires, motivates everyone around him and appeals to his followers values and sense of higher purpose to execute his vision for a better Singapore. 4. As an employee, I am encouraged by his vision, his leadership skills and draw many lessons from how he juggled many aspects of his life. I learnt with courage and strong belief in oneself, all our dreams can come true. Most importantly, I learnt never to stop believing in myself. It s how we prioritise things in life correctly. Mr Lee Kuan Yew said If you want to reach your goals and dreams, you cannot do it without discipline. 5. As Prime Minister, Mr Lee displayed the attitude and passions of a servant leader who placed service before self-interest. He was always concerned with developing his people s welfare and socioeconomic status, health and education standards. 6. Mr Lee listened first and paid attention to gain insight into the concerns of workers, their requirements and problems they faced before deciding what course of action to take. I learnt his leadership style was indeed consultative. He discussed closely with group members and worked with them side by side. 7. Mr Lee believed strongly in the importance of growth, better living and selfreliance. This served as the basis for what he envisaged for the Singapore we know today. With his knowledge, experience and dynamic communication skills, Mr Lee displayed excellent leadership. He was persistent and determined in his resolve. Mr Lee is testimony of what hard work, perseverance and discipline can achieve. Mr Lee Kuan Yew achieved what many world leaders dream of and accomplished. All these without violence. He was truly an inspiring leader. Page 25 of 34

26 8. May his good works live on and we build on his legacy to make Singapore the best place for workers. Thank you, Mr Lee. # # # Page 26 of 34

27 12. Tribute by Arasu Duraisamy Sisters and Brothers, I would like to first say that although I do not know Mr Lee Kuan Yew personally, His impact has touched my life and the lives of my family. My father was an immigrant who came to Singapore from India in the 50 s and I m a second generation Singaporean. In those years, life was hard for my parents. My father used to share stories of life in the 60s, the difficult working and living conditions of the day and the prospect of having racial and ideological riots and needless to say, workers going on strikes were common. My Dad, reflecting of his childhood in India, told me then that the fundamental difference between the Singapore government and other Asian governments of the day was that our government ensures that her citizens are taken care off by ensuring civic peace, job security and housing. I agree wholeheartedly with my father, let me now talk about Mr Lee, who is today, considered THE father of our nation. Founding Father Lee Kuan Yew built a society that was fair and equal to every citizen. He did not give fishes to every citizen but taught them how to fish. This was the kind of meritocratic environment I grew up in. The majority of Singaporeans today do not just have jobs; they have good meaningful jobs! When the present generation grows old, there is no need for any welfare state treatment because the CPF we have today is much more comprehensive than the form of CPF the colonial government had left us with. The lesson I learnt from Mr Lee was; although no one owed us a living and that we have to stand on our own feet, the government will always give us opportunities to do so. Mr Lee might always have his detractors, but who can deny that his way works for Singapore? Today, when we leave the Singapore Conference Hall, just take a look at the skyscrapers around us. Ask each other, in any other country, would this be possible in 50 years? 50 years ago, most of which we stand on, were mud flats and shop houses. I remember at a Labour Movement appreciation dinner, Mr Lee, shared with us some experiences that can be seen as lessons for the future. On foreign workers, when Mr Lee was a young Prime Minister in the 60s, popular sentiments pushed for the expulsion of expatriates seen to be agents of the colonial government. However, Mr Lee, ever a practical man, felt that we needed these foreign talents in order to allow for the economy to be stable in a period of socio-economic upheaval. We needed them around to help equip the local workforce with certain skills so locals are eventually able to do the same higher level work. This form of up-skilling and training of our Singaporean Core still applies today, no matter what many may say about how Singapore should be less welcoming towards the Page 27 of 34

28 foreign talents amongst us. This showed me that Mr Lee is a man who did not waver from his convictions if he believed it was good for the country. His forcefulness and iron will, was legendary. Again, Sisters and Brothers, I bring you back to what we see today, this beautiful garden city state, a nation respected by the world. This is a realization of his vision from years ago when Singapore was a relatively unimportant backwater. We have truly gone from a Third World to First World nation due to his pragmatic approach to governance. Mr Lee once said, I always tried to be correct, not politically correct. Just that few words speak volumes of him as a man that built modern Singapore. He never cared about anybody s egos and agendas; he simply wanted to do what was right. Thank you, Brother Lee, for the dedication of your life to our country. We will never forget you. Rest in Peace. # # # Page 28 of 34

29 13. Tribute by Seah Keng Tia Dear Mr. Lee, 9th of August is a date which all Singaporean know and are familiar with, what is special about this year is SG50, a jubilee year. Everyone is looking forward to celebrate with you. As the nation and our people prepare to celebrate our historic milestone, it is timely for us to reflect on how far we have come. I believe we would not have been able to achieve what we have without your leadership and foresight. 50 years ago, Singapore s landscape and predicament were very different from now. There were many uncertainties. Life was hard. That generation of Singaporeans like my grandparents worked and carried simple hopes of just putting food on the table. Singapore s future looked bleak. The nation wept with you when you carried the news of our separation from Malaya. However, you did not let that defeat us. With determination and dedication, you and your team transformed Singapore from kampong villages to a modern and vibrant garden city. When I was in school, my teachers described Singapore as a chilli padi, I did not really comprehend it then. As I grew older, I appreciate how appropriate the term chilli padi fits us. Yes, we are small, but very feisty. And we managed to rise to the top even though we have no natural resources. What we truly have as Singaporean is the never give up spirit that I saw in your heart drumming speeches. You said, We will never fall, we will make it, with you and me in it. This has never fail to spur on each and every Singaporean. Without your firm faith and selflessness towards building our nation, all these achievements would not have been possible. Being a young worker in Singapore, I see fair and equal opportunities are always there as long as you work hard, regardless of race, language, religion or background. This is something which many of us take for granted. With your leadership, global companies chose to invest in Singapore, bringing in technology and equipment into Singapore and this gave us jobs and a good quality of life. I work in Oil and Gas industry, and it is hard to imagine a land without natural resources being one of the world s leading refineries. Your pursuit of excellence gave Singapore a name on the world map. I recently read an article about you mastering the Chinese language. You want to acquire knowledge and you said that it is a must to practise Mandarin every day. I especially like the part when you mentioned, Since I have already invested so Page 29 of 34

30 much time and effort in it, I might as well carry on. Your discipline and thirst for knowledge is something which I hope I can instil in myself. Mr. Lee you have contributed your whole life in building Singapore. When I heard you passed away, I grieved, not just I, many fellow Singaporean and friends worldwide have lost an inspiring leader. Someone who has seen generations of Singapore through the tough times. Like a strict father to many, and for me, a grandfather who s many untold stories would only be learnt through reading of books. Rest well Mr. Lee, you will always be remembered. # # # Page 30 of 34

31 14. Tribute by Lim Swee Say 23 years ago, a foreign leader was in Singapore to study our approach to nation building. On the last day of his visit, he called on Mr Lee. He told Mr Lee how impressed he was by the state-of-the-art factories in Jurong, tall buildings in Shenton Way, modern shopping malls in Orchard Road, and the beauty of Sentosa. When he finished, Mr Lee asked, 'have you talked to our workers, visited our schools where their children study, public hospitals where their families are cared for, HDB estates where they live, hawker centres where they eat, and the MRT and buses that take them everywhere, everyday? Mr Lee was pro-business, because without foreign investments, economic growth and jobs, we would all be poor together. However, Mr Lee was even more pro-worker. To him, economic growth was important, but that was just the means, not the end objective in itself. The end objective for Mr Lee was to change the lives of our workers and people for the better. Mr Lee saw no conflict in being pro-business and pro-worker. He believed that the two could, and must, go hand-in-hand, mutually reinforcing each other for our progress as a nation to be sustainable. A point he reiterated at NTUC s 50 th Anniversary Dinner in I quote, Growth is meaningless unless it is shared by the workers, shared not only directly in wage increases but (also) indirectly in better homes, better schools, better hospitals, better playing fields and generally, a healthier environment for families to bring up their children. Such was the importance of his commitment to the workers and people of Singapore, that leaders after him have also embraced the same. I quote, I am glad that since I stood down as Prime Minister, successive Prime Ministers, first PM Goh Chok Tong, now PM Lee Hsien Loong, both had the same policies pro-worker, pro-trade unions. Rewinding back, after that courtesy call on Mr Lee, the foreign leader told his delegation members that Singapore s way of nation building was hard to learn, and even harder to adopt. Page 31 of 34