On 27 March 2015, approximately 10,000 people attended the Lee Kuan Yew memorial service at the Nee Soon GRC venue; among them were 250 Tzu Chi volunteers who bowed in respect to him three times. (Photo by Lai Tong Heng)
In the early hours of 23 March 2015, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed on at the age of 91. Over the last half century, the man known as the father of modern Singapore lead Singapore’s transformation from a colonial backwater to a developed country; in his 52 years as Prime Minister, Senior Minister and later as Minister Mentor, Mr Lee was active on the world stage and President of the United States Mr Barack Obama paid tribute to him by calling him a “giant of history.”
The Singapore government declared the national mourning period to be from 23 to 29 March 2015 and gave Mr Lee a state funeral. On 25 March 2015, the casket of Mr Lee was transferred to Parliament House for the lying in state, where members of the public could pay their last respects till 28 March 2015.
There were 18 community tribute sites and other public venues set up for the public to honour Mr Lee, and on the 28 March 2015, Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) attended the memorial held at the Nee Soon GRC upon invitation. A total of 250 Tzu Chi volunteers were present during the one hour service as community leaders recounted their memories of Mr Lee, followed by members of the public lighting candles and signing off their messages in the condolence book.
CEO of the Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) Mr Loh Swee Seh paid his tribute to Mr Lee, saying that Mr Lee Kuan Yew gave his whole life towards developing Singapore from a little red dot to a bright pearl on the world stage. Though a wise man has passed away, his legacy lives on and Mr Loh observed that the gratitute shown by Singaporeans was palpable during this period.
The Singapore chapter of the Tzu Chi Foundation has been in operation for 22 years. During the 50th anniversary year of Singapore, Tzu Chi hopes to maximize the opportunities presented by a calm and peaceful society to make further inroads in its missions of charity, medicine, education and culture, continuing its work of purifying hearts and harmonizing society.
At the conclusion of the memorial service, members of the public lit candles in front of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s image. (Photo by Bernard Ng)
Looking back on 13 November 2010, Tzu Chi attended the Kim Tian West residents’ committee Tree Planting Day event, and set up a recycling station. The then Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew was also present. (Photo by Chai Yu Leong)
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