As long as we live, remember 2015

2015 has been an emotional year.

It is the year when we have to bid goodbye to our founding father Lee Kuan Yew. It is also the year of our jubilee celebration.

“This emotional year has left a deep mark on all of us, individually and as a society,” Mr Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday (Dec 6) at the PAP Convention.

Whether one is a pioneer or a young student, there was a collective “moment of grief” when the late Mr Lee died and a “moment of celebration” when Singaporeans sang the national anthem and recited the pledge on National Day, he added.

“So for all of us here, because of 2015, I think we have a new consciousness; we were changed,” said Mr Lee. “As long as we live, remember this year.”

We are now in the post-LKY era and the SG50 celebrations are coming to an end but the Singapore spirit must live on and the people must “build on what we’ve experienced together”.

Fullerton Hotel gazetted a national monument

The stunning Fullerton Hotel with its neoclassical architecture, formerly Fullerton Building, is gazetted today as a national monument in a ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong..

PM Lee said the building holds special meaning to Singaporeans, who remember it fondly as the General Post Office, and as an important point of reference for public roads such as Mile Zero.

He added that he has personal memories of the place, as it was at Fullerton Square that political parties held lunchtime rallies during General Elections.

"Mr Lee Kuan Yew would speak at the PAP rally, always a major event in the campaign, and delivered many stirring and memorable speeches usually in the sun or in the pouring rain. My mother would listen to him from the balcony of the Fullerton Building.

"When I first entered politics in 1984, I too spoke at the Fullerton Square rally," said PM Lee.

Multiple historic events and milestones in Singapore's history have taken place within its walls.

It was where the British military made the decision to surrender to the Japanese; where the Japanese military administration department operated during World War II; and where Singapore Government departments such as the Ministry of Finance used to be housed.

The building also once had a lighthouse which guided ships into the Singapore Harbour. The lighthouse was installed on top of the building in 1958 to guide ships 30 miles away. It replaced the lighthouse on Fort Canning which was increasingly being blocked by new skyscrapers along the waterfront. The lighthouse was replaced by the Bedok Lighthouse in August 1978. 

Read more here: http://www.nhb.gov.sg/places/sites-and-monuments/national-monuments/former-fullerton-building

As One United People To Ensure Success

Excerpts from PM Lee's speech (8th S Rajaratnam lecture):

To be successful, we have to be united regardless race, language and religion "in order that we are not divided when we conduct our foreign policy and not weakened by others, taking advantage of our internal schisms."

We may be Indian Singaporeans, Malay Singaporeans or Chinese Singaporeans, but above all, we are Singaporeans first. We have to see the world through Singaporean eyes and advance Singapore's interests and our common interest.

We must be determined that we want to be Singaporean, to stand up in the world, and to be a shining red dot.

As Mr Rajaratnam said – "Being Singaporean is a matter not of ancestry, but of choice and conviction". If we make that choice and we have that conviction that we want Singapore to endure and prevail, then the rest can follow.

http://www.pmo.gov.sg/mediacentre/pm-lee-hsien-loong-8th-s-rajaratnam-lecture-27-november-2015

United Politically To Ensure Success: A Loyal Opposition

PM Lee Hsien Loong said at the 8th S Rajaratnam lecture that to be successful, Singapore must stay united politically.

This does not mean no domestic politics or political opposition.

It means that we must have an opposition that will understand Singapore’s fundamental interests in the world and will not seek to undermine Singapore's fundamental interest, either to court foreign support or to gain political points.

It means that after elections, government and opposition come together especially when we deal with other countries.

He cited Mr Chiam See Tong as one such opposition who when he travels overseas, either in an official delegation or as a Parliamentary delegate, he stands up for Singapore and closes ranks.

That is the norm which should really prevail in Singapore.

Sincere And Humble In Service

P
AP Convention 2015

A reminder to be sincere and humble in service and not to take voters for granted.

Giant On Global Stage: Addressing A Joint Session Of Congress in 1985

Then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had the rare honour of addressing a joint session of Congress in October 1985. He received a very long standing ovation at the end of his speech.

The video recording of the speech is found here: http://www.c-span.org/video/?171712-1%2Fprime-minister-singapore-addressed-joint-session-congress

However, due to the age of the original video, much of the footage is gone. The speech by Mr Lee is available only from 1 hour onwards.


His speech: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/lky19851009.pdf

ST Asian Of The Year: Regardless Of Race, Language Or Religion, A Nation Grieves

There is no life here he did not touch or shape in some fundamental way.

In life, Mr Lee Kuan Yew was for many years a ubiquitous figure, tough-minded and stern in the popular imagination.

In death, he drew the nation together in grief and prompted a renewed reflection of what it meant to be Singaporean.

It was a silent emotional bond, all the more powerful because it had hardly been publicly displayed before. And it persisted long after the official mourning period had ended.

Mr Lee formulated the need and basis for a multiracial, meritocratic Singaporean identity - based on justice and equality for all races and religions - very early on, and it was no coincidence his death also led to its fullest expression on the streets.