We grieve but are grateful, optimistic
AS SINGAPORE mourns the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our grief is accompanied by deep gratitude to a great man who devoted his adult life to the service of our nation.
It is because of Mr Lee and his pioneer team that today, we share the core values of meritocracy, multiracialism, incorruptibility and self-reliance.
As some grapple with the thought of what Singapore would be like without Mr Lee, we can be optimistic about the country's future.
This is because he put in place institutions and values to ensure that Singapore continues to thrive without depending on any one individual.
Our best tribute to him is to build a democracy of deeds and voices - to do what is right and to speak up for what we believe in.
David Chan (Professor)
Job opportunities created for many
MR LIONEL de Souza, vice-president of the Singapore Police Retirees' Association, said that he would "probably be a foreign worker digging a drain in another country", if not for former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew ("Mr Lee remains critically ill for a third day"; last Friday).
If not for Mr Lee, I would probably be a maid working in some household in another country.
But because of what Mr Lee and his team did for Singapore, opportunities were there for me to find a good job, despite the fact that I am not highly educated.
Life was hard initially, but with hard work - and the opportunities that came - life became much better.
I am now a retiree and am enjoying my retirement years doing things I want to do, and living happily in my Singapore.
My thoughts are with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his family.
Sophia Tay (Ms)
Much to thank architect of S'pore for
WE MOURN the loss of a very great man of enormous vision, foresight and world views, a man of well-known international stature and standing; in fact, one of the rarest kinds of statesmen.
Some of us would mourn in silent solitude, and some in trepidation as to what the future holds after his death.
However, most of us revere the fact that Mr Lee Kuan Yew left a strong legacy that will see us through and stand us in good stead for many years to come.
We are, indeed, thankful and grateful for the architect of modern Singapore.
He was also the brains behind the building of the highly successful Changi Airport.
Therefore, it would be apt to rename Changi Airport as the Lee Kuan Yew Airport.
As many would say, how one's airport looks and functions with success is a reflection of how well the country is doing.
For this, we have Mr Lee to thank.
Philip Chai Min Fook
Devote chapter in textbooks to him
MR LEE Kuan Yew is our economic miracle, founding father of modern Singapore, and a respected statesman the world over.
I hope the Ministry of Education will devote a special chapter in our schools' history books to our nation's founding father.
It should include excerpts from his memoirs and milestones he created for our nation.
In this way, not only can we pay tribute to him, but we can also ensure that the younger generation will not take this nation for granted.
May his memory and lessons live with us for generations to come.
Rodney Neo Eng Chong
Establish exhibition on pioneer leaders
FORMER prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's death marks a sad day in the history of Singapore.
The best tribute we can pay him, as the father and founder of modern-day Singapore, is to never forget his selfless fighting spirit for the betterment of the lives of all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion.
I suggest we establish a permanent exhibition chronicling the lives and work of Mr Lee and his team of pioneer generation leaders, who sacrificed and contributed so much to transform Singapore from a small, Third World country into a cosmopolitan First World city-state.
This would be the best National Education platform to instil in our young the never-say-die attitude and can-do spirit of our pioneer generation leaders.
This spirit must live on and be strengthened as a legacy of Mr Lee and other pioneer leaders.
That's the greatest tribute we can pay.
Yeow Hwee Ming
AS SINGAPORE mourns the death of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our grief is accompanied by deep gratitude to a great man who devoted his adult life to the service of our nation.
It is because of Mr Lee and his pioneer team that today, we share the core values of meritocracy, multiracialism, incorruptibility and self-reliance.
As some grapple with the thought of what Singapore would be like without Mr Lee, we can be optimistic about the country's future.
This is because he put in place institutions and values to ensure that Singapore continues to thrive without depending on any one individual.
Our best tribute to him is to build a democracy of deeds and voices - to do what is right and to speak up for what we believe in.
David Chan (Professor)
Job opportunities created for many
MR LIONEL de Souza, vice-president of the Singapore Police Retirees' Association, said that he would "probably be a foreign worker digging a drain in another country", if not for former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew ("Mr Lee remains critically ill for a third day"; last Friday).
If not for Mr Lee, I would probably be a maid working in some household in another country.
But because of what Mr Lee and his team did for Singapore, opportunities were there for me to find a good job, despite the fact that I am not highly educated.
Life was hard initially, but with hard work - and the opportunities that came - life became much better.
I am now a retiree and am enjoying my retirement years doing things I want to do, and living happily in my Singapore.
My thoughts are with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his family.
Sophia Tay (Ms)
Much to thank architect of S'pore for
WE MOURN the loss of a very great man of enormous vision, foresight and world views, a man of well-known international stature and standing; in fact, one of the rarest kinds of statesmen.
Some of us would mourn in silent solitude, and some in trepidation as to what the future holds after his death.
However, most of us revere the fact that Mr Lee Kuan Yew left a strong legacy that will see us through and stand us in good stead for many years to come.
We are, indeed, thankful and grateful for the architect of modern Singapore.
He was also the brains behind the building of the highly successful Changi Airport.
Therefore, it would be apt to rename Changi Airport as the Lee Kuan Yew Airport.
As many would say, how one's airport looks and functions with success is a reflection of how well the country is doing.
For this, we have Mr Lee to thank.
Philip Chai Min Fook
Devote chapter in textbooks to him
MR LEE Kuan Yew is our economic miracle, founding father of modern Singapore, and a respected statesman the world over.
I hope the Ministry of Education will devote a special chapter in our schools' history books to our nation's founding father.
It should include excerpts from his memoirs and milestones he created for our nation.
In this way, not only can we pay tribute to him, but we can also ensure that the younger generation will not take this nation for granted.
May his memory and lessons live with us for generations to come.
Rodney Neo Eng Chong
Establish exhibition on pioneer leaders
FORMER prime minister Lee Kuan Yew's death marks a sad day in the history of Singapore.
The best tribute we can pay him, as the father and founder of modern-day Singapore, is to never forget his selfless fighting spirit for the betterment of the lives of all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion.
I suggest we establish a permanent exhibition chronicling the lives and work of Mr Lee and his team of pioneer generation leaders, who sacrificed and contributed so much to transform Singapore from a small, Third World country into a cosmopolitan First World city-state.
This would be the best National Education platform to instil in our young the never-say-die attitude and can-do spirit of our pioneer generation leaders.
This spirit must live on and be strengthened as a legacy of Mr Lee and other pioneer leaders.
That's the greatest tribute we can pay.
Yeow Hwee Ming
