Remembering Lee Kuan Yew
Recognized as the founding father of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, was born on September 16, 1923. Born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, his story was highly regarded as one of the most inspirational stories in the world. He proved to anyone that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything. He inspired a lot of people including a number of world leaders who sought out his advice. As the first Prime Minister, he governed for three decades. He is known as the only leader to actually transform a third-world country into a first-world status in one single generation. He was named twice as Time’s Most Influential people. First was 1990 and second on 2010.
He wrote several books that depicted the history of Singapore when it was still colonized by Britain, occupied by the Japanese, merged and then separated from Malaysia, until its economic rise to being a first-world country. He always believed in unity and kinship. He strived to preserve the merger but, unfortunately, he failed. This paved the way for Singapore’s independence. Although it was a really difficult startespecially since the country lacks the needed natural resources, he helped the country survive.Through the years, he made several changes that contributed the positive growth of the country.
On November 6, 2011, it was revealed that Lee Kuan Yew was suffering from peripheral neuropathy. Two years later, on the 15th of February, 2013, he suffered a prolonged cardiac dysrhythmia and then two years after he was admitted again for severe pneumonia. Over the years, he grew weaker and on March 23, 2015, he passed away. He was 91 years old. People mourned for his passing. On March 29, 2015, his body is going to undergo basic cremation at Mandai Crematorium. The streets are filled with mourning citizens as they wait for the funeral procession of Lee Kuan Yew’s body towards a cultural center in the west of the country.Among the funeral songs that people sang was Majulah Singapore which means Forward Singapore in Malay. This is their chant and tribute to what Lee Kuan Yew has contributed to the country.
