No story would be complete without its end. I was only in the same room with LKY once in my life - that was in the NTU ministerial forum in 2011. What struck me then was that here was a man who had spent his whole life on Singapore. If anyone was to creditably say he succeeded in life - it was lky. Yet here was someone who always felt his work was never done. He famously said the statement "Rest on our laurels? No, you rest when you are dead!"
His work ethics is incredible too, stories of his red box and his sole dedication to making Singapore work went viral as we learnt more about a master politician and visionary leader who was able to gather data, listen to opinions, yet have the guts to take the best pragmatic choice.
He was also driven by the very fact that he cared deeply about Singaporeans. His primary motivation was never about money or luxury. He practiced frugality and focus purely on how this country can progress in this ever changing world. Even when he stepped down as PM, he pushed for the liberalization of the banking sector and mergers of banks such that they become global players - today 3 banks of Singapore are regional players (DBS, UOB and OCBC).
Perhaps the best testament to this was the very fact how nearly half a million Singaporeans queue day and night to simply say goodbye to this gentleman lying in state - myself included (queuing for 9h30min!).
What I truly learnt from him is that when you primary motivation is not money, when your primary motivation is pure passion for doing what is right, what is good for your fellow countrymen and putting your full heart and soul into that - you can achieve great things.
Goodbye Mr Lee. You be dearly missed. Singapore will live on for you - your spirit will live on through us - A nation that will never say die, that against all odds - find a way to triumph and become the best we can be. Simply because we are One People, One Nation, One Singapore
