Committee to gather views from public on memorial for S'pore’s founding fathers

SINGAPORE — A committee will be set up to gather views from the public, and conceptualise a memorial for Singapore’s founding fathers, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today (April 13).

The committee will be chaired by former Shell Companies Singapore chairman Lee Tzu Yang, and if the idea resonates among Singaporeans, the committee will take the project further, he said.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who gave a ministerial statement in Parliament today, was responding to questions from Members of Parliament (MPs). They had asked for various commemorative initiatives on the late Mr Lee, including dollar notes with Mr Lee’s image and having a founder’s day.

In response to suggestions on having a Founder’s Day, Mr Lee Hsien Loong noted that the late Mr Lee was always conscious that it was a team effort in Singapore’s success.

The memorial for all of the founding fathers could be coupled with an exhibition gallery to honour their legacy and educate future generations. The late Mr Lee – who passed away on March 23 – had thought there was value in such a memorial, said Mr Lee Hsien Loong.

“A founder’s memorial need not be a grand structure, but it must stand for our ideals, our values, our hopes and aspirations,” he added.

Meanwhile, he also noted that the notes and coins bearing the image of the late Mr Lee can be considered for the future.

He pointed out that the Monetary Authority of Singapore has already planned for a set of commemorative notes and coins for the SG50 celebrations and were designed before Mr Lee passed away.

Revealing details of the SG50 commemorative notes, Mr Lee Hsien Loong said that one set will comprise of five $10 notes and one $50 note. These notes will capture significant moments in history and aspirations that underpin Singapore’s progress, among other things.

“On the $50 note, one element in the design will be a transparent panel showing Mr Lee with fist raised, leading the crowd with the rallying cry of “Merdeka!”, said Mr Lee Hsien Loong.

The SG50 commemorative set of coins were launched by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat on April 4.