We will continue the journey that Mr Lee Kuan Yew began: Chia Yong Yong

SINGAPORE - Nominated Member of Parliament Chia Yong Yong today (March 26) paid homage to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew in a Special Sitting of Parliament. Here is her speech:

Mdm Speaker, I speak in honour of a man whom I had never met. Yet, I knew him, from my earliest memories, and for a long time, as my Prime Minister. I never met him, never spoke with him, not even when he came to Parliamentary sittings. I never met him, but he did much for me, my family and for my country. He was an icon to me during my growing-up years. Even as a child, I respected him greatly. But, when I grew into a young adult, I became critical of some of his views and policies.

Who was this man? I will never know. Some say that he was ruthless. But he said he was accountable for the lives of a few million people. He said it was about his life, and our lives.

Some say he was ambitious for himself. But he assumed leadership over what, given the circumstances at that time, could have been a catastrophic failure, dooming his name in history - forever.

Some say he was arrogant. It would, indeed, be an unusual human being who is not. On the other hand, I recall he said this of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee: “Of all my Cabinet colleagues, it was Goh Keng Swee who made the greatest difference to the outcome for Singapore… When he held a contrary view, he would challenge my decisions and make me re-examine the premises on which they were made. As a result, we reached better decisions for Singapore.”

He said he was not concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity. Again, some say he was arrogant. But he said he thought a leader who was thus concerned is a weak leader. It is a hard lesson for me. Some say that he was ruthless, unforgiving, unrelenting. But children of his political foes had rights and opportunities like any other children. They were able to enter professions, able to become lawyers, doctors, public servants. Because, this is Singapore.

Did he do well for Singapore? Look around us. We can say what we will, history shall be the judge. History will judge those who act, and history will judge those who only speak. As for me, I am convinced that if I were born in Singapore in an earlier era, or if I were born in a similar era, but in another Asian country, I would not, being a girl with a disability coming from a poor family with no connections, I would not have been able to go to school, enter a profession and serve the community today. But I was born in Singapore, in this era.

Shortly after he had taken office, he said he had the lives of a few million people to account for. He said Singapore would survive.

By any measure, Singapore has more than survived. Today, we are a reckoned player in the international scene. Today, our lives have improved, and Singaporeans have a strong foundation upon which to work hard to make life better for ourselves and our children...

My parents taught me that when I take a drink of water, I must remember its source: 饮水思源

Son of Singapore. Father of Singapore. Pardon my inability to craft a tribute worthy of you.

Words fail me. And today, all that I can say to you, my first Prime Minister, is what I never had the opportunity to tell you in person: Thank you, Mr Lee.

My father pays tribute to Mr Lee thus: 建国之道 光耀承传，建国之路 人民承担.

He has completed his sojourn with us. But his journey, and the journey that he and our forefathers began, has not ended. That journey will continue. This is our Singapore. And we will build it, and we will protect it.