Lee Kuan Yew receives honorary degree from NUS

SINGAPORE — He has been conferred some 15 honorary degrees from foreign universities, but yesterday, former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew received his first honorary degree from a Singapore university — the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Mr Lee, 89, who attended the special ceremony marking the occasion at the Istana yesterday evening, is the 24th person to be conferred a Doctor of Laws, which is the highest form of recognition from the university, and the oldest person to be conferred an honorary degree from NUS.

The Doctor of Laws is awarded to outstanding individuals who have rendered distinguished service, and had a great impact on the university and Singapore community. The previous recipient was former Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong in 2010.

Presiding over the ceremony yesterday was President Tony Tan, the Chancellor of NUS, and NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan.

Present were Mr Lee’s family — Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife Ho Ching, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Professor Lee Wei Ling — as well as Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and business leaders, NUS trustees, professors, students and alumni.

In his speech, Prof Tan described Mr Lee as a “deep thinker” and an “immensely practical leader”, who could see the big picture and had the “boldness” to pursue an “unconventional course”.

“While always realistic about Singapore’s limitations and vulnerabilities, his leadership was always marked by hope and a sense of collective purpose, qualities that have continued to the present day and which energise all of us to do even better for Singapore for the future,” he said.

Mr Lee, who did not speak at the ceremony, made his way into the Istana Banquet Hall with a steady step to receive his 16th honorary degree. In a statement issued by NUS, he said: “Education has been critical to the growth and success of Singapore. I hope that Singaporeans will continue to seek out an education that nurtures them to think critically and innovatively to meet the diverse and complex challenges ahead. I thank NUS for conferring on me this honorary degree.”

NUS Law Faculty Dean Professor Simon Chesterman praised Mr Lee’s contributions to Singapore, noting that dignitaries such as former United Kingdom Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Chinese President Xi Jinping regarded him with respect. “(Mr Lee’s) success launched a country, inspired a continent and earned admiration from around the world,” he said.