Lessons for the young, from ‘everyone’s godfather’

He was out with his family last Saturday and chanced upon an exhibition and community gallery on Mr Lee Kuan Yew at the Marine Parade Community Club.

Mr Muhammad Nur Hakimin took the opportunity to teach his four young children more about Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, whom he dubbed “everyone’s godfather”.

“Mr Lee was like family to everyone in Singapore. He gave up his life for us ... he turned nothing into something. Without his help, there would be no home,” said Mr Hakimin, 26.

The late Mr Lee’s emphasis on family ties and resilience has inspired Mr Hakimin, an SMRT technician. When he married his wife, Ms Fardiana, 29, about six years ago, things were “very hard”. He had just completed National Service and they were struggling to make ends meet.

But Mr Lee’s values spurred him to work harder, he said. Mr Hakimin is now able to support his family, and they will move into a Build-to-Order flat soon.

“I’ll teach my children Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s values. It’s very important for them to know how much he sacrificed for our country,” he said.

Another visitor, 75-year-old Mr Tan Kok Ki, called Mr Lee’s values of patriotism and family the “foundation of the nation” and wants to pass them on to his grandson, Aaron, five.

Business analyst Cindy Chen, 33, who has two children, also said Mr Lee’s “determination and love for the country” was something parents should teach their kids.

Regional sales manager Eugene Tan, 36, added: “He stressed the importance of family bonds ... He didn’t talk a lot about his family (when he was alive), but it was clear in his actions (the) love for his wife and family.”

School bus driver Dennis Ng, 50, said he admires Mr Lee’s patience and confidence and hopes for the same in his six-year-old daughter, Anthea.

Ms Brenda Ching and Mr Gavin Chan told TODAY that the exhibition, organised by grassroots organisations in Marine Parade, was meant to showcase values, such as filial piety and multi-generational bonding, that were emphasised by Mr Lee. Marine Parade, Singapore’s first and only housing estate built entirely on reclaimed land, could not have been possible without Mr Lee, said Ms Ching, chairman of the Marine Terrace Breeze residents’ committee.

“He had a great vision: That what was once sea could become land. We wanted to show that he built a home for us — how much the community touches on the family,” said Mr Chan, a member of the Marine Parade Citizens’ Consultative Committee.

The exhibition and community gallery will run at Marine Parade Community Club until Sunday.