SINGAPORE – A packed House came together yesterday (March 26) in a historic sitting to pay tribute to the Republic’s founding Prime Minister.

Yesterday, 12 Members of Parliament, including Speaker Halimah

Yacob rose to pay tribute to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, in front of a public gallery filled with, among others, civil servants, former MPs and members of the Old Guard such as Mr Othman Wok, Mr Ong Pang Boon, and Mr Jek Yeun Thon who had fought many political battles with Mr Lee.

The absence of Mr Lee was keenly felt: A bouquet of white flowers occupying an empty seat was conspicuous amid a full house in Parliament. It was where Mr Lee used to sit.

Several of the MPs struggled to keep their emotions in check, wiping away tears as they spoke. The solemn mood was punctured by heartwarming accounts of Mr Lee. Leader of the House Ng Eng Hen quipped that he could hear Mr Lee’s reprimand in his ear, for the long wait that Singaporeans had to endure to pay their last respects to Mr Lee in Parliament House.

One by one, the MPs paid tribute to different aspects of Mr Lee’s life — from his unbridled passion for the country and his conviction as a politician, to his ability to make unpopular but necessary decisions. They also recounted how much they learnt from him as a mentor, and his caring and sensitive side underneath a tough exterior.

Mr Lee may have had his critics: Even yesterday, at the special Parliamentary sitting to pay tribute to the Republic’s founding Prime Minister, Opposition leader Low Thia Khiang showered Mr Lee with praise but took a jibe at People’s Action Party policies which Mr Low claims society “has paid a price for”. But going by the overwhelming adulation from Singaporeans for Mr Lee since the news of his death broke on Monday morning, Dr Ng declared that the public has pronounced the “final judgment” of his life’s work.

Alluding to Mr Lee’s famous stance that he did not care too much about how history would judge him, Dr Ng told the House: “Today, we have the opportunity to tell Mr Lee if he could hear us and I believe he can. Mr Lee, we would like to tell you that Singaporeans have decided.”

He added: “Thousands upon thousands lined the streets on your journey from Sri Temasek to this Parliament House and queued for hours under the hot sun to pay their respects here.

“They did so spontaneously, an outpouring of gratitude and admiration for what you have done for their lives ... Singaporeans, young and old … have pronounced the final judgment of your life’s work. It is a great work that has surpassed all expectations.”

Nominated MP Chia Yong Yong admitted that she was critical of Mr Lee’s policies as a young adult, and noted that many have also accused Mr Lee as being “arrogant” and “ruthless”.

But she said: “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 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.”

Mr Low hailed Mr Lee as an “extraordinary political leader born of a turbulent and uncertain era” whose outstanding wisdom and courage steered the country out of extreme challenges.

Acknowleding Singapore’s leap from Third World to First within one generation, Mr Low said the success “arose not only from Mr Lee’s extraordinary fighting spirit and tenacity, but also from his sincerity”.

He said: “However, I don’t think the People’s Action Party’s one-party rule is the key to Singapore’s fast economic development, strong social cohesion and unity. This is because many Singaporeans were sacrificed during the process of nation-building and policymaking and our society has paid a price for it. This is why Mr Lee is also a controversial figure in some people’s eyes.”

Dr Ng said that Mr Lee had his critics and took unpopular decisions in the early years of independence, such as extending working hours and slashing the number of public holidays. “(But) Mr Lee would often warn voters against politicians with silver tongues purveying sweet promises, empty promises. He gained a fearsome reputation as one who eschewed the easier, more popular but ultimately wrong paths,” he said.

Several speakers also shared anecdotes that illustrated Mr Lee’s character. Dr Ng recounted that the MPs planned to celebrate Mr Lee’s 90th birthday last year at a time when he had become frail and needed intravenous nutrition. The celebrations were called off when Mr Lee health took a turn for the worse, but he surprisingly showed up. “I found out later that he overruled his doctors, saying he must attend Parliament because he had given his commitment,” said Dr Ng. “At age 90, frail and hydrated, Mr Lee kept his word to be here.”

Dr Ng also noted how in 2009, Mr Lee unexpectedly joined a debate on a motion about equality in Parliament after reading news reports about it. “An 86-year-old gentleman, doing physiotherapy, reading newspapers. Lesser mortals would have thought of other things but Mr Lee said ‘I’ve to make a speech in Parliament’,” he said.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng shared how Mr Lee had nagged him to go home and recommended doctors to him after learning that he was diagnosed with transient ischemic attack (TIA). It turned out that Mr Wong did not have TIA.

“I was relieved and I believe he was very relieved too,” Mr Wong said. “Mr Lee’s physical health declined in recent years, although he was still mentally sharp. It pained me each time I saw him appearing in public attending to the call of duty. I would have preferred to remember him when he was much fitter physically and not so gaunt and frail.”

Mr Wong, who stepped down from Cabinet in 2011, called yesterday “one of the saddest days in my life”.

He said: “No words can truly ascribe or reflect his contributions and the great impact he made on the lives of millions of Singaporeans, including mine. His policies enabled me, son of hawker parents, to become a Deputy Prime Minister. Many poor families’ children have done well too. Many in this House came from humble beginnings. Social mobility is not an abstract theory in Singapore.”

The special Parliament sitting concluded with everyone in the House — including members of the public and the Old Guard in the public gallery — rising to observe a minute of silence, with their heads bowed.

Read all 12 speeches that were made here.