Companies large and small will mark Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death with special tributes this week, and some will give staff time off to pay their last respects to Mr Lee at Parliament House.
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will hold an internal memorial session this week, while Keppel Corp plans a tribute event tomorrow involving employees across the group. SIA has also set up a tribute board at its training centre in Upper Changi Road East, while Singapore Press Holdings and CapitaLand have placed condolence books at their premises.
Singapore Press Holdings, which publishes The Straits Times, has also set up a special dedication site for Mr Lee for staff to post their condolences.
Telco Singtel, property firm and consultancy JLL and investment bank UBS said staff were being given time off over the next few days to offer their condolences. The Association of Banks in Singapore said it was organising "a delegation from the banking industry" of at least 600-strong to pay their respects.
At homegrown furnishings firm Goodrich Global, its chief executive Chan Chong Beng said: "If any of my staff wants to pay their respects to him, I wouldn't mind providing the transport for them to go there."
DBS Bank said arrangements were being put in place for staff contingents to make their way to Parliament House, where Mr Lee's body will lie in state from tomorrow. The DBS corporate flag will be flown at half-mast at all its overseas locations. All of CapitaLand's properties carrying Singapore's national flag will be flown at half-mast too.
Companies also extended their efforts to honour the memory of Mr Lee to their online platforms.
"We have published a tribute on our website and created a video to acknowledge the significance of Mr Lee Kuan Yew's life and passing, and his role in not just the financial sector, but in every facet of Singapore's development and growth," said a spokesman for DBS Bank.
CapitaLand, which is holding a memorial service on Friday, said that a live video of the event will be streamed on its YouTube channel so that its overseas staff can tune in. The firm will observe a minute's silence at the event.
CORE VALUES
"I was struck by his speech at the Business China's first anniversary dinner in 2008. What he said then has guided me since.
"He reminded us that we must not let down Singapore's reputation for reliability and integrity. These core values that have shaped Singapore's past have also influenced my behaviour."
- Standard Chartered chief executive for Asean Lim Cheng Teck
SOLID FOUNDATION
"I was born in the '60s and I am two years older than Singapore. During the early formation years, all of us went through a period of hardship and turmoil.
"Mr Lee Kuan Yew was able to forge a strong team of pioneer leaders and laid a solid foundation for meritocracy, equal opportunities for all, good education, public housing and healthcare. I was one of the beneficiaries of the system and managed to rise through the poverty gap to be where I am today."
- StarHub CEO Tan Tong Hai
IMMENSE CONTRIBUTION
"Mr Lee's contribution to GIC has been immense. In the three decades that he was chairman, he guided GIC through many global and regional financial crises and saw to key milestones in its corporate development.
"Despite his stature and busy schedule, Mr Lee always found time beyond board meetings to engage GIC. It was a privilege to have him in our midst."
- GIC group president Lim Siong Guan
VISIONARY POLICIES
"By boldly pursuing his visionary economic policies and focusing on good governance, he and his government turned a colonial outpost into one of the world's most open and business-friendly economies.
"Today, it is hard to conceive of modern Singapore absent the role he played. His passing is a tremendous loss, but Mr Lee's life will continue to inspire us."
- OCBC Bank chairman Ooi Sang Kuang and CEO Samuel Tsien
PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE
"The Singapore story is known and respected globally and this nation is well placed to grow stronger and build on his legacy. "Today's Singapore financial sector has its place on the world map largely due to the foundations he laid for our industry to flourish - a foundation underpinned by an unequivocal commitment to clean government, sound governance and a pursuit of excellence."
- DBS Group CEO Piyush Gupta
PROUD IDENTITY
"Under his leadership and guidance, Singaporeans built a truly proud national identity and sound, steady governance. He had been instrumental in transforming this country into one of the world's most business-friendly and successful economies today, with a widely respected civil service and world-class infrastructure."
- PSA International group chairman Fock Siew Wah
STEWARDSHIP
"The eldest son of a Shell employee, Mr Lee had a longstanding relationship with Shell. He was instrumental in getting his government of the day to attract multinational companies like Shell to locate their Asian headquarters in Singapore.
"Over the decades, Shell has benefited from his stewardship. We express our deepest condolences to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his family."
- Ms Goh Swee Chen, chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore
SHAPED OUR DNA
"He has shaped our DNA so well that Singapore, Singaporeans and Singapore companies have become good brand names. Mr Lee has laid a strong foundation for the country."
- President and Group CEO, CapitaLand, Lim Ming Yan
