Mr Lee alone in the chambers of Old Parliament House after the last Parliament sitting there on Sept 6, 1999.
Mr Lee drinking Newater at a National Day dinner on Aug 16, 2002, to help Singaporeans overcome their psychological barrier against the purified used water product.
Mr Lee giving spectators two thumbs-up as he arrived to the loudest cheers and a standing ovation at The Float@Marina Bay during the 2012 National Day Parade.
LKY100 – Remembering Lee Kuan Yew’s life and legacy
The nation celebrates the 100th birth anniversary of visionary leader Lee Kuan Yew, the man who built Singapore with his optimistic, never-say-die attitude.
When Mr Lee stepped down after 31 years as prime minister in 1990, it marked the end of an era for Singapore’s longest-serving leader. But his job was not done yet, as he explained in his memoirs: “To have stayed on for another term would have proved nothing except that I was still fit and effective. On the other hand, if in the years that I had left, I was able to get my successor to get a grip on his job and succeed, that would be my final contribution to Singapore.”
Mr Lee would remain in the Cabinet as Senior Minister and, later, Minister Mentor for another 21 years before he retired in 2011, serving under Mr Goh and, from 2004, his son, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. He played the role of a data bank, lending the weight of his vast experience in Singapore and beyond to advise the Government on the important issues of the day. Even though he was no longer in charge, Singaporeans had no doubt he wielded tremendous influence and kept a watchful eye on what was happening. As he famously once said in 1988: “Even from my sick bed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up.”
Singapore made much progress in those years. The physical and political landscape changed rapidly. The 2011 General Election was a watershed, with the opposition winning, for the first time, a group representation constituency. In the aftermath of the polls, Mr Lee and Mr Goh decided to leave the Cabinet to enable the leadership to better tackle the new challenges.
In all, it had been a remarkable 52 years for Mr Lee and for Singapore.
1997
Mr Lee taking a moment to stretch while signing copies of Lee Kuan Yew: The Man And His Ideas in his office on his 74th birthday on Sept 16, 1997. ST Photo: George Gascon
1997
Mrs Lee waiting patiently by Mr Lee’s desk as he signs copies of Lee Kuan Yew: The Man And His Ideas in his office on Sept 16, 1997. ST Photo: George Gascon
1999
Alone in the chamber of Old Parliament House after the last Parliament sitting there on Sept 6, 1999. This photo was taken at 6.20pm before MPs took a symbolic walk to the new Parliament building next door (below). Over the span of 34 years, Mr Lee spent many hours debating in this chamber. These speeches are now lodged in Parliament’s archives. Photo: Chin Fook Chew/Lianhe Zaobao
1999
MPs taking a symbolic walk from Old Parliament House to the new Parliament building next door. ST Photo: Jerome Ming
2000
Keeping up with the times, Mr Lee, 77, logged on to field questions about his memoirs, From Third World To First, in a Web chat organised by The Straits Times at the Times House building on Sept 29, 2000. Mr Lee spent nine months learning to use the computer so that he could communicate with his Cabinet colleagues via e-mail. ST Photo: George Gascon
2001
Taking their places for the camera: Mr Lee (seated) watching as his parliamentary colleagues arrange themselves for a photo after being sworn in on Nov 23, 2001. (First row from left) Senior Ministers of State Khaw Boon Wan and Matthias Yao, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan, Senior Ministers of State Ho Peng Kee and Tharman Shanmugaratnam. (Second row from left) Ministers of State Cedric Foo, Vivian Balakrishnan, Ng Eng Hen, Chan Soo Sen, Yaacob Ibrahim, Balaji Sadasivan and Raymond Lim. ST Photo: George Gascon
2001
After stepping down as prime minister, Mr Lee continued to work at the Istana, where he held meetings in his office, among other rooms, and received foreign dignitaries and officials. In this photo, Mr Lee is meeting the board of Standard Chartered Bank at the Sheares Room in 2001. ST Photo: George Gascon
2001
Enjoying the parade from the comfort of the VIP lounge with his parliamentary colleagues before they made their public entrance into the National Stadium on Aug 9, 2001. ST Photo: George Gascon
2001
Greeting the 1,500-strong crowd at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre before the annual National Day Rally speech was delivered by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on Aug 19, 2001. ST Photo: George Gascon
2002
Mr Lee drinking Newater at a National Day dinner on Aug 16, 2002, to help Singaporeans overcome their psychological barrier against the purified used water product. ST Photos: Thomas White
2004
Mr Lee congratulating his son, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, after the latter was sworn in as Singapore’s third prime minister on Aug 12, 2004. The elder Mr Lee was appointed Minister Mentor by President S R Nathan (right). ST Photo: Joyce Fang
2004
At the Speak Mandarin Campaign’s anniversary in 2004, Mr Lee sent out an SMS message in Chinese. With him is Promote Mandarin Council chairman Wee Chow Hou (centre) and Mr Yatiman Yusof, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. ST Photo: Lau Fook Kong
2005
Mr Lee wiping away his tears at the funeral of former president Wee Kim Wee at Mandai Crematorium on May 6, 2005. With him is (from right) President S R Nathan, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Mrs Lee, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mrs Goh. Mr Wee, widely known as the People’s President, was the cousin of the elder Mr Lee’s mother. Photo: Dennis Thong/Lianhe Zaobao
2010
Taking in the view from Marina Bay Sands’ (MBS) SkyPark Observation Deck on June 22, 2010. With him are Mr Sheldon Adelson (with cane), president and chief executive of Las Vegas Sands, which developed MBS, and his wife Miriam. ST Photo: Caroline Chia
2010
Mr Lee receiving a ceremonial sword symbolising respect, or a kirpan, from Sikh businessman Kartar Singh Thakral at Bhai Maharaj Singh Memorial Temple on July 3, 2010. Keenly aware of the volatile nature of racial and religious issues, Mr Lee made an effort to reach out to different communities. ST Photo: Ng Sor Luan
2010
Breaking fast with 1,000 Radin Mas residents – both Muslim and non-Muslim – to celebrate Racial Harmony Day on Sept 4, 2010. ST Photo: Desmond Lim
2011
Sharing a light moment with a group of Dunman High School students on Jan 24, 2011, during one of his several visits to local schools. ST Photo: Samuel He
2012
Mr Lee giving spectators two thumbs-up as he arrived to the loudest cheers and a standing ovation at The Float@Marina Bay during the 2012 National Day Parade. ST Photo: Seah Kwang Peng
2004
Mr Lee waving to the audience upon arriving at the People’s Action Party’s 50th anniversary conference on Dec 5, 2004. ST Photo: Desmond Wee
