Former top civil servant Lee Ek Tieng dies, aged 91

SINGAPORE – Pioneering civil servant Lee Ek Tieng, an important figure in the development of Singapore’s clean and green movement, died on April 6 at the age of 91.

He was cremated on April 8, following a private wake and funeral held by his family.

In a Facebook post on April 9, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Mr Lee’s “quiet dedication left an indelible mark on our nation”.

In the post, PM Wong highlighted Mr Lee’s contributions, which included overseeing critical infrastructure projects in the early years of Singapore’s independence, such as an islandwide sewerage system and the transformation of the Republic’s waterways.

Mr Lee also led the development of Newater, which laid the foundations for Singapore’s water resilience, he added.

Beyond his contributions to the environment, Mr Lee also served at the Ministry of Finance, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and as head of the civil service. He later continued to shape Singapore’s future through his work at sovereign wealth fund GIC.

“Despite his many achievements, Mr Lee remained a humble and kind man,” wrote PM Wong. “His foresight, integrity and lifelong commitment to public service continue to inspire.

“May we honour his legacy by upholding the same spirit of service and stewardship.”

In a separate Facebook post on April 9, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also lauded Mr Lee for his numerous contributions, including steering GIC through the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis as its managing director, and ​​dealing with the Barings Bank collapse in 1995 while at MAS.

SM Lee noted that Mr Lee was conferred the Meritorious Service Medal in 1984 and the Distinguished Service Order in 2000, and added: “But what truly defined him were his vision, conviction, and deep sense of public duty.

“His legacy lives on in the institutions he helped build, the policies he shaped, and the nation he helped transform.”

Dubbed one of the “eight immortals” of the civil service under Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, Mr Lee Ek Tieng was among the pioneer civil servants who were instrumental in the country’s development.

Their contributions were captured in a book, The Last Fools: The Eight Immortals Of Lee Kuan Yew, published in 2022.

In February, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu described Mr Lee Ek Tieng as “a leader, a pioneer and a true architect of modern Singapore’s environmental transformation”.

“Those who worked with him will attest that he was thorough, innovative and not one to suffer fools,” said Ms Fu at the launch of a new book, Lee Ek Tieng: The Green General Of Lee Kuan Yew.

“In a government that demanded excellence, he not only survived – he thrived.”

Ms Fu also paid tribute to Mr Lee Ek Tieng in a Facebook post on April 9, noting that he was one of the green heroes of Singapore during its early years of independence.

Mr Lee headed many teams working on environmental issues in his public service career spanning decades, she added.

She cited his roles in leading the clean-up of the Singapore River and eliminating malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases here. He also led the drafting of the nation’s first Water Master Plan in 1972.

It was also Mr Lee who spearheaded the development of Newater to supplement Singapore’s growing water needs, and he was the person who coined its now iconic name, she said.

Saying that he was a dear family friend of hers, Ms Fu added: “As we honour Mr Lee’s legacy, let us remember our pioneer generation’s grit and gumption as we continue to build a clean, green, sustainable Singapore for ourselves and our future generations.”

Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on April 9 that he was deeply saddened by Mr Lee’s death, and called him a visionary leader who helped to shape Singapore’s public service.

In a tribute on Facebook, Mr Chan, who is also Minister-in-charge of the Public Service, said that Mr Lee’s legacy of tenacity and excellence will continue to inspire generations to come.

Mr Lim Boon Heng, the chairman of Singapore’s investment company Temasek, also conveyed his condolences over the death of Mr Lee in a statement on April 9.

Mr Lee served as Temasek’s chairman from 1987 to 1996, and under his stewardship, its portfolio grew substantially in size and significance, the statement said.

“Mr Lee served Singapore and his fellow citizens faithfully and selflessly. He was truly an inspiration to succeeding generations, not just for his service but for his character, his humility and his graciousness,” Mr Lim said.

Even beyond his tenure as chairman, Mr Lee continued to be a mentor and adviser to those at Temasek, the statement said. “We benefited tremendously from his wise counsel, guidance and insights.”

Mr Lim Chow Kiat, chief executive of GIC, said Mr Lee’s contributions to the wealth fund are “immeasurable, going beyond growing GIC’s investing and operational capabilities”.

“His focus on people and empowering them to do their best work will continue to inspire us for generations to come,” he added.

Mr Lee served as group managing director of GIC from 1989, succeeding Mr J.Y. Pillay.

GIC’s Mr Lim credited Mr Lee with making important changes that helped the wealth fund become a global investor, noting that he pushed for investments in more places around the world instead of just the usual ones. “Mr Lee was a central figure who pushed GIC out of its comfort zone by expanding our investment focus to include Europe and Asia,” he said.

He added that Mr Lee encouraged teams to be equipped with the skills and knowledge they needed to excel in their roles.

“Beyond professional growth, Mr Lee emphasised the importance of respect and integrity,” GIC’s Mr Lim said. “He was deeply admired for the attention he paid to connecting with staff across levels and departments.

“We are honoured to have benefited from his vision and exemplary qualities as we continue to fulfil our purpose of securing Singapore’s financial future.”

In a statement on April 10, MAS paid tribute to Mr Lee, who served as its managing director from November 1989 to December 1997, as well as its deputy chairman from January 1998 to December 2000.

“Mr Lee has left for MAS a legacy of stewardship and service – by striving for high standards of excellence and dedication to public service that defined his remarkable career,” the authority said.

“He was instrumental in the transformation of MAS, fostering better coordination and integration of policies across departments, greater transparency as an organisation, and a more cohesive organisation.”

Mr Lee joined the civil service in 1958 as an engineer at the Singapore City Council, before he moved to the Public Works Department in 1962.

He served as acting permanent secretary for public health from 1971 to 1972, then as permanent secretary for the environment from 1975 to 1986.

He was appointed deputy head of the Singapore Civil Service in June 1994, before taking over as head in October that year.