SINGAPORE - Although Mr Lee Kuan Yew was sometimes seen as a hard-hearted man who acted without feelings, he had agonised over decisions to ensure an honest and corrupt-free government, said former Cabinet Minister S. Dhanabalan.

Delivering his eulogy to the late Mr Lee on Sunday, Mr Dhanabalan, 77, said Mr Lee had "an absolute obsession to ensure an honest, corruption free political process and public administration system".

"He had seen the damage a nation and society suffer when well meaning leaders allow those close to them to take advantage of their position. Mr Lee demanded and expected honesty and probity from political colleagues, from his equivalent of 'Long March' comrades, public servants and from all members of his family," said Mr Dhanabalan, who was an MP from 1976 to 1996 and held various ministerial portfolios between 1980 and 1992.

"He was sometimes seen as a hard-hearted man who acted without feelings. But on the few occasions he discussed privately with me the decision to act against someone, I know that he agonised over the decision. He was convinced that a softhearted approach would undermine the ethos he wanted to embed deeply in public service."

Here is the transcript of Mr Dhanabalan's eulogy.