Monday, March 30, 2015

Farewell Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore Founding Prime Minister

The sky opened up and cried as the country bids a final farewell to Singapore first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He was the man responsible for leading Singapore from a poor fishing village in 1965 to a first world county in just 30-40 years time. He was the man who gave ordinary Singaporean a chance to have a roof over their head and not starve if you work for it. He was the man who make sure children have affordable education at least to secondary level to at least earn their own living. More importantly, he was the man who build a clean, corruption free government, turning most parts of Singapore into water catchment areas so that we can have water sustainability, driving greenery and eventually earning Singapore a fine garden city name.
 
I find this song is a good reflection of what Mr Lee Kuan Yew has done over his lifetime for Singapore:
 
We Are Singapore - Hugh Harrison
 
There was a time when people said
That Singapore won't make it, but we did

There was a time when troubles seemed too much
For us to take, but we did

We built a nation, strong and free, reaching out together
For peace and harmony


Chorus 1:
This is my country, this is my flag
This is my future, this is my life
This is my family, these are my friends
We are Singapore, Singaporeans

Singapore our homeland, it's here that we belong
All of us united, one people marching on
We've come so far together, our common destiny
Singapore forever, a nation strong and free

(Repeat Chorus 1)

(Sung)
We the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness
Prosperity and progress for our nation

Chorus 2:
We are Singapore, we are Singapore
We will stand together, hear the lion roar
We are Singapore, we are Singapore
We're a nation strong and free forevermore

(Repeat Chorus 1 & 2)

We are Singapore, Singaporeans (X 2)
 

Thank you for all you have done Mr Lee Kuan Yew. You have given all Singaporean a future to look forward to.