Singaporeans in Philippines on Monday (March 23) went to their country’s embassy to sign a condolence book, after the death of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the age of 91.
Lee was known for his leadership in Singapore and was seen as a role model for developing countries across the world by turning a British colonial backwater to a global trade and financial centre.
“To me he’s definitely a great leader, a man with great vision. Without him, Singapore wouldn’t be what it is today,” a Singaporean national who has been working in the Philippines for the past four years, Seng Kok Sin said.
Philippines Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose read the Philippines’ statement of sympathy.
“The Philippines joins the Singaporean people in mourning the passing of their first Prime Minister and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. Mr. Lee was a visionary statesman who built Singapore into an economic powerhouse and modern society that has been a positive force not only in the region but also in the world. His fortitude, political will and wisdom will continue to be an inspiration in the years to come,” he said.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino has expressed his personal condolences in a statement to Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and praised Lee Kuan Yew’s accomplishments.
The Philippines and Singapore are member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and have a long established bilateral relationship with each other.
Lee died at 3:18 a.m. (1918 GMT) at Singapore General Hospital, where he had been admitted on Feb. 5 suffering from pneumonia.
(Reuters)