Reflections on our founding father, Lee Kuan Yew

My insights, experiences and encounters with Mr Lee Kuan Yew:

My late father, Ho See Beng, and his comrades used to call Mr Lee “Boss,” so appropriate in the era of the 1950s and 1960s, where “gangs” dominated the Singapore scene. This relationship perhaps guided Mr Lee through with the Old Guard. Mr Lee took good care of those who fought with him.

Mr Lee could not attend my elder brother’s wedding in 1969 because he was in India. On that exact day, a telegram of congratulations arrived from India from Mr & Mrs Lee Kuan Yew to my parents and the wedding couple. This was a gesture from a man who cared about relationships and protocols.

On Mr Lee’s 80th birthday celebrations, my ailing father had sent an e-mail of regrets through me to Mr Lee that he was not able to attend the celebrations. In that e-mail, my father expressed his desire for Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr C V Devan Nair to be reconciled.

Mr Wong Kan Seng called me to persuade my father to join in the celebrations. I brought my father to the dinner celebrations. When Mr Lee arrived, he was shown to his table, but before he took his seat, he asked to be shown to the seat of Ho See Beng, who was at a nearby table. Mr Lee spent a short while catching up with my ailing father.

Subsequently, Mr Lee was invited to deliver his speech on stage. When he came down from the stage, instead of making his way back to his seat, he went directly to where Ho See Beng was seated and asked me how my father was going home later. He certainly appreciated my father joining in the dinner and cared for how he should be seen home safely and comfortably. More importantly, he was not upset with my father’s e-mail, requesting for him to be reconciled with the late Mr C.V Devan Nair.

When my father passed away at the age of 90, before the hearse arrived at the home, Mr Lee’s letter of condolence and tribute to my late father reached my mother. This was followed by his visit on the same day. His gestures and actions were indeed befitting of a “true” boss to the Old Guard.

Mr Lee was my political master. He interviewed me at the last round before I entered politics. I recalled that his eyes were piercing when he spoke to me. Luckily, I was not wearing contact lenses on that day and could therefore look at him in the eyes too, confidently. He asked me two questions. The first was my views on the tudong which was a hot topic in the late 1990s.

The second question was, “Did you discuss your joining politics with your father?” I said, “Yes”. He said, “What did your father say?” I replied: “He said: ‘If you do it, give your heart and soul to it’.”

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his speech at the launch of the book on Ho See Beng, on December 5, 2014, recounted this incident. PM Lee said Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s comment of my reply was that “See Beng has given Geok Choo the right advice”. Perhaps this response from me got me into politics. Mr Lee was looking for candidates with commitment and conviction. Indeed, he was himself a hero of commitment and conviction.

As Singapore’s founding father, Mr Lee gave his life to shape a country and nation from nothing to a rare gem, well-regarded by the world, as seen from the tributes and gestures of statesmen all over the world, on his passing. He gave Singapore a standing in the world with his persona of passion, courage, discipline, sincerity and fierce loyalty to Singapore. He unified the diverse racial and religious groups in Singapore and created a Singapore identity that is so apparent in the outpouring of emotions over his passing. Some say he was ruthless but he was ruthless for the betterment of Singapore and Singaporeans.

He was superior in every aspect. His spirit continues to live in our hearts and minds.

Ho Geok Choo