Lee Kuan Yew
(1st Prime Minister of Singapore)
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG CH (16 September 1923 - 23 March 2015) was a senior Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades. He is also widely recognized as the founding father of modern Singapore.
As the co-founder and first secretary-general of the People's Action Party (PAP), he led the party to eight victories from 1959 to 1990, and oversaw the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965 and its subsequent transformation from a relatively underdeveloped colonial outpost with no natural resources into a "First World" Asian Tiger. He is one of the most influential political figures in Southeast Asia.
Singapore's second prime minister Goh Chok Tong appointed him Senior Minister in 1990. He held the advisory post of Minister Mentor, created by his son Lee Hsien Loong, when the latter became the nation's third prime minister in August 2004. With his successive ministerial positions spanning over 50 years, Lee is also one of history's longest-serving ministers. On 14 May 2011, Lee and Goh Chok Tong announced their retirement from the cabinet after the 2011 general election.
Mr Lee passed away peacefully on 23 March 2015 at age 91. On the day of his state funeral on 29 March 2015, 86 bus services were diverted or suspended, the biggest for a single event in Singapore's history.
Political Career
| Preceded by | Office | Term | Succeeded by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position established | Minister Mentor | 12 August 2004 – 21 May 2011 | Position abolished |
| S. Rajaratnam | Senior Minister of Singapore | 28 November 1990 – 12 August 2004 | Goh Chok Tong |
| Parliament established | MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Tanjong Pagar SMC (1965–1991) |
9 August 1965 – 23 March 2015 | Indranee Thurai Rajah |
| Lim Yew Hock (as Chief Minister) |
Prime Minister of Singapore | 5 June 1959 – 28 November 1990 | Goh Chok Tong |
| Constituency established | Member of the Legislative Assembly for Tanjong Pagar | 2 April 1955 – 9 August 1965 | Legislative Assembly renamed to Parliament of Singapore |
| Position established | Secretary-General of the People's Action Party | 21 November 1954 – 1 November 1992 | Goh Chok Tong |