NUS Council Chairman Mr Wong Ngit Liong presenting the award to MM Lee

Singapore's Nation Builder and World Statesman

At this Centennial Medical Dinner, it is my privilege and honor to highlight the singular achievements of Singapore's nation builder and architect as well as world statesman – Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Mr Lee transformed the lives of Singaporeans. From a British dependency to what it is today – a First World nation – Singapore owes much of its success to Mr Lee's visionary leadership. In a matter of some 30 years, he led this island state from Third World to an economic miracle.

After reading Minister Mentor's book, From Third World to First, I connected with what Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said about the book. I am sure many here would also identify with Mr Annan's view that Mr Lee expresses an aspiration of all developing countries but so far, alas, an achievement of very few. Singapore is one of those few."

Mr Lee is highly respected around the world because his life has been filled with achievements few can equal. So much has been documented about Mr Lee's intellectual and political achievements that it is not possible to recount them all in detail. On this occasion, I would like to speak on his links with his alma mater,
and highlight his contributions to Singapore, its education system and the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The Raffles College Days: Achievements and Service

As the top student in Singapore and Malaya in the Senior Cambridge examinations, the young Lee Kuan Yew was offered the prestigious Anderson Scholarship to study at Raffles College, one of NUS' predecessor institutions. He enrolled as an Arts student in 1940, majoring in English, Economics and Mathematics. In his first year examinations, Lee Kuan Yew topped his cohort in Mathematics.

The connections that Lee Kuan Yew developed with Raffles College went beyond scholarship. While at Raffles College, he formed firm friendships, which served him well when he began his legal and political career in the 1950s. Many friends he made in Raffles College were to become his close colleagues and associates. Among them were Toh Chin Chye, who was a science student one year his senior, and Goh Keng Swee, his former economics tutor. At the time of the Japanese invasion of Singapore in 1941, Lee Kuan Yew served as a volunteer with the Raffles College unit of the Medical Auxiliary Services.

The Returned Student

The Second World War interrupted Lee Kuan Yew's education at Raffles College. After the war, he went on to distinguish himself at Cambridge University, obtaining a rare double first in Law. In 1950, he returned to Singapore, and practiced law. He later became legal advisor to several trade unions.

Had Lee Kuan Yew remained a lawyer or chosen to pursue some other interest, Singapore's history and destiny would have taken a different course. But he stayed true to his convictions. These values were articulated in his first political speech fittingly titled The Returned Student. He said: "Our duty is clear: to help to bring about social cohesion … and if every returned student makes known his convictions to his own immediate circle, the cumulative effect will be tremendous. A small pebble dropped in a pond can cause extensive ripples."

Living up to these words, Mr Lee, as Singapore's first Prime Minister, ushered in an era of "a more just and equal society".

As Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, Lee Kuan Yew achieved what the world thought was impossible – to turn a very small island with few resources into a thriving and vibrant sovereign state. By his leadership, he won over our diverse peoples, transforming Singapore into a technologically advanced and globally competitive nation state.

Mr Lee's achievements are succinctly described by Dr Henry Kissinger, US Secretary of State between 1973 and 1977: "History shows that normally prudent, ordinary calculations can be overturned by extraordinary personalities". Kissinger added, in the case of Lee Kuan Yew, the ancient argument whether circumstance or personality shapes events is settled in favor of the latter. Kissinger further observed that "every great achievement is a dream before it becomes reality", and Mr Lee's vision for Singapore went beyond mere survival. Singapore would prevail by excelling.

Contributions to Singapore's Education System and NUS

Education was to be a key pillar in the overall strategy of the meritocratic society that Mr Lee envisaged. He initiated fundamental changes in education to prepare the nation for rapid economic and societal changes. A landmark program was to give every child a place in school while upholding the principle of equal opportunities regardless of race, language or religion. He also had the foresight to make English the language of administration for Singapore.

Minister Mentor Lee continues to play an important role in education. The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS is an excellent example. The School that bears his name is a legacy befitting his deep insights and diverse experiences on the issues facing Singapore and the world. It is also symbolic of Mr Lee's enduring ties with NUS, and his impact on the intellectual tenor of the country.

Closing

When future generations of Singaporeans study the history of Singapore, they will recognize the achievements and contributions of Lee Kuan Yew. Beyond winning electoral battles, Mr Lee won the hearts and minds of his fellow citizens as well as the acclaim of distinguished leaders around the world for his remarkable achievements.

In closing, let me quote former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, the man behind the reunification of Germany. He said: Mr Lee Kuan Yew's "resoluteness, energy and vision have left a deep impression on Singapore, making it a political and economic powerhouse whose influence extends far beyond its own region."

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is an inspiration for NUS, Singapore and beyond.

Tonight NUS has the privilege to confer an inaugural NUS Eminent Alumni Award on Mr Lee Kuan Yew.