Singapore exhibits founding PM's official documents, personal items

Singapore's Culture, Community and Youth Minister Lawrence Wong on Monday launched the exhibition which displayed official documents and personal items of the country's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

The exhibition, named "We Built A Nation," will open to the public on Tuesday at the National Museum of Singapore, which will run for about a year.

The exhibition showcased more than 100 artefacts and items from the country's founding fathers, including Lee Kuan Yew's writing table, pieces of clothing and a dining table located in the basement of Lee Kuan Yew's home, where is considered as the place the People's Action Party (PAP) was conceived.

Many of the exhibits have not been displayed before. Top secret documents on Singapore's separation from Malaysia in 1965 were also on show for the first time. The recently declassified papers, known as the "Albatross File," were compiled by former deputy prime minister Goh Keng Swee.

The artefacts are categorized into eight sections, including foreign policy and diplomacy, as well as security and defence.

Wong stressed that the exhibition should be faithful to the ideals and values that Singapore's leaders lived by and fought for, and it should not just honor Lee Kuan Yew, but also the founding generation of leaders.

"I think the exhibition will show people how much hard work actually went in the first 10 years to set in the fundamentals that would actually lead us to where we are today." said Angelita Teo, director of National Museum of Singapore, adding "I hope that young people will be inspired by it also, to continue that hard work, and hopefully we'll have an even better celebration at SG100. " Endi