Off the wire
• 1st Ld-Writethru: China plays increasing role in global innovation: WIPO  • Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 17  • Nigeria to call back foreign-based players ahead of AWC qualifiers  • Denmark eyes 10 medals for Rio Olympics  • Warner Bros., Chinese partner to release 12 films  • 1st Ld-Writethru: China's dark-matter satellite concludes in-orbit testing  • Russia opposes U.S. unilateral sanctions against DPRK  • Russia able to increase military presence in Syria anytime: Putin  • 90 Chinese companies participate in 5th Nepal International Trade Fair  • 3rd Ld-Writethru China exclusive: China, Gambia resume diplomatic ties  
You are here: 　 Home

Singapore's ruling PAP commemorates 1st anniversary of Lee Kuan Yew's death

Xinhua, March 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) held a remembrance event at its headquarters ahead of the one-year death anniversary of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, local media reported on Thursday.

Khaw Boon Wan, chairman of the PAP's Central Executive Committee, paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, saying his legacy is a successful Singapore that is "quietly confident of its future".

Khaw, who is also the Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and the Minister for Transport, said Singaporeans have adjusted to a Singapore without Lee Kuan Yew, whose passing didn't cause any jitters among investors or confidence among the people.

"There was widespread sadness, but there was no despair or helplessness," according to local newspaper cited him as saying.

Khaw added that Lee Kuan Yew's principles and ideals will continue to inspire and guide Singaporeans to ensure the city state's continued relevance in the world.

The remembrance event, attended by some 250 party activists and guests, also witnessed the unveiling of a commemorative artillery shell casing, which was presented to the PAP on behalf of the government of Singapore. The shell casing was one of the rounds fired during the 21-gun salute at Lee Kuan Yew's State Funeral.

Singapore's Prime Minister's Office on Thursday announced that government has decided to present the shell casings to the eulogists at the State Funeral Service, organizers of the State Funeral and institutions and organizations that have been closely associated with Lee Kuan Yew.

Lee Kuan Yew, who was PAP's first founding Secretary-General and Singapore's first Prime Minister, died at the age of 91 on March 23, 2015. Various events have been lined up to mark the first anniversary of his death. Enditem