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In the days that followed the passing of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, many who had worked closely with him are coming out with little anecdotes that paint a fuller, prettier picture of the elder statesman, underneath that stern exterior.
One tale about the late statesman, however, displayed a side of him that showed his persistent work ethic and his unending pursuit towards the well-being of Singapore.
It was about a red box Lee had with him everywhere.
As recounted by current Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat — who previously worked as Lee's Principal Private Secretary — a large part of his life once consisted of daily interactions with Lee's red box, which contained papers, speech drafts, letters, notes, readings and other reflections that played an important part in the well-being of the country.
Even as Lee underwent a number of hospitalisations and even as his wife lay in state in 2010, the red box would always be on his mind.
Read the minister's story below, and weep if you must.
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MR LEE'S RED BOXMr Lee Kuan Yew had a red box. When I worked as Mr Lee’s Principal Private Secretary, or PPS, a good...
Posted by Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Got a tip? Send it to us at singapore@coconuts.co.
In the days that followed the passing of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, many who had worked closely with him are coming out with little anecdotes that paint a fuller, prettier picture of the elder statesman, underneath that stern exterior.
One tale about the late statesman, however, displayed a side of him that showed his persistent work ethic and his unending pursuit towards the well-being of Singapore.
It was about a red box Lee had with him everywhere.
As recounted by current Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat — who previously worked as Lee's Principal Private Secretary — a large part of his life once consisted of daily interactions with Lee's red box, which contained papers, speech drafts, letters, notes, readings and other reflections that played an important part in the well-being of the country.
Even as Lee underwent a number of hospitalisations and even as his wife lay in state in 2010, the red box would always be on his mind.
Read the minister's story below, and weep if you must.
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MR LEE'S RED BOXMr Lee Kuan Yew had a red box. When I worked as Mr Lee’s Principal Private Secretary, or PPS, a good...
Posted by Heng Swee Keat on Tuesday, 24 March 2015