Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away at 0318am 23rd March 2015

PM Lee declares seven-day period of national mourning for Lee Kuan Yew

SINGAPORE (March 23): Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has declared this week a period of national mourning for Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away early this morning.

As a mark of respect to the late former prime minister, the State flags on all government buildings will be flown at half-mast from today to Sunday.

Lee's body will lie in state at Parliament House from Wednesday to Saturday for the public to pay their respects.

A State funeral service will be held on Sunday at the University Cultural Centre at the National University of Singapore.
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http://www.theedgemarkets.com/sg/article...e-kuan-yew

A born leader of our times!
Without LKY, Singapore will not be where it is today.
RIP!

Thank you Mr. Lee Kuan Yew for what you have done for Singapore.
Rest in Peace!

A chapter closes and another opens. Where will we go from here? Thank you Mr. Lee, you have done your best. The rest is up to us now. RIP

RIP!

Thank you and 1st generation of PAP for create JOBs for all Singaporeans, build libraries, parks, swimming pools, sport complexes, cheap housing, roads, public utilities, SAF, community centres and etc for Singapore.

No one can doubt the sincerity, the sacrifices the 1st generation of PAP has contributed to Singapore.

Thank you Mr Lee for bringing what Singapore is today. Without a successful Singapore I probably won't be here today and still struggling in another country slogging away to old age. Even in death you still care for Singapore at 318am(Onward- Majulah!). RIP!

market rallyed up 13 points since opening.

so much for being sad. straits time also no headline strange .. maybe everybody still monday blue.

Thank you for your foresight and tenacity that build Singapore to what it is today.

Without you, Singapore has lost one of its most important anchor on the stage of world political arena and a clear voice in times of darkness when Singapore encounters another crisis.

Rest in peace, Mr Lee.

Some have downplayed Mr Lee's contribution saying that Singapore was already developed prior to 1965 - the Gibraltar of the Pacific with one of the highest GDP amongst the Asian countries etc.

Here's something to think about with data from (note that data is USD nominal based on official exchange rates):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co...per_capita

In 1960/65, Singapore's GDP per capita was behind Japan, HK and Brunei (Manila, Saigon, Yangon/Rangoon as cities were not available). Singapore has overtaken them by 2014.

In terms of growth from 1965 to 2014 (see column AC), only South Korea and Oman are ahead of Singapore in this dataset.

There are limitations of all historical statistics and use of GDP/capital as proxy for development but Singapore certainly has gone a long way.

I am grateful to Mr Lee and his compatriots. I think most Singaporeans have benefited from his leadership. They may not want to take the present for granted.

PS... "Pearl of the Orient", "Gibraltar of the Pacific" have also been bestowed upon Manila, Saigon and Hong Kong in the past.

Quote:In 1960/65, Singapore's GDP per capita was behind Japan, HK and Brunei...

Singapore is essentially a city state and if you compare the city GDP per capita of the above countries, US or european cities, the difference is even more pronounced.