J e a n T a n
E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
he week of March 23 was one of immense grief as Singaporeans collectively mourned the loss of Singapore’s founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a man who lived and breathed Singapore all his life. During the week of national mourning, hundreds and thousands of people queued up, rain or shine, even through the night, to pay their last respects to Mr Lee at Parliament House. There was a tremendous outpouring of emotions from Singaporeans as we bid a final farewell to our first prime minister, who had done so much for the country.
How should we remember and honour Mr Lee? I feel that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s words aptly sum up my sentiments. He had said in Parliament: “Mr Lee’s passing brought us closer together as one people and intensified our sense of nationhood. It was Mr Lee’s last gift to us.”
Mr Lee’s passing indicated the closing of a chapter in Singapore’s history, and it is now up to Singaporeans to write a new chapter by building upon the strong foundations he laid. In the spirit of moving into a new phase, I would like to warmly welcome you to a refreshed version of SINGAPORE magazine. In the past few months, we’ve worked hard to craft something that would be unusual and original but not wholly unfamiliar. The magazine will retain its very essence – that of harnessing friendships to enrich lives and effect positive change. We will continue to feature inspirational Singaporeans and their organisations, which have connected across cultures and made a difference to people around the world through their work.
Mr Lee’s passing indicated the closing of a chapter in Singapore’s history, and it is now up to Singaporeans to write a new chapter by building upon the strong foundations he laid. In the spirit of moving into a new phase, I would like to warmly welcome you to a refreshed version of SINGAPORE magazine. In the past few months, we’ve worked hard to craft something that would be unusual and original but not wholly unfamiliar. The magazine will retain its very essence – that of harnessing friendships to enrich lives and effect positive change. We will continue to feature inspirational Singaporeans and their organisations, which have connected across cultures and made a difference to people around the world through their work.
In the “People” section, we share a special tribute to the late Mr Lee, who influenced deeply Singapore’s ties with our friends overseas and, in his own unique way, fostered better international understanding. He was, in every sense of the word, a remarkable statesman.
We also speak to Dr Liu Thai Ker, Singapore’s master urban planner, who has been sharing his expertise and working with his overseas counterparts to build vibrant and liveable new cities.
I invite you to join us on this new and exciting journey of discovery, into Singapore’s heart and soul, as you read and talk about us. We will, in turn, continue to feature stories that will make you see Singapore and the world with fresh eyes and inspire you to pursue your own collaborative dreams of peace and goodwill.
ABOUT SIF
The Singapore International Foundation makes friends for a better world.
We build enduring relationships between Singaporeans and world communities, and harness these friendships to enrich lives and effect positive change.
Our work is anchored in the belief that cross-cultural interactions provide insights that strengthen understanding. These exchanges inspire action and enable collaborations for good.
Our programmes bring people together to share ideas, skills and experiences in areas such as health care, education, the environment, arts and culture, as well as livelihood and business.
We do this because we believe we all can, and should, do our part to build a better world, one we envision as peaceful, inclusive and offering opportunities for all.
Find out more at
www.sif.org.sg