Obama tribute to 'true giant of history' Lee Kuan Yew

WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama hailed Lee Kuan Yew on Sunday as a visionary and ''true giant of history'' after Singapore's first prime minister died aged 91.

Lee, who dominated Singapore politics for more than half a century, was an authoritarian leader who transformed the city-state from a sleepy British imperial outpost into a global trading and financial center.

"A visionary who led his country from Singapore’s independence in 1965 to build one of the most prosperous countries in the world today, he was a devoted public servant and a remarkable leader," Obama said in a glowing tribute.

He added in a statement: "I personally appreciated his wisdom, including our discussions during my trip to Singapore in 2009, which were hugely important in helping me formulate our policy of rebalancing to the Asia Pacific.

"He was a true giant of history who will be remembered for generations to come as the father of modern Singapore and as one of the great strategists of Asian affairs."

Former US presidents George W. Bush and his father George H. W. also hailed Lee's pivotal role in the history of Singapore.

"The father of today's Singapore transformed his country and helped usher the ASEAN region into the modern era," George W. Bush said in a statement.

"The nation he leaves behind is an influential force for stability and prosperity and a friend to the United States."

In a separate statement, George H. W. Bush said: "I will always be proud that Lee Kuan Yew was my friend."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Discovery Channel to air Lee Kuan Yew special

MANILA -- Discovery Channel will pay tribute to the man regarded as the founding father of modern Singapore in "Father of a Nation: Lee Kuan Yew," a one-hour special that celebrates his life and chronicles some of his greatest achievements. The program will air on Tuesday at 9 .p.m.

"In a matter of decades, Singapore has emerged from a rural backwater island and evolved into a bustling economic powerhouse. Despite its lack of natural resources, the country now stands proud as one of Asia's Tigers and this leap from third world to first can be attributed to one man - Lee Kuan Yew," Discovery Channel said in a statement released on Monday, just hours after the leader's death.

Lee, Singapore's first prime minister, died on Monday aged 91, triggering a flood of tributes to the man who oversaw the tiny city-state's rapid rise to a global trade and financial center.

The Singapore government has declared a period of national mourning until his funeral on Sunday. Lee's family will hold a private wake in the next two days, then his body will lie in state at parliament from Wednesday to Saturday.

"Father of a Nation: Lee Kuan Yew" documents the story of "how one man survived World War 2, took on the British Empire, struggled for independence and fought for the people and country that he loved," Discovery Channel said in its program notes.

The special will have replays on Wednesday (10 p.m.), Friday (11 p.m.), Saturday (10 p.m.) and Sunday (9 p.m.). -- With report from Reuters

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com