The Straits Times, Sept 1, 1993
By Zuraidah Ibrahim
PARLIAMENT, led by the Prime Minister, paid glowing tribute yesterday to President Wee Kim Wee who retires today after eight years serving the highest office in the land.
Mr Goh Chok Tong spoke for the House and Singaporeans when he said that President Wee had done a "wonderful job".
"He will be remembered for his friendliness, grace and dignity and as a President who is close to the people.
"He is the common man with the qualities and temperament of a Head of State, who having achieved the highest position in the land, remains a simple man," said Mr Goh.
In his 10-minute address, the Prime Minister, like the MPs who spoke after him, recounted his own personal encounters with the 78-year-old President whom everyone now calls the "People's President".
Before an almost-full House, Mr Goh said that President Wee was exactly as Mr Lee Kuan Yew had described him when he first moved a motion for his election on Aug 30, 1985.
He was "a man of integrity and dignity, without affectations, and who genuinely loves people".
As Prime Minister, Mr Goh said he had called on President Wee often to brief him on the Government's agenda. Through these one-hour calls, he came to know the President "as a person and as a friend".
He learnt that he hated people who put on airs and who looked down on the less successful. "He was concerned that many better-off Singaporeans were measuring a person's worth by the make of his car and the size of his house," said Mr Goh.
"He urged me to try and reverse this unhealthy trend."
True to such convictions, the President was a simple man, reflecting his own humble background.
The son of a clerk who died when he was eight, he began work at 15. He rose from clerk to reporter to correspondent to editorial manager and later, ambassador and chairman of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.
"During his eight years as President, President Wee's dedication to duty was exemplary," said Mr Goh.
He had gained the admiration, respect and affection of Singaporeans from all walks of life, all races and religions.
Beyond his official functions, he also did work which he did not want publicised: He visited welfare and charity groups and supported their activities.
He also invited public-spirited people regularly for lunch or tea at the Istana.
Occasionally, he sent ministers "politely couched notes" expressing his concerns on certain matters, based on his own observations and feedback he received.
Mr Goh said the President told him that he planned to keep his body and mind active upon retirement.
He would write his memoirs from an office he would have in town. He would also invite friends over for lunch as he did when he was President.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Mrs Wee. Like her husband, he said, she took her role seriously and discharged it with warmth, grace and cheerfulness.
The House applauded when he ended his tribute. Praise for the President then flowed for over an hour as 13 MPs, including all four opposition members, tooks turns to place on record their respect and admiration for him.
Reflecting his appeal among all races, the MPs spoke in English, Mandarin and Malay.
People 'fast running out of superlatives to describe him'
Dr Tan Cheng Bock (Ayer Rajah) said that people were fast running out of adjectives and superlatives to describe the immensely popular President.
And his own personal encounter which moved him: When he was Feedback Unit chief some years back, President Wee told him: "You must never fear to tell the truth."
To Dr Tan, he is the "truly Singaporean gentleman".
To Nominated MP Walter Woon, he is a homegrown model of humility and dedication. "He is possibly the only person in high public office who has attracted no public criticism at all," said Assoc Prof Woon.
The Defence Minister, Dr Yeo Ning Hong, had unstinting praise when he told an amused House how the President delivered a "miracle" when his presence stopped the rain on an army parade!
Added Mr Yeo: "President Wee Kim Wee makes me feel proud to be a Singaporean to share with him the same citizenship, to share with this great but humble man the citizenship of Singapore."
For his own little story, opposition MP Chiam See Tong recalled how he too had gone for tea at the Istana with the President whom he saw as "a father figure".
President Wee will leave the Istana in a farewell ceremony tonight. Tomorrow, he is back to being ordinary citizen Wee Kim Wee. But as the Prime Minister said: "Singaporeans will long remember him and Mrs Wee with deep affection and respect."
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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