PM Wong pays tribute to ESM Goh and SM Lee

He grew up in Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's ward, and worked side by side with Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

- Judith Tan

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Aug 18 spoke about how he had benefited from growing up in Marine Parade with ESM Goh as his MP, and outlined his experiences working under SM Lee.

He started his inaugural National Day Rally speech by expressing his deepest gratitude to the two former prime ministers and others who had made Singapore what it is today. "We've achieved so much in Singapore over these last 60 years," he said.

"It's because of the strong foundations laid by previous prime ministers and governments, as well as successive generations of Singaporeans." Noting that ESM Goh and SM Lee were present, he said "We thank them for their service", to rousing applause from the audience.

SM Lee was prime minister from 2004 to 2024, and ESM Goh was prime minister from 1990 to 2004.

Delivering his inaugural National Day Rally speech at the Institute of Technical Education headquarters in Ang Mo Kio, PM Wong said ESM Goh was the prime minister when he started work at the civil service.

Equally important, he pointed out, ESM Goh was the Member of Parliament in Marine Parade, where PM Wong lived as a child and grew up.

"I benefited greatly from the improvements he brought to the estate," he said.