Former top civil servant Lee Ek Tieng dies, aged 91

Pioneering civil servant Lee Ek Tieng, an important figure in the development of Singapore's clean and green movement, died on April 6 at the age of 91.

- Gabrielle Andres

He was cremated on April 8, following a private wake and funeral held by his family.

In a Facebook post on April 9, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said Mr Lee's "quiet dedication left an indelible mark on our nation".

In the post, PM Wong highlighted Mr Lee's contributions, which included overseeing critical infrastructure projects in the early years of Singapore's independence, such as an islandwide sewerage system and the transformation of the Republic's waterways.

Mr Lee also led the development of Newater, which laid the foundations for Singapore's water resilience, he added.

Beyond his contributions to the environment, Mr Lee also served at the Ministry of Finance, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and as head of the civil service. He later continued to shape Singapore's future through his work at sovereign wealth fund GIC.

"Despite his many achievements, Mr Lee remained a humble and kind man," wrote PM Wong. "His foresight, integrity and lifelong commitment to public service continue to inspire.

"May we honour his legacy by upholding the same spirit of service and stewardship."

In a separate Facebook post on April 9, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong also lauded Mr Lee for his numerous contributions, including steering GIC through the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis as its managing director, and dealing with the Barings Bank collapse in 1995 while at MAS.

SM Lee noted that Mr Lee was conferred the Meritorious Service Medal in 1984 and the Distinguished Service Order in 2000, and added: "But what truly defined him were his vision, conviction, and deep sense of public duty.