Tributes pour in for outgoing party chief Lee Hsien Loong at PAP awards dinner

He led the move to turn S'pore into a smart nation, shaped a caring society: DPM Heng

- Goh Yan Han

About 3,000 PAP cadres, activists and guests - including several who featured in a video sharing personal stories and interactions with him - paid tribute to Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Nov 23.

People's Action Party chairman Heng Swee Keat lauded the outgoing party chief for his contributions in a speech on the first day of the biennial PAP Awards and Conference.

SM Lee has been secretary-general of the PAP since 2004, and has served the party and its Teck Ghee branch since 1984.

Mr Heng, who is Deputy Prime Minister, noted that the party had successfully completed the third handover of the premiership since Singapore's independence, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong taking office in May. PM Wong is currently the PAP's deputy secretary-general.

"Thank you, secretary-general, for four decades of guidance, wisdom and foresight," he said.

As prime minister, SM Lee led the country through the global financial crisis of the late 2000s, and through the more recent Covid-19 pandemic.

"He led our development into a smart nation and a global city that connects Asia with the rest of the world," said DPM Heng. This has been particularly challenging in more recent years, as big power contestations have intensified.

"Our transformation efforts have positioned our companies and workers to seize new opportunities in the global economy, and our relationship with the NTUC remains strong, in fact stronger than ever," he added.

SM Lee has also shaped a caring and cohesive society to share the benefits of growth with all, said DPM Heng.