Specially For PM Lee’s 65th Birthday – Here’s His Story In Pictures
It’s our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s 65th birthday, and to pay tribute to his years of service and dedication to Singapore, we’ve compiled a photo series of his journey from a wee baby to being the PM Lee we all know and love today.
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Photo Credits: Mrs Lee Kuan Yew’s collection[/caption]
Back then, PM Lee was the only child. Perhaps that’s why his grin was so wide.
The late Mr Lee Kuan Yew knew the importance of spending quality family time, taking PM Lee and his siblings out for a family trip every once in a while. Here we see an 11-year-old PM Lee, young and curious.
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Photo Credits: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore[/caption]
PM Lee visiting Lazarus Island with his father, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. This was not the first, nor the only time he accompanied his father on political trips.
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PM Lee (14 years old) and sister Lee Wei Ling (10 years old) in 1966[/caption]
Winners of MOE’s National Language Month Essay and Poster Competitions, PM Lee and sister Lee Wei Ling are talented writers since their pre-teen years.
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was a member of the Catholic High School band in 1968[/caption]
A man of many talents, PM Lee was once a member of the Catholic High School band as well! He played the clarinet.
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PM Lee during his National Service[/caption]
PM Lee graduated from Cambridge with a Double First Class Honours in Mathematical Statistics and Mathematical Economics, and a Diploma in Computer Science in 1974.
He then went on to obtain a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard in 1980.
PM Lee’s marriage to Wong Ming Yang back in 1981. It was a beautiful, quiet wedding.
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PM Lee as a Member of Parliament in Teck Ghee, when he was 32 years old.[/caption]
PM Lee was appointed as the Director of Joint Operations Planning Directorate from 1981 to 1982. He then became the Chief of Staff (General Staff) from 1982 to 1984, by then having risen to the rank of Brigadier-General.
PM Lee left the SAF to pursue his true passion: Politics.
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PM Lee carrying his son Hongyi, while his wife Ho Ching was pregnant with Haoyi.[/caption]
A family portrait of PM Lee with his parents, siblings and children.
The swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister Lee in 2004, a solemn affair as the magnitude of his position sunk in.
It’s hard not to grin when your dad is congratulating you on becoming the Prime Minister of Singapore.
He gave us a big scare in August 2016 when he took ill on stage during the National Day Rally Speech.
The cause was due to exhaustion from being on his feet for hours, and he came back to stage after an hour to a standing ovation.
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Photo Credits: Tsering Topgyal[/caption]
Stay cool, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Here’s to a fantastic 65th birthday!
Also, read Happy Birthday PM Lee! Here Are 10 Reasons Singapore Has The Coolest Prime Minister
Happy Birthday PM Lee! Here Are 10 Reasons Singapore Has The Coolest Prime Minister
Happy 65th birthday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong!
It’s been 13 years since you became the 3rd Prime Minister of Singapore, and with plans to step down in 2021, it seems like time is passing way too fast.
For now, let’s take a trip down memory lane and remind ourselves that Singapore has the ultimate coolest Prime Minister there ever was!
1. Fashionable
Even as a toddler, PM Lee was all charm. He was a suave fashionista, rocking high-waisted shorts and a million dollar smile.
Photo Credits: Mrs Lee Kuan Yew’s collection
These days, whether rocking a bow-tie and tuxedo,
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Photo Credits: Chip Somodevilla[/caption]
a soft batik shirt,
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Photo Credits: MCI[/caption]
or a polka dotted maroon tie with a pink shirt,
our PM Lee still exudes a quiet, fashionable grace.
2. Totally Gungho!
While catching up with Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sengkang West grassroots leaders and volunteers during his Chinese New Year open house, he went all in for a jump shot when it was suggested.
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Photo Credits: Terence Tan[/caption]
No holds barred, no second thoughts.
3. Selfie King
Possibly one of the most social media savvy politician out there, our PM Lee is truly the selfie king!
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Photo Credits: Glenn Fawcett[/caption]
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Photo Credits: SPH[/caption]
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Photo Credits: OngWee Jin[/caption]
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Photo Credits: Ernest Chua[/caption]
With unshaking hands and long arms, our Prime Minister is always down for taking a selfie with everyone, as long as you ask nicely.
4. Secret Photographer
If he wasn’t our Prime Minister, PM Lee would have made the cut as a world-renowned Photographer.
All taken from his Facebook page, these photos were shot by PM Lee himself:
There are long exposure shots, beautiful scenic pictures, and even candid kangaroo photos!
5. Great sense of humour
Back in August 2016, when PM Lee officially visited the United States, he took over the White House’s Instagram account for a day.
He them promptly proceeded to post this photo later on in the day, showing the Americans that they’re not the only one with a hilarious leader.
6. Ultimate trooper
Remember when PM Lee had taken ill during his National Day Rally speech on August 21st 2016?
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Photo Credits: Wee Teck Hian[/caption]
To everyone’s surprise and relief, he came back on stage insisting that he finish his speech.
The first thing he said?
“Thank you for waiting for me. I gave everyone a scare.”
Always putting us first, even when he was unwell.
7. Possibly a genius
Graduating from Cambridge in 1973 with Double First Class Honours in Mathematical Statistics and Mathematical Economics and a distinction in a Diploma in Computer Science, our Prime Minister was the first Singaporean to obtain the title of Senior Wrangler.
Senior Wrangler is the title given to the top mathematics undergraduate at Cambridge. With that title, PM Lee obtained one of the greatest intellectual achievements in Britain.
8. Sudoku solver
Yes, our Prime Minister literally wrote a C++ code for a Sudoku solver.
A code that Associate Professor Ng Wee Keong, the Associate Chair of Research at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Computer Engineering, as well as senior lecturer Aaron Tan of the School of Computing at National University of Singapore, called “well-structured” and “well-written” respectively.
9. Beloved by the public
With just an updated profile picture, PM Lee received over 20k likes, 316 shares and 399 comments.
Try scrolling through the comments section yourself and enjoy the wholesome messages posted.
10. Dedicated Prime Minister of Singapore
A man who constantly puts Singapore and her citizens first, PM Lee has spent the past 33 years in Singapore politics.
Happy 65th Birthday to you, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong! Here’s wishing you good health, a wonderful birthday, and many happy returns.
*PM Lee was born on 10 February, 1952.
Also, read Look How Far Singapore Has Come! We Compare The Now & Then
