Singaporeans gathered at remembrance events today as the nation marked the first anniversary of the death of its first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.

In a gathering at Singapore’s first Parliament venue, past and present parliamentarians recalled their memories of the premier.

“To Mr Lee, everything must be done properly, even the smallest action or matter. He once told me: ‘Dollah, a rule is of no use if it is not followed. Might as well not make one’,” former speaker of parliament Abdullah Tarmugi said.

Other commemoration events open to the public included walks past Lee’s home in Oxley Road, and visits to one of three appointed remembrance sites across the island.

All secondary school students were to receive a book containing excerpts of quotes and interviews from Lee. Pupils at his alma mater, Telok Kurau Primary School, listened to quotes from him in a special assembly session early today.

- dpa