Legal profession owes debt of gratitude to Mr Lee Kuan Yew: President of Law Society
PUBLISHED ONMarch 23, 2015 9:45 AM
The legal profession owes a specific debt of gratitude to Mr Lee Kuan Yew, said President of Law Society and Senior Counsel Mr Thio Shen Yi.
He said that Singapore enjoys effective, clear and enforceable laws, and an unimpeachable and incorruptible judiciary because Mr Lee had clarity of vision that sustainable economic growth is underpinned by the Rule of Law, and his relentless opposition to corruption of any kind. This was exemplified by his zero tolerance approach.
Mr Lee read law in Cambridge University, taking a rare double-starred first and subsequently returning to Singapore in 1950 to practise law with one of Singapore's earliest law firms, Laycock & Ong.
He was also a legal advisor to trade unions, often undertaking their cases pro bono. In 1955, he set up Lee & Lee together with his brother and his wife, one of Singapore's most reputable law firms.
He was a practising member for 10 years before taking political office in 1959.
Mr Lee was elected as the first Honorary Member of the Law Society under the Legal Profession Act, the highest honour conferred by the Law Society, for his outstanding contributions to the nation and the legal profession.
Mr Thio said: "We will not see his like again, and are proud to count him as one of us.
"Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with his family in their time of grief."
cynloh@sph.com.sg