Ministers, MPs thank Lui Tuck Yew for his contributions

SINGAPORE - Ministers and Members of Parliament have thanked Mr Lui Tuck Yew for his contributions, both as Transport Minister and as a Member of Parliament (MP), after it was announced on Tuesday that he would not be standing for re-election in the next General Election.

In a post on Facebook, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim described working alongside Mr Lui as a privilege.

Mr Yaacob, who is an MP for Moulmein-Kallang GRC along with Mr Lui, wrote: "Be it at our market visits, community events or the late night Meet-The-People sessions, Tuck Yew's commitment to his residents is unwavering, and the residents and I are sad to see him go."

Fellow Moulmein-Kallang MP Denise Phua called Mr Lui "a man of integrity, principles and honour".

She wrote that as Transport Minister, Mr Lui took strategic decisions to address a variety of transport issues, and that he had taken the brunt of public anger over major train disruptions in his stride.

She added that Mr Lui was "a diligent and sincere leader who treats his residents, grassroots and activists with respect and dignity."

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and National Trades Union Congress Secretary-General Chan Chun Sing said that Mr Lui's contributions would be sorely missed.

"He has been a stalwart in steering us through very challenging circumstances in the transport sector," he wrote, adding also that Mr Lui had put in place plans that would not only manage today's challenges but also future demands.

Meanwhile, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Liang Eng Hwa confessed that Mr Lui was the minister he had "harassed" the most over transport-related issues in his area.

"Often the tone of my requests can be quite "animated", but he would always respond patiently and get his officers to help and look seriously into addressing the issues," Mr Liang recalled.

"My heartfelt thanks to Minister Lui for what he has done as Transport Minister and improving the lives of many of our residents. Personally, I am sure many of the MPs will miss him a great deal," Mr Liang added.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also thanked Mr Lui, lauding him for making improvements to the public transport system that would benefit Singapore in the years to come.

seanyap@sph.com.sg