SINGAPORE – Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd (“Mapletree”) and Singapore Power (“SP”) are giving all secondary school students each a copy of the workbook “LKY: Follow that Rainbow, Go Ride it”. This is a joint effort by both companies to commemorate the first anniversary of Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s death.  

“LKY: Follow that Rainbow, Go Ride it” chronicles the life of Mr Lee and the key values that helped him and Singapore’s other Founding Fathers to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges to transform Singapore. Using extracts from newspaper articles and interviews with Mr Lee, his quotes, as well as historical photographs, the book seeks to inspire readers to persevere regardless of the challenges they face, to achieve their dreams and goals. 

Mrs Josephine Teo, Senior Minister of State (Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Transport) launched the book with Mapletree and SP today at Bendemeer Secondary School.  

Said Mr Hiew Yoon Khong, Group Chief Executive Officer of Mapletree: “Focused on his vision to create a successful Singapore, Mr Lee worked with our other Founding Fathers to transform this city-state from one that many thought would not survive as an independent nation, into a thriving economic success where all can live and raise their children in racial and religious harmony. 

“While we have achieved much as a nation over the past 50 years, we can do more. May this book inspire our young to have the courage, tenacity and resilience to pursue goals and dreams that will make Singapore an even better place.” 

Added Mr Wong Kim Yin, Group Chief Executive Officer, SP: “Under Mr Lee’s leadership, Singapore transcended from the third world to the first in just one generation. Singapore is his life’s work, and the best way to honour him is to build on the success of Singapore‎. Through this book, we hope new generations of Singaporeans can be inspired by his character, values and vision, to pursue that rainbow and contribute to making Singapore shine more brightly.”

Said Mr Palanisamy S/O Perumal, General Secretary of Building Construction and Timber Industries Employees’ Union (BATU) and Branch Chairman of Mapletree: “We are truly blessed by the leadership of our Founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and hope that this book will allow future generations to strengthen the belief that together, we can continue to build a more successful Singapore”.

Union of Power & Gas Employees (UPAGE) General Secretary, Mr Abdul Samad bin Abdul Wahab, said: “Mr Lee’s model of unions, employers and the Government working together transformed Singapore from a third world country into the modern metropolis it is today. This workbook will be a valuable resource for character building in schools, highlighting the importance of self-discipline for achieving goals. We at UPAGE, the Union of Power & Gas Employees, will remember and continue to honour Mr Lee’s legacy by working to sustain harmonious labour-management relations, to achieve greater economic and social progress for Singapore.” 

Leaders from BATU and UPAGE were also present to help launch the book, and prepare copies for distribution to more than 1,000 students at the school. 

After the book launch, Mrs Teo, together with the representatives from Mapletree and SP, joined lower secondary students of the school in an activity conducted by the book’s author, Ms Debra Ann Francisco of Straits Times School. 

The workbook is targeted at teenagers aged 13 to 17 years old, and is published by Straits Times Press (“STP”). This is the second book inspired by Mr Lee that STP has produced for a young audience. The first book, “What’s Inside the Red Box”, was published in December last year and is for children aged three to seven years old. 

Schools or educational institutions that would like copies of the book can contact Straits Times Press at 6319 8340 or email nigeltan@sph.com.sg