Lee Ek Tieng, former top civil servant who drove Newater development, dies aged 91
[SINGAPORE] Pioneering civil servant Lee Ek Tieng, an important figure in the development of Singapore’s clean and green movement, has died aged 91.
He was cremated on Apr 8, following a private wake and funeral held by his family.
In a Facebook post on Apr 9, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said that Lee’s “quiet dedication left an indelible mark on our nation”.
In the post, Wong highlighted Lee’s contributions, which included overseeing critical infrastructure projects such as an islandwide sewage system and the transformation of Singapore’s waterways.
“Despite his many achievements, Lee remained a humble and kind man,” wrote Wong. “His foresight, integrity, and lifelong commitment to public service continue to inspire.
“May we honour his legacy by upholding the same spirit of service and stewardship.”
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Lee also led the development of Newater and served at the Ministry of Finance, the Monetary Authority of Singapore and as Head of the Civil Service. He later continued to shape Singapore’s future through his work at GIC.
GIC chief executive Lim Chow Kiat said in a condolence statement on Apr 9: “Under his leadership, Mr Lee made important changes that helped GIC grow into the global investor that we are today.
“The idea was to invest in more places around the world, not just the usual ones. He drove GIC towards globalisation and established us as an early institutional investor in Asian emerging markets.”
Lim described Lee as a “central figure who pushed GIC out of its comfort zone” by expanding its investment focus to include Europe and Asia.
“A milestone in Mr Lee’s tenure was the corporatisation of real estate and private equity as separate companies,” he added.
“He believed that corporatisation would provide the organisational autonomy needed to develop their culture, business practices and personnel policies. By the late 1990s, both groups were competing against the best in their fields.”
Dubbed one of the “eight immortals” of the civil service under Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Ek Tieng was among the pioneer civil servants who were instrumental in Singapore’s development.
Their contributions were captured in a book, The Last Fools: The Eight Immortals Of Lee Kuan Yew, published in 2022.
In February, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu described him as “a leader, a pioneer and a true architect of modern Singapore’s environmental transformation”.
“Those who worked with him will attest that he was thorough, innovative and not one to suffer fools,” she said at the launch of a new book, Lee Ek Tieng: The Green General Of Lee Kuan Yew.
“In a government that demanded excellence, he not only survived – he thrived.”
Fu also paid tribute to Lee Ek Tieng in a Facebook post on Apr 9, noting that he was one of the green heroes of Singapore during its early years of independence.
Lee headed many teams working on environmental issues in his public service career spanning decades, she added.
She cited his roles in leading the clean-up of the Singapore River and eliminating malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases here. In addition, he led the drafting of the nation’s first Water Master Plan in 1972.
It was also Lee who spearheaded the development of Newater to supplement Singapore’s growing water needs, and he was the person who coined its now iconic name, she said.
Saying that he was a dear family friend of hers, Fu added: “As we honour Mr Lee’s legacy, let us remember our pioneer generation’s grit and gumption as we continue to build a clean, green, sustainable Singapore for ourselves and our future generations.”
Education Minister Chan Chun Sing said on Apr 9 that he was deeply saddened by Lee’s death, and called him a visionary leader who helped to shape Singapore’s public service.
Detailing various highlights of Lee’s career in a tribute on Facebook, Chan said that his legacy of tenacity and excellence will continue to inspire generations to come.
Lim Boon Heng, the chairman of Singapore’s investment company Temasek, also conveyed his condolences over the death of Lee in a statement on Apr 9.
Lee served as the company’s chairman from 1987 to 1996, and under his stewardship, Temasek’s portfolio grew substantially in size and significance, the statement said.
“Mr Lee served Singapore and his fellow citizens faithfully and selflessly. He was truly an inspiration to succeeding generations, not just for his service but for his character, his humility and his graciousness,” Lim said.
Even beyond his tenure as chairman, Lee continued to be a mentor and adviser to those at Temasek, the statement said. “We benefited tremendously from his wise counsel, guidance and insights.”
Lee joined the civil service in 1958 as an engineer at the Singapore City Council, before he moved to the Public Works Department in 1962.
He served as acting permanent secretary for public health from 1971 to 1972, then as permanent secretary for the environment from 1975 to 1986.
He was appointed deputy head of the Singapore Civil Service in Jun 1994, before taking over as head in October that year. THE STRAITS TIMES
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