"The Singapore Lion" Book Launch

4 February 2010

Thanks to Edgar, Hock Rong and I were invited to the book launch of "The Singapore Lion" by Ms Irene Ng, MP for Tampines GRC & writer-in-residence, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS). "The Singapore Lion" is the first half of the biography of Mr S. Rajaratnam.

The book launch was held at the National Library Building's Drama Centre. The event was attended by many dignitaries, including Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, PMO Minister Lim Hwee Hua, MCYS Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, former diplomats such as Lee Khoon Choy as well as many other ambassadors. The guest-of-honour was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

After the author gave her speech, which I thought was marvellously done, PM Lee shared more about Mr Rajaratnam, one of Singapore's founding father.

Books bearing the autograph of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew were also sold at $10,000 per book. Proceeds contribute to ISEAS. PM Lee presented the books to the buyers on stage.

A video, done by MediaCorp, on S. Rajaratnam was also screened. That was followed by a skit by The Necessary Stage.

It was really an eye-opener as a first-timer at a book launch.