Rivlin attends funeral of Singapore’s first prime minister

President Reuven Rivlin was in Singapore on Sunday to pay respects as the country bade farewell to former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in an elaborate state ceremony.

Undeterred by heavy rain, Rivlin joined tens of thousands of mourners who paid their final respects to the Southeast Asian country’s founding father in an elaborate three-hour state funeral at which Lee’s son, the current prime minister, eulogized the statesman and declared that the prosperous city-state he helped build is his monument.

The funeral concluded the president’s four-day trip to Singapore, marking the first visit of an Israeli president since Chaim Herzog to the prosperous island country in 1986.

On Friday, President Rivlin paid his respects to Lee by quoting from the book of Ecclesiastes in his entry in the official condolence book at his memorial service: “‘A good name is better than a good perfume’ (Ecc. 7:1), for a good name will last forever. In memory of a leader whose deeds and legacy will be remembered always. A dear friend of Israel and the Jewish people.”

“The realization of miracles requires true tenacity,” Rivlin later said at Lee’s memorial service. “We as a people have experienced this very need in the realization of a vision, the establishment of the State of Israel, and we see you, the people of Singapore, as the real partners in the realization of a vision, a miracle that became reality.” He added, “It is a great privilege for me to participate in the funeral of Lee Kuan Yew, and during my visit, I intend to do all in my power to strengthen ties, and to express our deep appreciation for all that you do and continue to do for the State of Israel.”

The two countries have enjoyed strong bilateral ties and high levels of trade and cooperation on economics and security. Earlier, Rivlin toured the border crossing between Singapore and Malaysia, through which roughly 300,000 people pass every day. Regional commanders showed the president the commercial and security-related workings of the border crossing, which uses advanced technology in its daily operation.

President Rivlin also met with senior officials from Singapore, Canada and New Zealand, as well as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With Modi, the two discussed the strong ties between India and Israel and recent political developments in the Middle East. “I follow closely, and with great interest, the processes occurring under your leadership in India,” Rivlin said. “The excellent relations between our countries are based upon strong foundations, two states which share common values, and are first and foremost, thriving democracies.”

Rivlin later discussed planned visits to Israel and India and deepening cooperation in the areas of agriculture, science, and energy.

At the funeral, the president was joined by a host of notable heads of state and dignitaries, including former US president Bill Clinton, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian King Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Lee, aged 91, passed away last Monday after being hospitalized with pneumonia for a month. A revered figure in independent Singapore’s 50-year history, he served as prime minister from 1965-1990 and was credited for transforming the city-state from a modest British colonial outpost into one of the world’s richest societies.

He also ruled the nation with an iron grip. His legacy includes a muzzled press, restrictions on free speech and a stunted democracy.

Israel worked with Lee’s government to play a major role in the country’s development, as Israeli military generals were tasked with setting up the country’s armed services after major unrest caused it to become independent from Malaysia in 1965. Today, much of the country’s military is based on the Israel Defense Force’s model of training, conscription and reserve duty.