MARUAH launches essay contest inviting young Singaporeans to envision a future beyond Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy

SINGAPORE — In the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister, MARUAH, a human rights organization, is launching an essay contest to engage the younger generation in contemplating the future of Singapore beyond LKY’s legacy.

The contest, open to all Singaporean citizens born in or after 1990, invites participants to express their understanding of LKY’s legacy and articulate their vision for a post-LKY Singapore.

The question driving the competition is: “What does Mr Lee Kuan Yew mean to you and what is your vision for a post-Lee Kuan Yew Singapore?”

MARUAH has allocated six cash prizes of $1,000 each for the most thought-provoking entries. The organization is keen to reach a wide range of perspectives, with half of the prizes reserved for participants who have never enrolled in a local or overseas university.

The other three are open to all participants, including those who have started or completed university studies.

Ngiam Shih Tung, President of MARUAH, said, “We aim to inspire younger Singaporeans to evaluate Mr Lee’s contributions critically, and to articulate their vision for the future of our country. We believe this contest provides an ideal platform for them to express their thoughts and insights.”

The essays, which may be up to 2,000 words, will be judged based on their relevance to the topic, critical thinking, originality of ideas, and depth of knowledge.

The decision of the judging panel will be final.

Winning essays will be published on MARUAH’s website and across its social media platforms, offering winners a chance to contribute to the broader dialogue on Singapore’s future.

All entries must be submitted online through the link available on MARUAH’s website and should be received by 11.59 PM on 15 July 2023.

For more information about the contest, including submission guidelines, interested parties are advised to visit MARUAH’s website or contact Ngiam Shih Tung, President, MARUAH at [email protected].

MARUAH is a Singapore-based human rights organization committed to promoting a culture where human rights are understood, respected, and upheld. The organization works towards raising awareness of human rights issues and encouraging public participation in the human rights dialogue in Singapore.