PM Lee finds old telegram from Mr Lee Kuan Yew that confounded the family

This article is more than 12 months old

Apr 06, 2015 12:43 pm

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was looking through the belongings of his father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, when he found an old telegram, according to a post he uploaded on Facebook on Monday (April 6).

Dated Sept 26, 1958, when PM Lee was just six years old, the telegram was sent by Mr Lee from Sibu, where he was working on some cases.

Then a lawyer at Lee & Lee, Mr Lee sent a telegram indicating that he was heading back home.

The telegraph read: "ARRIVING TODAY BATTLESHIP = LEEKUANYEW"

Was amazed to find this old telegram when sorting through my father’s things at home. My parents had kept it all these...

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Unfortunately, Mr Lee's wife, Madam Kwa Geok Choo did not understand the message.

A secretary at Lee & Lee even called the British Naval Base at Sembawang to check if any battleship was arriving from Sarawak.

When Mr Lee arrived home, he explained that he wanted steam boat for dinner.

However STEAM BOAT was two words, and since telegrams were charged by the word, he wrote "battleship" instead to save money.

Unfortunately for Mr Lee, the family did not have steam boat for dinner that night.

Source: Facebook

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