Cover Photo: Nanyang Technological University
Photo: Nanyang Technological University
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Dr Lee was the man behind the 2011 landmark donation of SG$150 million to Nanyang Technological University, which supported the building of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine
One of Singapore’s most prominent philanthropists Dr Lee Seng Tee, who was also the second son of pioneer businessman Lee Kong Chian, died on July 29, 2022. He was 99.
Dr Lee was the chairman of one of Singapore’s largest charitable organisations, the Lee Foundation, and has donated heavily to educational institutions both in Singapore and abroad through the foundation that was established by his father in 1952.
From helping to establish the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in Nanyang Technological University (NTU) through a landmark donation of SG$150 million to building and supporting libraries globally, Dr Lee was instrumental in bringing up our next generation of changemakers.
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For his contributions, Dr Lee was conferred an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters by NTU in recognition of his support and philanthropic contributions to education back in 2018.
Below, we list some of Dr Lee’s greatest contributions over the years and the legacy he left behind.
1. He was the son of pioneer businessman Lee Kong Chian
Dr Lee was born in Singapore in 1923, and was the second son of Lee Kong Chian, as well as a maternal grandson of Tan Kah Kee.
Lee Kong Chian was a prominent Chinese businessman and philanthropist who founded the Lee foundation in 1952. He was one of the wealthiest men in Southeast Asia in the 1950s and 1960s.
Dr Lee’s grandfather was also a Chinese businessman, investor, and philanthropist who donated most of his assets towards aiding China in major events.
Dr Lee had five siblings, many of whom were prominent figures in the country. His older brother, Lee Seng Gee, was a former chairman of the Lee Foundation while his younger brother, Lee Seng Wee, was a former OCBC Bank chairman.
2. He helmed some of his family's businesses
In his career, some of the many hats Dr Lee wore included being the chairman of family-owned Lee Pineapple Co and Peninsula Plantations, which owned pineapple, oil palm and rubber plantations and canneries. He was also the director of the Lee Rubber Group.
The companies are still going strong today, supplying the region with essential materials.
3. The Lee Foundation made a landmark donation to NTU in 2011
In 2011, the Lee Foundation made a landmark donation of SG$150 million to NTU to support its new medical school. In honour of this donation, the school was named the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine in memory of Dr Lee’s late father.
In total, NTU has received close to SG$178 million from the Lee Foundation in support of medical education, scholarships, bursaries, programmes and student activities.
4. He supported some of the biggest libraries globally
While Dr Lee supported higher education significantly through monetary donations, he also made significant contributions towards building libraries, reading rooms and acquiring published resources for notable libraries worldwide.
Some libraries that have benefited from his contributions include the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library and the Needham Research Institute at the University of Cambridge.
He was named an honorary fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals for these efforts in supporting libraries worldwide.
5. He funded many projects and lecture series’ in universities around the world
Dr Lee was also a significant supporter of projects and lecture series at universities including Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Stanford University.
His lectures helped scholars and policymakers address important international issues over the years.
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Camillia Dass is the digital writer for Tatler Singapore.
