Many said that Singapore would not exist today if it were not for his hard work and able leadership.

Some dedicated songs on the radio to Mr Lee throughout the day, including Frank Sinatra's My Way.

Eighteen people called producer-presenter Andre Achak on NewsRadio 93.8 FM in the morning after being invited to ring in to thank Mr Lee for leading Singapore to success.

Miss Bessie Loh, 44, recalled that she was only 11 when she watched Mr Lee break down on television as he announced Singapore's exit from Malaysia. "Since then, he has really worked very hard for our country and I'm very thankful that he is our leader," she said.

Mrs Christina Ong, 46, an insurance broker, was so overcome with emotion that she broke down on the airwaves while relaying her thanks to Mr Lee.

"He has given us so many opportunities and we owe our successes to him. Females in Singapore have so much to thank for as compared to females from other countries," she said.

Others praised Mr Lee for stepping down gracefully and passing on the torch to a younger generation of leaders without a hitch.

Said lawyer Wilson Ang, 25: "One of the greatest things he's ever done was to step aside gracefully unlike other foreign leaders who have stayed on and struggled to keep holding on to power."

University student Yeo Shu Yee said that although she had not been through the race riots and political upheaval of the nation's early days, she still appreciated Mr Lee's achievements.

"Some may say that the Government is too dictatorial and authoritarian, but the economic crisis has helped me truly understand the work and successes of Mr Lee," she said.

Sales engineer Kelvin Kee, 41, summed up the callers' wishes when he said: "Every person, every family and every country has its ups and downs.

"I believe Singapore will pull through anything and we owe it all to him. Three cheers for SM Lee."