He took pains during the birthday dinner, which launched his memoirs, to pay tribute to the "special fraternity" -- those who had battled alongside him to wrest power from the communists, the colonialists and the communalists to safeguard Singapore's future.

He also took the occasion to give his vote of confidence to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and his team as they lead the nation through this difficult time.

The gala dinner at the Suntec City ballroom was attended by 1,200 guests.

Over cocktails, old friends' laughter was punctuated by the clink of glasses.

A splendid turquoise turban here, a gold silk cheongsam there, and women in sarong kebaya or in glittering Western dress presented a visible reminder of the success of Singapore's multi-racialism.

But over dinner, the mood was reflective and, at times, emotional.

And no wonder, for Mr Lee's 75th birthday party was an occasion to relive old memories of the bitter fight for Singapore's survival.

Old friend and former colleague Lim Kim San, who organised the dinner, praised Mr Lee for his leadership in bringing Singaporeans through fire and into prosperity.

Former Social Affairs Minister Othman Wok and former senior civil servant S.R. Nathan also paid tribute to Mr Lee's sacrifice for Singapore, and he in turn thanked them for their contributions.

Mid-way through dinner, he went round to the tables where the old Guard of former Members of Parliament and ministers were seated, to talk to them.

Mr Lee thanked his colleagues -- fellow freedom fighters and former civil servants -- among the 1,200 guests at the Suntec City ballroom, for their part in the struggle for Singapore's survival.

He said: "Those who took part in those tumultuous years from 1955 to 1965 are a special fraternity.

"We went through fire together and helped each other survive.

"Re-reading the records of our fights against the communists and then the Malay ultras, I recalled vividly the parts you played in pulling off victory from the jaws of defeat.

"I was fortunate to have had such comrades in those battles."

He singled out Mr Othman and praised his staunch support and loyalty, choking back tears when he recalled how Mr Othman had endured abuse that he was an infidel and traitor to his race during the July 1964 race riots, because of his position in the PAP leadership.

"Because of the courage and leadership that you showed, not a single PAP Malay leader wavered."

The fight against Malay extremism is a key theme running through his 680-page memoirs.

Titled The Singapore Story, Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew, it was launched with a bang yesterday and bookstores reported brisk sales to eager buyers.

The book traces his boyhood years to his premiership and ends on the day a distraught Mr Lee proclaimed Singapore a sovereign country.

Volume Two, due to be out in a year's time, will detail his role in Singapore's struggle for survival, then success.

The book has created controversy even before its launch, when extracts published in The Sunday Times prompted accusations by Malaysian leaders that Mr Lee was trying to sour relations with Malaysia, or that he was re-writing history to justify his actions.

Mr Lee said that his memoirs, while meticulously researched and backed by documentary evidence, was not "official history".

"It is my account of what I did, why I did it and about the people who worked with me or against me.

"I did not write to justify what I have done or to prove I was right. That would have been a waste of time."

Looking back, he said the "final achievement" of his generation was to have prepared and handed leadership over to "an able, committed and resourceful team".

Surveying Singapore and its team of leaders under PM Goh, he said:

"Over the last eight years they have gained in confidence and stature as they met and overcame new problems.

"That Singapore has been able to weather this financial storm, battered but seaworthy, reflects both the soundness of the ship they took over from the old Guard, and the ability of the PM and his team to handle this financial crisis."