SINGAPORE — Parents should not place too much emphasis on their children’s academic results, former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said yesterday, as he noted the importance of identifying a child’s interest and cultivating it to help him succeed in life.

Education is the most important factor for the next generation’s success, and parents should also start developing bilingualism in their children from an early age, he said.

Mr Lee was speaking at the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru’s National Day celebration dinner, where he announced plans for a new pre-school in Tanjong Pagar — Hampton Pre-School at Kim Tian Road, a collaboration between PAP Community Foundation and EtonHouse. The pre-school will begin operations next January and cater to 110 children. It is the second Hampton pre-school, after the first was set up in Bishan in 2009.

Mr Lee, 89, was not feeling well yesterday, but showed up to celebrate the occasion with about 900 residents. The Tanjong Pagar Member of Parliament (MP) and former Prime Minister waved to the audience and drew rapturous applause as he walked slowly onto the stage.

Mr Lee, who paused several times during his speech, advised English-speaking parents to send their children to a pre-school that is strong in Chinese “as early as possible”, and for Mother Tongue-speaking parents to send their children to a pre-school strong in English.

Hampton Pre-School in Tanjong Pagar will provide high-quality early childhood programmes at affordable prices to young families in the constituency, he said.

Fees before Goods and Services Tax and childcare subsidies will start from S$1,020 monthly for a half-day infant care programme, and from S$615 for a half-day childcare programme, according to Hampton’s website.

Mr Lee also officiated at the opening of the newly renovated Tanjong Pagar Community Club and its extension at the third level of the Pinnacle@Duxton, as well as the opening of two Pinnacle@Duxton Residents’ Committee centres — beside the community club’s new extension and on the 26th level of the Housing and Development Board development.

Also at the dinner were the other Tanjong Pagar GRC MPs, Ms Indranee Rajah, Mr Chan Chun Sing, Mr Sam Tan, Dr Lily Neo and Dr Chia Shi-Lu. They gathered around Mr Lee for an early birthday celebration with a cake and a song. He turns 90 on Sept 16.