Summary: Lee Kuan Yew transformed Singapore from a struggling, resource-poor island into a prosperous, well-governed nation through a combination of strict policies, economic foresight, and unwavering determination. His leadership, which prioritized stability, economic growth, and national defense, led to Singapore's remarkable rise as a global economic and intellectual hub.
The Founding Moment: Singapore's Expulsion and Lee Kuan Yew's Despair #
- August 9, 1965: Singapore is expelled from Malaysia because Kuala Lumpur feared its Chinese-majority population and the potential economic dominance of its port.
- Lee Kuan Yew's emotional broadcast: He breaks down on live television, expressing devastation for Singapore's future.
- Initial challenges: Singapore was a slum-ridden island without water, sufficient food, an army, farmland, oil, minerals, or industry; 75% of families lived in shacks without basic amenities; over half the population was illiterate; ethnic riots were common.
- Lee's resolve: Despite initial despair, he refused to surrender and began the process of transforming Singapore.
Lee Kuan Yew's Initial Reforms and Vision #
- Anti-corruption and housing: Fought corruption, moved people from slums to proper homes, and opened the island to foreign investment.
- Strict governance: Implemented rigorous laws against minor offenses like spitting and chewing gum to enforce order.
- Economic ambition: Aimed to build a nation richer than Malaysia, cleaner than London, and safer than New York.
- International standing: Gained respect and fear globally, even fining the US for spying and criticizing Australia for its reliance on raw exports.
- Resourcefulness: Recognized that Singapore's people, not natural resources, were its greatest asset.
Navigating Early Geopolitical Challenges #
- Six weeks of reflection: After the expulsion, Lee sequestered himself, prescribed tranquilizers, but communicated resolve to British Prime Minister Harold Wilson.
- Fragile geopolitical position: Singapore was a small port with no army, food, or natural resources, surrounded by potentially hostile neighbors.
- Diplomatic recognition: Lee quickly pushed for Singapore's membership in the United Nations for international recognition.
- Indonesian confrontation (Konfrontasi): Indonesian marines bombed MacDonald House in 1965; Lee executed the captured bombers, leading to nationalist anger in Jakarta.
- Lee's pragmatic diplomacy: To stabilize relations, he personally visited Jakarta, bowed at the marines' graves, and scattered flowers, prioritizing partnership over historical grievances.
- ASEAN co-founding: In 1967, Singapore co-founded ASEAN with Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines to foster regional cooperation.
Building National Defense #
- Military vulnerability: With the British withdrawal, Singapore lacked military defenses.
- National Service: Instituted mandatory military service for young men in 1967.
- Israeli assistance: Secretly sought Israel's help to build the Singapore Armed Forces, admiring Israel's military discipline and success against larger foes.
- Military strength: By 1971, 16,000 men were ready, adhering to Lee's principle, "If you cannot defend yourself, no one else will."
Unifying a Diverse Society #
- Racial and ethnic tensions: Lee addressed frequent violent clashes between Chinese, Malays, and Indians.
- State-defined equality: Declared all races equal, with the state setting boundaries.
- Language policy: Established four official languages (Chinese, Malay, Tamil, English), requiring English as a common language while allowing mother tongue learning.
- Religion control: Tight control over religious expression to prevent division.
Economic Transformation and Urban Development #
- Consulting Albert Winsemius: Dutch economist advised focusing on foreign companies by keeping taxes low, fighting corruption, ensuring stability, and training workers.
- Attracting multinationals: Major companies like Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, and General Electric set up operations.
- Strategic investments: Developed dockyards into shipyards, created Singapore Airlines and Neptune Orient Lines.
- Education reorientation: Aligned the education system to produce engineers and technicians for industry.
- Housing Development Board (HDB): Rapidly built public housing, moving hundreds of thousands from slums into modern apartments with amenities.
- Central Provident Fund (CPF): Mandated 20% wage deposits for retirement, using it as a national capital pool for housing and infrastructure, without welfare handouts.
- Anti-corruption measures: Doubled salaries for ministers and civil servants to prevent corruption; unleashed the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
- Case of Teh Cheang Wan: Minister for National Development committed suicide after being investigated for corruption, demonstrating Lee's "no one is above the law" stance.
- "Garden City" campaign: Planted trees, cleaned rivers, and created parks to transform Singapore into a clean, green, and attractive city.
- Early 1970s achievements: Established a flag, army, economy, and a strong national identity.
Continued Expansion and Authoritarian Governance #
- Economic expansion: Built Changi Airport (1981), developed the Port of Singapore into a global hub, and grew Singapore Airlines.
- Strict social control: Banned chewing gum, imposed harsh penalties for drug trafficking, littering, spitting, and jaywalking.
- Suppression of dissent: Opponents were targeted with lawsuits or detention without trial; press was controlled and censored.
- Lee's philosophy: "We decide what is right. Never mind what the people think."
- Ruthless foreign policy: Exposed and fined the US for CIA infiltration, criticized Australia and India, and warned African nations about corruption.
- Balancing East and West: Hosted US warships while opening to China, with Deng Xiaoping studying Singapore as a model for China's reforms.
- Social engineering: Implemented housing quotas for racial integration, promoted English, discouraged large families ("Stop at Two" campaign), pushed women into education and jobs, and controversially suggested eugenics for reproduction.
- Goal: Actively "manufacturing Singaporeans."
Lee Kuan Yew's Background and Legacy #
- Early influences: Gambler father and strong mother; British Empire's collapse to the Japanese in 1942 shaped his resolve for self-reliance.
- Sook Ching massacres: Narrowly escaped execution during the Japanese occupation, learning to never depend on chance.
- Multilingualism: Learned Japanese, adding to his English, Malay, and Chinese.
- Economic success: By 2000, Singapore's GDP per capita (>$24,000) matched Canada and France; by 2025, it reached $90,000, surpassing US.
- Educational excellence: Top rankings in OECD PISA tests for math, science, and reading.
- Cost of freedom: Acknowledged interfering in private lives as necessary for Singapore's success.
- Death and legacy: Died in March 2015 at 91; almost two million Singaporeans mourned him as the "dictator who gave them hope."
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