Biography: Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) is one of the most influential and greatest political leader in the world. He's a charismatic, a visionary leader and someone who possess an extremely high personal integrity. In this post, I'd like to share my limited view and information, what I've learned and practiced in my life.

"We are pragmatists. We don't stick to any ideology. Does it work? Let's try it, and if it does work, fine, let's continue it. If it doesn't work, toss it out, try another one. We are not enamored with any ideology." - LKY

He's the longest running PM in the history of Singapore who served in office from 1965-1990. Under his leadership, He led Singapore's transformation into a developed country with the highest GDP per capita, the highest literacy rate in Asia within a single generation. This achievement, in large part, was fairly attributable by Lee's acumen in public administration in creating an extremely sustainably effective, anti-corrupt government. He's a proponent of pragmatism which I personally think, when combined with his disciplined and unquestioned integrity, become the source power of effectiveness of his public policies and their implementation.

It wouldn't be enough to tell his life and get much out it in single book, let alone in a blog post. I'd recommend you to purchase his biography on Amazon. I'd also recommend to watch many of his interviews on Youtube. One thing I could guarantee you with certainty, regardless topics that they discuss there on Youtube, the content is full of knowledge and wisdom.

This is what I learned from his biography:

1. Lee was competent leader. He knows his game, his limited resources, his friends, and foes.

2. Lee had extremely high integrity. Sometimes media refers his leadership model with iron-hand, hard approach.

3. Lee had great vision and was great planner.

4. Lee is self-efficacy and resilient. He believes he could overcome any big obstacles.

5. Lee held high morale standard

For me it is a moment of anguish because all my life… You see, the whole of my adult life… I have believed in merger and the unity of these two territories. You know, it’s a people, connected by geography, economics, and ties of kinship… Would you mind if we stop for a while?” – LKY at the historic press conference on 9 August 1965.