HOW LEE KUAN YEW BUILT SINGAPORE’S ECONOMIC MIRACLE

Lee Kuan Yew

Founding father of an independent Singapore who led the country’s transformation from a struggling seaport to a prosperous modern nation.

2015

Lee Kuan Yew’s year of passing; marked the end of an era; Singaporeans and foreigners mourned deeply, showing his lasting impact on the nation.

Seaport

Singapore in the 1950s: A struggling ___ with no natural resources or hinterland, facing challenges after World War II and the British Army’s withdrawal.

Singapore

A prosperous, highly developed nation known as the Monaco of the East, admired for its economic success and modern infrastructure.

Lee Kuan Yew

Served as the chief architect of Singapore’s success, using his intelligence and vision to engineer the country’s rapid growth within half a century.

British

___ colonial rule made Singapore a key trading center for the India-China and Southeast Asian entrepôt trade, turning it into a major port city.

1942–1945

Period during World War II when Japan conquered and ruled Singapore before it returned to British control.

1963, 1965

After gaining self-government and merging with Malaysia in ___, social unrest and political disputes led to Singapore’s separation and independence on 9 August ___.

People’s Action Party

Singapore’s ___ vs Malaysia’s Alliance Party

Alliance Party

Singapore’s People’s Action Party vs Malaysia’s ___

Lee Kuan Yew

Served from 1959 to 1990, he’s Singapore’s first Prime Minister, leading it through major social, political, and economic reforms.

Meritocracy

A system promoted by Lee Kuan Yew where citizens advance based on ability and performance rather than background.

English

___ was made the common language to unite Singapore’s diverse population and promote trade with Western countries.

Foreign Direct Investment

Encouraged by Lee Kuan Yew to attract foreign capital and expertise since Singapore lacked natural resources and export experience; FDI.

Living

Singapore’s Economic Development Strategy focused on industrialization, urban construction, education reform, women’s rights, and public housing to improve ___ standards.

National Service

Introduced as a civilian army program requiring all males aged 18 and above to serve, strengthening national defense and discipline.

Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau

Established to fight corruption, which Lee Kuan Yew believed would block economic progress; CPIB.

Protests, Media

Despite his achievements, he faced criticism, especially from the West, for limiting civil liberties such as public ___ and ___ freedom.

Internal Security Act

Lee Kuan Yew Criticism: Often used libel suits against political opponents and the ___, which allowed detention without trial.

“Stop at Two” Policy

A population control measure that encouraged families to have only two children due to Singapore’s limited land area.

Graduate Mother’s Scheme

A controversial policy that favored children of university-educated mothers in school placement, aiming to raise birth rates among educated women.

Strict control, Intervention

Lee Kuan Yew’s Leadership Philosophy: He believed strict ___ and ___ in personal matters were necessary for Singapore’s stability and economic progress.

GDP

___ per capita rose from $1,240 (1959) to $18,437 (1990), showing rapid economic development.

Richest

In 2014, Singapore’s GDP per capita reached $71,318, ranking among the world’s ___ nations.

Banks

The number of ___ increased from 34 to 137, reflecting strong financial development.

Literacy

___ rate rose from 52% (1964) to 90% (1990), enhancing workforce quality.

Unemployment, Education

___ dropped from 13.5% to 1.7%, supported by reforms in ___, industrialization, and foreign investment.

82.5

More hospitals and medical staff improved health conditions; life expectancy rose from 65 years (1959) to ___ years (2014).

5

Singapore’s economy outperformed larger economies like the U.S., Hong Kong, and Japan over ___ decades.

Manager, Leader

A ___ does things right, while a ___ does the right thing—reflecting Lee Kuan Yew’s guiding principle.

Correct, Politically Correct

Lee Kuan Yew valued correctness over popularity, saying, “I always tried to be ___, not ___.”

People

According to Lee, the nation’s only natural resource is its ___, emphasizing discipline and strength in leadership.