MARUAH Singapore

Winner in category – Never enrolled in a local or overseas university

Mr Lee Kuan Yew is a name renowned not only in Singapore but overseas as well. He is revered as one of the most successful nation builder post world war 2 with his death sparking many speeches and dedications from countries around the world as well. Like many Singaporeans, I had idolised and admired him as a role model. His charisma during speeches, his foresight to plan Singapore’s future and his ability to lead a team and execute those plans are some of the reasons why many Singaporeans like myself, idolise him. Why else did Singapore turn from a swampy mud land to a urbanised bustling city with a light intensity so bright that it never seems to fade away?

This admiration continued up till I grew older and began to ask more questions. I’m still proud of his contributions and I’m thankful that Singapore managed to turn out the way it is. I should also state that I believe, myself and many others think that trying to develop Singapore how it was in the 1950s to today’s modern standards is an extremely challenging feat that not many legends can pull off regardless of where we in stand in the political spectrum. However, I have reservations about Mr Lee Kuan Yew as I read more in-depth on Singapore’s history. After much reflection, I think that Mr Lee Kuan Yew means to me, a great man whose legacy is riddled murky with misplaced accreditation and extensive assault of democratic values.

I believe that Mr Lee Kuan Yew is often credited as the maker of Singapore’s impressive development as he is the leader and unifier of the PAP. Ask any member from the youth, adult or even the elderly and they will often credit Singapore’s development to Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It is true that as one of the main founding members for the PAP and as its leader, he shines in the no.1 spotlight. This is not to mention that Mr Lee Kuan Yew himself is also the longest serving policy and decision maker of Singapore which also reflects just how influential he is in Singapore’s overall running as a sovereign nation. However, I do believe that there is an over emphasis on his contributions. As great of a man and nation builder he is, he is supported immensely by his team of first generation leaders. Nowadays, I rarely see any mention let alone celebration of the first generation team. I think this is even more evident when we are celebrating his 100th Birth year this year when we, as a nation, don’t even celebrate the birthdays of the other important figures instrumental to Singapore’s development.

Take a look at Dr Goh Keng Swee, this man is one of the main reasons why Singapore isn’t suffering as badly as some of our neighbours during this cost of living crisis. He was one of the instrumental forces behind MAS’ development as a united government body unlike how it was prior; a disparate mix of different government offices that will not be able to function in modern day. Because of his efforts, we are able to strengthen our control over Singapore’s monetary policy and are able to react quickly to economic downturns and hardships with a lot more efficiency. Dr Goh also crafted Singapore’s defence and the early days of Singapore’s economy as a manufacturing hub. Singapore’s modern economy would definitely have taken a much different turn if he wasn’t in the picture. He had played a significant role and should be credited just as much as Lee Kuan Yew instead of standing as no.2 in the minds of many Singaporeans, if they are even aware of him.

Another person I would like to highlight here as well is Mr Lim Kim San. Singapore is best known for solving its housing issues where HDB flats were built to solve the problems of slum living and even used to tackle problems like integrating of different races and cultures. Mr Lim Kim San had a very heavy hand in helping to plan, develop and construct the first models of HDB flats as HDB’s chairman. I do not remember reading about this man when I was learning about Singapore’s history in secondary school and I do hope that this man will be more recognised, especially since Singapore’s biggest success is thanks to him.

So while I do want to celebrate Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th Birth year, I do think we should at least celebrate the 100th Birthday, as a nation, of some of the other leaders that helped to develop Singapore. Although, unfortunately some of them have already celebrated it without Singaporeans knowing. And as time progresses, I wonder whether we will also celebrate only Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s 100th Birth year and not anyone else’s.

In the course of developing Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew has been instrumental and effective in establishing the institutions that govern Singapore today. However, I would like to point out one institution in particular. Mr Lee Kuan Yew regularly assaulted democratic values by silencing those who disagreed with him or his parties policies especially as he utilised the Internal Security Act to consolidate power for his party. He utilised the act in 2 different scenarios which allowed him and his party to enact their reforms and policies unopposed.

However, I must admit that in one of those instances, it could not have been avoided. It was the most logical step in Operation Coldstore as it was the most effective method to convince the British and Malayans that communist influence has been suppressed in order to admit Singapore into the Malaysian Federation. However, for operation spectrum and thereafter, I believe that the utilisation of the act was unnecessary and was perhaps cruel to some extent.

Singapore at the end of the day is a democratic republic. People with concerns should be able to voice them without having to fear their safety and particularly the safety and wellbeing of their loved ones. The right to reply policy from the government is one of necessity and should be the government’s right. If such a policy exists, why do some people not only get arrested but also have their lives ruined, for instance JB Jeyeratnam? This goes to show that the government, and primarily Lee Kuan Yew, regularly assaulted principles of democracy by silencing opposition voices thus ensuring the central power of the government remains firmly in their hands.

So, if my 16 year old self were to be asked what Lee Kuan Yew meant to him, I believe he would say that Lee Kuan Yew is the embodiment of Singapore. However, the answer I will give now is that Lee Kuan Yew, and in particular his legacy, means one of misplaced accreditation as well as trampled democracy values.

So, as we move forward, I envision a post-LKY Singapore that recognises proper efforts of all its citizens both past present and future and to carry out equal and the highest honour for ingenious and creative minds. Furthermore I really hope that Singapore opens up and safeguards more democratic values. Just because there are opposition parties in the parliament and different political parties set up since LKY stepping down, it doesn’t mean that Singapore has established more democratic values. The post-LKY government is still afraid of dissidents and criticisms. More so, post LKY, as the average Singaporean is more educated and is able to think more in-depth on certain policies. The post-LKY government is aware of this and has set up tools that allow them to easily silence the western English educated Singaporean that LKY sought to silence. Singaporeans are able to think for themselves but many remain politically unaware. As I write this piece, I can confirm that Singapore’s evolution as a democratic republic has yet to properly start, this is in particular to the fact that I’m scared if this piece may get POFMA’d and the countless possibilities that may extinguish my life in Singapore society. As these endless possibilities came true for many others before me, my simple vision for an open Singapore that embraces democratic values still has a long way to go.