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Lee Kuan Yew

1st Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore (1923-2015) · Singapore · Politicians · Died at 91

Lee Kuan Yew is read about 4,075 times a day, in 105 languages.

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He ran Singapore for three decades and built a postage stamp of tropical swamp into one of the richest places on earth - through meritocracy, zero tolerance for graft, and tight control of nearly everything else. The model worked. The cost was civil liberties, a neutered press, and detention without trial.

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A life in dates

2018China Reform Friendship MedalAward2015Died23 March 2015Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia FlowersAward2014Global Citizen AwardsAward2005Honorary Doctor of the Fudan UniversityAward2004Minister MentorOffice2004-20111999“Three women were brought to the Singapore General Hospital, each in the same condition and needing a blood transfusion.”In their wordsJanuary 1999(1967), cited in Lee Kuan Yew: race, culture and genes, Michael Barr in Journal of Contemporary Asia (January 1999)

1990Senior MinisterOffice1990-20041965“How does the Malay in the kampong find his way out into this modernised civil society?”In their wordsLee Kuan Yew in the Parliament of Malaysia, 1965

“They (the Malay extremists) have triggered off something basic and fundamental. Malaysia - to whom does it belong? To Malaysians. But who are Malaysians?”In their wordsLee Kuan Yew in the Parliament of Malaysia (1965)

1964“According to history, Malays began to migrate to Malaysia in noticeable numbers only about 700 years ago.”In their wordsLee Kuan Yew (in 1964 or 1965), - Ye, Lin-Sheng (2003). The Chinese Dilemma, p. 43. East West Publishing. .

1963Member of the Dewan RakyatOffice1963-19651959“Repression can only go up to a point.”In their words5 May 1959Opposition leader Lee Kuan Yew Straits Times (5 May 1959)

Prime Minister of SingaporeOffice1959-19901955“But we either believe in democracy or we don't.”In their words27 April 1955Lee Kuan Yew, Legislative Assembly Debates (27 April 1955)

Member of the Parliament of SingaporeOffice1955-20151923Born16 September 1923

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

Lee with his father, 1925Lee with his father, 1925Lee's barrister's wig and container, on display in the National Museum of SingaporeLee's barrister's wig and container, on display in the National Museum of SingaporeFurniture from 38 Oxley Road, where the People's Action Party was foundedFurniture from 38 Oxley Road, where the People's Action Party was foundedOne of the original HDB flats constructed in 1960, pictured in July 2021One of the original HDB flats constructed in 1960, pictured in July 2021Lee worked with Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the lead up to merger.Lee worked with Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the lead up to merger.Lee visits UN Headquarters on 21 October 1967: Seen here, from left: Abdul Rahim Ishak, Minister of State for Education of Singapore; Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew; Secretary-General U Thant; S. Rajaratnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore; and Ambassador Wong Lin Ken, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations.[200]Lee visits UN Headquarters on 21 October 1967: Seen here, from left: Abdul Rahim Ishak, Minister of State for Education of Singapore; Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew; Secretary-General U Thant; S. Rajaratnam, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore; and Ambassador Wong Lin Ken, Permanent Representative of Singapore to the United Nations.[200]Lee Kuan Yew and his wife Kwa Geok Choo with United States President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan on 8 October 1985 at the White HouseLee Kuan Yew and his wife Kwa Geok Choo with United States President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan on 8 October 1985 at the White House

In their own words 10

,
Lee Kuan Yew
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. Three women were brought to the Singapore General Hospital, each in the same condition and needing a blood transfusion.

    Jan 1999, (1967), cited in Lee Kuan Yew: race, culture and genes, Michael Barr in Journal of Contemporary Asia (January 1999), Own words

  2. How does the Malay in the kampong find his way out into this modernised civil society?

    1965, Lee Kuan Yew in the Parliament of Malaysia, 1965, Own words

  3. Of course there are Chinese millionaires in big cars and big houses. Is it the answer to make a few Malay millionaires with big cars and big houses?

    1965, Lee Kuan Yew speaking in the Parliament of Malaysia (1965), Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

China Reform Friendship Medal2018
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers2015
Global Citizen Awards2014
Honorary Doctor of the Fudan University2005
Order of Honour
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of the Badge of Honour
Order of Friendship
Ig Nobel Prize
Order of the Rising Sun, 1st class
Companion of Honour
Medal "for 20 Years of Kazakhstan's independence"
Honorary Doctor of the University of Hong Kong
Honorary Doctor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Honorary Doctor of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Order of the Paulownia Flowers
Order of the Rising Sun
Order of Sikatuna
Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
Order of the Companions of Honour
Dostyk Order of grade I
Order of Diplomatic Service Merit
Order of Merit

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About this person

Born in colonial Singapore in 1923 to a Peranakan Chinese family, Lee studied law at Cambridge and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1950. He returned home, practised law, and co-founded the People's Action Party in 1954, winning a seat the next year. By 1959 he was prime minister, leading Singapore into a merger with Malaya to form Malaysia in 1963. Racial conflict and ideological rifts forced Singapore out two years later, suddenly independent and alone. Lee then steered the tiny city-state through economic transformation - courting foreign capital, enforcing meritocracy and anti-corruption, building public housing and infrastructure - while restricting press freedoms, assembly, and dissent through defamation suits and detention laws. From 1968 to 1981, the PAP faced no parliamentary opposition. He stepped down as prime minister in 1990 but stayed in Cabinet until 2011, shaping policy and advising foreign leaders. He died of pneumonia in March 2015; 1.7 million people queued to pay respects.

Country
Singapore
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1923 to 2015 · aged 91

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