Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away at 0318am 23rd March 2015

[newkeynesian]

RIP, our leader.

[valuebuddies]

No offence but I think it is too late to say thank you. To be realistic, we should feel grateful with the high standard of living in remembrance of him. Please share Mr Lee story of transforming Singapore with the younger generation, and say thank you to those we love before it is too late.

R.I.P Mr Lee...

[crosscalibre]

RIP thank you

[white collar]

The magnitude of our loss is insurmountable. I just don't have the mood to work today.

[zerobeta]

RIP to a great leader...

but with all due respect to him and without downplaying his contributions to Singapore, do you think he would be able to replicate his successes at Singapore to a much bigger country such as, say, Indonesia?

[specuvestor]

^^ He wanted to do Malaysian Malaysia... that was the political threat to Tunku. Does that answer your question?

Think it was Jim Rogers that remarked Burma was the richest country in SEA 50 years ago. Ceylon was the jewel of British administrative empire and best governed 50 years ago. Phillippines was most well policed and orderly 50 years ago that CIA was training there.

Where will Singapore be in SG100. Only the paranoid survives. Recently I realised there are only 3 city states in the world with the other 2 being a gambling tax haven and a religious center, without our diverse economy

Without statistics it's not difficult to assess whether Singapore was a miracle birth 50 years ago with racial and communist riots, no resources, losing the hinterland where water and food was a sword of domacles "perpetually", largest employer the British Army which was 1/4 of GDP was withdrawing, etc. I think LKY himself understood the difficulties when he teared on the separation. Compare us with our neighbours now since we were "born" almost same time

Compare us with East Timor.

Think sometimes people get too academic with perfect hindside. That's why I always like to see real events evolve live.

Some have downplayed Mr Lee's contribution saying that Singapore was already developed prior to 1965 - the Gibraltar of the Pacific with one of the highest GDP amongst the Asian countries etc.

Here's something to think about with data from (note that data is USD nominal based on official exchange rates):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_co...per_capita

In 1960/65, Singapore's GDP per capita was behind Japan, HK and Brunei (Manila, Saigon, Yangon/Rangoon as cities were not available). Singapore has overtaken them by 2014.

In terms of growth from 1965 to 2014 (see column AC), only South Korea and Oman are ahead of Singapore in this dataset.

There are limitations of all historical statistics and use of GDP/capital as proxy for development but Singapore certainly has gone a long way.

I am grateful to Mr Lee and his compatriots. I think most Singaporeans have benefited from his leadership. They may not want to take the present for granted.

PS... "Pearl of the Orient", "Gibraltar of the Pacific" have also been bestowed upon Manila, Saigon and Hong Kong in the past.

[CityFarmer]

market rallyed up 13 points since opening.

so much for being sad. straits time also no headline strange .. maybe everybody still monday blue.

The Straits Times will issue a special 24-page edition to mark the life of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It will be out at news-stands in the city centre from 10.30am on Monday, March 23. The rest of the island will get it from 11am

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapo...tor=CS1-10

[zerobeta]

^^ He wanted to do Malaysian Malaysia... that was the political threat to Tunku. Does that answer your question?

no sorry I still couldn't get it, could you please elaborate? I'm not from Singapore so my understanding of Singapore history may be lacking... thanks

[specuvestor]

Singapore was part of Malaysia from 1963 to 1965 together with East Malaysia. Frankly I don't think LKY saw much future for an island state and probably he had larger ambition than just an island of 1m+ people. Population jumped to 2m when people rushed into Singapore post announcement because UMNO was for Malay Malaysia. Unemployment was 20%+ IIRC.

He made the best out of a no choice situation. Tunku and Malaysia didn't consulted LKY & team at all. Singapore was frankly unceremoniously kicked out of the house. Singapore was the wayward child nobody wants being left to wither. So for those who think he had it easy....

But again he built up a strong team. From the PAP founder Toh Chin Chye, to the workhorses like Goh Keng Swee and Hon Sui Sen, to even people like ex-presidents Devan Nair and Ong Teng Chiong contributed to Singapore's success. So even as we remember the key architect, let's also remember his tireless team that made it happen.

[sgd]

market rallyed up 13 points since opening.

so much for being sad. straits time also no headline strange .. maybe everybody still monday blue.

The Straits Times will issue a special 24-page edition to mark the life of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. It will be out at news-stands in the city centre from 10.30am on Monday, March 23. The rest of the island will get it from 11am

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/news/singapo...tor=CS1-10

I find their response or delay quite odd.

Firstly few days ago a lot of fake rumors circulated of his death someone even photoshopped a PMO announcement declaring his passing but PMO didn't come out to refute it immediately or tried to quell the rumors, foreign media picked it up and even believe it and began officially reporting his death by then already too late to do anything. And that was thursday evening.

I saw ST article on Sat/Sun and it did say he was still in hospital.

I saw it again on various social media this morning and thought another round of wild rumors I still didn't believe it because when I look at my morning papers still no announcement.

slow for such big news.