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Anonymous
Posted August 18, 2000
If you subscribe to the belief that every nation deserves its leaders, then Lee Kwan Yew was the right choice for Singapore. Over the past two decades, I have traveled to Singapore on numerous occasions for business as well as for pleasure, and I have found the people of Singapore to be extremely crass, shallow, and materialistic. Singapore was populated by immigrants from various Asian countries, but the ethnic Chinese made up the majority of these immigrants. During my many trips to Singapore, I have encountered veiled instances of racism within this so-called 'multi-cultural/racial' country. The Singapore Chinese dislike the Singapore Malays, and Singapore Indians, but all of them kowtow to Caucasians! What is most surprising is that racism even exist amongst the Singapore Chinese, as one dialect group belittles another dialect group! It is utterly revolting to see how Singaporeans ape western culture, but turn their noses up on their own culture. Lee Kwan Yew has done a remarkable job of transforming the former British colony into a world-class city, although beneath the veneer of all that glass, steel, and concrete are a people who still suffer from 'Colonial hang-over'. Lee Kwan Yew's foresight and leadership abilities are truly admirable, and he is one of the few Asian leaders this century that is worthy of respect. It is his style of leadership that many people have a problem with. Lee Kwan Yew abhors or fears criticism (constructive or otherwise) from his peers and subordinates. As the former Prime Minister of Singapore, his political party and his cabinet were staffed by 'yes-men'. Critics or opponents of Lee Kwan Yew, his party, or his government were heavily fined, banished, or imprisoned without trial. Today Lee Kwan Yew is sill indirectly guiding Singapore, as Senior Minister, and while penning his memoirs. Excellent job Lee Kwan Yew, may the people of Singapore benefit from your wisdom and leadership in the years to come! I am looking forward to the second installment of your memoirs.
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Posted July 21, 2000
This is a story of a single minded visionary who surrounded himself with like minds and purposefully led his people to the Promised Land in his lifetime. Written in clear,lucid and brutally frank language. I am particularly impressed by his depiction of the African Leaders he met on his trip to Africa in the 1960¿s. How right he was? History has judged him and his actions favorably in his lifetime. This book should be titled ' An introduction to leadership ' and should be made a must read for aspiring and current African leaders. I cannot wait until October for Vol II.
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More About This Textbook
Overview
Editorial Reviews
Booknews
Singapore's former Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew provides an account of his personal and political life and provides a blow-by-blow chronicle of his dealings with political groups and leaders, both Malaysian and international, on the road to independence. Includes b&w photographs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)Product Details
Table of Contents
2. Growing Up.
3. The Japanese Invaders.
4. After the Liberation.
5. My Cambridge Days.
6. Work, Wedding and Politics.
7. My First Clashes with the Government.
8. Widening the Oxley Road Circle.
9. The World of the Chinese-educated.
10. Enter the PAP.
11. Round One to the Communists.
12. Marshall Accentuates the Crisis.
13. A Fiasco in London.
14. Exit Marshall, Enter Lim Yew Hock.
15. Three-quarters Independent.
16. Flushing Out the Communists.
17. Rendezvous with the Plen.
18. Election 1959—We Fight to Win.
19. Taking Charge.
20. Glimpses of Troubles Ahead.
21. Trounced in Hong Lim.
22. The Tunku's Merger Bombshell.
23. Eden Hall Tea Party.
24. Communists Exposed.
25. Moving Towards Merger.
26. Getting to Know the Tunku.
27. A Vote for Merger.
28. Europe Beckons Britain.
29. Pressure from Sukarno.
30. Bitter Run-up to Malaysia.
31. The Tide Turns.
32. Singapore Declares Independence.
33. Konfrontasi.
34. Winning Friends in Africa.
35. Venturing into the Malay Heartland.
36. Albar Stokes Up Malay Heartland.
37. Singapore-KL Tensions Mount.
38. Constitutional Rearrangements?
39. Seeking Support Down Under.
40. UMNO's "Crush Lee" Campaign.
41. The Quest for a Malaysian Malaysia.
42. The Tunku Wants Us Out.
43. "Talak, Talak, Talak" (I Divorce Thee).
Chronology of Events.
Index.