A Judgement Call

Lee Kuan Yew once admitted that being a politician made him wary of people, especially those who might use their relationship with him for their own gain (LKY, "The Man And His Ideas", Han Fook Kwang et al, page 237). He singled out Lim Kim San as one who is better than him at assessing "who's on the level and who's wanting to get something out of me." Goh Keng Swee, in his eyes, doesn't see through people. The person has got to work with him, then after he's thoroughly disappointed, he gets rid of the man.

How did he learn to judge people, Lim was asked,

"I think that comes from experience. To me, it is instinctive. You listen to the chap talk and you think, “This chap is quite alright, or " This chap, you can’t trust him.” I think all successful businessmen have that kind of instinct. You meet a chap, you make a deal. You feel you can rely on this man. He’s on the level. You can trust him. For me, it’s quite instinctive.

Sometimes I shake the guy by the hand and I feel revolted. I feel like throwing off the hand. And you look into his record, you find that, sure enough, this man has done something wrong. Have you heard of Slater Walker? I told the Cabinet to stop them from coming into Singapore. They said to me, “You have a suspicious mind!" Businessmen must have such an instinct."

Unfortunately Lim has long passed from the scene, he is unable to shake hands with the "Son of Punggol" and give us the benefit of his impression. Lee tells of how Lim shook hands with a Khaw Khai Boh, a former head of Special Branch who went on to become a minister in the Malaysian government, and felt an urgent need to wash hands.  You know, Lee wrote, the oiliness of the man and the viciousness of the man - he just sensed it. "It's a gift," Lee said admiringly.