Singapore’s first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, warned against the risks in helping to develop an economic zone in neighboring Malaysia, adding that the wealthy city-state he helped build might not be around in 100 years if it did not pick good leaders.
“I am absolutely sure that if Singapore gets a dumb government, we are done for,” Lee, who turns 90 next month, wrote in “One Man’s View of the World”, a book launched on Tuesday.
Losing none of the candour that made him one of Asia’s most influential leaders, Lee had sharp words for some of Singapore’s neighbors, in particular Malaysia, from which Singapore split in 1965, amid ethnic tension between its Malay majority and the Chinese minority.
Lee also spoke about risks involved in the Iskandar economic zone that Malaysia is developing just north of Singapore, which has attracted large investments from the city-state.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Lee’s eldest son, and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak have both promoted Iskandar, which many believe can complement Singapore, just as Shenzhen has helped Hong Kong overcome its space constraints.
“This is an economic field of co-operation in which, you must remember, we are putting investments on Malaysian soil,” Lee said. “And at the stroke of a pen they can take it over.”
Lee appeared alert but frail at the launch event, requiring assistance to stand and walk about. He did not take questions, but said his 400-page book recounted “90 years of various experiences” and included hard facts and hard truths.
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