LeeKuanYew

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Lee Kuan Yew
The architect of modern Singapore
1923 – 2015 · Prime Minister of Singapore, 1959–1990
Lee Kuan Yew on the cover of TIME, April 2015

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From a poor port to a global hub
31 years
$500 → $50k+
~80%
as Prime Minister of Singapore
(1959–1990)
GDP per capita, 1965 → 2015
(approx.)
of residents live in public (HDB)
housing
His formula: strong institutions, merit and order first — growth follows.

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What a public administrator can learn
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Merit over connections
The best graduates were recruited into the civil service via state
scholarships and competitive pay.
Zero tolerance for corruption
A strong anti-corruption bureau and strict enforcement, even for
senior officials.
Long-term thinking
Housing, water, education and transport were planned for decades,
not election cycles.

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Thank you for your attention!
Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015)
Lee Kuan Yew on the cover of TIME, December 2005