The Country No One Wanted

The Country No One Wanted

Eternal quest for territorial expansion has shaped the world since humans first walked.

Alexander and Genghis Khan wanted to become the emperor of the known world. Spanish conquistadors took over an entire continent. At the peak of colonialism, the sun never set on the British Empire. Bloodiest ever two world wars were fought over the quest for more territory.

The list is endless and that is what shaped the world. In short that’s how we got here.

Once, only once in human history this norm was broken. A country wanted to give up a part of its own territory it didn’t want.

The country of Malaysia wanted to give up on the backward marshland island at the tip of the peninsula- which was Singapore.

80% of the population lived in slums and squalor. It was plagued by communal violence. Singapore had no resources, and the future was bleak.

Singapore was good riddance.

The story of Singapore is that of Mr Lee Kuan Yew who went on to become the first prime minister of Singapore and the legend we revere today.

On the fateful day while addressing his nation he said,

“Severing Singapore from Malaysia is a moment of anguish…”?and then there was silence.

Choked up in grief he could not carry on. No one could not notice his eyes glisten up with tears.

He was now the leader of a country which the world believed has no future.

For perspective those not aware what is Singapore and where it is- here you go. Chances are you will not find it on the map unless you are look hard.

Singapore was earlier called Temasek. It is said that 600yrs ago a Sumatran prince while on his hunting spree saw a lion and named the place ‘Singa Pura ’ meaning lion city in Sanskrit. Fun fact Singapore never had lions- surely had tigers.

Then like everywhere else on earth along came the British. Sir Stamford Raffles set shop in Singapore because it was on the strategic sea route between India- China and within breathing reach of the Dutch Indies archipelago – now called Indonesia. Later during World War II the Japanese imperial army took over and did many unspoken atrocities.

It was in Singapore where Indian freedom fighter Netaji Subhash Bose inspired the Prisoners of War and created the Indian National Army. INA were the first to hoist the Indian flag defeating the British much before India won independence - topic for another day.

Fast forward to 1965.

Singapore was an independent country with poverty, unemployment, racial tensions, homelessness, poor sanitation, no water, no resources. No hope, No future!

It only had the iron will of an astute visionary leader who was committed to nation building and hoping for a miracle.

Since then, Singapore traversed the journey from being a third world nation to one of the richest and respected in the world. Its GDP per capital moved from $2K to $65K in 50 years. All this happened in one generation.

As Singapore prepares to celebrate its National Day (Independence Day) prompts me to answer 5 most asked questions about this country where i have lived for over a decade.

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1.??????What is Singapore Best at?

Best Airport, most loved Airline, most efficient Port, Best place to setup business, most powerful passport, Highest green cover, least corrupt nation, Best credit rating, Safest country…list goes on.

Singapore brings Nothing but the Best to the World…

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2.??????What does Singapore Produce?

We are not talking about electronics, chemicals, and services- which Singapore also produces.

In 1960s Singapore was 550 sqkm in size, today it is around 750sqkm. Singapore has grown by over 25% in landmass. Most iconic landmarks we associate Singapore with is on reclaimed land.

Singapore had no water and lived on procured water from neighbor Malaysia. So, they build reservoirs, desalination units and what not to become self-sufficient in water- almost.

Singapore produces Land and Water

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3.??????How Rich is Singapore?

Yes, it has one of the highest per capita GDP but what makes it interesting is for a GDP of $400B it has a Forex reserve of $300B!

It doesn’t end there. Two of the top 10 largest sovereign wealth funds in the world aka GIC and Temasek are from Singapore. Collectively they own over $1Trillion!

Yes, Crazy Rich Asians do exist

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4.??????What makes Singapore so efficient?

At a ripe age of 80yrs long after he had stepped down, Lee Kuan Yew was asked what will happen if something goes wrong in Singapore. He said “Even from my sickbed, even if you are going to lower me into the grave and I feel something is going wrong, I will get up” gives me goosebumps.

The interesting part is nothing ever goes wrong here

But why? Because they hire only the best to run the nation

Who is the highest paid leader in the world. President of USA or China or Japan or India? Answer is Prime Minister of Singapore.

Singapore has the highest paid ministers AND the most corruption free government anywhere in the world. Beating even the best corporations Singapore government pays competitively and gets the best and brightest to run the country.

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5.??????How Safe and Clean is Singapore?

“Utter filth and poverty. One must see with his own eyes to believe it” yes this is how Singapore was described by a travel magazine from 1965. Today the cleanliness of this nation can put any western nation to shame.

The art of reserving table in a food court with something that belongs to you is called ‘choping’. Never did I hesitate to leave my phone in a public place and walk away.

Crime is so rare, petty theft is front page news and it happened five years ago. Singapore is Cleaner and Safer than any could imagine.

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Last week Lee Kuan Yew was narrating his life story. The legend took me back in time and shared his views, thoughts, and feelings.

It is the 100th birthday year of LKY and I read ‘The Singapore Story’ the 700-page autobiography LKY. In his memoir LKY lets me vicariously live his life.

How he had become an entrepreneur in the wartime with a home created gum called Sticfas

How he self-taught reading Chinese when he couldn’t read the motif next to the severed heads of defectors during Japanese occupation.

How he secretly married Kwa Geok Choo in the UK and kept it hidden from their families for many years; she was a brighter student than the legend himself.

Dotted with numerous anecdotes it is unputdownable!

It is the story of how one person in one lifetime took a directionless, banished island of homeless slums, torn apart by racial harmony into an iconic nation. It is a must read for those who adore him, for those who misunderstood him and for generations who will come after him.