Singapore was just a sleepy city in Southeast Asia more than 50 years ago.
Singapore
was
just
a
sleepy
city
in
Southeast
Asia
more
than
50
years
ago
.
But the small dot on the world map has since developed into one of the richest nations thanks to its founder and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the state, who passed away on March 23, 2015 at the age of 91.
But
the
small
dot
on
the
world
map
has
since
developed
into
one
of
the
richest
nations
thanks
to
its
founder
and
first
Prime
Minister
Lee
Kuan
Yew
,
the
father
of
the
state
,
who
passed
away
on
March
23
,
2015
at
the
age
of
91
.
Lee grew up in a Singapore that was part of the British Empire.
Lee
grew
up
in
a
Singapore
that
was
part
of
the
British
Empire
.
As a law major who graduated from Cambridge University and the founder of the People's Action Party, he became Singapore's first prime minister in 1959 when British agreed to the island's self-rule.
As
a
law
major
who
graduated
from
Cambridge
University
and
the
founder
of
the
People
's
Action
Party
,
he
became
Singapore
's
first
prime
minister
in
1959
when
British
agreed
to
the
island
's
self-rule
.
Lee was a leader with vision.
Lee
was
a
leader
with
vision
.
He knew that without agriculture and natural resources, Singapore could only find a way out by developing itself into a place perfect for business.
He
knew
that
without
agriculture
and
natural
resources
,
Singapore
could
only
find
a
way
out
by
developing
itself
into
a
place
perfect
for
business
.
So he began with a few simple ideas: Singapore needed respect for elders and the law, hard work, and the idea that the needs of society are greater than the individual's.
So
he
began
with
a
few
simple
ideas
:
Singapore
needed
respect
for
elders
and
the
law
,
hard
work
,
and
the
idea
that
the
needs
of
society
are
greater
than
the
individual
's
.
He united Chinese, Indians and Malays, making English a common language.
He
united
Chinese
,
Indians
and
Malays
,
making
English
a
common
language
.
He fought corruption and even banned chewing gum.
He
fought
corruption
and
even
banned
chewing
gum
.
That helped change Singapore from a poor city in the 1950s to a world business center with a GDP per-capita of $55,000, reported the Financial Times.
That
helped
change
Singapore
from
a
poor
city
in
the
1950s
to
a
world
business
center
with
a
GDP
per-capita
of
$
55,000
,
reported
the
Financial
Times
.
Lee left the office of prime minister in 1990 but remained a member of parliament.
Lee
left
the
office
of
prime
minister
in
1990
but
remained
a
member
of
parliament
.
He resigned as "Minister Mentor" in 2011.
He
resigned
as
``
Minister
Mentor
''
in
2011
.
He was happy with his work: "I have no regrets.
He
was
happy
with
his
work
:
``
I
have
no
regrets
.
I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country.
I
have
spent
my
life
,
so
much
of
it
,
building
up
this
country
.
There's nothing more that I need to do."
There
's
nothing
more
that
I
need
to
do
.
''
To the world, Lee was one of Asia's most popular politicians.
To
the
world
,
Lee
was
one
of
Asia
's
most
popular
politicians
.
He was one of the first to spot the potential of China under a former leader Deng Xiaoping and contributed to China's reform and opening up.
He
was
one
of
the
first
to
spot
the
potential
of
China
under
a
former
leader
Deng
Xiaoping
and
contributed
to
China
's
reform
and
opening
up
.
"No small number of this and past generations of world leaders have asked for his advice on governances and development," said US President Obama.
``
No
small
number
of
this
and
past
generations
of
world
leaders
have
asked
for
his
advice
on
governances
and
development
,
''
said
US
President
Obama
.
"Lee is a visionary and a true giant of history."
``
Lee
is
a
visionary
and
a
true
giant
of
history
.
''
Singapore was just a sleepy city in Southeast Asia more than 50 years ago. But the small dot on the world map has since developed into one of the richest nations thanks to its founder and first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the father of the state, who passed away on March 23, 2015 at the age of 91.  Lee grew up in a Singapore that was part of the British Empire. As a law major who graduated from Cambridge University and the founder of the People's Action Party, he became Singapore's first prime minister in 1959 when British agreed to the island's self-rule.  Lee was a leader with vision. He knew that without agriculture and natural resources, Singapore could only find a way out by developing itself into a place perfect for business. So he began with a few simple ideas: Singapore needed respect for elders and the law, hard work, and the idea that the needs of society are greater than the individual's. He united Chinese, Indians and Malays, making English a common language. He fought corruption and even banned chewing gum. That helped change Singapore from a poor city in the 1950s to a world business center with a GDP per-capita of $55,000, reported the Financial Times.  Lee left the office of prime minister in 1990 but remained a member of parliament. He resigned as "Minister Mentor" in 2011. He was happy with his work: "I have no regrets. I have spent my life, so much of it, building up this country. There's nothing more that I need to do."  To the world, Lee was one of Asia's most popular politicians. He was one of the first to spot the potential of China under a former leader Deng Xiaoping and contributed to China's reform and opening up. "No small number of this and past generations of world leaders have asked for his advice on governances and development," said US President Obama. "Lee is a visionary and a true giant of history."