Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

The Tang dynasty was largely a period of progress and stability. It was in the Tang dynasty that people set out to solve internal problems within the government which had constantly plagued past dynasties. This reminded me of what Mr Lee Kuan Yew had done. Like many countries, Singapore had problems with corruption. Mr Lee introduced legislation giving the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) greater power to conduct arrest, search, call up witnesses, and investigate bank accounts and income-tax returns of suspected persons and their families. Mr Lee believed that ministers would be well-paid in order to maintain a clean and honest government. In 1994, he proposed to link the salaries of ministers, judges and top civil servants to the salaries of top professionals in the private sector, arguing that this would help recruit and retain talent to serve in the public sector. 

Singapore can be seen to be its own "Golden Age", because some of its reforms are so similar to the Tang dynasty. I believe that like the Tang dynasty, Singapore is truly one of the leading countries after its period of progress and stability. Singaporeans really owe it to Mr Lee to be able to come to where we are today. Without Mr Lee, our small country would definitely remain as pathetic as its own size, but because of him, we are able to live comfortably, without ever having to fear about riots and corruption. Mr Lee was always alert and he was capable about enforcing strict laws that would ensure the safety and security of his own fellow Singaporeans. He always thought of us, and never stopped thinking about ways to improve Singapore. 

One of Mr Lee's abiding beliefs was in the efficacy of corporal punishment in the form of caning. Thee PAP government extended its use to an ever-expanding range of crimes.Those routinely ordered by the courts to be caned now include drug addicts and illegal immigrants.  

Similar to the Tang dynasty, where soldiers were recruited and replaced every three years or longer, Mr Lee requested help from other countries for advice, training and facilities, and in 1967, Mr Lee introduced conscription whereby all able-bodies males Singaporeans age 18 and above are required to serve National Service. 

To me, Mr Lee had a very different mindset compared to most of us. Sometimes, we may not be able to understand his actions, but in the long run, we can see his efforts pay off. Mr Lee was always thinking about the future, never getting too absorbed in the past, but still enjoying the present. He always had long term plans, trying to change the country for a better Singapore. Singapore is truly at its golden age, where we are one of the leading countries in the world.