A Tribute to Lee Kuan Yew & Some Lessons for Africa

A wise man has said, in life people are most remembered for either of two things- the problems they solve or the problems they create. Lee Kuan Yew will definitely be most remembered for transforming Singapore from ‘third world to first’, working with other technocrats. Though a chapter may seem to have closed on the life and times of the great Singaporean leader who passed away on 23^rd March 2015, the contributions he made to the life and times of his country will live on for generations to come. 

His story continues to inspire many leaders across Asia and the world. Personally, I am thrilled when I read and think about a couple of laudable values which have furthered development objectives and forged an ethically sane society in Asia. This post is dedicated to the memory of Lee Kuan Yew, his legacy and extraordinary leadership. As I highlight some of the motivations of Lee Kuan Yew, it is pertinent to note obvious lessons for the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria and indeed sub-Saharan Africa.

Of course every State is to be an architect of its future. However, most countries look toward conformity with existing systems and frameworks proposed by the West. A couple of Asian countries, who became models of economic progress, have been notorious for adopting economic and socio-political frameworks which they consider most appropriate for their environment. Lee Kuan Yew (LKY) popularized ‘Asian Values’ as an alternative to the West’s liberal democracy and this has greatly shaped Singaporean politics, economy and society. 

By operating ‘Asian Values’, LKY built a vibrant state, committed to promoting the interest of society over and above individual interests while providing an environment conducive for domestic living and international investments. Other Asian outposts of progress such as China, have been influenced by the thoughts and practices of LKY. For instance, China’s economic transformation and improvements in human welfare is driven by its adoption of a ‘communist manifesto with Chinese characteristics’. Presently, China’s explicit industrial policy strategies are being emulated by the West who once disdained the relevance of industrial policy.  

It is such a wonder how LKY, within one generation, transformed Singapore from being a poor country (with per capita GNP at par with Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Nigeria as of 1965) to one with a per capita GNP greater than that of Great Britain, its one-time colonizer. In a 2012 survey, Singapore was ranked as the country with world’s best infrastructure. Singapore also has one of world’s busiest ports, hosts the 7^th largest refinery in the world and is a hub for manufacturing and service industries. 

The inclusive nature of the economic growth achieved by Singapore can be seen in its very high human development score of 0.901 in 2013 up from 0.74 in 1990.  LKY has shown that natural resources are not the building blocks of nation states. With little or no natural resources and a complex ethnic mix of 7615 people per square km, LKY through concerted policies helped Singapore achieve a sense of national cohesion.

In governance, LKY was a firm believer in meritocracy - a stance that rulers should be chosen for their superior abilities and not because of their wealth or birth. He was a man committed to result-oriented policies that further national development objectives. Even though some authors have traced some of Singapore’s strides to serendipity, ('for example the Sino-Soviet split and Great Britain’s initial impulse to remain a player in South-East Asia') the opportunities may not have been adequately exploited had Singapore lacked a visionary and intelligent leader.

LKY was a firm believer in modernization. Nonetheless, he was practically against the West foisting its system of doing things on the rest of the world. He encouraged Asian countries to embrace the frontier of knowledge, science and technology proposed by the West while seeking to preserve Asian core value systems. In an interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, LKY once noted his loss of admiration for the American ‘style’ which had led to what he termed an ‘erosion of the moral underpinnings of a society and the diminution of personal responsibility’. 

LKY believed that the main objective of the state should be the ‘creation of a well-ordered society where everyone has capacity to enjoy their freedoms to the fullest’. He therefore frowned at all things which contribute to the breakdown of civil society – guns, drugs, violent crime, vagrancy and unbecoming behaviour in public. Notably, Singapore has one of the lowest crime and drug use rates in the world owing to its strict regulations.

According to LKY, governance must focus on the basics – (i) promoting family values as an important component of the economic growth process and (ii) promoting a wholesome culture which believes in respect for scholarship and learning, thrift, hard work, filial piety, loyalty and a tradition of strict discipline. LKY demonstrated a high sense of value for human capital development by allocating resources to drive universal primary education, a competitive secondary education that focused on building knowledge and skills in science and technology. 

He perceived education to be pivotal to technological advancement, industrial development and economic progress. Today, Singapore’s test system is known for its rigour, lack of corruption and meritocratic rewards for personal advancement. Evidently, Singapore’s rigorous investment in education and training continues to raise individuals who contribute to good governance as well as generate innovative technologies and products.

Even though he may not have done everything right, as he alluded to in a 2010 interview with the New York Times, everything he did was towards a honourable cause. How legendary! 
Good Night Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew!

Going forward, another transformation story can emerge from Africa if states can

§  commit to delivering on development objectives

§  promote collective interests over and above individual interests

§  entrench the rule of law, placing huge penalties on corruption

§  show commitment to meritocracy and

§  understand the role of ethical traditions in shaping our destinies.

The discussion continues…