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Quote by Lee Kuan Yew

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Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew was the founding father of Singapore, a politician, lawyer, and statesman. Born on September 16, 1923, in Singapore, he played a crucial role in transforming the city-state from a small fishing village into a global financial hub and trading center. He served as the first Prime Minister of Singapore after its independence in 1965 and continued in the role until his retirement in 1990. Lee Kuan Yew passed away on March 23, 2015. more

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“With few exceptions, democracy has not brought good government to new developing countries. What Asians value may not necessarily be what Americans or Europeans value. Westerners value the freedoms and liberties of the individual. As an Asian of Chinese cultural backround, my values are for a government which is honest, effective and efficient.”

MayCountryGovernmentAmericaPoliticalValuesCultureIndividualFreedomLibertyDemocracyHonestHonestyEuropeDevelopingChineseMinistersExceptionEfficientAsianAmerican CultureEffectivenessFreedom And LibertyDemocracies HaveWestern CultureCultural DifferencesDeveloping CountriesWesterners
Author:Lee Kuan Yew
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“You’re talking about Rwanda or Bangladesh, or Cambodia, or the Philippines. They’ve got democracy, according to Freedom House. But have you got a civilised life to lead? People want economic development first and foremost. The leaders may talk something else. You take a poll of any people. What is it they want? The right to write an editorial as you like? They want homes, medicine, jobs, schools.”

PeopleWantWritingFirstsMayHomeSchoolJobsHouseTalkingLeaderDemocracyEconomicDevelopmentMedicinePollsPhilippinesEditorialsEconomic DevelopmentBangladeshCivilisedRwandaCambodia
Author:Lee Kuan Yew
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“They say people can think for themselves? Do you honestly believe that the chap who can’t pass primary six knows the consequence of his choice when he answers a question viscerally, on language, culture and religion? But we knew the consequences. We would starve, we would have race riots. We would disintegrate.”

PeopleThinkingKnowsBelieveChoicesCultureLanguageAnswersRaceSixConsequenceHonestlyPrimariesRiotChapsLanguage CultureCulture And ReligionRace Riots
Author:Lee Kuan Yew
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“I pointed to an article with bold headlines reporting that the police had refused to allow the PAP to hold a rally at Empress Place, and then to the last paragraph where in small type it added the meeting would take place where we were now. I compared this with a prominent report about an SPA rally. This was flagrant bias.”

LastsTypePoliceMeetingsReportsArticlesBiasHeadlinesParagraphSingaporeProminentSpasEmpresses
Book:The Singapore Story (Student Edition): Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew
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“I can only express the hope that faith in the judicial system will never be diminished, and I am sure it will not, so long as we allow a review of the judicial processes that takes place here in some other tribunal where obviously undue influence cannot be brought to bear. As long as governments are wise enough to leave alone the rights of appeal to some superior body outside Singapore, then there must be a higher degree of confidence in the integrity of our judicial process. This is most important.”

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Author:Lee Kuan Yew
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