Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore was unique in every sense of the term. Never before or after him a political personality emerged, could that so easily use the democratic route to dictate his terms to his people to realize his dream. He had a great understanding of human nature to recognize that his people were not only poor but were suffering from poverty that had sapped their will to limp out of their conditions of poverty and deprivation. Free meals would only make them more lethargic and deprive them of desire to work to stand on their own feet.
Twenty years before Singapore became independent he had picked up a broom in his hand. That was not to sweep dirt away from poverty-riddled areas but also cleanse the psychological inertia of people used to living in huts and hovels. There was dirt all around, and still people felt uncomfortable with cleanliness around them. They needed a psychological treatment to get rid of their traditional concepts of life.
Twenty years later, it was a large Island without abundant fertile lands, without rich natural resources, industrial base but with more human mouths to feed and hands that lacked the desire to work. Sidiq, 50-year a Malay driver, narrates how as a five-year-old child he used to earn a few cents pushing cars stranded on the waterlogged roads after heavy rains. Several areas even in central parts used to get flooded with water after every rain. There was no natural or man-made drainage system in Singapore even five years after its independence.
As there was no other choice, Lee was naturally chosen the first prime minister. He chose the democratic structure with economic institutions open to all. It was also clear to him that he would not be in a position to allow any latitude to the people. He would have to force them to work. It would be possible by removing all symbols of poverty and clearing out ramshackle structures that reminded of nothing but poverty.
He set his heavy earth rollers to raze hovels and slums to dust so that cleared sites could be used to construct new apartments for residents. The change made poor to raise huge hue and cry. Foreign media also came down heavily with least impact on the Democrat turned dictator. His conscience was clear. He was taking the only course available to change the destiny of Singapore and its people. It took virtually ten years for people to realize and appreciate what Lee had set to do. They also could sense that man was not relishing power. It was equally painful to him, but someone had to get things moving. So he chose to take the blame.
