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How Singapore’s early leaders supported Lee Kuan Yew’s vision by challenging him

PressNewsAgency
By PressNewsAgency

In this excerpt from Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng, former editor-in-chief of The Straits Times, offers rare behind-the-scenes insights into the personalities who shaped post-independence Singapore. Through stories involving figures such as S.R. Nathan, a senior civil servant who later became president, and S. Rajaratnam, the country’s first foreign minister, Cheong reveals a founding leadership team unafraid to challenge even Lee Kuan Yew – while remaining bound by a shared national mission.
A story S.R. Nathan once told me was revealing. He was S. Rajaratnam’s (Raja’s) Permanent Secretary when Raja took charge of the foreign ministry after Singapore separated from Malaysia. One afternoon, Raja was being interviewed by a visiting foreign correspondent, whose reporting was critical of Singapore.

S.R. received a call from Lee Kuan Yew’s (LKY’s) secretary: Can Raja drop by his office? Raja glanced at S.R.’s message, and carried on talking to his visitor. More than an hour went by. S.R. grew nervous. He didn’t think the Prime Minister should be kept waiting.

More time passed. LKY’s personal assistant was frantic and messaged S.R. again. S.R. sent a reminder, but Raja continued with the interview.

Late that afternoon, after the reporter had left, Raja phoned LKY. I was talking to a foreign correspondent, he told LKY. Did you want to see me? Never mind, was the reply.

S.R.’s point in narrating the story was to show how tightly-knit the team was. They were a group of equals drawn together by a common cause. It also showed how seriously senior leaders took the press, even those hostile to them.

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, centre, shakes hands with his father, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, while standing next to President S.R. Nathan, right, on August. 12, 2004. Photo: AP

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