The Australian in Myanmar said to me, “You know Singapore used to look like Yangon, but Lee Kuan Yew cleaned it up.”

This is interesting.  Because both Yangon and Singapore were British colonies until roughly after WWII, when the British fled Asia.  Yangon, a beautiful city, is filled with beggars and a very poor population scattered in decaying colonial buildings, while Singapore is one of the wealthiest and modern countries in the world.  Why did two similar cities take  two such divergent paths in the last 50 years? – Joe P (Generation Passport)

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I knew this man when people start saying that soon-to-be-Jakarta’s governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama – Ahok, as a “Lee Kuan Yew” from Indonesia.
I knew this man is being criticized as a dictator or a tyrant.
Yet, many people also consider him as a savior and a hero.
But, until yesterday, I had no idea why people keep on talking about this man.

Then, I found this article posted on Facebook this morning.

http://generationpassport.com/2013/07/13/lee-kuan-yew-the-funniest-asian-man-to-ever-have-lived-on-planet-earth/

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Despite all the pros and cons, at least now I know why people adore and admire him.

And together with all the Indonesians, this article has brought me another faith and hope for the new leader of Indonesia, to lead our country to the better future.

“I am often accused of interfering in the private lives of citizens. Yes, if I did not, had I not done that, we wouldn’t be here today. And I say without the slightest remorse, that we wouldn’t be here, we would not have made economic progress, if we had not intervene on very personal matters – who your neighbour is, how you live, the noise you make, how you spit, or what language you use. We decide what is right. Never mind what people think.” – Lee Kuan Yew, Straits Times, Apr 20 1987.