Description
Singapore the Ultimate Island: Lee Kuan Yew's untold story is a document that will shock those who take for granted Singapore's continuing democratic status. The author treats his readers to a vivid word picture of Lee Kuan Yew's goals, policies and behaviour, and their impact on this tiny island nation. He produces anecdotal material linking Lee to other exceptional leaders and political operators, such as Napoleon or Machiavelli. From the work of the historian and the novelist he comes up with striking parallels. His method of penetrating behind Lee's autocracy is both effective and pertinent.
When I first read an earlier draft of this book in 1987, I was inclined to dismiss Selvan's theory that Lee deliberately manipulated events and people for long-term purposes far more than most commentators had surmised or conceded, for instance in the lead-up to the 1984 elections and the 1985 recession. But as I've pondered the evidence the author has marshalled the conviction has grown in me that he is basically right...
The most disturbing feature of this book, and unfortunately one that is not likely to change, even with Lee stepping down as Prime Minister, is the all-pervading ethos of fear it evokes... Whatever first attracts people to research Singapore's polity in my case the rapidity of social change in the years after independence all the trails inevitably lead the investigator to focus on the ideas and influence of one man.
May this book written by a Singaporean for Singaporeans capture their imagination and help them decide how much of their future they will entrust to Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong or even Goh Chok Tong and other second (or is it 'younger'?) generation leaders by now compromised to the hilt.
Its release comes at a decisive moment. ISBN:9780646021584 
