As rightfully observed by The Observer, the ailing former Indonesian President Suharto was a dictator. Under his reign, he oversaw communist mass-killings, suppressed secessionist attempts, outlawed civil activism and was unapologetic about it all. Why? Well first and foremost, such moves were dubbed necessary for economic development. Well, the Asian financial crisis came along and hit 
Recently, MM Lee has once again spoken of his friendship with the former Indonesian ruler. He however chooses to remember the man for the good he has done rather then the ‘missteps’ or ‘hard decisions’ made during trying times.Lee owed much of
Hence I couldn’t help but wonder whether Lee’s most recent character defensive of Suharto is actually a personal confession of his own.
“Yes, there was corruption. Yes, he gave favours to his family and his friends…But there was real growth and real progress. I think the people of
With his own mortality firmly in the foreground, is this statement a veiled self-reflection on his own tenor? Or am I over-reading it?
6 comments:
So I suppose as long as there is economic growth, corruption and nepotism is perfectly acceptable.
Why didn't he say so? Then there would've been no reason to raise the pay of the ministers since they can be corrupt and it would've been ok as long as the economy is growing.
*roll eyes*
So Singaporeans are just super duper luckier than Indonesians!
WT.....
no wonder paid so much..
MM Lee Kuan Yew have done himself a lot, lot of damages this time.
Why at this moment??
Is he suggesting that a similar scenario may happen in Singapore? Is he trying to set the precedent that when he moved on and when people discovered his past "misdeeds", people should forget them and think about the progress that he had brought to Singapore?
"Yes, there was corruption."
I think that there is still corruption.
We should really compile a quotable quote book of MM Lee's ludicrous statements.
Would be a bestseller coffee table book when he kicks the bucket! :)
Hi marc
love what you do at your blog.
to annonymous 2
MM Lee has the hide of a rhino and doesn't mince his words. My own view is that when you step down as PM, you get to be more open about your opinions as your words represent yourself, not the party or the nation. Why at this moment? Its just one scene in the movie that is Lee :)
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