https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/167356/feed Lee Kuan Yew is considered the founding father of modern Singapore. Born Harry Lee Kuan Yew in September 1923, he governed Singapore over three decades and oversaw its separation from Malaysia, transforming it from a relatively underdeveloped British colonial outpost with no natural resources into a "First World" Asian Tiger. His People's Action Party won eight back-to-back electoral victories until he stepped aside in 1990. Lee stepped down from government in 2011. Lee died on March 23, 2015. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Chang Zi Qian Chang Zi Qian At a recent Bloomberg forum, Singapore’s former foreign minister George Yeo was asked about the city state making the lists of the richest and unhappiest countries. He let slip what may be founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s coldest legacy quote: “We can promise economic development, infrastructure, education, whatever. But never promise happiness.” Yeo added that unhappiness may even be a precondition for achievement. In the national pledge, citizens of Singapore promise to achieve... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371017/singapore-does-unhappiness-go-hand-hand-fewer-births https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3371017/singapore-does-unhappiness-go-hand-hand-fewer-births Sat, 17 Oct 2026 21:30:06 +0000 Yonden Lhatoo Yonden Lhatoo Singapore is doing something about uncivilised behaviour on public buses. The city state has started enforcing new regulations that carry an immediate fine of up to S$500 (US$390) if you put your feet up on seats, play loud audio on your phone or make a nuisance of yourself in other ways such as eating, drinking and littering. This aligns with existing rules governing passenger conduct on Singapore’s MRT railway system. Did you know we have long had similar regulations for Hong Kong’s MTR... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369302/hong-kong-vs-singapore-tackling-bad-behaviour https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3369302/hong-kong-vs-singapore-tackling-bad-behaviour Sat, 03 Oct 2026 01:30:07 +0000 Anthony Rowley Anthony Rowley Why is the idea of a planned economy anathema to so many people despite China’s success? And why do so many retain faith in market economies given the economic chaos much of the Western world is descending into? These questions have acquired a particular piquancy as Hong Kong embraces long-term planning for the first time, attracting criticism from some that it is falling into Chinese-style error. Having been in Asia for 50 years – in Singapore, which I consider a planned economy, and Hong Kong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3364315/whats-so-bad-about-planned-hong-kong-economy-just-look-singapore https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3364315/whats-so-bad-about-planned-hong-kong-economy-just-look-singapore Sat, 22 Aug 2026 08:30:04 +0000 Reuters,SCMP Sport Reuters,SCMP Sport For Ukrainian shuttlers Polina Buhrova ⁠and Yevheniia Kantemyr, ⁠competing at the ongoing World ⁠Championships in New Delhi is a way to showcase the resilience of a country battling its invasion by Russia. Lives have been turned upside down since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in ‌2022 and, as for many of her compatriots, the conflict remains an everyday reality for Buhrova. “It’s still really, really bad,” the Kharkiv-born player told reporters. “It’s really hard, but that... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3364555/ukraine-badminton-duos-world-championship-pride-amid-russia-conflict https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/sport/article/3364555/ukraine-badminton-duos-world-championship-pride-amid-russia-conflict Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:51:17 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A silver Montblanc fountain pen owned by Singapore’s first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew has sold for S$461,500 (US$360,000), nearly 10 times its highest estimate, after drawing 111 bids at an auction. Singapore auction house Hotlotz said the sterling silver Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146 fountain pen, engraved with “SM Lee Kuan Yew”, sold on Sunday at its “Interiors & Collectibles – August, Fine Art Focus” online auction. The pen had a presale valuation of S$30,000 to S$50,000, with bidding... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3364212/lee-kuan-yews-montblanc-pen-sells-us360000-singapore-auction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3364212/lee-kuan-yews-montblanc-pen-sells-us360000-singapore-auction Sun, 16 Aug 2026 14:20:12 +0000 Alyssa Chen,Caroline Lin Alyssa Chen,Caroline Lin For generations, China’s brightest science and technology minds followed a well-worn path: board a Westbound flight and claim a seat at a globally renowned university. That once-reliable trajectory has fractured. Escalating US-China tech competition and tightening immigration policies across the “big four” study destinations – Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States – have redrawn the map for global student mobility. As Western nations impose ever-stricter access controls and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363892/chinas-stem-students-turn-singapore-western-study-options-shrink https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363892/chinas-stem-students-turn-singapore-western-study-options-shrink Thu, 13 Aug 2026 22:00:13 +0000 Laura Zhou,Khushboo Razdan Laura Zhou,Khushboo Razdan Tributes have been flooding in for former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji, the reformist statesman who played a leading role in integrating China’s economy into the global system and charmed neighbouring countries with his candid diplomacy. In a deeply personal tribute posted on social media, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim described Zhu, who died on Wednesday at the age of 97, as “a good friend”. The pair worked together to strengthen economic ties between the two countries, building a... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363926/malaysias-anwar-looks-back-relationship-well-beyond-affairs-state-zhu-rongji https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3363926/malaysias-anwar-looks-back-relationship-well-beyond-affairs-state-zhu-rongji Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:30:54 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Anger in Malaysia as Liow pays fine, has money-laundering charges dropped The revelation that an alleged Malaysian scam kingpin was released after paying 10 million ringgit (US$2.4 million) fine has sparked public outrage over claims of preferential treatment for a man... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3363598/malaysian-scam-kingpin-walks-free-lee-kuan-yews-pen-auction-7-asia-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3363598/malaysian-scam-kingpin-walks-free-lee-kuan-yews-pen-auction-7-asia-highlights Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:30:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A silver Montblanc fountain pen owned by Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is up for auction with a starting bid of S$20,000 (US$15,600). Singapore auction house Hotlotz said on Wednesday that the pen, engraved “SM Lee Kuan Yew”, was previously sold at the Lee Kuan Yew Family Collection charity auction in July 2003. Hotlotz has valued the silver Montblanc Meisterstuck No 146 fountain pen at S$30,000 (US$23,000) to S$50,000 (US$39,000). At the 2003 charity auction, it was estimated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362963/singapores-lee-kuan-yews-fountain-pen-valued-us23000-us39000-auction https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3362963/singapores-lee-kuan-yews-fountain-pen-valued-us23000-us39000-auction Wed, 05 Aug 2026 02:01:05 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. What Negeri Sembilan loss means for Malaysian PM Anwar’s political strategy The crushing defeat of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition in the Negeri Sembilan polls has raised doubts about his political strategy, as state rival but... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3362871/malaysian-crypto-event-drops-ms-pui-yi-lee-kuan-yews-home-taken-over-7-asia-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3362871/malaysian-crypto-event-drops-ms-pui-yi-lee-kuan-yews-home-taken-over-7-asia-highlights Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:30:09 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore announced on Friday it took possession of 38 Oxley Road, the former home of its founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, and would study how it could be developed into a public space, ending years of public debate over what to do with the property amid a family feud among the late leader’s children. In the interim, necessary maintenance works would be carried out as required, and there would be no public access to the site, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3362535/singapore-takes-possession-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-conservation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3362535/singapore-takes-possession-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-conservation Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:43:39 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia has never had so many Chinese tourists. It wants more As Thailand loses its allure, Malaysia turns to viral algorithms to entice millions of independent Chinese travellers. 2. Pakistan rattles India with new Chinese-built stealth submarine The last time... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3358848/chinese-tourists-high-malaysia-why-europe-praising-lee-kuan-yew-7-asia-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3358848/chinese-tourists-high-malaysia-why-europe-praising-lee-kuan-yew-7-asia-highlights Tue, 30 Jun 2026 04:46:11 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Chadchart Sittipunt cruised back into Bangkok’s governor’s office late on Sunday after residents overwhelmingly backed him for a second term running the Southeast Asian megacity, despite its unresolved problems of floods, traffic and pollution. In an election contest that had become a procession by late Sunday, exit polls put Chadchart on between 53 and 75 per cent of the vote, as early live counts in district after district showed the former transport minister with virtually unassailable leads... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3358628/bangkok-votes-governor-chadchart-eyes-record-term-amid-urban-woes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3358628/bangkok-votes-governor-chadchart-eyes-record-term-amid-urban-woes Sun, 28 Jun 2026 03:16:06 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore’s cooling strategy, pioneered by founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, has come in for praise in Europe, which is sweltering under a deadly heatwave. Even Tesla founder and world’s first trillionaire Elon Musk has weighed in, calling the late statesman “a genius”. Record-breaking temperatures in countries including Britain, France and Germany have killed dozens, overwhelmed hospitals and led to the closure of schools and cultural sites. Mercury in Paris hit a June record of 40.9... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3358486/europe-turns-singapore-keep-its-cool-during-deadly-heatwave https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/health-environment/article/3358486/europe-turns-singapore-keep-its-cool-during-deadly-heatwave Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:29:55 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau A defamation lawsuit filed by Singapore cabinet ministers K Shanmugam and Tan See Leng against financial news outlet Bloomberg on Tuesday opened with heated exchanges over an article that mentioned their personal property transactions. According to statements of claim filed in the High Court, Shanmugam, who is coordinating minister for national security, and Tan, who is manpower minister, said parts of the article, titled “Singapore mansion deals are increasingly shrouded in secrecy”, were... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3349204/singapore-ministers-defamation-suit-against-bloomberg-property-article-starts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3349204/singapore-ministers-defamation-suit-against-bloomberg-property-article-starts Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:07:27 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Singapore’s Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam has said he wished the United States had kept controversial blogger and child sex convict Amos Yee, warning that foreign media and rights advocates have mistaken a repeat offender, who was deported back to the city state, for a free-speech icon. Yee, who is listed on a US Department of Homeland Security website as among the “worst of the worst criminal aliens” the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has arrested, was deported from the US on March 19... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3349183/singapores-shanmugam-deported-blogger-amos-yee-i-wish-americans-had-kept-him https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3349183/singapores-shanmugam-deported-blogger-amos-yee-i-wish-americans-had-kept-him Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:20:26 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words One of the lesser-known instruments used by Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, in identifying political candidates and future ministers was psychological screening. The premise was simple but profound: political leadership carries consequences too large to be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3346480/what-lee-kuan-yew-knew-leaders-psychological-fitness-matters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3346480/what-lee-kuan-yew-knew-leaders-psychological-fitness-matters Sat, 14 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 An excerpt An excerpt In a new memoir No Borders: Journeys Across Islands And Continents, renowned historian Wang Gungwu traces his life across Malaya, London, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, sharing both personal anecdotes and perspectives on the changes in China and the modern world. In the excerpt below, Wang reflects on his impressions of Singapore after arriving from Hong Kong with his wife Margaret in the 1990s, the differences between the two cities, and his work on contemporary China with Singapore’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3341918/tale-two-cities-singapore-hong-kong-and-their-contrasting-paths https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3341918/tale-two-cities-singapore-hong-kong-and-their-contrasting-paths Sun, 01 Feb 2026 06:00:14 +0000 CNA CNA The site at 38 Oxley Road was gazetted for acquisition on Thursday, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) said in a media release. This follows the gazetting of the site as a national monument on December 12, 2025. The site was the home of Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. It was also where events took place that shaped the country’s independence movement and national history. “The site was gazetted for acquisition today in order to safeguard... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341629/singapore-acquire-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-preservation https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3341629/singapore-acquire-lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-preservation Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:21:54 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Singapore saw plenty of drama unfold this year, from pickleball courts to the Supreme Court. The city state was gripped by election fever in May, when the People’s Action Party maintained its dominance at the polls. On the trade front, Washington’s imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on Singapore elicited a strong reaction from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The jury is still out on whether US President Donald Trump would introduce levies on pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, which could deliver... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3337732/singapore-2025-election-fever-courtroom-drama-pickleball-mania Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:00:09 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma George Yeo is a visiting scholar at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He started his career in the military before entering politics in 1988. During his 23 years with the Singaporean government, Yeo held ministerial portfolios ranging from arts to health, trade and – for seven years – foreign affairs. After he left politics, Yeo was vice-chairman of Kerry Group in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2021 and chairman and executive director of its logistics arm from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337074/george-yeo-superpower-headaches-and-why-us-dollar-could-crack https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/china/diplomacy/article/3337074/george-yeo-superpower-headaches-and-why-us-dollar-could-crack Sun, 21 Dec 2025 22:00:17 +0000 Wee Kek Koon Wee Kek Koon The Albatross file is a top-secret collection of papers compiled by Goh Keng Swee, one of the chief architects of modern Singapore and the right-hand man of the country’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. In it are lesser-known details of the immediate run-up to Singapore’s dramatic separation from Malaysia on August 9, 1965. While the file’s contents have been known and studied for some years, a new book and exhibition are generating interest and raising questions about the popular... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3336910/how-malaysias-unusual-creation-still-affects-it-today-and-chinas-idea-doing-similar https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/chinese-culture/article/3336910/how-malaysias-unusual-creation-still-affects-it-today-and-chinas-idea-doing-similar Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:15:08 +0000 Josephine Ma Josephine Ma George Yeo was Singapore’s foreign minister for seven years, ending in 2011, after earlier holding ministerial portfolios related to technology, health and trade. Before entering politics, he served in the city state’s military. He is now a visiting scholar at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He was also vice-chairman of Kerry Group in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2021 and chairman and executive director of its logistics arm from 2012 to 2019. SCMP Plus... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3336863/yeo-how-trump-wants-avoid-taiwan-upending-china-relations https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/plus/article/3336863/yeo-how-trump-wants-avoid-taiwan-upending-china-relations Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:28:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Singapore’s government on Friday gazetted as a national monument the former home of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, a site long at the centre of a bitter family dispute among his children. The action marks a pivotal moment in the saga that has gripped the city state since Lee’s death in 2015, when his children publicly clashed over whether the bungalow at 38 Oxley Road should be preserved or torn down. Lee’s oldest son, and former prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, favoured preserving the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336284/lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-officially-declared-singapore-national-monument https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3336284/lee-kuan-yews-38-oxley-road-home-officially-declared-singapore-national-monument Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:37:04 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In the tumultuous days before Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965, founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew clung to the hope that the city could still be part of the federal government under a looser arrangement, but his deputy had no desire to pursue this ideal. While Lee was conflicted and even wavered at the eleventh hour when he asked then Malaysian prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman if he was certain there was no alternative, Goh Keng Swee, widely regarded as the architect of modern... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3335504/how-singapores-lee-kuan-yew-was-torn-over-malaysia-separation-while-his-deputy-pushed-it https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3335504/how-singapores-lee-kuan-yew-was-torn-over-malaysia-separation-while-his-deputy-pushed-it Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:16:18 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a sailor who shoots an albatross is forced to hang it around his neck as penance, with the bird becoming a heavy burden and a reminder of his guilt. This metaphor was invoked by Goh Keng Swee, widely regarded as the “economic architect” of modern Singapore, as his code name for Malaysia in his file of personal notes on Singapore’s separation from its northern neighbour in August 1965. Almost all of the newly declassified... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3335477/singapore-launches-book-malaysia-separation-declassified-files-lee-kuan-yew-quotes https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3335477/singapore-launches-book-malaysia-separation-declassified-files-lee-kuan-yew-quotes Sun, 07 Dec 2025 05:01:08 +0000 Kolette Lim Kolette Lim Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sweeping effort to modernise Saudi Arabia’s economy draws direct inspiration from the Singapore model pioneered by Lee Kuan Yew, a senior Saudi political adviser has said. Mohammed Khalid Alyahya, an adviser to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, described the late Singaporean leader’s pragmatic and results-driven governance as a template for Riyadh’s ambitions. “We have studied [Singapore] for 50 years – the way the country has invested in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3334946/saudi-adviser-lauds-parallels-singapore-lee-kuan-yew-modernisation-efforts https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3334946/saudi-adviser-lauds-parallels-singapore-lee-kuan-yew-modernisation-efforts Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:16:26 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau The Singapore government is not seeking to memorialise founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and family by preserving his former home and instead is enabling future generations of citizens to understand their country’s struggle for independence, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo has said. Detailing the reasons behind the government’s intention to preserve 38 Oxley Road as a national monument, Neo told parliament on Thursday that the space and its importance could not be... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3331753/singapore-preserve-38-oxley-road-history-not-lee-kuan-yew-memorial https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3331753/singapore-preserve-38-oxley-road-history-not-lee-kuan-yew-memorial Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:28:51 +0000 Jean Iau,Kolette Lim Jean Iau,Kolette Lim A decision on Monday by Singapore’s government to preserve as a national monument the site of the family home of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew is an expected outcome nearly a decade in the making, according to observers. They also say it is still too early to tell if the latest resolution marked the end of a public feud between former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and his younger brother Lee Hsien Yang, centred on whether 38 Oxley Road should be demolished. Following patriarch Lee’s... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3331378/singapores-38-oxley-road-will-latest-move-gazette-site-end-lee-family-feud https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3331378/singapores-38-oxley-road-will-latest-move-gazette-site-end-lee-family-feud Mon, 03 Nov 2025 13:31:44 +0000 CNA CNA The site of 38 Oxley Road was “more than just the home” of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew – it was where Singapore’s independence movement took shape, a government advisory board said on Monday. The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board assessed the site as having “strong national significance worthy of preservation as a national monument”, describing it as a foundational part of Singapore’s independence that is “not represented by any other site or monument”. The site... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3331298/lee-kuan-yews-home-worthy-preservation-birthplace-singapores-independence https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3331298/lee-kuan-yews-home-worthy-preservation-birthplace-singapores-independence Mon, 03 Nov 2025 06:34:03 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji Thayil Jacob Sunny George, the founder of Asiaweek who launched the publication in 1975 to provide an English-language magazine owned by Asians that spoke for the region at a time when none existed, died at the age of 97 on Friday. Over a seven-decade career in journalism, George forged a stellar reputation as an advocate of press freedom, revered among colleagues as someone who spoke his mind and was unrelenting in questioning even top political leaders. In his last column for the New Indian... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3328002/asiaweek-founder-tjs-georges-death-leaves-behind-unmatched-legacy https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3328002/asiaweek-founder-tjs-georges-death-leaves-behind-unmatched-legacy Mon, 06 Oct 2025 08:38:46 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Malaysia may have become more polarised amid intense race rhetoric and systemic problems, but individuals have agency to do their part and private companies have a role to play in ensuring deeper ethnic integration, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has said. Speaking to Malaysians living in Hong Kong at an event organised by the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau on Wednesday night, Loke noted that although their country was divided along class and education lines with social media... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3325219/malaysian-society-polarised-can-overcome-challenges-anthony-loke https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3325219/malaysian-society-polarised-can-overcome-challenges-anthony-loke Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:18:22 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Few political parties in the world know dominance the way Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) does, as it looks set to become the longest-running administration in modern history. Following a resounding victory in May’s general election, the city state will on Friday open its 15th parliament that will largely resemble previous party alignments. The ruling party will continue to occupy a supermajority of seats, now at 87 of the 97 elected seats while its main rival, the Workers’ Party (WP),... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3323732/will-singapores-pap-rule-forever https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3323732/will-singapores-pap-rule-forever Sat, 30 Aug 2025 00:00:20 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Plans for a Singaporean fighter jet training presence in the US territory of Guam have been shelved, both governments have confirmed, despite years of preparation and investment in upgrading the US Air Force base on the Pacific island. Singapore and the United States had agreed to “discontinue discussions” on deploying 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets to Guam, the city state’s defence ministry announced on Tuesday. This followed an earlier statement from the US Air... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3321552/singapore-us-scrap-plans-f-15-fighter-jet-training-guam https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3321552/singapore-us-scrap-plans-f-15-fighter-jet-training-guam Tue, 12 Aug 2025 07:08:13 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s parliamentary debates may lack the fireworks seen in other legislatures, but that reflects the city state’s pragmatic culture, according to opposition leader Pritam Singh. In his first-ever radio interview, the Workers’ Party (WP) chief said the tone of debate mirrored the national character – serious, results-oriented and not prone to theatrics. “When you come in from that perspective, you’re really not there to throw things around, but you want to see certain outcomes,” Singh said... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3320726/singapore-opposition-leader-pritam-singh-defends-parliament-over-tame-debates https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3320726/singapore-opposition-leader-pritam-singh-defends-parliament-over-tame-debates Mon, 04 Aug 2025 14:07:40 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Malaysia’s new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts 2. PM’s suspension reignites debate on ‘judicial activism’ of Thailand’s courts 3. Philippines’ Duterte ends womanising era, leaving ‘13 to 27’ lovers behind 4. Chinese ambassador’s ‘grandstanding’... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317320/malaysias-luxury-tax-singapores-identity-explored-new-memoir-7-asia-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3317320/malaysias-luxury-tax-singapores-identity-explored-new-memoir-7-asia-highlights Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:26:13 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have put together stories from our coverage last weekend to help you stay informed about news across Asia and beyond. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Trump wants to ground China’s drones – but have they flown too high to reach? 2. Can India block China’s leadership in Global South-based alliances like the SCO? 3. Why Singapore refused to be a ‘Third China’ – and how Lee Kuan Yew made it clear 4. Chinese study uncovers cancer-fighting... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3317174/trumps-chinese-drone-issue-viagras-potential-against-cancer-5-weekend-reads-you-missed https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/world/article/3317174/trumps-chinese-drone-issue-viagras-potential-against-cancer-5-weekend-reads-you-missed Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:31:17 +0000 An excerpt An excerpt 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... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3317110/how-singapores-early-leaders-supported-lee-kuan-yews-vision-challenging-him https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3317110/how-singapores-early-leaders-supported-lee-kuan-yews-vision-challenging-him Sun, 06 Jul 2025 01:30:19 +0000 An excerpt An excerpt In his new memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong Yip Seng reflects on the intersection of geopolitics, media, and identity through the lens of his long career as editor-in-chief of The Straits Times. In this excerpt, Cheong recounts a revealing moment during an official visit to China in 1976 with then-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Among the officials present was S.R. Nathan, later Singapore’s sixth president, who witnessed Lee subtly rebuff a Chinese attempt to influence the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3317011/why-singapores-identity-demanded-distance-china-and-its-own-story-nationhood https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3317011/why-singapores-identity-demanded-distance-china-and-its-own-story-nationhood Sat, 05 Jul 2025 01:30:21 +0000 Jean Iau Jean Iau Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew recognised early on that China demanded respect and equality in diplomacy – a posture that earned him Beijing’s enduring trust, according to veteran newspaper editor Cheong Yip Seng. In his newly released memoir Ink and Influence: An OB Markers Sequel, Cheong reflects on Lee’s deft handling of China relations, drawn from personal experience covering his landmark 1976 visit to Beijing and later working closely with him as editor-in-chief of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3316709/how-singapores-lee-kuan-yew-treated-china-respect-he-wasnt-west https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3316709/how-singapores-lee-kuan-yew-treated-china-respect-he-wasnt-west Thu, 03 Jul 2025 00:00:18 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong chose China for his first state visit outside Southeast Asia since he won the general election in May. That was a clear message as it came at a time of intense rivalry between China and the United States. All his predecessors since Lee Kuan Yew treasured the stable bilateral relations between the two countries, and Wong is saying he is no exception. One of the high-profile events he attended was the “Summer Davos” in Tianjin. Meanwhile, he has extended an... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3316480/china-singapore-relations-steadying-force-amid-global-uncertainty https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3316480/china-singapore-relations-steadying-force-amid-global-uncertainty Tue, 01 Jul 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar On his first state visit to Singapore, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto was strikingly candid: he had “copied with pride” his neighbour’s approach to housing and investment, he said – presenting the city state as a model for his own government’s ambitious development agenda. But chasing Singapore’s success risks overlooking the deeper reforms Indonesia must tackle to make such policies work at home, analysts say. The remarks came [earlier this week for online as Prabowo met President... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3315268/indonesias-prabowo-openly-admires-singapores-success-what-can-he-copy-pride https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/economics/article/3315268/indonesias-prabowo-openly-admires-singapores-success-what-can-he-copy-pride Sat, 21 Jun 2025 10:30:07 +0000 Kishore Mahbubani Kishore Mahbubani US President Donald Trump’s tariffs – especially the ultra-high “reciprocal tariffs” that he says will be reintroduced on July 8 for any country that has not struck a trade deal with his administration – have sent countries around the world scrambling to respond, adapt and limit the fallout. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ 10 members – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – have been among the most proactive. Their... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3313322/how-trumps-tariffs-could-benefit-asean-long-run https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3313322/how-trumps-tariffs-could-benefit-asean-long-run Fri, 06 Jun 2025 10:30:08 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected seven stories from the SCMP’s coverage of Asia over the past week that resonated with our readers and shed light on topical issues. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. Elon Musk’s alleged child with Japanese pop star sparks online storm in Japan 2. Meet India’s answer to Pakistan’s Chinese jets: the AMCA stealth fighter 3. Trump and Lee Kuan Yew similar in ‘common sense’ approach: Pete Hegseth 4. ‘I’m sad’: Blackpink fans in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3312816/elon-musks-alleged-japan-child-trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-7-asia-highlights https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/article/3312816/elon-musks-alleged-japan-child-trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-7-asia-highlights Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:45:09 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim US President Donald Trump’s instinct to “challenge old ways of doing things” that no longer work and his emphasis on “common sense” bear striking similarities to how Singapore’s founding leader Lee Kuan Yew steered the city state from vulnerability to global relevance, American defence secretary Pete Hegseth has said. In a wide-ranging address on Washington’s Indo-Pacific approach at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, Hegseth drew parallels between the “historic men”, describing both as having... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/people/article/3312568/trump-and-lee-kuan-yew-similar-common-sense-approach-hegseth Sat, 31 May 2025 04:31:48 +0000 Kimberly Lim Kimberly Lim In 1980, a rain-soaked Lee Kuan Yew stood defiant at Singapore’s Fullerton Square in the central business district, rallying a crowd through downpour and thunder – a moment etched into Singapore’s public consciousness as a symbol of grit and persuasion. But the first lunchtime rally that Singapore’s first prime minister spoke at was in 1959, shortly after the republic became a fully self-governing state. It was held in the heart of the business district and aimed at reaching English-educated... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3307987/singapore-election-rallies-are-back-will-they-sway-voters https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3307987/singapore-election-rallies-are-back-will-they-sway-voters Sat, 26 Apr 2025 02:30:08 +0000 In Singapore, at every general election, the most asked question is: how many seats will fall into the opposition’s hands? This election is no different. If anything, it has become even more keenly anticipated because the opposition, especially the Workers’ Party (WP), appears to have been able to field credible candidates – including lawyers, doctors and other professionals – in greater numbers than in previous elections. An air of expectation surrounds their chances. The ruling People’s Action... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3307777/singapores-election-can-pap-stem-rising-opposition-tide https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/opinion/article/3307777/singapores-election-can-pap-stem-rising-opposition-tide Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:16:08 +0000 As Singapore closed in on the 2006 general election, its first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew told young voters in a televised dialogue that the opposition was not up to mark and that the best candidates were in his People’s Action Party (PAP). Referring to then-Workers’ Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang, Lee said: “The problem is he cannot find capable people to match the PAP. That’s the nub of it all.” Weeks later at the 50th anniversary dinner of the Foreign Correspondents Association, Lee, who... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3307461/singapore-election-are-opposition-candidates-closing-talent-gap-ruling-pap https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/week-asia/politics/article/3307461/singapore-election-are-opposition-candidates-closing-talent-gap-ruling-pap Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:48:51 +0000 Ong Beng Seng, the billionaire set to plead guilty for his role in a Singapore corruption scandal, will step down as the managing director of the property firm he founded more than four decades ago. Singapore-listed Hotel Properties Limited said Ong “wishes to devote more time to manage his medical conditions”, according to an exchange filing on Monday. He will also not put himself up for re-election as a board director at the firm’s annual general meeting on April 29. Shares of Hotel Properties... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3306402/ong-beng-seng-step-down-singapore-property-firm-amid-iswaran-scandal https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3306402/ong-beng-seng-step-down-singapore-property-firm-amid-iswaran-scandal Mon, 14 Apr 2025 04:55:02 +0000 This article was first published on March 23, 2015 Singapore mourns as founding father Lee Kuan Yew dies at 91 by Zuraidah Ibrahim Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew died early on Monday morning, March 23, 2015, after more than a month in hospital, leaving a legacy of an unlikely country he steered to independence in 1965 and transformed into a global city within one generation. Lee was 91. He had been on a mechanical ventilator for several weeks since February 5, suffering from... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3303083/grief-singapore-founding-father-lee-kuan-yew-dies-2015-scmp-archive https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3303083/grief-singapore-founding-father-lee-kuan-yew-dies-2015-scmp-archive Sun, 23 Mar 2025 06:15:08 +0000