How Singapore’s early leaders supported Lee Kuan Yew’s vision by challenging him
Former Straits Times editor-in-chief Cheong Yip Seng reflects on the quiet candour and firm convictions of Singapore’s pioneer generation
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.
