Lee Kuan Yew

About Lee Kuan Yew

The founding father of modern Singapore. Lee led Singapore from a small British colony to one of the wealthiest nations in the world. His pragmatic, authoritarian approach emphasized economic development, education, clean government, and strict social order. Lee served as Prime Minister from 1959 to 1990, then remained in government as Senior Minister. His policies included public housing for most citizens, bilingual education, and zero tolerance for corruption. Lee was admired by leaders worldwide for transforming Singapore. Critics noted his suppression of political opposition and restrictions on press freedom. He died in 2015.