Sepupus, most of you who are reading this are probably aware that I am from Malaysia, and a subset of you are probably aware about the traumatic separation between Malaysia and Singapore.

If you have known me over the years, you may also know how I have wrestled with this complexity both in my existence as a Malaysian and in my interactions with Singaporeans, and in my later reading, reflection, and heightened understanding of this event.

In time, and upon reflecting upon the ties of kinship, trauma, and renewed kinship between our two nations, I have come into the realization that Singapore’s story is a story of transformation, renewal, not just of surviving but also of thriving – It is a key case study that any student of economics must be aware of if they wish to understand the importance of institutions, policies, and economic planning for securing the future of a country.

Most of you who know me in person further likely understand very clearly that I am a strong admirer of the Singapore story – not just the story of the country itself as articulated by Lee Kuan Yew, but also his book “The Singapore Story” in itself, which I have read from cover to cover three times by now, even as I now read his “From Third World to First” for the third time for a project that is coming up for Singapore’s Diamond Jubilee, SG60.

But you probably also know that I like to read beneath the surface – At least, I like to tell myself that I read beneath the surface, and therefore, I cannot discuss Singapore’s success without highlighting the role of one of its chief architects: Dr. Goh Keng Swee.

With that in mind, I am very proud to share with you this premium report below, accessible in full by our premium members or purchasable for USD10 over here, about the man behind Lee Kuan Yew and a sine qua non of Singapore’s economic success.

Introduction

When Lee Kuan Yew delivered the eulogy for his old comrade Dr. Goh Keng Swee in 2010, he declared that “of all my Cabinet colleagues, it was Goh Keng Swee who made the greatest difference to the outcome for Singapore” (pmo.gov.sg). 

Dr Goh is clearly from Singapore, but the fact that he was one of the chief planners of a nation that so sharply diverged away from Malaysia and became one of the most prosperous countries in the world in per capita terms is something that should give not only Malaysia but the rest of the world pause, as they contemplate the consequences of a grand natural experiment illustrating the consequences of institutions and policy formulation upon the fate of two countries that share in ties of kinship, but prioritize dramatically different things. (More on this in subsequent reports and posts) 

Indeed, Dr. Goh was the quiet powerhouse behind many of Singapore’s early triumphs – the economic architect who engineered the nation’s leap from Third World to First, the strategist who built up a credible defence from scratch, and the reformer who overhauled Singapore’s education system. 

A man of incisive intellect and steely pragmatism, Goh served as Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s trusted lieutenant, often tasked with the toughest problems of government (pmo.gov.sg), combining scholarly rigor with an unflinching practicality to carry out the bold policies that laid the robust foundations of modern Singapore. 

This report explores how Dr. Goh Keng Swee set up Singapore’s economic base and key institutions, his interactions with Lee Kuan Yew (including Lee’s own influence and support), and the unique thinking and vision that Goh brought to the fledgling nation. It is a narrative of how one extraordinary man – perhaps one whom we could dub Lee Kuan Yew’s “hatchet man” for his role in executing difficult policies – systematically planned and built the structures that would support Singapore for generations to come. (Lee once said he intended to see that Singapore “will be here a thousand years from now. And that is your duty and mine” – a vision made attainable by the enduring institutions he and colleagues like Goh created(pmo.gov.sg).)