In Depth

Who would have believed that Singapore would rise to such international fame and become the vaunted "Asian Tiger" it has in recent decades? This small country's political stability and effective government have inspired many other nations to study its methods, and former prime minister (and current minister mentor) Lee Kuan Yew is counted among the most respected political figures in the world. When asked to explain how Singapore's astounding economic, political, and social success was made possible, Lee always takes the credit -- and deservedly so -- but in the face of international criticism for dictatorial policies, absolutist law enforcement, and human rights violations, he also stands first in line to take the lumps.

The Government -- Since Lee's election, and without debate, it has been his unfailing vision of a First World Singapore that's inspired the policies and plans that created the political and economic miracle we see today. During his tenure he mobilized government, industry, and citizens toward fulfilling his vision, establishing a government almost devoid of corruption, a strong economy built from practically no resources save labor, and a nation of racial and religious harmony from a multiethnic melting pot.

Both critics and admirers refer to Lee Kuan Yew as a strict yet generous "father" to the "children" of Singapore, raising them to a high position on the world stage yet dictating policies that have cost citizens many of their personal freedoms. You'll find that the average Singaporean expresses some duality about this: He or she will be outwardly critical of the government's invasion of privacy and disregard for personal freedoms and of policies that have driven up the cost of housing and healthcare, but will also recognize all that Lee has done to raise Singaporeans' standard of living, expand their opportunities for the future, and ensure tranquillity at home -- achievements for which many are willing to sacrifice a certain amount of freedom to enjoy. By and large, they wish to see the current government continue its work.

Lee stepped down from the prime minister's chair in 1990, assuming the position of senior minister. He was replaced by Goh Chok Tong, who for 14 years continued the long-term policies driven by Lee and the PAP. Goh was a popular leader, who, in addition to initiating increased citizen participation in the political process, supported local visual and performing arts.

In August 2004, Goh passed the prime minister's baton to Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew's son. The resulting cabinet shift created a new position for Lee Kuan Yew as minister mentor, with Goh filling the senior minister seat. The younger Lee's initial challenges are to connect with the population -- he's perceived as a bit stiff -- as he continues his father's political legacy.

The Censorship Question -- One infamous feature of Singapore's government is its control over media, both domestic and international. All national news publications have ties to the government, whose philosophy holds that the role of the media is to promote the government's goals. Articles are censored for any content that might threaten national security, incite riot, or promote disobedience or racism. Offenders face stiff fines.

It doesn't stop at the print media, either. Television is also censored, satellite dishes are banned, and there's only one cable provider, which the government keeps a close eye on for anything resembling pornography.

The Internet provided Singapore with a tough dilemma. By design, the Net promotes freedom of communication, which is taken advantage of by, among others, every political dissident and pornographer who can get his little hands on a PC. This thought so concerned the Singapore government that it debated long and hard about allowing access to its citizens. However, the possibilities for communications and commerce and their implications for the future of Singapore's economy won.

The Economy -- Singapore's economy is a bizarre marriage between free trade and government control. Lee Kuan Yew's vision and resulting policies have created annual national growth rates of 8.9% going on 3 decades. Singapore survived the East Asian Economic Crisis that began in July 1997 because of its firm bank-lending regulations and transparent government and business dealings. Unfortunately, Singapore limped through the economic slump that plagued the globe in the years to follow, and in 2003 suffered from the SARS outbreak. It was slow going to heal its wounded economy, but steady progress has yielded what economists predict to be 7.5% to 8% growth figures for 2006. The biggest moneymakers are the electronics industry, financial and business services, transportation and communications, petroleum refining and shipping, construction, and tourism. Seventy-six percent of Singapore's exports, exclusive of oil exports, go to the United States, Malaysia, the European Union, Hong Kong, and Japan.

Singaporeans enjoy a high standard of living, with average annual incomes reaching S$35,880 (US$23,000/£11,840). The most commonly heard complaint? The rising cost of real estate.

Tourism -- The Singapore Tourism Board has far-reaching influence that has helped to turn Singapore into a veritable machine for raising foreign cash. Almost 9 million tourists visited Singapore in 2005, spending over S$10 billion (US$6.4 billion/£3.3 billion) during their stays.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Singapore has big plans to dramatically increase these numbers over the next 10 years with the building of two "integrated resorts." Also called IRs for short, they're basically casinos surrounded by accommodations, dining, shopping, and other diversions. The first IR, adjacent to the downtown financial district, will be geared toward business and convention activities, with massive conference space and hotel facilities suitable for corporate guests. The second, on Sentosa Island, will be supported by a Universal Studios theme park plus countless family-oriented attractions with resort-style accommodations.

A landmark move by the Singapore government, the establishment of legalized gambling marks the end of a conservative era in the history of this notoriously squeaky-clean city-state.

Kampong Life -- When the stress of modern society gets them down, many Singaporeans look back with longing to the days when life was simple, before the government housing schemes shifted everyone out of their kampongs.

Kampongs, Malay for villages (and spelled kampung in Malaysia), were, once upon a time, home to most of Singapore's population. Chinese, Malays, and Indians lived side by side in small clusters of houses that were built from wood and attap thatch and raised on stilts. Built along the shores of the island and close to jungles, the houses and buildings were nestled against backdrops of idyllic greenery surrounded by banana and coconut groves and marshes. Homes had land for chicken coops and kitchen gardens, and backyards in which children could play. The kampongs had central wells, provision shops, and sometimes temples and mosques. Despite their poverty, the kampong villages represented community.

The 1950s and 1960s were the heyday of kampong life. Later the houses were improved with corrugated metal, concrete, and linoleum, all of which rusted and rotted over time, making the kampongs look more like slums than the homey villages they once were. Inside, modernization brought government-mandated running water, plumbing, and even electrical appliances like TVs, refrigerators, and telephones. Still, all in all, life was hardly opulent.

Today this entire way of life is just a memory. Every last kampong has been razed, the inhabitants relocated by the government to public housing estates. Many former kampong inhabitants have had a difficult time adjusting to life in concrete high-rises with no front porch or backyard and neighbors who are too busy to remember their names. Despite the truth that kampong life reflected poverty and struggle its memory remains a link to older days that, however irrelevant to the modern world, still warm the hearts of many Singaporeans.