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Lee Hsien Loong: The man who transformed Singapore for the new millennium
In 20 years at the helm, he made our little red dot shine even brighter.
Persuaded to enter politics by then-Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong was elected as an MP in the 1984 General Election. Driven by duty and love for his nation, Mr Lee would spend the next 40 years in public service. Twenty of these were in arguably the most challenging job possible in Singapore — leading our country as its Prime Minister.
Growing Singapore to new heights
On 12 August 2004, Mr Lee became our third Prime Minister. Determined to grow and diversify the economy, to ensure good jobs and higher standards of living for Singaporeans, Mr Lee positioned Singapore as a hub for innovation. As a result, Singapore is not just an important manufacturing hub, but also a global centre for service industries such as biomedical and financial services. It is also a prime location for start-ups, attracting a steady flow of high-tech investments which cement its status as a global tech hub.
He also led Singapore through many economic challenges, in particular the Great Recession in 2008. Committed to averting a financial catastrophe and safeguarding livelihoods, Mr Lee made the bold decision to dip into the reserves. It was a first in Singapore’s history. While controversial at the time, the decisive action cushioned Singapore from the worst of the crisis. By 2011, the economy had bounced back, with the money drawn returned to the reserves.
A little more than a decade later, under Mr Lee’s watch, an unprecedented eight budgets were passed to protect lives and livelihoods during COVID-19. It is telling that during both crises, the welfare of Singaporeans always came first for Mr Lee.
Besides navigating Singapore out of crises, Mr Lee set his sights on expanding tourism and business infrastructure. During his tenure, he initiated plans to expand Changi Airport and build a new Tuas Mega Port. Meanwhile, the addition of new attractions such as Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay turned Singapore into a must-see destination for all.
In the end, if success is measured by numbers, Mr Lee has certainly delivered. With him at the helm, Singapore’s GDP increased three-fold from S$194 billion in 2004 to over S$600 billion last year. But for many, it was Mr Lee’s efforts at building a more progressive and inclusive society that had the biggest impact on Singaporeans.
Strengthening the community
Looking back on his term as Prime Minister, Mr Lee said, “I did not try to run faster than everybody else. I tried to bring everybody to run with me.”
It was in this spirit that Mr Lee went about tackling inequality. Building upon the kinder and gentler Singapore Mr Goh had inspired, Mr Lee championed measures to uplift lower-wage workers. The Progressive Wage Model and the Workfare scheme, born out of this vision, are now an important part of our social security system.
Like his predecessors, Mr Lee saw education as an engine of opportunity. As such, he encouraged the expansion of education pathways and lifelong learning. In doing so, Mr Lee helped level the playing field, ensuring that every Singaporean has an equal opportunity to succeed at all stages of their lives.
During Mr Lee's leadership over two decades, Singapore’s Gini coefficient — a measure of inequality — decreased from 0.42 in 2004 to 0.37 in 2023.
Along the way, Mr Lee was not afraid to challenge the status quo in the name of fairness and equality. In 2013, Mr Lee delivered his National Day Rally speech at the new ITE College Central. The move shed a positive light on Singapore’s vocational education.
Throughout his term as Prime Minister, Mr Lee never shied away from difficult issues. Addressing them head-on, Mr Lee worked with and listened to different viewpoints and needs, guiding Singaporeans towards a common space of understanding and solidarity. As a result, Section 377A is no longer in the Penal Code. The institution of marriage has been strengthened in our legislation. Muslim healthcare workers can now wear their tudung at work.
Mr Lee's leadership demonstrated Singapore's resolve in engaging with issues concerning minority groups, despite many of these contentious issues dividing societies in other parts of the world.
A strong and selfless leader
During an interview, former Cabinet Minister Lim Boon Heng shared that Mr Lee “likely slept only around five hours each night”. It would not have come as a surprise to anyone else who knows Mr Lee.
As Prime Minister, Mr Lee raised Singapore’s international stature and brought the world to this little red dot — even while he brought this little red dot to the world stage. Through his unwavering dedication, he steered the nation through various economic and geopolitical turmoil, all while working tirelessly to improve the lives of Singaporeans.
And now that Mr Lee is Senior Minister, we are sure he will continue to serve, bringing his decades of wisdom to support the new generation of leaders.
