Lee Kuan Yew: Singapore's Success Story (Part 3)

[The following are excerpts from a paper entitled “Lee Kuan Yew: Leading Singapore, Lessons In Leadership,” submitted to Atty.  Damcelle Torres Cortes, Professor in Development Management 201 -Managerial Leadership, University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB) – Fidel M. Arcenas]

National Security

Two-Pronged Problem

Singapore faced a two-pronged security problem, one internal, the other external. When it separated from Malaysia, its “army” consisted of two battalions which were under the command of a Malaysian brigadier general. Lee Kuan Yew feared a coup by the ultra Malayan forces within Singapore to reverse the independence it has just gained.  

Its relationship with Malaysia and Indonesia was also strained, and China was not exactly a friendly neighbor. With the imminent closure of the British bases, it was of critical importance that Singapore could assure the protection and safety of its residents and investors if it wanted to be a trade and industrial center.

Goh Keng Swee, Singapore’s first Minister for the Interior and Defence and one of Lee’s most ministers, presented to the Defco (Defence Council) an ambitious plan. In part, Goh asserted:

“It is foolish to allow ourselves to be hypnotized by the disparity in the population ratio between Singapore and its neighbors. What counts is the fighting strength of the armed forces, not the size of population…. After five years of conscription we can field an army of 150,000 by mobilizing those on the reserve service. By using older persons and women for non-combatant duties we should eventually be able to field an army with a combat strength of 250,000 consisting of men between the ages of 18 and 35. The war-making potential of a small, vigorous, well-educated and highly motivated population should never be underestimated.”[1]

           

            Goh’s proposal looked good on paper, but Lee knew that to execute it ntailed difficulties, foremost of which was to overcome the Chinese’ dislike for soldiering. “Every Chinese parent,” Lee observed, “knew the saying hao han bu dang bing, hao tie bu da ding (a good lad does not become a soldier, good seed does not become nails)… I had to get people to change their attitudes…Only when we changed people’s thinking and attitudes could we raise a large citizen army like Switzerland’s or Israel’s. We gave ourselves a decade to accomplish this.”[2]

[“… the study of leadership is the study of how men and women guide others through adversity, uncertainty, hardship, disruption, transformation, transition, recovery, new beginnings, and other significant challenges. It’s the study of people who triumph against overwhelming odds, who take initiative where there is inertia, who confront the established order, who mobilize people and institutions in the face of strong resistance.”[3]]

 National Reserve Force and National Police Cadet Corps

            “We set up,” Lee related, “national cadet corps and national police cadet  corps training in all secondary schools so that parents would identify the army and police with their sons and daughters. We wanted the people to regard our soldiers as their protectors – a reversal from the days when army and police uniforms aroused fear and resentment as symbols of colonial coercion.”[4] This another clear example of Lee Kuan Yew’s skill as a change agent. First, he “understands the cultural dynamics” of his constituency, and then proceeds on a “strategic practical course, balancing the current reality with the need for rapid adoption of the desired future reality.”[5]

          On the first anniversary of Singapore’s independence, Lee’s fledgling government managed to muster what military and police forces it had organized from civilians and showed them in a parade to boost the morale of the population. Joining the military and police in the parade where community leaders, representing all races bearing banners and slogans.

            In the process of building up a citizens reserve force, an interesting debate between Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Lemg Swee was the inclusion of women. Lee was bent to have women render national service, just like in Israel. Goh, on the other hand,  did  not  want  the new  Defence Ministry to take up the additional burden. The other ministers at Defense Council supported Goh, and Lee did not press his position.

[“Knowing that trust is key, exemplary leaders make sure that they consider alternative viewpoints, and they make use of other people’s expertise and abilities. Because they’re more trusting of their groups, they’re also more willing to let others exercise influence over group decisions.”[6]]

“Total Defence”

            Singapore adopted the concept of “Total Defence.” The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) mobilized and involved the whole society in defense activities. Lee related: "… school principals, teachers, parents, employers, and community leaders are brought into a supporting network. National service has had a profound impact on Singapore society over the last 30 years. They learn to live and work closely with each other regardless of race, language, or religion. Food taboos of Muslims and Hindus are respected, as are all religious rites, from Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh to Christian and Zoroastrian. Whether your father is a minister, banker, professional, laborer, taxi driver, or hawker, you military standing depends on your performance.”[7]

[“Leaders embrace the challenge of facilitating relationships among all the people involved in any undertaking, ensuring that everyone recognize their inter-dependence more than their independence.”[8]]

            The brightest students in SAF were given scholarships to study at Oxbridge and other universities in Britain where they studied academic courses in the humanities, sciences, engineering, or other fields. While serving in the SAF after their graduation, these crème of the corps would be allowed to take specialist staff or command training. After that they could avail of other scholarships in public of business administration in top American universities like Harvard or Stanford.

[“Without education and coaching, people are reluctant to exercise their knowledge, in part because they don’t know how to perform the critical tasks and in part out of fear of being punished for making mistakes… Strengthening others requires up-front investments in initiatives that develop people’s competencies and foster their confidence.”[9]]

Defense Build Up

            To establish credible defense capability, building up and air and naval forces with modern equipment was essential.  Lee Kuan Yew sought the help of Israelis not only to prepare a naval buildup plan, but also to train Singapore’s armed forces based of the Israelis’ skills and military doctrines.  New Zealanders trained Singapore’s naval force to maneuver fast patrol boats.

            Singapore’s size made it difficult for the SAF to conduct military training and exercises. So Lee Kuan Yew sought the assistance of his counterparts in the neighboring countries to allow SAF personnel to hold military exercises in their territories. As example: infantry, armor, and artillery training was conducted in Taiwan, and air combat training in Clark Air Base, Philippines.

            Lee Kuan Yew narrated: “In 1990 when I stepped down as prime minister, Military Technology, an international defense journal, wrote: ‘In 1965, when Singapore became an independent nation, it had virtually nothing in the way of armed forces to defend itself. By 1990, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had grown into a respected and professional force operating modern defence systems that was capable of defending the territorial integrity and independence of the state.’ Since then, the SAF’s capability and readiness have continued to be rated highly be defense journals including Jane’s and Asia Pacific Defence Reporter.”[10]

           

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[1] Lee Kuan Yew, “From Third World To FIRST,” HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.,

[2] Ibid

[3] J. M. Kouzes & B. Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 4^th Edition, published by Jossey-Bass

[4]Lee Kuan Yew, “From Third World To FIRST,” HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

[5] J. Canterucci; “Are you a Change Leader?” www.corpchange

[6] J. M. Kouzes & B. Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 4^th Edition, published by Jossey-Bass

[7] Lee Kuan Yew, “From Third World To FIRST,” HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.,

[8] J. M. Kouzes & B. Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 4^th Edition, published by Jossey-Bass

[9] J. M. Kouzes & B. Z. Posner, The Leadership Challenge, 4^th Edition, published by Jossey-Bass

[10] Lee Kuan Yew, “From Third World To FIRST,” HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.,