The Singapore miracle

It was with a nostalgic feeling that I landed at the world famous Changi International Airport, revisiting Singapore after almost three decades. My last visit to Singapore, as a young Army Aviation engineer was related to the rebuilt of the army’s two accidented Bell helicopters; this one, to represent NAB and address the Third International Anti-Corruption Expertise Conference, jointly organised by Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the country’s elite Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
An Island country (270 sqmi), city-state of 4.8 million, Singapore is the smallest nation in South East Asia. It is the 8th wealthiest country in the world in terms of GDP per capita with foreign exchange reserves of around US$177 billion. One of the four Asian Tigers alongwith Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, the state of Singapore is world’s fourth largest foreign exchange trading centre and the financial/business capital of South East Asia.
With an annual seven to eight percent growth rate, Singapore is Asia’s least corrupt nation and the fourth least corrupt nation of the world (after New Zealand, Denmark and Sweden) with an extremely high corruption perception index of 9.2 out of 10.0. Ranked as one of the cleanest state in the world, Singapore’s strict laws ensure a clean and healthy environment, where even littering is a serious offence.
In 1959, when Singapore attained self-government, it inherited from the British an efficient public service but corruption was rife and permeated all sectors of the society. After independence in 1965, Singapore’s new political leadership led by Mr Lee Kuan Yew, prime minister from 1959 to 1990 rallied the nation together, becoming role models of self-sacrifice, simplicity, integrity and honesty. Within years this leadership transformed Singapore society from one of rampant corruption to an almost corruption free environment.
In the words of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Father of modern Singapore: “The moment key leaders are less than incorruptible, less than stern in demanding high standards, from that moment the structure of administrative integrity will weaken and eventually crumble. Singapore can survive only if ministers and senior officers are incorruptible and efficient; only when we uphold integrity, can the economy work in a way which enables Singaporeans to clearly see the nexus between hard work and high rewards. Only then will people, foreigners and Singaporeans invest in Singapore.�