Borderless Asia

Australians must be weaned from welfare dependency and become self-reliant and competitive. This is not painless. Deep-seated problems of work ethics, productivity, enterprise, bloody-minded unions protecting unproductive work practices, feather-bedding and inflexibility in wages are neither quickly nor easily cured.

For a handful of dockworkers in 1994 who have become redundant because of restructuring to bring the export trade to a standstill is unbelievable. Union leaders and members seem to be out of touch with reality.

But when the dole is still A$572.80 a month for single adults, and people are still beating the system by accepting lower than union award wages in the “informal” sector and then claiming the dole, and the government still takes nearly half of every dollar earned by individuals in the top tax bracket, then more changes are needed if Australians are to become competitive.

— Lee Kuan Yew on Australia's welfare and lack of productivity (1994).

Remember to watch LKY's views on Australia here: https://youtu.be/QXwA2XOr0VE

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5 days ago | [YT] | 294

Borderless Asia

"Historically, Australians have always had this fear of the yellow peril." — Lee Kuan Yew on Australia's attitudes towards Asians (1994).

Watch Lee's full views on Australia here: https://youtu.be/QXwA2XOr0VE

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1 week ago | [YT] | 280

Borderless Asia

Like Australia, New Zealand's links with Singapore were through Britain. Because they are further away from Asia, New Zealanders did not feel so threatened during World War II by the possibility of Japanese invasion and were less suspicious of Asians.

They took their share of Vietnamese refugees and were less nervous about boat people pouring onto their shores. This attitude was to undergo a change by the 1990s after they had experienced more Asian immigration.

— Lee Kuan Yew on NZ's attitudes towards Asians; From Third World to First (2000)

Rewatch Lee's views on New Zealand here: https://youtu.be/FFD3ICTr96Y

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 163

Borderless Asia

"It is sound strategy for New Zealand and Australia, to establish more links and gear into these East Asian economies and benefit from their dynamism. New Zealand’s comparative advantage in food and forestry products will find many opportunities in the region."

— Lee Kuan Yew at the luncheon hosted by the New Zealand Business and Parliament Trust in Wellington (14 April 1994).

Watch LKY's views on New Zealand's decline here: https://youtu.be/FFD3ICTr96Y

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 198

Borderless Asia

"You look for societies which have been more successful and you ask yourself why. On my first visit to Germany, in 1956, we had to stop in Frankfurt... These were people who were defeated and completely destroyed and they were rebuilding. I could sense the goal, the dynamism...

Then Britain - well, they were languid, gentlemanly. With welfare, the British workers were no longer striving. They were getting West Indians to do the dirty jobs as garbage collectors, dustmen, conductors. They were still drivers because that was highly paid, the conductors were paid less.

So one was looking for a soft life, the other was rebuilding and pushing. That made a vivid impression, a very deep impression on me."

— Lee Kuan Yew, The Man & His Ideas (1998)

Rewatch LKY's thoughts on the UK's decline here: https://youtu.be/scJirMIDRhg

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 283

Borderless Asia

Lee Kuan Yew predicted that Britain's reliance on the welfare state would lead it down a spiral of decline. Do you agree?

Watch the full video on LKY's thoughts on the UK's decline here: https://youtu.be/scJirMIDRhg

"London Underground in 1946, 1947, 1948 was a picture of a very orderly mass rapid transit —polite, safe, clean... Today, you get mugged on the London Underground. You are afraid when you travel into certain tube stations at night."

— Lee Kuan Yew quote (Q&A Session at Nanyang Technological University, 1996)

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 45

Borderless Asia

🇬🇧 "In 1985, Singapore’s per capita GDP was US$6,500, as against Britain's US$8,200... By 1995, Singapore’s per capita GDP of US$26,000 had surpassed Britain’s US$19,700.

Our workers earned more than the British workers. They also owned their own homes and had more savings (in Central Provident Fund and POSBank accounts) than the British workers."

— Lee Kuan Yew, detailing the ultimate irony of Britain's rapid decline (2000).

In just one decade, the former colony had economically eclipsed its master, validating Lee's warnings about the welfare state.

Watch the latest video on Lee's thoughts on why the UK declined: https://youtu.be/scJirMIDRhg

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1 month ago | [YT] | 173

Borderless Asia

"My best wishes to all Hindus on the occasion of Deepavali [Diwali]. Ours must be a tolerant, permissive society.

To be the opposite, to be intolerant of the ways of life and habits of fellow citizens who have different cultural and religious practices, is to generate unnecessary frictions.

To prohibit instead of permit conduct and behaviour which a particular cultural or religious group considers unbecoming will generate tensions and resistance in other groups.

So it is that our children must grow up and learn that they can do what they like, preach and worship as they like, provided they do not insist that all other different cultural, religious and ethnic groups must do likewise.

This is our road to continued peace and fulfilment for all."

— Lee Kuan Yew's Deepavili Message (1966)

Additionally, below are some excerpts from LKY's famous 1965 speech, delivered just a month after the separation from Malaysia. These words captured his determination to forge Singapore into a model multiracial society.

Also, remember to watch this video where he outlines his "live and let live" philosophy in managing a multicultural society: https://youtu.be/BPI4a58Smv8

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1 month ago | [YT] | 176

Borderless Asia

🇨🇳 China made headlines on social media this week with its record-breaking Huajiang Canyon Bridge, now the world's tallest.

While Western media outlets and influencers react with amazement, the late Lee Kuan Yew wouldn't have been surprised at all. More than a decade ago, he noted, "The Chinese are great builders and great carpenters. I don't know why they suppressed it for so long."

And back in 2005, he highlighted another example: Singapore was teaching Chinese officials how to develop the Suzhou Industrial Park. Lee was amazed by their execution speed, stating, "After 10 years, the results are startling... They studied what we have done in Singapore. What we took 40 years to do, they were able to adopt, adapt and implement in 10 years."

Remember to watch Lee's full predictions on China here: https://youtu.be/sYshKNwoWVg

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1 month ago | [YT] | 163

Borderless Asia

Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien, "The Sugar King of Asia", turns 102 today!

From small beginnings in Johor Bahru, his journey showcases the power of resilience, vision, and hard work. His influence is immense, spanning from founding the global Shangri-La Hotels to acting as an informal advisor and friend to powerful regional leaders, including Singapore’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.

We revisit some memorable quotes from his 2017 book, "Robert Kuok: A Memoir"

Also, remember to watch this quick animation we did recapping his life story: youtube.com/shorts/jk5VVe1SEP...

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2 months ago | [YT] | 153