A reason for the success story that is Singapore today is multifaceted, but an important part is meritocracy in government and bureaucracy and strong anti-corruption laws that is actually enforced:
PS: Both are the legacy of Singapore’s first Prime minister. Lee Kuan Yew:
They only enforce corruption laws when it makes it to the public view or it involves non connected persons.
Its the picture they want to paint not the reality of how the place works.
To ensure that outcome the Corrupt Practices Bureau only answers to the PM’s office not to parliament.
Its true the gov is not stealing tax payer money but many politicians in business hidden behind nominee company shares getting government contracts.
Who is in charge
Guess which one ran the airforce, male or female?
Not to mention the skills you get in the airforce lines you up for a management job in the gov
Only in a cronyocracy
The article make fun of his hairstyle (I can see why) Nobody is hung up in his qualifications, nor his many assignment since retiring as Chief of Airforce in 1998.
Here is his CV (from AI overview):
Aside from his hairstyle, what do you find to criticise him for?
Do you believe that he was unqualified to be Senior Managing Director at Temasek International (2006-13), based on the fact that he was a fighter pilot in his young day?
PS: He is one of the “Pioneer Generation” that helped creating the Singapore you live in now (and criticise incessantly).
Please explain how somebody with zero commercial experience or training transitions to the private sector?
The rest of the world laughs at the 3rd world that keeps putting ex military in roles that are miles from being qualified for.
Its how the cronyocracy works
Gov pushes the people of out the military years before retirement age and then they have nowhere to go so their future 100% in the hands of the gov (so they are forced to become YES men).
The gov put them into roles they have zero skills and experience in but they send them off to do courses the public laugh at.
How to be a company director
How to be a board member
Etc
Name a city anywhere in the world where the best choice to run the rail metro is a flunky from the army?
Then when he fails they get another one..lol
Its just how the Gov get its power base and ensures there is no continuity in the military to prevent that from becoming a powerful lobby
So 3rd world…
Singapore was built like a business, achieved amazing results with a very good leadership but that was years ago
Its over, now its all crony clowns who have no idea but get salarys way bigger than any comparable in the world.
Goh Keng Swee predicted where SG would end up depending the path the gov took and he has been proven right.
The constant very low productivity means trouble in a place where its expensive to do anything.
The gov took control over the population rather than build a country of free thinkers
That explains todays bunch as they are pretty much all a product of LKY education system.
So now its a low skilled economy with 2 million unskilled foreign workers out of voting population of 3 million so where is the future for a young Singaporean?
Try to get a Singaporean to make a decision, a lifetime of education telling them they cant and a system thats designed no to have decision makers.
A casino, a port, an airport and dodgy banking. All manned by foreigners.
Did you read his CV? Do you want to compare your CV with his?
He served in the Singapore Air Force (SAF) for 29 years. He left military service as Major-General and Chief of Air force in 1998. You think anyone can do that without some smarts?
He then worked for Beta Capital Group, Dallas Tx. for 7 years, ending as Director, before returning to Singapore and joining Temasek in 2006.
Is that enough “commercial experience” for you?
It must be awful to have such a negative view of the place you call home. (Or a negative attitude in general for that matter)
Let me see if I got this right:
Sorry, I don’t see any proof of what you are saying (actually believing?).
I have a VERY different experience:
In my many years calling Singapore home, I have seen Singapore go from a newly independent “backwater”, with no natural resources, no hinterland and with few giving it much of a change to survive as an independent “City-state”.
Fast forward to today. Singapore is now a “1st World country”, with an economy and standard of living that is the envy of many:
I was there in the bad old day. As one of the “Pioneer Generation” I contributed in a small way to that development.
What have you contributed, with your negative attitude to anything and everything? (Except Trump, that is) 
You are still on the band wagon of the history of Singapore and when it was successful.
Yes it was and it had a small bunch of clever people that created that success from the only asset they had, cheap workers and a geographically strategic location which still is a great asset today.
but
Households getting food vouchers now
Debt approaching 2 trillion growing from zero in 2000.
So there is 26 year run of going backwards which all business can see and can also see the Gov has no answers on what to do.
Expats/multinationals are leaving and closing their businesses, why, its too expensive to do anything even when they get total exemptions from taxation for 10 years and EDB begging them to stay with a further 10 year exemption.
A huge number of SG families that have a anchor kid in a Uni overseas are leaving
AI Overview
"With soaring costs placing Singapore at the top of global wealth and lifestyle indexes, alongside 45-hour workweeks and escalating expenses, it is no wonder many Singaporeans feel the squeeze. The persistent pressure of inflation and global economic instability means budgets are tighter than ever. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
However, there is some relief in sight. The government has rolled out targeted measures to help citizens weather this storm, including the Enhanced Cost-of-Living Special Payment of $400 to $600 (disbursed in September) and previously accelerated CDC Vouchers. [1, 2]"
Nice lifestyle only had by all the billionaires moving in and picking up passports to sit in Singapore and be totally tax exempt.
The only thing they do for the majority is raising all costs.
They couldnt careless as no business in Singapore just here for tax haven status.
But now having a passport they will buy the landed properties all the politicians are selling..
Not gone unnoticed by the locals on why the wealthy and politicians are selling and renting???
Why not, cash out CGT free and get the tax payer to do a multi million renovation on a large black and white then move in, 2 politicians so far and 2 more soon.
Pictures and video clips are mostly AI, but the facts presented are mostly accurate:
Remember the story of “Fat Leonard”, the Malaysian with his business HQ at the mouth of Pandang River in Singapore?:
In an exclusive interview, the legendary con man known as Fat Leonard, back in prison, tells The Post about his wild escape and his bid for a presidential pardon.
Long an detailed article in WaPo today, detailing the story of his case, incl. his absconded from home detention in San Diego nearly four years ago.
Read the story here:
https://wapo.st/4yzJ5cj (Gift article. No paywall)
PS: I had no personal contact with him, but followed his rise and fall from both private and public sources.
I also wrote a post about his ship Glenn Breaveheart here on gcaptain back in 2021:
More Singapore history for you:
It is not just the story of SAF, CPF and HDB, but the story of Lee Kuan Yew and his way of thinking and doing things differently from other leaders of former colonies and beyond.
The updated Biography of Lee Kuan Yew by Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lee-Kuan-Yew
