ACT #15 — Who Else Built Singapore Besides Lee Kuan Yew?

Was Singapore really built by one man, or have we simplified a much bigger story about the people who shaped the nation?Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy looms large in Singapore’s national story, and rightly so. But over time, the way we remember history can become simplified, turning a collective effort into a single name.In this episode, we ask whether Singapore has lionised LKY too much, and why that lionisation exists in the first place. We explore how focusing on one figure can provide clarity, identity, and continuity, but also how it can unintentionally obscure the wider team that made Singapore what it is today.We then turn our attention to the first-generation leaders who worked alongside LKY, many of whom younger Singaporeans may not know or remember. From economic development and defence, to housing, foreign policy, education, and social institutions, we revisit their contributions and why they mattered.This conversation is not about diminishing one man’s legacy. It is about recognising that Singapore was built by a team, and by its people, and that remembering the full story matters if we want a more grounded understanding of our past.