Born in Singapore on Sept 16, 1923, a descendant of immigrants from China's Guangdong province, Lee Kuan Yew was to become synonymous with the South-east Asian city-state he helped found. But few have seen the more personal side of the man.

Growing Up
SM Lee describes his early years before the Second World War.

Surviving the Japanese occupation:
SM Lee's mother made cakes to support him and his siblings during the war.

Hounded by the Kempeitai
SM Lee relives his narrow escape from the Japanese Sook Ching massacre and his years as a petty trader, marketing home-made glue. This venture led to courtship and finally marriage to Kwa Geok Choo.

Midnight proposal
All this while, I had also been preoccupied over what I was to do about my uncompleted education and my growing attachment to Choo.

Mr Lee remembers marrying Choo twice in his memoirs
Once we arrived (in Stratford-on-Avon), we notified the local Registrar of Marriages of our intention, and after two weeks of residence were duly married.

Making it in Cambridge
Cambridge was a great relief after London. In the immediate post-war years it was a blissfully quiet provincial market town.

The crucial speech...which split the nation
One speech more than any other was crucial in bringing Umno leaders round to the idea that Malaysia should get rid of Singapore and Mr Lee Kuan Yew with it.

Winning over Labour
SM Lee's memoirs contain accounts of how he made diplomacy work for Singapore; how, if not for Wilson's intervention, Lee might have been locked up by the Malay leadership in Kuala Lumpur. And how he won political support from leaders in Australia and New Zealand, and half a dozen African countries.

Seeking support from Nehru, Nasser, Tito
I decided it was time to renew my contacts with British leaders, and to meet several Afro-Asian leaders on the way. In April 1962, I flew to London via Rangoon, New Delhi, Cairo and Belgrade.

A Political Pop Star
In Lee Kuan Yew's very full life, the most hectic period were the 10 months between December 1962 and September 1963.

Britain recognises a new Singapore
For me, it was a very full day, with people I had to meet, and work I had to attend to. My last visitor was Antony Head, the British High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, who flew in from Kuala Lumpur to see me that night at Sri Temasek.

PA for the people
There were other things we wanted to do. Keng Swee and I planned and formed the People's Association, a statutory board that would embrace all the important voluntary social organisations, clubs and associations for sports, music, ballet, drawing and cooking.

Cleaning up S'pore, countering the communists
One problem I had anticipated was getting used to power. I had seen what happened with Ong Eng Guan in the City Council, how the underdog had misused it when he became the top dog.

Discipline for the unemployed young and the unruly trade unions
We organised a Works Brigade to take in unemployed young men and women, put them in semi-military uniforms, house them in wooden barracks and teach them farming, road building, bricklaying and construction work -- generally to put some discipline into them and, most important, to get them off the streets.

Taking charge by setting up the political study centre
By the end of the year, we were able to balance the budget, and revenue did not continue to fall, as Goh Keng Swee had feared. If I had to pronounce on it again, I would still agree to the cuts, but only one-third as severe.

Mrs Lee speaks up for women's rights
We shared the view of the communists that one reason for the backwardness of China and the rest of Asia, except Japan, was that women had not been emancipated.

Campaign against yellow culture
There were, in addition, several easy, popular points to be scored that required no planning, including a series of "anti-yellow culture" prohibitions imposed by Ong Pang Boon as minister for home affairs.

Crash course in getting kids to school
Our most significant programme was to give every child a place in school within a year.

Sketches of key figures
Thumbnail sketches of some of the most important people on the political scene in both Singapore and Malaysia.
 

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