Fools Here, Fools There

Nepali leaders once envisioned turning Nepal into a version of Singapore within ten years. However, the country now finds itself grappling with an all-time low, marked by poor governance, rampant corruption, and mounting public frustration. Amid this turmoil, the defunct monarchy is making a bid to resurface, disregarding the political progress achieved at the cost of countless sacrifices and irreversible damage. Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by media personality Rabi Lamichhane, initially sparked hope but quickly lost public trust due to his carelessness, double standards, and involvement in controversies such as cooperative fraud. Lamichhane’s credibility has been severely tarnished, regardless of the legal outcomes.

The voices of other RSP youth leaders, in light of Lamichhane's controversies, further exposed the lack of genuine leadership, underscoring how rare honest forces are in Nepali politics. To replace the failing traditional political parties, any new force must be fundamentally different—capable, transparent, and grounded. Neither the old parties nor the RSP's track record inspire confidence.

However, due to Nepal’s large population of gullible and poorly educated masses, many continue to support Lamichhane, his party, and the older political leaders, which unjustly grants them relevance and hinders meaningful change. Few recognise that Nepal's current situation demands sincere efforts for transformation. The monarchy cannot be considered, as it has no glorious history to justify its return. Nepal must safeguard its new constitution, urgently pursue economic progress, and perhaps embrace a fresh, untainted force along with a better governance model to end political instability.

The book, The Last Fools – The Eight Immortals of Lee Kuan Yew, offers a crucial lesson regarding what it takes to develop a country in a short span of time. More importantly, it highlights how it is not just about who leads the party but equally about who provides the pillars.

Published in 2022, this bestseller gained widespread attention at the Asia Journalism Fellowship in September of that same year. Journalists from across Asia, many of whose countries face significant governance and development challenges, quickly realised that Singapore’s remarkable transformation was accompanied by equally profound pain and sacrifice. From a nation marked by poverty, unemployment, slums, crime, crumbling infrastructure, and a lack of support from elsewhere, Singapore rose to become a global leader known for its world-class economy, modern infrastructure, and exceptional governance—a testament to the vision, integrity, and resilience of its remarkable leaders. Peh Shing Huei, the editor and co-author of the striking yellow-covered book, pointed out that while many attribute Singapore’s successes to Lee Kuan Yew, the city-state’s strategic location and its financial potential, "You need to read the book!" he urged.

According to Huei, the real secret behind Singapore's success lay in the dedication of eight key administrators. However, they are rarely mentioned in documents or books—perhaps because, as administrators, they had little interest in politics. As for why they were called "fools", the answer lies within the book itself.

"We call them fools because, by today’s standards, they were indeed fools—so deeply in love with their nation, with no ego, no personal gain, and just pure dedication. Aren’t they fools?" Huei laughed as journalists joined the lively discussion.

Under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, from the People's Action Party (PAP), these eight figures reshaped Singapore between 1968 and 1999. Over 31 years, they held key roles in administration, finance, and infrastructure development. They were a diverse group of individuals with different temperaments and personalities, yet why things worked was because they shared a common work ethic, training, and integrity, of course, constantly guided and inspired by Lee. And they emerged as such bold performers that they were not afraid to challenge ministers or even the Prime Minister Lee himself when necessary, always prioritizing their shared vision of a prosperous Singapore. They'd tell their seniors, 'Mind your own business!'

In Nepal, ageing leaders like KP Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) never considered passing the baton. As a result, the energy and vision of younger leaders like Gagan Thapa and Bishwoprakash Sharma are fading and becoming contaminated. This leadership vacuum has allowed non-political figures like Lamichhane to exploit the system, drawing in opportunists and inexperienced individuals under the guise of 'youth'. This instability will have long-term consequences unless new, honest leaders emerge.

The PAP also faced internal divisions in its early years, with a left-wing faction breaking away to form Barisan Sosialis. To suppress this and other dissenting forces, 'Operation Coldstore' was launched on February 3, 1963, resulting in 107 arrests. Though controversial, this move marked the beginning of modern Singapore. Notably, Gurkha troops, stationed in Singapore since British rule, played a crucial role in maintaining security amid tensions between the Malays and Chinese in the security forces. One of the eight 'fools' from PAP, George Edwin Bogaars, led Operation Coldstore and later played a crucial role in uplifting Singapore’s stability, economy, and employment landscape.

The Last Fools recounts Singapore’s transformation, emphasising that these eight "fools" prioritised administration, development, and nation-building over political ambitions. They helped found Singapore Airlines, turned housing projects into reality, transformed neglected areas into green spaces, implemented racial harmony policies, and focused on both security and economic growth—all by overcoming immense and subtle challenges.

"We, eight journalists, came together to follow these fools and gather descriptions. You may call it detailed biographies of these inspiring administrators," said editor Huei. The title, The Last Fools: The Eight Immortals of Lee Kuan Yew, draws inspiration from a Chinese myth about eight deities. "When we look at their journey today, their balance and brilliance, we can't say they were any lesser than deities," he added.

By the time the book was published, only some of the eight—Sim Kee Bunn, George Bogaars, J.Y. Pillay, Andrei Chiu, Hon Sui Sen, Ho Yun Chong, Lee Ek Teck, and Nguem Tag Dow—were still alive. Journalists gathered information from family, friends, articles, and interviews with surviving figures and learnt that the eight shared a remarkable trait: the ability to dream big. Even amid scarcity. And they would materialise their projects with a smart approach and undivided attention.

For instance, J.Y. Pillay, the only surviving member who gave interviews for the book, exemplified the spirit of 'dreaming beyond your capacity and materialising it.' Despite a lack of capital and Malaysia's reluctance to cooperate, he envisioned Singapore Airlines as a global carrier. Initially, nobody believed him. But he remained resolute, setting clear goals and finding solutions without panic. His financial strategies helped bring Singapore to the global stock market. Pillay credits the Bhagavad Gita for his focus and composure during tough times.

The Last Fools is a must-read for anyone interested in development and administration. For Nepalis, it's especially important – it provides crucial insights into the kind of leaders they should trust. The journalists and writers have done a commendable job, though at times, the approach can feel a bit subjective. The overlapping timelines and incidents offer diverse and interesting perspectives.

(The author is a Kathmandu based journalist and Asian Journalism Fellow 2021.)