I first read the biography of Goh Chok Tong in 2019-2021, and reread both volumes in 2025. In both cases, like the person, the biography came across simple, clear and sincere. This also very much sums up the 14 years (from 1990 to 2004) for Singapore when Goh was the Prime Minister. Of course, his style of governance is very different from that of Lee Kuan Yew (his predecessor), which was more authoritative and abrasive. Nonetheless, these biography of Goh serve as a good continuation of the Singapore Story after the memoirs of Lee.
Tall Order: The Goh Chok Tong Story (Volume 1)
Goh was an improbable prime minister for an unlikely country. He had neither the connections nor the cunning to rise to the top. Except for an imposing height, he was an ordinary man. Yet somehow he succeeded. Volume 1 of the biography tells the extraordinary story of his life and career over half a century, revealing how Singapore’s second prime minister rose through a combination of strength, wit and a political nous which many, including himself, did not know he had. He was the man who first made Neptune Orient Lines profitable, before entering politics. The stellar corporate stint was followed by his many novel policies and institutions that had since becomes household names in the country e.g. Medisave, Total Defence, Residents’ Committee, etc. In the hand of Peh Shing Huei, this biography reveals the private deliberations and negotiations between Goh and Lee before the maiden leadership transfer of independent Singapore. In the foreword to the biography, Goh says that he hope this book will motivate Singaporeans to do their part and contribute to their better understanding of how to secure Singapore’s future. Every chapter ends with an extract of the dialogue between him and the team of writers. Finally at the end of the book, Goh also offers his thoughts on the chapters in an Afterword. To him, the Singapore’s biggest and most important political and economic stories that are shared in the book are none other than a Tall Order.
Standing Tall: The Goh Chok Tong Years (Volume 2)
This volume is divided into four sections:
- Section 1–Goh’s administration faced critical challenges which left him wondering how he survived those early years.
- Section 2–He turned the corner, and implemented his key policies and matured as a political leader. He implemented Medisave and Edusave as he believe in “a Rising tide lift all boats.”–“Compassionate Meritocracy”.
- Section 3–He grappled with unforeseen tests externally and from close quarters within his team. Throughout, he maintained that Singapore must remain an open economy and a global hub–“a great small nation”
- Section 4–Goh astutely chose to end his premiership on the high.
Goh fought three GEs as PM. His final GE in 2001 he won on 75.3% of the popular vote. In total, he served 44 years as an MP and 14 years as a PM. In his words,” It was a Tall Order to become Singapore’s 2nd PM. It was an even taller order to weather the trials and tribulations and emerge Standing Tall as a PM.” Unlike Volume 1, Goh gave his views on the various chapters under Reflections, and has a special Afterword where he argues the Why, What, and How of making Singapore to be #1–“Stand Tall for Singapore!”
Key Takeaways
- As the biography is a continuation of the Singapore Story after the Lee’s Memoirs, it is a must read for students of Singapore polity, economics and history.
- Between the two Lees of Lee Kwan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore is fortunate and deserving to have Goh, as this will prove the presence of meritocracy and avoid a Lee dynastic tendency.
- Singapore is of course fortunate to have Lee as the founding PM. Goh was a good second runner, and Lee Junior had also done a good third leg. The current PM, Lawrence Wong, is doing a good fourth leg. Let’s hope that he could end on a high note as the fourth runner.
#Goh Chok Tong #Peh Shing Huei #Lee Kuan Yew #Lee Hsien Loong #Lawrence Wong