He INHERITED the Westminster system of government from the British. That was the system, plus hard work and business acumen of millions of Singaporeans, that made the achievement possible. It would have been achieved with or WITHOUT him. Singaporeans, being descended from migrants of a 5,000 year old civilization, would have made good use of our strategic position and infrastructure, reserves, etc inherited from the British and gone from 3rd world to 1st even if LKY was shot dead in 1945 for being a Japanese collaborator. In fact, it is LKY who single handedly PREVENTED Singapore from being 1st world in more than superficial material aspects. LKY single handedly tampered with the Westminster system with connivance from daft Sinkies - GRCs, GLCs, PA, Shit Times, ISA, etc - and it's all downhill from then onwards, until it is now a dictator in all but name.