Those department stores were there to serve the elite Ang Moh rulers of Singapore. Very few locals could afford to shop there. My dad took me there in the mid 50s and the majority of shoppers were White. It was the same scenario in places like the Tanglin Club, the Naafi, the Cricket club and so on. I went to the Naafi just once when I was a kid. I was probably the only non white skinned guest there. The club was reserved for Ang Mohs only. Locals were only allowed in as guests if they were signed in by white members.
95% of Singapore was covered in kampongs and coconut trees with no electricity, no running water and no sewerage. LKY changed all that. He is my hero.
You can see for yourself how Singaporean lived at
http://remembersingapore.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/from-villages-to-flats-part-1/
I too grew up in a Kampong house so I have first hand experience and saw the transformation from fishing village to modern metropolis with my own eyes.
Agreed, the clubs were there to serve the expat. But it is not true that the majority of shoppers were White. As a kid, my dad had brought me to the old Robinsons before it got burned down and there were a good mix of locals and ang mors.
Tell me which country starts off with electricity, running water and proper sanitation.
So, benefiting from technological advancement has nothing to do with political leadership.
Are you telling us that if any leader other than old fart, Singapore would still have no electricity, running water and proper sanitation?
The fishing village half truth was propaganda to brain wash the older Singaporeans. And sadly, a lot of these people swallows all and sundries hook, line and sinker.
Gratitude and respect cannot be misplaced.
Blind gratitude is plain servitude.
Blind respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.