Book Review – Singapore: A Modern History, by Michael Barr

When I was notified about Barr’s new book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it.

This book will probably take you more than a couple of hours to read, if you’re reading it carefully. I like to keep in mind that it takes the author/scholar/historian far more than 10x that amount of time to research, write, and edit the book!

I posted a review of Michael Barr’s other book, The Ruling Elite of Singapore, back in March 2014. Holy Smokes, that’s a solid half decade ago.

Anyway, on to the review proper…

Lee Kuan Yew and Opium Trade

Thanks to some netizens for fact-checking, etc.

Verification, excerpts, and additional info below.

1) VERIFICATION (STARTING from KWA GEOK CHOO / MRS. LKY)

Burmese Generals, Drug Lords, and the Singapore Government

On the historical links between the Singapore government and “Burmese Generals / Drug Lords.”

Mrs. LKY: “The Dragon Lady”

A look at Kwa Geok Choo (Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew) through the perspective of Peranakan culture.

National Heritage Board

Of stolen artifacts, PAP relatives in the National Heritage Board, money laundering, and Tang Dynasty shipwreck treasures.

X’Ho: Saved Comment on LKY

Great post via X’Ho in March 2015, with many pertinent points mentioned (based on a comment by netizen “hortensisus_truth,” saved by X’Ho).

Re-posted below.

Bukit Brown Cemetery

Many well-known and prominent Singaporeans are buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery.

According to Wikipedia / CNA:

It was originally announced by Minister Tan Chuan-Jin in Feb 2012 that 5,000, out of more than 100,000 graves, would make way for a new 4-lane road that would cut through the cemetery. This number was reduced to 3,746 from the original 5,000, on 19 Mar 2012. It was also revealed that the rest of the cemetery would make way for a new public housing town in about 40 years time.