Ingredients that go into successful leadership

Leadership seemed natural to the first generation of ministers. Mr Lee Kuan Yew was 35 when he took over as Prime Minister in 1959. He was able to stamp his authority on the country despite strong opposition from leftists, among other internal and external challenges his government faced.

He led in a different age. Some say it was harder to lead then. It was a period of intense change globally, the ideological battles between various camps were much more heated. Others reckon it was not as hard. People were less educated. The country was also backward - if one could get the economy moving, life could improve quickly and significantly.