Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew is often referred to as the founding father of Singapore. After Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia in 1965, Lee became Singapore's first prime minister. Providing social housing and social programs, Lee fostered cohesion between Singapore's Chinese and Malay ethnicities. Levying a combination of state subsidies and efforts to increase free enterprise, Lee sought to establish Singapore as a finance and business hub.