Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I’m meaningless.

I was a product of the times, the war, the occupation, the reoccupation, my 4 years in Britain, admiring but at the same time questioning whether they are able to do a better job than we can.

I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.

India is scared of the competition... because Chinese goods will go into India and compete.

What is of consequence is I did my best.

Usually I read biographies of interesting people. I am not attracted to novels - make-believe, or recreations of what people think life should be.

If Singapore is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one.