I have never been over concerned or obsessed with opinion polls or popularity polls. I think a leader who is, is a weak leader. Between being loved and being feared, I have always believed Machiavelli was right. If nobody is afraid of me, I'm meaningless.

Now if democracy will not work for the Russians, a white Christian people, can we assume that it will naturally work with Asians?

A leader without the vision, to strive to improve things, is no good. Then you will just stay put, you won't progress.

There are some flaws in the assumptions made for democracy. It is assumed that all men and women are equal or should be equal. Hence, one-man-one-vote. But is equality realistic? If it is not, to insist on equality must lead to regression.

I always tried to be correct, not politically correct.

It is not the practice, now will I allow subversives to get away by insisting that I’ve got to prove everything against them in a court of law or [produce] evidence that will stand up to the strict rules of evidence of a court of law.

I make no apologies that the PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP.