Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew will launch the Chinese
edition of the best-selling Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to keep
Singapore going on Sept 16 at the Grand Corpthorne Waterfront
Hotel.
The English edition - published by the Singapore Press Holdings
and launched on Jan 21 - has to date sold over 90,000 copies. It
has been number one on the non-fiction bestsellers list for more
than six months. The book is based on 16 interviews with Mr Lee,
during which he spoke to journalists from The Straits Times on a
range of issues, from the future of Singapore's political system,
immigration and foreign talent, the rise of China and India,
cultural and linguistic identity, to climate change. He also spoke
at length about his family, children and grandchildren.
Mr Lee said he wanted the book to be translated into Chinese to
cater to the needs of older Singaporeans, many of whom do not read
English. Non-Singaporean Chinese might also be interested in
reading the book, he said, including those in mainland China,
Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The title of the book Hard Truths to keep Singapore going is a
reference to Mr Lee's remark, repeated several times in the
interviews, that there are hard truths or facts about Singapore
that cannot be changed, and that make it critical for Singapore to
have a stable society and strong, effective government.
-- ST