The history of Singapore
dates to the 11th century. The island rose in importance during the
14th century under the rule of Srivijayan prince Parameswara and became an important
port until it was destroyed by Portuguese raiders in 1613. The modern history of
Singapore began in 1819 when
Englishman Sir Thomas
Stamford Raffles established a British port on the island. Under
British colonial
rule, it grew in importance as a centre for both the
India-China trade and
the entrepôt
trade in Southeast Asia, rapidly becoming a major port
city.
During World War
II, Singapore was conquered and occupied by the Japanese
Empire from 1942 to 1945. When the war ended, Singapore
reverted to British control, with increasing levels of self-government being granted,
culminating in Singapore's merger with the Federation of
Malaya to form Malaysia
in 1963. However, social unrest and disputes between
Singapore's ruling People's Action Party
and Malaysia's Alliance Party
resulted in Singapore's expulsion from Malaysia. Singapore
became an independent republic on 9
August 1965.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Singapore
He took something which was good under the British rule, screw
it up, then managed to pick it up again, then claims the credit for
himself. 
Singapore was already a major port city under the British, being
port cities like Hong Kong (no natural resources too), it was
destined to thrive as a city of trade.
He wrest control of Singapore from the Brits, charted a wrong
course for Singapore by merging with Malaysia. Put the lives of
ordinary Singaporeans in economic peril, then managed to return
Singapore to status quo ante, then claims that he was the architect
of Singapore's success. When in fact if Singapore had remained a
British colony, her economic achievements might have surpassed that
of Hong Kong's.