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.
actually history things hard to say wo.
Aft WWII, the British also knew they can't run e Asian colonies
for long.