The power list: 30 people who have shaped Singapore
Once you've read from 30 to 21 here, click here to see those who make up positions 20 to 11.
30. Kwa Geok Choo and Lee Kuan Yew: The power couple
With all the attention focused on the Clintons and the Obamas, it’s easy to forget that the original political power couple was the late Kwa Geok Choo and her prime minister husband Lee Kuan Yew. For over half a century, the Lees played a formidable tag team – he, negotiating the political and social quagmire of a fledgling nation, and she, the very capable voice of reason and counsel. That a tiny island like Singapore with no natural resources to speak of, and a former British colony at that, has managed in the space of two generations to leap frog from Third World obscurity to a First World economic powerhouse is proof enough of the Lees’ enduring class act
29. Shaw Brothers: Kung fu champions
Singaporean’s love for the movies owes much to Shanghainese brothers Runme and Run Run Shaw.
At the height of their success, they operated 19 cinema halls in Singapore and used the city-state as a film distribution center -- that meant easy access to the latest movies.
It helped that the Shaw brothers made and produced their own movies. And that they introduced kung fu films to Singapore.
Apart from movies, they also managed two amusement parks: New World Amusement Park and Great World Amusement Park, and created the Shaw Foundation which continues to contribute to local charities.
28. Najip Ali: Regional wit
Being relevant is important to Najip Ali. And it should be, since it’s his job to keep a 300-million-strong Malay-speaking Southeast Asian audience entertained.
That’s a long way from his early days as the host of "Asia Bagus," a talent search program that aired in the 1990s. His antics, colorful and wacky wardobe and off-the-cuff wit brought him fame that lasted long after the show came to an end.
Today Ali runs two companies and is an executive producer and director. He hopes to one day have a nusantara (Malay archipelago) station called TV:ism, which stands for “TV for Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.”
Success hasn’t gone to his head. “Who I am today,” Najip says, “is because of my community. Thank you for your love and support.” Thanks, Najip.
27. Dr. Kanwaljit Soin: Leading lady
Dr. Soin gave parliament a much-needed female presence when she became the first Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in 1992.
She held the position until 1996 and has since worked to raise awareness of female issues.
She also served as President of the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) from 1991 to 1993 and is one of the most well-known names in Singapore when it comes to women’s issues.
She is still in practice as an orthopedic surgeon and retains her ties to the community as the current president of the Women’s Initiative for Ageing Successfully (Wings).
26. WoHa: Building winners
Founded in 1994, architectural outfit WoHa is an acronym for its principals Wong Mun Summ and Richard Hassell, but there’s nothing short-handed about the Singapore-based firm’s work.
Boasting an unusual oeuvre that runs from grand churches and towering condominiums to tropical resorts and train stations, the duo’s bold silhouettes pepper the regional architectural environment in places including Bangkok, Bali and China.
Their 2007 Aga Khan award for architecture was an unprecedented scoop for a Singaporean firm, but with the recent completion of the mammoth School of the Arts, and the Bras Basah and Stadium MRT stations -- alongside a clutch of projects underway in China -- it seems that their best work may be in front of them.
