Mr Goh Chok Tong is a household name in Singapore, having served in government for over 40 years. It is difficult to dissociate Mr Goh from Singapore politics, and even more impossible to imagine that many had their doubts when he first became Prime Minister in 1990. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s successor, Mr Goh had big shoes to fill, and sceptics wondered if Singapore would survive without the founding Prime Minister at the helm.
Over the next 14 years, however, Mr Goh proved naysayers wrong, leading Singapore through recessions, terrorist attacks, electoral setbacks and a mysterious virus, to not only cement but expand her space and stature. Even after handing over the reins to Mr Lee Hsien Loong in 2004, he remained in public service as a Member of Parliament before retiring in 2020.
Standing Tall, the second volume of Mr Goh’s biography, tells the untold story of the Goh Chok Tong years, as he continued with Singapore’s transformation into a global city. It also captures his own transformation from a Prime Minister who was a touch naïve into a hard-nosed strategist. The book uncovers rare insights into Singapore’s politics as it tells of the myriad challenges of his era and the many successes.
Join Mr Goh as he shares his thoughts and insights, drawing on his experiences and the episodes in his latest biography. The session will be held over the Zoom teleconferencing platform, with lunch provided by The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore and delivered to each participant. Participants will also receive a copy of Standing Tall.