Standing Tall: The Goh Chok Tong Years, Volume 2

Some did not expect him to last long as Prime Minister. Few predicted he would succeed in the footsteps of Lee Kuan Yew. When Goh Chok Tong took over as the second Prime Minister of Singapore in 1990, many -- from within and without the country -- wondered aloud if the young country would survive Lee Kuan Yew.But Goh would confound the naysayers, leading Singapore for 14 years through recessions, terrorist attacks, electoral setbacks and even a mysterious virus. Standing Tall captures the transformation of a political leader, evolving from a Prime Minister with a touch of naivety to a hard-nosed strategist. He would introduce some of the country's most controversial policies, including the foreign talent scheme and formula for ministerial salaries, while advancing a kinder and gentler Singapore with the likes of MediFund and Edusave.In this second of two volumes, Goh revealed for the first time the closed-door deliberations between him and Lee when gossips surfaced over the perceived impropriety in the latter's purchase of a Nassim Jade property; the turmoil he went through taking on Ong Teng Cheong during the last months of his presidency, and his angry reactions when writer Catherine Lim mocked him publicly.The unchartered post-Cold War world which Goh stepped into posed challenges to the new leader, yet he not only cemented but also expanded Singapore's global space and stature. Along the way, he overcame hurdles from Bill Clinton's administration, exchanged quips with Nelson Mandela, and even saved Li Peng from a possibly severe heart attack.This sequel is written by author and journalist Peh Shing Huei, who also penned Tall Order: The Goh Chok Tong Story, Volume 1.