Book Review: Standing Tall and Tall Order
book review history singapore public administrationIn Standing Tall and Tall Order, former Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong shares “candid” interviews about his tenure and how the baton was passed over from the legendary nation builder Lee Kuan Yew to him. Goh is taller than Lee, but his political stature is comparatively smaller in size. The book is, of course, a part of Goh’s effort to build his own legacy. Despite its shortcomings, the book is an interesting resource for historians and Mr Peh, the author, writes clearly and succinctly. Unfortunately, it is not as eminently readable as other publications of the same genre, i.e., books written by persons associated with the Singapore establishment. Mr Peh writes with a distinctive Singaporean style, at once both factual and witty, bringing out the events without employing vivid imagery. Most Singaporean non fiction writers that I have read - Tommy Koh, S. Jayakumar, Lee Kuan Yew - seem to employ a similar style. Call it Establishment style perhaps, one that was forged in the British colonial curricula of the 1940s and 1950s, and inculcated in the burgeoning local elite.
Goh comes off as very one dimensional, even though anyone will tell you that no one of that stature would be a one dimensional, wooden person. Perhaps it may be attributed to Goh’s exclusive focus on his political tenure and nothing else. Mr Peh himself admits that at times it was awkward and warns the reader that nothing of Goh’s personal life will be revealed. Goh is also wont to make very lame puns, although that is arguable. Unfortunately, the book also refuses to admit or broach any regrets. If anything, and if there were any apologies or rueful reflections, it came off as patronizing and potentially self aggrandizing though in a pretentiously humble way. Goh repeatedly touts his strengths as a PM living and deciding on his own, attempting to break the narrative that he was living in the shadow of the older Lee, which is really unintuitive. We, for one, remain largely unconvinced. To call a spade a spade, Goh had done his part and led Singapore largely successfully, but to repeatedly say that he simply did not want to lead but had been chosen to was more than self-effacing. It sounded arrogant to us.
The events are interesting and make for good history. Throughout his 15 year tenure Goh and his government were routinely tested by unpredictable challenges. Goh walks through his political battles after evolving from a technocratic manager to a political leader. He talks about challenging political opponents, a hijacking, the Asian Financial Crisis, investigating the Lee family for a discounted purchase of a condominium, and the SARS pandemic - which was an eerie precursor to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In closing, the two-part book can be immensely boring if one is not interested in the details. Perhaps it was a function of the age - there were no extremely riveting events that occurred - which in and of itself portends good government. Good and stable government is boring. If a public good works, no one would complain. Politics can be interesting only if there is drama. However, the book does give insight into Goh as a political animal. He is self-effacing and demure, somewhat skittish when it comes to promoting himself. It is a veteran political skill. We may only speculate, but which person in politics would not want to present themselves in that way? Taken in this perspective, Goh must be recognized as a master of modern politics, which had evolved beyond the rough and ready era of Lee Kuan Yew. Increasingly sophisticated and increasingly engaging in sophistry, this class of the governing elite have become wordsmiths and adroit communicators with their ability to twist and turn.
Goh says, ultimately, that his fear is that good people will not step up to embrace the process of political renewal. But it is inevitable. Perhaps only an energetic leader will rise when there is chaos. In the absence of that, we will have to make do with the likes of Goh.