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MOSCOW : Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has said that staying committed to having a clean government, and always making sure it has a contingency plan are some of the reasons behind Singapore's success.
He said this at a question and answer session with the students of Russia's first business school, the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo.
The session went on for over one and a half hours, with students asking Mr Lee a wide array of questions - starting from his experience in leading the people while serving in the government, to the future of the world's economy.
One question that interested the Russians was Minister Mentor Lee's experience in fighting corruption, which is a problem in Russia.
Mr Lee said: "How did we achieve that? First by making people understand that unless we are exceptional, we will not survive. We have no oil, no gas, but we have (the) biggest petrol refining and petrol chemical complex in the whole of the region.
"All the major companies are there - why? (It is because of) stability, security of their investments, efficiency and certainty."
Minister Mentor Lee was also asked whether he played a role in helping his son Lee Hsien Loong to become Singapore's prime minister.
He replied: "I did not appoint my son, I appointed somebody else (as) prime minister, who was my successor, and he stayed in the job for 14 years, and he chose my son to be his deputy. I did not arrange that."
Minister Mentor Lee also talked about the tactics he used to achieve success.
He said: "I always take a decision where if it fails, I got an exit route - that is a first principle I have. Take an option which is not a dead end; if it is a dead end, then you are in trouble. If that option fails, you must have plan B."
Meanwhile, Minister Mentor Lee has met with Oleg Deripaska, CEO of top Russian investment company Basic Element, in Moscow.
At their meeting, both men discussed developments in Russia, and the impact of the financial crisis.
The two are expected to meet again in Singapore next week, when Mr Deripaska attends the Russia-Singapore Business Forum.
Mr Lee is in Moscow as part of a week-long trip to Europe.
During his last day in Moscow, Minister Mentor Lee will also meet with Russian journalists before departing for Singapore on Wednesday. - CNA/ms
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