The two hard years in Malaysia ending in expulsion gave Singapore leaders an angst to put to good use in subsequent nation-building. Without it they might not have set about their task with such a vengeance, nor taken such desperate measures in the name of national survival. The British East of Suez withdrawal targeting their Far Eastern base at Singapore struck a further blow at the new nation's viability. But at the same time, it galvanized the fighting spirit of Singapore leaders who went on to rally their people all the more. “Students of history know,” Lee said, “that the destiny of a people is not preordained. It is not predetermination but determination which decides what happens to a people.”

The post-colonial landscape in Asia and Africa was strewn with the wreckage of states which have failed. These failed states provided a lesson for Lee. As he observed:

Clearly, the economy would be very high on Lee's agenda. In fact, the above statement was made in a speech delivered in April 1971, only about six years into independence after Malaysia, and with a track record already set up. As well as the economy, education and defence would also have high priority. In the same speech, Lee spoke of “the ingredients of success” in nation-building as “First, a stable political situation. Second, a well trained and educated population … Third, ability to attract higher-level technology industries. Fourth, better standards of life, and in a cleaner, greener, and more gracious Singapore. Fifth, the competence of our defence forces to ensure that no one believes he can just walk in and take over what we have created and built”.