The last programme I wrote was a Sudoku solver in C++ several years ago, so I’m out of date. My children are in IT, two of them – both graduated from MIT. One of them browsed a book and said, “Here, read this”. It said “Haskell – learn you a Haskell for great good”, and one day that will be my retirement reading.

This quote was by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore in April 2015. I must say I think the Western governments could be more effective with more scientists, engineers and coders in positions of power

His father was the first and long time Prime Minister of Singapore – Lee Kuan Yew

Another quote from the speech

40 years ago, after doing a math degree, I went on to study computer science, on my father’s advice. He said there is a future in that, and he was right. So for the Smart Nation Programme Office, I have put Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in charge, reporting to me. Vivian is both a hacker and a dabbler – He used to be an eye surgeon but since he does not get to operate on eyes nowadays, he dabbles in building simple robots, assembling watches, wireless devices and programming apps. His day job is to be the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, and so when he builds apps, he uses the real time APIs generated by the Ministry.

It is useful to have governments around the world with different priorities. While the USA has turned against science and engineering in many ways others can pick up the slack. The USA had for decades been firmly in the position of promoting science and engineering. And the results of that are still blessing the USA with economic benefits including the wonderful results of silicon valley and far flung software development throughout the country.

Singapore can improve but they sure do many things well. And the sense to continue supporting science, engineering and emerging technology will benefit them economically as we move into a world where those fields only grow in importance.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong made the source code, the exe file, and a sample printout available after asked being asked about it online.

Related: If Tech Companies Made Sudoku – China’s Technology Savvy Leadership (2008) – Scientific Illiteracy (USA lead Singapore in this undesirable trait) – Math Education Results Show China, Singapore, Korea and Japan Leading