While Lee Kuan Yew's stunningly frank, if blunt, remarks about regional leaders and politicians may have ruffled some diplomatic feathers, they provide an immensely interesting glimpse into the mind of the octogenarian autocrat nonetheless.

In his opinion, the Thais are ‘corrupt' and Laos is an ‘outpost' for China that faithfully feeds Beijing with the content of Asean meetings. Meanwhile, Burma's junta leaders are ‘stupid and dense', and Cambodia's political system is too personalised around Prime Minister Hun Sen.