I’ve read much the same. Post WWII it was a malarial hell-hole.
Here in the US we have no such excuse.
IMO, we don’t hate Congress enough for what it has done to destroy the American Dream.
The guy from Singapore, before I even mentioned why Singapore became so successful said “Yes - it is amazing. The number one reason is because he got rid of all of the corruption.”
Just like what Trump is trying to do now.