Former president Suharto - who ruled Indonesia for over three decades - died on Sunday at the age of 86. His death comes more than three weeks after he was admitted to hospital with heart, lung and kidney problems. straitstimes.com correspondent Imelda Saad speaks with former ST Indonesian Bureau Chief Derwin Peraira and political observer Dr Aris Ananta from the Institute of Southeast Asia Studies on Mr Suharto's life and legacy.

Former Straits Times Indonesian Bureau Chief Derwin Pereira speaks from Washington on Mr Suharto's legacy, his turbulent rule and the final years leading to the former Indonesian President's downfall in 1998.

Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Dr Aris Ananta, says Mr Suharto changed Indonesia's economy dramatically when he took over in the 1960s. His downfall came when he got too confident and was influenced by his 'cronies'.

Dr Aris, himself an Indonesian, says people in Indonesia are a forgiving lot, and that what will be remembered of Mr Suharto in the long-term is his contribution to democracy and economic development in the country.

In his keynote address at the annual Singapore Tripartism Forum, former Manpower Minister Ng Eng Hen - now Education Minister - reflects on the importance of not 'protecting' workers here through a clampdown on the foreign worker quota and a high wage policy. He also elaborates on the way forward for Singapore's workforce.