Why Singapore today?
Saturday, July 12th, 2008 | 6:58 pm @ SK
I’m a no fan of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, however for the tiny little red dot to go this far, part of the credit must go to him.
At a dialogue session at the Economic Society of Singapore, he said Singapore has become successful and earned the respect of the world community today because it has been governed by able leaders who have high integrity and are not corrupted.
"Singapore progressed well until today because it had been managed by dedicated leaders who had a high sense of honor and level of integrity, honesty and competency and were not corrupted," he said.
The keywords are honor, integrity, honesty, competency and not corrupted.
Doesn’t matter the conversation was done at the expense of the neighboring countries, especially when leadership crisis is a stark issue in our homeland.
July 12th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/359802/1/.html
MM Lee upbeat about Singapore’s growth prospect
Barring any serious global recession, Mr Lee said Singapore could achieve growth of up to 7 or 8 per cent over the next 10 years.
The optimism sprang from the evolving economic landscape as Singapore adjusts itself to stay competitive. However, in order to make progress, Singapore must have a first-class government.
Mr Lee said the current team will last for two terms, within which they will have to seek and groom talent with energy and integrity.
He said: "The system is there, but the system cannot run with inadequate, mediocre men; you need top men, able men to choose able people to join you, to make sure that at every level you have the most able, the most meritocratic (people) in charge.
"So what is it (that) we are trying to do for the opposition? We are not trying to block them, we are trying to force them to collect a group of MPs or candidates that will equal us in integrity and competence, so that when the time comes, if we fail, they have a team that is equal to us, who can take over."
On whether liberal democracy is needed to bring about economic success, Mr Lee said different people seek different solutions to problems. What Singapore is doing is to create a system which will have the strongest team in place to lead.
Minister Mentor Lee said: "We are not stupid people, they give us all these advice… International Bar Association, human rights, whatever it is. Who are they, what are they? Have you run a country? Have you ever done a community and created jobs for them, gave them a life? We have, and we know what it requires."
One requirement is to continue to attract foreign talent, integrate them and build up Singapore’s labour force.
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July 12th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Yeah,he is right to say that Singapore was governed by able,uncorrupted and delicated people whereas it was the other way round here.Look at our Pak Lah.He is such sober person and it is a shame that he still wants to cling to the post when the economy is in such a mess.He should quit now rather than to wait until 2010.
July 12th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I think Singapore is strong in every way and there is a lot we can learn from them.
Do not treat them as a competitor we are not up to the level.