He Put Something in Our Mouths... Willingness
-
MM Lee says S'pore has done well because it pays top money for talent
By Augustine Anthuvan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 23 January 2008 2344 hrs
Singapore's success story figured prominently at the recently concluded Global Competitiveness Forum in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who was the keynote speaker, attributed this to Singapore's willingness to pay for quality leadership.
Over 1,400 delegates came to listen and paid special tribute to MM Lee, who's hailed as the architect of Singapore's success story.
Mr Lee, however, said it was a team effort, with able thinkers and doers helping to build the Singapore of today.
Hence, the theme of attracting and retaining talent was a central theme during his hour-long session.
On board a flight returning from Riyadh, Mr Lee was asked how to enable Singapore to stay successful for the next 40 years.
"Because we have done well for the last 42 years is no guarantee that we'll do well in the next 42 years. We have done well because we have been different from our surrounding (neighbours). We are transparent, we are not corrupt, and that gives an enormous advantage for performance as well as investments. And we are meritocratic; we pay top money for top talent, both local and foreign. In other words we have quality people right on top," said Mr Lee.
On Saudi Arabia, Mr Lee said the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology led by Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi is an example of the right approach to getting talent.
MM Lee said: "He (Ali Al-Naimi) is a well connected man who has been around the world. He has this vision of a high level R&D centre (for) scientific research which he will seed with lots of talented foreign faculty and students. He has told me that he has selected 170 students, of which only about 60 are Saudis and nearly 100 are foreigners.
"He has a grasp of what it takes to build a research university. He has interviewed over 100 presidents of colleges and universities, and chosen Shih Choon Fong. We are happy to have him join them, it reflects creditably on us."
Professor Shih was president of National University of Singapore from the year 2000 to 2008. - CNA /ls -
... to be more accurate, it should be EXPENSIVE leadership... -
I surely didn't agree to the astronomical pay rise.
I wonder what percentage of Singaporeans actually had a say in their pay rise. -
66% remember?
-
Doh!!Originally posted by Lin Yu:66% remember?
How stupid of me.
I suppose it's the 66% who agreed to the 7% GST and the $5.00 ERP charges.
Like what OxyMush said, it's the majority that counts.
There is no minority rights. -
... COOL! I like the nick you made for old Oxy... OxyMush..!Originally posted by maurizio13:Doh!!
How stupid of me.
I suppose it's the 66% who agreed to the 7% GST and the $5.00 ERP charges.
Like what OxyMush said, it's the majority that counts.
There is no minority rights. -
Originally posted by HyperFocal:... COOL! I like the nick you made for old Oxy... OxyMush..!
-
er. majority are kum lan?Originally posted by maurizio13:Doh!!
How stupid of me.
I suppose it's the 66% who agreed to the 7% GST and the $5.00 ERP charges.
Like what OxyMush said, it's the majority that counts.
There is no minority rights. -
maybe majority (66.6%) regret liao...
btw, i think the majority should suck the minority's c-ock or CB