Two days ago, I googled for a Singapore's community site to post birthday greetings to our Singapore Founding Father Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and chanced upon this site.
Emailed my friend Joyce Tan yesterday to share her insights in this forum and appended below is excerpts of her response and the article she would like to share with everyone:
When I was a little child, we live in a small rented flat in Toa Payoh. My parents could only afford to buy chicken and new clothings/shoes for the children during Chinese New Year. Never tasted prawns before during my childhood days. My dad cycled to work everyday, regardless of the weather....no TV, fridge, washing machine, telephone.....Due to the foresight and leadership of MM Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore was transformed from a poor, smelly, chaotic country into one of the cleanest, safest, richest, and most efficient big cities in the world. I and my family are grateful for the vision shown by our beloved wise leader and the PAP for the harmonious and wonderful lives we now lead... Many people from other countries still have to go overseas to work as labourers to earn a living...
http://www.articlediscovery.com/blog/2007/02/09/leadership-in-singapore-lee-kuan-yew/
While watching a Discovery Channel presentation of The History of Singapore a few days ago I was once again impressed about the vast difference in results that are obtained by visionary leadership.
One of the great leaders of the 20th century was Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minster of Singapore from 1965 until 1990. Under Mr Lee’s leadership Singapore was transformed from being a sleepy third world island nation with rather dismal prospects of even surviving as a city nation state into a thriving Asian tiger economy.
How was this accomplished? Can the effort be duplicated by larger more populated nations?
The answer to the first question is that from the beginning of Lee Kuan Yew’s term in office he insisted that whatever economic activity that Singapore engaged in must make economic sense and rather quickly make profits. He insisted that Singapore find it’s own way and not blindly follow in the footsteps of other nations. Thus while Singapore was in many ways run as a socialist society the state owned enterprises had to quickly prove themselves by being profitable.
An example of this is Singapore Airlines. Singapore Airlines was profitable against all odds because even thought state owned it made it’s own rules for operating and frequently did things totally out of the ordinary compared to airline industry norms.
Singapore replaced it’s aircraft fleet far earlier in the operation cycle compared to other airlines. And people the world over preferred to fly on Singapore Airlines because for one thing it’s fleet was fresh and extremely well maintained.
The cabin crews were trained longer than at other airlines. They were young, attractive, could speak several languages, and attentive. The “Singapore Girl” with their excellent service became the standard for excellence in the airline industry.
Another example of Lee Kuan Yew’s enlightened leadership is that while the majority of housing in Singapore was build by state owned enterprises rental of the properties was discouraged. Instead the apartments were sold to Singapore residents and the decline so often seen in the condition of state owned rental properties worldwide was completely avoided. The new home owners took pride in their homes, their communities, and in Singapore.Â
Lee Kuan Yew knew that to attract world leaders in business to set up operations in Singapore you needed a well trained disciplined work force, a friendly business regulatory environment, the free exchange and ability to repatriate currencies, English speaking workers, and a viable banking system and good infrastructure, especially in transportation and communications. With great foresight and careful planning all of these things were provided by Singapore.
Can Singapore’s and Lee Kuan Yew’s example be followed by other nations? Of course, it is possible, even on a much larger scale. But first you need excellent enlightened leadership.
Unfortunately, the world of today seems to have a critical shortage of qualified leadership along with enough competent bureaucrats to help plan and to oversee the implementation of the necessary efficient government infrastructure.
In order for economic development to take place that is up to the standard set by Singapore you must not politicize the development process. Ministers and high ranking bureaucrats must be empowered because of their competence, not their political connections. Witness the mess that the US has made out of their occupation of Iraq to see the truth behind that statement.
Today Dubai, UAE is probably the world’s leading center for new economic development. I feel certain that Dubai’s leaders spent a considerable amount of time researching the progress made by Singapore under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew.
me from joo chiat and geyland area, my Dad told me last time very nice, kampong kampong, all neighbours very friendly, no need to lock doors, no foreigners disturb, no PRC gals or pros around, everyday hv fun, adults and childrens play together, dun hv to worry about tomorrow, parents gives birth to lots of childrens, like a big family. No stress, no pay and pay everytime. no myopia, no rich and poor differences, no ERP, no HDB, no chemical plant and foods, not much exhaust fumes as less cars, everynite all sleep peacefully.
Then one day, a poor guy who came back as a lawyer from Cam bridge start to talk to my Daddy and his buddies, from then on..all slowly changed, the lawyer become richer n richer, daddy have pay n pay, then they start to chase away people in the kampong and ask them to sign debt to buy new HDB, not free meh?? Then all of us hv to start paying income and business tax, then foreigner come in, then prc gals seduce our Uncles, then ERP goes up, then my granddaddy refuse to buy HDB and instead get a lawyer from India to protect our land, he refuse to bulge to the guy from cam bridge to surrender his land, so now me shake legs and be boss, thanks to my clever granddaddy and PAP
Little angel.........when I was abroad, not only do I have to lock the door, I have to make sure that the security alarm is working too. I didn't dare to walk alone on the street after 7pm..
It is no wonder that my neighbours intend to bring their children to remote villages in China in December.... My neighbours have the foresight to see the importance of inculcating the right values and postive mindset in their children...The children voluntarily emptied their piggy bank to help survivors of the Si Chuan earthquake victims in May......
Originally posted by Hua.jiamin:Little angel.........when I was abroad, not only do I have to lock the door, I have to make sure that the security alarm is working too. I didn't dare to walk alone on the street after 7pm..
It is no wonder that my neighbours intend to bring their children to remote villages in China in December.... My neighbours have the foresight to see the importance of inculcating the right values and postive mindset in their children...The children voluntarily emptied their piggy bank to help survivors of the Si Chuan earthquake victims in May......
when did you watch the singapore history on discovery channel? recently? or did you just conveniently `slot' this bit part into your saccharine sweet praise of the ol' man?
fyi, that program on discovery channel is a paid informercial by the singapore taxpayers to glorify the nation.
i get instant diabetes reading your post above. no wonder i need to leave this island.
What was written are part one of the sin city.
The old man have done a good job for 1st 20 years with his team.
But, he is unable to introduce more capable people to make the city a better place for the people cos he have decided that he have to manage it like a china dynasty, which is to pass his throne to his son.
His son was brought up under the special environment and was unable to empathise with the normal challenge of sin city life.
I guess he have never tasted mee siam.
He was more interested in gaining more profit from the golden goose that milked his whole family clan. (Free medicine, flying SIA 1st aid plane, "fixed" scholarship for himself and his son)
The limited capability of his team is very evident in the inability to resolve a ping pong conflict and FT housing in SG.
Did I say I watched the program on discovery channel, redDUST?
It was an article that my friend Joyce shared in her response to my email.
Originally posted by Hua.jiamin:Did I say I watched the program on discovery channel, redDUST?
It was an article that my friend Joyce shared in her response to my email.
ok, sorry...then your friend joyce gave me instant diabetes. so you suka suka cut and paste for what? what is your point?
....damn....gotta go for my insulin shot again...
I am sure folks in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan have the same thinking as you.
One comment, 大家真是活在ç¦�ä¸ä¸�知ç¦�...
Without PM Lee Hsien Loong and his current team, do you think Singapore, a small nation without any natural resources, could continue to thrive and survive regionally and globally?
Leaving this forum......
Best wishes to everyone.....
Salute to Singapore and our wise leaders....
One track mind. Lee Kuan Yew is not indispensable. Lee Kuan Yew is not indispensable. PAP is not indispensable.
Those who are against democracy, love oppression, nepotism, iron fist rule, will love LKY and keep singing his praise. These are the people who love to live in the fence.
There are other great men that are more worthy to be admired.
Originally posted by Hua.jiamin:One comment, 大家真是活在ç¦�ä¸ä¸�知ç¦�...
Without PM Lee Hsien Loong and his current team, do you think Singapore, a small nation without any natural resources, could continue to thrive and survive regionally and globally?
Leaving this forum......
Best wishes to everyone.....
Salute to Singapore and our wise leaders....
Stop imposing your views and so on on others. YOu want to sing LKY praises don't expect everyone to do that. Lackey.
This lackey has failed in his effort to convince people to sing praises of the evil dictator and made up his mind to leave this forum.
Good luck. Hope u find a common voice in the website of PAP>
Originally posted by Hua.jiamin:One comment, 大家真是活在ç¦�ä¸ä¸�知ç¦�...
Without PM Lee Hsien Loong and his current team, do you think Singapore, a small nation without any natural resources, could continue to thrive and survive regionally and globally?
Leaving this forum......
Best wishes to everyone.....
Salute to Singapore and our wise leaders....
LOL kkthxbye