Two Less Lions In Lion City

From Left - Goh Chok Tong and Lee Kuan Yew

There will be two less lions at the Lion City's top political table from this moment forward. Both MM Lee Kuan Yew and SM Goh Chok Tong has decide to retire from Cabinet and focus their efforts soley on their constituencies.

According to the Straits Times they described the very recent General Election as a 'watershed' one and that 'they have decided to leave the Cabinet and have a 'completely younger team of ministers connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of Singapore.'

"We have studied the new political situation and thought how it can affect the future. We have made our contributions to the development of Singapore. The time has come for a younger generation to carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation. The Prime Minister and his team of younger leaders should have a fresh clean slate. A younger generation, besides having a non-corrupt and meritocratic government and a high standard of living, wants to be more engaged in the decisions which affect them. After a watershed general election, we have decided to leave the cabinet and have a completely younger team of ministers to connect to and engage with this young generation in shaping the future of our Singapore.
But the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation. This generation who has contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after."

While it is timely to pay tribute to both men for their stewardship of Singapore, the political tide has changed somewhat and their resignations reflect this new reality.

There is need for the PAP to reinvent itself after being re elected by the smallest margin since independence.

The younger people of Singapore do not respond to the pleas for 'nation building' in the same way as their parents once did.  They expect the government to be more responsive to their basic needs, such as housing and jobs and to listen to their criticisms.

MM Lee Kuan Yew is now 87 and SM Goh Chok Tong a sprightly 69.  Both have once again shown astute political judgement in their decision to resign from cabinet, although I very much suspect that behind the scenes their opinion will still be sought.

Related articles

• Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, Goh Chok Tong to Leave Cabinet (businessweek.com)
• Singapore Founder Lee to Quit Cabinet (online.wsj.com)

Dr M

Dr.M

History has a sense of repeating itself as does Dr Mahathir Mohamad.  Lee Kuan Yew writes something and Dr M attacks it.

A couple of recent items in the Malaysia online journals confirmed that there has been yet another "episode of the antiquated drama in the battle of the octogenarians”.

The good doctor has apparently accused MM of being an  iron-clad ruler.  A bit rich I would have thought from someone with a man who himself has been accused of being a despot and using national security as a veil to jail dissidents, under the law which provides for detention without trial.

As I have stated in the past one can only judge both men on what they have achieved.  When Singapore and Malaysia split the value of their currency was at par.  Now it takes 2.4 Malaysian Ringgit to  purchase 1 Singapore dollar so it is easy to see which economy is stronger; despite the fact that Singapore has none of the natural resources that are so abundant in Malaysia.

The Mamak of Kerala (as Dr Mahathir Mohamad is known in some circles) nearly brought Bolehland to its knees in the late 1990's when large sums of investment failed to bring tangible results.

The term 'Bolehland' is one used by Malays to describe this period. Boleh means “able” or “can do” in Malay. The “Malaysia Boleh” campaign was launched to bolster national self-esteem.

Minister Mentor

It  has its parallels in the government run campaigns that Singapore such as the "National Courtesy Campaign", but the Malaysian versions have thus far failed to spark the same results.  This is a great pity as I am fond of Malaysia and Malaysians but I am no fan of Malaysian-style politics.

Dr. M also refutes any suggestion that Singapore has anything to fear from Malaysia: "Lee Kuan Yew’s fear of Singapore being invaded by Malaysia is completely unfounded”.

That may be the case now but the Little Red Dot's envious neighbours has harboured such thoughts in the past.

Singapore spends five to six per cent of GDP (gross domestic product) on defence each year and to my eyes this seems like a very prudent investment.

Meanwhile some in the US are questioning the close education alliances between their universities and Singapore.  The tertiary tie-up between Duke and NUS is well known and has brought tangible benefits to both.

Critics within another ivy league university, Yale, are orchestrating a campaign to keep it out of Singapore.

Citing a  lack of human rights "the best American traditions of free speech", they claim that the name of Yale will be sullied by an association with a country that does not have the same degree of press freedom and open debate.

I don't believe that Duke has suffered from its Singaporean venture and I cannot see how Yale will.  As to the article's direct assertion that Singapore has a "jailhouse torture" perhaps they should look at punishment metered out in US prisons?

There is a death penalty in Singapore and it curbs the spread of drugs most effectively.  While homosexuality is officially banned, there would appear to be more tolerance that the Yale article tries to make out.  I suspect that the writer has never lived in Singapore?

As a former Yale Alumnus and Singaporean wrote in response: "Singapore and Singaporeans emphasize different values, and that this whole Yale-NUS proposal has shown up the gulf that exists between our conceptions of the good".

This is the crux of the argument.  How can you judge a country if you have never visited it or better still, lived in it?

I have visited the States several time and lived in Singapore.  For my money Singapore has a definite edge, both in terms of affluence and a more integrated society.  It may not be perfect but what place is? 

At least in Singapore I did not come across war veterans eating out of rubbish bins as I did in the streets of San Francisco.

Related articles

• Singapore Passing Malaysia 45 Years After Lee's Tears (businessweek.com)
• Sodomy charges were a set-up (theage.com.au)
• Malaysia Tries to Shift Its Economy (online.wsj.com)

Flabby Old Men?

The latest revelations from Wikileaks is very much in peoples minds and they are causing huge embarrassment for the States.
While MM is renown for his straight talking on any subject, I think he will be very displeased to see a private conversation about the North Korean leader being aired across the Net. The Guardian has the full text of the communication posted on its web site.  If you read the memorandum in entirety it would seem to me to be a frank and fairly astute assessment of the political machinations of North Korea and the perspective of China.
"The next leader may not have the gumption or the bile of his father or grandfather. He may not be prepared to see people die like flies. China is calculating all this. They have their best men on the job. They want to help the United States to advance common objectives. But they do not want the South to take over the North, MM Lee said"

The Light Left Behind

When a great woman dies, for years the light she leaves behind her, lies on the paths of men
(paraphrasing) Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Today, and with considerable sadness, I record the passing of one of Singapore's greatest pioneers, Madam Kwa Geok Choo.

In his autobiography, Lee Kwan Yew acknowledged her enormous contribution and support.  She was his sounding board and intellectual equal.

As Minister Mah Bow Tan records: "She was so much a part of our history, our progress, development as a nation. And yet she chose to stay out of the limelight deliberately.

"She was always behind the scenes; I will always remember her every time I see her with (Minister Mentor Lee); she's always next to MM.

"She will be talking to him, advising him, guiding him, sometimes she would gently chide him. But she was always there to support him, always loving him." 

The condolence letters from the President of Singapore S.R. Nathan and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong are particularly poignant.

Ordinary Singaporeans have taken time out of their busy lives to queue and pay their respects as this photo gallery and video record.   

Madam Kwa Geok Choo's dedication, sense of duty and the manner in which she conducted herself will always be cherished by the Nation.

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