3/23/2012

Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize

This is the latest initiative from the city state that has yet to become a country. It is most appropriate and complementary to have a city giving out a city prize. This prize would eventually be as famous as the Nobel Peace Prize for recognizing talented people across the world for their contribution in city management. It would put the city state in the world map of recognizable names and another first for the city.

This is the kind of initiative and creativity that this city needs, not paying money to change a name and then have a change a mind and change back to the original name. Money must be well spent.

The famous Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, is in the city to receive the honour on behalf of New York City, or is it on behalf of himself. The publicity value to have Bloomberg here, and got printed all over American and other international papers is really worth it.

Below is a quote from the official website of the LKY World City Prize.

‘The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize is a biennial international award that honours outstanding contributions towards the creation of vibrant, liveable and sustainable urban communities around the world. It recognises individuals and organisations responsible for urban initiatives that display foresight, good governance or innovation in tackling the many urban challenges faced by cities. …
The Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Laureate will be presented with an award certificate, a gold medallion and a cash prize of S$300,000, sponsored by Keppel Corporation.’

Now which other third world country aspiring to be first world would want to create another prize in a similar vein? It is not easy to copy the act though. First they need to be first world and have the personality to lift the prize in high honour so that recipients will feel honoured to be honoured.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

The sheer hubris is beyond belief.

Believing in your own bullshit has reached a new level.

Anonymous said...

I just laughed so hard. Shouldn't it be the other way round?!

In chinese is called "zhan guang"!
Bloomberg wouldn't have bothered to come if the flight tickets are not paid for.

Anonymous said...

Why is Keppel Corp wasting shareholder money?

Anonymous said...

Before Japan crashed in the 1990s, LDP bureaucrats were bootlicking and on spending spree on US.

RafflesSing bought expensive US army planes, toxic US investment bank shares, pricey US bonds,.....and now give OldMan Trophy.
How the scholars are the same.

Anonymous said...

Well, if tis gets one a little fame abroad, it is a small price to pay.
Imagine the Name last longer, known further and wider.
It's all for posterity, but, what is posterity worth when the Name cause some to puke?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

I think it is great. I'm not a Keppel Corp shareholder, so I don't give a fuck...let them double the prize money for all I care.

However I do like good "hotels" -- which serve a fundamental role for PT's -- who have no emotional ties to any particular place. However, wherever you go, you still have to have a good life. Hotel Singapore is an excellent place.

To me, the "gold standard" is Manhattan, NYC and it is befitting that The Big Apple won. I have such fond memories of a previous life in the vibrant Tribeca area.

C'mon folks, how about a little more positiveness? Singapore can now claim to award other cities in other cuntrees with a prestigious prize.

Damn "big time" if you ask me...

Anonymous said...

Just throw your money around and everyone will come and praise you.

Anonymous said...

Why not naming it as Singapore City Prize or David Marshall Prize etc.

How many does he wants.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

anon 901:

You hit the nail. The world loves winners, not losers.

Oprah used to giveaway cars and all sorts of expensive stuff...and the people loved her. If she ran for US President, she would clean sweep the election.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

New York's welfare queens alive, well, kicking and unapologetic. "Gimme my Obama bucks!

Anonymous said...

Wait till you hear about the ultimate LKY Temple Idol Prize - $1million put up by a well known Singapore temple for the most iconic carving of LKY!

Saycheese

jjgg said...

Animal Kingdom Folklore::: ant telling elephant he's big n beautiful...what does it do to the ant? What does it do to the elephant? The greater joke is Bloomberg even bothered...How about an RB award....somebody will definitely turn up!

jjgg said...

Animal Kingdom Folklore::: ant telling elephant he's big n beautiful...what does it do to the ant? What does it do to the elephant? The greater joke is Bloomberg even bothered...How about an RB award....somebody will definitely turn up!

Anonymous said...

Not only will some puke on hearing the Name, many swear, curse and throw expletives each time the Name is mentioned. That is how good the Name is now and will be.

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure Bloomberg did not fly into town just to pick up the prize.

There are probably some other meetings not reported in the news... but interesting enough for Bloomberg to make the time to fly here.