Remembering Lee Kuan Yew

Channel News Asia ran a full day programme on LKY and many people related many encounters with him to show the different aspects of him as a leader and as a man. Under his watch, it was all about Singaporeans, jobs for Singaporeans, homes for Singaporeans. He was obsessed with creating not just jobs, but good jobs, and not just homes but good homes for Singaporeans. There are still many good jobs being created today, and many good homes built. Somehow they are not going to Singaporeans but foreigners, especially those CEO positions. Whenever one is vacant, the joker’s first response was to look around the world for a foreigner. And many good homes are now the homes of foreigners, practically whole condo or development could be bought over and occupied by foreigners and become foreign enclaves. You would not believe you are in Singapore when you stepped into them.

Briefly I saw this clip on TV about LKY saying that he expected every button that he pushed to work. And if any button did not work, then someone would be in serious trouble or would lose his job. That was the kind of demanding and high standards he set for the whole govt. He did not go around saying he was unhappy about jobs badly done and hoped that they would improve or be done better. Wimps would say such things. Can’t imagine what he would do if he is still in the seat and seeing the deplorable state of the mrt. Just cannot imagine.

What kind of standard are we setting today? Or was there any standard expected? I remember those days in Mindef. LKY was one of the consumers of our reports, in fact the most important consumer. And our reports going out to the cabinet, with him on top of the list, must be as perfect as they could be. No mistakes, not even a missing comma or a full stop. Don’t ever dare to put out any report with typo or factual errors. It was unforgiveable. That was the kind of professionalism expected and that was the standard kept, to please him.

There was one of those days, our reports, after being vetted and vetted and cleared for print and delivery, were on their way to the cabinet ministers. The phone rang and an anxious voice came over. ‘Stop the report, there was a comma missing!’ His voice was shaking. Too late, the reports would have reached the ministries by then, and the Istana as well, and could be on the desk of the ministers and the desk of LKY. All the staff was ordered to call the minister’s PAs to intercept the report. A few minutes went past and several frantic calls made in quick succession.

Phew, we made it. The reports were stopped at the PAs and the drivers were despatched with a new set of reports, error amended, and to retrieve the earlier reports on the way. It might seem obsessive, but it was a very high standard demanded and to be maintained at all times with no compromise. Not only LKY was reading it, Goh Keng Swee too would not tolerate sloppiness. Everyone lived up to that kind of task masters. He demanded perfection, we delivered perfection. 

That was my close encounter with the man, and my fingers could have been burnt. There were many trips to the Istana and every time a tense moment, making sure every small detail was in order. Fortunately nothing untoward happened during my watch.

What is happening today is unbelieveable. Everything is like a friendly game with little or no consequence. Mistake, never mind, try to do it better the second time, or the third time or the fourth time. Making mistakes is human for human. Not then, when human are expected to be perfect human or inhuman. There was no room for error dealing with this man if you want to keep your job.

It is happy times today, happy hours all round. A new normal has taken over. Maybe that is the reason why foreigners are needed to do a better job when Singaporeans no longer able to.

7 days to end my crowdfuning for my book

Hi,

7 days left before I wrap up this crowdfunding project for Mysingaporenews Collection book. As it stood the order book is not healthy. I will have to decide to proceed or not by the end of March.

This book is not an ego trip and I started it in response to several requests for it. Unless there is a demand for it, that the book serves some purpose, I may have to decide otherwise or if I can find a sponsor for it.

One more week to decide and depending on the orders coming in.

Cheers

Redbean

A Tribute to Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

By MIKOspace

Obituary

  

LEE KUAN YEW

[16.9-1923 – 23.3.2015]

First Prime Minister of Singapore (1965-1990);

Global Statesman, Visionaire Extraordinaire,

Nation Builder, Community Integrator,

People’s Leader, Democratic Socialist,

Ardent Socialist, Pragmatic Capitalist,

Cautious Democrat, Fearless Corporatist,

Friendly to all Nations,

Champion of Workers, Friend of Business,

Advocate of Tripartite Social Dialogue,

Social Peace-maker with Justice,

Anti-Corruption, Anti-Communist,

Builder of Racial Harmony;

Unshakeable Multi-racialist and Multi-culturist,

Builder of Public Housing;

Defender of the Weak, Poor and Vulnerable,

A Family Man;

Grandfather, Father, Husband, Lover, Brother, Uncle,

Friend of the Environment;

Garden City Initiator, Clean and Green Ambassador,

The Father of Singapore;

Without Lee Kuan Yew, there is No Singapore.

A Decent Human Being.

  

Read Original here.

A chapter closed, a new chapter begins

Singapore marks today as the end of an era dominated by the presence of LKY. Singapore will celebrate SG50 in honour of him in August. He left his mark and it is a deserving ending to a good time, to the golden years. What is left for Singapore is to wish that the next 50 years will be just as golden but not like the phrase ‘all that glitters is not gold’.
 
On the other side of the causeway there is also a new beginning. The Sultan of Johore will be crowned today and there will be a grand celebration in a different way. And a day prior to his coronation, the Sultan has invited our PM to visit him and have tea and decide on ways to go forward for the good of people from both sides of the causeway.
Singaporeans should be grateful that the Sultan of Johore is building new residential estates for Singaporeans to escape from the exorbitant prices of homes in the city state. Where on earth can you find a head of state from a neighbouring country doing just that? It is a very generous gesture that Singaporeans should take note of and reciprocate. Just hope the federal govt will not levy more taxes and impose more rules that make buying homes and living in Johore less attractive and not worth the trouble. Putting that aside, Singapore and Johore can build a symbiotic relationship for the benefits of both states and their people. Ya, win win for all.
 
There is a breath of fresh air in the new Sultan. He is pro development and pro good Singapore Johore relations. He can see how both sides can reap all the rewards in moving ahead together, with more cooperation instead of unproductive bickerings.
 
A new era has dawned on both sides of the causeway starting on 23 Mar 15 with promises of more golden years if both sides are positive, say and do all the right things. The sun is shining bright after a long and wet downpour last night. Good signs for a fresh new start.

Lee Kuan Yew – 1923 to 2015

Another titan of post war 20th Century departs early this morning, at 3.18am official time. Not many of these giants of the late 20th Century are left now. After LKY perhaps only Kissinger is the one left alone to hold the fort in an era of great changes to rebuild nations after WW2, the struggles for independence and economic reconstruction and growth. And there was the big contest between the forces of West against Communism, the Cold War and détente and the rise of China. These were the events that consumed much of the time and life of the titans of the post war years as the 20th Century gave way to the 21st.
 
LKY and Kissinger were two of the men that were thickly involved in the happenings of world politics involving China and the USA. Now only one is left standing. The departure of LKY will put an end to an era with the final curtains drawing to a close, and a new beginning in Singapore. Before the new pages are filled, world leaders would descend upon this little island paradise to show their respect to one of the last few movers and shakers of the 20th century.
 
The SG50 Celebration will go on as planned without the architect that makes it possible. He would not be there to soak in the atmosphere like he used to do in every National Day Parade. There would probably be a minute of silence in his memory. After the party is over, it will be a real new beginning, the dawn of a new era for Singapore, a Southeast Asia without the shadow Lee Kuan Yew. And world leaders may not be seen at the Istana that often, looking for the oracle to see into the future and to be enlightened by a dose of his wisdom.
 
There is a lightness in the air, when dust returns to dust. The city state will take one week to mourn the departure of its first Prime Minister, the man credited to be the founder of modern Singapore.