Daily Lesson from Life 15 August 2008

"Channel NewsAsia - Friday, August 15

The political problems faced by many countries in Asia can be traced back to two words: Money politics.

And the reason such troubles have not taken root here? There is no “money politics” in Singapore, and “we have a Division One team in charge”, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew last night.

In many Asian countries, money politics is simply the “code word” for buying votes to gain power, and after that is done, “to recover your expenses plus some profit for the next round of vote—buying”, said Mr Lee at the Tanjong Pagar 43rd National Day Celebration Dinner.

“One of the big problems they now face, in other countries, is the people in power want to reserve the money, keep it for themselves. So, they exclude young able people who want to join their team ...

“The result is, there is no talent inside the existing parties.”

In Singapore, we carefully select our candidates ... “Over the years, with each election, we see the quality of the MPs, their education levels, their competence, their abilities, their energy. “Their youthfulness is renewed and we have a leadership that’s able to meet the rising standards of the population,” said Mr Lee.

But today’s younger generation does not understand all this, the Minister Mentor said.

“They say, oh, let’s have multiparty politics. Let’s have different parties change and be in charge of the Government. Is it that simple? You vote in a Division Three government, not a Division One government, and the whole economy will just subside within three, four years. Finished.” "

This is a sensitive issue but nevertheless I will share my observations and the lessons that can be learned:

1. the head say we must have the BEST talents to govern as these few people will make decisions that will impact the nation's direction, rise and fall, etc. The heart say, do the voters feel that they are the BEST and that they REALLY care about the will of the governed? Notes: good qualification is just 1 criteria. Are they sincerely want to serve the people is key!;

2. the most difficult challenge for someone who has been consistently successful is to remind himself or herself that the most brilliant ideas do not just come from one or two persons. If we have a high powered team, each team member's input must be greater than the sum of 1 or 2 persons! Some of the ideas may be similar and some may be quite different. It is through shifting through the many ideas that we pick the 1 or 2 or 3 MOST suitable ideas for the time - be a short or long term ones;

3. how can those that are governing show that they are truly close to the voters and that they voters will NOT just pick an alternative government (not necessarily a B or C division team) because they are NOT convinced that the incumbent A team is looking out for the benefits of the majority of people. Telling people you are the best and you should be elected is just not going to work with some people when their concerns and thoughts shared were just 'rubbished'!;

4. the governing elites lose it if they cannot convince the voters that they are the best and most suitable to run the nation. Do not blame them for choosing another if you cannot convince them! Through taking responsibilities for any mistake openly and without any excuses. Through paying appropriately instead of obscenely, etc...

May the voters choose wisely and prove to anyone that say: don't be silly to choose a C Division government just because you want multi-parties government!!