Daily Lesson from Life 09 February 2009

"Channel NewsAsia - Monday, February 9

SINGAPORE: Singapore is in a recession, but Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says Singaporeans must not sit idle and wait for things to get better.


He urged Singaporeans to seize opportunities to learn new skills to keep their jobs. Mr Lee was speaking while celebrating Lunar New Year with some 1,000 residents in Yio Chu Kang. He said: "Even in this downturn, let us focus on the future. We cannot sit idle, and just wait for the storm to hit us."

Mr Lee said the government is already using the downtime to upgrade Singapore’s infrastructure.
He also defended the government’s Jobs Credit scheme in response to those who say it benefits companies more than workers.


Mr Lee said: "The government pays part of the CPF for every worker, on behalf of employers. The company pays less, but the worker gets the same pay as before. "This way, we want companies to find it less expensive to keep the workers, so that they’ll keep the workers instead of retrenching them."

Mr Lee said that the Jobs Credit scheme also reduces the cost of employing Singaporean workers so that companies find it "more attractive to hire Singaporeans than foreign workers".


But Prime Minister Lee cautioned against pushing out foreigners "because that would harm businesses, and also Singaporean workers."

Mr Lee also gave some examples of how community groups are helping the less fortunate during this downturn. He said one grassroots organisation even started a "Rice Party" in June last year where volunteers give out free meals, food vouchers and rations to low income families."

On the 15th day of CNY, or Yuan Xiao Jie, it is appropriate to take stock and look forward on what the Year of the Bull/Cow/Ox (Niu) will hold for us.

Lessons for me are:

1. in time of adversity, the true leaders stand out! They stand out not by just rallying the people but through their actions and behaviors that are consistent in the good time and the bad time. It is not a wayang or drama time. When the people believe in them and their calls for action as real and genuine, then they will follow and respond positively. So, in the good time, the leaders must be prepared for the bad time;

2. it is not easy to explain NEW schemes and actions to help when the people do not see the direct link. It is not for the leaders to blame the people for being slow or not able to see the big picture (like one of senior leaders said in his constituency's CNY dinner that some of the Members of Parliament did not understand the big picture and were sort of 'mocking' them!). If the MPs cannot see, then what more the ordinary people? So, it is constructive to help people see when they could not. That is the value add of the leader! By virtue of their position and experiences or higher intelligence, they could see things that others could not. It is then for them to help others understand and appreciate the true significance of the remedial actions!;

3. when people are in adverse situation, if they are willing to take some time to be creative and think harder, they will be able to come up with innovative and novel ideas to solve the difficult situation or lessen the negative impact. The 'Rice Party' is one way!

In difficult time, people need to believe they can help themselves. Those who can help others as well MUST do so as well. Remembered, a true leader is someone who will bring the greater good to the larger amount of people not for his own fame or fortune but it is the right thing to do!